Stripped of Scholarly Honor

In early November, the Emperor personally came to the Imperial Academy to give a lecture, accompanied by Crown Prince Ling Qiyu and the Eldest Imperial Son, Ling Qiyan.

Ling Qiyan sat in the carriage, yawning. He had woken up so early that he was too drowsy to even lift his eyelids.

The Imperial Lecture was an annual event. Ling Qiyan had never participated, nor was he interested. But this year, the Emperor suddenly told him to come along. He later found out that it was that bastard Ling Qiyu who had suggested it to the Emperor. Heaven knows what wicked scheme that fellow was plotting now.

Knowing full well it was a trap, but since the Emperor had given the command, Ling Qiyan had to come, no matter how reluctant he was.

In the dining hall, before the sky had brightened, all the students were already having their morning meal, a full shichen earlier than usual.

Wen Ying sat at a corner table, eating quietly. At the table next to him sat Xia Zhixing and a few of his fellow townsmen.

Because today was the day of the Emperor's lecture, Xia Zhixing had come to the academy early in the morning to have the morning meal with them.

Someone noticed the thumb ring he was wearing and asked with a smile where he had gotten such a fine item. Xia Zhixing raised his eyebrows and, not shying away, stated frankly, "It was personally bestowed by Prince Yu, who told me to wear it every day."

Hearing this, the others all made sounds of envy, whether genuine or feigned, praising the generosity of Prince Yu.

Wen Ying lifted his gaze. His eyes fell upon the thumb ring on Xia Zhixing's left thumb, lingering for a moment before indifferently moving away.

After the morning meal, everyone returned to the lecture hall to wait. At the third quarter of the Chen hour, an attendant came to inform them to go outside Biyong Hall.

Just as Wen Ying was about to get up, Pan You'an, who was passing by, suddenly shot him a sideways glance and sneered inexplicably, "I remember, that jadeite thumb ring used to be yours, didn't it? How did it end up on the hand of that kid surnamed Xia?"

Although Wen Ying had never worn the thumb ring, he used to take it out and rub it in his hand for a while when no one was around at the academy. Perhaps this person had happened to see him one of those times.

"How pitiful. Something you treasured was in turn given away to someone else by Prince Yu. Tsk, tsk. Look at you. What makes you think you're any different from others in the eyes of Prince Yu? Weren't you so smug before?"

Pan You'an mocked him in a sarcastic tone. Wen Ying had no intention of responding and got up to leave, but Pan You'an suddenly stuck out his foot, viciously trying to trip him.

Caught off guard, Wen Ying stumbled and pitched forward. He reacted with extreme speed, bracing himself with one hand on a nearby desk to steady his footing, narrowly avoiding a disgraceful fall to the floor.

After steadying himself, Wen Ying snapped his head up and glared fiercely at Pan You'an. The man subconsciously took a step back, his face instantly flushing red. "What are you glaring at! It wasn't on purpose!"

Leaving these words behind, Pan You'an quickly scurried away in disgrace.

Wen Ying was the only one left in the lecture hall. He furrowed his brow and rubbed his wrist. He had put too much force on it just now, and a piercing pain shot through it. He had likely sprained it.

Another attendant came in to hurry him along. Wen Ying took a deep breath and went out the door.

At the sixth quarter of the Chen hour, amidst the resounding chimes of bells and drums, the Emperor ascended his throne in Biyong Hall. The students of the Imperial Academy, arranged behind the officials on duty, knelt and performed the grand salutation.

The sound of the Emperor's lecture was relayed by announcers from inside the hall to the outside, mingling with the whistling of the bleak wind and spreading to every corner of the Imperial Academy.

Wen Ying knelt on the ground absently. He recalled the sight of Ling Qiyan getting down from his carriage from afar and following the Emperor into Biyong Hall. He closed his eyes, a bitter feeling washing over him.

The lecture lasted a full two shichen. By the time it ended, it was already noon. At the Crown Prince's suggestion, the imperial retinue remained at the Imperial Academy for the noon meal, planning to rest for a short while before departing.

Wen Ying didn't go to the dining hall, instead returning to his room to change his clothes.

Pan You'an was also there. Upon seeing Wen Ying, he wore a look of utter disdain. Wen Ying paid him no further mind and, after changing his clothes, went to the lecture hall to study.

Sitting at his desk, Wen Ying was distracted. A book lay open before him, but he had barely managed to turn a single page.

The other students returned after their noon meal, all excitedly discussing the content of His Majesty's lecture.

Only Wen Ying seemed isolated from all the excitement.

Until an abrupt voice cried out, "My thumb ring? Who took my thumb ring?"

It was Xia Zhixing, who was frantically rummaging through his desk. When someone gathered around to ask what was wrong, Xia Zhixing said angrily, "The thumb ring that Prince Yu bestowed upon me is gone!"

"Weren't you wearing it this morning? How did it suddenly disappear?"

Xia Zhixing replied irritably, "I don't know. Earlier, because we were going to Biyong Hall for the lecture, it wasn't appropriate to wear accessories, so I took the thumb ring off and put it right in this drawer. But when I returned, I found it was gone."

The others looked at each other in dismay. For it to be lost in the lecture hall, could it be... that it was stolen?

Xia Zhixing had clearly come to the same conclusion. He stood up, his face ashen. "I'm going to find the Proctor and the others."

Someone held him back and reminded him, "Wait a moment. The imperial retinue hasn't left yet, and they're all busy attending to His Majesty. They won't have time for this. It wouldn't be good to cause a scene now."

But Xia Zhixing wouldn't listen. "The ones attending His Majesty are the Chancellor and the Director. I'm going to get Proctor Zhang. Any further delay, and I might never find my thumb ring again."

Xia Zhixing rushed off in a huff. The others muttered a few words to each other and returned to their seats, none of them wanting to get involved in the matter.

Wen Ying frowned slightly.

Half an hour later, Xia Zhixing returned with the Proctor of the Imperial Academy. Proctor Zhang looked extremely displeased, which was understandable. The imperial retinue was still on the premises, yet a theft had occurred among the students—no one would be happy in his position.

Everyone who was questioned said they hadn't seen the thumb ring. After a while, Pan You'an suddenly spoke up, saying hesitantly, "Th-this student thinks he saw something. At noon, my roommate came back to change his clothes. I saw him stuff that very thumb ring under his pillow."

As he spoke, his eyes kept darting toward Wen Ying, making it obvious that the roommate he was referring to was Wen Ying.

The hall erupted in an uproar.

Wen Ying's frown deepened. When questioned by Proctor Zhang, he explained coldly, "I did not do it. I only went back to change my clothes and came directly here. I have not seen the thumb ring."

"He's lying," Pan You'an argued. "I saw it clearly. It was him who took the thumb ring!"

Wen Ying still insisted, "I did not do it."

Xia Zhixing snorted. "We'll see if it's true or not once someone goes to search your room."

Proctor Zhang hesitated for a moment, then sent two attendants over.

Everyone fell silent, looking at Wen Ying with varied expressions. Wen Ying clenched his fists, his face taut, and remained silent.

A quarter of an hour later, the attendants sent to search returned. They handed the jadeite thumb ring to Proctor Zhang, confirming that it had indeed been found under Wen Ying's pillow.

Proctor Zhang's face darkened, but before he could say anything, a bailiff hurried in to announce that His Majesty, on a sudden whim, was leading the Crown Prince, Prince Yu, and a retinue of officials over to see the students' lecture halls. They would be arriving shortly and everyone should prepare to receive them.

Walking behind the Emperor toward the lecture hall, Ling Qiyan inwardly cursed Ling Qiyu. The man was always stirring up trouble—one moment suggesting they have the noon meal at the Imperial Academy, the next, goading their Imperial Father into coming to see the students.

...What was there to see? By now, he should have already been back at his manor, comfortably taking an afternoon nap.

The Emperor first chose to visit the lecture halls for the Juren students. The Juren who were admitted to the Imperial Academy were very likely to pass the palace examination and become Jinshi in the future, so His Majesty was naturally very interested in them.

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy accompanied the Emperor, briefing him on the students' progress and making a point to mention a few outstanding individuals to leave an impression on His Majesty.

Those who were mentioned might gain an advantage in the future palace examination. Naturally, the officials of the Imperial Academy hoped that more of the top-ranking Jinshi in the final palace examination would come from their institution.

When the Emperor entered, the students in the hall were already kneeling respectfully on the floor.

The Emperor looked upon these future pillars of the state, very pleased. He waived the formalities and told them all to rise.

Ling Qiyan spotted Wen Ying at a glance and couldn't help but frown. 'Why does this kid look like a dark cloud is hanging over him, even in front of the Emperor? ...He's really not afraid of death.'

The Emperor decided to call someone forward for questioning and named Wen Ying. The young man had been mentioned to him on several occasions; the Chancellor had been full of praise for him, and he was also the Jieyuan of Shangjing Prefecture, all of which had made the Emperor quite curious.

Wen Ying stepped forward, bowed his head, and performed a salute. The Emperor's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected Wen Ying to be such a handsome and poised young man. The praise others had given him was no exaggeration at all.

Just as he was about to speak, Ling Qiyu suddenly interjected, "Imperial Father, isn't that the Proctor of the Imperial Academy? Why is he here? Has a student committed an offense?"

The Proctor of the Imperial Academy was responsible for student discipline and always carried a teaching rod, making his identity clear at a glance.

The Emperor furrowed his brows at these words. Proctor Zhang stepped forward and, not daring to hide anything, recounted the earlier dispute.

This time, it wasn't just the Emperor whose expression changed; the various academic officials of the Imperial Academy who had come with him were also utterly astonished.

Wen Ying knelt, his back ramrod straight, and defended himself, "I did not do it. I have been wronged. I beseech Your Majesty to ascertain the truth."

Upon seeing that thumb ring, Ling Qiyan's face instantly fell, his expression turning thoroughly ugly.

The smile on the Emperor's face vanished. He had likely never imagined that such a disagreeable incident could occur within the Imperial Academy, much less that he would walk right into it.

Seeing the Emperor's grim face and his lack of intent to ask questions, Ling Qiyu took the initiative. He called Xia Zhixing over and asked, "Your thumb ring, when did it go missing?"

Xia Zhixing answered calmly, "Replying to Your Highness, it was today. I am certain it was still there during the morning meal. When I went out for the lecture later, I took it off and placed it in my drawer. When I returned, it was gone."

Ling Qiyu asked again, "Since all of you went outside Biyong Hall together for the lecture, how did this Juren Wen have an opportunity to steal your property?"

"...This student doesn't know, but the thumb ring was indeed found under his pillow. It's not as if this student has falsely accused him for no reason."

Ling Qiyu thought for a moment, then called Pan You'an over to ask, "Are you sure you didn't see wrongly? Did you personally witness Juren Wen hide the thumb ring under his pillow?"

Pan You'an licked his lips and said in a low voice, "It's true. I saw it all with my own eyes. I would never dare to lie in the presence of Your Majesty and Your Highnesses."

After speaking, he hesitated slightly before adding, "This morning, when the attendant came to call us to Biyong Hall, Juren Wen and I had a small quarrel over some unpleasantness, which caused a delay. I left first, making Juren Wen the last person to leave the lecture hall."

"Is that true?" Ling Qiyan's gaze returned to Wen Ying as he asked, "Did that in fact happen?"

Wen Ying's face grew even more taut. He answered in a hoarse voice, "Yes, but I did not take the thumb ring."

The attendant who had come last to hurry Wen Ying was also called to testify and confirmed the account. However, when asked if he had noticed any unusual behavior from Wen Ying, he could not say.

But it no longer mattered.

"So, it seems that only this Juren Wen truly had the opportunity, and the item was indeed found in his possession," Ling Qiyu said, then suddenly changed tack, turning to Ling Qiyan beside him. "Elder Brother, as I understand it, both of these Juren are retainers from your manor, are they not? What do you make of this matter?"

Ling Qiyan's expression was as cold as ice. He gritted his teeth and said, enunciating each word, "I don't know."

But Xia Zhixing suddenly spoke up, "This student heard from the people of Prince Yu's Manor that this thumb ring was first bestowed upon Juren Wen by Prince Yu. Later, after Juren Wen displeased His Highness and was expelled from the manor, His Highness took it back and re-gifted it to me. Because of this, Juren Wen became jealous and resentful toward me, and has given me plenty of hostile looks lately..."

"Is that so?" Ling Qiyu looked at Ling Qiyan with a smirk. "Elder Brother, is it true that you first gave this thumb ring to this Juren Wen, only to take it back and re-gift it to Juren Xia?"

Ling Qiyan's face was ashen, and he remained silent.

The rest of the people, officials and students alike, were all speculating wildly. The matter had devolved into a sordid tale of two Juren fighting jealously for the favor of Prince Yu. It was truly...

Hearing this made the Emperor even more furious. Feeling he had lost an immense amount of face, he shot Ling Qiyan a fierce glare.

Ling Qiyan lowered his head and said nothing.

The Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, sweating profusely, pleaded for the Emperor's forgiveness, admitting his failure to properly manage the students. Director Lin couldn't bear it and tried to explain on Wen Ying's behalf, "Your Majesty, please see clearly. Student Wen is by no means a person who covets vanity and wealth, nor would he ever do something so reviled by scholars. There may be more to this story. It would be best to investigate fully before reaching a verdict..."

Ling Qiyu was dismissive. "For such a trivial matter, are you suggesting we call in the Shangjing Government Office to investigate? Director Lin cherishes talent, so it's understandable that he would protect his student. But the evidence is conclusive. To persist in such blind favoritism is to confuse right and wrong and willfully shield a subordinate's faults."

Being rebuked like this by the Crown Prince, Director Lin's old face flushed bright red, and he was speechless for a long moment.

The Emperor's face was already covered in frost, and his chest was filled with uncontrollable rage.

If the matter had not involved his son, he might have been willing to order a clear investigation. But now that it was tied to his son's romantic affairs, causing him to lose face in front of so many officials and students, how could he not be enraged?

Therefore, he had no desire to dwell on the matter any longer. He coldly uttered, "A common thief is unfit to serve as an official. From this day on, he is expelled from the Imperial Academy, and his scholarly honor is stripped," then flicked his sleeve and departed.

Wen Ying clenched his fists, grinding his teeth so hard he tasted blood. A bone-deep chill was all that remained in his dark eyes.

Ling Qiyan subconsciously glanced at him. His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing and turned to follow the Emperor away.