Chapter 147.2
Without any surprise, he would officially be the next Chief of the Imperial Academy next year.
His arrogance was br.i.m.m.i.n.g for this reason, and yet, when he saw the little boy, he bowed his head and gave him a salute.
In Little Jing Kong"s cognition, only the younger generation saluted the elders and the students saluted the teachers. This little boy was obviously neither an elder nor a teacher of this Director Zheng.
Then why did this Director Zheng saluted him?
"May I ask what happened here?" Director Zheng asked with a smile.
The little boy stamped his foot and said, "How many times should I say it?! He b.u.mped into me! He knocked me down!"
Little Jing Kong also said with a frown, "I"ve also said it many times that we b.u.mped into each other!"
"Presumptuous! What kind of student dares to talk like that? You don’t watch where you’re going, and actually knock down... " Director Zheng was about to say the little boy’s ident.i.ty when he remembered that the other party was enrolled as a civilian, so he quickly changed his words and said," …Somebody else! Students of the Imperial Academy should be honest! One should have a sense of propriety, righteousness, honesty, and shame! Where did you learn your manners?"
Little Jing Kong was infuriated!
He shouted, "I"m not being dishonest! I also don’t lack a sense of propriety, righteousness, and shame! Nor I don’t have any manners! I’m just saying what is true! The two of us b.u.mped into each other! I didn"t knock him down on purpose, nor did he! We simply b.u.mped at one another at the same time!"
Why was no one listening to him at all?
Did he not speak loud enough?
Was it because he wasn’t big enough?
Why?
He was not a child who was unwilling to admit his mistakes, but at the same time, he would never admit to a mistake he clearly didn’t do!
Teacher Jiang also felt that Director Zheng’s actions were wrong. If the two previous Chiefs were still here, this kind of thing would not be allowed to happen.
"Lord Zheng..." He spoke.
Director Zheng coldly interrupted him, "Shut up! This is the student you taught!?"
Little Jing Kong clenched his small fist, raising his arm backwards, and said in retort, "Teacher Jiang is not wrong! The students he teaches are all excellent! I’m also very excellent! You"re the one who should shut up! There are two parties involved in this incident, but you didn"t even ask me for an explanation! You’re not fair at all! You don"t deserve to be a teacher!"
In his anxiousness, Little Jing Kong also babbled out so many unkind words.
During his growing years, neither the abbot nor his master ever told him to shut up just because he shouldn’t speak.
Whoever had a valid reason was qualified to speak.
The same was true of Gu Jiao.
Director Zheng was instantly red in the face because of a three-year-old child. Still, after all, he was a Director of Studies; he wouldn’t be defeated so quickly by a mere child.
He said, incensed, "Good, good, good! Showing such disrespect for your teacher, I think you need some punishment! Somebody! Take out the ruler!"
Hearing that Little Jing Kong was going to get beaten by the ruler, the little boy smiled triumphantly.
Just then, a slender figure arrived.
Although he stood on crutches, he was like the green pines and verdant cypresses in the wind and snow, exuding an awe-inspiring and powerful aura.
Everyone momentarily paused, first because of his aura, and second, because of his appearance.
This guy looked just like...
Director Zheng was very shocked when he first met Xiao Liulang too, but he was used to it now.
There were many people who looked like each other in the world. Moreover, he looked into his background, investigating even his eight generations of ancestors. This guy was just a peasant from some county town, and was still being dragged down by having a family to feed!
He simply had nothing to do with the Little Marquis of Zhao!
Xiao Liulang spoke lightly, "Who is Director Zheng going to punish with the ruler?"
Director Zheng furrowed his brows.
He didn’t like Xiao Liulang, though An Junw.a.n.g had his eye on him. He said impatiently, "Mind your own business!"
"Brother-in-law." Little Jing Kong didn"t feel aggrieved at first, but as soon as he saw Xiao Liulang, he suddenly felt so. He ran over to Xiao Liulang and hugged his thigh, the rim of his eyes red.
Xiao Liulang rubbed his little head, picked him up and held him in his arm. Then his cold eyes swept the crowd.
When his gaze landed on the little boy, his eyes didn"t waver at all. He said, "A country has its laws and a family its rules. In what capacity are you punishing him? If you’re just a student of the Imperial Academy, you are not qualified to have him punished. Why don"t you tell me who you are and whether you’re qualified to punish him?"
The little boy was suddenly mute.
He— he was...
He couldn’t say.
If he did, it would be against the imperial decree.
The little boy faltered in an instant.
Once the highest-ranking person was subdued, his group of servants also didn’t dare to utter a word.
Xiao Liulang then looked coldly at Director Zheng, saying, "He has no respect for teachers, but some people don"t deserve to be respected as a teacher. How can you expect him to respect them?"
Director Zheng choked up, "You!"
Xiao Liulang continued lightly, "Speaking of rules, Director Zheng, your behavior today violates Article 78 of the Imperial Academy"s regulations. Before bringing out the punishment ruler next time, think about who the ruler should fall on first!"
What Article 78 or whatnot?
Even he, the Director of Studies, didn’t remember it. Who did this guy think he was?
The Imperial Academy’s Junior Chief?
He even brought up rules with him!
Being humiliated by a new student in front of an important person, Director Zheng simply couldn’t bear it, "You, come to Minghui Hall for me!"
He was going to properly dampen this guy’s spirit!
Xiao Liulang gave him a fearless look and said, "Minghui Hall is a place only the Chief is qualified to enter. Is the director already the Chief?"
Director Zheng was so enraged that he almost collapsed with his face upwards!
This guy..... Was actually mocking him for being not the real Chief!
Xiao Liulang said, "We still have to go to cla.s.s. Take care, Acting Chief."
The last two words ‘Acting Chief’ were like a sharp blade that stabbed into Director Zheng’s heart.
Director Zheng felt a pain in his chest!
Completely ignoring the other party, Xiao Liulang took Little Jing Kong by the hand and sent Little Jing Kong to his cla.s.sroom.
Little Jing Kong was not a temperamental child. He was all right, except that he was still a little depressed.
"What"s the matter?" Xiao Liulang asked.
Little Jing Kong looked up and asked seriously, "Why don"t they listen to me? Am I too young for them to hear?"
Xiao Liulang didn"t bother to beautify this world. He replied, "It"s not that you’re young, it"s that you’re standing isn’t high enough."
Little Jing Kong pondered for a moment. Just now, he was indeed standing on relatively low flat ground. He said with a humph, "Then I"ll step on a stool next time I speak!"
Xiao Liulang didn"t explain the difference between the two. He patted the little guy on the shoulder and said, "Go in."
Little Jing Kong hesitated.
He took out a small stone from his pocket and whiningly said, "My little stone says it doesn"t want to go to cla.s.s today."
Xiao Liulang ruthlessly confiscated the small stone, saying, "Now it’s not going to attend cla.s.s. You go in."
Little JingKong who tried to play truant: "…"