The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

Wang Wenxuan finally got scared.

Although he was a playboy, he knew what the words "murdering the top scholar" meant in Bianjing in the second year of the Jiayou era.

That was a capital offense that could cause the entire Censorate to erupt in excitement and enrage the Emperor to the point of confiscating property and exterminating the entire clan.

"What...what do you want?" Wang Wenxuan's voice was hoarse, and the arrogance in his eyes had long since vanished.

"Simple." Jiang Lin dusted off his sleeves and lazily sat down on a tattered chair that had been moved from somewhere.

"I'm a kind-hearted person and can't stand seeing bloodshed. Since Young Master Wang has ruined Zizhan's spirit and damaged the reputation of Jingshi Academy, shouldn't he offer some compensation?"

"compensate?"

"Compensation for emotional distress: three thousand strings of cash. Compensation for damage to the academy's reputation: two thousand strings of cash. Plus, Zizhan's 'crippled' hands, and the lost wages I incurred for personally making this trip..."

Jiang Lin counted on his fingers, and finally casually uttered a number, "Six thousand strings of cash in total."

"Oh, by the way, I noticed the lecture hall behind the academy is a bit dilapidated. Doesn't the Wang family own several brick and tile kilns and timber businesses in the south of the city? You can take on the entire expansion project."

"Six thousand strings of cash?! And that includes expansion?!" Wang Wenxuan screamed. "Why don't you just rob someone?!"

"Snapped!"

A crisp slap sounded.

The one-eyed man withdrew his hand, his face trembling with menacing glare at Wang Wenxuan: "How dare you speak to the headmaster like that? No manners! This slap is to teach you what respect for your teacher means, on behalf of your father!"

Wang Wenxuan was so badly beaten that he saw stars and couldn't say a word.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the private prison.

"Stop! Who dares to cause trouble on the Wang family's territory!"

An old but dignified voice rang out.

Immediately afterwards, a dozen or so bodyguards, armed with sticks and with bulging temples, rushed in. Leading them was the Wang family's old steward.

The old steward glanced at his young master, who was tied to a pillar, then at the wine and meat scattered on the ground and the two bandits who had turned against him. His face was so gloomy that it was almost dripping with water.

"Master Jiang, you've broken into a private residence and kidnapped my young master. Your position as headmaster of the academy is probably over." The old steward sneered and waved his hand, and the guards behind him immediately surrounded him.

Qian Duoduo shrank back behind Jiang Lin in fright, clutching the brick tightly in her hand.

Jiang Lin didn't even lift his eyelids. He slowly took something out of his pocket and casually tossed it onto the square table next to him.

It was a purple-gold token, gleaming with a cold light in the firelight. On one corner of the token, the two small characters "Inner Court" could be faintly seen.

The old butler's pupils suddenly contracted, and he abruptly stopped in his tracks, almost twisting his hip from the force of his movement.

"An order to serve in the inner court?" The old steward's voice trembled.

That was a gift personally bestowed by the current emperor. Although it's unknown where Jiang Lin got it from, this thing represents the face of the imperial family.

"Steward Wang, what did you just say? Trespassing?" Jiang Lin rested his chin on his hand, his tone languid. "I received intelligence that rebels were plotting to assassinate an official here, so I came here with orders to search and arrest them. What, is the Wang family going to violently defy the imperial decree?"

Fine beads of sweat appeared on the old butler's forehead.

He glanced at Wang Wenxuan, who was sprawled in the mud, and cursed him inwardly as a spendthrift. Of all people to mess with, why did he have to provoke this most unpredictable and sharp-tongued headmaster in all of Bianjing?

"Jiang Shanchang... It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding." The old butler instantly put on a smiling face and bent over. "My young master is young and ignorant, he was just joking with Scholar Su."

"Taking a joke into a private jail, the Wang family's sense of humor is truly unique." Jiang Lin pointed to the paper and pen on the table. "Since it's a misunderstanding, let's sign the compensation agreement. Six thousand strings of cash, plus the academy expansion project."

"Butler Wang, do you think this money is more valuable for buying Young Master Wang's life, or for the Wang family to be executed?"

The old butler gritted his teeth, looked at Jiang Lin's confident expression, and finally let out a long sigh.

"Sign! This old servant will sign on your behalf, sir!"

A moment later, when Wang Wenxuan was untied and lifted up by the old steward like a dead dog, Jiang Lin had already led Su Shi and Qian Duoduo to the door.

"Wait." Jiang Lin suddenly stopped and looked back.

Wang Wenxuan shuddered in fright and instinctively burrowed behind the old butler.

"Zizhan, you just said you weren't feeling well?" Jiang Lin asked.

Su Shi understood immediately, and clutched his chest, coughing violently as if he were about to die.

"Headmaster...cough cough...I have been weak and sickly since childhood. I have spent half the night in this cold and damp prison. I am afraid the cold has seeped into my bones."

Su Shi, pale-faced and leaning weakly on Qian Duoduo's shoulder, said, "My body is most vulnerable to the northern winds and frost. If I catch a chill, I'm afraid I won't even be able to hold my pen properly..."

"Alas, poor child." Jiang Lin patted Su Shi on the shoulder, his tone tinged with regret.

"Young Master Wang, did you hear that? Zizhan is delicate. If anything happens to him one day, I will hold your Wang family accountable first."

After saying that, Jiang Lin and his group left, leaving only two "Beggar Clan elders" behind them carrying baskets full of wine and meat.

Wang Wenxuan watched their retreating figures, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"Frail and sickly? Afraid of the cold?" The old butler supported Wang Wenxuan, but his eyes gradually turned sinister.

He stared at Su Shi's seemingly frail back and sneered, "Su Zizhan, since you're so afraid of the cold, you probably won't be able to stay in Bianjing for long."

The old butler turned to a trusted confidant beside him and whispered, "Go tell the master that the plan has been changed."

"We don't need to kill him. Isn't Su Shi the newly appointed top scholar? Isn't the imperial court recently discussing sending civil officials to the northern border of Liaodong? It's freezing cold there, which is perfect for a 'weak and sickly' top scholar to guard the border for the country."

"Yes!" The trusted aide accepted the order and disappeared into the night.

Wang Wenxuan, who had overheard everything, finally revealed a sinister smile: "Jiang Lin, Su Shi... I'll show you that the waters of Bianjing run deep!"

At that moment, Jiang Lin, who had already walked out of the alley, suddenly sneezed.

"Headmaster, have you caught a cold?" Qian Duoduo asked.

Jiang Lin rubbed his nose, a playful smile curving his lips.

"No, that's the sound of a fish biting the hook."

He glanced back at the dark Sweetwater Lane, his eyes showing no trace of languor, only the mockery of someone who had succeeded in their scheme.

Su Shi, munching on the last piece of dried meat, asked curiously, "Headmaster, are you really planning to send me to the north? There's nothing good to eat there."

"Don't worry," Jiang Lin said calmly, gazing at the starry sky. "There's something even more exciting there than braised beef."

As night deepened, the wind in Bianjing City seemed to have truly turned cool.