Gu Wuyou ran breathlessly to the Moon Gate, and from a distance, she saw a group of people standing together. Although she had only been at the academy for a few days, she already knew that there were a few figures here who were like “pillars stabilizing the sea.”
The first was Xu Fu.
As the dean of Luming Academy, he could manage this group of students, naturally possessing the ability to earn their respect and admiration.
The other was this Mr. Wang. He usually remained secluded within the academy, rarely showing himself. There were no fixed courses he had to teach; he only set the exam questions twice a year for the academy assessments. Occasionally, he was also invited to draft questions for the imperial examinations.
Now that even he had made an appearance, it was clear that the matter had escalated.
Gu Wuyou’s heart sank, and her bright, delicate face turned somewhat unpleasant. She did not hesitate in place but instead strode forward resolutely.
She was just about to reach out and push these people aside to see how her general was doing when, before she could act, she saw the crowd ahead suddenly part to both sides.
She was squeezed backward.
After struggling to steady herself, Gu Wuyou finally saw Li Qinyuan’s figure amidst the crowd.
He still looked the same as before—dressed in white, his high ponytail swaying, his long, narrow phoenix eyes carrying an indifferent air. His entire demeanor exuded an unruly and carefree aura.
If not for the few drops of dark red blood staining his pristine robe, anyone would have thought he had merely wandered through a flower field with a wine jug in hand or practiced his swordplay in the wilderness.
Yet, it was precisely those shocking drops of blood that changed the entire atmosphere.
Everyone around her was staring at her general with expressions of disgust, fear, and dread—there was even disappointment… a gaze that came from several elders of the academy.
The scene was not silent.
There were hushed whispers, loud discussions, and Gu Wuyou, with her keen ears, caught a particularly jarring sentence amidst the noise:
“Finally, he’s being expelled! Someone like him shouldn’t be at the academy!”
Her eyes widened instantly, and even her breathing quickened.
The general was expelled from the academy?
No, that couldn’t happen!
The crowd in front of her was dense, like an invisible boundary preventing her from moving forward. Gu Wuyou watched as Li Qinyuan drifted farther and farther away from her.
Anxiety surged in her heart, and she reached out, trying to push the people in front of her aside, her voice straining as she shouted, “Move aside! Get out of my way!”
“Who is that?”
“Why are you pushing me?”
“Can’t you see people here? What’s with the shoving?”
The people she pushed were annoyed, about to curse at her, but when they turned and caught sight of her face, they were momentarily stunned. After a brief hesitation, someone exclaimed in shock, “The Commandery Princess of Leping?”
Gu Wuyou ignored them, her eyes fixed on Li Qinyuan’s retreating figure, her voice filled with urgency and frustration. “All of you, move aside!”
Most people here knew her temperament well. Hearing her words, though they didn’t know what she intended to do, they instinctively stepped aside.
Gu Wuyou let out a small breath of relief. Just as she was about to take a step forward to chase after Li Qinyuan, a hand suddenly grabbed her arm.
Her feet faltered, and she could no longer run.
She furrowed her brows and turned back, about to scold the person who had stopped her. However, the moment her gaze landed on Gu Tiao’s face, she froze, her anger dissipating as she hesitantly called out, “Second Sister?”
“Mm.”
Gu Tiao still wore her usual gentle and composed expression, but it was evident that she had run all the way here—there was even a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead.
Her health was poor, and she usually walked at a leisurely pace. But now, her face was flushed, and she was panting slightly as she held onto Gu Wuyou.
She had to take several deep breaths before she could speak in full sentences.
“Be good, come with Second Sister to the side.”
“But…”
Gu Wuyou turned back to look at Li Qinyuan’s figure. He had already walked far away. If she didn’t go after him now, she might not be able to see her general again.
“Second Sister knows what you’re thinking. Manman, be good and come with me first.”
Gu Tiao held her hand, her tone gentle but leaving no room for argument. She understood the urgency in Gu Wuyou’s heart, so she softened her voice even more, lowering it as she said, “Fu Xian and the others have already gone after him. He will be fine. If you run out like this now, you won’t be able to do anything, and you’ll only give others something to gossip about.”
“It would be better to stay and find out what actually happened.”
Gu Wuyou didn’t care about gossip—her reputation wasn’t great anyway—but Second Sister was right… Running out like this would accomplish nothing.
Watching as Li Qinyuan’s figure grew more distant, and seeing Fu Xian and the others chasing after him, she took a deep breath. In the end, she listened to Second Sister and did not run out at this moment.
She turned to look at Gu Tiao, who was still catching her breath.
A pang of guilt welled up in Gu Wuyou’s heart. Second Sister must have known what she was about to do, which was why she had hurriedly chased after her. Lowering her head, she reached out to support Gu Tiao’s arm and softly said, “Second Sister, let me help you over there first.”
Once they had moved a little further from the crowd, she finally stopped walking, her face filled with concern as she asked, “Second Sister, are you alright?”
Gu Tiao smiled. “I’m fine.”
She still held Gu Wuyou’s hand, her voice as gentle as ever. “I just ran too fast and lost my breath a little. I’ll be fine after resting for a moment.”
As she spoke, she noticed her younger cousin’s obvious anxiety and worry. Looking toward the crowd, she said softly, “I don’t know exactly what happened either. I only heard that someone saw Qilang beating Zhou Changbai. By the time they found him, Zhou Changbai was already unconscious.”
“As for the reason—”
Gu Tiao glanced at Gu Wuyou, whose face had turned even paler, and said in a low voice, “No one knows.”
Gu Wuyou stared at Gu Tiao, her small face ashen, her voice hoarse but her expression resolute. “Second Sister, I don’t believe it.”
Her general was not a vicious person, nor was he someone who harmed others for no reason. If he had attacked someone, there must have been a reason!
There had to be a reason.
“I don’t believe it either.”
Gu Tiao gently patted the back of Gu Wuyou’s hand. “I’ve watched Qilang grow up. Although he’s different from when he was a child, his nature is still good.”
If she remembered correctly, this was the first time Qilang had ever gotten into a fight at the academy.
“But now, Qilang refuses to say why, and Zhou Changbai is in that condition. Manman…” She sighed softly. “Finding out the truth won’t be easy.”
That was true.
Gu Wuyou knew Li Qinyuan’s temperament. He seemed easygoing on the surface, but he was incredibly stubborn. If he didn’t want to say something, no amount of pressure would make him speak.
“Finally found you two!”
Gu Yu arrived late, also panting for breath. She stood in front of Gu Wuyou and Gu Tiao, her hands on her knees as she gasped for air. After a moment, when her breathing steadied, she straightened up and looked at Gu Wuyou.
“What was wrong with you just now? You suddenly rushed out looking so pale—you scared me!”
Gu Wuyou, her mind occupied with Li Qinyuan’s situation, naturally did not respond.
Seeing this, Gu Yu was immediately displeased. She had been so worried that she even abandoned her plan to look for Xiao Yi and had hurried over instead. But this hateful woman didn’t even say a word to her!
So frustrating!
Gu Yu glared at Gu Wuyou angrily, just about to say more when Gu Tiao grabbed her arm.
“Second Sister—”
Gu Yu drew out her tone, still looking displeased. But Gu Tiao only shook her head at her. “Let’s talk about it when we get home.”
After saying that, she turned toward Gu Wuyou, who stood there in a daze, her voice gentle. “Manman, let’s go home first.”
“Once the truth is uncovered, Qilang will naturally be able to return to the academy.”
Hearing this, Gu Yu furrowed her brows.
Qilang?
Li Qinyuan?
So the reason Gu Wuyou had rushed over in such a panic earlier… was really because of Li Qinyuan? When had their relationship become this close?
A flood of questions surged in Gu Yu’s mind, but this wasn’t the right place to ask. Besides, neither Gu Wuyou nor Second Sister seemed like they would explain anything to her. The thought that she was the only one out of the three of them who didn’t know what was going on made her feel rather annoyed. Still, she only pursed her lips and remained silent.
“Manman?”
Seeing that Gu Wuyou wasn’t responding, Gu Tiao called her name again softly.
Gu Wuyou’s expression shifted slightly, as if she let out a quiet sigh. She was just about to speak when a voice from the distance reached them.
Zhou Changbai’s injuries looked serious at first glance, but they were only surface wounds. With some rest, he would recover. At this moment, Mr. Wang was instructing someone to summon Zhou’s family.
The other students, seeing that Li Qinyuan was already gone and that Fu Xian and the others had also left, finally felt free to speak their minds about him.
Perhaps they had been holding it in for too long, but now it seemed like they had an endless amount to say.
“Finally, he’s been driven out!”
“Someone like him doesn’t deserve to be in the same academy as us. It’s best that he’s gone. In fact, I hope this matter blows up even further so that he’ll never be able to enter officialdom in the future. Just thinking about having to serve alongside someone like him in the imperial court one day fills me with dread.”
Shortly after, Xu Wan and the others also arrived.
After listening for a few moments, they quickly understood the situation. Hearing those people speak so poorly of Li Qinyuan from afar, they joined in.
“I said it before—keeping Li Qinyuan in the academy would only lead to trouble, and look what happened?”
” Headmaster Xu is just too soft-hearted. A person like him isn’t even worth teaching!”
“I wonder which unfortunate girl will end up marrying him in the future?”
“Who would marry him? A good-for-nothing scoundrel like him, useless in both literature and martial arts—anyone with eyes wouldn’t choose him.” Xu Wan sneered, raising her brows mockingly. “Honestly, if I had to marry him, I’d rather slit my own throat.”
The voices of both men and women intertwined, their words filled with sharp mockery and wanton ridicule. Their laughter and jeers rang out like an explosion in Gu Wuyou’s ears.
Her delicate face grew darker and darker as the voices continued. Her hands, originally hanging at her sides, clenched tightly into fists.
Finally, amidst Xu Wan’s shrill laughter, she spoke.
“Shut up!”
The sharp and furious voice rang through the courtyard, slicing through all the ridicule and scorn.
Everyone’s bodies stiffened. No matter what they had been doing before, at this moment, all eyes turned toward Gu Wuyou.
And what about Gu Wuyou?
After that single outburst, she strode straight toward Xu Wan.
Even Gu Yu was startled by her. Seeing her sudden movement, Gu Yu quickly reached out to grab her, lowering her voice in alarm. “What are you trying to do?”
Gu Wuyou ignored her. She pulled Gu Yu’s hand away and continued walking toward Xu Wan.
“Gu Wuyou!”
Gu Yu wanted to chase after her, but Gu Tiao held her back. She turned to look at Gu Tiao, her voice filled with confusion. “Second Sister?”
Gu Tiao shook her head at her, then gently squeezed Gu Yu’s hand as she watched Gu Wuyou’s retreating figure.
Perhaps she had been wrong.
Her little cousin might not need protection—maybe she had the strength to bear everything on her own.
Gu Yu had no idea what Gu Tiao was thinking. She wanted to go after Gu Wuyou, but since she was being held back, all she could do was watch with worry.
Meanwhile, Gu Wuyou, who was now the focus of everyone’s attention, continued walking toward Xu Wan. Her usually bright and vivid face was now icy cold. Even with so many people watching, she did not slow her steps. Only when she reached Xu Wan did she speak, her voice low and steady.
“What do you know?”
Just moments ago, Xu Wan had been mocking Li Qinyuan, her face glowing with satisfaction as the others agreed with her. But now, being interrupted so abruptly and in such a manner, her once delicate and charming face twisted in displeasure.
Everyone was watching them.
Xu Wan feared Gu Wuyou’s influence but did not want to lose face in front of so many people. She forced herself to hold her ground, raising her chin defiantly. “Know what?”
“Do you know what really happened? Do you know why Zhou Changbai was beaten? Do you know the reason behind it?”
One sharp question after another, like blades slicing through the air, stabbed straight into Xu Wan. Her face paled, but Gu Wuyou didn’t care. She took another step forward, her presence oppressive despite her youth.
“You don’t know anything.”
Her voice was firm, her tone ice-cold. Her delicate face was pale yet unwavering. The final sentence struck like a hammer, clear and resounding.
“Since you know nothing, who gave you the right to stand here and mock others so freely?”
Xu Wan’s face turned completely white.
She opened her mouth to speak, but not a single word came out.
Gu Wuyou cast a cold glance at her before shifting her gaze to the others. The people who had stood with Xu Wan suddenly found themselves unable to meet her eyes, lowering their heads in guilty silence.
Seeing their reaction, Gu Wuyou didn’t say anything more to them. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the crowd standing near Buzhi Hall, her voice ringing clear in the quiet courtyard.
“And you—”
She scanned the group with sharp eyes. “You all pride yourselves on coming from noble families, but have you ever acted as role models worthy of your family names? Do you know the full story? Do you know why he raised his hand? Do you know what made him do this?”
They were all from reputable backgrounds, yet now they were being publicly rebuked by a young girl. No one took it well. Some people’s expressions darkened, and one of them couldn’t help but retort, “We saw it with our own eyes. Li Qinyuan attacked Zhou Changbai. Isn’t that enough?”
“He has been in the academy for three years. How many times has he hit someone?” Gu Wuyou countered.
“He—”
Someone started to respond but quickly realized they couldn’t finish their sentence.
How many times had Li Qinyuan fought at the academy?
After some thought, it dawned on them—until today, the so-called infamous Li Qinyuan had never laid a hand on anyone.
Even when dealing with Liu Yuan and the others before, he had only given them a small warning and never actually fought.
The righteous indignation that had filled the crowd just moments ago slowly faded. People exchanged glances, but no one could come up with a response.
At last, someone, unwilling to back down, clenched their teeth and argued, “But Li Qinyuan did attack Zhou Changbai. That’s a fact. Assaulting a fellow student should lead to expulsion!”
“That’s right!”
“Anyone who attacks their classmates should be expelled!”
…
Gu Wuyou let them say their piece.
Only when the noise died down did she finally speak.
“If there was a reason, if the truth isn’t as simple as it seems, then—shouldn’t all of you be the ones to apologize to him?”
Some people looked momentarily dazed, unable to answer.
Would Li Qinyuan have had a reason to hit someone? They didn’t believe it.
But… what if there really was a reason?
One by one, they exchanged glances, yet no one spoke.
Gu Wuyou didn’t look at them anymore. Instead, she stepped forward and bowed to Mr. Wang before speaking.
“Sir, the academy teaches and nurtures students, and it has also taught us not to speak falsehoods.”
“If the truth is uncovered, if it is proven that Li Qinyuan did not attack his classmate without cause, then should those who have slandered and mocked him not apologize to him?”
Everyone was watching them.
Mr. Wang looked down at the cold yet strikingly beautiful young girl in front of him. After a long silence, he finally spoke.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Gu Wuyou seemed to sigh in relief. She bowed again.
“Understood.”
With that, she did not immediately return to Gu Tiao’s side. Instead, she walked toward Zhou Changbai, who was still conscious. His face was pale, and when he saw her approaching, his eyelids trembled slightly, revealing a look of fear.
She stopped three steps away from him and looked down at him.
The voice that usually carried a playful and spoiled tone was now cold as winter ice.
“Zhou Changbai, do you have anything to say?”
“If you confess now, I can let this go.”
“But if I find out the truth myself, do you know what the consequences will be?”
At this moment, the sun was sinking low in the sky, casting streaks of dark red light. Gu Wuyou stood in the glow, her red garments merging with the light, making it hard to see her clearly.
She was only fifteen this year, yet at this moment, she carried an aura that sent chills through those watching.
If, in the past, people only feared the power behind her name…
Then now—
They were beginning to fear her as a person.
The first to be shaken by this overwhelming presence was, of course, Zhou Changbai. He looked at Gu Wuyou with a trace of panic, as if replaying her words in his mind…
But in the end, under her piercing gaze, he gritted his teeth and said, “I did nothing wrong!”
Li Qinyuan himself didn’t dare reveal the truth—so what was there for him to fear?
No one would ever know the real story.
And if no one knew, then nothing would happen to him.
No matter how powerful this little girl’s background was, she couldn’t possibly uncover the truth! He just had to wait for time to pass, for his injuries to heal. In the end, nothing would happen to him…
But Li Qinyuan—
He would be the one to bear all the infamy.
Gu Wuyou did not get angry at Zhou Changbai’s response. She merely gave him a cold, piercing glance before speaking in a detached tone.
“You’d best remember the words you spoke today.”
With that, she no longer spared him another glance.
She turned and walked toward Gu Tiao.
“Second Sister, let’s go home.”
“Alright, let’s go home.”
Gu Tiao took her hand and gave it a light squeeze, as if silently offering her strength.
Gu Wuyou smiled at her, but her expression carried a trace of exhaustion.
She had spoken with such conviction, as if she was certain she could uncover the truth and clear the general’s name.
But in reality—
She had no confidence at all.
Where had the general gone?
And why had he attacked someone?
She knew nothing.
She didn’t even know… whether the general would keep their appointment tomorrow.
The only thing she was certain of was that her general would never attack someone for no reason. There had to be a reason… And as long as there was a reason, the truth could always be uncovered. It was just a matter of time.
Taking a deep breath, Gu Wuyou pushed these thoughts aside for now.
The commotion in the distance seemed to be fading, growing further and further away.
Beside her, Gu Yu opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, yet she hesitated, unsure of how to begin. Gu Wuyou knew what she wanted to ask, but she wasn’t in the mood to talk. She simply averted her gaze, looking off to the side.
Under a large tree not far away, a young girl in a yellow dress stood quietly. She was watching the place where the crowd had gathered, her face pale, her eyes rimmed red as if she had been crying.
That girl…
Gu Wuyou felt like she had seen her before.
They attended the same academy. Her surname was Huang, and her given name was just one character—Fu. She was a quiet girl, the type who blushed before she even finished speaking.
Why was she here?
Gu Wuyou found it a bit odd.
But just as she turned to take another look, the girl was already gone.
“What is it?”
Gu Tiao’s voice came from beside her.
“…Nothing.”