The First Marquis of Leisure

"Young Master Bai, I'm so sorry!"

Chen Ping was the first to back down, and Bai Tianque was once again invincible, his power reaching its zenith.

Even the emperor had to be cautious and chose to remain silent about the annulment of the engagement during the reign of the emperor.

These scions of noble families simply cannot afford to offend the current Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion.

In the past, I might have made a few sarcastic remarks.

But Bai Xinghe now seems like a completely different person; he's ruthless, highly skilled, and decisive.

"Young Master Bai, we will never oppose you again."

"Heh." Bai Xinghe chuckled, then his face darkened, and he roared, "Kneel down!"

Chen Ping and the others hesitated.

"Didn't you hear me tell you to kneel down?"

Chen Ping and the others exchanged glances, and although unwilling, they still knelt down in public.

Only Li Yuan had some backbone.

"Eunuch Li, what's wrong? You think you're so tough?"

Li Yuan, now completely reckless, roared, "Bai Xinghe, fuck your mother! So what if your father won the battle? My father is still the Prime Minister of Great Zhao, second only to the Emperor!"

"Prime Minister, is that so great?" Bai Xinghe walked step by step toward Li Yuan.

He knew that political power comes from the barrel of a gun, and that whoever held military power was the boss.

"Looks like you really won't admit it until you see the coffin!"

"What do you want?" Li Yuan roared.

"Of course, I'm going to take your dog's life!"

"You dare!"

Suddenly, Bai Xinghe grabbed Bai Heng's sword from the side and slashed down at Li Yuan's neck.

"stop!"

"You brat, how dare you!"

Li Taibei was shocked and rushed over without thinking.

However, it was all too late. With Li Yuan's head falling to the ground, everything was set in stone.

"Bai Xinghe, I'm going to kill you! Aaaaaah!"

Li Taibei roared in fury, but was restrained by the servants of the Prime Minister's residence.

No one expected Bai Xinghe to be so decisive, taking action without hesitation and beheading Li Yuan right in front of Li Taibei and some ministers!

Chen Ping and the other scions of prominent families were trembling, gasping for breath, secretly relieved that they had chickened out in time, otherwise they might have been the ones losing their heads.

"As for you clowns, listen up! If you dare to oppose me again, I will definitely kill you!"

"Get out of here!"

Chen Ping and the others felt as if they had been granted a pardon and scrambled away as fast as they could.

"Bai Xinghe, if I do not avenge your son, I swear I am not worthy of being called a man!"

Li Taibei clenched his fists, his old face turning red, his eyes filled with malice.

"You old scoundrel, I'm waiting!" Bai Xinghe responded forcefully, showing no weakness.

.......

Zhenguo Marquis's Mansion

The house was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and the atmosphere was festive. Everyone was celebrating their survival and rejoicing at Bai Tianque's re-deification.

After resting for two hours, Bai Heng went directly to find Bai Xinghe.

At this moment, Bai Xinghe was very relaxed, lying on a bench.

"Young Master!"

Bai Heng called out.

Bai Xinghe sat up and smiled, "Uncle Heng, you've rested enough already?"

Bai Heng nodded and said, "Besides delivering the news of victory, the general has another matter to discuss with me regarding my return to the capital first!"

"Uncle Heng, please speak."

Bai Heng was stunned for a moment. Originally, Bai Tianque had considered that the princess was going to marry Bai Xinghe, but Bai Xinghe had been naughty since childhood and had ink stains on his chest.

Therefore, he was specially assigned to personally take Bai Xinghe to learn from Zhang Chunqiu.

But to his surprise, Bai Xinghe had already broken off his engagement with the eldest princess, so he was now unsure whether to continue.

"Uncle Heng, we're all family, so please speak freely."

Seeing Bai Heng's hesitant expression, Bai Xinghe spoke frankly.

Bai Heng shook his head and then relayed the instructions he had been given during the day.

Upon hearing that he was to study under the great Confucian scholar Zhang Chunqiu, Bai Xinghe immediately showed a strange expression.

Because Zhang Chunqiu had previously given him a severe lesson and looked down on him as an uneducated and good-for-nothing spendthrift.

"Young master, Mr. Zhang is the tutor of three emperors. Although the Marquis's mansion is currently at its zenith, Mr. Zhang may not be willing to give him face. You must be humble and remember not to contradict Mr. Zhang!"

Bai Heng offered a reminder.

"I know all that. Since it's Father's order, then go."

After thinking it over, Bai Xinghe readily agreed.

He refused to believe that, as a doctoral student from a 985 university, even if he wasn't an expert in ancient and modern times, his knowledge base in this era couldn't be inferior to that of a great Confucian scholar.

.......

The Zhang Mansion in the capital

Zhang Chunqiu was highly respected and held an incredibly high status during the reigns of three emperors.

Even the current emperor, Zhao Tianhe, would address him respectfully as Mr. Zhang.

At this moment, the Zhang residence is filled with the fragrance of books and the wisps of smoke rising from it, forming a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

Zhang Chunqiu, with his white hair, was sitting at his desk reading ancient books, and several scholars were sitting below him.

There were men and women, some of them nobles of high status, and others of impoverished commoners.

Zhang Chunqiu adhered to the principle of teaching without discrimination, accepting students based solely on their character and talent, without paying attention to their background.

Therefore, he was renowned for his talent, and even in the most powerful state of Yan, Zhang Chunqiu had a great reputation.

At that moment, several students in the audience were whispering and discussing the matter.

Zhang Chunqiu steadied himself and said sternly, "When reading the classics, one must be single-minded and not distracted!"

Soon a girl stood up. She was about twenty years old, with delicate features and stunning beauty.

"Mr. Zhang, it's not that we haven't diligently studied the classics, but rather that a momentous event has occurred at the execution ground today!"

"Oh?" Zhang Chunqiu said calmly, "Could it be related to that notorious spendthrift son of the Marquis's mansion again?"

"Yes, Mr. Zhang." The girl immediately recounted everything that had happened at the execution ground.

Zhang Chunqiu listened intently, shaking his head, frowning, and sighing repeatedly.

"How could Bai Wuque, who was well-versed in military strategy and a courteous man, have taught such an unruly person?"

"Mr. Zhang, I have heard that Bai Xinghe is not only unruly and vulgar, but also ruthless. A few days ago, he castrated Young Master Li, and today he personally killed Young Master Li. He forced Young Master Chen and Young Master Wang to kneel down in public before he stopped."

Another man stood up. This man was Zhang Zhi, the eldest disciple of the Zhang family and Zhang Chunqiu's only grandson.

"So that's how it is. This Bai Xinghe is indeed ruthless. We are all scholars, and we should stay away from such vulgar people."

In no time, many students, based on hearsay, launched a barrage of criticism against Bai Xinghe.

Just then, a servant hurried in.

"Master, we have a guest."

Zhang Chunqiu waved his hand, unusually calm: "I have already closed my doors to visitors and sent them away."

The servant looked troubled and whispered, "Master, we can't get rid of him."

"Who is it?" Zhang Chunqiu asked curiously.

"It's Bai Xinghe, the heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion!"

Bai Xinghe!

Upon hearing the name, everyone was somewhat surprised, as they had just been discussing him.

"What is this good-for-nothing doing in my humble abode?"

"not see!"

Zhang Chunqiu had a terrible impression of Bai Xinghe, and immediately ordered the people in his mansion to be firm and drive him away.

"Oh, Mr. Zhang, since your servants won't let me in, then I'll just have to take the unconventional route myself."

Just then, Bai Xinghe's teasing voice rang out from the courtyard wall of the Zhang residence.