B Plan and a Timely Rescue

To be precise, the door had been kicked open.

Xue Beng stood in the doorway with an arrogant look on his face. Beside him stood an elderly man dressed in a prince's robes, his hair and beard white, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's.

Prince Xue Xing, a prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Beng's uncle, and the man in charge of the royal academy on behalf of the imperial family.

Nezha's mouth twitched.

Why did Xue Beng show up so often? He got beaten up on the street yesterday, and today he had chased them all the way to the Education Committee. Was he made of sticky taffy or something?

Still, jokes aside, Nezha knew perfectly well that Xue Beng showing up here at this particular time could not have happened without Qian Renxue guiding him from the shadows.

He had just been beaten up on the street yesterday, yet today he had already found out they were enrolling at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and even blocked them right outside the Education Committee. The information network was far too efficient. It would have been stranger if no one had tipped him off.

Nezha sighed silently.

Qian Renxue, you really were persistent.

Plan A had failed, so she had arranged Plan B overnight?

Meng Shenji and the other two paid no attention to Xue Beng's arrogance. Heaven Dou Royal Academy had no shortage of spoiled young nobles. What was kicking open a door? They had seen far more outrageous things.

But Prince Xue Xing's appearance surprised them somewhat. This prince usually notified the academy in advance whenever he came. Why had he arrived today without even a word of warning?

Though surprised, Meng Shenji still stepped forward and bowed slightly to the old man in luxurious robes.

"Your Highness, what brings you here?" Meng Shenji stepped forward and bowed slightly.

Prince Xue Xing smiled calmly, his gaze sweeping over Nezha and Xiao Wu.

At the same time, Xue Beng leaned close and whispered a few words into his ear. Once he finished, he stepped aside and stared at the two of them with naked malice.

Xiao Wu had frowned the moment she saw Xue Beng. She had beaten this bastard up just yesterday, and he was already back looking for trouble today. Was he some kind of fly?

If not for the three Soul Douluos sitting in the Education Committee, she would have kicked him in the face already.

Prince Xue Xing withdrew his gaze and asked with feigned puzzlement, "Three Education Committee members, who are these two?"

Although Meng Shenji had noticed Xue Beng's unfriendly expression, he had not connected Prince Xue Xing's arrival to Nezha and Xiao Wu.

After all, would a prince with real authority have nothing better to do than make trouble for two Soul Elders?

Impossible.

He merely assumed Xue Xing was curious and introduced them. "These two are students who will be enrolling this year. Their talents are exceptionally outstanding."

"Exceptionally outstanding?" Prince Xue Xing snorted. "When selecting students, the academy cannot look only at talent. Character must also be considered. If someone's character is rotten, then no matter how great their talent, they are still a menace. It would be better not to accept them at all."

The expressions of Meng Shenji and the other two darkened at once.

With things said so plainly, how could they fail to see that Prince Xue Xing had come with hostile intentions? And the reason was clearly the spoiled imperial prince Xue Beng standing beside him.

But the three Education Committee members were not intimidated.

They were Soul Douluos and figures of real authority within the academy. Though Prince Xue Xing held an exalted position, it would not be easy for him to forcibly revoke the enrollment qualifications of two students in front of them.

Besides, Nezha and Xiao Wu had been recommended by the Crown Prince. No matter how overbearing Xue Xing was, could he truly overpower the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace?

Nezha did not speak either. He wanted to see exactly how Qian Renxue intended to perform this little show she had arranged.

Xiao Wu had already been ready to start cursing, but Nezha discreetly tugged her sleeve, and she swallowed the insult that had reached her lips.

Prince Xue Xing remained completely unaware and continued lecturing in the lofty manner of a prince.

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy is a pillar of the empire, a place that nurtures pillars of talent for the empire. I will never permit arrogant and lawless people to worm their way into it.

I heard from Xue Beng that these two beat him yesterday, on the very day they arrived in Heaven Dou City. No matter how disappointing Xue Beng may be, he is still the Fourth Prince of the empire and represents the dignity of the imperial family. How can he be humiliated so easily?"

Meng Shenji's expression darkened as he was about to refute him—

"Uncle, I beg to differ."

A gentle voice came from outside the door.

Everyone turned around to see Xue Qinghe entering the Education Committee at an unhurried pace, dressed in a moon-white robe and holding a folding fan, a smile on his face.

Sunlight slanted in through the doorway, making it seem as though he were covered in a faint layer of gold.

Qian Renxue. She had finally arrived.

Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing froze at the same time.

They clearly had not known that Nezha and Xiao Wu were connected to Xue Qinghe.

Xue Beng's mouth hung open. The malice on his face had not yet faded, leaving him frozen in a rather comical expression.

Though Prince Xue Xing did not lose his composure as badly as Xue Beng, his brows still furrowed tightly.

Why was the Crown Prince here?

"Your Highness." Meng Shenji was the first to recover, clasping his hands in salute.

Xue Qinghe returned the salute, then walked over to stand beside Nezha and Xiao Wu. Looking at Xue Beng, he said, "I have heard about what happened yesterday as well. Fourth Brother was the one who harassed Miss Xiao Wu on the street first. Getting beaten up was nothing more than what he deserved. If Uncle believes the royal family's dignity has been damaged, perhaps you should first ask Fourth Brother who made the first move."

Xue Beng's face turned pale.

Xue Qinghe did not press the matter further. He turned to Prince Xue Xing, his tone still gentle but carrying unquestionable weight. "Uncle, these two were recommended by me. I can personally vouch for both their talent and their character."

Prince Xue Xing fell silent at those words.

Xue Qinghe was the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace, the legitimate heir apparent.

Though he was a prince with real authority, his standing still fell short compared to that of the firmly established Crown Prince.

It was not worth clashing head-on with the Crown Prince over such a trivial matter involving Xue Beng.

Besides, he knew exactly what kind of person his nephew was. Since Xue Qinghe had spoken, the matter had to be true.

After a moment of silence, Prince Xue Xing clasped his hands. "Since Your Highness has personally guaranteed them, I naturally have no objections. I only hope Your Highness keeps a close eye on these two friends of yours and does not let them cause any more trouble."

With that, he turned and left.

Xue Beng stood there in a daze for a moment. He looked at Xue Qinghe, then at Nezha and Xiao Wu. The expression on his face changed several times before he finally followed Prince Xue Xing away with his tail between his legs.

The Education Committee fell quiet once more.

The three committee members exchanged glances and all breathed a sigh of relief. Meng Shenji put his smile back on, about to resume the topic that had been interrupted—

"My apologies, you two." Xue Qinghe spoke first, his tone sincere. "Fourth Brother has been spoiled since childhood and acts without restraint. Uncle is also overly protective of him. He has caused you trouble."

Xiao Wu snorted. "He really should be taught a proper lesson."

Xue Qinghe choked for a moment, but he did not get angry. He merely smiled helplessly.

Over the past few years, she had kept in touch with Nezha and Xiao Wu through letters and had long understood Xiao Wu's temperament. This girl spoke bluntly and never beat around the bush.

"Miss Xiao Wu is right." Xue Qinghe nodded. "I will certainly have a proper word with him later."

Nezha watched Qian Renxue put on her act and gave her performance full marks in his heart.

She had clearly used Xue Beng as a pawn herself, yet her apology now sounded utterly sincere. Still, he did not expose her. He merely clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for coming to our rescue."