Even women who travel through time can become prime ministers and nobles.

His gaze fell on that disciple, and a sense of dissatisfaction welled up in his heart.

This disciple was usually stubborn and self-righteous, turning a deaf ear to the opinions and suggestions of others. He was full of empty talk about benevolence and morality, but he never put it into practice. What angered Mr. Yang even more was that he was obsessed with passing the imperial examination, but instead of taking the proper path, he only thought of unorthodox methods.

Mr. Yang recalled the other students he had taught, who were diligent, humble, and constantly striving for improvement. But this student was completely different from them; his behavior disappointed and worried Mr. Yang.

He stood up, slowly walked forward, and looked at Li Xu with some disappointment, his mind filled with complex emotions. He knew that a person's character and cultivation were far more important than fame and fortune. He hoped that this disciple could recognize his mistakes, abandon those bad thoughts and behaviors, and re-examine his path in life.

Mr. Yang decided to find time to have a good talk with this disciple, hoping to guide him back on the right track. He believed that as long as the disciple could humbly accept his teachings and strive to correct his shortcomings, he still had the opportunity to become a person of achievement.

Thinking that this girl was determined to teach Li Xu a lesson today, and that he also wanted to teach him a lesson so that he would restrain himself, he accepted the girl's challenge. He also wanted to see if this girl, who was so eloquent, was not uneducated.

"I am his teacher, and I will accept the young lady's challenge on his behalf. Even so, since ancient times, literary contests have always focused on poetry. Who will go first? The first word should begin with 'flower.' Alright, who will start?" Old Master Yang raised his hand to signal, and Li Xu had no choice but to obey his teacher's order. He did not take this woman seriously. How much talent could she have? I am a scholar, why would I be afraid of her?

"Young lady, you should start first. Don't think I'm bullying you." Li Xu was very arrogant and conceited. This woman could not possibly have read many of the Four Books and Five Classics. She had never had the opportunity to study in a school, let alone have been taught by a highly respected and learned teacher.

"Alright! Then I'll make a fool of myself. Flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns. We don't need to be rich and powerful forever; a peaceful and happy life is like that of an immortal."

Old Mr. Yang stroked his beard, quite satisfied with the two lines; this young lady was indeed talented. He gestured for Li Xu to make his move.

Li Xu hesitated for a long time without speaking. His mind suddenly went blank, and he looked at the teacher helplessly. He was too nervous today. It's not that he couldn't do it.

Shi Wanxia lowered her head and smiled faintly. Seeing that he couldn't answer, she knew her chance had come.

"Why can't Scholar Li answer this? If you, sir, can't answer it either, then I've won by sheer luck. I wonder if Elder Yang could step forward and persuade the villagers to let these two innocent girls go."

Shi Wanxia wisely sought out a highly respected person, as his advice would be more reliable than her own. She admitted that she had acted too impulsively earlier, but saving these two poor girls was still worthwhile.

Mr. Yang glanced at Li Xu with a look of disappointment. This man's character still needs to be tempered. As a man, arguing and bickering with a woman is too improper and undignified.

“In that case, village chief, please release these two women! This girl has been determined to save them, and besides, my disciple is quite useless, unable to even defeat a young woman. It is my responsibility.”

Although Mr. Yang disliked Li Xu's cowardly appearance and disliked the woman's public display of her talents, he was unwilling to get entangled with her too much, as it would be too improper and beneath his status as an old man.

The village chief and the clan elders whispered for a moment before nodding: "Release them! However, while the death penalty may be spared, punishment is inevitable. After discussion with the elders, Li Xiaoya, Li Cuicui, and your younger sister, for the sake of the reputation of other women in the Li clan, we have decided that from this day forward, you must leave the village immediately and never set foot in Li Family Village again, nor can you identify yourselves as members of the Li clan. Although the harm may not extend to your families, for the sake of the other women in the Li clan who have been implicated by you, go back and pack your bags and leave the village!"

Li Cuicui and Li Xiaoya hadn't yet recovered from the joy of their newfound freedom when they learned they had been expelled from their family. In this vast world, how could the three of them, orphans, survive? It would have been better to be drowned to preserve their reputation. The two women covered their faces and wept, immediately kneeling to beg for mercy.

The two men kept kowtowing, their cries and tears clearly audible in the crowd. The villagers present showed no pity or sympathy, instead frequently discussing how the village chief's punishment was too lenient.

"It's too good for you to let her get away with not being drowned after losing her chastity. If you ask me, it's better to drown this kind of harlot so she won't cause trouble for others."

"That's right, the village chief is too kind. How could he let them go?"

The crowd discussed the matter and disagreed with the village chief's decision. Although the village chief also wanted to protect Li's reputation, with this witch causing trouble and Mr. Yang present, how could he not give him face?

"Alright, stop nagging. Third Brother will send people to confiscate their houses and fields and convert them into silver to pay them off. Consider it my way of giving them travel expenses. Go and help the two women and Third Brother pack up so they can leave the village as soon as possible."

Shi Wanxia watched this farce unfold. Although she had saved the two girls, the mindset of the ancients could not be changed overnight.

A moment later, someone brought in a little girl. The girl looked only five or six years old, with sallow skin and a thin frame, as if a gust of wind could blow her away. Her eyes were filled with fear and timidity, and she clung tightly to her older sister, as if her sister were her only lifeline.

The older sister gently stroked the little girl's hair, trying to calm her down. The little girl looked up at her sister, her eyes glistening with tears. Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but dared not speak.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, little sister," her older sister said gently. "With me here, no one will hurt you."

The little girl nodded, but her body continued to tremble. Li Cuicui sighed, wiped away her tears, and hugged her younger sister even tighter. Their parents had been brutally murdered by bandits, and now only her and her sister remained, relying on each other for survival. But they had been driven out of the village, and without the help of any elders or relatives, how could this weak woman with no skills raise her younger sister?

Li Xiaoya's family also felt ashamed of her, so they casually packed a few of her old clothes into a rag and threw them in front of her. Li Xiaoya crawled to her parents on her knees, but her mother quickly backed away as if avoiding something dirty, while her father, his face full of anger, kicked her away.

"Father, Mother, I am your own daughter. Please don't send me away. I can still work for the family. As long as you can give me a bite to eat, I will definitely not be lazy and will serve the whole family like a cow or a horse. Father, Mother."

Li Xiaoya cried and kowtowed, her face covered in blood, but her parents showed no mercy, continuing to hurl insults at her.

"Get out! Get out of here! You good-for-nothing! We were counting on you to bring in more dowry money after you came of age, to help your brothers get married. Now that you've lost your reputation, who wants a slut like you? Why don't you do what Dazhu's wife did and commit suicide? You've disgraced the Li family! Get out of here! Don't let me see you again, or I'll beat you every time I see you! You slut!"

Shi Wanxia trembled with rage; she could not tolerate Li Xiaoya's mother insulting her like that. She stepped forward, grabbed Li Xiaoya, and pulled her behind her protectively.

Her eyes were filled with anger as she stared directly at Li Xiaoya's mother and said, "Enough! You are her own mother, you carried her for ten months and gave birth to her! How can you insult her like this? She is your daughter, not your punching bag!"

Shi Wanxia's voice trembled with anger, but she tried her best to remain calm. She held Li Xiaoya tightly, as if she wanted to shield her from all harm with her own body.

Li Xiaoya hid behind Shi Wanxia, ​​tears welling in her eyes. She felt Shi Wanxia's protection and care, but why did she have to suffer like this? What had she done wrong? Living in this pain was worse than death.

Li Xiaoya angrily shook off her hand. It was all her fault; if it weren't for her, she wouldn't have been kicked out of the house.