Although the government officials had left, everyone still couldn’t breathe a sigh of relief.

After all, the officials had left, but now remaining here was still a prince.

Everyone held their breath and didn’t dare move carelessly, afraid that breathing too heavily or moving too much would displease this prince.

If heads rolled, what would they do?

Jingrong thought to himself: Hey, hey, hey, am I really that terrifying?

Lin Shu’s legs went weak and he slid to the ground. Those pale lips of his trembled for a long time. “Your Highness? You… you’re a prince?”

Jingrong stared at him. “Don’t I look like one?”

“No…” He knelt down with a thud. “It’s my poor judgment. I didn’t know you were a prince. I offended you before. Please forgive my crime, Your Highness.”

Wasn’t he arrogant and aggressive? Wasn’t he an incorrigible dandy?

Now he had suddenly become meek!

Jingrong didn’t make things difficult for him, only saying, “If everyone were like you, kneeling on the ground at every turn begging this prince to forgive your crimes, wouldn’t this prince be exhausted to death? Lin Shu, this prince said before that if even half a piece of evidence was found proving you were the murderer, I would definitely flay you alive. But now, the evidence Master Ji has found indeed clears your name. Since that’s the case, this prince won’t allow others to wrongly accuse you or drag you into prison for severe interrogation and forced confession. What should be saved, this prince will not stand by and ignore.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Your Highness and Master Ji. This kindness reaches the heavens. I will remember it in my heart.”

“Lin Shu, you’d better understand that this prince helped you because the truth and facts prove your innocence. But this doesn’t mean that your previous actions can be written off with one stroke.”

A reminder!

“Yes, it was my fault. I won’t shirk or deny it, and I’ll accept whatever punishment Your Highness decides. From now on, I will definitely change my bad habits.”

Very sincere!

Tears even glimmered in his eyes.

Jingrong let him kneel, then looked at Ji Yunshu. “What do you think?”

Ah?

At this moment, she was still holding that skull in her hands, and this question came too suddenly. For a moment, she hadn’t quite reacted.

Even though her impression of Lin Shu was extremely poor, seeing Lin Shu kneeling on the ground covered in wounds, her heart still softened. Her crimson lips pressed together several times before she responded to Jingrong’s words. “He did make mistakes. He acts rash and impulsive, his temperament is even more arrogant and incorrigible, and he’s even obstinate and stubborn. However, as Master Yu also said, his nature isn’t bad and his scholarship is very good. If properly taught, he can fill in gaps and make up for deficiencies. Moreover, everyone has their moments of confusion. Correcting and returning to the origin is sufficient.”

Jingrong understood her meaning!

“Not pursuing it anymore?”

She nodded.

“Since that’s the case, then fine.” He waved his hand and said to Lin Shu, “Alright, get up quickly. Don’t keep kneeling. You’re covered in wounds right now, which can be considered a lesson. From now on, you should also grow wiser.”

“Thank… thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Master Ji.”

Then, two fellow students quickly helped him up.

Jingrong glanced sideways at Ji Yunshu. Not caring at all about others’ gazes, he took her hand and left.

The remaining crowd was left there shocked and confused!

Shocked that a prince had moved into the academy, confused about why the prince would come to this place.

Even stranger was—

Why would the prince listen to that Master Ji’s words?

Could it be that person had an even greater title than the prince?

Everyone was suspicious in their hearts.

Very quickly, this matter reached Master Yu’s ears.

Master Yu’s mood was complicated. After getting up from bed, he sat on the mat the whole time without saying a word.

His head lowered, both hands placed on his knees, not moving at all.

When the young servant came in to deliver the evening medicine, his movements were very light. He placed the medicine on the low table and was about to leave, but thinking it over, he still asked, “Master, now that the matter has been clarified, Guo He’s skeleton is still placed in the back courtyard. I wonder, how should it be handled?”

No response!

“Master?”

Holy crap, he’s not dead, is he?

This terrifying thought jumped into the young servant’s mind.

His heart tightened.

He leaned forward, moved close to Master Yu’s ear and called softly, “Master?”

Still no response.

The young servant then reached out his hand and tugged at Master Yu’s sleeve.

His fingers had just grasped that piece of fabric when suddenly—

Master Yu raised his hand, swept his wide sleeve, lifted his head and uttered a sentence, “I’m not dead yet.”

“…”

The young servant was so frightened he fell sitting on the ground. His lips twitched, words stuck in his throat, stammering and unable to say a word.

He saw Master Yu properly pick up that bowl of medicine, slowly pour it down his throat, then set the empty bowl aside.

“Go out.”

The young servant came to his senses, got up from the ground, dazedly moved that empty bowl into his hands, then stumbled out as if he had seen a ghost.

But then—

Just as he reached the door, he ran face-first into someone!

“Ah!”

The young servant cried out.

His soul left him.

He lifted his head and saw Jingrong standing before him, raising his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

“It’s Your Highness.”

Jingrong furrowed his brows. “Could it be a ghost?”

“No… no.”

“Go fetch a set of chess pieces.”

“Ah?”

“Can’t understand human speech?”

“No… no, I’ll go right away.”

The young servant’s cheeks trembled as he quickly trotted away.

That was completely the appearance of someone who’d seen a ghost!

Jingrong looked down at himself and didn’t find anything strange. Shaking his head, he stepped through the door.

When Master Yu saw him enter, he was about to get up and bow in respect.

“There are no outsiders here.” As Jingrong spoke, he sat down opposite Master Yu and asked with concern, “Is Master’s health somewhat better? In a while, I’ll have Muruo come examine you again.”

“There’s no need to trouble that Young Master Mo. These past two days, I’ve caused Your Highness and Student Ji much trouble.”

“It’s not really trouble. Actually, even if this matter hadn’t happened these two days, it would have happened sooner or later. Being able to resolve it early is a good thing. Master need not be sad. Everyone has their destined fate. One cannot blame others.”

His tone carried comfort!

Master Yu nodded and sighed. “Heaven ordains it. Those who should stay will stay, those who should go will go.”

These words sounded like he had come to terms with it, but Guo He’s death, weighing on his old heart, was destined to be a regret for the latter half of his life.

At this moment, that young servant from earlier came in carrying a pot of tea and a chess set.

He poured two cups of tea and placed them at each person’s side, then arranged the chess set properly.

As he was arranging it, Master Yu instructed him, “Pass the word down to cremate Guo He’s skeleton, then place the ashes in the Confucian Hall.”

“Ah?” The young servant was confused. “Master, the Confucian Hall houses all those…” ancient sages and ancestors.

Interrupted.

“Just do as you’re told. No need for further words.”

Fine, fine, fine, as long as you’re happy.

The young servant agreed, “Yes, I’ll do it right away.”

And quickly went out.

Master Yu looked at the chess board set up before him. “Your Highness intends to?”

Jingrong said, “I’ve heard that Master’s chess skills are exquisite. This prince wishes to learn a few moves from you, Master. Moreover, as the saying goes, playing chess is thirty percent skill and seventy percent mental focus. Consider it this prince helping Master to divert your mind a bit.”

“Yes.”

He agreed.

Master Yu held the white pieces, Jingrong held the black pieces.

They played three consecutive games of chess, and Master Yu won every single game.