Chapter 609 - 609: Regret

Translator: Henyee Translations

Editor: Henyee Translations

The Emperor’s voice rang out again, filled with even more anger, “Where is Luo Jisheng?”

No one dared to speak up, as speaking might bring misfortune upon themselves in the Emperor’s current state of anger. Everyone silently lowered their heads.

Yan Jingkui, slightly lifting his head and seeing his fellow students’ resentful glances, braced himself and said, “Your Majesty, he has gone home and is not here.”

The Emperor’s cold gaze fixed on Yan Jingkui. The once pleasant event of the Poetry and Rites Competition had turned sour. If it weren’t for these two young men’s fathers working on the construction of the Wei River embankments, he wouldn’t have let them off so easily.

Yan Jingkui was trembling with fear. It was as if he had fallen into an abyss. He suddenly understood. They thought they were smart, but in fact, others could see through their little tricks at a glance. In fact, they were stupid.

Fuming with rage, the Emperor declared, “Go tell him, his punishment is doubled!” With that, he left the Imperial College.

As the Emperor departed, the atmosphere remained tense, and everyone slowly started to leave.

Mu Chongli deliberately waited at the entrance of Bitong Hall. Seeing Cao Changkun emerging, he commented, “Grand Libationer, your student is quite talented, seamlessly switching the couplet. He truly learned from the best.”

This remark added insult to injury for Yan Jingkui, who was about to stand up but immediately knelt back down, not daring to move.

Knowing what he knew now, he regretted letting Luo Jisheng hide. Having An extra person to share the burden would have been so much better!

Cao Changkun, visibly frustrated, asked Mu Chongli, “Why are you still here?”

Ignoring Cao Changkun’s question, Mu Chongli smiled and addressed the students of the Imperial College, “When you have free time, you should delve into more positive and uplifting subjects. Otherwise, you might end up hurting yourselves with your own actions.”

His comment, clearly directed at Yan Jingkui, hinted that despite escaping severe punishment, Yan Jingkui’s prospects for official advancement were now slim.

You should take better care of your own students; everyone makes mistakes.” Cao Changkun, with a stern face, approached Yan Jingkui and spoke coldly, “Get up. The Emperor has ordered you to apologize to Chu Qingzhi. What are you doing still kneeling here?”

“Yes, Grand Libationer, I’ll go right away,” Yan Jingkui quickly got up and hurriedly made his way to Chu Qingzhi.

Seeing that Yan Jingkui had gone to apologize, everyone stopped in their tracks.

In the midst of everyone’s condemning glances, Yan Jingkui arrived in front of Chu Qingzhi. He looked at the ground, too scared to meet her eyes, “I’m sorry, Miss Chu. I shouldn’t have passed off your couplet as my own.”

“You should apologize to the people of Yunfei School. They are the ones who have been ridiculed and mocked because of your actions,” Chu Qingzhi said.

Yan Jingkui felt deeply humiliated but had no other choice. He endured and said, “I, Yan Jingkui, apologize to everyone here today. It’s my fault, please forgive me.”

He regretted letting Luo Jisheng hide away, as he now had to face all of this alone, bearing the brunt of the blame that should have been shared with Luo Jisheng.

“Actually, I don’t think an apology is enough. What does everyone else think?” Chu Qingzhi wasn’t ready to let Yan Jingkui off so easily. She believed that a person must bear the consequences of their actions.

“I agree with Miss Chu. If apologies were enough, then what’s the point of laws?”

“Exactly. We’ve endured so much mockery and ridicule, and it’s all supposed to be fine with just one apology? I’m not satisfied.”

“Me neither. I came here excited for the competition, only to end up with so much frustration.”

Chu Qingzhi then suggested, “Why don’t you do something to appease everyone’s anger?”

Yan Jingkui did not dare to say no to this kind of situation where everyone was targeting him. He could only brace himself and agree. “As long as it’s something I can do, I’ll definitely do it.”

Chu Qingzhi then said, “I’ve heard that the orphanage’s building is in disrepair, with several rooms collapsed. Your family is an expert in this field. Why don’t you lead a team to repair the orphanage? I hope it will be completed before September 24th.”

Yan Jingkui quickly agreed. “I’ll definitely get it done.”

Chu Qingzhi nodded. “Everyone, let’s see how this… Young Master Yan performs in the coming days. Let’s go.”

Everyone continued to leave.

Xu Guannan approached Chu Qingzhi, “Miss Chu, you always think things through. If it were us, we probably would have settled for just an apology.”

Chu Qingzhi replied, “In my case, an apology isn’t enough.”

Xu Guannan smiled, “We should learn from you.”

Lin Jixian ran over and blocked Chu Xuyuan’s path. He looked unconvinced. “Chu Xuyuan, I want to challenge you again!”

Chu Xuyuan was clearly annoyed by Lin Jixian’s attitude, “I don’t accept challenges from those who’ve already lost to me!”

Lin Jixian pressed on, “Are you afraid?”

“I’m not afraid. I just feel that playing chess with someone less skilled than me won’t help me improve. It’s a waste of time.”

Lin Jixian’s face turned red with embarrassment, “That was a mistake. I’m not really worse than you!”

Chu Xuyuan didn’t care. “I don’t care if it was a mistake or not, the fact is you lost to me.”

Lin Jixian, desperate for a rematch, asked, “What do I have to do to get you to accept my challenge?”

“No matter what you do, I won’t accept it.”

“You…”

Chu Xuyuan cut him off, “I’m going home now, don’t block my way.”

Lin Jixian, realizing Chu Xuyuan was immovable, reluctantly stepped aside, watching him leave with dissatisfaction.

After Yunfei School’s students had left, Yan Jingkui immediately rushed out of the Imperial College. Although his classmates hadn’t said anything, their gazes made him feel extremely uncomfortable. He couldn’t even lift his head.

Once out of the Imperial College, he went straight to Luo Jisheng’s house.

Coincidentally, the eunuchs in the palace came to pass on the emperor’s oral decree to punish Luo Jisheng.

After Luo Jisheng heard the decree, his body went limp from fear. “Why did this matter reach the Emperor? In the future… there won’t be a future for me!”

He was filled with regret and couldn’t help but want to cry. If he knew the consequences would be so severe, he would never have swapped the couplet.

“Now everything is ruined, all ruined!!”

When Luo Jisheng came back to his senses and saw Yan Jingkui, his eyes lit up. “Brother Yan, was that a hallucination just now?”

Yan Jingkui was implicated by Luo Jisheng. If Luo Jisheng had not swapped the couplets, he would not have used it as his own. Thinking of this, he could not help but complain in his heart.

“What hallucination? It’s all real, all of it!”

Luo Jisheng shook his head in disbelief, “It can’t be, they have no proof, why would the Emperor believe it?”

Yan Jingkui guiltily said, “It doesn’t matter whether the Emperor believes it or not. The punishment has been handed down. We need to make amends now.” “Did you apologize to Chu Qingzhi?”

“I did. She asked us to repair the orphanage. I think if we fix it well, she might not hold it against us anymore.”

“Are you sure?” Luo Jisheng thought for a moment, “I have to go there personally…” His mind was filled with the thought that Chu Qingzhi was not easy to deal with and wouldn’t let him off easily.

He got up from the ground, changed his clothes, and walked out of the house.

Yan Jingkui followed him out..