The news was too much for her to contain. She was agitated, flummoxed, and heartbroken. A part of her heart ached, while the other wept. Her face gradually paled as she looked at her teacher for some consolation.

  Teacher Shan put the kettle on the five-legged copper stove beside her and took the white porcelain teacup to smell the tea. She appeared to be oblivious to her pupil’s distress, or was she rendering another important lesson?

  “Yesterday, the headmaster came to me and told me the academy was dismissing me.” She sighed, before breaking into a smile. “As for the reason, it was a sheer fabrication out of nothing. And any excuse would have been enough.”


  Ye Zhen blinked, obviously shocked, and stared at her. Her mind was fumbling to grasp things. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She tried a second time and managed to say……

  “Teacher, has this something to do with me?”


  “How could this possibly have something to do with you?” Teacher Shan just smiled and continued. “Most likely…… people just don’t like me.”


  Teacher Shan had once left the academy due to differences in opinions. Since the methods and teachings in effect were quite opposite to her beliefs and principles, she had chosen to quietly part ways. But then, she had returned and the academy had willingly welcomed her back even. And yet, here they were now.

  Ye Zhen surmised this had to be due to the recent incident with Huang Fuxuang which got Teacher Shan involved.

  As if reading her mind, Teacher Shan shook her head. “It must not have been easy for Headmaster to find me and talk to me personally about leaving the academy. Perhaps he was only following orders. How could it have something to do with you?”


  The headmaster was an astute academician, wizened through years. He knew the value of a good teacher and had immense respect for the remarkable Ms. Shan. When she had rejoined the academy, he was elated. So, despite him not explicitly saying so, the lame excuse he had furnished was proof that he was acting under pressure.

  Ye Zhen suddenly remembered Tang Zhen’s visit to her and her thoughts drifted to Mo Rongzhan again. Her countenance changed slightly, she looked at Teacher Shan guiltily.

  “Teacher……”


  Teacher Shan raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, “What’s the matter?”


  “I’m afraid…… This is all because of me,” Ye Zhen said in a low voice.

  The more she thought about it, the more convinced she was that it was she who brought trouble to her beloved teacher. Her first argument with Tang Zhen, when she had lost control and then with Mo Rongzhan, all of it pointed to the fact that both men had made some deductions of their own. Tang Zhen had even alluded something to the tune……

  “How could it be because of you?”


  Teacher Shan’s voice brought Ye Zhen out of her musings and she noticed her serene smile. She felt a pang in her stomach and decided to confess.

  “I once……” Ye Zhen’s voice dropped to a whisper. “.…… felt aggrieved for the late wang fei in front of Tang Zhen. Tang Zhen must have concluded that it must have been you who told me about the Ye Family.” She lowered her head in dismay.

  “Why did you feel aggrieved for the late wang fei?” Teacher Shan was startled at the mention of her old friend.

  In the past, she was entrusted by her master to accept Ye Zhen as her student. She hadn’t asked any questions then, not that she would have received an answer.

  But by and by she had grown genuinely fond of this intelligent and clever pupil she had been thrust. Their relationship had blossomed to more than a mentor and mentee, they were friends, confidantes, and perhaps even family.

  So when she had found out Ye Zhen was in trouble, she had hurried back. But alas, it was too late. Incidentally, her master had sent word around the same time. He wished for her to take Lu Yaoyao as her student. She had been reluctant at first like she had during Ye Zhen’s time…… then again, history had repeated in an uncanny manner and she had grown fond of this pupil as well.