Chapter 12: Commotion at School, Bullying the Weak

Chapter 12: Classroom Chaos, Bullying the Weak

In an instant, Ning Xishi felt like he'd been struck by lightning, his entire being fuming with rage. Were it not for the fact that the person before him was a teacher—and that striking a teacher in ancient times would land one in prison—he truly would have thrown a punch.

The registrar realized he had blurted out what he was thinking, and seeing Ning Xishi's darkened expression, quickly tried to fix things: "Come, come, let's go inside and talk."

Once inside the academy, Ning Xishi had no intention of listening to any moralizing lectures or admonitions. He quickly ducked through a few archways and slipped out of the teacher's view, leaving only Dongshuang to face the master alone.

The registrar looked at Dongshuang and asked, "Your young master has already run off—why are you still standing here?"

Dongshuang, still angry for his young master, said indignantly: "Sir, if you don't want what you said today to reach the General's ears, I'd appreciate it if you'd issue my young master a new entry token. Also, our young master's dormitory has been taken away—you should handle that too."

With that, Dongshuang turned and walked away.

As soon as he turned, Dongshuang quickly rubbed his face, wondering if he'd pulled it off.

That was the boldest he'd ever talked to a teacher.

The registrar stood there scratching his head, totally confused, watching the study boy's retreating figure. Since when did a teacher have to answer to students and their servants?

But then he recalled how Ning Xishi had grabbed his hand earlier, and then thought of the rumors he'd heard about the General's residence these past few days—they all said General Xie was extremely jealous by nature, and as a child, when a palace maid had brought him a belt that didn't suit his taste, he had even snatched the current emperor's belt. Truly lawless.

And this Ning Xishi had now moved up in the world. How could a nobody like him risk offending the General's household? Fine, he'd just reissue the identity token.

Ning Xishi snuck in through the back of the classroom carrying a small bag of pastries and crispy fried chicken, and sat down next to Qi Huairui.

Qi Huairui had been reading a storybook under the desk and jumped at the sudden touch. Upon seeing who it was, his face lit up right away, and he cheerfully scooted over to make room for Ning Xishi.

Ning Xishi slouched against the wall, plopped the snacks on the desk, and closed his eyes to take a nap.

Qi Huairui's nose twitched like a dog's, and he got even happier.

"For me? Brother, you're the best! My dad found my storybooks and was so furious he halved my allowance—now I can't even afford fried chicken."

"Don't eat too much. Tonight at Yuelai Tavern, I've got plans with someone," Ning Xishi reminded him.

Qi Huairui asked, "Who?"

"The two who took our dormitory," Ning Xishi replied in a flat voice, though a cold look flashed in his eyes.

If it weren't for Biniang's quick thinking in sneaking along the palace walls into the imperial palace, he might never have gotten it back.

He had to settle this score.

Qi Huairui paused, then lowered his voice: "Do you know who took our dormitory? It's the Crown Princess's relatives on her side."

"And you're the son of a third-rank military official, aren't you?"

"My father—well, he can't even get a word in with the Emperor, but the Crown Prince can make trouble for anyone he doesn't like!" Qi Huairui said. "Let's just take the loss. We should accept it."

Ning Xishi said, "I guess I had you wrong. I didn't think you, Qi Huairui, would be so..."

He searched for the right word: "Getting slapped and then apologizing."

Qi Huairui was stunned, opening his mouth a few times but no words coming out, and finally just muttered a "Damn!" before digging into the fried chicken.

Ning Xishi smirked, looking all smug.

Qi Huairui realized he'd fallen for the provocation and wanted to strangle Ning Xishi, but Ning Xishi had a point—why should the son of a third-rank military official let the Crown Princess's relatives push them around?

Not to mention the Crown Prince hadn't even ascended the throne yet, and the Crown Princess's family weren't even real in-laws of the emperor. Even if the Crown Prince did become emperor, the Crown Princess should keep her family in line rather than let them do whatever they want.

—His and Ning Xishi's dormitory had been won through a cuju match years ago; it was the quietest dorm in the whole academy, so quiet you could play mahjong at night without anyone hearing!

Just as Qi Huairui was getting more and more worked up, a wooden ruler suddenly appeared in front of his face.

He looked up, his gaze traveling upward, and saw the academy's most patient teacher, Mr. Guo, looking furious: "Qi Huairui, I've put up with you long enough. I didn't say anything about your storybooks, and I didn't say anything about you chatting with Ning Xishi—do you think you're all that now? You dare eat fried chicken in class! Get the hell out!"

Ning Xishi had already grabbed a book and pretended to read when Mr. Guo came down, and was eavesdropping on the commotion when the booklet was snatched from his hands—

Mr. Guo casually flipped through it, struggling to keep his composure, and said: "Ning Xishi, I know you've recently married and are a bit carried away with joy, but how dare you bring such a book into the classroom?!"

Ning Xishi froze, looked up, and his entire face flushed crimson like fire, spreading like a blaze. For the first time, he stammered: "Mr. Guo, that—that's not mine..."

Hadn't he thrown away that erotic illustration book the matchmaker had insisted on giving him yesterday?!

How did it end up back in his book chest!

The more Mr. Guo looked, the darker his face grew, and he no longer wanted to hear any explanations. He roared with unrestrained fury, startling the sparrows pecking at the window frame: "Ning Xishi, get—out—now!"

·

Ning Xishi frantically grabbed the booklet, shoved it to the very bottom of his book chest, and vaulted out through the window. His movements were flustered, but thanks to his tall stature and lean, slender frame, he still managed to look somewhat dashing.

The few who usually hung around with Ning Xishi and Qi Huairui had been wearing gleeful smiles at their friend's misfortune, but upon seeing Ning Xishi's acrobatic exit, they swallowed their laughter and cursed inwardly—

"No wonder every official's daughter in the capital throws sachets at him when he rides through the streets—he's a menace to the nation!"

Ning Xishi stood outside the wall, listening to the roaring laughter inside and Mr. Guo's efforts to restore order, feeling as though he had lost all face for a lifetime.

How had that book ended up in his book chest?!

At that thought, Ning Xishi suddenly remembered the bellyband he had carelessly shoved aside that day—could the matchmaker have stuffed that into his dowry too???

Just you wait, Wang Meng! He, Ning Xishi, would definitely get his revenge!

That evening after classes, Ning Xishi arrived at Yuelai Tavern carrying the anger he had accumulated before and the fresh fury reignited today.

The waiter led him and Qi Huairui to the private booth they had reserved, sensed the tension crackling in the air, and immediately scurried off.

His haste made it seem as though they were a pack of ferocious beasts.

The door closed, and Ning Xishi looked at the Crown Princess's two cousins who had already taken their seats. They were ornately dressed and burly in build, which should have been impressive, but their skin was so dark and rough that they looked like children wearing adult clothes—unable to fill them out.

Ning Xishi had long since investigated the Crown Princess's two cousins. The current Crown Princess was not from any prestigious family—three generations of her household had been carpenters in a small town.

These cousins had been chopping wood in their village just two years ago. When their sister bore the Crown Prince his eldest son and became Crown Princess, the whole family rose with her. The cousins had come to the capital and even gained entry to the Imperial Academy.

Ning Xishi had initially been too lazy to bother with them, but if he let them bully him without retaliation, others would only think him, Second Young Master Ning, a pushover.

"Oh, if it isn't the General's Lady."

"How does it feel to be a man married off as a wife? Ahahahaha."

Qi Huairui heard their snide remarks and immediately flew into a rage, about to hurl a "stinking woodcutters" insult.

Ning Xishi raised a hand to stop him, saying: "Oh, my general husband happens to be the Crown Prince's own uncle. By seniority, that makes me your uncle as well. Imperial protocol dictates that one must bow to one's elder kin—so, gentlemen, please proceed."

With that, Ning Xishi settled into the armchair by the door and had Qi Huairui open the private room's door wide, so that all could witness the two performing their kneeling obeisance.

The two men's faces immediately turned a deep shade of purple, stunned speechless.

"Or must I summon a palace matron to teach you both proper etiquette?"

Ning Xishi tapped his finger lightly on the armchair, his gaze sweeping over their faces with a bored, impatient look.

"Of course, I recognize my general husband, and thus I am a member of the imperial family. If you two refuse to acknowledge me as your clan uncle, then..."

Given that their current status and position were entirely derived from their cousin's role as the Crown Princess, they didn't dare deny this connection.

So Qi Huairui went from anger to shock, then wore a smug, triumphant look as he watched the two reluctantly rise and come over to kneel before Ning Xishi.

Qi Huairui: "..." His urge to marry into a wealthy family just hit an all-time high!

Just as the two were about to kowtow in a mix of grief and indignation, Ning Xishi found it completely boring and said, "Skip the kowtowing. Go back, move your stuff out right now, and clean up the quarters. I'll move in tomorrow. If you ever dare show your face around me again, you'll kowtow to me every single time we meet."

"Yes..."

"Get lost."

The two scrambled out, and Qi Huairui closed the door and turned to see Ning Xishi already dragging his chair to the table, ringing the bell to call the waiter.

Qi Huairui was taken aback: "You're actually going to eat here?"

Ning Xishi looked even more surprised: "There's a minimum spend for the private room, brother. If I don't eat, should I just let the food go to waste?"

Qi Huairui said, "No, I mean—aren't you going back to eat tonight?"

Although his good friend had married a man—no, been forced into marriage with a man—the deed was done, and eating out on the first day of marriage felt a bit much.

What he really wanted to ask was, aren't you going to eat with General Xie? But he didn't dare say it outright, afraid of touching a nerve with Ning Xishi.

As they talked, the waiter had already brought several dishes. Once the door closed again, Ning Xishi took a bite of Yuelai Tavern's signature chicken leg with bamboo shoots before continuing, "Bro, don't make it worse for me. I've finally resolved one headache, and I just want to eat in peace."

In truth, Ning Xishi had no idea how to interact with General Xie, whether they should act like a normal couple, all lovey-dovey. Besides, they barely knew each other—eating together would likely just make things more awkward and tense.

Forget it, forget it. Better not waste this fine food and drink. Eat first, think later.

==========Author's Note:==========

First update