TNIBFT -Chapter 123 The Protagonist Temporarily Steps Aside

Shen Jie lay on the ground, stunned.

They weren’t even participating in the assessment—why were Ye Tian and Tao Ling’er here so early?

He didn’t believe it!

Shen Jie’s gaze turned toward Tao Ling’er. Seeing her look at him with disgust, her body nearly pressed against Ye Tian, he lowered his head and sneered coldly. Slowly, he got to his feet, his expression indifferent as he looked at Tao Ling’er.

“Ling’er, I’ll give you one last chance. Just come over, and we can go back to how things were.”

“This official selection, I’ll definitely pass it, and I’ll repay you and Master.”

“Repay? Repay how—by letting me steal from my father to support you, or by selling me off to someone else?” Tao Ling’er sneered, questioning him sharply.

The expressions of those around them changed.

Even Jiang Yunxi looked shocked, turning to glance at Shen Jie.

Shen Jie said, “You’ve been completely fooled by Ye Tian.”

He shook his head, seemingly unwilling to say more. The people around exchanged strange glances, looking at Ye Tian, then at Shen Jie.

Since Tao Ling’er was so ungrateful, there was no need for him to cling to past feelings. Shen Jie turned and noticed a few city guards near the examination hall rushing over with clubs. Calmly, he waved and said, “Sir, someone is assaulting a student and causing trouble here.”

The crowd grew thicker.

Shen Jie looked at Ye Tian with a malicious glee, eager to see how Ye Tian would be disqualified and beaten.

As the guards charged over, people whispered among themselves and quickly made a path through the middle.

“Who’s causing trouble?”

The lead guard barked, his cold gaze sweeping across the crowd.

Immediately, everyone fell silent.

Shen Jie covered his face with one hand, watching the scene unfold like a spectator.

Ye Tian glanced at Shen Jie, stepped forward, and addressed the guards: “Me!”

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant.

These guards had seen the world. The lead guard’s eyes swept over Ye Tian, appraising him up and down, his demeanor softening slightly. “Who are you?”

“I’m Ye Tian, owner of Guodi Hotpot!”

Hotpot?

Ye Tian—the man whose scandal with Miss Xiao was known throughout the city?

The man whom the city lord had personally gifted a shop on Zhuque Street?

Seeing Ye Tian in person, the lead guard immediately smiled, his attitude respectful. “What happened here? Someone must have offended you without thinking, right?”

He even shot a cold glance at Shen Jie.

Something was off about this attitude!

Shen Jie was speechless. He hurried forward, clasping his hands in a formal gesture. “Sir, Ye Tian is defying city regulations, publicly assaulting me. Even if you want to protect him, I doubt Master Jiang would agree.”

Jiang Yunxi immediately stepped forward, supporting Shen Jie.

The lead guard looked troubled.

He couldn’t afford to offend either side. Seeing the stalemate, the usually timid Tao Ling’er stood beside Ye Tian. “Shen Jie spoke disrespectfully to me. If he doesn’t give me an explanation today, Lord Zhao Kang surely won’t allow it.”

Zhao Kang?

The lead guard’s face changed instantly.

Zhao Kang was one of the key officials overseeing the official selection in Sifang City. More importantly, Zhao Kang wasn’t even a city official—he was a court-appointed civil official sent to supervise the city lord. Not only could these small fry not defy him, even the city lord had to consider Zhao Kang’s opinion.

The guards were caught in a dilemma.

The crowd craned their necks, surrounding the few of them in the center.

Shen Jie shook his head, disappointment in his eyes as he looked at Tao Ling’er. “Why do you have to act like this? I was only concerned about you and Master. Even if Lord Zhao Kang understands the people’s hearts, you can’t just bring him up as your backup.”

“Ling’er, I truly didn’t expect that after just a few days of contact with Ye Tian, you would become like this. I’m so disappointed.”

The mansion guards exchanged glances and several of them visibly relaxed.

Since they didn’t know Lord Zhao Kang, handling this matter became easy. Neither side would be offended; a light approach would suffice, and the matter could be considered settled.

Seeing Shen Jie acting like a petty man who had just risen to power, Ye Tian was speechless and was about to say something.

Then, a youthful voice rang out from the crowd: “Lord Zhao, Sister Ling’er is over here.”

“Right here!”

Ye Tian turned and saw a middle-aged man wearing a jade crown, followed by a few attendants walking toward them, with Ye Yunting by his side.

Could this be Zhao Kang, the supporting character mentioned in the book?

Ye Tian appraised him from head to toe: wearing a jade crown, exuding elegance, his attire matched his current status. This had to be him.

In the original book, Zhao Kang only appeared after Shen Jie took over Sifang City and became its lord, so it was unexpected for him to show up now.

“Lord Zhao!”

Tao Ling’er gave a slight bow. Zhao Kang immediately stepped forward to support her, then turned to the guards and spoke sternly: “Ling’er is the daughter of my honored teacher and a descendant of the Saint Duke. How dare you show disrespect?”

“Honored teacher? Saint Duke?”

Shen Jie’s eyes widened in shock. He stared at Tao Ling’er, utterly stunned, not knowing what to say.

Tao Lichun was just a rural schoolteacher. When did he get connected to a big figure like Zhao Kang, and even get called the Saint Duke?

The guards bent their heads, nodding repeatedly, not daring to raise them.

Zhao Kang then looked Ye Tian over and smiled: “You must be Brother Ye? The father of Junior Brother Yunting?”

Ye Tian glanced at his eldest son.

His eldest looked calm, serious as ever. Ye Tian smiled: “Yes, I’m Yunting’s father. Although… your way of addressing me seems a bit confusing.”

Zhao Kang chuckled.

By the time they arrived, Ye Yunting had already briefly explained what had happened. Zhao Kang glanced at Shen Jie and coldly said: “Shen Jie is a man with a corrupt heart. Such a person in office would bring disaster to the people. His qualification for the official selection is hereby revoked.”

Boom!

At these words, Shen Jie’s legs went weak, and he almost fell face-first to the ground.

Beside him, Jiang Yunxi saw Shen Jie’s pitiful expression and stepped forward indignantly: “Lord Zhao, you can’t do this. You can’t believe just one side of the story. Ye Tian acted first—if anyone’s to be punished, shouldn’t it be Ye Tian’s qualification revoked?”

“Ye Tian?”

Zhao Kang stood with his hands behind his back, radiating authority. His gaze shifted to Ye Tian, and he said lightly: “Ye Tian didn’t participate in this selection. How could there be any talk of revoking his qualification?”

Shen Jie was dumbfounded.

Jiang Yunxi was incredulous. She wanted to argue further, convinced that Shen Jie was a noble figure: handsome, principled, ambitious, magnanimous, enduring hardships without giving up. “But—”

Before she could finish, Zhao Kang frowned in displeasure and waved his hand to interrupt: “I am an imperial censor personally appointed by the Son of Heaven. Who are you to argue with me?”

“I may not dispute with you because of your youth, but that does not give you the right to challenge the dignity of the Son of Heaven.”

Jiang Yunxi blushed and bit her lip, falling silent.

It was over!

Everything was over!

Shen Jie was in a daze. He had pinned all his hopes on the official selection. He never expected Ye Tian to ruin his chance. What could he do now?

Offend Zhao Kang? He could no longer be recognized by Xiao Haoyang. What else could he possibly do?

“Ling’er!”

Yes, Tao Ling’er!

Thinking of Tao Ling’er, Shen Jie clutched at her like grabbing the last straw. Overcome with emotion, he rushed forward to grab her hand—but Ye Tian kicked him aside.

“Ling’er, I was wrong! Please, you and Master give me another chance…”