Her hand just hurt a bit.
But it was nothing serious—just a fall. It was probably just a strained tendon, nothing to worry about.
She could just find a doctor to take a look after the matter was settled!
Just then, Ju Yue spoke a few words to Lou Yi and then walked toward him.
Zhang Jinfu couldn’t help but grow wary and snapped, “What do you want? I’m telling you! We barefoot folks aren’t afraid of you fancy-shoed ones!”
“And don’t think you can use your power to force us to submit! This is the Academy! We scholars value integrity the most. The Master said, ‘Wealth and rank cannot corrupt, might and power cannot bend…’”
Ju Yue looked at Zhang Jinfu’s hand with concern and said gently, “Little brother, your arm doesn’t look right. It seems like the bone might be broken. You need to get it treated right away! Otherwise, your hand might be ruined!”
The crowd buzzed.
Someone in the crowd who knew a little said, “I think it looks like a fracture too! Not like an ordinary sprain.”
Zhang Jinfu’s face immediately changed, and he looked at Madam Zhang in panic.
Ju Yue said, “Some matters are more urgent than others. Compensation can be discussed slowly, but your injury can’t be delayed any longer.”
“Little brother, you’ve injured your right hand. If it’s truly ruined, forget about holding a brush or writing essays—you won’t even be able to take care of yourself. Your whole life would be destroyed!”
Only then did Madam Zhang notice that her son’s arm had swollen to a shiny sheen. It really couldn’t be delayed any longer.
Gritting her teeth and stamping her foot, she pulled Bai Hennan over and hastily shoved Zhang Jinfu into his hands.
“Young Master Bai, you’re a good one. Auntie trusts you. Please take my Jinfu to the clinic and find a doctor to check on him!”
Her clever plan was for Bai Hennan to take her son for treatment while she stayed behind to demand money!
No, to reason with the Lou family.
That way, she could have the best of both worlds, with neither side being delayed.
Bai Hennan readily agreed.
But just as he turned to help Zhang Jinfu away, Lou Buqi flashed over like a ghost, blocking the doorway.
He sneered, “Where are you going? No one leaves until this matter is resolved!”
Bai Hennan and Zhang Jinfu were left speechless.
Before they could even protest, someone completely unexpected rushed out.
She forcefully pulled the two of them apart and stood face-to-face with Lou Buqi.
It was Ju Yue!
Ju Yue frowned and said, “Shiziye, how can you be like this! He’s just a child! Can’t you even tolerate a child?”
“Can’t we wait until he’s treated before discussing anything?!”
Lou Buqi flew into a rage immediately. “He slandered my own younger brother! How can I allow him to come and go as he pleases?! Want to go out for treatment? No way!”
At this moment, Ju Yue acted the picture of virtue and kindness.
She grabbed Zhang Jinfu’s arm and dragged him outward. “Look at how badly he’s injured! Can’t you have a little sympathy?!”
Zhang Jinfu was seized by Ju Yue right on his injured spot, the pain nearly making him faint.
He wanted to remind Ju Yue not to grab his injury, but she was bravely confronting Lou Buqi for the sake of getting him medical treatment, and he couldn’t get a word in…
Zhang Jinfu: “My arm…”
Ju Yue fully embraced the role of a caring older sister, speaking to Zhang Jinfu in an incredibly gentle tone: “Be good, don’t speak! Save your strength!”
Zhang Jinfu: “…”
Ju Yue tugged at him again and said to Lou Buqi, “Look at what a good child he is! ‘Wealth and rank cannot corrupt, might and power cannot bend.’ We can’t delay him!”
Lou Buqi's face darkened as he shoved Bai Hennan aside and grabbed Zhang Jinfu's other arm. He yanked it viciously toward himself, grinding his teeth as he said, "If you don't explain clearly, don't even think about leaving!"
Zhang Jinfu was already in pain, and Lou Buqi's harsh tug made him roll his eyes in agony. Ju Yue and Lou Buqi engaged in a tug-of-war, pulling Zhang Jinfu back and forth. "No! Nothing is more important than a child's future. Treat his injuries first!" Ju Yue insisted.
Lou Buqi refused to let go, dragging Zhang Jinfu back toward himself again. They pulled him one way, then the other, neither of them gentle in their movements. Moreover, the two seemed to have gotten addicted to arguing, their quarrel growing fiercer and their actions increasingly ruthless.
Zhang Jinfu was dragged back and forth between them, crying out in pain. Judging by their intensity, it seemed his arm was about to be torn off, and tears and snot streamed down his face. He wanted to call for help, but the two above him were arguing so fiercely that they eventually started fighting, making it impossible for anyone to get close.
Many students scratched their heads at the scene, unsure of what to do. Should they help Zhang Jinfu? But he already had that stunningly beautiful Shizifei assisting him. Yet, if they didn't help, Zhang Jinfu was in a pitiful state. It was too mind-boggling. Someone suggested opening a course to properly explain the correct answer.
Strangely enough, although Lou Buqi and Ju Yue were clearly fighting each other, most of the slaps and blows ended up landing on Zhang Jinfu! After taking over a dozen slaps in quick succession, Zhang Jinfu finally broke down completely: "Stop pulling! Stop hitting! I'll talk! It was me who stole Lou Yi's pomegranate! I was wrong! My hand was injured from my own fall!"
Wailing, he thought, "This is too hard! Please just let me go!"
Ju Yue and Lou Buqi, with their wrists locked, were sparring using the Minor Capture Technique. Hearing Zhang Jinfu's words, they both stopped. Lou Buqi took the opportunity to clasp his wife's small hand and gently massage it. Poor thing, did hitting the brat hurt her?
Madam Zhang stamped her foot in anger. "What nonsense are you spouting? That's not true! Son, speak properly. Did they threaten you?"
Seeing that Lou Buqi and Ju Yue had stopped, Zhang Jinfu saw a glimmer of hope and hurriedly cried out, "Mother, stop talking! It was my own fault! I've been bullying Lou Yi all along! I always took his things! This time, I got angry because he wouldn't give it to me. My hand was injured from my own carelessness. It has nothing to do with Lou Yi!"
Ju Yue and Lou Buqi exchanged a glance, their expressions slowly darkening. "Zhang Jinfu, you said this yourself! You must take responsibility for your words!"
Zhang Jinfu wept bitterly. "I was wrong!" He even pointed to a few classmates in the crowd. "And them! We bullied Lou Yi together!"
In his desperation to escape the two demons before him and get his hand treated as soon as possible, Zhang Jinfu spilled everything.
Ju Yue nodded. "Good that you admitted it!"
All the Masters and students present were in an uproar. So this was the truth of the matter!
Master Bai, who had watched the entire scene, knew public opinion was no longer on their side. He gritted his teeth and shot a hidden glare of anger at Ju Yue. This girl was truly wicked! First, she competed with his daughter for a husband, and now she had married into a noble family, transforming into a Shizifei and trampling his daughter underfoot. It was enough to make anyone's teeth itch with fury!
Actually, with Ju Yue marrying Lou Buqi, Bai Yanling had one less formidable rival. As Bai Yanling's father, Master Bai should have been pleased.
But who could have expected Ju Yue to marry so well?
As the saying goes, my own failure may sadden me, but my opponent's success shatters me even more.
That was exactly Master Bai's state of mind—restless and agitated, unable to find peace.
Unable to hold back, he blurted out, "Shizifei keeps claiming she’s doing this for Zhang Jinfu, but she’s nothing but a hypocrite! She even aggravates Zhang Jinfu’s injuries, clearly intending to cripple him!"
Ju Yue turned a cheerful gaze toward Master Bai, even curling the corners of her lips.
Seeing the slight curve of Ju Yue’s red, delicate lips, which resembled water chestnuts, Lou Buqi knew someone was about to face misfortune.
Whenever this little ancestor sang that jerky, bouncing tune in the carriage, she wore that same devilish expression.
Exactly the same.
He couldn’t help but cast a sympathetic glance at Master Bai.
Why on earth did you have to provoke her?
Even I, a prince’s heir, wouldn’t dare cross her!