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

To avoid disturbing other students' studies, the headmaster led a large group of people to the study.

Wang Yuchen walked behind with his lackey, glaring fiercely at Xue Li, but Xue Li ignored him.

With his older sister backing him up, he didn't have to worry about causing trouble for his father and brothers, and he could even make Wang Yuchen and the others suffer. This feeling was really good, and he felt very at ease.

Xue Li walked at the back of the group with his hands behind his back. When Wang Yuchen stretched out his leg to kick him, Xue Li nimbly dodged to the side and tripped Wang Yuchen's outstretched leg.

Wang Yuchen didn't expect Xue Li to turn around and do this. Plus, the ground was slippery, so he lost his footing and fell heavily to the ground with a dull thud.

The fall was so hard and the sound so loud that everyone couldn't help but turn around.

There lay a huge object on the ground, which looked like a small mountain.

Wang Yuchen knew that Xue Li had deliberately tripped him, but he couldn't produce any evidence. He wanted to cry but was too embarrassed, so he pouted and lay down on the ground, refusing to move.

"Hurry up and help him up."

The headmaster looked displeased and scolded the students who were still standing there in a daze.

"Yes, Headmaster."

Several students who were usually close to Wang Yuchen only realized what was happening when they heard the headmaster's reprimand and quickly gathered around.

Because Wang Yuchen was very heavy, it took several people a lot of effort to help him up.

Xue Li pursed her lips, but her eyes shone brightly, like a little mouse that had stolen some oil, happy but not daring to laugh.

Xue Ruanruan glared at him, feigning anger, then turned away as if she hadn't seen anything.

In the Chu and Qin states, families that could send their children to Luming Academy were either wealthy or powerful eunuch families, possessing enormous influence and resources.

However, despite their high positions, there was a strict hierarchy among them.

The other students all came from families with high-ranking officials, but none of them held positions as high as the Left Prime Minister or the Grand General of the State.

When officials of lower rank than Xue Yan learned that their children had almost tied the young master of the Zhenguo General's mansion to a tree and frozen to death, they were so frightened that they rushed to the academy by carriage.

He sent his servants in haste with valuable gifts, and in front of everyone, he gave his own child a severe beating.

Two students' parents also learned that their children had done such a thing under the orders of the Grand Chancellor's grandson, and they were surprised to see that only a young girl had come to the General of the State's residence.

Not only did they not bring any gifts to apologize, they didn't even say a word of apology.

The attitude is obvious.

Xue Ruanruan remained calm and composed, but in her heart she secretly made a mental note of the two people and their families.

Just as the atmosphere became awkward, footsteps came from the corridor outside.

Looking out through the window, one could see the Left Chancellor, Wang Cheng'en, dressed in a magnificent official robe, followed closely by a group of imposing guards, striding out from the pavilion.

The guards were all strong and muscular, wielding sharp weapons, exuding a chilling aura and an unstoppable force, as if the whole world had to make way for them.

Wang Chengen walked at the front, his face serious, his eyes sharp as an eagle. His powerful aura contrasted sharply with his thin figure, making people feel intimidated.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the door to the headmaster's study was kicked open, and a biting wind mixed with snowflakes blew into the room, causing everyone to shiver.

Headmaster Ren looked at the wooden door that had been kicked open by the guards, his face calm, and he did not say a word.

"What brings you here, Headmaster? The affairs of the court are very busy. If I delay His Majesty's important matters because of this, I would not be able to bear the responsibility even if you gave me ten heads."

Wang Cheng'en entered the study, his eyes scanning the surroundings. When he saw Xue Ruanruan, the only female member of the family, his eyes darkened.

Wang Cheng'en stepped into the study, his eyes scanning the surroundings with the sharpness of an eagle. When his gaze fell on Xue Ruanruan, his eyes darkened slightly.

However, he quickly shifted his gaze away from her, finally fixing it on Headmaster Ren, and his words were full of threat.

A huge accusation was leveled against him, as if summoning him would delay important national affairs.

Wang Cheng'en's immediate show of force caused dissatisfaction among the teachers of the academy.

Xue Ruanruan looked at the Left Prime Minister, whose face was full of treachery, and sneered inwardly. Was he putting on a show for her? Did he really think that the Chu-Qin Kingdom belonged to his royal family?

"If the Left Prime Minister has important business to attend to, he may leave first and let my father come."

Ren Shanzhang was already dissatisfied with the Left Prime Minister's unreasonable behavior, and seeing his arrogant attitude, his expression became even colder.

The Left Prime Minister's move was undoubtedly a disgrace to the headmaster.

"Since I'm here, it would be best to resolve this matter. However, I have limited time, so I hope you will speak frankly, Headmaster."

When Wang Cheng'en saw that Headmaster Ren showed him no respect whatsoever, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. His expression softened immediately, and he gave himself a way out.

"Since Your Excellency still has official business to attend to, I will keep this brief."

Even though Ren Shanzhang was upright, he was not ignorant of human relationships. Although he was not an official in the court and did not need to be subservient to the Left Prime Minister, he dared not offend him easily.

The Left Chancellor wielded immense power and deep-rooted influence in the court, his influence as intricate as a towering tree, penetrating every corner of the court.

Even the Luming Academy, a place that seems to have nothing to do with the court's disputes, hides many of the Left Prime Minister's spies and influence.

These people may have chosen to stand on his side out of personal interests, or perhaps due to coercion and enticement from the Left Chancellor.

They secretly manipulated the affairs of the academy and swayed public opinion, casting a shadow over what should have been a pure and tranquil place like Luming Academy.

The headmaster could only turn a blind eye; unless the behavior was too outrageous, he would pretend not to see it.

This time, Wang Yuchen and other students almost killed the youngest son of the General Who Protects the Nation. This is a very serious matter. If he does not stand up to uphold justice, he will be unworthy of his position as the headmaster and will chill the hearts of the students.

To avoid any bias in his words, he asked Wang Yuchen and several students to voluntarily confess what they had done the day before.

Wang Yuchen was still young, and he was so frightened in front of the headmaster and the teacher that he dared not hide anything and confessed everything he had done.

This even includes past acts of bullying against Xue Li.

Xue Ruanruan's face grew colder as she listened. She hadn't expected that her younger brother had been bullied by his classmates at the academy for so long and had suffered so much abuse. If her father found out, he would be furious.

"Does the headmaster mean that my grandson tied the young master of the general's mansion to a tree in the outhouse and almost froze to death?"

After hearing what his grandson said, Wang Cheng'en did not react. His eyes flickered, and he glanced at Xue Ruanruan meaningfully, his tone questioning, almost as if to say that Xue Ruanruan was lying.