The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 34
When Song Qingqian returned, everyone immediately turned to her, hoping to glean some clues from her expression.
Her face was solemn as she sighed and said, “The punishment is quite severe.”
“Is the dean planning to expel the teacher from the Imperial Academy?” Lu Wuyou was the first to ask.
Xiao Beitang shot her a look—why was he always the one to speak first?
Song Qingqian remained silent for a moment, making them even more anxious.
Finally, she said, “No, it’s not that.”
“Then is she expelling us instead?” Lu Wuyou asked again.
“Not that either.”
Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief.
Xiao Wanqi asked, “Then what is the punishment?”
With a heavy tone, Song Qingqian replied, “Starting tomorrow, you are all to clean the academy for ten days as a form of discipline.”
“What’s so difficult about that?” someone muttered in confusion. With maids and servants around, couldn’t they just delegate the task?
Song Qingqian added, “The dean specifically said you are not allowed to use the maids or attendants.”
In truth, the dean never said such a thing—this was Song Qingqian’s own addition. Seeing that most of them were the pampered sons and daughters of noble families, she thought some humbling labor might do them good.
The Imperial Academy was vast; cleaning it properly would certainly require effort.
“No matter—it’s just cleaning. Nothing too hard. We can manage it ourselves!” Xiao Lin boasted.
Song Qingqian smiled slightly. “Then I shall thank you all for your hard work in advance. If there’s nothing else, you may return home for the day.”
“Teacher, I’d like to change seats!” Xiao Beitang suddenly stood up.
Song Qingqian looked at her in confusion. Her current seat was already the best one. “Where do you want to move to?”
Without hesitation, she said, “Front row, center.”
Song Qingqian reconfirmed, “Are you sure?”
Xiao Beitang nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Li Ningyu, are you willing to switch?”
Li Ningyu hesitated for a moment before replying, “I… I’m willing.”
She had already upset Xiao Beitang earlier in the day and didn’t dare to go against her again.
“Then switch,” Song Qingqian said calmly.
Xiao Beitang swiftly packed her things and moved forward, while Li Ningyu reluctantly moved to the back.
“Teacher, I want to change seats too!” Lu Wuyou raised his hand.
“Alright. Where to?”
“To the seat next to Jiang Tang,” she pointed, selecting a seat about the same distance from Song Qingqian as Xiao Beitang’s.
“Xu Liang, are you willing to switch?” Song Qingqian asked.
“I am.” Xu Liang quickly gathered his books and gladly moved. He’d never liked sitting in the front where he couldn’t slack off.
As Lu Wuyou passed by, Xiao Beitang glared at him.
“Anyone else want to switch seats?” Song Qingqian asked one last time.
No one answered.
“Then class is dismissed.” With that, she turned to leave.
Xiao Beitang hastily gathered her books to follow her. Unsurprisingly, Lu Wuyou followed as well.
“Teacher!” Xiao Beitang called out as she chased after her.
“Yes?” Song Qingqian glanced behind her and saw Lu Wuyou catching up too. She shot Xiao Beitang a subtle look, warning her not to expose her identity.
Following her gaze, Xiao Beitang looked back—and frowned. Her again!
“Teacher, are you leaving already?” Lu Wuyou asked, walking up beside Xiao Beitang.
“Yes. Do you need something?”
He smiled brightly. “I was hoping to invite you to dinner.”
“I appreciate the gesture, but that won’t be necessary. Go home and rest early,” Song Qingqian replied gently but firmly.
Why was she being so nice to this annoying boy? Xiao Beitang was visibly annoyed.
“Did you hear that? Teacher said she’s not eating with you. Go home,” she interjected smugly. “Teacher, let’s go. Time for our meal.”
Hadn’t she warned her to be more careful at the academy?
With a measured tone, Song Qingqian said, “Jiang Tang, you should head home early too.”
“Pfft—hahaha! Seriously? What does she have that I don’t?” Lu Wuyou burst into laughter.
Xiao Beitang ground her teeth in anger. Furious, she stormed off. She was supposed to meet up at the alley next to the Imperial Academy to return to the palace with Song Qingqian, but by the time Song got there, she was gone.
“Where is she?” Song Qingqian asked Xiaotao.
Xiaotao thought for a moment. “Her Highness? Oh—she left earlier.”
“Left? With Xiao Lin and the others?”
“No, she went back to the palace with Liuzi.”
“She promised we’d walk back together—and eat together too. Why would she leave on her own?” Song Qingqian muttered.
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.” Song Qingqian boarded the carriage and lowered the curtain.
When she returned to Zichen Palace, Xiao Beitang was lying on a reclining chair in the courtyard, eyes closed, basking in comfort.
Hearing her arrive, she peeked out with one eye.
“Why didn’t Your Highness wait for me?”
Xiao Beitang grumbled, “Didn’t you tell me to go home early?”
“…”
Song Qingqian gave her a look—this girl was clearly sulking again. “What’s wrong now?”
Xiao Beitang sat up and looked at her seriously. “You rejected me in front of everyone?”
“When did I…” She suddenly remembered—the dinner invitation. “That was only because Lu Wuyou was there. I didn’t want him to suspect anything.”
“Don’t mention him. Just hearing his name annoys me.”
“What did he do to you?”
Changing her posture, Xiao Beitang frowned seriously. “He’s shameless. You should stay away from him. Don’t talk to him either!”
“He’s my student now. How can I not speak to him?” Song Qingqian chuckled despite herself.
Xiao Beitang stood up abruptly and snapped, “Be serious! I mean it!”
Song Qingqian quickly stifled her smile. “Alright, alright. Unless it’s about class, I won’t talk to him, okay?”
“That’s more like it.”
Song Qingqian leaned forward and asked with a smile, “So, shall we eat now?”
With a prideful turn, Xiao Beitang walked straight into the house. Song Qingqian smiled and followed after her.
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After dinner, Xiao Beitang asked curiously, “Why are you so good at dice games? Even Xiao Lin, who’s practiced since childhood, lost to you.”
“Do you know why gambling is so rampant in our dynasty, Your Highness?”
Xiao Beitang shook her head.
Song Qingqian sighed. “It’s not that it hasn’t been banned—it just can’t be. Most gambling dens are backed by corrupt officials and wealthy merchants. They collude in secret, bribing nearly every imperial inspector sent to shut them down.”
She looked at Xiao Beitang and said, “I actually despise gambling.”
Though her voice was calm, the hatred and loathing in it were unmistakable.
After a pause, she asked, “Do you know how many people have lost everything—family, fortune, even their lives—because of gambling?”
Xiao Beitang fell silent.
“You may think it’s just a bit of fun, but if someone like Xiao Lin lost that much today, imagine what it would mean for someone less fortunate.”
“Maybe…” Xiao Beitang muttered.
Song Qingqian continued, “Gamblers always think they’ll win back their losses, that a turnaround is just one bet away. But that’s how they get trapped—by greed and delusion, always hoping for something without effort.”
She really did hate gambling. But how did she become so skilled?
Xiao Beitang asked, “Did someone close to you get caught up in it?”
“When I was ten, my teacher’s son was an obsessive gambler. It drove my teacher to despair. The son secretly sold off the family land and even gave his wife away as a concubine to pay debts. He caused his birth mother’s death from anger. My teacher was heartbroken and spent his days in sorrow. To help him, I learned how to play dice and began dismantling gambling tricks to show his son.”
She shook her head. “But he never changed. In the end, he gambled his life away. My teacher couldn’t cope with the devastation and became a recluse.”
“From then on, Ah Qing and I spent time in gambling dens, hoping to wake others up. But eventually, we gave up.”