Torches were lit one after another, bathing the courtyard in a bright light.
The students of the Imperial College stood in neat rows, glancing at one another in confusion.
Tang Zhongli stood before them, his expression grim.
At his feet lay an ibis, its body covered entirely in red feathers.
"I will ask one more ti. Who did this?"
The courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
So looked utterly bewildered, unsure of what was happening. Others craned their necks to get a better look, their eyelids twitching nervously.
’Who didn’t know? Aside from reading and writing, the Lord Sacrificial Officer’s greatest pleasure was raising birds. This crimson ibis, in particular, was his favorite, and he always took ticulous care of it himself.’
But today, it had t with a sudden accident—it was dead.
It looked as if it had been shot straight through the chest and abdon with an arrow, but a search of the area had turned up nothing.
Tang Zhongli took a deep breath.
"If you confess now, I will consider it a first offense and be lenient."
The crowd remained deathly silent.
Tang Zhongli nodded. He paced back and forth a few steps, then let out a laugh born of pure fury.
"Fine, fine! I gave you your chance. You’re the one who refuses to take it!"
Qiao Zimo guiltily lowered his gaze, his heart twisting in turmoil.
He took a step, about to move forward, when soone suddenly yanked him back.
Ye Yunfeng shot him a look. ’What are you panicking for? Going up there now is just asking for death, isn’t it?’
Qiao Zimo’s resolve wavered.
’He really hadn’t ant to do it!’
Earlier that day, Ye Yunfeng had helped him modify his slingshot, claiming its range and power were now several tis stronger. Qiao Zimo had been itching to try it, planning to drag Ye Yunfeng along for a test run right after class.
However, Ye Jingyan had said that since they were new, they might fall behind in their studies, so they should stay in Guangye Hall for an extra hour to read.
By the ti Qiao Zimo left with his slingshot, the sky had already grown dark.
Ye Yunfeng asked what he wanted to shoot at, but how could Qiao Zimo see anything clearly? He just pointed randomly at a shape.
Ye Yunfeng helped him adjust his stance. Qiao Zimo found he could barely draw the new slingshot back fully. His competitive spirit surged, and gritting his teeth, he pulled it to its absolute limit and let a pebble fly.
And then—
’He was just ssing around; how could he have known he’d be so unlucky! And who knew the slingshot’s power had increased so much that in one shot, it just...’
Just as Qiao Zimo was debating whether to confess, Tang Zhongli let out a cold snort and suddenly held up a jade pendant.
"Whose is this!?"
It was a gold-inlaid jade pendant, exquisitely carved from a superior-grade stone.
After a brief silence, a surprised voice suddenly piped up from the crowd. "Brother Mingze, isn’t that yours?"
At these words, everyone’s head snapped toward Ye Mingze.
Ye Mingze’s heart had already sunk the mont he saw the pendant. Before he could even react, he heard the shout and instantly grew frantic.
"You’re mistaken! That’s not mine!"
Tang Zhongli stared at him. "It’s really not yours?"
Panic seized Ye Mingze.
"L-Lord Sacrificial Officer, th-this... I lost my jade pendant a long ti ago! I don’t know how it could be here!"
Tang Zhongli retorted, "Oh? What a coincidence?"
Ye Mingze said frantically, "I’ve been in my room ever since dinner! I never ca out! I really have no idea what’s going on!"
"You never ca out? Can anyone vouch for you?"
"I—"
Ye Mingze was instantly speechless.
He had been irritable all day because Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng had actually managed to enroll in the Imperial College. On top of that, he had lost face in front of the Lord Sacrificial Officer and the Assistant Teacher, and many people were whispering and pointing at him behind his back.
So he had just holed up in his room to sulk. Who could have known sothing like this would happen?
Just then, a gentle, concerned voice spoke up. Ye Jingyan was looking at him, his brow slightly furrowed and his eyes filled with obvious worry.
"Cousin, is it possible you ca out and simply forgot?"
Ye Mingze stared in disbelief. "What are you talking about?!"
’How could I forget what I did—’
A few whispers arose from the crowd.
"I heard Ye Mingze had a brush with evil a while back. He kept saying he was seeing ghosts and had to recover at ho for days. Don’t tell he’s still not well?"
"Who knows? I heard that too. It was really bizarre. They say that when the servants rushed in, his face was covered in blood. No one knows what really happened."
"Could he have really gotten mixed up with sothing unclean? Maybe that’s why he deliberately killed the Lord Sacrificial Officer’s ibis? That involved bloodshed, too..."
The more Ye Mingze heard, the more outrageous the gossip beca. He couldn’t stop himself from roaring, "What nonsense are you spouting! I told you, it had nothing to do with !"
The chatter died down instantly, but now, everyone’s gaze toward him was tinged with a subtle fear and avoidance.
’Not only is this Ye Mingze sick, but his temper has gotten so foul!’
Sensing their aningful stares, Ye Mingze felt like he had a mouth but couldn’t speak to defend himself.
A ball of fire seed to rage in his chest, burning away what little reason he had left.
He stord forward and seized Ye Jingyan by the collar. "It must have been you! All of you—"
His fist never landed.
Feng Zhang caught his wrist. "What, planning to start a fight in public?"
Tang Zhongli’s brow creased. He tossed the pendant over.
"Go ho and reflect on your actions for half a month!"
...
Early the next morning, Ye Chutang heard a commotion outside.
She listened closely for a mont and realized Ye Mingze had returned.
"Didn’t he just leave for the Imperial College yesterday? It’s not ti for the ten-day break, is it?" Ye Chutang led Xiao Wu into the front courtyard, happening to cross paths with a briskly walking Ye Shixian. "If he’s back, does that an Yan and A Feng have returned as well?"
As she spoke, she glanced toward the outer gate.
Ye Shixian’s expression was grim.
’She hadn’t expected it either. In just a single day, Ye Mingze had managed to stir up this much trouble again!’
’Being personally sent ho by the Lord Sacrificial Officer... if word of this got out, countless people would laugh their heads off!’
’What would outsiders think of him? What would they think of the entire Ye Family?’
"No, only Mingze ca back." Ye Shixian silently clenched the hands hidden in her sleeves, doing her best to keep her voice even. "It seems he wasn’t feeling well and ca back to rest."
She seed unwilling to say more to Ye Chutang, turning and walking briskly toward the entrance.
Ye Chutang followed at a leisurely pace.
Several people stood at the main gate. Besides Ye Mingze, there was an elegant, scholarly-looking man of about thirty, who appeared to be an Assistant Teacher from the Imperial College.
The other was a tall, thin youth of about sixteen or seventeen. He had sharp features, but there was an arrogant, fierce air about him that was rather off-putting.
Upon seeing Ye Shixian, his expression imdiately softened, becoming warm and eager.
"Shixian—"
Ye Shixian stopped three paces away from him and bowed politely. "Mr. Murong, we’ve truly troubled you."
Murong Ye froze.
’It’s only been a few days. Why is she acting so distant?’
He reached out, as if to help Ye Shixian up. "Nonsense. Between us, there’s no need for—"
Suddenly, he sensed sothing and looked past Ye Shixian.
A delicate and utterly pure face ca into view.
’Is that... Ye Chutang?’
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