Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times

Zhang Tong, unfamiliar with any of the three students, addressed Jing Xingzhi as a “young man,” lacking the familiarity to use his name or establish a teacher-disciple relationship.

Nervously, Mother Li observed the young master, whose previous display of good temper raised her hopes. Unaware of Jing Xingzhi’s identity and the connection to her son’s situation, she wished for a favorable response from him.

Focusing on the matter at hand, Mother Li didn’t notice the quality of Jing Xingzhi’s clothing. Despite not being of high quality, his neat appearance and modern pampering gave him an air of calm generosity, belying any signs of living in embarrassment.

Li Huasui, well-aware of Jing Xingzhi’s situation, had little hope for a favorable outcome. Having framed Jing Xingzhi, he doubted the possibility of a change in principles to secure his freedom.

Jing Xingzhi, maintaining a straight and honest demeanor, responded directly, stating, “This student listen to the academy.”

His words, seemingly forced, amused Zhang Tong, who noted the boy’s young appearance compared to the others.

Zhang Tong speculated on the three students’ potential impact. Zhang Kaiwei, despite his fake demeanor, could still deceive people when needed. Zhu Da, though somewhat reckless, surprisingly aligned with Fang Qichen’s sentiments this time.

Additionally, the order of their responses played a significant role, with Zhang Kaiwei preceding Jing Xingzhi.

In Zhang Tong’s analysis, Chief Fang likely had a plan in mind. Despite Zhang Kaiwei’s unfavorable tone, the advantage of order and alignment with Fang Qichen’s sentiments favored Zhu Da.

Zhang Tong smiled and shook his head, but heard the young man, whom he thought was too reserved to speak, speak again.

“As for the expulsion of Brother Li from the academy, it has been published in black and white on the academy wall, so that all the students can take a warning. Since everyone has seen it, it is not a misjudgment, and there is no reason to change it. How can you convince people if orders change day by day?”

Jing Xingzhi concluded his second paragraph with a rhetorical question.

The young man stood up straight, like a small green pine, exuding a faint demeanor Zhang Tong usually observed in those rigid ministers. Everyone seemed to believe that with just one stroke, they could conquer the world.

“However, there must be a reason why the gentlemen called the three of us here today. Student may be naive and not grasp the essence, but they believe the academy can make a fair decision. So, the student feel that they should all listen to the academy.” Jing Xingzhi obediently added after finishing his statement, “The student has finished speaking.”

Jing Xingzhi decided to say this after pondering, realizing Zhang Tong was different appearance and likely came from the palace. Therefore, being Fang Qichen’s disciple wouldn’t be a disadvantage, considering people from the palace were concerned about Fang Qichen accepting disciples. It was conceivable that Fang Qichen held a significant status in the emperor’s heart.

Although the sky was high and the emperor was far away, Jing Xingzhi wanted to take the imperial examination, so finding a big backer wasn’t a bad thing.

Fang Qichen was the last emperor and current emperor’s teacher; his disciple would be the junior brother of both emperors. When he thought about this seniority, he felt assured. As long as the current emperor gave him face, who would dare to rely on his elders or bully him.

Of course, if it didn’t work out, Jing Xingzhi had nothing to lose if he stepped out of the limelight this time.

Zhu Da was the one who framed the theft, and Jing Xingzhi planned to settle the score when the opportunity arose.

Zhang Kaiwei was the final mastermind, and Jing Xingzhi intended to teach him a lesson. If he offended him, so be it; this one was the right one.

Zhang Tong laughed again after hearing this. He found that this young man was interesting.

‘Where is the stupidity? Which sentence does not say that you are smart!’

It just seemed like that, which frightened him at first.

But what about being smart? Sometimes being smart was useless.

“What are we calling you for?” Zhang Tong asked in confusion, and then his smiling eyes focused on Zhu Da, who looked a little nervous, signaling him to calm down.

When Zhang Tong saw this, he felt that Zhu Da was genuinely fortunate.

Though tricked once by Deputy Chief Zhang’s nephew, Concubine Xian came to the throne and sent him over, providing some assistance to Zhu Da.

Moreover, Zhu Da was evidently reckless just now, but he happened to be behind Zhang Kaiwei and unexpectedly gained approval from Chief Fang.

At this moment, Zhang Tong devised a plan to deceive people, prompted by Zhu Da’s mention that the person advocating severe punishment for the student named Li below was this young man.

This sequence of events was not a stroke of luck for Zhu Da. Zhang Tong looked at the young man with regret in his eyes.

“What is your name?”

Jing Xingzhi replied with some confusion, “Student is Jing Xingzhi.”

After saying this, Jing Xingzhi noticed the middle-aged man with a fair face and no beard seemed to be smiling strangely. Jing Xingzhi couldn’t help but wonder about his thoughts, though the information was not equal. He remembered the concerned look Zhang Qiwen gave him when he entered.

Listening to Zhang Tong’s questions, Zhang Mingyu looked at the Li family below and smiled with understanding.

He caught a glimpse of Mother Li kneeling with a strange expression on her face. It was evident that Mother Li knew who Jing Xingzhi was and had the correct person and name.

Zhang Mingyu initially thought Zhang Tong from the palace was a good guy, but he turned out to be sinister, ruining the advantage of the poor man with just one sentence.

Fang Qichen, on the other hand, looked at Jing Xingzhi and felt a little pity. He had heard about this student’s upright temperament, but today he appeared somewhat clever.

After hearing the three people’s answers, Fang Qichen withdrew his gaze from Jing Xingzhi and said to Mother Li, “Madam Li, please get up.”

When Mother Li heard the old man’s call, she trembled, tears falling to the ground, fearing the last hope was gone.

Mother Li, indifferent to the surprise of knowing Jing Xingzhi’s identity, knelt on the ground and continued to plead, “Teachers, please be accommodating! Give Huasui a chance, and I will discipline him well, never to make problem again!”

Li Huamin, clearly unfamiliar with such scenes, immediately started crying at his mother’s distress, his little face appearing pitiful.

Fang Qichen sighed, waved his hand, and said, “If you don’t rise with the child, I will punish him severely!”

When Mother Li heard this, she hesitated, took the child with one hand, and stood up crying with the child.

As for the eldest son Li Huasui, Mother Li planned to let him continue kneeling. Whenever she thought about the additional income at home, she knew Li Huasui had wronged others, wishing she could go back over a decade when she hadn’t given birth to this son.

If he weren’t her biological son, she wouldn’t care. Yet, he was her own flesh and blood, the hope of the family, forcing her to act against her conscience.

Mother Li thought, and tears welled in her eyes.

Seeing Mother Li finally rise and stop kneeling, Fang Qichen said, “The expulsion from the academy cannot be changed, but I will make the decision. No documents will be sent to the school, and no records will be left, preserving his future scientific examinations. Wrongdoings must be accounted for. I hope you won’t stray again in the future.” The last sentence served as a warning to Li Huasui.

Li Huasui’s eyes turned red upon hearing the academy’s decision to preserve his reputation. He felt moved and knocked his head firmly on the ground.

“Student Li Huasui, will remember the teachings!”

Fang Qichen nodded and suddenly said, “I want to accept one of these three people as a disciple. I wonder which one Madam Li thinks is better?” After saying that, he looked at Li Huasui again, “You choose one for me too.”

As soon as Fang Qichen said this, everyone except the three old men was stunned.

Jing Xingzhi finally understood why the eunuch asked for his name. He was planning on involving the Li family!

First, Zhu Da expressed a desire to punish Li Huasui severely while throwing his name in that, and then the eunuch came to ask his name specifically, deepening Mother Li’s memory and reinforcing his intention to discipline Li Huasui severely.

The ignorant Mother Li now had to choose between himself, the person with the most significant connection to Li Huasui’s expulsion from the college.

Though Jing Xingzhi was the one that wronged, but those who suffered harm to their interests might not be reasonable.

Jing Xingzhi frowned slightly, feeling upset about being deceived. While he didn’t particularly care about becoming Fang Qichen’s disciple, he was unhappy about being tricked.

Jing Xingzhi silently remembered the eunuch’s appearance, planning to turn the tables if the opportunity arose.

Thinking this way, he comforted himself, thinking it might not be that great to be a disciple after all. In ancient times, the teacher-disciple relationship was akin to a father-son bond, meaning having multiple fathers for no reason.

As soon as he finished consoling himself, Jing Xingzhi noticed Li Huasui glancing at him. Does he want to say something negative about me? If he does, he should just say it.

Jing Xingzhi looked back nonchalantly, then averted his gaze, remaining as composed as if nothing had happened.

Nervously gripping the hem of his clothes, Li Huasui faced the chief and said seriously, “The student thinks that Jing Xingzhi is good, diligent in learning, and his character… is excellent!”

At that moment, Li Huasui recalled what Jing Xingzhi said to his mother, “Today is a holiday.” His mother’s relaxed smile appeared on her face, and he openly admitted for the first time that he was not as good as Jing Xingzhi.

Jing Xingzhi: ???