The students of Zhiru Academy were something else entirely.
Recently, Su Yizhi, the disciple Great Scholar Fan Huaxin had taken in, had dazzled everyone at all kinds of speaking events.
He had won the adoration of countless students, and even many County Princesses from the Imperial Academy had taken a liking to him.
If the next Imperial Court session weren't so close, he would have wanted to try everything from boycotting classes to marching in the streets and staging sit-ins.
He could have built up a great deal of renown among the officials, laying a solid foundation for his future career in government.
Among all the students, aside from a handful whose families had strictly forbidden them from discussing the matter,
the only one who hadn't joined in was Li Qinghan, who had had indirect dealings with Mo Yunxuan.
She had even begun considering how to ask her father to transfer her to another school.
Though Li Qinghan had never seen Mo Yunxuan with her own eyes, she could still feel how terrifying he was.
Jun Tianxiao had once been a good-for-nothing playboy, but that hadn't stopped him from being the Empress's favored courtier.
It was said that at the last Imperial Court session, the Empress had been willing to damage the relationship between the imperial family and the Wei State Duke Mansion for his sake,
all to secure him the position of Commander of Left Wei Guard. That was enough to show just how highly she regarded him.
Yet a favored courtier like him had died inexplicably in the Left Wei Guard Barracks, leaving no trace of his remains.
The Empress hadn't even investigated. She had hurriedly buried him under the pretense that he had died of illness, and the grave held only his clothes and hat.
As for the Wei State Duke Mansion, which might have been the real culprit, she hadn't looked into it at all, letting it do as it pleased.
It was hard not to read into what that meant.
At Yaochi Holy Land, in a residence for core disciples.
Xiao Yumei looked at the message that had just arrived from the Dagan Imperial City.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, and tears streamed down her face as she gritted her teeth and growled:
"Mo Yunxuan! You dared to kill my Chen Gege. I'll capture your soul and refine it into a lamp wick."
"Let it suffer the searing flames day and night!"
"Let it beg for life and be denied death!"
At that moment, a man outside happened to pass by her door and heard the commotion within.
Thinking something had happened to Xiao Yumei, he called out loudly:
"Junior Sister Xiao, I thought I heard you crying. Did something happen?"
From the voice outside, she knew exactly who it was without even guessing.
The person outside was Chen Xuan, the grandson of Third Elder Chen Feng.
He was kind-hearted and talented, but in Xiao Yumei's eyes, Ye Chen was the only perfect man.
So whenever Chen Xuan tried to win her over, she rejected him without mercy.
Although Third Elder was rather protective of his own, he was also reasonable and cared about his reputation. He would never help his grandson bully women.
So even though she had always turned down Chen Xuan's advances, Third Elder had never blamed her or tried to make things difficult for her.
But Chen Xuan's appearance gave Xiao Yumei an idea.
Without wiping the tear tracks from her face or fixing her disheveled hair, she opened the door slowly, tears still glistening in her eyes.
Chen Xuan, who had been waiting outside in agony, hurriedly looked into the room as soon as the door opened.
The first thing he saw was Xiao Yumei looking at him with tear-filled eyes, her expression pitiful and heartbreaking.
She wore a despondent look he had never seen before. It nearly shattered his heart.
"Junior Sister Xiao, what's wrong? If something's troubling you, tell your senior brother. I'll always have your back!"
Seeing how earnestly he spoke, Xiao Yumei hurriedly covered her face and sobbed:
"Senior Brother Chen, I just received word that my childhood friend from back home was killed for no reason."
"The thought that someone who was alive just moments ago is gone now—it hurt so much that I couldn't help crying. Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother."
Hearing this, Chen Xuan was so happy he could have burst. He wanted nothing more than to run out and thank the murderer.
He knew who Xiao Yumei's childhood friend was, of course. It was none other than her childhood sweetheart, Ye Chen!
He also knew that Xiao Yumei had always refused to be with him because of Ye Chen.
If Ye Chen hadn't found a Vice Dean to back him up after joining Taihua Academy, Chen Xuan would have made sure he learned that getting by in this world depended on having power!
Now that Ye Chen was gone, did that mean he had a chance?
If he avenged Ye Chen and soothed Junior Sister Xiao's grief, would she give herself to him?
At the thought, Chen Xuan could no longer keep calm. He stared fixedly at Xiao Yumei.
"Junior Sister Xiao, don't worry! Your enemy is my enemy. Tell me who did it, and I'll kill him for you!"
Feeling the heat of his gaze, Xiao Yumei knew her prey had taken the bait.
"Senior Brother Chen, the man was Mo Yunxuan, the current Duke of Wei of the Dagan Dynasty."
The moment he heard that name, Chen Xuan shuddered.
He knew the name Mo Yunxuan well!
He had just heard it from his grandfather yesterday. Apparently, Mo Yunxuan had slaughtered the students and teachers of an entire academy. He was utterly ruthless.
But the older generation loved to speak in riddles.
His grandfather hadn't explained the details, only emphasized that Mo Yunxuan was someone they must not provoke.
Chen Xuan was a little wary, but he could accept it. He just had to consider how many people to bring.
After all, the place belonged to the Dagan Dynasty. Though the various Holy Lands had a higher concentration of powerful figures than the imperial dynasties,
if the Dagan Dynasty truly resolved to attack Yaochi Holy Land, it could still drown the Holy Land in blood and nearly wipe it out.
What he had to figure out now was how, without alerting the Great Dry Empress,
to capture Mo Yunxuan and make him apologize to Junior Sister Xiao.
Killing him outright was out of the question. That would break the rules,
and inevitably provoke public outrage.
Even if the Empress didn't hold it against them in the end, the Civil and Military Officials would do everything they could to bring about an attack on Yaochi Holy Land.
Seeing Chen Xuan hesitate, Xiao Yumei assumed he had lost his nerve.
In a pinched voice, she spoke again: "If Senior Brother Chen thinks it's too much trouble, then I won't bother you."
As she spoke, she made as if to close the door.
Seeing this, Chen Xuan immediately agreed. "Revenge! We absolutely have to avenge him."
But less than a second later, he changed his tune.
"But this isn't as simple as you think. We need to take our time and plan—"
"Bang!"
Chen Xuan stared at the tightly shut door and swallowed a few times, looking rather awkward.
"Junior Sister Xiao, um, I'll go back and ask my grandfather to think of a way for you. Don't be angry!"
"It wouldn't be good for your health to get upset!"
He gazed at the door for several seconds before finally leaving, reluctant to go.
Inside, Xiao Yumei sensed Chen Xuan leaving. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and her eyes held not a trace of warmth.
Several days had passed since the incident at Taihua Academy.
Now, Mo Yunxuan stood once again in the square outside the main hall of the Imperial Court.
He was no longer as awkward and forlorn as he had been the first time.
His gaze wandered casually over the Civil and Military Officials around him.
The military officials met his eyes and gave him a slight nod. They were neither warm nor cold, but at least they acknowledged him.
The civil officials, however, all wore haughty expressions, as if they would sooner die than stand alongside a thief.
It was obvious that Mo Yunxuan was the thief they meant!
If this had happened half a month ago, he would have pretended not to notice and jotted their names down in his little book afterward.
Now, he simply returned their looks with scorn and answered with a derisive smile.
The civil officials who watched him in secret were so furious they muttered under their breath: "What a disgrace to all that is scholarly!"
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