Schemes and Intrigues

In a luxurious villa somewhere on the outskirts of Cambridgeshire.

Cecil leaned back in his chair, his face dark as he listened to a middle-aged man speak.

"Young Master Cecil, I have formally submitted an application to the Cambridge Student Management Committee to expel Bruce Li."

"I discussed the matter with the dean of Trinity College, and he has agreed."

The speaker was Bellam, the dean's assistant at Trinity College. He was responsible for assisting the dean with all manner of affairs and wielded considerable real power.

He had only obtained this position because Cecil's family had once shown him favor.

Thus, Bellam obeyed Cecil's every word and had also helped him deal with plenty of dirty business.

"Damn it. Expelling that stinking yellow-skinned monkey alone won't soothe the hatred in my heart."

"I want him utterly disgraced, thrown out of Britain forever—thrown out of Europe!" Cecil said through gritted teeth, his face filled with fury.

He would never forget the humiliation he had suffered that day.

For quite some time now, he had not gone to school at all. Instead, he had hidden in the villa, venting his anger.

Bellam could not help but tremble inwardly as he watched the enraged Cecil before him.

He was afraid that if he failed to satisfy this young master, he might very well lose his position.

After all, he had neither power nor influence. At Cambridge, where powerful figures gathered, he could only tread carefully.

With that thought, he tentatively continued, "However, the situation at present is not optimistic. Although the dean of Trinity College has agreed to this matter..."

"The director of the Cavendish Laboratory, Professor Thomson, is firmly opposed."

"I heard that during an internal board meeting, Thomson became emotional and got into a heated argument with the dean."

"I fear that may not be good news."

After speaking, Bellam secretly glanced at Cecil, hoping he had not angered this little tyrant.

After hearing this, Cecil was still exceptionally furious, yet an inexplicable trace of calm appeared on his face.

He stroked his chin, seeming to speak to Bellam while also muttering to himself. "Thomson... he's no simple man."

"His teacher is the 3rd Baron Rayleigh, a great scientist even my grandfather respects, and he holds a title as well."

"Of noble standing, exceptional learning, and immense prestige."

"Thomson is his finest student. If that fellow opposes us, it truly will be troublesome."

"Fxxk!"

As he said this, the fury in Cecil's eyes flared even brighter. He clenched his fist and slammed it viciously against the chair beneath him.

By relying on his own credentials alone, he was nowhere near qualified to order Thomson around.

He suddenly realized that he could not handle Li Qiwei at all. The matter had run into a massive obstacle.

"Damn it! Why does that yellow-skinned monkey deserve Thomson's favor? I heard Thomson even let him work in the laboratory."

Bellam stood to one side, scarcely daring to breathe. He had looked into these matters as well.

It could not be helped. Li Qiwei was simply too famous.

Ever since he had made that wager with Lord Kelvin and returned to Cambridge, he had kept stirring up one incident after another, his fame growing ever greater.

He could no longer be expelled as casually as an ordinary student, with some random excuse.

They needed more than enough solid evidence to bring him down.

For a moment, the atmosphere fell silent.

Cecil's gaze was venomous as he pondered something. Then, all of a sudden, he looked at Bellam and said, "Bellam, you've been a dean's assistant for quite some time now. Haven't you ever thought about climbing a little higher?"

As he spoke, Cecil deliberately watched Bellam's expression, trying to peer into his heart.

Bellam's expression shifted slightly, his heart pounding wildly.

Of course he wanted to. He desperately wanted to climb higher.

He did not dare covet the position of dean of Trinity College, since it required an exceptionally high level of scholarship.

But the position of executive vice dean was what Bellam dreamed of.

As vice dean, he would be able to manage the entire college and all student affairs. That authority was beyond comparison with that of an assistant.

Bellam's breathing grew heavier. Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he cautiously asked, "What does Young Master Cecil want me to do?"

Cecil gave a soft chuckle and said disdainfully, "What I need is for you to find a way to deal with Bruce Li—not for me to teach you how to do it. Understand?"

"As long as you can get that fellow to leave in a reasonable and lawful manner, I can promise you this: I'll use my family's connections to help you move up."

"The prerequisite is that what you do must satisfy me."

Cecil was in no hurry, watching the other man with a teasing look in his eyes.

At that moment, Bellam's mind raced wildly. With power so close at hand, he could not help but grow excited.

Suddenly, a sinister smile curled across his lips, and he said ingratiatingly:

"How about this, Young Master Cecil? Starting in mid-June, the final proficiency examinations for every course will begin. I'll make the arrangements."

"I guarantee we'll catch Bruce Li cheating on the spot and saddle him with the stigma of academic misconduct."

"That way, the college will have more than enough reason to expel him. Even if Thomson wants to protect him, there'll be nothing he can do."

"And no university anywhere in Europe will dare accept him again."

"A student who cheats on exams—and a man from the Qing Dynasty at that—will never find a foothold in academic circles."

Sure enough, such a vicious scheme instantly changed Cecil's expression.

He burst into laughter, rose to his feet, and began pacing back and forth like a madman.

The thought of Li Qiwei being caught cheating on the spot—his embarrassment, helplessness, and fury—sent Cecil into a thrill of excitement. He even licked his lips.

"Ha ha ha! What a brilliant plan—destroy Bruce Li in the field he excels at most."

"Bellam, you truly are a genius. Making you an assistant to the dean has really been beneath you."

Bellam nodded along with a fawning smile, utterly without shame. All he could think about was successfully rising to power once the matter was done.

Cecil looked at Bellam with extreme contempt, but his face revealed nothing.

At last, he patted Bellam on the shoulder and said temptingly, "Do this well, Bellam. The family has high hopes for you!"

Then he sent the man away and sat alone in the room in silence.

As the prime minister's grandson, Cecil was not nearly as simple-minded as he appeared.

He had previously sent people to secretly investigate Li Qiwei's background, and the results had greatly shocked him.

Li Qiwei's family was considered a rather powerful great clan even within the Qing Dynasty. They were not someone to be casually kneaded and molded.

Therefore, with his keen political instincts, he would never personally move against Li Qiwei. He left everything to his subordinates.

That way, even if traces were left behind, none could be traced back to him.

Thus, as he watched Bellam gradually walk away outside the window, a strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Meanwhile, after Bellam returned to Cambridge University, he immediately locked himself inside his office.

He needed to carefully weigh the plans ahead and strive to make them flawless, leaving not a single seam.

Fortunately, as the assistant to the dean, he held considerable authority over the final examinations.

As long as he handled a few key people and opened up a few crucial links, he could carry it out without the gods knowing or the ghosts noticing.

"Heh heh, my position as vice dean is coming."

Bellam's obscene, chilling laughter echoed through the room.

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