Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Fan Tong was found by Zhi Xue and taken away. At first, everyone thought it was just a routine visit, but only Gao Zhao knew that the end of the world was coming...

He and Qin Hui chatted discreetly, mainly discussing what the Biyong Doctor had said in the lecture hall that day, reinterpreting "Pan Geng's Relocation of Yin" to argue that the monarch should resolutely implement the new policies.

Qin Hui was quite learned, and Gao Zhao listened with great interest. Su Mian also chimed in with a few words, and the discussion was very harmonious and lively.

Just then, a student peered out from the doorway, winking at the three of them, and said, "Hey, did you know that Fan Tong from your dorm is in trouble again?"

"Ah!" Gao Zhao exclaimed in surprise, quickly standing up and asking, "What happened? Did someone bully him?"

Seeing his appearance, the student was not surprised. They had known each other for some time and everyone knew that Gao Zhao was always kind-hearted and loyal.

"No, no..." The student waved his hands repeatedly, walked in, and said with a strange expression, "He's the one who bullied others!"

Upon hearing this, the group exchanged bewildered glances. Gao Zhao shook his head firmly and said, "Impossible! Although I haven't known Fan Tong for long, I know his character. While he may be a bit snobbish, he wouldn't bully people for no reason!"

"As the saying goes, you can know a person's face but not their heart. Gongming, you are too honest and straightforward, unaware of the treacherous nature of people!"

The student approached the three men, sat down beside them, and said in a low voice, "When I passed by the gate just now, I saw two women outside shouting that they were looking for Fan Tong. The younger one was crying her eyes out, looking so pitiful. It was obvious that she had been taken advantage of and then abandoned."

"Ah! No way!" The three of them were shocked. Even the roommate who usually only cared about studying put down his book and listened attentively.

"What's wrong with that!" the student said with a look of disdain. "You all remember what Fan Tong caused last time, right? That woman was the one who was seduced and then abandoned, and she came to his door..."

"That's different!" Gao Zhao argued, "Last time it was said to be a misunderstanding, and the woman herself admitted that she mistook someone for someone else..."

"That's not right! Once might be a coincidence, but twice it must be inevitable! Otherwise, why would they choose him out of the more than two thousand princes of the Biyong?"

The student spoke with certainty, sneering, "As for last time, who knows if he promised that woman some favors to get rid of her? He's only been behaving himself for a few days, and he's already back to his old ways!"

Gao Zhao was speechless, opening his mouth but unsure how to defend Fan Tong, but still said in a muffled voice, "Although what you said makes a lot of sense, I still believe Fan Tong wouldn't do such a thing!"

The student shook his head and chuckled, patting Gao Zhao on the shoulder and saying, "You're just too kind-hearted!"

"Hey, did you guys know Fan Tong got into trouble?" At that moment, another student rushed over, his face full of eagerness to share.

The student who had spoken earlier said smugly, "I already told them, they're just here to seduce respectable women and then abandon them!"

"What virtuous woman?!" The new student dropped another bombshell: "She's a prostitute from the nearby brothel. Fan Tong not only patronized her several times for free, but also swindled seven hundred strings of cash from her!"

"What!" Everyone in the room was shocked and stood up at the same time, and an uproar ensued!

Seven hundred strings of cash!

This number is ten times more shocking than being abandoned after starting something!

"This...beast!"

Upon hearing this number, everyone lost their composure, their eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred, a shared sense of indignation and grief.

What right does Fan Tong have?!

The student also said indignantly, "Fan Tong used his family background to trick the prostitute into saying he would redeem her, but then said he didn't have enough money, demanded seven hundred strings of cash from her, and then ran away!"

The crowd was even more furious. These students of the Imperial Academy received only about ten strings of cash a year from the government, yet Fan Tong, with the face of a scholar and sweet talk, managed to swindle seven hundred strings of cash from a courtesan!

Is this even human?

Qin Hui's face darkened as he said, "If they really were swindled out of this much money, that's a major case, a serious one, and I'm afraid it won't end well!"

"Indeed, this matter has alarmed the Director of the Imperial Academy, and the Assistant Director of the Imperial Academy has already rushed over!" the student said solemnly. "It might even alarm the Kaifeng Prefecture!"

Gao Zhao frowned and said, "What kind of situation is this? Does that prostitute think she can get the Kaifeng Prefecture to investigate our Biyong Academy students with just a word?"

Qin Hui said, "Seven hundred strings of cash is already a major case..."

"But we still need to prove it was Fan Tong who did it!" Gao Zhao retorted, adhering to the principle of siding with family regardless of right or wrong. "What if the prostitute, unable to get money, deliberately slandered him?"

"If Fan Tong is arrested and interrogated by the Kaifeng Prefecture because of this, what will happen to his reputation and future?"

Gao Zhao stood up, looked around at the crowd, and said loudly, "Gentlemen, this precedent must not be set. Otherwise, if unscrupulous individuals use this as a pretext to extort money from us students, what will we do then?"

His words were forceful, frank, and earnest.

The group exchanged glances, their expressions all grave.

As students of the Imperial Academy were members of the literati and held a noble status, they cherished their reputation above all else. Once a precedent was set, a courtesan could file a lawsuit and arrest a student of the Imperial Academy.

In the future, if anyone harbors evil intentions, or if a prostitute is greedy and extorts money, or if a scoundrel from the streets uses the institution to frame someone, or if someone causes trouble at the school or takes the case to the government, even if no evidence is found in the end and the person is exonerated, their reputation as a scholar will be tainted and their future will be greatly damaged.

"Gongming's words make sense!" Everyone nodded in agreement. Su Mian then asked, "So, in your opinion, what should be done? And if this was indeed done by Fan Tong, what should be done?"

"Then let the Kaifeng Prefecture investigate the facts before arresting him!" Gao Zhao said solemnly, "Otherwise, if we easily let the authorities take him away, Fan Tong today will be like you and me tomorrow!"

"Well said!" a student shouted. "Regardless of whether Fan Tong actually committed such a despicable act, we should still support him!"

"Let's go together!" The others responded one after another, and together they left the dormitory to tell other students about the necessity of supporting Fan Tong.

These idle students, who were originally cursing Fan Tong for being despicable and shameless, even swindling money from prostitutes, instantly switched sides upon hearing his words defending their reputation as imperial students, and rushed out in droves.

Fan Tong is not important; what matters is the dignity of these imperial students!

As a scholar, even if I commit a crime, I should be treated differently from those commoners!

In no time, people called out to their friends and rushed into the dining halls, shouting their names. Soon, a large number of people responded, and as they walked, the crowd grew larger and larger.

When they arrived at the Biyong Gate, there was already a huge crowd!

"What are you doing?" The outer official of the Biyong Gate was shocked when he saw this and hurriedly shouted.

One of the students immediately stepped forward and spoke out righteously about their demands.

"Nonsense!" the Biyong Cheng roared. "Who told you to send Fan Tong to Kaifeng Prefecture? If you want to arrest someone, you need solid evidence!"

Upon hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief and praised the Biyong Chancellor for his great understanding and righteousness!

Gao Zhao stood in the crowd, tiptoeing as he looked at Xiang Nu, who was crying with tears streaming down her face. He sighed inwardly, "She was living a good life, what a pity!"

Turning his head, he saw Xu Qing standing in front of him, his fists clenched, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at Fan Tong through gritted teeth.