Chapter 666 - 742: 742: The Dean is Very Bored

Wenren Zong laughed, “This happened two years ago. As the Dean has witnessed, she ended up victorious, and I lost.”

“If you end up victorious in the future, and you need to kill her, would you do it?”

“Absolutely not.” Wenren Zong’s voice was soft, but firm.

“What if you can’t win without killing her?”

“There would be no victory worth sacrificing a woman’s life for. If there is, then I would rather not have that kind of victory.”

Lin Shimo grabbed a handful of snow from the bridge’s railing, smiled and said, “On such a good day, standing here talking is too boring. Let’s go for a stroll.”

Wenren Zong then followed him and asked, “Dean, I know the Academy usually doesn’t concern itself with political affairs. But since you are here in Chang’an, that means you are entering the worldly affairs. I want to know, in the end, will you help the Crown Prince, or assist the Prince of Zhao?”

“Is there a difference?”

Lin Shimo neither agreed nor disagreed, “Whoever wins or loses, this empire will ultimately belong to the Li family. To us at the Academy, there is no difference. Why should I muddy the waters?”

Wenren Zong said, “Dean, if the Academy wishes not to intervene, then you wouldn’t be here. Since you’re here, you won’t sit back and watch. I just don’t understand which prince the Academy will support.”

“Thirteen, who do you think the Academy should support among the princes?”

“I don’t have the luxury of choice.” Wenren Zong shook his head.

“Ah.” Lin Shimo laughed, “Actually, I haven’t figured it out either.”

“I want to ask you something. The Academy usually doesn’t interfere with the Imperial Court, so why has it changed now?”

“Maybe because… being treated as a sage gets too boring.” Lin Shimo gently tossed the snowball in his hand into the river.

Wenren Zong was taken aback.

In the night, the snowball raised a spray of water upon the river’s surface, ripples spreading out in circles, until the snowball ultimately melted and disappeared into the river.

The two of them strolled along the bridge. After a while, they ran into a group of people from the Jiang Family.

Since Jiang Yi did not enroll in the Spring Autumn Academy, he held some reverence for the Dean of the Academy. He spoke respectfully, “Dean Lin, I often hear my father mention you. I wonder when Dean Lin can visit our home as our guest. I’m sure my father would be delighted.”

Lin Shimo smiled, “When Prime Minister Jiang and General Jiang graduated from the Academy, I was still young and do not have much recollection of him. Speaking of it, I am quite eager to meet him.”

“The Jiang family is always honored to receive Dean Lin.”

“Third Master Jiang, you are too kind.”

Lin Shimo stood by the bridge, holding a fan. The wind blew his white clothes, making him look like a graceful gentleman under the radiance of the countless lanterns.

Jiang Yuan and Jiang Shan were both stunned.

They had strolled and eaten, all the children were tired from playing.

Lingzi was soundly sleeping on Xiaoman’s back.

Wenzan, although struggling to stay awake, started to lose energy.

And so, everyone decided to head home.

Jiang Ning lagged behind, walking side by side with Wenren Zong.

“Thirteen, you’re finally back. Congratulations.” Jiang Ning handed him a small amulet with a smile, “Today is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Here’s a safety amulet for you. I hope it brings you peace and happiness.”

Wenren Zong accepted it and laughed, “Thank you, Princess Consort, for your thoughtfulness.”

Too much has happened to both of them these past two years. Seeing each other again, there were no words to say instantly. Asking each other, ‘Have you been well these past two years?’ seemed insincere.

Days in exile couldn’t possibly have been good.

They walked in silence for a while until Jiang Ning turned to Lin Shimo’s figure in the distance and asked with a smile, “You seem to have a good relationship with Dean Lin.”