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"S-so, I should report truthfully to His Majesty that Lord Zhu is being beaten by his classmates, and come back for him once they've finished, is that right?"

"..." He had no objection to that way of reporting things, but Wang Qi and the others...

Thud.

Sure enough, Wang Qi immediately released his grip on Zhu Bafu's collar and dropped to his knees before Xiaodan, along with the Academy Students behind him.

"Eunuch Xiaodan, you've misunderstood. We weren't beating Lord Zhu."

"Huh? But just now, you were clearly..."

"Ahahaha, that's just how fellow students greet one another. Isn't that right, Lord Zhu?"

"..." Zhu Bafu rolled his eyes, neither confirming nor denying it.

"But I don't understand what sort of greeting involves grabbing Lord Zhu's collar?"

It seemed this little eunuch was no easy person to brush off. Was she still not going to let them go? Zhu Bafu studied her with interest, but she was short, and her oversized hat covered her so thoroughly that he really couldn't make anything out.

"His collar... uh, the reason I touched Lord Zhu's collar was... Lord Zhu has such fair, delicate skin, just like a girl, so I couldn't resist sneaking a touch. It was an affectionate caress between fellow students, an affectionate caress!" Like a desperate patient seeking any doctor, Wang Qi blurted out whatever came to mind in his panic.

"Pfft!" Zhu Bafu nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. If Wang Qi wanted to clear his own name, he should just do that—couldn't he leave Zhu Bafu's sex out of it? "Hey! Who are you calling girly? Believe me, I'll beat you to death!" He hurried to display his manly spirit, but Wang Qi promptly seized the opening.

"Look, Eunuch Xiaodan, look! This is how we Academy Students usually