Invincible Under Heaven?

The Imperial College.

Great Hua's prestigious seat of learning.

Countless powerful figures at court had walked out of these gates, climbing their way up step by step.

Of course, countless scions of influential families had also been sent here through every means their elders could devise, merely to acquire a measure of scholarly prestige.

At that moment.

Outside the Imperial College, a carriage slowly came to a halt.

"Young Lord, Miss Li, we've arrived at the Imperial College!"

As Zhang Xinnian's respectful voice rang out, the carriage curtain was lifted.

Jiang Xiaobai poked his head out and looked ahead, surprise immediately flickering across his face.

"So this is the Imperial College?"

Before him towered an imposing gateway. Its vermilion doors were thick and stately, stone beasts stood silently on either side, and a plaque hung high above. The bold, weighty strokes of its three characters radiated a solemnity that swept straight toward him.

Looking farther inside, he could just make out courtyard after courtyard, their intersecting eaves rising and falling, blue-green walls and gray tiles stretching into a continuous expanse. Ancient trees towered in the distance, and he almost felt he could smell the fragrance of ink even through the gates.

"Now that's impressive!"

Jiang Xiaobai could not help exclaiming.

Then Jiang Xiaobai turned his gaze toward Li Zhiwei, seated beside him, and curled his lips slightly. "Be honest. You brought me to the Imperial College for another reason too, didn't you?"

Indeed, from what he knew of Li Zhiwei, she could not possibly have brought him here simply to see how his essay had fared.

There had to be something else behind it, right?

At Jiang Xiaobai's words, Li Zhiwei's eyes visibly flickered, but she quickly averted her gaze and said softly, "No."

"No?"

Jiang Xiaobai looked skeptical, clearly unconvinced.

Seeing this, Li Zhiwei paused before speaking again. "I just... wanted to bring you to meet someone."

"Who?"

"Last year's top graduate."

Li Zhiwei explained, "He now serves as a teaching assistant at the Imperial College. He also helps teach the students etiquette and composition."

"You're entering the palace for an audience with His Majesty tomorrow. If you meet him beforehand, you can at least learn some of the proper etiquette, so you don't make any mistakes before the emperor."

Jiang Xiaobai froze for a moment after hearing this, then his expression filled with unmistakable emotion. "Wei'er, how are you so wonderful?"

"You've put so much thought into my imperial audience!"

"You... you're not angry?"

Li Zhiwei was somewhat surprised by Jiang Xiaobai's response.

After all, an ordinary man would have felt at least a little uncomfortable upon hearing that she wanted him to meet another outstanding man, especially to learn etiquette and avoid mistakes. He might even have felt he was losing face.

Yet Jiang Xiaobai showed not the slightest displeasure. Instead, he had immediately recognized the care behind her actions.

That rather exceeded Li Zhiwei's expectations.

"Heh."

Jiang Xiaobai smiled. "I'm not that hidebound. You came here for my sake, so why would I be angry?"

"Who... who did this for you?"

At Jiang Xiaobai's words, Li Zhiwei's lovely face beneath her veil grew warm again. She immediately glared at him and said quietly, "I just don't want you disgracing the Chancellor's Residence!"

Having said that, Li Zhiwei seemed afraid Jiang Xiaobai would continue teasing her, so she simply reached out, lifted the curtain, and prepared to get out first.

Just then, however, Jiang Xiaobai suddenly spoke again.

"Go on ahead. I'll come in a little later!"

Li Zhiwei paused and turned back to Jiang Xiaobai, clear puzzlement entering her expression. Then she said, "You probably won't get in on your own."

"What?"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled slightly. "Worried about me?"

"Hmph!"

Li Zhiwei gave a soft snort and stopped responding to him altogether. She stepped straight out of the carriage and headed toward the Imperial College's gates.

Upon reaching the entrance, Li Zhiwei lingered briefly and exchanged a few quiet words with the guards.

Only then did she step inside.

Through the curtain, Jiang Xiaobai watched the entire scene, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

Indeed.

This woman sounded cold, but when it came to actually doing things, she was more attentive than anyone.

Without her putting in a word beforehand, the sudden arrival of the "Capital City's Number One Scoundrel" at the Imperial College might well have left him unable to get through the gates.

With that thought, Jiang Xiaobai remained in the carriage for a little longer.

Once he judged that enough time had passed, he finally climbed out at an unhurried pace.

As he walked forward, he glanced at Zhang Xinnian beside him and said, "I'm putting on an act this time, so... you need to act arrogant too!"

"Arrogant?"

Hearing this, Zhang Xinnian could not help asking, "How arrogant?"

"Like you're invincible under heaven!"

Jiang Xiaobai spoke casually.

"Invincible under heaven?"

Zhang Xinnian shuddered, then nodded lightly. "Don't worry, Young Lord. I understand. I'll play the part perfectly!"

"Good. I believe in you!"

Jiang Xiaobai smiled, a sharp glint flickering in his eyes.

The Imperial College had no shortage of talented scholars, but there were undoubtedly even more descendants of powerful families studying here.

His reputation already preceded him, so naturally, once he went inside, he had to stay true to his established persona.

Only then... could he avoid stirring the grass and startling the snake too soon.

Soon, Jiang Xiaobai led the way to the entrance. He looked up at the high-hanging plaque once more before heading inside.

The guards at the entrance did not stop him.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaobai grew even more certain.

It seemed Li Zhiwei really had put in a word for him just now.

Otherwise, given his identity, the people here might not have let him in so easily.

At that thought, the corners of Jiang Xiaobai's mouth lifted again.

"This woman... she's actually pretty nice."

Smiling, Jiang Xiaobai stepped into the Imperial College.

The moment he entered, the view opened up before him.

Within the Imperial College, courtyards unfolded one after another, connected by winding corridors.

Orderly school buildings lined both sides, with bluestone paving underfoot and ancient cypresses casting shade. Here and there stood clusters of inscribed steles, their lettering either vigorous and powerful or archaic and austere, clearly the work of renowned masters from generations past.

Not far away, several lecture halls stood side by side, their entrances spacious and plaques hanging beneath their eaves, exuding an indescribable air of refined dignity and solemnity.

Even the air seemed faintly scented with ink.

What surprised Jiang Xiaobai, however, was that despite the Imperial College's considerable size, there did not seem to be many students.

Throughout his walk inside, he had seen only a scattered handful of people.

Just as he was puzzling over this, Zhang Xinnian, walking beside him, suddenly said, "Young Lord, watch out!"

"Hm?"

Jiang Xiaobai looked up and saw a young attendant rushing straight toward him.

Fortunately, his reactions were swift, and he immediately stepped aside. Strangely, however, the attendant veered toward him again.

Thud!

Caught off guard, the two collided. Only with Zhang Xinnian's support did Jiang Xiaobai steady himself.

Looking up, he saw someone who appeared to be a young scholar's attendant.

At that moment, the attendant was not looking at him but at the ground, his face deathly pale. "I'm done for, done for! This is the end of me!"

Done for?

Jiang Xiaobai followed the attendant's gaze and saw a wooden tray lying on the ground, completely shattered.

But Jiang Xiaobai could not tell what it was used for.

While he was still wondering, the attendant raised his head and glared furiously at Jiang Xiaobai. "Are you blind? I'm standing right here! Couldn't you see me?"

Jiang Xiaobai frowned.

Indeed, as far as he could tell, this attendant... had deliberately run into him.

After all, he had already stepped aside, yet the fellow had still crashed into him.

Could it really be such a coincidence?!

Before he could speak, Zhang Xinnian's expression darkened, and he took two steps forward.

Just when Jiang Xiaobai thought Zhang Xinnian would slap the fellow a few times, he stopped there and gave a loud, cold snort.

Then, after snorting, Zhang Xinnian returned to Jiang Xiaobai's side.

Huh?

The attendant froze.

Jiang Xiaobai froze too.

Wait... what was Zhang Xinnian doing?

While Jiang Xiaobai and the attendant both looked utterly bewildered, Zhang Xinnian seemed completely unaware that anything was amiss. Instead, he tilted his head slightly and lowered his voice.

"Young Lord, this fellow has some ability. He actually withstood my thunderous shout."

Huh?

Jiang Xiaobai's eyelid twitched.

Wait...

That counted as a thunderous shout?

Wasn't that just a damn snort?

As he stood there in shock, Zhang Xinnian said quietly, "Young Lord, let me test him some more!"

With that, Zhang Xinnian looked at the attendant again, his brows drawing together once more.

The next moment, Zhang Xinnian pressed his right hand to his saber's hilt.

Clang!

After drawing his saber half an inch, Zhang Xinnian slid it back into its sheath. Then he looked calmly at the attendant. "Oh? I really did underestimate you. You actually managed to withstand my terrifying saber intent."

"You should know, in that brief half-breath just now, I drew my saber several thousand times!"