Chapter 643 The Beloved Darling (Two Updates)

These people were completely stunned by Gu Jiao's actions. Who said that the students of Tianqiong Academy were all bookworms who were easy to bully?

Open your eyes and look! Is this still a bookworm?

Which bookworm could be so ruthless?

The Five Mountains Academy is a martial arts academy, and everyone there is a martial arts practitioner, yet they couldn't defeat a freshman from the Sky Dome Academy!

Where can I go to seek justice?

After dealing with the group of students who came to cause trouble, Gu Jiao left with Gu Xiaoshun.

"Sister, will they tell on us?" Gu Xiaoshun asked.

Logically, it shouldn't be like that.

The main problem is that these people care about their reputation. Being humiliated and beaten by a mere scholar would ruin their lives if word got out.

Gu Jiao guessed correctly; none of these people had the face to publicize the beating they had received. Unfortunately, by sheer coincidence, a parent of a student from Wuyue Academy happened to be passing by and witnessed the beating.

The parents immediately informed Wuyue Academy.

Before noon, the dean of Wuyue Academy and two teachers led several injured students into Tianqiong Academy.

Dean Cen of Tianqiong Academy was watering his beloved potted peony in his duty room when he heard a servant report that people from Wuyue Academy had arrived. His first reaction was, "Have our students been bullied by them again?"

The Five Mountains Academy is shameless and acts arrogantly all day long. There are few nearby academies that haven't suffered from their tyranny.

It's not that anyone can be bullied by them. No one would dare to provoke a noble young master like Mu Qingchen, but with thousands of students in the academy, who can guarantee that every one of them is like Mu Qingchen?

The servant said awkwardly, "It seems... it was one of our academy's students... who beat up their students..."

Dean Cen: "..."

Dean Wu of Wuyue Academy was also encountering such a situation for the first time. Usually, it was others who came to their academy to complain, but today the tables had turned and they were the ones who went to complain to others.

Inside Dean Cen's office, Dean Wu showed the eight students he had brought to Dean Cen and the other teachers from Tianqiong Academy who were not teaching that morning.

All eight students were involved in the fight that morning, and without exception, they all had bruises on their faces. One student was seriously injured and sent to the hospital, unable to get out of bed, so he did not come to the scene.

"Look at this! This is the mess your Sky Dome Academy has made!" Dean Wu said coldly.

Dean Cen's eyes lit up: "Was it really done by students from our academy?"

Master Wu cleared his throat: "Ahem!"

Dean Cen's face turned cold, and he said seriously, "You're saying it was done by students from our academy? What evidence do you have?"

Dean Wu pointed at the group of students with bruised and swollen faces and shouted angrily, "They are the evidence!"

"Who did it?" Dean Cen asked Wu Fuzi in a low voice.

Wu Fuzi didn't move his lips, but squeezed out a sound that only the two of them could hear through his teeth, saying, "They said it's a newborn with a birthmark on his face, probably Xiao Liulang from Mingxin Hall."

Once you come to the academy, you become a student of the academy. When distinguishing them, Master Wu does not say which country they are from, but rather that they are students of a certain hall.

The name sounded familiar. Dean Cen frowned and thought for a moment before asking, "Is this the freshman who went to a brothel on his first day and got a demerit?"

Master Wu: "...Yes, it was him." He paused, then added, "He was also the one who tamed the Horse King."

When the horse king was mentioned, Dean Cen recalled the experience of almost being trampled to death by the horse king, and his face darkened.

Dean Wu said coldly, "Your Sky Dome Academy must give us an explanation today!"

Dean Cen chuckled: "What kind of explanation do you want?"

Dean Wu said, “It is the fault of your academy to produce such a student! You are responsible for all the medical expenses and losses of our students! In addition, you must apologize to our academy! That student must also apologize to the student he injured! Finally, such a lawless person is not fit to be a student of Shengdu, so it would be better to expel him!”

A teacher surnamed Yang from Tianqiong Academy couldn't stand it anymore: "Isn't your Five Mountains Academy overstepping your bounds a bit? How we deal with our students is our academy's business, and it's none of your business to interfere! Besides, haven't your students ever caused trouble outside? What did you say back then? It was just a student acting impulsively and hot-tempered, why make such a fuss? If things escalate, this child's future will be ruined. Now you're not afraid of ruining someone's future!"

Master Wu secretly gave his colleague a thumbs up. As expected of a teacher of policy essays, his debating skills were impeccable.

The teachers at Wuyue Academy were speechless.

Their academy has always been domineering. When they bully others, they always try to downplay the situation and let it go. Playing the rogue and dodging the issue are their standard operating procedures.

Dean Wu suddenly realized the key point: "But no one has ever been this ruthless! Do you know that one of our students almost lost his life!"

Master Yang of Tianqiong Academy said, "Just because you say it was done by our students doesn't mean it was done by our students. Do you think your dozen or so martial arts students couldn't beat one of our academic freshmen? Nobody will believe that if word gets out."

The people from Wuyue Academy all blushed.

Dean Wu was so angry that he lost his mind, but now he suddenly realized that it was true. A dozen or so martial arts students were defeated by a single civil service student. It was a huge disgrace!

Dean Cen said, "Alright, go and call that... Xiao Liulang over, and let's hear what he has to say."

Gu Jiao came with Gu Xiaoshun.

After all, according to the people from Wuyue Academy, Xiao Liulang also had a little accomplice who hadn't really made a move.

Dean Cen looked at Gu Jiao and asked, "They said you hit them. What do you have to say about that?"

Gu Jiao swept a cool glance over them, and the students of Wuyue Academy instantly trembled like mice before a cat.

Dean Wu glared at his students with exasperation. "What are you cowardly for! Could things get any more embarrassing?"

Gu Xiaoshun was about to say, "Dean Cen, they started it! There was a guy among them called Brother Qin. He grabbed me and tried to beat me up, so I... Xiao Liulang intervened," when Gu Jiao said without changing her expression, "I don't know them, I've never seen them, and I didn't beat them up."

The students of Wuyue Academy were completely dumbfounded!

Is it really that shameless?

You've already beaten him up, why won't you admit it?

Where did you go to have the guts to crush us back then? Where did you have the guts to step on Brother Qin's chest and make him either die or have his hands taken? If you're so capable, then keep going!

Gu Jiao: I'm not stupid. You can argue with me all you want, but arguing with the dean isn't worth it; I'll get a demerit.

She was Xiao Liulang, a model student.

Dean Wu was used to this kind of tactic, but the difference was that they used to fool others in this way, and this was the first time that someone had fooled them with this method.

Dean Wu angrily retorted, "You're lying!"

Gu Jiao glanced at him indifferently: "How do you know I'm lying? You know so much about it, have you done this before? Are you an expert?"

Dean Wu was so rebuked that he vomited blood.

Whatever his sister said was right, so Gu Xiaoshun immediately changed the subject and said seriously, "That's right! We haven't seen you at all today! Who knows who beat you up and is trying to pin it on us!"

Dean Wu was so angry he nearly fainted: "You think you're so great? Why do we have to pin this on you! You should know your own worth! You're just two inferior people, what's so special about you that we'd go to such lengths to slander and scheme against you!"

That makes perfect sense.

To everyone's surprise, Gu Jiao didn't even lift her eyelids and said without any guilt, "Then you'll have to ask yourselves. Who knows what kind of wicked schemes you're plotting?"

Dean Wu was trembling with rage: "You! You two are completely twisting the truth! You're just spouting nonsense and arguing illogically!"

A teacher from the Five Mountains Academy stepped forward, looked at Gu Jiao, and said, "You say you didn't beat him up, do you have any evidence to prove your innocence?"

"have!"

Suddenly, a resolute young man's voice came from outside the door.

It's Zhou Tong.

Dean Cen and the teachers of Tianqiong Academy, who were in the duty room, bowed and said, "Dean Cen, teachers, Xiao Liulang stayed in his dormitory last night and did not leave the academy at all. I can testify to that."

As soon as he finished speaking, another student from Mingxintang stepped forward and said, "I can also testify!"

"Me too!"

The third student from Mingxintang.

Then came the fourth place, the fifth place...

Almost all the students from Mingxin Hall came over.

"Yesterday was a day off for the academy. We made an appointment with Xiao Liulang to play polo on the field in the evening. We played until quite late and had a few drinks in the night."

"Then we went fishing."

"On the way back, I bought dried plum vegetable cakes at a shop at the east end of Sanhua Street."

"I couldn't sleep in the middle of the night, so when I went to the latrine, I found that Xiao Liulang's bedroom light was still on. I went in and greeted him."

“He wasn’t feeling well this morning, so I bought him a bowl of porridge and brought it to his dorm, but he spilled it.”

The group spoke with such conviction that it seemed as if Xiao Liulang had truly spent the night with everyone.

Flaws... are impossible. If so many people can't even make up a story, what are these scholars doing writing policy essays and eight-legged essays?

I can't beat you in a fight, but I can't beat you in a story?

The students of Wuyue Academy were completely dumbfounded.

Dean Wu, enraged, retorted, "You've all conspired together! Of course, people from your own academy will protect their own students!"

With one hand behind his back, Zhou Tong calmly said, "If our testimonies are consistent, then we're covering for each other. What about you all trying to smear our academy? So your testimonies are testimonies, but ours aren't?"

"Then why don't we report this directly to the authorities and let them decide? Let the world see how our freshmen from Tianqiong Academy single-handedly defeated so many martial arts students from your Wuyue Academy?"

"Dean Cen, let's start a martial arts class! This is a golden opportunity for our Sky Dome Academy to make a name for itself. After all, students taught by our prestigious Martial Arts Academy for several years are not as good as freshmen taught by our Martial Arts Master for just three days!"

These scholars were all incredibly eloquent, each one hitting the nail on the head with every word.

Dean Wu's face turned pale and then red.

To put it bluntly, we can't make a big fuss; we can't afford to lose face.

He now regretted his impulsive decision to come and demand an explanation; wasn't he just asking for humiliation?

The people from Wuyue Academy ultimately got no explanation and left furious, gritting their teeth, their faces dark, and fuming.

However, before leaving, Dean Wu of the Five Mountains Academy stopped and turned back to give Gu Jiao a cold look. It was unclear whether he was speaking to Gu Jiao or to everyone at the Sky Dome Academy: "Do you really think this matter is over? You probably don't know that Luo Qin's father is a deputy general of the Nangong family! Our academy can let it go, but the Nangong family—"

"There's no need for Dean Wu to worry about the Nangong family's affairs."

A deep, clear voice rang out from outside the door, neither hurried nor slow.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Mu Qingchen, dressed in a blue and white academy uniform, walking over calmly and composedly.

"Mu Qingchen?" Dean Wu frowned.

Mu Qingchen cupped his hands in greeting to Dean Cen, stepped into the duty room, and stood next to Gu Jiao: "Xiao Liulang is a student of Tianqiong Academy. Please trouble Dean Wu to tell Luo Qin that I, Mu Qingchen, do not take a mere deputy general of the Nangong family seriously!"

These words sent a jolt through everyone present!

Mu Qingchen is the head of the four young masters of Shengdu. His father is from the Su family, which ranks ninth, and his mother is from the Mu family, which ranks fifth. His great-aunt is the matriarch of the Wang family, which ranks among the top three.

The military power of the Xuanyuan family was divided into four parts: the Nangong family, the Han family, the Wang family, and the Mu family.

This shows just how noble Mu Qingchen's status is.

Dean Wu left without saying another word, his face grim.

"Dean, we'll take our leave now," Mu Qingchen said to Dean Cen.

"Wait!" Dean Cen called out to all the Mingxin Hall students except Mu Qingchen. "Go back and copy the Analects of Confucius as punishment, not a single word can be missing!"

Those little brats can lie to the heavens, do they think he can't tell?

Dean Cen looked at Gu Jiao and said, "And you, Xiao Liulang, you've been given a demerit!"

If you don't record this, he'll dare to hit you again next time!

...

After leaving the duty room, I realized my morning classes were over.

"Shall we eat?" Mu Qingchen asked.

Gu Jiao felt a little annoyed at the thought of being given another demerit, but she still had to eat.

"Hmm," she replied faintly.

"Weren't you out running errands? You're back so soon?"

"The matter is settled."

Gu Jiao noticed that he was also holding a bundle in his hand.

“Your things are about to fall out,” Gu Jiao said, pointing to his bundle.

As soon as she finished speaking, the little rag doll in Mu Qingchen's bundle fell out because it couldn't withstand the force.

Mu Qingchen caught it quickly and didn't even show it to Gu Jiao before stuffing it back into her bundle.

Gu Jiao looked at him with a strange expression.

He hesitated for a moment, then explained, "It was a gift from a childhood friend."

Gu Jiao: "Oh."

She saw the little rag doll, and it seemed rather ugly.

"By the way, do you recognize this?" Gu Jiao took out a token and handed it to him.

She originally planned to try it herself, but since there was a young master from a prominent family like Mu Qingchen, it wouldn't hurt to ask him.

Mu Qingchen looked at the bronze token, her gaze suddenly changing: "How did you get this?"

Gu Jiao's eyes darted around: "I do have it. Can I use it to enter the inner city?"

Mu Qingchen said calmly, "It used to be possible. Not to mention entering the inner city, it wouldn't be impossible to enter the Imperial Preceptor's Hall. However, the owner of this token is currently missing, so you'd better not use it lightly."

Gu Jiao hummed in response: "We can still enter the Imperial Preceptor's Hall?"

Mu Qingchen: ...Is that my point?

Mu Qingchen said earnestly, "No matter how you got it, you'd better not take it out easily, otherwise you'll be arrested as an assassin."

Gu Jiao asked, "Then, who owns this token?"

Mu Qingchen paused for a moment, then said solemnly, "The chess master of the six kingdoms, Master Meng."

“He’s an old gentleman…” Gu Jiao stroked her chin. “Has he… been to Zhao Kingdom? Was he ever a beggar? Has he ever paid money to play chess with someone?”

Mu Qingchen looked at Gu Jiao as if she were an idiot: "Are you talking about Old Master Meng? He's never been to Zhao Kingdom. Besides, do you know how distinguished Old Master Meng is? I can't even play a game of chess with him with money! You want me to be a beggar? What were you thinking?"

Gu Jiao nodded seriously: "I also think it's impossible. By the way, are there many people who know Mr. Meng?"

Mu Qingchen shook her head: "Old Master Meng doesn't like to interact with people. Not many people have seen him. Last time he came to play chess near the academy, I only watched from behind a curtain and never saw his face."

Gu Jiao then asked, "Even the people from the Imperial Preceptor's Hall haven't seen him?"

Mu Qingchen thought for a moment and said, "The Imperial Preceptor has probably met him before, but the other disciples... should only recognize his carriage and token."

Gu Jiao touched her chin: "I see, I understand now, I understand everything."

Mu Qingchen looked at her with a puzzled expression: "What do you understand?"

Gu Jiao patted his shoulder: "Help me ask for leave this afternoon!"

Mu Qingchen frowned as he looked at her hand: "Where are you going!"

"The Imperial Preceptor's Hall!"

"You'll be arrested if you take this token to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall!"

Gu Jiao rushed back to the house as fast as she could, led out the horse king, put on the reins and the carriage shaft, and swiftly grabbed the little old man who was lying in the yard sunbathing next to Gu Yan and put him into the carriage.

Mr. Meng looked completely bewildered: "What are you doing?"

Gu Jiao said earnestly, "Impersonate someone for me and take me to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall!"

"Impersonating whom?"

"The Chess Saint of Six Kingdoms!"

The true Six Kingdoms Chess Saint, Master Meng: "..."

(End of this chapter)