Chapter 12: The Illustrated Book
For the next several days, Gao Yunqu met with a few more censors. These were from the group that could be kept on, so the conversations focused on encouragement and guidance. Having served in the Censorate herself, she knew better than anyone the significance of the censorial officials. The current Censorate was not trusted by Her Majesty, was plagued by factional strife, caused public panic with unsubstantiated external reports, and was paralyzed by internal idleness and anxiety. It was an institution that needed reform at every turn, and every matter required her direction. When she finally found a moment to rest, Gao Yuan came in to see her.
"What is it?"
"My lord, someone from the Imperial Academy has sent a message, requesting you to go there in person." Gao Yuan's expression was a little odd.
"What has A'jian done?" Gao Yunqu asked.
"Er, it's said she angered an instructor."
Gao Yunqu was stunned for a moment, then rose and headed outside.
Upon entering the Imperial Academy, she ran into Cui Miao's mother, Jiang Shu. Both were taken aback for a second before exchanging courtesies and walking in side by side.
Several young students stood with their hands clasped outside the Director of Studies' office, their heads bowed and their faces filled with embarrassment. The two at the very front were Fang Jian and Cui Miao.
The parents arrived one after another, none of them knowing the reason for the summons. The Director of Studies simply smiled without speaking as they all exchanged pleasantries. Once all the parents had arrived and greeted one another, the Director finally called over the supervising instructor to explain what had happened.
After the banquet at the other estate, Cui Miao had returned to the Imperial Academy to continue her studies. However, she wore a smile all day long, positively beaming, which made Fang Jian suspect she had been possessed by some spirit.
Cui Miao wasn't annoyed, replying with a smile, "Aiya~ You wouldn't understand."
Fang Jian was bewildered. "Wouldn't understand what?"
Cui Miao thought for a moment, then said, "How about this? In a few days, I'll show you something good, big sister. It can serve as my apology to you."
A few days later, Cui Miao secretively brought back some books and stuffed them into Fang Jian's hands.
Fang Jian put down her brush and opened one. Two naked female bodies were entwined, brimming with amorous passion. Fang Jian's face instantly flushed crimson, and she quickly shut the book. "This… this is…"
"There's more. Keep looking."
With a trembling hand, Fang Jian flipped through the rest. The books below featured men and women, as well as men and men—a complete collection with a wide variety of scenes. Fang Jian covered her eyes, too embarrassed to look, yet she was also a little curious and snuck a peek.
Cui Miao winked playfully. "Which one does Linshen like? Big sister has more, you know~"
Fang Jian hesitated for a moment before extending a finger and lightly tapping the first book.
Cui Miao was overjoyed. "To think that Linshen and I are kindred spirits!"
With that, she took out her private collection to share with Fang Jian. They had been roommates for months, yet Fang Jian had never discovered that the room had so many hiding places.
Just as the two were engrossed, a classmate from the neighboring dormitory came over to ask about a difficult passage. She entered holding a volume of the sages' classics, only to have her mind immediately captured by the erotic illustrated books. When she didn't return for a long time, the classmate who was waiting for her answer came looking, and also fell captive. And so it spread from one to the next, until all the classmates from the several dormitories in their courtyard had gathered in one place.
Cui Miao wasn't stingy, generously taking out her entire private collection. The dormitory wasn't large enough to hold so many people, so they moved to the stone table in the courtyard and held an appreciation session, having the time of their lives.
But their joy was short-lived. The Director of Studies and the instructors were making their rounds today, inspecting each courtyard. When they reached theirs, they saw a group of students gathered together in discussion. At first, they thought it was a sign of a rich academic atmosphere, but upon drawing closer, they were almost angered to death.
Among the accompanying instructors was one known for her strict and proper demeanor. She was the most infuriated, scolding them for a full half-hour. It was the Director of Studies who had to calm her down. And so, the group was brought to the Director's office to await the arrival of their elders.
After hearing the full account, Gao Yunqu flipped through the evidence, a playful smile touching her lips as she glanced at Fang Jian. Fang Jian was dying of shame and indignation, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.
The final decision was a two-day suspension from classes, with orders for them to be taken home for proper discipline.
Jiang Shu shot Cui Miao a glare. It wasn't until they were in the carriage that she spoke. "Cui Miao, you've really made a name for yourself!"
Cui Miao said sheepishly, "Mother~"
"All five of you sisters, taking turns getting me summoned by your teachers for a lecture! I thought that since you were older and your grades were good, you wouldn't get punished again. And look at you now! Leading your classmates in looking at erotic pictures. You've really brought me honor." Jiang Shu sneered.
"It's just that Linshen had never seen them before…"
"You still have the nerve to say that? Just now, I was too ashamed to even speak to Lord Gao!"
Upon returning home, Jiang Shu ordered Cui Miao to kneel in the courtyard, balancing that stack of unspeakable illustrated books on her head. Hearing that the eldest young lady was being punished, A'ye and A'sun happily gathered with the other concubines to watch the spectacle.
"What did the eldest young lady do?"
"They say she was showing her classmates erotic pictures, hahaha."
"Pfft, the eldest young lady has grown up~"
"Does the eldest young lady prefer young masters or young ladies?"
"Hee hee, I want to see what kind she likes…"
Their chattering made Cui Miao so embarrassed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
"Mother, Mother, I was wrong! Please spare me some dignity…"
Jiang Shu's voice came from inside the house. "Kneel properly. You want me to spare your dignity? Who spared mine?"
At dusk, her younger sisters returned from their lessons one by one and also gathered to watch from a distance.
"Can big sister do something wrong too?"
"Why is big sister being punished by Mother to kneel?"
"What did big sister do wrong? Is it something I shouldn't know? What is it that I shouldn't know?"
How could Cui Miao dare let her younger sisters know what she had done?
"Mother, I was truly wrong! Please let me off!"
Meanwhile, Fang Jian had returned home with Gao Yunqu. The journey was silent. Gao Yunqu was neither angry nor scolding; it was as if she were just picking her up from school as usual. Fang Jian followed her home, her heart pounding with anxiety. They ate dinner together, and then she followed her into the study.
The study in the Gao estate in the Capital City was arranged almost identically to the one in Xilin, also filled with bookshelves and two desks, one large and one small.
Gao Yunqu's desk was piled high with documents, a clear sign of how busy she had been lately. She sat down in her chair and rubbed the space between her brows, a weary look on her face. Fang Jian felt a pang of remorse. It was truly wrong of her to make her busy lord worry about her affairs.
Gao Yunqu glanced at her and smiled. "Come here." She pointed to the floor by her feet, her voice devoid of any blame.
Fang Jian obediently knelt at her feet, lowering her head and offering it to Gao Yunqu's hand. Gao Yunqu stroked the back of her head and pulled out the wooden pin holding her hair, letting it fall loose. Her hand passed through the dark strands to land on her neck, kneading it gently twice before threading through her hair to lightly touch her scalp. Fang Jian was like a small pup having its fur ruffled, and after just a few strokes, she wanted to expose her soft, vulnerable side to her completely.
Gao Yunqu's fingertips slid over the skin behind her ear, caressing it back and forth. Fang Jian's gaze grew hazy, and her legs nearly gave out. But then, Gao Yunqu suddenly asked, "A'jian, are the lessons at the Imperial Academy a bit too simple for you?"
A chill ran down Fang Jian's spine, and she sobered up, choosing her words carefully. "A little… a little, perhaps."
"It seems I've been negligent." Gao Yunqu paused, then asked again, "Are you aware of the recent dismissals at the Censorate?"
"Mm… my classmates and I have discussed it a little."
"Then what is A'jian's view on it?"
"The Censorate was at fault. If there is a fault, it should be corrected." The young girl's eyes were clear and pure, her thoughts direct and simple.
Gao Yunqu smiled at her words and patted the top of her head. She found a document on her desk and handed it to her. "The principle is indeed so, but putting it into practice is fraught with difficulties."
"My lord, this is?"
"It's the roster and service records of the Censorate officials. The next stage of your studies is to understand how the Censorate dismissals came to be. You may ask Cui Miao, or your other classmates. You may also ask me if there is anything you don't understand, but you are not to take any of these materials out of this room."
Fang Jian nodded and lowered her head to look at the documents. Gao Yunqu flexed her wrist and began to attend to her own work. A long time later, she finished organizing a batch of materials, set down her brush, and let out a sigh of relief. She looked over at Fang Jian. The girl was kneeling there obediently, holding the scroll and reading intently. A strand of hair had slipped down, obscuring her vision, and she raised a hand to tuck it behind her ear, revealing the pale skin there.
Gao Yunqu reached out and laid her hand on her ear. The cartilage was soft, and kneading it had a unique feel. A moment's torment was enough to turn the entire ear red. Fang Jian's body stiffened. She stole a glance at her, holding her breath, not daring to speak.
"It's nothing. Keep reading."
Fang Jian reined in her wandering thoughts and continued to read. But that hand did not retreat. Instead, it roamed from the cartilage of her ear to the skin behind it, and then to her neck. The strong pulse in her neck throbbed, betraying her inner turmoil. Gao Yunqu's hand followed the curve of her jaw, gently stroking the soft flesh beneath it, occasionally using a knuckle to touch her larynx. Having such a soft, vital spot controlled by another reminded Fang Jian of the suffocating feeling when Gao Yunqu had once gripped her by the throat. She began to tremble. Gao Yunqu felt her nervous swallows. Like a cat toying with a mouse in its paws, she would release her grip only to tighten it, pull away only to draw near. Her fingertips scraped against the soft flesh of her neck, making her shiver. Fang Jian could barely hold the book steady, her breathing growing heavy. She should have been afraid—her body was trembling, her heart was pounding—but why was her mouth growing ever drier? Fear and desire seized her heart in unison, leaving her utterly disoriented.
To her shame, she discovered that merely being caressed on the throat by Gao Yunqu was enough to make her legs go weak. The damp stickiness between her legs was something only she should have known, yet it felt as if it had already been stripped bare by Gao Yunqu's gaze. She shifted her legs restlessly, trying to lift her knees, but Gao Yunqu held her in place. She raised her hazy eyes to look at Gao Yunqu, only to see the smile playing on her lips.
"Ngh…" Unable to bear the teasing, a moan escaped Fang Jian's throat, and her body leaned involuntarily toward Gao Yunqu.
But Gao Yunqu suddenly withdrew her hand, stood up, and walked toward the door.
Fang Jian looked up at her, bewildered.
"Kneel here until dawn," Gao Yunqu said, and walked out.
The study door closed. Fang Jian shut her eyes.
She understood now. This was her belated punishment.
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