Lan Yan eyed the scholars with disdain, men who were well-read but engaged in despicable deeds. Seeing no response, she slammed the table again and shouted, "Speak!"
The scholars exchanged glances, unsure what to say. They caught sight of Jun Yelan approaching and asked, "Jun Yelan, control your fiancée. What is she doing?"
Jun Yelan stood beside Lan Yan, his eyes filled with doting affection. He declared dominantly, "My fiancée does nothing but what is right. She is doing the correct thing, unlike some people who only harm others behind their backs."
He cast a fierce gaze over the scholars and snorted. These people had not only harmed him but dared to speak ill of Lan Yan.
The scholars grew even more uncertain, sighing repeatedly. These two were truly birds of a feather.
Lan Yan had no patience. "Hurry up, who led the accusation against Jun Yelan? All of you, stand up!" Every moment delayed meant Jun Yelan was further misunderstood.
Such a display of authority stunned the scholars, and they all rose to their feet, looking at Lan Yan.
Lan Yan's expression turned cold as she asked, "Who is hosting today?"
The other scholars glanced at the person in the middle. This individual had a round face, flat lips, and had once been Lu Xuezi's follower. He hunched his neck and mumbled, "This is my first time."
"Oh, someone who never hosts suddenly does? Either they've become generous or they've come into a fortune," Lan Yan said sarcastically, looking at him. "Tell me, who gave it to you?"
The scholar faltered, then stretched his neck and shouted, "My own money."
Lan Yan raised her hand, and the scholar meekly ceased his disruptions.
"Since I am here, I have full confidence. I'll also tell you, I have a terrible temper, and I'm especially protective of those close to me. You've crossed my line today. If you don't speak, I'll have to resort to other methods."
She balled her fist and made as if to strike the scholar.
The scholar trembled and ran towards Jun Yelan, but Jun Yelan tripped him with his outstretched foot, sending him sprawling onto the ground. "Ouch!"
Jun Yelan looked down at him, his eyes icy.
He took two steps forward and placed his right foot squarely on the scholar's hand on the ground, his voice chilling, "Answer whatever my fiancée says."
The scholar dared not move, enduring the pain on the back of his hand as he cried out, "I'll talk!"
Jun Yelan kept his foot planted, a slight smile playing on his lips as he looked at Lan Yan, his tone impossibly gentle. "You do it."
"Alright," Lan Yan said. She walked over to Jun Yelan, crouched down, and looked at the scholar. "Hurry up, and write a statement as well." She borrowed paper and a brush from the shopkeeper and tossed them to the scholar.
With two people staring at him, the scholar could only pick up the brush, tears in his eyes as he wrote. He confessed to accepting money from the Ming family, not only framing Jun Yelan but also bribing the tutors.
After writing, he looked pitifully at Lan Yan.
"Apply your handprint," Lan Yan commanded loudly, her anger evident as she looked at him. She collected the signed confession and looked at Jun Yelan, smiling. "Let's go, we're off to the next place."
"Okay," Jun Yelan replied to Lan Yan with a demeanor as gentle as a spring breeze. When he turned to the other scholars, however, he was as cold as winter ice.
The other scholars: "..."
Lan Yan and Jun Yelan proceeded to the nearest tutor's house. The tutor was still organizing the gifts on his desk.
Upon seeing them, the tutor froze. "Why are you here?"
"Tutor, so you are this kind of person after all," Lan Yan said with a cold sneer. "You were so self-righteous before, dealing with Jun Yelan according to the academy's rules. Now it's your turn, and I wonder how you will be dealt with."
The tutor was startled, and the gifts in his hands fell to the ground.
Early the next morning, Lan Yan arrived at the academy, holding two confessions and two witnesses.
She looked at the other scholars and tutors who were arriving one by one and announced, "Everyone, my fiancé has suffered an unjust accusation. I am here today to seek justice for him."
Tutor Du also arrived. He stepped forward, examined the confessions, and looked at the other tutors with nothing but disappointment. He lamented with frustration, "What have you all done! As tutors of the academy, you are utterly shameless."
He flicked his sleeve and distanced himself from the three tutors, then turned to the scholars. "Everyone, as a tutor of this academy, I will speak a word of fairness here."
"Regarding this matter of Jun Yelan, it is all baseless fabrication. I am his tutor and I know him best. He possesses talent and is willing to work hard, which is why he has achieved what he has in such a short time."
"As for these individuals who have been caught, they only know how to be jealous of others and not reflect on themselves. They are not worthy of being in the academy!"
The brought-in witnesses lowered their heads, finding the situation too humiliating.
In the end, those who participated in the framing were taken away, the other scholars continued their studies, and the tutors resumed teaching.
Only Tutor Du remained. He looked at Jun Yelan and sighed, "You were wronged in this matter. Now that it has been cleared up, you may return to your classes."
"Thank you, Tutor Du," Jun Yelan said with a bow, then looked at Lan Yan.
Lan Yan's lips curved upwards; she was genuinely happy for him.
However, at that moment, a commotion erupted at the entrance. Ming You, his face bandaged, was being supported by a servant as he approached. The visible eye glared ferociously at Jun Yelan.
He had invested so much, losing the support of Lu Xuezi and others, and his wealth, yet Jun Yelan remained unscathed. Fortunately, he had a backup plan.
"Everyone, even if this matter concerning Jun Yelan is false, he is still not worthy of being in the academy," he said, pointing at Jun Yelan with a triumphant air. "His birth mother was a woman from the pleasure quarters, and he grew up in a brothel."
Upon hearing this, the surrounding crowd gasped with surprise and began to discuss, "Heavens, he's from the pleasure quarters! That place is not clean."
"How can someone like that attend the academy and associate with us!"
"No wonder he has such a hostile aura; it's because he was born in such a place." More and more people looked at Jun Yelan with disgust, distancing themselves from him.
Jun Yelan clenched his fist, his eyes filled with hatred.
Seeing this, Lan Yan's face fell with sorrow. She murmured, "Jun Yelan."
She knew the pain of having a raw wound exposed in public. She pulled at Jun Yelan's sleeve and said with concern, "Jun Yelan, they are just jealous of you, that's why they say this. You are not like that."
After speaking, she shielded Jun Yelan and looked at those gossiping, saying with a mock smile, "What right do you have to pass judgment here? You are merely luckier at birth than Jun Yelan, but are you as smart as Jun Yelan? Are you as capable as Jun Yelan!"
The people who had spoken moments before were rendered speechless, finding her words surprisingly reasonable. Jun Yelan had only been at the academy for a few months and had already surpassed them.
Lan Yan pushed past these people and pointed angrily at Ming You, who was at the front, "Especially you, you have the least right."