The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 31

Liu Qing let out a disdainful snort.

Song Qingqian asked coolly, “You’re dissatisfied?”

Liu Qing muttered under her breath, “Why should a Kunzhe be our teacher?”

Song Qingqian remained expressionless. “You may speak up. There’s no need to hide your thoughts.”

“Isn’t it ridiculous? We struggled so hard to gain entry into the Imperial Academy, only to be taught by a Kunzhe? It’s laughable!” Liu Qing frowned deeply, her tone sharp with resentment.

Song Qingqian showed no anger or irritation. She paced slowly along the hall, then turned to ask, “So, because your teacher is a Kunzhe, you feel disgraced. Then tell me—what kind of person would bring you

honor as a teacher?”

The hall was filled with students around fifteen or sixteen years old, most of them Qianyuan. They watched the confrontation with curious, half-amused eyes.

Many shared Liu Qing’s opinion. To them, a Kunzhe belonged in the inner chambers—waiting to be married off, to bear children and manage the household.

“Naturally, a Qianyuan gentleman,” Liu Qing replied.

Song Qingqian chuckled softly. She could feel the stares from all corners of the hall. Slowly returning to the platform, she sat down and looked at Liu Qing with narrowed phoenix eyes. “Explain your reasoning.”

“Qianyuan are physically superior in every way to Zhongyong and Kunzhe,” Liu Qing said proudly. “History’s great achievements have almost all been made by Qianyuan. Even the officials in court are Qianyuan.

In fact, our dynasty forbids Kunzhe from holding office. A Kunzhe is best suited for managing the household and raising children.”

Song Qingqian tapped her fingers calmly on the desk. “Anything else?”

Liu Qing’s eyes narrowed as she smirked. “If I may speak plainly, Teacher, Kunzhe go into heat every month, whereas Qianyuan much less frequently. If your heat cycle is predictable, perhaps it’s manageable. But what if it’s not? What if one day you lose control and go into heat during class? How are we supposed to respond?”

The others now turned inquisitive eyes toward Song Qingqian, waiting to see how she’d react. Her face remained serene, her smile unfazed.

That smile—so familiar. Xiao Beitang stared at her, lost in thought.

“Is that all?” Song Qingqian asked softly.

Liu Qing had expected to provoke a reaction—perhaps a sharp rebuke, or maybe even reduce this Kunzhe teacher to tears and force her to flee the classroom in humiliation. But this calm, measured demeanor left her completely thrown off.

Liu Qing shook her head and muttered, “That’s all—for now.”

Song Qingqian stopped tapping. She looked over the students in the hall. “Do you all share her view?”

They looked at each other, uneasy. That was answer enough.

She stepped off the platform and slowly walked among them, meeting their gazes one by one. “It’s true that Qianyuan are superior in many ways to Kunzhe—there’s no denying that. It’s how we were born. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be challenged or changed. If you believe you’re better than me in every way, I welcome you to challenge me. If I lose, then I’m unworthy to teach you.”

She paused, then added, “And it won’t just be in poetry and prose.”

The room erupted in murmurs. She dared to say this? Perhaps she was well-versed in literature—but she even boasted about other things?

“As for your mention of my heat cycle,” she continued, her tone darkening, “yes, it’s a real concern. But it’s not a justification for disrespecting your teacher.”

“A-Tang, you have to admit,” whispered Xiao Lin to Xiao Beitang, hiding her mouth behind her hand, “Song Teacher looks just like she did at Baihua House that day. Dignified. Commanding.”

Xiao Beitang glared at her—of all the things to bring up right now! Still, she looked back at Song Qingqian. Indeed, this Kunzhe was nothing like the delicate and soft ones she’d known.

“Teacher speaks with great wisdom,” said Lu Wuyou lazily from a corner.

Song Qingqian glanced over—it was a handsome Qianyuan.

She smiled at Song Qingqian.

Of course, Xiao Beitang noticed too. So weak and frail—such a pretty face. She rolled her eyes inwardly.

“I mean no offense,” Liu Qing said, softening her tone. “But those are the facts. Since Teacher is willing to accept a challenge, then we shall respectfully comply.”

Let her prove herself through action, not words—Liu Qing was sure she would win. After all, what could a mere Kunzhe accomplish?

“In that case, you may choose the contests,” Song Qingqian said. “But let’s agree on something—what happens if I win?”

Liu Qing chuckled. “If Teacher defeats the majority of us, we will admit our defeat and voluntarily leave the Imperial Academy.”

Song Qingqian raised her eyes to meet hers. Calmly, she said, “I don’t want any of you expelled. That does nothing for me. I only want one thing—that from now on, you honor your teacher and follow my teachings.”

“Agreed!” Liu Qing strode forward, bowing with a flourish. “But if we win, you must resign from the Academy!”

Before Song Qingqian could reply, both Xiao Beitang and Lu Wuyou stood up at once and said in unison, “I’ll challenge you.”

The room fell into chaos. No one knew where to look. Both girls stood tall, staring coldly at Liu Qing. Then they glanced at each other.

“A-Tang?” whispered Xiao Lin, puzzled. “Didn’t you not want to be under her rule? Isn’t this your chance? Why are you helping her?”

Xiao Beitang ignored her.

Lu Wuyou bowed. “Teacher, I am Lu Wuyou. I refuse to be associated with those people. I would rather stand with you and challenge them in your place.”

Song Qingqian smiled. “Your kindness is appreciated. But if I cannot earn their respect on my own, I will never win over the class.”

She looked at Xiao Beitang, their eyes locking with shared understanding.

Xiao Beitang paused, then slowly sat back down. Lu Wuyou did the same.

“Then class is dismissed for now. You may consider what contests to propose. We shall settle this after noon.”

With that, she turned and walked out. The classroom instantly erupted. None of them had dared challenge her to her face before, unlike Liu Qing. But now, seeing her gone, they eagerly began planning.

Xiao Beitang finally understood why she’d proposed the challenge. These Qianyuan were arrogant and hypocritical. She suddenly felt ashamed to share the same gender as them.

Displeased, she was about to leave when Xiao Wanqi pulled her aside and whispered, “Do you want Teacher Song to win?”

“I just don’t want that bunch to win,” she said, eyeing the noisy group.

“Then if you can’t challenge Liu Qing and the others, challenge Song Teacher—and lose to her on purpose,” she whispered so softly that the last few words were barely audible.

A realization dawned on Xiao Beitang—of course! Help her win by losing!

She gathered Xiao Lin and Xiao Wanqi. “Each of you pick something you’re bad at. Write it down later.”

“Bad at? But I’m bad at everything…” Xiao Lin scratched her head in dismay.

Xiao Wanqi chuckled. “Then pick something you’re good at and just do badly.”

“Dice. I’ll play dice with her,” Xiao Lin said, smirking.

“I’ll go with unlocking the Kongming lock. I’ll pretend I can’t solve it and surrender,” said Xiao Beitang. She was quite pleased with her clever idea.

Xiao Wanqi smiled. “Then I’ll do couplet matching. Doesn’t matter what we choose—as long as we lose.”

“What if she notices we’re throwing the match?” Xiao Beitang asked, a little uncertain.

Lu Wuyou walked confidently to the name list, wrote down her name and challenge, cast a contemptuous glance at the crowd, and strolled off with her attendant.