TNIBFT -Chapter 124 Feeling a Little Upset?

Shen Jie refused to give up, using both hands and feet to climb up from the ground. He grabbed Tao Ling’er’s skirt and said, “Ling’er, right now, you’re the only one who can help me.”

“I don’t believe you’d be so cruel to me. We’ve been childhood sweethearts. You said you’d always stand by me, always support me.”

Shen Jie lunged forward, looking almost insane.

Jiang Yunxi’s eyes widened, frozen in place.

She stared at Shen Jie in shock. At this moment, he was like a completely different person from the usual Brother Shen. The usually refined and charming young master now resembled a madman.

Seeing Tao Ling’er’s eyes filled with disgust, remaining unmoved, Shen Jie cried out desperately, “It’s my fault!”

“I shouldn’t have tricked you into meeting Xiao Tianyi, but Ling’er, I really had no choice. You’ll never understand what I’ve been going through. You’re the most important person to me. Do you think I don’t feel pain watching you being bullied by Xiao Tianyi?”

Shen Jie was filled with indignation, his emotions frenzied like a mad dog.

Even a dog would shake its head at this excuse.

Ye Tian rolled his eyes and looked at the nearby palace guards: “What are you standing there for?”

“Didn’t you see someone disturbing the order?”

Huh?

Ahhhh!

The guards had been watching the drama unfold, but when they heard Ye Tian’s words, they snapped out of it and hurriedly moved forward to drag Shen Jie away.

Master Tao Sheng?

The mentor of Zhao Kang—Zhao Kang, the top-ranking minister of the entire Daliang, the backbone of the state. Shen Jie couldn’t accept it. He shouted wildly, “I want to see Master! Master is kind-hearted, he wouldn’t treat me like this!”

“Ling’er, listen to me, I have my reasons…”

Seeing Shen Jie being dragged away, Jiang Yunxi followed a few steps behind the guards, her mind buzzing. What Shen Jie had done in the past seemed very different from what he was now claiming.

“Brother Shen!”

Jiang Yunxi couldn’t care about anything else. Seeing Shen Jie suffer, she hurried forward.

No wonder they’re the protagonists. The facts were right in front of her, yet she still chose to look through rose-colored glasses.

Only the devoted “licker” suffered.

Thinking this, Ye Tian secretly glanced at Ye Yunting beside him. The boy’s expression was blank, his small face slightly furrowed—what could he be worried about?

Ye Tian cautiously asked, “Are you feeling a little upset?”

After all, in the original story, the eldest loved Jiang Yunxi deeply—such destiny wasn’t easy to escape.

Ye Yunting looked up, his gaze puzzled at Ye Tian. Upset?

What upset?

The boy’s little face blanked for a moment, then he nodded: “A little upset… those palace guards didn’t even kick Shen Jie a few more times.”

Uh… okay!

“Clang!”

“Clang clang…”

The bell echoed through the examination hall. The vermilion doors opened. The scholars and candidates who had been gathered together suddenly fell silent, craning their necks to look toward the entrance.

“Time’s up!” Ye Tian was a little nervous too. He ruffled his eldest’s hair, looked at the small child, and took a deep breath: “Don’t be nervous, just perform normally.”

“We don’t necessarily have to become officials.”

“Mm!”

Ye Yunting nodded, his dark eyes fixed on Ye Tian, serious and solemn.

For him, this was an opportunity. Although he was young, he had experienced life’s hardships from an early age. He knew that only by being strong could he protect his family.

He wasn’t going to miss a single chance.

Some students were gradually entering the examination hall, while Zhao Kang and his attendants waited beside Ye Yunting. Ye Yunting looked at Ye Tian, his eyes lingering with reluctance. “You… you should go home first and wait. Today’s exam will take two days.”

After saying this, Ye Yunting averted his gaze elsewhere.

Ye Tian wouldn’t think he was concerned about him, would he?

Ye Yunting felt embarrassed.

“You don’t need to worry about Yunting. Lord Zhao Kang has already made all the arrangements,” Tao Ling’er said, glancing at Ye Tian. Ye Tian nodded. “Then I’ll wait here until tomorrow afternoon.”

Ye Yunting nodded and finally stepped inside.

Zhao Kang gave Ye Tian a slight nod and followed behind Ye Yunting. Once he left, the scene outside instantly became lively. The voices of those seeing them off grew louder.

Shen Jie was held not far away by several government soldiers. He watched Ye Yunting enter the examination hall with his own eyes and kept murmuring to himself: “This is impossible!”

“Impossible! Ye Tian, did you bribe the officials?”

“I don’t accept this! I don’t accept it!”

Shen Jie struggled continuously. The soldiers were speechless as they stepped forward and harshly grabbed him. “Who do you think you are? Does whining help you at all?”

“Shut your mouth!”

The lead soldier, clearly impatient, slapped Shen Jie across the face.

Shen Jie covered his face with one hand and immediately fell silent, glaring fiercely at the soldiers. The lead soldier rolled up his sleeves and said sharply, “Huh, still dare to defy me?”

“Do you really think you’re some prized delicacy?”

He raised his hand again to strike Shen Jie, but Jiang Yunxi hurried forward and stood in front of him. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Lord Zhao only said to revoke Shen Jie’s qualifications, he didn’t say to beat him. You’re not even listening to Lord Zhao?”

Seeing the surrounding crowd staring at them, the soldiers sheepishly stopped.

Ye Tian and Tao Ling’er exchanged a glance.

Tao Ling’er lowered her head to look at her embroidered shoes and said lightly, “This is all his own fault. From now on, Shen Jie has nothing to do with me.”

Having said this, she lowered her head and walked away.

Watching her back, Ye Tian was speechless. Talking to him about this… was it really necessary?

“Ye Tian!”

“Ye Tian, this is your doing, isn’t it?”

Seeing Ye Tian pass by, Shen Jie roared in anger, struggling against the soldiers as if he wanted to pounce. Ye Tian stopped in his tracks, turned to the flushed Shen Jie, and smiled. “This time, it really wasn’t me.”

Seeing Ye Tian’s serious expression, Shen Jie froze in place.

Ye Tian continued, smiling, “Do you know why Yunting was able to participate in the selection?”

Shen Jie’s pupils constricted as he nervously looked at Ye Tian.

As if to confirm what he was suspecting, Ye Tian said, “Yunting is only five years old. At five, he could be appointed to office as an exception. I obviously don’t have that ability—it’s because of Master Tao.”

“Yunting is his final disciple.”

Boom!

Shen Jie felt his legs go weak, and he staggered backward. He stared at Ye Tian in disbelief.

“The person you once abandoned can now decide your life or death. Shen Jie, do you regret it now?” Ye Tian sneered, continuing, “Do you know who Master Tao is? He is Tao Shenggong, revered by scholars, half-teacher to the Emperor of Da Liang. His daughter was your childhood sweetheart. Shen Jie, isn’t Heaven being generous to you?”

Shen Jie’s face turned pale.

His gaze went blank, his mind in utter chaos. Even a five-year-old like Ye Yunting could be appointed by the teacher—then what about him?

He had studied under Tao Lichun for eight years. Tao Lichun had devoted himself wholeheartedly to teaching him. Wasn’t that bond even stronger?

If he hadn’t tricked Tao Ling’er into meeting Xiao Tianyi back then, the one being promoted and adored by all would have been him. Shen Jie’s regret now twisted his insides.

The opportunity had been right there, and he had ruined it with his own hands.

“No…”

“No, you tricked me! You tricked me!”