Chapter 67 Chapter 67 I Like You
Chen Ling'an's gaze was so cold that the Jinyiwei of the Southern Pacification Division standing there did not move at all, and even forgot to put away their blades.
The people from the Northern Pacification Office seemed to have taken a strong medicine, and swept away their previous decadent dejection. They puffed out their chests and protruded their stomachs, walked with their heads held high, and instantly perked up their spirits.
He happened to be standing between Xiaoman and Zhao Ye, looking at Zhao Ye with a haughty expression, "I didn't hear what you said just now."
Zhao Ye swallowed involuntarily and didn't dare to answer him.
"He said he wanted to treat the Third Miss well!" Wu Yong rushed to answer, breaking free from the Jinyiwei who was twisting his arm. He pointed to his left cheek, his eyes welling with tears. "He also hit me. My face was swollen."
Chen Ling'an glanced at him with disdain, "You won't fight back?"
Fight back? Wu Yong blinked. This was a path he had never imagined! He glanced at Zhao Ye, whose face was ashen. But this man was higher in rank than him, on the same level as the Lord. Could he... fight him?
At this moment, Chen Ling'an said coldly, "Coward, you've completely disgraced the Northern Pacification Office."
Upon hearing this, Wu Yong rolled up his sleeves and walked towards Zhao Ye aggressively.
Zhao Ye scolded his subordinates harshly, and the Jinyiwei of the Southern Pacification Division suddenly woke up and protected him, pointing the knives in their hands at Chen Lingan and others.
Without waiting for Chen Ling'an to speak, the Jinyiwei of the Northern Pacification Office drew their swords and charged back without showing any weakness.
The Jinyiwei's arrest of protesting Confucian scholars and officials immediately turned into an internal conflict within the Jinyiwei.
Zhao Ye was filled with shock and anger, and shouted loudly: "I have been ordered by the emperor to temporarily lead the Northern Pacification Division. Why don't you put down your swords quickly, or don't blame me for turning my back on you!"
Chen Ling'an said calmly, "The Emperor was referring to 'while Chen Ling'an is away'. Now that I'm here, you can take your people and leave."
"Are you going to shield these people?" Zhao Ye's eyes rolled, and he immediately raised his voice, "Chen Ling'an, how dare you disobey the imperial order? Fine, fine, you lead the people of the Northern Pacification Division to defy the imperial will. I will report this to the emperor, and you will suffer the consequences!"
He took a step forward with a sinister smile, "Don't try to deny it. Everyone present today is a witness."
A cold light flashed, and Chen Lingping's knife was sheathed steadily.
With a click, the goose hat on Zhao Ye's head fell off.
If Chen Lingping's knife tip had moved down a little further, Zhao Ye's head would have fallen.
Zhao Ye was so frightened that he stepped back repeatedly, and finally managed to stand firmly with the help of his men.
"You, you... I'm going to report you, severely. Just wait for your death!" He raged incoherently, "You think you can protect the academy? You've been a running dog and a traitor for ten years, and you still want to clear your name? Dream on!"
Zhao Ye pushed his men aside and pointed at Chen Ling'an, "Open your eyes and look behind you. Do you think that if you help them, they will thank you? That they will treat you as a friend? Look carefully, they wish they could stay away from you!"
Xiaoman couldn't help but look back.
Behind them was a large open space. The scholars who had gathered in front of the door just now, except Li Lin and Liu Jinshu, were all standing far away on the other side.
Xiaoman's heart felt like it was stung by a scorpion.
She looked at Li Lin.
Li Lin pursed his lips, his expression serious. Just as he was about to step forward, he was stopped by Liu Jinshu.
"Do you want to disappoint these people behind you?" Liu Jinshu whispered, "We are not only speaking out to protect Nancui Academy, we are speaking out for all academies in the world. We must win the support of more scholars."
"And Chen Ling'an is the public enemy of scholars. What will others think if you stand with him?"
Liu Jinshu sighed, "We are for justice, he is selfish. If it was not Nancui Academy that was banned today, but other academies, would he still stand up to stop it?"
Li Lin's whole body shook violently.
No, Chen Ling'an would be the first one to rush out and demolish the academy, without even the emperor's explicit order!
His knife will be pointed at those protesters, and his subordinates will arrest them one by one and put them in prison. He will do everything Zhao Ye did today, and even worse.
"People with different ideals cannot work together," Liu Jinshu said softly, "Chen Ling'an and we are not on the same path."
Li Lin ignored Xiaoman's earnest gaze and followed Liu Jinshu into their ranks.
The summer sun was still shining brightly, and the bright white sunlight shone on Xiaoman, making her so cold that she couldn't help shivering.
The mountain wind blew up the dust and wrapped it into the bluestone corridor, spinning like a top. The corner of Chen Ling'an's robe was lifted high by the wind, and then suddenly fell down, floating up and down.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his posture straight, without looking back.
Xiaoman quietly pulled his sleeve.
Chen Ling'an still didn't turn around, but his fingers gently brushed Xiaoman's hand, as if to comfort her.
Xiaoman's nose felt sore and her eyes were burning with pain.
"Lord Zhao seems to have misunderstood something. I don't need anyone's gratitude. These people..." A faint sneer of contempt appeared on the corner of Chen Ling'an's mouth, "They are not worthy of being my friends."
The muscles on Zhao Ye's face twitched unsightly. "You stopped me today, but don't think this matter is over. You know better than me what the Jinyiwei rely on to survive! I'm putting this on hold. Within an hour at most, the palace will issue an order to arrest you!"
Chen Ling'an said calmly, "Don't worry, I will confess my guilt to the Emperor."
Zhao Ye waved his hand angrily, "Let's go!"
"Wait." Chen Ling'an curled his lips, a murderous look flashing in his eyes, "I don't allow credit here."
Zhao Ye was stunned: "What?"
Chen Ling'an glanced at Wu Yong, and his meaning was very clear: If you can't knock out a single tooth of his, then go home and hug your child, there's no need to come back.
Wu Yong glanced at Xiaoman behind him and knew that he was serious. He immediately rushed to Zhao Ye at lightning speed and before anyone could react, he punched Zhao Ye right in the nose!
But there was a bang and a crack, and blood spurted out of Zhao Ye's face, his nose was broken, and his eye sockets were cracked. He spit out blood and several broken teeth fell to the ground.
At least he was mindful of his official dignity and didn't scream and roll on the ground in front of his subordinates.
He covered his mouth and nose, pointed at Chen Ling'an angrily, and his eyes were about to spit fire.
But he couldn't utter a word.
The people from the Southern Pacification Office looked at each other, but facing the cold gaze of the Northern Pacification Office, no one stepped forward to challenge them.
Zhao Ye was extremely angry and hateful, but he had no choice but to "bear the humiliation" and give Chen Ling'an a look that said "let's wait and see".
It's so pathetic!
Wu Yong originally wanted to give the fallen dog a good beating and say a few nice words to the Southern Pacification Office.
On second thought, I really disobeyed the orders of my superiors today, and I don’t know what punishment they will get. I will be laughed at by others tomorrow.
Suddenly, I no longer had the desire to laugh at others.
He was not the only one who had the same idea. The soldiers of the Northern Pacification Division all looked at Chen Ling'an, hoping to get an answer from him that would reassure them.
Sure enough, their usually calm leader did not disappoint him this time.
Chen Lingan said, "You all go back to the yamen and wait for orders. I'll be with the emperor. Everyone, keep your spirits up. The sky won't fall."
The people in the Northern Pacification Office all breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere instantly became lively.
Chen Ling'an glanced at Liu Jinshu and others with a sidelong glance, and his expression seemed to say: You guys are just a bunch of useless people, and you think you can accomplish anything?
Those people exploded immediately.
Chen Ling'an ignored their angry curses, rolled his eyes in disdain, turned around and left leisurely.
Wu Yong and others also laughed at them and left while playing and fighting with each other.
"Why are you still staying here? You're just asking people to laugh at you!" One scholar walked away, followed by the second, the third...
Soon, only Liu Jinshu and Li Lin were left at the gate of Nancui Academy.
"Let's go." Liu Jinshu whispered.
Li Lin said with a feeling of infinite melancholy, "How could this happen? Tell me, did he do this on purpose? Did he deliberately send us away?"
Liu Jinshu's eyes drifted towards the sky above the academy. "Who knows, maybe."
"Are we going back like this?" Li Lin sighed, feeling unwilling.
Liu Jinshu lowered his eyes, his tone becoming obscure and difficult to discern. "Looking at the situation today, this is just the beginning. Nancui Academy may not be able to be saved. This single stone stirs up a thousand ripples. We must spread the news as quickly as possible..."
-
"Can't protect it?" Xiaoman looked at Chen Ling'an in surprise, and a sense of uneasiness suddenly arose in her heart.
Chen Ling'an looked towards the academy with a solemn gaze. "Scholars are full of arrogance. A head-on confrontation is the worst option. They can threaten high-ranking officials in the court, but not the emperor. Instead, they will provoke the emperor to take even tougher measures."
Xiaoman regretted it so much that she almost cried, "I made things worse! It's all my fault!"
"What's your fault?" Chen Ling'an laughed. "The idea was thought up by Li Lin and his people. You just gave them a list of people who might support the academy."
"The current emperor is resolute in mind. Once an order is issued, it will never be retracted. Regardless of today's incident, Nan Cui Academy will be banned and destroyed. Li Lin has just entered the officialdom and could not have imagined this."
Xiaoman was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized, "Liu Jinshu is always by the emperor's side, so he must have figured it out!"
Chen Ling'an nodded slightly, agreeing with her opinion.
"Then why did he come and incite everyone to rebel against the court?"
"Who knows? Maybe there are some benefits I don't know about." Chen Ling'an smiled kindly, appearing particularly gentle. "Don't think about him. I'm going to the palace to apologize. Think about me more."
Xiaoman couldn't hold back any longer, tears streaming down her face. "The Emperor will forgive you, right? At most he'll scold you and fine you a few years' salary, right? I'm so, so stupid. I wish I hadn't gotten involved."
"Don't cry." Chen Ling'an leaned over, tilted his head slightly to look at her, and wiped the tears from her face with his fingers very gently.
"I am very grateful to you. You did what I wanted to do but didn't dare to do. Thank you, Xiaoman, thank you for protecting my father's academy."
Thank you for protecting one of my best memories...
Do you know, the moment I saw you almost hit the blade, all the meridians in my body seemed to explode.
No matter how precious the memories are, they are the past. I cannot be trapped by the past forever.
It's time to come out.
Chen Ling'an slowly approached Xiaoman, "Didn't you ask me if I like you?"
Xiaoman held her breath.
"I like you, very much."
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