Chapter 26

Chapter 26: The Renowned Song Shan Academy

“Being her real son is impossible,” Chen Yi Xuan said wistfully, “but becoming her godson wouldn’t be bad.”

Su Yun Ting turned his head. His delicate little face was cool and aloof, and what came out of his mouth was colder still. “My mother already has sons and daughters. Why would she take in a useless godson?”

Chen Yi Xuan nearly snapped back, but then he remembered—Su Yun Ting was the Marchioness’s second son. If things went well, that might become his godbrother someday.

His swagger deflated at once. “I’m not that useless,” he muttered. “My monthly exam scores are higher than your brother’s.”

Su Yun Ting choked on the truth and couldn’t refute it. He snorted and rolled away again.

Surrounded by the crowd, Gu Nan Xi soon arrived at the gate of Song Shan Academy.

Torchlight and moonlight braided together, illuminating a small gate hidden within a bamboo grove.

Above it hung a plaque with four gilded characters: Tai Shi Academy. The brushwork surged like dragons, the strokes twisting with such force it felt as if a distant roar still lingered in the air.

“Lamplight behind paper windows, slender bamboo outside—only the sound of reading.”

Censor Jiang spoke as if moved by the sight. Then he asked, “Marchioness, do you know who wrote that plaque?”

Gu Nan Xi flipped through the original novel in her mind and answered smoothly. “In the second year of Zhi Dao under Emperor Tai Zong, the imperial court bestowed this plaque on Tai Shi Academy and granted printed copies of the Nine Classics and other texts. The plaque was written personally by the crown prince at the time—later Emperor Ren Zong.”

Censor Jiang lifted a brow. Surprise flickered in his eyes, then something like approval. “Correct. Song Shan Academy was founded in Later Zhou during the Five Dynasties. It has stood for a hundred years without falling. Its students fill the court and the realm. In the capital, only the Imperial Academy can truly contend with it.”

Gu Nan Xi understood what he was warning her about.

Back then, Emperor Tai Zong had seized power by force—then turned around and, with a single cup of wine, stripped his commanders of their military authority.

From then on, the court formed an unspoken rule: value civil officials, belittle the military.

Just now, she had pressured the lower-ranking civil officials with momentum and then clashed with Dragon-Martial Grand General Li Ao Tian. In the eyes of the chancellors who sat high above the fray, it was nothing.

After all, Marquis Yong Chang was a military official. Li Ao Tian was a military official too.

If anything, the chancellors would be pleased to see military men turn on each other. They would gladly look the other way at Gu Nan Xi’s actions.

But Song Shan Academy was different.

If she struck Song Shan Academy in the face, she would be striking every civil official in the face.

The commoners who had followed along felt their hearts tighten.

“Song Shan Academy’s standing is unshakable. Just a few days ago they held a lecture—Grand Tutor Tong himself spoke.”

“Grand Tutor Tong is trusted by two generations of sage rulers. His youngest daughter, Noble Consort Tong, is deeply favored by His Majesty. In the harem she’s already pressing the empress.”

“Who would’ve thought Headmaster Wu could even invite Grand Tutor Tong? Last month the Imperial Academy tried to invite him and was politely refused.”

“It was only a scuffle between students. The Marchioness nearly flipped half the capital for Su Xuan Ming. This is the moment to stop—don’t drag the whole Marquis Manor into the mire!”

Su Xuan Ming squeezed to Gu Nan Xi’s side, voice low. “Mother… should we let it go? Wu Fa Tian is the headmaster’s favorite junior. The headmaster treats him even better than his own daughter.”

Li Ming De fidgeted, then forced the words out. “Marchioness, even if the headmaster indulged Li Shao Yan before, if we storm the academy gate like this, he won’t let it end peacefully.”

Chen Yi Xuan nodded so hard he almost shook his own head loose. “Headmaster Wu always looks like he’s smiling, but he holds grudges the longest. Once I accidentally hurt his cat. He tormented me for a whole month. In the end my father paid a thousand taels to settle it.”

Jiang Guang Hai sold out his own father without blinking. “My father once submitted a memorial criticizing Song Shan Academy’s corruption. Grand Tutor Tong scolded him harshly, and afterward he was transferred to Right Censor.”

Censors were divided into Left Censor and Right Censor.

The Left Censor supervised officials and institutions in the capital. The Right Censor inspected local governments and officials in the prefectures and counties.

In name they were equal, but everyone knew the truth—everyone wanted to be Left Censor.

Censor Jiang had been reassigned from Left Censor to Right Censor. In name it was a lateral move; in reality, it was a demotion.

Censor Jiang remained calm, like someone untouched by gain or loss. “My own experience is right in front of you, Marchioness. Do you still intend to charge forward?”

Gu Nan Xi looked at the ring of people behind her. Worry sat openly on their faces.

Young Lord Li’s voice was barely audible. “Marchioness… His Majesty is gentle with officials and values Grand Tutor Tong.”

In other words, Grand Tutor Tong’s influence was at its peak. Whether out of temperament or favoritism, His Majesty rarely confronted him in court.

Gu Nan Xi didn’t answer immediately. She turned to Su Xuan Ming. “Xuan Ming—are you suggesting retreat because you’ve decided to let go of the past and forgive Wu Fa Tian? Or because the situation is forcing you to give up?”

Su Xuan Ming went still.

Let go?

How could he?

Those places that had been kicked and punched seemed to ache again in memory.

But the pain in his body was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. Over ten years, he had grown a proud spine—then in one short year, it had been ground into dust.

Gu Nan Xi saw his eyes redden, mist gathering in them, his fists clenched so tight the knuckles showed white.

She reached up and smoothed his rumpled collar. “How do you repay virtue? Repay hatred with justice, and repay kindness with kindness. You’re following Saint Confucius’s words. What is there to fear?”

Su Xuan Ming looked up, voice catching. “Mother…”

Gu Nan Xi patted his shoulder and turned to Su Yun Ting and Su Yun Yan. “Mother is going to seek justice for your Brother. What do you think?”

Su Yun Ting’s eyes flashed. “We’re children of the Martial World—we settle grudges and repay grievances! If we have a vendetta, we avenge it. If we have a grievance, we settle it!”

Su Yun Yan rolled up her sleeves and looked around for something to swing. “Mother, if a fight breaks out, hide behind me. I’ll protect you!”

Gu Nan Xi laughed, the sound light but steady. “What are you imagining? Mother isn’t that reckless. Remember this: we will never do something stupid like an egg smashing into a rock. But that rock won’t walk away untouched, either.”

She turned and bowed to the people behind her. “Thank you, elders, for your righteous help. The road ahead is full of thorns. Let the four of us—mother and children—go on alone.”

Then she saluted Li Ming De and the other boys. “Heroes have always come from the young. Thank you, young masters, for standing up for us. We’ll part here.”

With that, Gu Nan Xi stepped forward and knocked on Song Shan Academy’s gate.

Su Xuan Ming sniffed and moved to support her.

Su Yun Ting climbed down from the door plank, and with Su Yun Yan helping him, he limped after Gu Nan Xi.

Moonlight filtered through bamboo and laid a cool strip of light over the four of them. In that hush, they looked strangely tragic.