A peasant girl travels through time with a hospital, rising to become an empress.

Gu Xiao looked up and met Vice Dean Li's eyes, his expression neither humble nor arrogant. "Vice Dean Li, I have not seen the contents of the cheat sheet. What I wrote in my answers just now were my true thoughts and feelings, and have absolutely nothing to do with the cheat sheet. Does this prove my innocence?"

Of course it is!

The students present shared a remarkably similar opinion. They had also read the contents of the cheat sheet, and it was worlds apart from Gu Xiao's essay. Why would someone capable of writing such an essay bring a worthless cheat sheet into the exam room?

Before Vice Dean Li could speak, a man named Cong Zirui interrupted, "Brother Gu is exceptionally talented, capable of writing such a groundbreaking article. How could he possibly be carrying cheat sheets to cheat? Someone else must have cheated on him; Brother Gu is simply an innocent victim!"

The student's eyes were practically sparkling as he looked at Gu Xiao. In this era, there was no such thing as idol worship; if there were, this student would already be a fan of Gu Xiao.

"The ruler is the boat; the common people are the water. Water can carry the boat, but it can also capsize it. If the ruler considers this danger, how can danger not befall him?"

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. This saying is wonderful, truly wonderful."

Several students were still murmuring Gu Xiao's article, nodding their heads and praising it.

"Vice Dean Li, there must be some misunderstanding here."

"Brother Gu is so talented, I never realized it before."

"Didn't they say he got in through connections? I didn't expect him to be so capable."

“I heard that Gu Xiao was personally recommended by the county magistrate. If he didn’t have real talent and learning, how could the county magistrate have taken a special liking to him and recommended him?”

"That makes sense. So why are the rumors saying that Gu Xiao is uneducated? Who is spreading these rumors?"

Upon hearing this, Nie Wenye's eyes flickered, and he lowered his gaze to conceal his emotions.

In the past, when people heard about his relationship with Gu Xiao, they inquired about Gu Xiao's situation. He naturally wouldn't directly point out Gu Xiao's shortcomings, but his evasive words implied that Gu Xiao had never entered the academy and was lacking in strength. As these words spread, over time, everyone in the academy believed that Gu Xiao had no strength whatsoever.

But now, the rumors have been debunked.

Gu Xiao's article successfully changed all the students' opinions of him.

Sometimes, no amount of explanation is of any use; ability is the key.

Listening to the whispers of the students around him, Vice Dean Li held his breath, closed his eyes, and was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. He had taught for many years, nurturing countless students, yet he had never anticipated such a mistake with Gu Xiao. His preconceived notions and stubbornness had led him to mistake a pearl for a fish eye.

Just as Vice Dean Li was about to speak, she heard Dean Qiu's surprised voice.

"What are you doing?"

Everyone turned around and saw Dean Qiu standing side by side with an unfamiliar man at the classroom door.

The man was about the same age as Dean Qiu, dressed in a moon-white long gown, with an elegant demeanor and a gentle smile on his face, appearing very kind.

Dean Qiu walked over and saw that everyone was surrounding Gu Xiao. He frowned and asked, "What's going on?"

The students talked amongst themselves, explaining the whole story to Dean Qiu.

To everyone's surprise, the usually gentle Dean Qiu's face turned angry after hearing this, and he shouted, "Nonsense!"

He looked at Vice Dean Li, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction, "Vice Dean Li, cheating is a serious matter and should be investigated carefully. How can you make such a hasty judgment based solely on a note found under Gu Xiao's desk!"

"Besides, others may not know Gu Xiao's strength, but don't you know it either?"

Gu Xiao is the first person in Tiande Academy to get a perfect score on Dean Qiu's exam paper. He is a rare talent and the greatest hope for Tiande Academy to pass the autumn examination.

Such students deserve more care and attention; how can they be easily doubted and humiliated?

After Vice Dean Li finished speaking, the students in the examination room immediately started discussing among themselves.

"What do you mean, Dean? Did Dean Qiu and Vice Dean Li know that Brother Gu has such great talent?"

Another classmate clapped his hands and said, "Thinking about it, it makes sense. Dean Qiu cherishes talent the most. How could Dean Qiu and Vice Dean Li not know that the college has such a talented student?"

"But if that's the case, why did Vice Dean Li treat Gu Xiao that way just now?"

"This……"

Listening to the discussions around him, Vice Dean Li's expression grew increasingly grim.

Vice Dean Li's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't bring himself to speak.

As a teacher, he naturally cherishes talented students.

He felt that Nie Wenye was hardworking and diligent, and had considerable talent, so he devoted himself to tutoring him privately after class, sparing no effort, hoping that he would pass the imperial examination next autumn.

As for Gu Xiao, he always harbored doubts, distrusting his talent and questioning his character.

Perhaps it's a deep-seated unwillingness to acknowledge the existence of geniuses.

Dean Qiu looked at everyone, his expression serious and his voice low, and said, "I didn't originally tell you about Gu Xiao's situation because I didn't want to disturb your normal studies. But I didn't expect that my intention would cause Gu Xiao to suffer so much controversy for nothing. Gu Xiao didn't get in through connections; he was appreciated by the county magistrate and recommended to our academy. He also took the formal entrance exam to be able to enter the academy."

After finishing, he paused, recalling the excitement he felt when grading Gu Xiao's exam paper, and his tone rose slightly as he continued, "Moreover, the exam paper he took wasn't an ordinary entrance exam paper; it was the one Vice Dean Li gave Gu Xiao—the one I personally prepared—but Gu Xiao..."

He slowly swept his gaze across the crowd and said firmly, "He got a perfect score!"

When the words "perfect score" were finally uttered, gasps of surprise filled the air.

"My God, a perfect score? How is that possible? How could anyone get a perfect score on that test? I only got 30 points on that test, but Gu Xiao got a perfect score. Is he even human? My God."

"No wonder Brother Gu could write such an article; he must have gotten a perfect score on that exam. Hmm, if that's the case, Vice Dean Li must know that Gu Xiao got a perfect score. How could someone who got a perfect score cheat, and how could they possibly cheat?"

Just then, the kind-looking old man who had come with Dean Qiu finally finished reading Gu Xiao's exam paper. He slowly put down the paper, looked up at Gu Xiao, and his eyes revealed a fiery look, an undisguised admiration.

He had just heard what Dean Qiu said and had a general understanding of the cause and effect of the matter. He and Dean Qiu were old friends of many years, and their personalities were remarkably similar: they both cherished talent and longed for outstanding students.

He couldn't wait to speak, saying, "Young man, since Tiande Academy looks down on you and doesn't trust you, why don't you come to our Shengpin Academy? What do you say?"