Chapter 430 - 432: Love Rivals Brimming with Combat Power
"Dugu Wu, you cannot be reckless; we had a prenuptial agreement, you must not harbor improper thoughts towards me."
Feng Bailing couldn't help but tighten her clothing, looking frightened.
She was worried that Dugu Wu might suddenly be overcome by bestial impulses.
Although she and Dugu had done 'that thing', and more than once, it was all when Dugu Wu was unaware.
Or could it be that Dugu Wu had discovered Xiao Li's true identity?
Feng Bailing's scared appearance was particularly irksome to Dugu Wu.
He snorted coldly.
"What nonsense are you thinking about? I sent Xiao Li away because I wanted to tutor you one-on-one. Starting tomorrow, I'll be returning to Prince Shun's Mansion to attend to official duties. After work, I will tutor you in your studies."
Feng Bailing was bewildered when she heard this.
Was Dugu Wu planning to give her private lessons?
Was it about to rain red from the sky?
Back in the 22nd century, Feng Bailing had studied hard to be able to return to this time, but that didn't mean she was willing to accept the rigid educational methods of Great Chu.
Yuxiu Academy was already the most progressive school for women, but in this era, ladies from noble families had to learn a variety of skills including the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, as well as music and etiquette.
These were all things Feng Bailing considered a waste of time.
With that time and energy, she could think about how to make money and how to promote modern medicine, wouldn't that be wonderful?
"I'd rather just attend classes at Yuxiu Academy; the poetic paintings in the Calligraphy and Painting Room can also teach me a lot."
Feng Bailing hastily declined.
"Do you really like going to the Calligraphy and Painting Room?"
Dugu Wu's voice rose a few notches, but Feng Bailing failed to pick up on the implications of his tone.
"Very much, I could stay there all day without getting tired."
Feng Bailing had stars in her eyes.
"From now on, you're not allowed to go to the Calligraphy and Painting Room again."
Dugu Wu spoke with an icy tone.
Feng Bailing really wondered, and then something dawned on her.
Could it be because of Dongfang Li?
She blurted out.
"You wouldn't be stopping me from going to the Calligraphy and Painting Room because of Dongfang Li, would you?"
Feng Bailing looked speechless, and Dugu Wu did not deny it.
Before, Feng Bailing hardly ever went to Yuxiu Academy, but ever since she discovered the Calligraphy and Painting Room, she diligently went to the academy every day, even spending more time there than at Prince Shun's Mansion.
Dongfang Li had just been made responsible for overseeing the Calligraphy and Painting Room, and these two met every day.
In other words, Feng Bailing saw Dongfang Li every day longer than she saw Dugu Wu.
This woman really had no self-awareness.
Rumors had already started circulating within Yuxiu Academy that there was something ambiguous between the two.
Dongfang Li was cold to other female students, but very amiable towards Feng Bailing. Not only that, but he also broke the principal's rules by giving Feng Bailing more time to stay in the Calligraphy and Painting Room, which made other female teachers and students very unsatisfied, and many had complained to the principal.
Dugu Wu, as a man, could clearly see Dongfang Li's intentions towards Feng Bailing.
"Whether you agree or not, you'll have to agree, or else, I won't let you participate in the Competition Among Ten Countries."
Dugu Wu left no room for negotiation.
Inwardly cursing him as a 'tyrant', Feng Bailing could only submit to Dugu Wu's oppression for the sake of the Competition Among Ten Countries.
Just like that, Dugu Wu began to give Feng Bailing private lessons.
The couple was together almost all day and night. Why were they together day and night?
The reason was simple: Dugu Wu taught Feng Bailing during the day and would occasionally check on her at night, causing even her dreams to be filled with various kinds of knowledge.
However, after spending a few days together, their understanding of each other began to deepen.
Although Dugu Wu was very stern, he taught his lessons exceptionally well.
He was more knowledgeable than anyone Feng Bailing knew in almost all fields, including astronomy, geography, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and accounting.
Dugu Wu also discovered that, although Feng Bailing, like Xiao Li, loved to slough off, her learning ability was outstanding.
She often grasped concepts quickly and even had her own insights.
In terms of geography, she knew as much about the Ten Countries surrounding the Great Chu as anybody, including famous mountains and grand rivers, no less than himself, who had spent years campaigning.
As for astronomy, she held unique views that could revolutionize Dugu Wu's existing astronomical knowledge.
The two often argued over different perceptions.
Rather than saying Dugu Wu was solely imparting knowledge, it would be more accurate to say that Feng Bailing was also sharing her viewpoints with Dugu Wu.
One day, as Dugu Wu was speaking, he gave a cold glance towards a nearby window.
With a flick of his hand, there was a bang, and the window opened.
Outside the window crouched a pitiable figure, Dongfang Chun.
Feng Bailing was astonished.
"Little brother, what are you doing here?"
Dongfang Chun trembled with fright and stuttered so much that he could hardly explain that he was forced by Princess Consort Shun to eavesdrop on Dugu Wu's lessons.
Xiao Li had gone to the Commandery Princess' Mansion, and naturally, Su Wang followed to teach there.
As a result, Dongfang Chun's education was delayed.
Princess Consort Shun was eager to see her son succeed and upon hearing that Dugu Wu was privately tutoring Feng Bailing, she concocted a little scheme.
Although she didn't like Dugu Wu, she did admire his literary talent.
When Dugu Wu was very young, Prince Shun had praised him, saying that he would either be a Scholarly Top Scorer or a Martial Arts Top Scholar. Indeed, Dugu Wu later became the Martial Arts Top Scholar. Although he chose martial arts over literature, he never neglected his literary skills.
Poor Dongfang Chun ended up squatting at the corner every day,
"Little brother, if you really want to attend the classes, join me."
Feng Bailing was more than happy to have someone to share the burden of Dugu Wu's "devilish training."
Dongfang Chun didn't dare to move a step; he feared his mother, but he feared Dugu Wu even more!
He thought Dugu Wu would surely scold him loudly and chase him away.
In his memory, Dugu Wu had hardly ever spoken a word to him.
Who would have known that Dugu Wu would just cast a cold glance at him, then look at Feng Bailing's cheerful expression, without saying a word?
Feng Bailing took the opportunity to bring Dongfang Chun inside.
In the blink of an eye, a few more days passed. One day, while Dugu Wu was busy with official affairs, Princess Consort Shun quietly sought out Feng Bailing.
"Feng Bailing, I have a proposition for you. Chunchun has been learning with you for a while now, and he has made great progress. He has been practicing martial arts since he was young, and he's not bad at it. I've heard that team Dugu Wu has yet to recruit enough participants for the Competition Among Ten Countries. What do you think of Chunchun? Could he sign up to participate too?"
Princess Consort Shun's face was full of hope as she gazed at Feng Bailing.
"Princess Consort, you need to think this through. The Competition Among Ten Countries is not as simple as you imagine. A single misstep could cost someone their life."
Feng Bailing dared not joke about Dongfang Chun's life; he was only seven or eight years old and the only son of Princess Consort Shun.
"Really? Is the Competition Among Ten Countries that dangerous? Then why is Noble Princess Consort Xiao so smug about Seventh Prince having signed up? Oh, and Ninth Prince too, he's blind, but he's also signed up. Surely Chunchun cannot be worse than Ninth Prince, right?"
Princess Consort Shun looked skeptical.