Although the yamen enforcers had left, everyone was still on tenterhooks. After all, those that left were merely officials and there was still a prince here.
They held their breaths and didn't dare to move a muscle, fearing that overly loud breathing or exaggerated movements would incite the displeasure of this price. What if they lost their heads over that?
Jing Rong thought to himself, hey, am I really that frightening?
Lin Shu's knees buckled and he slid to the floor, bloodless lips quivering in fear. "Prince? You...you're a prince?"
Jing Rong gave him a look. "Do I not look like one?"
"No…" He stammered and kneeled. "I'm the one who is blind and couldn't see that you are a prince. Your Highness, please forgive me for my disrespectful actions towards you!"
Where did all his arrogance and bluster go? Wasn't he uncompromisingly stubborn? It seems he finally knew the meaning of fear!
Jing Rong didn't make things difficult for him. "If everyone acted like you, kneeling and begging for forgiveness over every little thing, wouldn't this prince be tired to death? Lin Shu, this prince has said that if the slightest scrap of evidence was found to prove that you were the murderer, I would skin you alive. However, what Teacher Ji found was evidence that absolved you of blame. In that case, this prince would naturally not let others malign you and drag you into prison to force a confession. This prince would not ignore those in need of help."
"Many thanks to Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness and Teacher Ji! I will remember this favour!"
"Lin Shu, you better understand that this prince only helped you because the evidence proved that you are innocent. However, this doesn't mean that your past actions would be forgotten just like this."
A reminder!
"Yes, it was my fault! I won't deny or deflect it, and submit to your punishment. After this, I will definitely change my bad habits." Full of sincerity. His eyes gleamed with tears.
Jing Rong let him remain kneeling and looked towards Ji Yunshu. "What do you think?"
Eh?
With how sudden that question came, she was still holding that skull, unable to react.
However poor her impression of Lin Shu was, her heart softened at the sight of the boy kneeling on the ground, covered in wounds. She pursed her lips for a while before replying Jing Rong. "He certainly was in the wrong; his actions were brash and impulsive, and his character unyieldingly arrogant and stubborn. However, just as Teacher Yu said, his base nature is not bad and is highly intelligent. With proper instruction, he would be able to mend his flaws and make up for his shortcomings. Furthermore, everyone has their foolish moments where they need to correct their course and go back to the right path."
Jing Rong understood what she meant. "You're not pursuing it?"
She nodded.
"In that case, it's fine." He waved his hand in Lin Shu's direction. "Alright, get up now. Don't keep kneeling. You're already covered in wounds — let that be your lesson. After this, you better remember this lesson well."
"Th...thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Teacher Ji!" Two of his classmates quickly helped him up.
Jing Rong looked at Ji Yunshu out of the corner of his eyes. In complete disregard of everyone else, he tugged her behind him as they left.
The crowd left behind were both shocked and troubled; they were shocked that a prince was actually staying in the academy, and troubled about why a prince would appear here. Even stranger was...
Why would a prince listen to what that Teacher Ji said? Could this person be an even more impressive personage than a prince?
The crowd could only keep their puzzlement to themselves.
News of this incident quickly travelled to Teacher Yu. He was filled with a complicated knot of emotions. After he got up from the bed, he sat on the chair wordlessly with his head hung low, hands resting on his knees. Motionless.
Xiao Tong tiptoed into the room to deliver the evening dose of his medicine. He put the bowl down on the low table and prepared to leave, but on second thought, decided to ask a question. "Teacher, now that this incident has been resolved and Guo He's remains are still laid out in the back courtyard. I wonder… how should we deal with it?"
No answer.
"Teacher?"
Shit, don't tell me he's dead? This terrifying thought leapt out in Xiao Tong's mind. His heart started beating faster.
He shuffled forward and called out softly right next to Teacher Yu's ear. "Teacher?"
There was still no answer.
Xiao Tong then stretched out a hand and tugged on Teacher Yu's sleeve.
At the moment he pinched that piece of cloth, Teacher Yu suddenly swept his sleeve to the side in a wide arc, lifted his head and intoned, "I'm not dead yet." [1]
"..." Xiao Tong was so startled he fell on the ground. The corner of his mouth twitched as his words were all stuck in his throat, with nothing escaping except for a few guttural utterances.
He could only stare as Teacher Yu obediently lifted that bowl of medicine and slowly gulp it down, then set the empty bowl aside. "You can go."
Xiao Tong gathered his scattered wits and stood up. He blankly took the bowl in his hand and scrambled out of the room as if he had seen a ghost.
However, just as he reached the door, he bumped into someone.
"Ah!" Xiao Tong screamed, terrified out of his wits.
When he lifted his head and saw Jing Rong standing in front of him, he lifted his sleeve to dab at the perspiration that had collected on his forehead. "Oh, it's Your Highness."
Jing Rong wrinkled his brows. "Would it be a ghost instead?"
"N...no."
"Go bring a chess set over."
"Eh?"
"Do you not understand human speech?"
"N...no, I'll get right to it!" Xiao Tong shook his head so hard his two cheeks wobbled and scuttled away as if he had really seen a ghost.
Jing Rong looked at himself and didn't find anything amiss. Shaking his head in puzzlement, he stepped into the room.
Upon seeing him enter, Teacher Yu was prepared to rise from his seat to bow.
"There are no outsiders here." Jing Rong dissuaded him from greeting him and sat opposite Teacher Yu as he spoke. "Is Teacher Yu feeling better? I'll have Mo Ruo take a look at you later." He asked in a concerned tone.
"There's no need to trouble that Young Master Mo. I've already been too much of a burden on Your Highness and Teacher Ji these couple of days."
"No trouble at all. Frankly, even if it didn't happen these few days, it would have happened sooner or later. It's better to settle such things as early as possible. Teacher should also not grieve too much; one's lifespan is governed only by fate and cannot be blamed on others." Jing Rong consoled Teacher Yu.
Teacher Yu nodded and sighed. "Only the heavens can decide. Those that should stay, would stay; those that should leave, would leave."
These words sounded as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders, but Guo He's death still weighed on his elderly heart — it was fated to be the greatest regret of the remainder of his life.
At this moment, Xiao Tong came back in with a pot of tea and a chess set. He poured two cups of tea and placed it within reach of the two people, then set up the chessboard. As he worked, Teacher Yu instructed him, "Pass down my word to cremate Guo He's remains, then place his ashes in the Confucian Hall."
"Eh?" Xiao Tong was trouble. "Teacher, those commemorated in the Confucian Hall are all…" Sage Teachers and Ancestors!
He was cut off.
"Just do as I say. No need to quibble."
Alright, alright. So long as you're happy. "Yes, I'll get to it." Xiao Tong agreed and hurried out.
Teacher Yu looked at the neatly-arranged chessboard in front of them. "Your Highness, this is…?"
"I've long heard that Teacher's skill in chess is superb. This prince would like to have a few rounds to get some pointers from Teacher. As people say, chess is three parts skill, seven parts focus. Take it as this prince helping Teacher Yu pass the time."
"Alright." He agreed.
Teacher Yu played white, while Jing Rong played black.
They played for three rounds in a row; Teacher Yu won every one of them.
[1] Version Aru: "Oh no, is teacher ded? NOOOOO TEACHERRRR YOU HAVE LEFT US TOO SOOOOON!" *flaps sleeve in annoyance* "...I'm not dead you nitwit."