After returning to the capital, the eldest daughter saved her entire clan with her medical skills.

Yan Xiao stared blankly at his empty palm. Did his master want to eat alone?

After arriving at Luming Academy, Xue Ruanruan went straight to the headmaster's study. Ren Hetang had just put down his lesson plan and was about to go eat when he saw a very beautiful girl walking with her maid through the window.

This was the office area. Ren Hetang frowned, straightened the wrinkles in his clothes, and walked outside, wondering what this young lady was doing here.

"This is an office area, please stop here, young lady."

A clear voice came from outside, and Xue Ruanruan looked up to see a middle-aged man in simple clothes with a serious expression standing outside the house, persuading her to return.

"My lord, I am a young lady from the Zhenguo General's mansion. I have come to ask you for a favor."

Xue Ruanruan got straight to the point, stating her purpose for coming directly. If she had said she was there to deliver gifts, she would definitely have been kicked out by the straightforward Headmaster Ren.

"The General's Mansion? I don't remember having a girl there."

Headmaster Ren looked puzzled. Although he was not very familiar with General Xue Yan, he admired him and knew a little about the family. He only remembered that there were five sons in the general's mansion, but no daughters.

"My lord, I have only recently arrived in the capital to meet my relatives. My family has not yet held a banquet. I have come today to ask you for a favor."

"In that case, Miss Xue, please come in."

Headmaster Ren didn't say anything more. After bowing, he led Xue Ruanruan into the headmaster's office.

The maid removed Xue Ruanruan's shawl to prevent the snow from wetting the floor inside the room.

"Master, my daughter has come about my younger brother Xue Li."

Xue Ruanruan got straight to the point, stating her purpose directly.

"Xue Li? What happened to him?"

Ren Hetang was deeply impressed by Xue Li. His teacher, Huang Yongyu, praised him highly, saying that he had a talent for reading and that if he were properly taught, his future would be limitless.

Master Huang rarely praised someone like this, and other masters also showed admiration whenever they mentioned Xue Li. Out of curiosity, he even went to sit in on his classes.

The young master of the Xue family was indeed more intelligent and quick-witted than his classmates, especially in his mastery of the coursework, which far exceeded his expectations.

"Headmaster Ren, I'll speak frankly."

"Miss Xue, please speak freely."

Xue Ruanruan told Headmaster Ren everything about how the Left Prime Minister's son and other children bullied Xue Li, especially the fact that they had tied her younger brother to a tree in the latrine with a rope the night before, which greatly shocked Headmaster Ren.

He was horrified that such a terrible thing had happened at the academy he was in charge of, and his face turned ashen.

"If the headmaster does not believe me, I can provide witnesses."

Xue Ruanruan knew that Headmaster Ren had believed her words, but she was unsure whether he would risk offending the Left Prime Minister for Li'er's sake.

In order to put pressure on him covertly, they had no choice but to bring in the regent to back him up.

"A witness? Didn't Miss Xue say that Xue Li was the only student at the academy last night?"

Headmaster Ren isn't so easily fooled. Miss Xue already said that there's no one left in the academy except Xue Li, who's tied up in the latrine. How come another witness has appeared?

“Your Excellency is wise. Last night, when I was climbing the courtyard wall, the Regent saw me and thought I was doing something wrong, so he followed me in. It was the Regent who helped me find Li’er.”

Xue Ruanruan felt she was becoming increasingly adept at using the "fox borrowing the tiger's might" tactic. Only by bringing up Murong Xun's name would Headmaster Ren dare not let the matter rest.