Quick Wear: The Development of a Pure Cannon Fodder

Lord Wang sighed, and under Cheng Ting's repeated questioning, he said, "In fact, Jingzhao Prefecture already knew who hurt you, but no one can touch that person now."

Cheng Ting's eyes widened. "What? Jingzhao Prefecture already knew who it was? How is that possible? How dare they treat me like this? Even if I'm just a small clerk now, they, as the father and mother of the capital, shouldn't act like this! My Lord, Lord Wang, do you know who did this? Tell me, who is it! Even Jingzhao Prefecture can't touch him!"

"Cheng Ting! Cheng Ting!" Lord Wang looked at the excited Cheng Ting and quickly comforted him, "Don't get excited yet. Take it easy and I'll tell you later."

Cheng Ting took a long time to calm down, and the flush on his face due to excitement finally disappeared. He leaned weakly against the pillow, his face full of dejection, "The Jingzhao Prefecture is so partial to that person. That person must be of a prominent status, right?"

Lord Wang patted his shoulder to comfort him. "You probably don't know this person, but you definitely know his father. He's Lord Li, Li Song."

Li Song was the old man who banged his head against the pillar in the court to prove his innocence.

It was also he who instigated those officials who had been sued by Cheng Ting before to secretly smear Cheng Ting's reputation, causing the name Cheng Ting to be like a rat crossing the street, everyone shouting and beating him up, and when scholars and writers heard about it, they just wanted to spit at him.

Lord Wang pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and unfolded it, revealing a cufflink. "The Jingzhao Prefecture investigation revealed that Li Song's son, Li Wei, was seen passing by alone that night with disheveled clothing. This cufflink resembles the one on his clothes. However, somehow, this testimony was suppressed by the Jingzhao Prefecture."

Cheng Ting's eyes were red with anger. "How can they behave like this? This is the father and mother of the capital? This is what the people rely on? Ridiculous, too ridiculous!"

Lord Wang sighed and handed him the cufflinks. "Teacher Cheng, Li Song banged his head against the pillar in court to prove his innocence, and the other officials you sued are even more protective of each other! Support Li Song. The people of the world believe they are innocent. Even if there are more witnesses, it will be useless. The entire court, including His Majesty, treats Li Song with courtesy, thinking that Li Song is being slandered by the merchants below. Who dares to confront the Li family at this moment? I understand you are angry, but no matter how angry you are, you have to endure it now!"

Cheng Ting only felt a tightness in his chest, and the next second, he was so angry that he suddenly turned sideways and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Cheng Ting!"

Lord Wang stood up and went to find a doctor.

Cheng Ting held him back, wiping the blood from his mouth while weakly saying, "Lord Wang, I'm fine..."

After spitting out the blood clots, he breathed much more easily.

Cheng Ting raised his head and looked at Lord Wang with almost desperate eyes, "Lord Wang, do you also think Li Song and the others are innocent?"

Lord Wang remained silent. He tilted his head and said, "Cheng Ting, it doesn't matter whether Li Song and the others are innocent or not. You need to take good care of your injuries."

Cheng Ting was speechless for a long time. Before he entered the court as an official, as a scholar, he had criticized countless corrupt officials with sharp words. All the people praised him, and officials with guilty consciences were afraid of him.

He thought that with his ability, after entering the court, he could do something for the people and change the atmosphere of the court, but reality slapped him in the face.

Now, because Li Song hit his head against the pillar in court, he became a shameless person who slandered his superiors and a fake scholar who sought fame in the eyes of the people. The title of the current number one scholar was now slapped in his face like a slap. In the end, even the Jingzhao Prefecture government, the official in the capital that he trusted, trampled on him like an ant.

All this was caused by corrupt officials like Li Song who colluded with businessmen!

One can imagine the sadness in Cheng Ting's heart, "What about His Highness? Does he believe me?"

He still remembered that Crown Prince Shao Lian spoke up for him in the court that day.

Lord Wang's eyes flashed, "The Crown Prince naturally believes in the truth. Cheng Ting, before I came here, the Crown Prince asked me to tell you to take good care of your injuries."

Cheng Ting lowered his eyes, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

Cheng Ting didn't feel anything when Lord Wang left.

His face was pale and he lay on the couch like a dead man.

It was not until noon that he got up, staggered to change his clothes, and dragged his sick body out of the house.

He didn't know where he was going. Wherever he went, whenever someone recognized him as Cheng Tinglai, they would inevitably point fingers at him behind his back, saying that he was slandering his superiors, seeking fame and reputation, and had no literary character.

He heard and saw it, but what could he do?

His pride and self-esteem did not allow him to argue with these people who were ignorant of the truth.

Cheng Ting was extremely depressed. He finally stopped at a lake. He stood by the river, looking into the distance and thinking about the meaning of his career as an official in the court.

Yu Ziyin didn't expect to meet Cheng Ting, her nominal future brother-in-law, while boating on the lake with Helanxin. Helanxin also knew the relationship between Yu Ziyin and Cheng Ting. She was also very curious about Cheng Ting, who was once the most popular but now became a shame among literati, so she stopped and followed Yu Ziyin.

"Lord Cheng." Yu Zinyin and Helanxin both nodded.

When Cheng Ting saw Yu Ziyin and He Lanxin, he subconsciously wanted to bow and salute. When he realized that he couldn't do it, an awkward look appeared on his face. "Sorry."

"Nothing." Yu Ziyin raised her lips slightly, her eyes falling on Cheng Ting's arm. "Since my lord is injured, he should be recuperating in the mansion. Why did you run out?"

He Lanxin: "Yeah, it took a hundred days to heal this broken bone, how can I walk around freely?"

Cheng Ting twitched his lips and forced a smile, "Because I can't figure out some things, I don't want to stay in the mansion. I want to come out and see if I can find the answer."

"Oh? What kind of difficult problem can make the current number one scholar, Lord Cheng, so confused?" Yu Zinyin asked.

Nowadays, even if someone suggested that Cheng Ting was the top scorer, there would be some sarcasm. However, her attitude was sincere and her eyes were clear, without any sarcasm at all, which made Cheng Ting not feel the slightest bit of annoyance at being humiliated.

Cheng Ting looked at the two ladies and nobles before him and said inexplicably, "Before entering the court, I was full of passion and ambition, but after entering, I don't understand the way of being an official anymore. I... even thought about resigning and becoming a teacher. Maybe I could use my own strength to change the atmosphere of the court officials."

"Could you two ladies please enlighten me on what constitutes a proper official?"

Helan Xin's gaze changed as she looked at Cheng Ting.

Because her father was also in the court that day, and she knew something about this matter, she was displeased with this brave but foolish Lord Cheng, thinking that he was too naive. However, when she saw the confusion and heartache on his face, she realized that he was not as the rumors said. He was just a young man who entered the court with a passion and high spirits.

Yu Zinyin didn't expect that Cheng Ting was actually worried about this.

After this setback, Cheng Ting will gradually understand the ways of being an official in his future posts, calm his temperament, become steady, and become cunning, making it difficult to find any fault with him.

But in the final analysis, these are all things that will happen in the next few years. Now Cheng Ting is confused, puzzled and bewildered.