Ju Yue stood tall and straight, slightly raising her neck like a proud swan.
She declared clearly, "When parents entrust their students to your Academy for education, the Academy forms a contractual relationship with the students! It bears the responsibility to protect and supervise each student!"
"The bullying Lou Yi suffered was due to your Academy's negligence in management! Our Prince Su's Manor will hold you accountable!"
"Student Zhang Jinfu's injury was partly his own fault, but another part was due to your Academy's poor management!"
"Zhang Jinfu's parents should seek compensation for medical expenses from you! They should not come to our Prince Su's Manor!"
These words made Master Bai and the principal break out in cold sweat, constantly wiping their brows with their sleeves.
Meanwhile, Madam Zhang, who had been worried about not being able to extort money, brightened up upon hearing this.
She turned her head sharply, her gaze as sharp as a steel knife fixing on Master Bai.
Seeing Master Bai's face, which was as charming as a carriage seat, she estimated there wasn't much to gain and then eagerly looked toward Principal Shen.
Principal Shen shuddered involuntarily.
He felt a helpless sensation, as if watching a mountain bearing down on him with no way to escape.
He couldn't help but regret deeply.
If he had known Prince Su's Manor would be so difficult to deal with, he wouldn't have tried to gloss things over!
Now, not only had he failed to smooth things over, but he had also offended Prince Su's Manor and couldn't shake off the shrew!
How bitter!
With no other choice, he could only brace himself and step forward to apologize to Lou Buqi:
"Shiziye, please forgive me. It was my foolishness for not investigating the truth and wrongly accusing your younger brother. I am deeply ashamed."
Lou Buqi wore a faint, ambiguous smile and didn't want to say a word to him.
Ju Yue said, "Principal, you've apologized to the wrong person."
The principal had no choice but to turn to Lou Yi.
He bowed deeply and apologized to Lou Yi.
Seeing an elder bow to him, Lou Yi flushed red and instinctively reached out to Principal Shen, wanting to help him up.
Ju Yue tugged at his sleeve.
Lou Yi pursed his lips, slowly withdrew his hand, clenched it tightly inside his sleeve.
Something in his heart softly "snapped" and broke free.
It was as if an invisible restraint had been released.
His heart began to beat slowly, growing faster and more joyful.
Ju Yue looked at Lou Yi, lost in thought.
Given Lou Yi's status and position, he should actually be studying at home, taught by renowned masters and great scholars.
She guessed that Lou Yi had come to study at this mixed-quality First Academy probably out of Prince Su and Princess Su's good intentions.
Thinking their son had a detached personality and should interact more with peers, they had sent him here.
Lou Yi knew his parents meant well, so even when he suffered grievances at the Academy, he never spoke up.
Over time, it had come to this.
Thus, it seemed collective learning wasn't suitable for Lou Yi.
But how to arrange Lou Yi's future studies specifically would have to be discussed by the Lou family themselves; it wasn't something she, as a newly married daughter-in-law, could comment on.
What she could help with was building Lou Yi's confidence.
Telling him that not everything was insurmountable, that he could live according to his own wishes and no longer had to yield to anyone!
"Since Principal Shen knows he was wrong, he should quickly come up with a resolution! Only then can Shiziye and I return and give an account to the Prince and Princess!"
The principal's back was drenched in another layer of sweat.
Three years.
Lou Yi had studied at First Academy for three years, and everyone from Prince Su's Manor had always treated the Academy with respect, never putting on airs of nobility.
This incident made all the teachers and students of the Academy, including Principal Shen himself, develop the illusion that Prince Su's Manor could be easily manipulated by anyone.
Take today's matter, for example.
Seeing how fierce and difficult Zhang Jinfu's mother was, he had sided with the Zhang family, intending to sacrifice Lou Yi's rights to resolve the incident as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, Lou Buqi and Ju Yue had snapped him out of it.
It wasn't too late, it wasn't too late…
Principal Shen bowed and scraped before Lou Buqi and the others, then turned to Zhang Jinfu, Bai Hennan, and the rest with a completely different expression.
He announced the punishment for Zhang Jinfu: "After investigation, it has been confirmed that Zhang Jinfu bullied his classmates. His conduct is corrupt and severely violates the rules and discipline of First Academy!"
"As the principal, I have decided to expel Zhang Jinfu, remove him from the Academy, and permanently bar him from re-enrollment!"
Thunderous applause erupted on the scene.
The students who had just been cheering for Zhang Jinfu now turned against him, spitting in the direction of Zhang Jinfu and Madam Zhang.
"Bah! Serves you right!"
"Exactly! One bad apple spoils the whole barrel! It's people like these who ruin our Academy's reputation."
Ju Yue coldly reminded Principal Shen: "Before expelling him, make him write a statement of the incident to be kept on file for future reference."
What else could Principal Shen say?
His mind was completely blank; how could he have thought of keeping records for future reference?!
Only after Ju Yue's reminder did he recall that this was indeed the proper procedure!
He also needed to find a few students who had witnessed the incident to serve as witnesses, preventing the Zhang family from causing trouble again in the future.
Principal Shen thought of Madam Zhang's fierce temper. If Zhang Jinfu didn't leave behind evidence today, and Madam Zhang returned later with others to stir up trouble, it would lead to endless disputes.
The more he thought about it, the more fearful he became. Wiping his sweat, he repeatedly agreed: "Yes, yes, yes!"
Seeing the situation turning against him, Bai Hennan quietly tried to blend into the crowd of students, only to be pushed back by the angry students and shoved into the center of the office.
Principal Shen looked at Bai Hennan and Master Bai, their faces as identical as two sides of a carriage seat.
He snorted coldly: "Bai Hennan incited his classmates to commit wrongdoing, which is even more egregious! Master Bai, knowing full well that his son was at fault, not only failed to educate and correct him but instead indulged his son's harmful behavior."
"Such conduct is worse than that of beasts and is utterly unworthy of a teacher. Today, I expel both of them to uphold the Academy's integrity!"
"As for Madam Zhang's claim for compensation…"
Principal Shen gritted his teeth: "Madam Zhang, your son himself admitted that his injuries were caused by accidentally falling while bullying his classmates. It has nothing to do with anyone else, and even less to do with the Academy."
"The Academy will not bear Zhang Jinfu's medical expenses. On the contrary, we reserve the right to hold you and your son accountable!"
This decision truly embodied the principle that evil deeds bring retribution, and everyone—students and teachers alike—applauded with joy.
Principal Shen wiped his sweat and subtly straightened his posture.
It seemed… upholding justice and righteousness wasn't so difficult after all.
He really should reflect on himself—whether he had been blinded by fame and fortune, forgetting his original intentions.
Several other students who had aided and abetted the wrongdoing were also expelled.
Where was the arrogance and smugness Bai Hennan and Master Bai had shown earlier?
They both slumped to the ground, unable to move.
With the guilty duly punished, the matter was brought to a close.
However, classes couldn't proceed for the rest of the day, so Lou Buqi simply took Lou Yi home.
On the way back, the rocking of the carriage made Lou Buqi drowsy again.
This time, he had learned his lesson. He didn't dare provoke Ju Yue, much less use her as a pillow.
Quietly, he took a soft pillow and lay down on the carriage bench opposite Ju Yue.
She deliberately struck a pose, presenting her most flattering angle for Ju Yue to see.