Chapter 1392 - Fever

However, she still held it in. Now, everyone is waiting to see me as a laughingstock. All the people who previously thought of all sorts of ways to flatter me now avoid me like the plague. 

Jiang Zhiyuan was furious, but she could only endure it. She knew that her situation had already reached the worst circumstances. If I don’t find a way to get Elder Dan Qing to retract his decision, expulsion will be waiting for me when I go back to the academy. 

“Zhiyuan, what’s the matter? You don’t seem to look too well.” Liang Xiaoxiao walked over as if she were very worried. As she spoke, she sized Jiang Zhiyuan up like she was ‘admiring’ her disheveled appearance.

Jiang Zhiyuan snorted in her heart. If Liang Xiaoxiao was concerned about me at all, she would’ve come over long ago. Why would she wait until now? She just wants to watch me become a laughingstock! 

Suddenly, Jiang Zhiyuan recalled something, and her expression changed slightly. Then, she squeezed out a smile. “Don’t worry. I’m fine. As for you… Xiaoxiao, so many top-tier families and clans have come this time. Your Liang family should’ve also come, right?”

“I don’t think so, right?” Liang Xiaoxiao was dazed and didn’t expect her to bring this up suddenly. Previously, I had corresponded with my family over letters, and Father said that he was busy with something in the clan recently. Hence, he couldn’t leave and didn’t plan on joining the chaotic situation.

“Why? Did you… see my family earlier?” Liang Xiaoxiao instantly became alert.

Jiang Zhiyuan smiled. “No, I was just casually asking. After all, it’s quite dangerous here. Once they’re here… it’s not that easy to leave.”

Liang Xiaoxiao quickly knitted her brows. For some reason, Jiang Zhiyuan’s smile makes me feel awkward and uneasy. 

Liang Xiaoxiao didn’t have the mood to continue teasing Jiang Zhiyuan. After saying something superficially, she turned around to leave.

Seeing her departing back view, Jiang Zhiyuan’s smile slowly turned cold. Pfft, it seems like the people from the Liang family haven’t received the news. At the very least, Liang Xiaoxiao doesn’t know of it yet. Liang Shaokang was the eldest son of the Liang family. Now that he has died in an ambiguous manner, the Liang family will definitely not take it lying down! 

Thinking of this, she hurriedly took a few steps forward. “Elder Hua Feng, I have some things I want to say to you.”

Elder Hua Feng was originally talking to Elder Bo Yan and the others about some things. Hearing this, he turned around to look at her. “What?”

Jiang Zhiyuan cupped her hands together as if she were nervous. “I… just want to take up some of your time.”

Quite a few people in the surroundings looked over, and they were filled with curiosity.

Elder Hua Feng thought for a moment and still walked over.

Jiang Zhiyuan walked to the side.

The two of them walked toward the outside of the group.

Elder Hua Feng swiftly set up a barrier and blocked their conversation from the outside world. “You can speak now, right?”

Elder Hua Feng knew that Jiang Zhiyuan must have something urgent, which was why she suddenly looked for him. Hence, he was more patient as well.

He wanted to see what else Jiang Zhiyuan could do.

Jiang Zhiyuan pressed her lips against each other and didn’t beat around the bush. She said directly, “Elder, I want to ask you something. Um… Could you help convince my mentor to retract his decision?”

“What did you say?” Elder Hua Feng almost thought that he had misheard her. Is something wrong with Jiang Zhiyuan?! She actually came to me to ask me to help her beg for mercy? 

Jiang Zhiyuan’s fingers were intertwined, and she looked very sincere. Tears had already welled up in her eyes. “I’m begging you. Mentor refuses to listen to my explanation now, and he doesn’t want to speak to me. Only you can help me!”

Elder Hua Feng wanted to laugh.

He shook his head. “Dan Qing is your mentor. For the past few years, he has always doted on you. Now that he did this, it’s clearly because you were wrong in the first place. He has always been stubborn and definitely won’t change his decision. Even if I go and convince him, it would be of no use.”

Even though I don’t understand what exactly Jiang Zhiyuan is trying to do, judging from Dan Qing, Bo Yan, and the others’ reactions, it is most likely something that can’t be forgiven. I didn’t like Jiang Zhiyuan in the first place, so why would I be willing to put in a good word for her. 

“Jiang Zhiyuan, you need to know that once you make some mistakes, there won’t be a chance to start anew.” Then, Elder Hua Feng turned around to leave. There doesn’t seem to be much meaning to continue talking to Jiang Zhiyuan. That is because even now, she is still not remorseful and is trying to use all sorts of means to continue staying in the academy. This type of person… isn’t reliable. 

“Elder.” Seeing Elder Hua Feng’s determined attitude, Jiang Zhiyuan made up her mind.

Elder Hua Feng turned around and was suddenly dazed when he saw Jiang Zhiyuan’s gaze.

To the outsiders, her gaze was gentle and pitiable. But only Elder Hua Feng—who was standing nearby—could see the harshness and cunning in her eyes.

“I was just talking to Liang Xiaoxiao. She said that the Liang family didn’t send anyone over this time.”

Elder Hua Feng suddenly realized something! “You—”

“If they know that Liang Shaokang died here and that… Ling Xiao Academy silently allowed it, then… What kind of reaction would they have?” Jiang Zhiyuan laughed. “The Liang family is a top-tier aristocratic family after all. Unless absolutely necessary, the academy wouldn’t want to have a bad relationship with them, right?”

Elder Hua Feng finally understood Jiang Zhiyuan’s intentions, and he couldn’t help but sneer. “Jiang Zhiyuan, do you know what you’re doing?”

It is a serious offense to threaten an elder!

“Do you think I will still care about this if I’m expelled from the academy?” Jiang Zhiyuan didn’t seem afraid as she smiled gently. At most, I will just drag everyone down. 

Elder Hua Feng stared at her for a long time. “…Dan Qing was really blind to have accepted you as his disciple and dote on you for so many years.”

Jiang Zhiyuan’s smile didn’t change. “Can you help me?”

…

Chu Liuyue felt that she had fallen into a long, long dream. Countless scenes flashed across her mind—scenes that she had seen, scenes she hadn’t seen.

Things that she had heard, things she hadn’t heard.

Messy memories rushed out and caused her to have a splitting headache.

She knitted her brows slightly and softly said, “It hurts…”

Rong Xiu looked at her, and his heart seemed to be rubbed by something harshly. He lowered his head slightly and wanted to kiss her.

The moment he moved, he stopped. I almost forgot all these people were around…

After a moment of hesitation, he gently placed his forehead on hers.

The surroundings immediately fell into silence.

Elder Bo Yan looked at Rong Xiu in shock, and his entire face was confused. “Rong Xiu, you—”

Rong Xiu looked up, and his expression was calm and nonchalant. “She seems to be having a fever.”