Chapter 54
Re-entering the Academy
Xu Xian took Ouyang Tong on a horse to fetch Yang Xu, with Ouyang sitting in front of him.
Yang Xu was coming out of the post station when he looked up and saw the two riding together. Ouyang's face was flushed and his teeth were clenched, as if he wished he could chew up Xu Xian and swallow him.
"Tsk... What did you do to her? Did you sleep with her?"
"We just searched her body carefully, nothing else."
Yang Xu raised an eyebrow. "How thin?"
"Very fine."
Xu Xian solemnly stretched out his hand and gestured.
"Her chest was bulging, maybe it was fake, hiding a weapon, so I checked and confirmed it was real. After that, she got angry..."
"She's such a sore loser. She's come after me, and I'm not even angry, but she's the one who's already getting angry. Isn't that unreasonable?"
Ouyang's face flushed red, and he clenched his teeth so tightly that he almost broke them.
Yang Xu's lips twitched, and he mounted his horse, wisely refraining from asking any further questions.
...
The three returned to Zhengxin Academy. The young student who was sweeping the floor turned around at the sound of the noise and saw Xu Xian tumble down from his horse. He was suddenly startled...
He put the broom down, strode forward, straightened his clothes, and bowed deeply in a very solemn Confucian gesture, saying, "Greetings, Junior Tutor!"
Xu Xian and Yang Xu were both stunned.
Yang Xu nudged Xu Xian with his elbow, "Junior Tutor? Wasn't you just Xu Xiaoqi last time you came? This promotion speed is faster than yours in the Inspection Department. When did the Academy give you this official title?"
Xu Xian also looked bewildered. "What does that mean? Why is he called 'Young Master'?"
The students smiled and said, "The Junior Master inscribed the words on the Stele of the Questions and Answers between the Two Sages, completing the Daoist discourse that the sages had not finished for a thousand years. Everyone in the academy admires him. Countless senior brothers and sisters have suddenly become enlightened after studying in front of the stele, and have clarified their Dao and rectified their minds. I have also benefited a lot. The Junior Master deserves this title."
Xu Xian was taken aback, blinked, and said, "Um... let's not talk about that for now. Where is the dean? I need his help."
The young student bowed again, "This way, sir, the dean is in the main hall."
The three followed.
Yang Xu muttered to himself from the side.
"Tsk...didn't you have a fight with the Sage last time you came? How come you ended up with the title of Junior Tutor? I've had so many fights with you, shouldn't you call me Junior Tutor Yang too?"
"Keep up, stop talking nonsense."
In the main hall, Dean Zhou was standing in front of his desk, flipping through a scroll of bamboo slips.
Upon seeing Xu Xian enter, he put down the bamboo slips, straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and bowed to Xu Xian, saying, "Young Master."
Xu Xian quickly returned the greeting, "Dean Zhou, you can just call me Xu Xian. I really don't deserve the title of Junior Tutor. I'm just a minor officer investigating a case. I only spoke a few truths at the monument that day. How could I be worthy of the title of Confucian teacher?"
Dean Zhou straightened up and looked at him with a gentle smile.
"The sage, in the inscription on the stele, speaks of you as a peer and personally addresses you as a fellow Daoist. If the sage calls you a fellow Daoist, wouldn't it be disorderly to call him by his given name? You are worthy of this title, Junior Tutor. What brings you to the academy today?"
"I do have something to ask, Dean. I need your help to use your spiritual power to ask this young lady a few questions."
Xu Xian brought Ouyang Ruiming to Dean Zhou.
Ouyang stood in the center of the main hall, her expression calm, but her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes. She had heard about the power of Confucian words, but she was not sure herself.
Dean Zhou glanced at her. "Should we avoid this area?"
"No need. The dean is here to witness, and every word she says under the influence of the Word of Power can be used as testimony."
Xu Xian pulled up a chair and sat down, while Yang Xu also leaned his knife on the ground and stood behind Xu Xian.
Dean Zhou said no more, opened the bamboo slip in his hand, and gently ran his finger across the bamboo strip.
A pale golden light rose from the bamboo slip, transforming into countless tiny specks of light that drifted toward Ouyang.
He uttered a single word: "Sincerity!"
As the light seeped into Ouyang's body, she felt a fire suddenly ignite in her heart. The fire wasn't hot, but it made it hard for her to breathe.
"You can ask now. Under the protection of honesty, she cannot lie, but the power of words does not force people to speak. She can choose to remain silent. As long as she does not lie, the power of words will not backfire."
Xu Xian pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Ouyang Ruiming, with only three steps between them.
"What's your name?" Xu asked first.
"Ouyang Ruiming." The voice slipped out of her mouth uncontrollably.
"Where did you come from?"
"Kyoto."
"Why did you kill me?"
"Because you disrupted His Highness's plans regarding the mission, His Highness didn't send me to kill you; I came of my own accord. His Highness said you were in the way, and I couldn't let you continue investigating."
Xu Xian was slightly taken aback. "You're quite thoughtful. If your prince knew he had such a loyal subordinate, he'd probably be so moved he couldn't sleep..."
"Then let me ask you, which prince were you referring to just now? The Crown Prince or the Fourth Prince?"
"Your Highness is indeed Your Highness."
Ouyang Ruiming remained calm.
"I don't know which prince it is. I only know that the prince saved my life, and I will do whatever the prince asks me to do."
Xu Xian tugged at the stubble on his chin, while Yang Xu clicked his tongue beside him:
"I've never seen an assassin like this before. He doesn't even know who his master is, yet he's willing to risk his life for him."
Xu Xian didn't respond, but continued speaking.
Do you know where His Highness lives?
The moment the question left his mouth, Ouyang Ruiming clenched his teeth.
She began to tremble, her fingers clenched tightly, and the veins on her forehead bulged out one by one.
The burning power of words within her was compelling her to speak, but she gritted her teeth and refused to utter a single word.
A trickle of blood oozed from the corner of her mouth; she had bitten her tongue.
Dean Zhou's expression changed slightly.
"This woman is resisting the power of words; her will is very strong, and she's holding onto the most crucial information. If this continues, her mind will be damaged..."
"Words of power will force her to tell the truth. If she tries to suppress the truth, the two forces will collide in her consciousness, causing her to fall into a coma or even become an idiot."
Xu raised his hand to signal a pause.
Dean Zhou dimmed the light emanating from the bamboo slip by half, slightly reducing the suppression of the power of the words.
Ouyang Ruiming's clothes were soaked with cold sweat and clung to his body as he gasped for breath.
Xu Xian did not pursue that question further.
He leaned back in his chair, tugging at his non-existent stubble. He had developed this habit in his previous life—tugging at his beard whenever he thought. Unfortunately, after transmigrating, this body's chin had never grown any decent stubble, and after tugging for a long time, he only managed to pull out a layer of fine hair.
He sighed, "Such a beautiful woman, why did she become a thief..."
Ouyang Ruiming suddenly raised his head.
"I have been following Your Highness since I was four years old. Your Highness saved my life and avenged my whole family. Your kindness is as heavy as a mountain. My life belongs to Your Highness. You are not as skilled as me to capture me. You can kill me or torture me as you please."
Xu Xian lowered his hand from pulling his beard, looked into her eyes, and chuckled softly.
"A cliché plot... rescued at four years old, her whole family killed, her benefactor avenges her, and she repays him with her body—no, she repays him with her body. These kinds of stories sell for three copper coins a copy at the bookstalls in the capital..."
"Then let me ask you, where is your home? Where are you from? How did His Highness avenge you? Tell me in detail, so I can hear if it's the same as what's written in the stories."
Yang Xu was coming out of the post station when he looked up and saw the two riding together. Ouyang's face was flushed and his teeth were clenched, as if he wished he could chew up Xu Xian and swallow him.
"Tsk... What did you do to her? Did you sleep with her?"
"We just searched her body carefully, nothing else."
Yang Xu raised an eyebrow. "How thin?"
"Very fine."
Xu Xian solemnly stretched out his hand and gestured.
"Her chest was bulging, maybe it was fake, hiding a weapon, so I checked and confirmed it was real. After that, she got angry..."
"She's such a sore loser. She's come after me, and I'm not even angry, but she's the one who's already getting angry. Isn't that unreasonable?"
Ouyang's face flushed red, and he clenched his teeth so tightly that he almost broke them.
Yang Xu's lips twitched, and he mounted his horse, wisely refraining from asking any further questions.
...
The three returned to Zhengxin Academy. The young student who was sweeping the floor turned around at the sound of the noise and saw Xu Xian tumble down from his horse. He was suddenly startled...
He put the broom down, strode forward, straightened his clothes, and bowed deeply in a very solemn Confucian gesture, saying, "Greetings, Junior Tutor!"
Xu Xian and Yang Xu were both stunned.
Yang Xu nudged Xu Xian with his elbow, "Junior Tutor? Wasn't you just Xu Xiaoqi last time you came? This promotion speed is faster than yours in the Inspection Department. When did the Academy give you this official title?"
Xu Xian also looked bewildered. "What does that mean? Why is he called 'Young Master'?"
The students smiled and said, "The Junior Master inscribed the words on the Stele of the Questions and Answers between the Two Sages, completing the Daoist discourse that the sages had not finished for a thousand years. Everyone in the academy admires him. Countless senior brothers and sisters have suddenly become enlightened after studying in front of the stele, and have clarified their Dao and rectified their minds. I have also benefited a lot. The Junior Master deserves this title."
Xu Xian was taken aback, blinked, and said, "Um... let's not talk about that for now. Where is the dean? I need his help."
The young student bowed again, "This way, sir, the dean is in the main hall."
The three followed.
Yang Xu muttered to himself from the side.
"Tsk...didn't you have a fight with the Sage last time you came? How come you ended up with the title of Junior Tutor? I've had so many fights with you, shouldn't you call me Junior Tutor Yang too?"
"Keep up, stop talking nonsense."
In the main hall, Dean Zhou was standing in front of his desk, flipping through a scroll of bamboo slips.
Upon seeing Xu Xian enter, he put down the bamboo slips, straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and bowed to Xu Xian, saying, "Young Master."
Xu Xian quickly returned the greeting, "Dean Zhou, you can just call me Xu Xian. I really don't deserve the title of Junior Tutor. I'm just a minor officer investigating a case. I only spoke a few truths at the monument that day. How could I be worthy of the title of Confucian teacher?"
Dean Zhou straightened up and looked at him with a gentle smile.
"The sage, in the inscription on the stele, speaks of you as a peer and personally addresses you as a fellow Daoist. If the sage calls you a fellow Daoist, wouldn't it be disorderly to call him by his given name? You are worthy of this title, Junior Tutor. What brings you to the academy today?"
"I do have something to ask, Dean. I need your help to use your spiritual power to ask this young lady a few questions."
Xu Xian brought Ouyang Ruiming to Dean Zhou.
Ouyang stood in the center of the main hall, her expression calm, but her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes. She had heard about the power of Confucian words, but she was not sure herself.
Dean Zhou glanced at her. "Should we avoid this area?"
"No need. The dean is here to witness, and every word she says under the influence of the Word of Power can be used as testimony."
Xu Xian pulled up a chair and sat down, while Yang Xu also leaned his knife on the ground and stood behind Xu Xian.
Dean Zhou said no more, opened the bamboo slip in his hand, and gently ran his finger across the bamboo strip.
A pale golden light rose from the bamboo slip, transforming into countless tiny specks of light that drifted toward Ouyang.
He uttered a single word: "Sincerity!"
As the light seeped into Ouyang's body, she felt a fire suddenly ignite in her heart. The fire wasn't hot, but it made it hard for her to breathe.
"You can ask now. Under the protection of honesty, she cannot lie, but the power of words does not force people to speak. She can choose to remain silent. As long as she does not lie, the power of words will not backfire."
Xu Xian pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Ouyang Ruiming, with only three steps between them.
"What's your name?" Xu asked first.
"Ouyang Ruiming." The voice slipped out of her mouth uncontrollably.
"Where did you come from?"
"Kyoto."
"Why did you kill me?"
"Because you disrupted His Highness's plans regarding the mission, His Highness didn't send me to kill you; I came of my own accord. His Highness said you were in the way, and I couldn't let you continue investigating."
Xu Xian was slightly taken aback. "You're quite thoughtful. If your prince knew he had such a loyal subordinate, he'd probably be so moved he couldn't sleep..."
"Then let me ask you, which prince were you referring to just now? The Crown Prince or the Fourth Prince?"
"Your Highness is indeed Your Highness."
Ouyang Ruiming remained calm.
"I don't know which prince it is. I only know that the prince saved my life, and I will do whatever the prince asks me to do."
Xu Xian tugged at the stubble on his chin, while Yang Xu clicked his tongue beside him:
"I've never seen an assassin like this before. He doesn't even know who his master is, yet he's willing to risk his life for him."
Xu Xian didn't respond, but continued speaking.
Do you know where His Highness lives?
The moment the question left his mouth, Ouyang Ruiming clenched his teeth.
She began to tremble, her fingers clenched tightly, and the veins on her forehead bulged out one by one.
The burning power of words within her was compelling her to speak, but she gritted her teeth and refused to utter a single word.
A trickle of blood oozed from the corner of her mouth; she had bitten her tongue.
Dean Zhou's expression changed slightly.
"This woman is resisting the power of words; her will is very strong, and she's holding onto the most crucial information. If this continues, her mind will be damaged..."
"Words of power will force her to tell the truth. If she tries to suppress the truth, the two forces will collide in her consciousness, causing her to fall into a coma or even become an idiot."
Xu raised his hand to signal a pause.
Dean Zhou dimmed the light emanating from the bamboo slip by half, slightly reducing the suppression of the power of the words.
Ouyang Ruiming's clothes were soaked with cold sweat and clung to his body as he gasped for breath.
Xu Xian did not pursue that question further.
He leaned back in his chair, tugging at his non-existent stubble. He had developed this habit in his previous life—tugging at his beard whenever he thought. Unfortunately, after transmigrating, this body's chin had never grown any decent stubble, and after tugging for a long time, he only managed to pull out a layer of fine hair.
He sighed, "Such a beautiful woman, why did she become a thief..."
Ouyang Ruiming suddenly raised his head.
"I have been following Your Highness since I was four years old. Your Highness saved my life and avenged my whole family. Your kindness is as heavy as a mountain. My life belongs to Your Highness. You are not as skilled as me to capture me. You can kill me or torture me as you please."
Xu Xian lowered his hand from pulling his beard, looked into her eyes, and chuckled softly.
"A cliché plot... rescued at four years old, her whole family killed, her benefactor avenges her, and she repays him with her body—no, she repays him with her body. These kinds of stories sell for three copper coins a copy at the bookstalls in the capital..."
"Then let me ask you, where is your home? Where are you from? How did His Highness avenge you? Tell me in detail, so I can hear if it's the same as what's written in the stories."