Chapter 151.2: Retaliation
Chapter 151.2: Retaliation
“It’s nowhere? Just where did he put the monthly exam papers?” Director Li’s anxious voice sounded.
They saw that Director Li had finished rummaging through this row of bookshelves and was about to pass by the pillar to start at the next row of bookshelves, but just then, footsteps could be heard from the corridor.
Director Li’s hand trembled, shoved the rummaged books back into the bookshelf at random, and hurried to the center of the hall. He straightened his clothes and acted like nothing had happened.
Director Zheng entered the hall and gave Director Li a suspicious look, “I heard that Director Li has something urgent to say to this official?”
Director Li pretended to be calm and said, “Well, Shuaixing Hall will have an equestrian archery class tomorrow. I heard that a few days ago, the women’s academy conducted an equestrian archery class and many students were hurt. I wonder if we should cancel the class temporarily?”
“This is what you meant by urgent?” Director Zheng frowned impatiently, saying, “Cancel it then. Also next time, you can make your own decisions about such trifles. You don’t have to ask me!”
“Yes!” Director Li cupped his hands.
“Is there anything else?” Director Zheng asked.
Director Li furtively glanced at the unsearched bookshelves from the corner of his eye, then he lowered his eyes and said, “No, this subordinate official will now excuse himself.”
Both of them were Director of Studies, and although there was the distinction of primary and deputy between them, he did not need to refer to himself as ‘subordinate official’ when talking to him.
It was because the other party was now the Acting Chief.
Director Zheng was very pleased to hear the other party call himself so, and his face softened a little. He said, “Forget it. It’s getting late now, I’m going back. Let’s go together.”
“My Lord, please.” Directory Li saluted.
The two people went out of Minghui Hall one after another.
At this moment, Director Li was considering whether he should try to draw out an answer by beating him up.
Gu Jiao had actually guessed why Director Li came to look for the monthly exam papers this time. He also suspected that there was something fishy about Xiao Liulang’s scores, and he wanted to help Xiao Liulang clarify the truth.
He was a good person.
She couldn’t get him involved.
Gu Jiao decided to beat up Director Zheng next time.
The couple still maintained the distance just now, and their hearts seemed to jump together.
Xiao Liulang’s heartbeat grew faster, meanwhile, although Gu Jiao admired his good-looks, her heart was very calm.
Whenever she admired a beauty, she was always poised and without any embarrassment!
“That…..” Xiao Liulang cleared his throat.
Gu Jiao understood, took a step back and distanced herself from him.
The lights in Minghui Hall went out after the two Director of Studies left, but the thin moonlight penetrated in and fell on Xiao Liulang’s handsome face.
A little embarrassment could be seen on his face.
Gu Jiao glanced at him and calmly said, “I understand. A man’s normal reaction. You don’t have to be embarrassed.”
Xiao Liulang：“…”
Thank you, but he wasn’t comforted at all.
Gu Jiao turned around and walked away. Seemingly having thought of something, she said, “You’re not that young anymore too. Go home and relieve yourself.” [T/N: Hahaha!]
Xiao Liulang stumbled and almost fell down!
Could we just pretend that nothing happened?!
Gu Jiao walked up in front of a painting, lifted it aside, and knocked on the wall behind it. Suddenly, the wall opened, revealing a hidden compartment with a set of examination papers, which were the monthly exam papers that Director Li was looking for.
Gu Jiao: “Sure enough, it’s here!”
Xiao Liulang: “How do you know?”
Just now, Xiao Liulang was positioned at the back, leaning against the wall, and only Gu Jiao was in his line of sight. On the other hand, Gu Jiao could see the scene in the hall with only a tilt of her head.
When Director Zheng came in, the first thing he did was look at this painting.
Therefore, Gu Jiao guessed that there must be something behind the painting.
“Are you here to find this too?” Gu Jiao asked.
“There are other things as well.” After saying that, Xiao Liulang went up to the last row of the bookshelves. With a gentle push, the bookshelves opened up, and inside was actually a secret room.
Xiao Liulang went into the secret room and found a book.
“What is it?” Gu Jiao asked.
Xiao Liulang showed her the book.
After reading it, the corner of Gu Jiao’s mouth twitched. You’re still the ruthless one, I see.
“Let’s go.” Xiao Liulang said.
The door was already locked, and just as Gu Jiao intended to pry the door open, she saw Xiao Liulang push open another secret room and took her out of the Imperial Academy through it.
Gu Jiao was dumbfounded. So there was a secret passage. But how did this guy know so much about the Imperial Academy?
Although she didn’t manage to beat up Director Zheng, they got the evidence to make Director Zheng shed off a layer of his skin, which was quite rewarding.
When the couple got home, the family members had all gone to sleep. Before leaving, Xiao Liulang carried Little Jing Kong to Gu Yan’s room temporarily, and now he transferred the sleeping Little Jing Kong back to their room.
He took a quick bath, and when he came out to pour the water, he met Gu Jiao.
Gu Jiao uttered an ‘oh’ and said, “So fast.”
It was just a quick bath, what did she expect?
But soon, after realizing what this “fast” meant, Xiao Liulang felt bad all over!
……
In the next few days, two major events happened in the Imperial Academy.
First of all, the Shuaixing Hall’s monthly exam papers were leaked.
Everyone saw Xiao Liulang’s exam paper. If this exam paper could be in the bottom place, then everyone in the Shuaixing Hall might as well all be in the bottom place.
This batch of exam papers was corrected by Director Zheng. Obviously, he was maliciously targeting Xiao Liulang.
The second thing was related to Director Zheng’s account book, which recorded how he formed a group for personal interests a few years ago. It was circulated in the Imperial Academy.
There were many aristocratic and official sons studying in the Imperial Academy, and the forces behind them were intertwined. Some of them supported Director Zheng, and some of them were just and upright.
The account book soon reached His Majesty’s hand.
His majesty was furious in an instant, summoned Director Zheng to the imperial study room, and severely reprimanded him.
Grand Preceptor Zhuang was also present.
Director Zheng was Grand Preceptor Zhuang’s people. Grand Preceptor Zhuang naturally wanted to protect him, but the evidence was conclusive and it wasn’t so easy to defend him.
After leaving the palace, Grand Preceptor Zhuang asked disappointedly, “What’s going on? Didn’t you already destroy this stuff earlier? Why do you still have it?”
Director Zheng replied, feeling wronged, “I… I probably missed this one book when I destroyed those things… Someone must’ve picked it up…”
Grand Preceptor Zhuang said, “Then why did it come out only now? Do you think you have offended anyone recently? “
“No, just…”
“Just what?”
Director Zheng faltered and talked about Xiao Liulang, “…He’s just a poor scholar from a small county town, it’s nothing like committing an offense!”
It was called committing an offense only when it was done to those of a higher status than you.
With a humble character like Xiao Liulang, it could only be called bullying at best!
However, Director Zheng’s expression couldn’t help but change, “Is it really that guy?”
Grand Preceptor Zhuang blandly said, “A poor guy from the countryside doesn’t have this capability. It is most likely that some people don’t want to see this old official’s people sit in the position of Imperial Academy Chief, tearing down my support at the critical moment.”
Director Zheng was stupefied, “Who could have done it…?”
Grand Preceptor Zhuang stood on the highest step, looking in the direction of the Marquis Xuanping Estate, and sneered, “Besides that one, who else dares to fight against this old official?”
Innocent people at home unknowingly carried the pot(blame)!