Upon seeing the cut, Teacher Yu was stunned. "What is this…?"
Lin Shu answered, "It's their fault. They did this to me." At this moment, Teacher Yu was still dazed, not understanding what was happening.
Teacher Yu was not alone. Just like him, Mo Ruo and Tang Si, who had been accused, were equally confused. We're trying to kill him? That allegation is completely groundless! It's apparent that we're being maligned!
Teacher Yu reprimanded, "You're being rude, Lin Shu."
"I swear that I'm not lying. Teacher, you can verify with Yuansheng if you don't believe me."
Fu Yuansheng nodded earnestly. "Teacher, Lin Shu is speaking the truth. Their guards were the ones who barged into Lin Shu's room, pinned him on the table and cut his arm. They took a full bottle of his blood before they fled the scene. Evidently, they were trying to take his life," Fu Yuansheng was quick to back Lin Shu up.
They took a bottle of Lin Shu's blood? How interesting! Just by listening to his rant, Mo Ruo could make a good guess what had actually happened. He chuckled.
Teacher Yu was rather distressed at the cut on Lin Shu's arm. However, how could he dare to question the actions of Jing Rong's people. Everything happens for a reason. They wouldn't attack Lin Shu purposelessly. Teacher Yu shifted his gaze to look at Mo Ruo, hoping for an answer. However, Mo Ruo merely shook his head, expressing that he was unaware.
Instead, he asked Lin Shu, "Young Master Lin, Miss Tang was punished for lashing you. She has spent her entire night kneeling in the memorial hall. For the snake bite you're talking about now, I reckon you know the whole situation better than anyone else. Besides, you claimed that someone broke into your room and cut your arm to fetch a bottle of blood. But if they had planned a fatal attack to kill you, then… how do I put this? Your injury looks rather minor, not one that will cause death. You don't even have to dress your wound as it will heal in no time." What casual remarks!
Lin Shu defended furiously, "It's easy for you to say. Do I have to break my arm before it's considered serious? Ever since this bunch arrived, the whole academy has been in turmoil. I'm in this terrible state now all thanks to you. How dare you speak as if you're in the right and denying all responsibility? As Confucious once said, barbarians would never know to differentiate between right and wrong." By this time, he had raised his voice significantly and was almost shouting the last sentence.
As he finished his sentence, a loud slap resonated across the room. The back of his head was smacked mercilessly. He cried in pain as he massaged the back of his head. Then, he turned and saw Tang Si overlooking him with one of her hands resting on her waist.
Pointing at him, she scolded, "You're so shameless. How can you blame us for the snake bite? It is obviously something done by yourself; your plan for revenge failed, causing you to be bitten by the snake. Besides, I think I was being too merciful yesterday. My lashes should have been more ruthless so that I could break your legs. You claimed that someone cut your arm and took your blood. I am thankful for these heroes who were restoring justice. However, they should have cut off your hands and let the blood slowly drip until none was left." Tang Si imagined the graphic scene as she spoke, feeling thoroughly satisfied.
Lin Shu stood up angrily and shouted at her, "Don't think you're so great just because you know martial arts."
"I'll do as I wish. What can you do? If you have the audacity to offend me again, I'll cut off your tongue and deep fry it with boiling oil, so that you can never speak in your life again."
"The heavens are watching. You'll receive your just desserts sooner or later."
"You…" The words died in Tang Si's throat when she was interrupted by someone at the door.
"I think you'll be the one to receive your just desserts first." It was Jing Rong who was speaking. Upon hearing his voice, everyone in the room turned to see Ji Yunshu and Jing Rong entered the room with a solemn expression.
They cupped their hands and bowed at Teacher Yu, not forgetting their manners even at this moment.
Puzzled, Teacher Yu asked, "Young Master Jing, what do you mean?"
Jing Rong's gaze landed on Lin Shu as he put on a disdainful yet faint smile, "Mingshan Academy has always been a lucky place that nourishes many talented young men. Your students secured two out of the top three places during the national examination that is held once every three years. Yet, I am surprised to hear about one drama after another in this academy. And now, I'm fortunate enough to witness one myself."
Lin Shu knew that Jing Rong was speaking to him. He was guilty and fearful as he could grasp the meaning of Jing Rong's meandering statement. He staggered backwards while he pursed his lips and remained silent.
Jing Rong asked, "Lin Shu, didn't you say confidently that the heavens are watching? I agree with you."
"What… what do you mean?" He stammered.
"I'm complimenting Teacher Yu for nurturing a good student like you." That was a rather weird statement!
Teacher Yu had always thought he had good comprehension. Yet, he failed to understand Jing Rong's words. He replied, "Young Master Jing is saying that…"
Teacher Yu was rudely interrupted as Jing Rong said, "Teacher, I'm talking about Guo He's murder." Agitated, Teacher Yu's widened his eyes as he asked, "You've found the murderer? Who is it?"
I'm not telling you, I'll let you hang in suspense for a little.
Ji Yunshu walked forward. Just like Jing Rong, her gaze landed on the trembling Lin Shu. Eventually, her red lips parted and she spoke, "You're the murderer!"
What!?
Emotionlessly, she said it in an indifferent and unvarying tone. Within a few seconds, the entire place was swamped with complete silence. Lin Shu's eyes widened in fear. Disregarding his injuries, he swung his sleeve fiercely and denied loudly, "Don't malign me. I have never killed anyone."
"We have evidence to prove your guilt."
"Fine. Show me the proof."
Calmly, Ji Yunshu placed the chestnut bead on her palm and handed it to Lin Shu, "This belongs to you, right?"
Upon seeing the bead, Lin Shu instinctively hid his hands behind his body as he pressed his lips together. However, his inconspicuous act was caught by Ji Yunshu. "You don't have to hide your bracelet. This chestnut bead came from the bracelet on your wrist."
"No, it's not."
"Then, show us your hands."
With his wavering gaze, Lin Shu answered assertively, "Must a chestnut bead be mine? Anyone can own a chestnut bead. How can you be so positive that it's mine?" He was still trying to defend himself.
Ji Yunshu was used to seeing this behaviour. No criminal would actively surrender themselves.
Ji Yunshu put on a faint smile and spoke with clear confidence. "You're right. Many people own chestnut beads. However, you're the only one in the entire academy to own an Eastern Chestnut bracelet. Usually, a complete set of Eastern Chestnut bracelet consists of twenty-two beads. I reckon that the one on your wrist only has twenty-one. And the missing one is coincidentally the one in my hand right now, the one that I retrieved from the bottom of a wine bottle. So, whose wine bottle was that? And, how did your chestnut bead end up in the bottle? This normally wouldn't seem to be able to prove your involvement in Guo He's death. However, I found the blood of two different persons, namely Guo He and you, on the wine bottle. That means you were present when Guo He died. Possibly, you were involved in a fight at the back of the mountain; during the quarrel, your chestnut bead was broken by the wine bottle in Guo He's hand and the beads were scattered all over the place. In the meantime, your hand was cut and your blood stained the wine bottle. After the incident, you threw the bottle together with his body into the well."
A flawless story! It was so silent you could hear a pin drop.