Chapter 118: His Backing Keeps Getting Stronger

Master Wang stared wide-eyed at Wang Tao. "You were expelled from Mingyue Academy?"

Wang Tao nodded, feeling perfectly justified. "Wei Shi'an is making a mountain out of a molehill. And that Qian Zusong—he couldn't even handle such a simple matter after taking my money!"

From start to finish, Wang Tao refused to believe he was in the wrong at all; it was always everyone else's fault.

Master Wang and his wife exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of despair. Their greatest hope had been that Wang Tao would never end up in prison, and now, that hope was utterly extinguished.

At this moment, Wang Tao continued, "Father, Mother, when can we leave?"

A flicker of heartache passed through Madam Wang’s eyes, but the second young lady of the Wang family laughed coldly. "Don't dream about it. We aren't getting out."

"Besides, do you think you know why Headmaster Wei expelled you? Do you really think you only offended some country scholar?" She truly was speaking to an idiot.

Madam Wang frowned, looking at her second daughter.

"Hiding it from him is useless. It’s better he accepts reality sooner."

"In his current state, a few floggings will likely be the end of him. He won't even make it to exile."

Wang Tao couldn't help but widen his eyes. "Father, Mother, is what she’s saying true?"

Master Wang sighed helplessly. "We had hoped that Headmaster Wei would show some leniency, considering you were a student of the academy. We never imagined you had already been expelled... What was the name of the person you offended?"

"Li Su. He... could he really have some sort of status?"

Master Wang frowned. If that were the case, the Wang family was destined for this disaster. He had even sent his son to Mingyue Academy, and yet he still managed to stir up trouble. Was it truly their fault for coddling their son too much?

"Father, Mother, you must have a way, right? I don't want to die!" Wang Tao shouted at them.

The couple wished they had a way, but they were all locked in the dungeon. They had no opportunity to see anyone else, no one to turn to for help, and no one willing to save them.

Wang Tao’s inner resolve collapsed; this was beyond his expectations. His eyes lit up as he looked at the second young lady and spoke to Master Wang.

"Father, Second Sister is so beautiful. There are many young noblemen in the capital who fancy her. Why don't you see if there's a way to offer her to them in exchange for them getting us out?"

"If we can't all be saved, just getting me and Second Sister out would be enough!"

"Father, Mother, I am the only son of the Wang family!"

Upon hearing his shameless words, the second young lady stepped forward and slapped Wang Tao across the face. "You ruined our eldest sister, and now you want to ruin me!"

"Don't dream of it. Even if I die, I will drag you down into the abyss with me!"

Master Wang and his wife quickly pulled her away, scolding, "He is your brother! How can you hit him?"

"Brother? He is nothing but a beast!" the second young lady shouted at Wang Tao, her eyes full of resentment.

"The reason the Wang family has fallen to this point is all because he played fast and loose with human lives. The whole family being imprisoned must be because he offended someone with influence." The second young lady remained convinced that this was all caused by Wang Tao.

Of course, the Wang family’s own hands were not exactly clean. In the end, it was all self-inflicted. The other concubines and daughters of the Wang family felt the same way. If anyone in the Wang family was a troublemaker, it was Wang Tao, who acted recklessly whenever his emotions took hold.

He was simply spoiled rotten by his father and mother. Both parents were intelligent people, and the two daughters from the primary wife were sharp as well; no one knew how Wang Tao had turned out the way he did.

Wang Tao didn't care what his second sister called him; he only wanted to get out of this hellhole. "Father, Mother, you surely have a way, don't you?" Wang Tao stared fixedly at them.

They avoided his gaze, their hearts aching, but they were powerless.

The day after arriving at the prison, the floggings began. After receiving his lashes, Wang Tao was left with only a breath of life.

On the road to exile, the rest of the Wang family looked at Wang Tao with nothing but contempt. Even if Master Wang and his wife wanted to protect him, they were powerless to do so. This was the road to exile, not the Wang manor.

Wang Tao didn't last long. His entire body was in agony, and it seemed the guards had hit him harder than the others. After Wang Tao passed away, the Wang family was urged to keep moving, with no time even to bury him. Madam Wang wept bitterly.

Due to infected wounds and the relentless journey, the members of the Wang family died one after another. Ultimately, the one who held on the longest was the second young lady, though she too never reached the place of exile. There were other prisoners besides the Wang family, and the guards did not pause their pace for anyone.

...

When the time agreed upon with the scholars of Tianzhai arrived, Li Su headed to the pavilion, accompanied by Yun Qin and Song Sheng.

The scholars of Tianzhai looked at Yun Qin with great curiosity. Was this the renowned Yun Qin? After some introductions, they sat down to exchange ideas.

The more they discussed, the more shocked the Tianzhai scholars became. Yun Qin was one thing, but the performance of Li Su and Song Sheng was completely beyond their expectations.

Yun Qin and Li Su had learned through their interactions with Song Sheng that he had previously been intentionally hiding his abilities, not wanting to attract attention, which was why he had appeared so mediocre in the Huangzhai of the academy. After learning that Yun Qin and Li Su were going to Tianzhai, Song Sheng had decided, after much deliberation, that he would go as well.

It was Li Su who shocked the Tianzhai scholars the most; everything seemed to come to him with effortless ease. Yet, the exchange was undoubtedly pleasant, and everyone gained something. Li Su acknowledged that the Tianzhai scholars were indeed worthy of their reputation—they were excellent.

After the three left, one of the Tianzhai scholars couldn't help but say, "With Li Su's level of skill, getting into Tianzhai would be effortless. Who was it that said they were going to teach and assist him in getting into Tianzhai?"

The scholar who had first suggested it rubbed his nose in embarrassment. "It was our own arrogance."

"I am already looking forward to them coming to Tianzhai."

"Is intellectual level contagious? I never heard that Scholar Song was this brilliant before today."

"Are you... stupid? How could that be? He probably just didn't like to show off."

...

That evening, Wei Shi'an gave Li Su the jade material he had requested. "Take a look. Are you satisfied with this?"

Li Su took it with both hands and nodded with satisfaction. "Satisfied, extremely satisfied. Headmaster, you are simply amazing!"

The corners of Wei Shi'an's mouth twitched uncontrollably; it was worth the effort he had spent sourcing this piece through various channels.

"You only acknowledge Xi Sheng as your master. Is he really that good to you? He only ever gives you a mountain of tasks!"

Li Su: "..."

"I've changed my mind. I won't be your master, but I don't like being nameless and titleless either."

"So?"

"So, you will acknowledge me as your foster father. As the saying goes, 'a teacher for a day is a father for life,' so I'll just skip to the father part." He felt his status was a notch higher than Xi Sheng's now.

Li Su’s eyes sparkled. The Headmaster was offering to let him cling to his status! How could he refuse such an opportunity?

"Li Su, what do you think?" If Li Su dared to refuse him again, he was going to start throwing punches.

Li Su nodded repeatedly. "It would be my greatest blessing to become the foster son of the Headmaster."

Wei Shi'an nodded, satisfied. "Come, I'll take you to the Wei family ancestral hall."

The Wei family ancestral hall here was much simpler than the one in the capital, but it existed nonetheless.

"I’ve already sent off the 'thousand-mile eye' (telescope); I need to write another letter!" Now that this kid Li Su was his foster son, he had to tell everyone!

Li Su was stunned. "So soon?"

"Not soon at all." Wei Shi'an was eager.

Wei Shi'an didn't care much for convoluted formalities and dragged Li Su toward the ancestral hall. The entire process didn't take much time; Wei Shi'an had only called Madam Wei to serve as a witness. He had prepared everything in advance; this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Li Su knelt on the ground. "Foster Father, Foster Mother, please accept this bow from your child!"

Wei Shi'an was all smiles. "From now on, I am your foster father!" He was no longer a man without a name or a title!

Madam Wei said gently, "Good child, get up."

As Li Su walked back, his lips curled into a smile. His support system was becoming increasingly formidable.

When Li Su returned to his residence, he found the atmosphere in the room strangely subdued.