After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

An hour later, at the Academy's Calligraphy and Painting Studio.

The mountain chief, Bai Heling, sat upright at the head of the table, his white eyebrows furrowed like hemp rope.

His serious gaze swept over the row of little radish heads standing there with bruises and swelling.

Sitting to the left of the headmaster were Shen Yan and Wang Changhe, their lips tightly pressed together, their eyes fixed straight ahead, looking as if they didn't want to acknowledge each other at all.

Sitting on the right were Xu Wanying's stepmother, Zeng, and He Lanqing's mother, Liang. Zeng looked meek and obedient, while Liang appeared much more aloof and arrogant.

Wang Changhe looked at Wang Jichuan's colorful face and his face turned ashen.

"Jichuan, who beat you up like this?"

When Wang Jichuan saw that his backer had arrived, his eyes immediately welled up with tears.

"uncle!"

He sobbed, pointing at the other three, "They bullied me!"

Bai Heling had already heard the whole story from the other students, and upon hearing Wang Jichuan's words, he frowned slightly.

"Wang Jichuan, you said they bullied you, then tell me everything that just happened from beginning to end."

Wang Jichuan angrily said, "I was just talking to my classmate in the corridor when Xu Wanying rushed up and hit me, and Shen Jingque straddled me and slapped me. I am truly innocent."

He was sobbing uncontrollably, his nose was running with snot, and he was sniffling with each movement.

Upon hearing this, Zeng immediately bowed to the headmaster and said, "Headmaster, it is my daughter Wanying who has caused trouble for the academy."

Xu Wanying's eyes widened. "Mother!"

Madam Zeng did not look at her, but lowered her eyes and said, "This child has been used to being wild in the military camp since he was a child, and he doesn't know his own strength. After we return to the manor, I will definitely inform the master and discipline him strictly."

Xu Wanying puffed out her cheeks in anger.

Bai Heling raised his hand, "The matter is not yet clear, Madam Xu does not need to apologize on behalf of the child first."

He stared at Wang Jichuan and asked, "Who struck first?"

Wang Jichuan opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.

Master Cen led three students in through the side door. One of them bowed and said, "Reporting to Headmaster, it was Wang Jichuan who first pushed He Lanqing, causing He Lanqing and Shen Jingque to fall to the ground. Only then did Xu Wanying take action."

The other two nodded in unison.

Bai Heling looked at Wang Jichuan with a scrutinizing gaze, and Wang Jichuan's face turned pale and then red.

Wang Changhe stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said with a smile, "Headmaster, it's common for children to push and shove each other. Jichuan has always been polite and well-behaved, so there must be some misunderstanding."

Before he could finish speaking, Madam Liang couldn't help but question him.

"Does Lord Wang mean that my Qing'er went up there herself and got pushed?"

Wang Changhe's expression changed slightly, but before he could reply, Wang Jichuan said urgently, "It was He Lanqing who first called me a piece of trash, that's why I pushed him."

Madam Liang continued, "My son has always been introverted and rarely speaks outside. He would only stand up and argue with others if he hadn't been pushed to the limit."

He Lanqing also said, "Wang Jichuan spoke ill of the Princess of Shaoning and insulted the ancestors of the Shen family. I couldn't stand it, so I spoke out in retaliation."

Xu Wanying also stood up and said, "I only acted because I saw them push Helan Qing first. They were outnumbered three to one, and now they're accusing us of bullying him?!"

A hint of impatience flashed in Madam Zeng's eyes. "Wanying, you must not be rude in front of the headmaster."

Bai Heling's gaze shifted to Wang Jichuan. "Wang Jichuan, why did you humiliate Shen Jingque?"

Wang Jichuan retorted, "I'm not insulting you, I'm just stating the facts. The Shen family are descendants of disgraced officials."

The Hanmo Studio fell silent for a moment.

All eyes turned to Shen Yan.

Wang Changhe's lips curved into a smile, his expression revealing obvious contempt.

"Headmaster, although what I say may be unpleasant to hear, it is not without reason. The ancestors of the Prince Consort and my Wang family ancestors did have some old connections, which is a well-known fact in the court and among the people."

Shen Jingque's nails dug into her palms, but Shen Yan's hand rested on her shoulder and gently pressed down.

He stepped forward and bowed to Bai Heling.

"Headmaster, may I say a few words?"

Bai Heling nodded. "Please speak, Your Highness."

"As the sages said, sinners are not punished by their families; the sins of fathers, sons, and brothers are not related. This is an ancient system."

"Why should ancestral grievances become a pretext for criticizing children?"

Shen Yan continued, "Young Master Wang was the second-highest scorer in the imperial examination last year, so he must be very familiar with the classics. I don't need to teach him this principle."

Wang Changhe sneered.

"The Prince Consort's status is different now, and he speaks with more authority than before."

Shen Jingque's anger flared up as she listened. "Headmaster, I would also like to say a few words."

Bai Heling raised his chin.

"Regardless of who started it, the students believe that the root of the problem lies with Wang Jichuan."

"In class yesterday, Wang Jichuan first belittled women and questioned the rules of Qishan Academy for admitting female students."

"If he hadn't stirred things up, there would have been no classroom disputes."

"Today he again led people to block the road, brought up the old case of the Shen family's ancestors, and insulted my father."

"If he hadn't blocked the road and started cursing, there wouldn't have been the subsequent physical altercation."

"The student did hit him, but he brought it on himself!"

Wang Changhe's face darkened, and just as he was about to speak, Bai Heling gently tapped the table with his ruler, and the room fell silent.

That's enough.

"I have already inquired about the cause and effect of this matter from other students."

"I have called you all here today only in the hope that you can recognize your own mistakes."

The old man surveyed the room, his voice cold and stern: "Qishan Academy is established by the Imperial Academy specifically for the sons of noble families, a place to cultivate pillars of the nation and ladies of high society. How dare you cause such a ruckus?"

"Wang Jichuan repeatedly provoked others by pushing his classmate first, and was punished by copying the Analects of Confucius and the Standards for Being a Good Student and Child twenty times."

"Shen Jingque, Xu Wanying, and He Lanqing, for acting impulsively and disregarding the rules of the academy, are each punished by copying the 'Standards for Being a Good Student and Child' ten times."

Shen Jingque's lips twitched. Although the full text of the Disciple's Rules is only a thousand words, reading it ten times is not too few.

Bai Heling closed the booklet beside him.

"Only after the copies are completed and sent to the academy for inspection can classes resume. Does anyone have any objections?"

Wang Changhe was very dissatisfied with the punishment, but he only moved his lips and didn't say anything.

Wang Jichuan was just his nephew. If his father hadn't been drunk, he, as the uncle, wouldn't have made this trip. He wouldn't have bothered offending Bai Heling for the sake of someone else's child.

He cupped his hands in greeting to the headmaster, then pulled Wang Jichuan out the door quickly.

The others also dispersed, taking their children home to copy books and discipline them.

The ancient locust trees in the academy are lush with branches and leaves. Sunlight shines through the gaps in the leaves, scattering golden spots on the bluestone ground.

Rong Jing rested one hand behind his head against the tree trunk, while in the other hand he held a mutton-fat jade pendant, twirling it between his fingers.

He watched as the small figure was led away by Shen Yan and disappeared behind the moon gate, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

Then it flipped down from between the branches.

Wenren Du emerged from the shadows and asked.

"Young master, shall we teach that brat surnamed Wang a lesson?"

Rong Jing shook his head, patted the fallen leaves off his sleeve, and smiled with his eyes crinkling.

"Tell me, what do you think scholarly families fear most?"

Wenren Du was stunned for a moment.

Rong Jing turned around, put his hands behind his back, and walked into the depths of the path, his tone nonchalant.

"Go and find out how much debt the eldest son of the Wang family has accumulated over the years, and who he owes it to."