Chapter 80

Seeing the usually kind-hearted Wei Shu remain silent, the others immediately quieted down, especially Song Li, who felt particularly embarrassed. He had intended to mediate between the two and resolve the matter peacefully, but he hadn’t expected it to escalate to the head of the academy.

With this commotion, it was equivalent to the entire academy soon knowing about the incident. While it appeared that the punishment was directed at the Song cousins, a little inquiry would reveal that it was actually a conflict between Song Yao and Wei Shu. It was obvious which side the head of the academy favored, indirectly siding with Song Yao and once again putting Wei Shu at a disadvantage.

“Apologies, Brother Wei. I really didn’t expect things to turn out like this.”

Wei Shu waved his hand, understanding that Song Li meant well and didn’t hold any grudges against him.

His feelings… weren’t anger, just a sense of frustration. Dealing with classmates who acted superior after becoming the top scorer was frustrating. The headmaster, who preached fairness but showed bias, was frustrating. Studying here for the prefectural exam was even more frustrating.

“No worries, you all can go back. I’ll talk to the headmaster.”

After they left, Wei Shu requested to see Ling Qingming.

Having just dealt with the minor dispute between the Song cousins, Ling Qingming hadn’t moved on to other matters yet and let him in to talk.

“Is Wei Shu here to plead for Song Li?” Ling Qingming pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on. “Their dispute is a family matter in the end. As the elder brother, Song Li should naturally bear the responsibility.”

While this statement seemed reasonable, Wei Shu knew it wasn’t right. Public matters should be treated as such, regardless of family relations. If there was a conflict between students in the academy, it should be resolved impartially.

“I’m not here to plead. The headmaster has already made a ruling. I’m here because this issue arose because of me, and it’s causing gossip. I request that you don’t punish Song Li. If anyone should be punished, let it be me. After all, this issue originated from me.”

The smile on Ling Qingming’s face faded. “I’ve punished Song Li with suspension and self-reflection. If this punishment were to be transferred to you, do you understand the implications?”

“I understand. I request to leave the academy and study elsewhere.”

“April is the prefectural exam. If you leave now to study elsewhere and fail…”

“That will be my own problem.”

“I see you’ve been influenced by your contact with Cuiwei Academy. You’ve become confused!”

The usually dignified headmaster slammed his hand on the table, but Wei Shu remained upright, showing no sign of bending.

“If you want to leave, then leave. But if you want to come back later…” Wei Shu was an outstanding student with the potential to bring honor to Qingzhu Academy in the future. Although Ling Qingming was annoyed, he didn’t say anything more severe.

Afterwards, Wei Shu bowed and left to pack his things.

When they heard he was leaving the academy, Song Li and the others were naturally concerned.

“Why didn’t the headmaster let you stay in the academy? Song Li has already been punished. Why such a severe punishment for you now?” Song Li asked, “This is not right. Let me go ask the headmaster. Even if he punishes me more severely, it’s not right to treat you like this.”

Wei Shu, still busy packing, patiently explained to them, “It’s not the headmaster punishing me. It’s my own decision.”

Before Song Li and the others could react, they heard a soft chuckle from the doorway. They turned to see Song Yao leaning against the door with his arms folded.

He chuckled, “Don’t look at me like that. I just came to see my cousin… You guys are talking so loudly, it’s hard not to overhear. I’m not eavesdropping.”

“Song Yao!” Song Li frowned and called out to him to be quiet.

Having already caused enough trouble today, Song Yao didn’t want to stir up more. He smiled mysteriously and left.

Top of Form

However, as the person left, adding this diversion naturally led to someone bluntly muttering, “Wei Shu’s resignation seems so simple. If it were Song Yao, the headmaster would definitely not let him leave the academy to study on his own.”

The muttering wasn’t quiet, everyone heard it clearly, and the person next to him pulled his sleeve, making him realize he had spoken out of turn and immediately closed his mouth.

“Don’t mind his thoughtless talk, Wei Shu. Just focus on studying. After you pass the prefectural exam, the rest of us will go together to plead with the headmaster. He will surely let you come back.”

“Alright, I have somewhere to go. You all hurry to class, and we’ll find time to get together after I finish the exam.”

Song Li and the others accompanied Wei Shu to the academy gate.

The blunt-speaking student couldn’t help but say again, “Why does it sound like Wei Shu doesn’t plan to come back?”

If he were to come back, as classmates, they would naturally still be together, no need to talk about finding time to meet.

“Wang Xiong, can you please say less? Besides the rules and laws, is there a better place in the entire prefecture city than Qingzhu Academy? Stop talking nonsense here.”

The bell for the noon break rang, and the few of them, ignoring the idle chatter, hurried to the classroom.

……

Wei Shu didn’t return to the Wei family. If his relatives saw him moving things back at this time, they would inevitably inquire. Wei Shu didn’t want to share these troublesome matters with them.

So, after meeting with his family’s servant, Wei Shu took a carriage to Shuiyun Village.

He was somewhat absent-minded, carrying things up onto the carriage, then down from the carriage, and into the academy, only then realizing he shouldn’t have brought so many things. Now it really looked like he was being kicked out of Qingzhu Academy.

On the side of Cuiwei Academy, things were still running as usual. Lao Buyu was teaching two young students. Shen Cui sat in the corner writing her own things.

Because she needed to monitor everyone’s focus in real-time, Shen Cui usually kept the academy interface on the light screen. When she saw the Q-version character representing Wei Shu enter the gate, she knew he had come with a bundle.

It was already unusual for him to come over during his exam preparation days, let alone carrying so many things and his mood was particularly low, so low that it broke the academy’s time bonus threshold.

It was already past the afternoon break, and it was almost time for rest. Shen Cui didn’t care about the loss of the bonus and put down her pen to greet him.

Wei Shu didn’t intend to disturb her and was planning to wait in the utility room until they finished class before discussing matters.

However, Shen Cui came out to greet him, so Lao Buyu and the others naturally shifted their gaze to him.

Wei Shu smiled helplessly, “It seems like I came at the wrong time.”

Shen Cui waved her hand, telling him not to be so polite, and helped him carry a bundle. Mu Er Pang and Wei Xi also came out to help.

Mu Er Pang and Shen Cui put his bedding in the room, while Wei Xi placed his daily study books in the hall.

Lao Buyu said he had come at the right time, “I’ve been pondering over the five-character and six-line poetry from the county exam these past few days and have some new insights. It’s just right to share them with you.”

Everyone guessed that something unpleasant had happened to Wei Shu, but no one asked.

After Lao Buyu finished speaking with him, and Shen Cui and the others had settled his things, they continued with their respective tasks. Wei Shu picked up the book he was studying and went to the utility room.

When it was time for dinner, there was naturally some small talk at the table.

Today, none of them started the conversation, just taking turns using the public chopsticks to pick food for Wei Shu.

Zhou Shi couldn’t conveniently pick food for him, but she separately stewed an egg custard and placed it next to him.

When the small plate in front of him was piled up like a small mountain, Wei Shu surrendered, “Alright, I’ve eaten enough. Actually, nothing major happened…”

He briefly explained the situation without any resentment, ending with, “It’s not a big deal, I just didn’t feel like staying there, so I came out to study on my own.”

Looking at Shen Cui, he smiled and asked, “Would the headmaster take me in?”

Shen Cui pretended to be serious, “My requirements is a top-class guest room…”

Mu Er Pang, who had been quiet throughout the meal, couldn’t help but laugh softly, whispering, “Just a dining table and four stools too”

Wei Shu used the public chopsticks to push the unfinished dishes to Mu Er Pang, “It’s still our little Mu who is righteous and outspoken.”

Mu Er Pang covered his face with his sleeve, “As the second-place scholar, I’m ashamed, truly ashamed!”

So, the atmosphere at the dinner table became lively again. The three young men chatted as usual, with Shen Cui finding it hard to get a word in edgewise.

After dinner, they returned to their desks to read and practice calligraphy.

Lao Buyu pulled Shen Cui aside, his expression unusually heavy as he said, “My senior brother wants to give up on Wei Shu.”

This sudden statement left Shen Cui stunned. She subconsciously said, “It’s not that serious. Ashu requested to study elsewhere, not that he was expelled.”

“When Mu Yunchuan was studying for the exam, my senior brother wanted to tie him up and teach him day and night. I dare say, if it were Mu Yunchuan today, or even Song Yao resigning, he wouldn’t let them leave the academy.”

“They had a conflict, and Ashu voluntarily resigned, avoiding further trouble and not affecting the others.”

Shen Cui also remained silent. In fact, during the academy’s grand competition, she felt that the atmosphere of Qingzhu Academy and the like was not very good, with overly utilitarian tendencies.

Nowadays, passing the exam was like a carp leaping over the dragon’s gate, crossing over meant becoming a dragon, and failing meant remaining a fish in the lake. If they didn’t have the qualifications to cross the dragon’s gate, like those who were ‘Zhang Sheng,’ they didn’t even have the qualification to be noticed. Although she could understand why they acted this way, she couldn’t agree with it.

“Not affecting the others? By allowing the situation to develop without intervention, affecting only Wei Shu, isn’t that giving up? Moving to study elsewhere might seem like a minor issue, but there are no small matters before the exam. Even if it slightly affects his mood, it could lead to poor performance. If my senior brother truly cared, he should have intervened and treated everyone equally. How can he just let things go like this?”

Lao Buyu paused for a moment, “And I suspect he probably knows that Wei Shu has a close relationship with our academy. Whenever Wei Shu is with me, I always give him some pointers. If the pointers are not good, then Wei Shu’s choice to leave Qingzhu Academy to study has nothing to do with him. If the pointers are good, Wei Shu is still a student of Qingzhu Academy, and it naturally enhances the reputation of Qingzhu Academy. What a clever calculation!”

“Then… should we let Ashu transfer to our academy?” Shen Cui asked tentatively.

Judging by Wei Shu’s mood value when he came over this afternoon, it seems that he is really tired of Qingzhu Academy. Besides, his character is upright and righteous, unable to tolerate unfairness. Even if he really goes back, such incidents will only increase in the future.

Today, he can still be calm and ask Ling Qingming to change the punishment from Song Li to himself. But if he causes more trouble in the future and a reputation of ‘disrespectful to seniors’ spreads, it will ruin his imperial examination path.

But transferring schools is not a simple matter, and for the sake of reputation, there is no room for error.

“This matter is a bit complicated. Let’s not worry about it for now. I’ll go talk to Wei Shu and then visit my senior brother.” Lao Buyu said.