The Glory After Rebirth [ɇÇ”Ÿä¹‹Å°Šè£] Chapter 202- 204

Chapter 202: A Threat of Expulsion from the Imperial College

Ling Zhang looked at Yuwen Tong in surprise. ‘If I understand him correctly, is he saying that this ship-lantern show ongoing out there is for me?’

“Ho–How did you come up with the idea of arranging this stuff?”

“You don’t seem to be quite fond of studying in the Imperial College, and I figure I’m the one to blame, because if it weren’t for me, the emperor wouldn’t have interfered and upset your plan. Currently, the situation in the Imperial College is rather complicated, and you almost certainly wouldn’t find your life in there enjoyable. From the vantage point of the present, I’m afraid you’ll have to put up with it until the day we get married. After that, I’ll be able to get you out of this city with good reason. I brought you here to see ship-lanterns because I felt you could use something to cheer you up.”

Ling Zhang leaning against him looked at the splendid night view on the riverbank and then shifted his gaze to the sparse hazy lamplight on the opposite side of the river, finding his words quite sweet. “It’s okay. I’d prepared myself for all this before I decided to come to this city. The Imperial College is indeed something of a disappointment, but my teachers are not. They’re all truly learned. Now that I’ve already enrolled in the Imperial College, I’ll make good use of this opportunity and learn as much as I can from them.”

Ling Zhang was seeing this matter in a fairly simple way. He just didn’t want to waste this chance of studying in the Imperial College and hated to see all this time go to waste as well. He was determined to learn something in this college. Although in the morning the professor teaching Confucian classics had frequently asked him to express his opinions, he had also given Ling Zhang some directions, all of which had struck home and made Ling Zhang felt that light had suddenly dawned on him. In the afternoon he had attended an etiquette lesson, which was one of the Six Arts (six subjects taught in an aristocratic school in feudal China: etiquette, music, archery, carriage-driving, reading and calculation). He had heard that each of the Six Arts was taught by a different teacher. The etiquette class on this particular day happened to be about military salute, and what the teacher had taught them differed somewhat from what the teacher of the Tanyang Academy had taught him previously. Unlike the teacher of the Tanyang Academy, who had limited the teaching to military salute and never mentioned anything concerning any other aspects of etiquette, what the teacher in this college had taught him had been more in-depth and also more extensive, and Ling Zhang was very interested in all of them. Though some of his classmates had been giving him stealthy glances and talking about him behind his back all along, he didn’t really find it intolerable.

“All teachers of the Imperial College are truly erudite. It’s a pity that most students in there are frivolous and slack. I sat in the classroom for a whole day and they stared at me talking about me for just as long. They didn’t even hear what the teacher said. I don’t see they’d achieve anything in the future.”

Thinking about what had happened during the day, Ling Zhang couldn’t help but get angry. ‘Most teachers of the Imperial College are quite renowned. Everyone who has the chance to attend their classes should seize it and listen to them attentively. There are a lot of people who would kill to get such an opportunity. Pity those students are unaware of what they’re missing out on.’

“It’s been like this for quite some time. Otherwise there wouldn’t have been a general public perception that situation in the Imperial College is messy,” replied Yuwen Tong.

“Most students in the Imperial College are children of influential officials. It’s very likely that these people will become the backbone of the Great Yue in a decade or two. Is His Majesty not afraid that they might not be competent enough to be entrusted with important duties? This concerns the stability of his country, doesn’t it? Why is he standing by watching the situation getting worse instead of doing something to make a difference?” Ling Zhang was perplexed.

“He wants to but can’t. The messiness in the Imperial College resulted from the complex situation in the capital city, for which the emperor himself is responsible. Besides, all princes have reached adulthood, and almost everybody in the imperial court inevitably has to pick a side… In the final analysis, the political situation and social mode in the capital city led to all this. Think about what kind of personality the emperor has, and what kind of persons his sons are. A crooked stick will have a crooked shadow. Courtiers themselves have grown apt to be skeptical and jealous, seeking quick success and instant benefits. You think their children could still concentrate on studies under their influence?” remarked Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang’s brow corrugated in a frown. He was not the emperor, and he was in no position to consider the well-being of people in this country either. The current situation in the Imperial College alone made him worry about the future of the Great Yue. After all, he was a subject of the Great Yue, and he hated to see this country declining. And there was also Yuwen Tong. His heart ached whenever it occurred to him that when Yuwen Tong was risking life and limb defending the northeastern border, these people in the capital city were doing nothing but scramble for power, the emperor bitterly jealous and suspicious of him. ‘No wonder Yuwen Tong disliked returning to this city in the past and is ill-disposed to the emperor,’ Ling Zhang thought.

“Let’s drop all this. You want to go aboard a ship to take a look?” Yuwen Tong inquired of him.

“Where did you get those pleasure-ships and entertainment-ships?” Ling Zhang asked him.

“I rented most of these pleasure-ships. The rest of them belong to residents living nearby and… ” Yuwen Tong gave an unnatural cough and then continued, “and they’re just along for the ride; so are those entertainment-ships,” replied Yuwen Tong.

Previously, on the first day or the fifteenth day of every month, most ships would be rented by people who wanted to come along for the ride. Due to the short notice, Miao Shiba hadn’t been able to have residents do these things, and it would have alarmed a lot of people had he tried to do that, so he directly rented these pleasure-ships and entertainment-ships himself. Other things hadn’t been much of a trouble either. He’d had all of them handled by throwing money at them.

Ling Zhang had a shrewd idea of what had happened. Yuwen Tong had specially made arrangements for all this, and he wouldn’t let Yuwen Tong’s efforts go to waste, but…

“Will there be any trouble if we go out there and someone recognizes you?”

Yuwen Tong smiled, “How could there be? Surely being a marshal doesn’t equal a waiver of the right to see ship-lanterns with a loved one, does it?”

‘Loved one…’ A flush spread to the upper edges of Ling Zhang’s ears and with that he gave Yuwen Tong a push. “Then let’s go.”

The two of them left the teahouse, hand in hand all along. As expected, someone recognized Yuwen Tong when they reached the riverbank. Soon news of Yuwen Tong and Ling Zhang showing up to see ship-lanterns spread.

Yuwen Tong, seeing more and more people gathering around, put his arm around Ling Zhang’s waist, took a flying leap and the two of them instantly landed onto the fore deck of a gaily-painted pleasure-ship on the river. Then they went into the cabin, ridding themselves of all prying eyes and the babble of voices of onlookers on the riverside.

Ling Zhang, after entering the cabin of the pleasure-ship, saw a table inside with a pot of wine and several dishes on it, which confirmed his previous guess that some arrangements had been made beforehand.

…

It had been three days since Ling Zhang had started his studies in the Imperial College, and finally students of this college no longer fixed their eyes on him. Also, he hadn’t encountered Jiang Yu and his followers for two consecutive days. Ling Zhang and Yuwen Jin gradually became accustomed to the curriculum in the Imperial College.

Ling Zhang thought that he would be left in peace for a certain amount of time, but unexpectedly, this morning, an unpleasant occurrence thrust itself on him.

It was a substitute teacher giving a lesson to his class this morning, and it was about The Book of Changes. For some unknown reason, this professor, several times, specially asked Ling Zhang to answer his questions as well. Ling Zhang, who had already got used to this, didn’t feel any surprise and just stated his opinions. He believed that these opinions of his, even if not perceptive enough to satisfy the professor, should be up to standard, that there was no glaring error in them. However, the professor was nit-picking. He split hairs over words and severely scolded Ling Zhang three times in a row.

“You would never have been admitted into this college if it weren’t for His Majesty’s kindness. You should have returned to that small city called Tanyang where you belong. Your presence here is a humiliation for the Imperial College.

Your identity doesn’t give you the right to laze days away, not under my watch. If you answer my question with such nonsense again, I’ll report it to His Majesty and request your expulsion from this college.

You are an utter disgrace to the Imperial College. What gave you the courage to let words of such superficiality and ignorance go out of your mouth? Whatever. I was being so kind as to give you another chance to prove yourself worthy of your place at this college, but it turns out that your stupidity is beyond redemption. From now on, whenever I’m the one giving a lesson here, you may be anywhere but this classroom.”

There were various reactions to this among students in the classroom. Some were secretly sneering at Ling Zhang; some were watching him with malicious eyes waiting to see him make a show of himself; some kept silent; some were gazing at Ling Zhang sympathetically, and there were also a couple of students looking at the professor, their brows furrowed.

Of course Ling Zhang, with his sharp five senses, could see all the reactions of his classmates at a single glance around. He secretly lodged the reaction of each and every one of them in his mind.

After the professor finished scolding Ling Zhang, Yuwen Jin failed to keep his temper and intended to jump up to contradict the professor but was stopped by Ling Zhang. Clearly this professor was deliberately picking on him. He was not the kind of person who would swallow unfair remarks, but now was not the right time to put up a fight. He didn’t believe that this professor had never heard about his reputation for “being cocky” before. The reason why this professor had still resorted to such vulgar means to provoke him must be that he was waiting for him to kick up a stink, so of course he wouldn’t play right into his hands.

“I’m ashamed of myself. If that’s the case, I think it’d be brazen of me to keep staying in this classroom. I’ll leave straight away.”

After saying this, Ling Zhang really walked towards the door.

All other students burst into an uproar, amazed that Ling Zhang gave in just like this. Even that professor was sent into a brief trance of surprise, but with that he reprimanded, “Stop right there. Who gave you the permission to leave? Have you a shred of respect for your teacher?!”

“Wasn’t it you who said a moment ago that I was not to appear in this classroom whenever you’re giving a lesson here? I’m just following your instructions. May I ask why you charged me with this, professor?” replied Ling Zhang in a calm tone of voice.

“I heard it, professor. You did instruct Brother Zhang not to show up in your lessons again,” remarked Yuwen Jin through gritted teeth.

Yuwen Jin was consumed with anger, feeling that this professor harbored malicious intentions and was deliberately making an issue of this. Had Ling Zhang not stopped him, he might have hurtled over and beaten him up! But just now Ling Zhang had motioned him to control himself. Though unaware of the reason, he believed that Ling Zhang must have his own plan.

“I heard that as well,” someone else suddenly said.

Astonished, everybody looked in the direction of the owner of the voice. It was a student whose seat was in front of Ling Zhang and Yuwen Jin on their left. He was sitting bolt upright behind his desk, eyes on the professor, a very earnest expression on his face. “Just now I also heard you tell Ling Zhang not to show up again, professor.”

The look in Ling Zhang’s eyes slightly changed. In fact, he had noticed this classmate of his some time ago. During the past three days, almost all his classmates around him had been staring at him and talking about him. Of course there had also been a small number of exceptions, who had just focused on lessons ignoring the others. This person had been one of them and had also been one of those frowning at the professor’s remarks.

“Me, too, professor,” said another student, who was sitting beside the student who’d spoken just now.

And then, one after another, another five students stated that they’d heard the professor’s words.

The professor was trembling with rage. “How dare you! Have you the faintest idea of how you should behave in the presence of your teacher? This is how you ‘honor the teacher and respect his teaching’? Don’t think just because your fathers are officials I don’t dare to scold you. This is the Imperial College, not home of any of you!”

“I was just telling the truth, and I don’t have a clue which part of that meant disrespect for you. If you think I insulted you, professor, I’ll leave as well.”

“Me, too.”

The five students who had just spoken rose to their feet one after another, bowed to the professor and left the classroom heading for Ling Zhang.

Naturally, Yuwen Jin immediately stood up, walked outside and didn’t even bother to utter a word.

“You–! Good, very good. Since you’re so heretical showing such disregard for orthodoxy, I’ll report this to the principal and have all of you expelled from the Imperial College!” raged the professor, threatening Ling Zhang and others with expulsion from the Imperial College. He stared at them, waiting for them to regret what they’d said.

However, Ling Zhang, Yuwen Jin and the other five students all remained indifferent, totally unafraid of his threat.

Other students in the classroom, looking at each other in dismay, finally came to realize that this matter seemed to have escalated into something serious.

Chapter 203: Punishment Must Be Meted Out According to Regulations

In fact, anger had been bubbling inside Ling Zhang for quite some time. It was very evident that this professor’s intention was to provoke him, and once he talked back, he would end up becoming the wrongdoer, no matter the circumstances. The professor wanted him to be expelled from the Imperial College. Even if it didn’t work, his reputation would be damaged. There were indeed rumors that he was wildly arrogant, but during his conflicts with the Ninth Princess, Peng Fang and Yuwen Qi, these three people had been the ones in the wrong. Even if he had acted arrogantly, there was nothing that anybody could say he shouldn’t have done. But if word got out that he defiantly contradicted a professor, or showed a lack of respect for a professor, or even insulted and beat a professor, things would be totally different. It would give those people an excuse to charge him even Yuwen Tong. After coming to understand all this, he had realized that he must subdue his anger, no matter how intense it was, and he also needed to figure out a way to change the current situation. The only thing that had never crossed his mind was that these five students would follow suit after he took the lead.

The commotion here was too loud and the principal soon came, along with some others, including the old man who tested Ling Zhang and Yuwen Jin that day.

Some students who’d heard the babble of voices also showed up, Jiang Yu and his followers among them.

“These several students set my authority at naught and talked back to me defiantly, which is utterly detestable.

This Ling Zhang guy, in particular, is incurably foolish. He dared to leave the classroom without permission after merely receiving a couple of critical remarks from me. I tried to stop him, yet he incited other students to leave with him, which inflicted a terrible effect on the class!”

Taking advantage of his identity as an elder, the professor took the initiative and branded them rebellious and unruly, Ling Zhang being his main target.

Of course Ling Zhang wouldn’t stand idly by after someone blackened his name. He stepped forward, made a bow first and then said, “Principal, I meant no disrespect for my professor. This is how it came to this…”

Ling Zhang told the whole story exactly as it happened without any exaggerations.

“I was aware of my stupidity, and I found it understandable that my professor didn’t want to see me in his classroom. Too ashamed to keep sitting there, I followed my professor’s instruction and left. I don’t know what I did wrong. Please don’t be misled, principal, professors.”

“What a glib tongue. It’s an unmistakable fact that you defiantly talked back to me and incited your classmates to raise a stink with you, believing that your backer would shield you. How dare you try to justify your misbehavior?” snapped the professor.

“I’m telling the truth. There’s not half a word of my remarks that’s against the fact, to which all my classmates in this classroom can testify,” said Ling Zhang.

“I can testify to this. Each and every single word of Ling Zhang’s statement was factual,” commented the student who had been the first to stand up for Ling Zhang.

“I can testify for him as well.”

“Me, too.”

Some other students also came to his support.

That professor’s face was dark with rage.

In the final analysis, this professor had been deliberately picking a quarrel. Ling Zhang had never uttered a single word disrespectful to him from start to finish. The reason why he had walked out of the classroom had been because the professor had instructed him to. He had merely obeyed the instruction, so the professor couldn’t get the goods on him.

The look in the principal’s eyes briefly flickered. He was not a fool, so of course he had got a shrewd idea of what had really happened.

Once this matter escalated, it would be the statement of this professor that would prove ungrounded. It would be them who’d be found in the wrong.

“Principal, professors, if all of you believe that I should leave this college, I’ll leave right away, and no matter who asks me about it, I’ll tell them the truth.”

The principal furrowed his brow. If he expelled Ling Zhang because of this matter in which clearly they were in the wrong, Yuwen Tong definitely wouldn’t let it go at that. And if the emperor asked about this, he might have difficulty justifying his decision, so he believed that he had to appease Ling Zhang first.

“Repeat your answers to those questions.” At this time, the old man who’d tested Ling Zhang and Yuwen Jin previously suddenly spoke.

Ling Zhang, having nothing to hide, repeated his answers, word for word.

After hearing his answers, the old man gave his beard a stroke and commented, “Please pardon my stupidity, but I don’t see any mistakes in these three answers. Though unduly conventional, they’re far from causing an expulsion from the Imperial College. If the one who gave these answers should be expelled, more than half of the students in this college would deserve to be expelled as well.”

That professor’s face went even more sullen. Of course he had been deliberately picking on Ling Zhang. As soon as this matter had alarmed the principal, he had come to realize that he would be found in the wrong, but hearing someone point out the truth so explicitly, he still felt rather awkward. He unnoticeably sent a quick glance in the direction of Jiang Yu, but Jiang Yu didn’t look back at him.

Ling Zhang’s five senses were sharp and he could distinctly see every subtle movement of people present, so naturally this glance didn’t escape his notice. His eyes instantly went cold.

The principal observed, “Professor Gu is right. There was indeed nothing wrong in Ling Zhang’s answers. I think it must be that Professor Du is a little too demanding, which is why he’s so strict with his students. Ling Zhang is new to the Imperial College, and he probably hasn’t accustomed himself to this place and couldn’t quite understand why Professor Du is rigorous with him, which resulted in this misunderstanding. Let’s end this matter right now. Ling Zhang and the other five students shall go back to the classroom to continue the study. Professor Du, you should take into consideration the fact that Ling Zhang is new to our college and is still adjusting himself to campus life. Cut him some slack.”

On hearing this, Ling Zhang came to realize that this principal was trying to smooth things over without blaming anybody by blurring the line between right and wrong. He disguised a major incident as a minor one and wanted everybody to pretend it’d never happened.

Ling Zhang’s brow slightly corrugated in a frown. He wasn’t satisfied with this outcome, and neither was Yuwen Jin, who intended to express his opinion.

At this time, Ling Zhang noticed that Professor Gu, who had backed him up a while ago, briefly shook his head at him. Ling Zhang paused, took a step forward and stopped Yuwen Jin.

Professor Gu thought that Ling Zhang had decided to let this go, but he had just felt a sense of relief when he heard Ling Zhang say to the principal, “If it were my fault, I wouldn’t utter another word about this, but you just said it yourself that there was nothing wrong in my answers, which meant that just now Professor Du reviled me for no reason, forced me into leaving the classroom, and threatened to have me expelled from this college tomorrow. I respect my teachers and elders, but I’m not going to swallow this kind of insults.

Though a student, I’m also the Marshal’s fiancée. Apart from my own dignity, I have to take account of his reputation as well. If you don’t bring this matter to a clear-cut settlement and word gets out, people might come to the mistaken belief that I was making a great fuss over a mere trifle harboring evil intentions. What would others think of the Marshal if the wrongdoer gets away and I, the blameless party, takes the blame? Or is it the case that professors of the Imperial College can do no wrong and students here have no right to get justice? If that’s true, I’ll leave this college straight away! Since His Majesty specially granted me admission to this college, I don’t dare to keep this matter from him. I will inform him of this exactly as it happened.”

Ling Zhang grew increasingly indignant as he spoke. When he finished his remarks, the look on his face seemed to suggest that an unbearable humiliation had been inflicted upon him, his eyes staring fixedly at the principal.

“Brother Zhang is right. We are here to study, not to be humiliated.” Yuwen Jin finally got a chance to speak.

Ling Zhang’s remarks brought a scarlet flush to Professor Du’s cheeks. He furiously pointed at Ling Zhang and thundered, “Nonsense!”

The principal also had a rather sullen countenance. He had thought that Ling Zhang would take Yuwen Tong into consideration and let this go, but unexpectedly Ling Zhang had done exactly the opposite connecting this matter with Yuwen Tong’s reputation. If this only involved Ling Zhang, he certainly wouldn’t have any misgivings, but if Yuwen Tong was concerned, a minor mishandling of this matter would lead to an eventual outcome that he definitely wouldn’t want to see.

“Ling Zhang, Professor Du is your teacher. By being so confrontational, you’re showing a total ignorance about the virtue of ‘honor teachers and esteem truth’. Just now the principal has already told you that Professor Du was just being excessively demanding. He meant no harm, so stop measuring the motive of an upright man with the yardstick of a knave,” huffed Jiang Yu, stepping forward.

Ling Zhang gave a sneer. “It’s the principal that I’m making a request to, and I think it’s inappropriate for you to chip in on this occasion, Childe Jiang, isn’t it? This is the Imperial College. Am I to take it that Childe Jiang or Jiang family is involved in this matter?”

Jiang Yu’s face changed. “Don’t you pin this on me.”

“Then may I ask what did you by those remarks, Childe Jiang? That because I’m new here I deserve to be insulted?”

“Like I said, Professor Du was just being over-demanding, don’t you think you’re going too far by being so pushy?”

“I don’t see that Professor Du was being demanding. I’m talking about but the fact, and the fact is that he not only humiliated me but also threatened me, which all my classmates here can testify to.”

Yuwen Jin also said, “Brother Zhang, let’s call my cousin here. People of this college are so unreasonable!”

Immediately after saying this, Yuwen Jin summoned Changle, his study-servant (a boy serving in someone’s study). “Changle, go and call my cousin here. Brother Zhang is being bullied!”

“Wait!” Finally, the principal spoke. He looked at Ling Zhang and said, “Let’s not alarm the Marshal with such a trifling matter. What I just suggested just now about how this should be settled was indeed fairly thoughtless. Professor Du’s previous words and conduct were against the working ethics of the teacher, which made it inappropriate for him to continue his teaching career in the Imperial College. By the powers vested in me, I hereby relieve Professor Du of his professorship in the Imperial College, effective immediately. May I ask if you find my decision satisfying, Childe Ling?”

Ling Zhang responded, “All I want is a fair settlement. Now that it’s been equitably settled, I have no further requests.”

Professor Du lapsed into despair, unable to believe what he had just heard. Of course he was unconvinced by this settlement, but the principal, determined to punish him, refused to give him a chance to defend himself. He looked at Jiang Yu, an appealing expression in his eyes.

Jiang Yu, with a sulky face, railed at Ling Zhang, “You seem to take great pleasure in assuming others’ authority as your own. Professor Du merely gave you some criticisms, but you threatened to snitch to the Marshal. This is the Imperial College, not the residential compound of the Marshal!”

“This is ridiculous. I’m truly amazed, Childe Jiang, by your glib tongue and ability to evade the crucial point, making black look white, and white look black. Professor Du insulted and threatened his student, and the principal meted out punishment according to the regulations, but in your eyes I’m the wrongdoer? Is this what Jiang family taught you? Calling a stag a horse? Talking black into white?” Ling Zhang sneered.

“Ling Zhang! Don’t you be so cocky! You’re merely taking advantage of your identity as the Marshal’s fiancée. Are you trying to have the Marshal accused of conniving at your misbehavior and forcing a professor of the Imperial College?!” Jiang Yu reprimanded, trembling with rage.

“Did you forget to take your brain with you, Childe Jiang? It’s an unmistakable fact that Professor Du is in the wrong in what happened today, and the principal has already made a decision as to how it should be settled, but you are still here pestering us, calling black white. Exactly what’s your purpose? Are you saying these words to mislead everybody into believing that I assumed Yuwen Tong’s authority as my own and coerced the principal of the Imperial College into making an unfair decision? So that you can blacken his name?! For over ten years Yuwen Tong fought enemies in border areas, bathing in blood. He risked life and limb defending the Great Yue for His Majesty, for the imperial court and for the people of this country, but this is how you people repay him? Throwing mud at him and plotting against him? If you don’t stop being unreasonable right now, I will seek justice, even if it means I have to report this to His Majesty! I will not tolerate you slandering me and Yuwen Tong like this!” Ling Zhang raged.

“Brother Zhang, there’s no need to continue talking with him. Let’s go and find my cousin. Then we go together to His Majesty and let him be the judge of this!” Yuwen Jin clenched his fists with indignation. Had a warning voice not warned him that he would get himself into trouble if he picked up a fight on this occasion, he would definitely have beaten Jiang Yu to death.

Chapter 204: An Invitation

“Enough!” thundered the principal. He deeply looked at Ling Zhang with his penetrating eyes and then said to Jiang Yu, “Jiang Yu, you are not to forget that this is the Imperial College. As a student, you are in no position to question my decision.

And, Ling Zhang, you don’t have to make such a serious accusation. It’s too much for the Imperial College.

This ends now.”

The principal gave each side a word of warning and then left, followed by others. Professor Du was also taken away.

Jiang Yu clenched his teeth. Though bitterly unreconciled to this outcome, he had no alternative but to let this go. Before leaving, he admonished Ling Zhang, “Ling Zhang, I’d like to see how much longer you can keep up your pretence of toughness.”

Ling Zhang watched as they walked away, a cold look in his eyes.

Yuwen Jin was still very angry. “I swear I’ll crack that son of bitch’s head the next time I lay eyes on him!”

Ling Zhang, who had recovered himself, turned around and said to the five students who had just now stood up for him, “Thank you for coming to my support, but I’m afraid I’ve implicated you, and Jiang Yu might make life difficult for you.”

The one standing at the front, who’d also been the first one to spring to his defence just now, replied, “Now that I’ve already stepped forward, what he’ll do doesn’t really scare me. There’s no need for you to thank me. I did that because Professor Du was not being fair. Actually it surprised me that you had the principal expel him from this college. Even if we hadn’t stood up for you, you wouldn’t have come to grief.”

“Without your help, I couldn’t have so smoothly had the principal make the decision,” remarked Ling Zhang.

“Ling Zhang, since during the past few days you’ve been keeping a low profile without making any trouble, I was beginning to suspect that those rumors were untrue, but it turns out that you’re really quite badass,” said another student, amusement gleaming in his eyes.

The other three students also felt a sense of relief and said, “That’s true. It was so badass of you to have Professor Du fired.”

Ling Zhang, seeing they were sincerely making these remarks with awe and not satirizing him, pulled a wry face and replied, “You sound as if I was being domineering and unreasonable.”

“No, no, no. We saw it clearly. It was Professor Du who’s in the wrong.”

“Yeah. We just didn’t expect that you’d make that move. Just now Professor Du’s sulky face almost scared the life out of me.”

“That’s the retribution for his evil intentions.”

As Ling Zhang watched them discussing, his foul mood caused by the unpleasant matter that had happened just now gradually lightened.

It was not that he wasn’t forgiving enough to let this matter go, but he had just thought about pardoning the professor when he’d recalled Yuwen Tong had once told him that he should punish all those who dared to mess with him, that he shouldn’t be soft-hearted. He had a different identity now, which in many cases represented not only his own reputation but also that of Yuwen Tong, who was the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Great Yue. As Yuwen Tong’s betrothed, if he was too soft, people would only think less of Yuwen Tong.

Besides, he had built a reputation as an arrogant man the day he arrived in the capital city. If he had cowered on this occasion, he would only have given people the impression of being weak, which would not only have caused people to look down upon him but also bring him more trouble. On top of this, in this college where situation was quite messy, this matter of Professor Du was virtually a golden opportunity to make an example of someone, which had presented itself right before him. If he’d let it slip away instead of taking it to deter those who secretly harbored malicious intentions towards him, how was he supposed to survive future campus life in the Imperial College?

As regards Jiang Yu…

If his guess was right, Jiang Yu had been the one who had incited Professor Du to pick on him and make trouble for him. Had he acted impulsively on this day, he would have fallen prey to their trick, and it would have been him rather than Professor Du who had been expelled from the Imperial College. Provided that he had really been expelled from this college, not only him but also Yuwen Tong would’ve become laughing stocks of the whole capital city.

“Professor Du was in the wrong in this matter today, so you got the best of it, but if anybody wants to do something to you in the future, they would definitely be more cautious, so you’d better be careful and guard against back-stabbing,” the student who’d been the first one to speak previously informed of Ling Zhang.

Ling Zhang was dismayed for a few moments and then earnestly expressed his gratitude. “Thank you for reminding me.”

Of course he was fully aware that he needed to be more discreet in the Imperial College, but he hadn’t expected that this person would specially remind him of this.

…

With a bang, a table was overturned by a hard kick. Jiang Yu’s handsome face was twisting in anger, teeth gritted. He and his study-servant (a boy serving in someone’s study in feudal China) were the only ones inside the room. His guards were standing at the door to act as lookouts, vigilantly eyeing every student walking by lest anybody approach and see what their young master was doing to vent his anger.

“A subordinate of mine was expelled for nothing. Ling Zhang, you will pay for this!”

The study-servant flinched, shoulders in, standing in a corner, too afraid to make any sounds. Previously he had seen the whole thing from start to finish. Never once had anybody in this college dared to act with such disregard for his young master’s respectability; even the principal always made allowances for his young master whenever he could. Never had his young master failed to get what he wanted in the Imperial College. This was the first time that he had seen his young master suffer a failure; even the principal gave his young master a reproachful look. ‘That Ling Zhang guy is really not bad. No… bah, I shouldn’t dramatize the enemy’s power and disparage that of ourselves. Young Master is the most favored son of Old Master, and even His Majesty likes him very much. That Ling Zhang guy is nothing but a country bumpkin. Though he’s Marshal Yuwen’s fiancée, they might not necessarily get married in the end,’ thought the study-servant.

Guards at the doorway, hearing the noises coming from inside, exchanged glances in astonishment. After all, this was the first time that they had seen Jiang Yu vent his anger in this way, almost totally regardless of his personal image.

‘It seems that that Ling Zhang guy people keep talking about is really someone to be reckoned with. Young Master indeed suffered a defeat this time,’ thought a guard.

…

What happened on this day was not a small matter, and all students of the Imperial College had heard about it. In the afternoon, after the Six Arts (six subjects taught in an aristocratic school in feudal China: etiquette, music, archery, carriage-driving, reading and calculation) lesson was over, Ling Zhang was followed by many people’s eyes when he was on his way back. Students whose curiosity about him had just dissolved began staring at him again, but this time things were different: their voices were considerably lower than before, and they were a trifle afraid of Ling Zhang, too.

“They seem to be somewhat afraid of you,” said Yuwen Jin.

Ling Zhang gave no particular reaction to this. ‘It’s better that they fear me a little. Maybe there won’t be any more unobservant guys making trouble for me.’

On this day, apart from Yuwen Jin, the other five students were also with Ling Zhang. The seven of them left the Imperial College together.

The next day happened to be a day of rest in the Imperial College, and they would enjoy a day off from school. Ling Zhang, in order to express his gratitude, had invited the five students to go out and all the five of them had willingly accepted the invitation, so at this moment Ling Zhang was fretting about the next day’s arrangements. They had agreed to meet in the Ling Mansion first, and he still had to consult with Yuwen Tong on further arrangements after he returned.

The seven of them walked out of the college together and then went their separate ways.

When Ling Zhang returned to the Ling Mansion, Yuwen Tong was waiting for him.

Seeing him, Ling Zhang told him what had happened earlier this day. “What do you think of the way I dealt with this matter?”

Yuwen Tong gave a nod. “That’s exactly what you should do.”

In fact, Yuwen Tong had some time ago been informed of what had happened earlier this day. After all, he had some of his men keep a constant watch on the Imperial College. ‘That old bastard dared to pick on my man. I’m not going to make him suffer, though he’s already been expelled from the Imperial College. And there’s also Jiang family…’

Humph, they could have chosen to continue their peaceful life, yet they’re so insistent on getting themselves in trouble.’

Before Ling Zhang came back, Yuwen Tong had already come up with an idea of how to make trouble for those people.

“That principal is also an asshole. He tried to smooth things over by blurring the line between right and wrong. Fortunately you’re smart enough and didn’t let him muddle through,” remarked Yuwen Tong.

Ling Zhang replied, “Actually I nearly got fooled. Today Professor Gu came to my help, and so did some of my classmates. They’re both nice people. The five of them and I have already agreed to go out tomorrow. I’ll stand them a meal to express my gratitude to them for standing up for me today. I haven’t decided where to go yet. Do you think the Taibai Tavern would be a good choice? Just now, before I came in here, I’ve instructed Li Sicai to reserve a private room. I wonder whether there’re still any rooms available for tomorrow.”

“Don’t worry about it. If he fails to book a room, I’ll handle it,” said Yuwen Tong, but in his head he gave a sigh. He had waited several days for Ling Zhang to have a day off from school, and originally he had planned to spend the next day with Ling Zhang alone, but unexpectedly this thing came up…

‘Never mind. Younger Brother Zhang could use some friends in the Imperial College,’ thought Yuwen Tong, who had already ascertained the background of the five students and believed that it should be okay for Ling Zhang to make friends with them. ‘A couple of friends will keep Younger Brother Zhang from feeling lonely in the college. After all, it’s too boring to have only Yuwen Jin by his side. Moreover, Younger Brother Zhang is new to this city, and maybe he wouldn’t miss Tanyang too often if he socializes more with friends.’

As a result, Yuwen Tong made a suggestion. “How about you invite Tao Yi as well? You haven’t seen each other for quite a while, have you?”

He had no worry about Ling Zhang mixing with Tao Yi in the knowledge that Tao Yi was one of his huge fans.

Ling Zhang’s eyes lit up. “That’s right. Why didn’t I think of that? Tao Yi would probably enjoy socializing with the five of them. Besides, he’s more familiar with the capital city than I am, so it’ll be easier for him to find a topic we can talk with them about.”

Ling Zhang immediately had someone go to Tao Yi’s to deliver a message.

Tao Yi’s reply came quite soon. He agreed very readily and also said that had Ling Zhang not sent him this invitation, he would soon fail to keep from going to the Imperial College to look for him.

Just like this, after Tao Yi accepted the invitation, Ling Zhang was in noticeably higher spirits.

“I have a suggestion. The Taibai Tavern is a small place, after all. Apart from eating, there is nothing else you could do there. I have a manor in the suburbs, and the view in it is pretty good. How about you guys go there tomorrow?” remarked Yuwen Tong.

“A manor?” Ling Zhang was curious.

Yuwen Tong said, “It’s one of my family properties. When I was a boy, there was once a very long period when my grandfather stayed at home, and it was in that manor that I spent that period with him. These years I’ve been in border areas almost all the time, and every time I return, I stay only for a few days before leaving in haste, so I couldn’t even remember the last time I went to the manor, but sometimes Yao Yi and the others would return to the capital city to attend to some business, and they would stay in that manor when they’re not in my courtyard house. There are some servants there maintaining the manor as well, so it’s not really deserted.”

“But given that you and your grandfather used to live there, I think it must be a very important manor. Aren’t you worried that we might mess that place up if we go there?” said Ling Zhang, hesitating about it.

‘Memories of being together with his grandfather must mean a lot to Yuwen Tong,’ thought Ling Zhang. Since this place was so important to Yuwen Tong, he hated to see it reduced to disorder due to him.

“It’s okay. That place is very roomy. Except for a couple of areas, you may go wherever you want in there.” Yuwen Tong was very generous. Most importantly, he added, “Tomorrow I’ll go there as well. We may meet there.”

Ling Zhang was very happy to hear this. “You are going as well?”