The Imperial Academy was inside Anding Gate in the eastern city.

Liang Pangde was around forty years old, kept a goatee, had a thin build, and his face looked somewhat gloomy.

His gaze swept over Xie Zhifei and finally settled on Yan Sanhe, his expression utterly indifferent: “What business do you have with me?”

Xie Zhifei pulled out the Five Cities waist token.

“Commander Xie Zhifei. This is Miss Yan Sanhe. We’ve come to ask you about Zheng Huantang.”

Liang Pangde’s expression darkened. Pointing at Yan Sanhe, he said sternly:

“Such a major injustice as the Zheng family’s one hundred eighty lives, and the court actually sends a little girl to investigate—this is absolutely absurd.”

Xie Zhifei: “This Miss Yan is…”

“Get out!”

Liang Pangde swept his sleeve. “My room doesn’t allow women to enter. Get out—”

What’s this?

A misogynist?

Yan Sanhe walked before Liang Pangde.

“Doctor Liang, I forgot to tell you—in this case I’m primary, Magistrate Xie is secondary. His Majesty has already issued an edict to the realm that this is a wrongful case. The next step is to investigate thoroughly and restore the truth. Please cooperate.”

Anyone else would have obediently complied with these words, but Liang Pangde refused, clamoring: “You get out. If Magistrate Xie stays, I’ll speak.”

Yan Sanhe’s eyes turned cold: “Why? Give me a reason, Doctor Liang.”

Liang Pangde: “Not worthy!”

Yan Sanhe: “Just me not worthy, or are all women in the world not worthy?”

Liang Pangde’s two nostrils pointed skyward, exhaling a cold breath: “All not worthy!”

You spent ten months in a woman’s belly and still weren’t worthy of coming into this world!

Yan Sanhe didn’t want to waste time.

“Buyan!”

Li Buyan, guarding outside the door, had long been furious. Hearing Yan Sanhe call her, her hand went to the soft sword at her waist as she entered the room.

Cold light flashed—the soft sword pressed against Liang Pangde’s neck.

Yan Sanhe narrowed her eyes: “Now then, am I worthy?”

Liang Pangde was both anxious and afraid, suddenly flushing red. “You, you…”

You what you?

Li Buyan’s sword pressed down, the sharp blade piercing into skin. Blood immediately gushed out.

Liang Pangde was so frightened his legs went weak. “Worthy, worthy, worthy!”

Damn, made of wax!

Li Buyan cursed inwardly, neatly sheathed her sword, turned and left.

Liang Pangde covered the blood on his neck with his hand, his whole body trembling, looking at Yan Sanhe with eyes full of fury.

Yan Sanhe acted as if she couldn’t see, walking to his desk and pulling up her robe to sit, her gaze turning to Xie Zhifei.

Scholars came in two types.

One type like Yan Xing with hard bones.

Another type looked full of proud bones and spirit, but at critical moments turned into soft-legged shrimp.

This one was clearly the latter.

The young girl close at hand had a hint of small pride between her brows and eyes. Xie Zhifei’s heart pounded watching her.

He silently gave a thumbs up.

Yan Sanhe withdrew her gaze, pointing at the chair in the lower seat, even omitting titles: “Sit.”

Though Liang Pangde was full of resentment, he could only sit unwillingly and reluctantly, heart not willing, feelings not agreeable.

Yan Sanhe deliberately tapped the table forcefully with her finger: “Talk. Tell us step by step how you became close friends with him.”

Before absolute power, Liang Pangde could only resign himself and speak.

“He and I were Imperial Academy classmates, living in the same study room. His bed faced directly opposite mine.”

The very first sentence shocked both Yan Sanhe and Xie Zhifei.

Yan Sanhe was shocked because: Wasn’t Zheng Huantang a military general? How did he also attend the Imperial Academy?

Xie Zhifei was shocked because: Father never mentioned this to his siblings?

Yan Sanhe: “How did he enter the Imperial Academy?”

“Two types of people could enter the Imperial Academy.”

Having opened his mouth, Liang Pangde simply poured everything out.

“One type like me—no background, entering on merit. Another type like Huantang—relying on family connections.”

No background meant no prospects, only cold studying.

Those who entered through connections came from families either rich or noble. These people didn’t need to take imperial examinations in the future—their parents had already arranged their futures.

Upon entering the Imperial Academy, the two groups immediately split into two camps. Not only did they not live together, they couldn’t play together either.

Yet somehow he, the one without background, was mistakenly assigned to Zheng Huantang’s study room.

And while everyone else looked down on him, only Zheng Huantang treated him courteously.

“Huantang said to me: The Zheng family wasn’t wealthy or noble before either. We have today’s life because my father fought for it blade by blade.”

Liang Pangde smiled bitterly: “He also said, ‘Pangde, you’re good at studying. Help me out. In the future I’ll test for a jinshi degree for my father, so he can be proud too.'”

Liang Pangde agreed outwardly but thought inwardly: People from families like yours still need to test for jinshi? Your home already has mountains of gold and silver piled up.

At the first monthly examination among two hundred students, Zheng Huantang ranked twenty-fifth—the outstanding one in their camp.

Only then did he discover Zheng Huantang was different from those wastrel sons—this person not only had background but also had real ability.

So-called ability, if not exceptionally brilliant, meant putting in much hard work behind the scenes.

Liang Pangde liked diligent people, so he let down his guard and began associating with Zheng Huantang.

Through this association, Liang Pangde discovered Zheng Huantang’s merits went far beyond just diligence.

This person rose before dawn every day to practice a set of fist forms, then a set of blade forms, rain or shine.

Asked how many years he’d practiced, he said he started at three and didn’t dare slack off—slacking meant getting whipped.

His martial skills were so formidable, yet he never bullied others with his power. Even when provoked, he’d just smile and endure.

Asked why he didn’t use his fists to teach them a lesson, he said his father forbade them from fighting outside.

He was courteous and refined in dealing with others. Despite his military background, he’d cultivated a good temperament. Sometimes even when Liang Pangde got anxious, he remained calm.

Asked where this good temperament came from?

He said above him were four elder brothers, each tougher than the last. As a child when he acted tyrannical, no one indulged him—his brothers’ fists were each fiercer than the last.

Beaten into fear, his temperament naturally improved.

“Do you know what his greatest virtue was?” Liang Pangde suddenly asked.

Xie Zhifei: “What?”

“Ambition.”

Liang Pangde: “He wanted to become the first general in the Hua Kingdom who read the most and could pass the jinshi examination.”

People used “intelligent” to describe scholars but “reckless” to describe military men.

Moreover, when discussing military men, they always thought them all brawn and no brains, without much real ability.

The court divided civil and military officials. Civil officials were forever lofty above, while generals aside from being somewhat useful during wartime were useless otherwise.

Even in military campaigns, the court would send someone good at reading with many strategies to serve as military advisor.

Despite having no actual combat experience, they could point fingers at a bunch of generals.

This was Zheng Huantang’s first ambition.

Zheng Huantang’s second ambition was to be like his father—a general leading troops in battle, protecting the mountains and rivers, ensuring the nation’s peace.

He said what he sought in this life was to be wrapped in a horse hide upon death.

For a man to die this way was to die properly.

Hearing these words, Xie Zhifei felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body. He couldn’t even lift his teacup.

Turning his face to look at Yan Sanhe, he found her eyes were red-rimmed, yet she didn’t let a single tear fall. Moreover, she asked in an extremely calm voice:

“He didn’t achieve either of these ambitions, correct?”

Hearing this, Liang Pangde suddenly became extraordinarily angry, his fist pounding the small table with a “bang.”

“It’s all that woman’s fault! If not for that woman, how could he have died accomplishing nothing!”