Chapter Seventeen: The Smooth-Talking Supervisor

Li Zisheng spoke with a certain finesse, not asking for permission, but instead directly inquiring about Fang Zhongzheng's whereabouts in an assertive tone that brooked no refusal. He was well aware of the supervisor's intentions—hoping to avoid offending either side, though such a balancing act was bound to be difficult.

The supervisor too understood Li Zisheng’s purpose, and could not help but smile wryly in his heart. Li Zisheng was truly vexing, making things hard for him with such tactics.

“Haha, you jest, student, you jest. Healing the sick and saving lives is the compassion and virtue of a physician. Yet Fang Zhongzheng cannot rise from his bed at this time. If one wishes to visit, it would require quite a journey. The examination is imminent, and spending time on this would only help the rival gain strength. It would be better for the student to prepare for the upcoming examination first, and then proceed with the medical diagnosis afterwards, which is not out of the question.”

The supervisor, seasoned and shrewd, deftly sidestepped the underlying message in Li Zisheng's words with just a few sentences, offending neither party—a testament to his lively wit.

Li Zisheng had to silently complain to himself; this old fox was indeed no fool. Years of navigating official circles—none of those tasks were simple. With a few words, he had maneuvered Li Zisheng into an awkward situation. Not only did the supervisor extract himself from the matter entirely, but he also painted Li Zisheng as a naive child.

That would have been tolerable, but the supervisor left room for maneuver. He invoked the greater good, using the upcoming examination as justification, and the distance to Fang Zhongzheng as a reason. Thus, he answered Li Zisheng’s question and offered him a way out.

His words neither offended nor favored either side—an oily veteran of officialdom.

“The supervisor is too kind. This is a personal matter. Even if everyone were to accompany me, I would feel uneasy. My teacher taught me that human life is paramount; injuries to bones and sinews are no trivial matter. Such wounds, if mishandled, can leave lifelong afflictions. Though I am only eight years old, compassion and righteousness are ingrained in my heart. Thus, when I encounter such circumstances, even if I am at a disadvantage, I must extend a helping hand. This is the principle of justice. After all, more physicians mean more treatment options—a perfect solution. As for the examination, the barbaric Turks are of no concern to me.”

Li Zisheng would not be dismissed so easily; his age and the physician’s code of justice were his best weapons in rebuttal.

Justice must not be taken lightly, nor principles disturbed. Physicians are born to heal, their compassion and skill serving others. Within their ability, it is their duty to provide care—an unquestionable truth. Especially as Li Zisheng framed the matter as a personal issue, not affecting others, effectively countering the supervisor’s claim that it would waste time and aid the enemy.

“Well, perhaps it’s best not to, student. Fang Zhongzheng is not in the academy at present but at his ancestral home. The journey would take considerable time and effort. The grand competition is imminent; you should rest and practice with Zhou Linqing to avoid any major errors when the time comes. Don’t you agree?” The supervisor continued to smile at Li Zisheng.

Li Zisheng knew that if he persisted, he would be deemed obstinate and unreasonable.

“In that case, so be it. But I wonder where Zhou Linqing is at the moment—it is most important that we practice together.”

Li Zisheng decisively abandoned his plan to treat Fang Zhongzheng and help him return to the arena. The most pressing matter now was to win Zhou Linqing over. If he could not do so promptly, he would need a new strategy.

Zhou Linqing’s arrival was suspicious, and there must be hidden motives behind it. Zhou Linqing surely knew whose interests he served; if Li Zisheng could glean something from him, he might gain insight into the situation.

“He’s in the Ming Shan Hall at the back, a place where the literati of the Wen Cai Pavilion gather. Zhou Linqing has come to the academy to pay respects to his elders, so he hasn’t entered the Zhi Shan Hall to discuss matters with us yet.”

The supervisor showed no sign of underestimating Li Zisheng due to his student status; after all, Li Zisheng was under the protection of Governor Zhang, not someone to offend.

“Ah, thank you for informing me,” Li Zisheng said, stepping behind Zhong Bai.

“General Deng, among these nine, all except team leader Zhou Fulin are participants in this exchange. Please review the list.”

General Deng nodded, took the list, glanced at it, then surveyed the nine participants, finally focusing his gaze on the supervisor.

“Supervisor, the day is still young. Please call Zhou Linqing over so we can get acquainted and introduce these two. That way, we won’t be scrambling and disorganized when the time comes. What do you think?”

General Deng, being one of Governor Zhang’s people, naturally sided with Li Zisheng.

Summoning Zhou Linqing was also to assess his capability to protect Li Zisheng. If he proved inadequate—a mere wastrel—then it was best to make arrangements early. After all, the personnel for the competition was decided collectively by the academy’s masters, beyond General Deng’s control.

If Zhou Linqing turned out to be useless, it was better to find a solution sooner rather than later.

“Indeed, General Deng’s foresight is admirable,” the supervisor replied, recognizing Deng’s partiality towards Li Zisheng, but it did not cross the line set by the mysterious forces, so he could agree.

“Come, come, the academy’s rear dining hall has prepared food. General Deng, let’s go.”

The supervisor led the way, followed by General Deng, Zhou Fulin, and the others to a small two-story building deep within the academy.

Outside, the aroma of food wafted through the air. As they arrived, everyone caught the enticing scent. Military meals were always plain, with little variety, so this fragrance sparked anticipation.

Li Zisheng, too, was not picky about food, but nobody could resist a good meal. He decided to indulge this time, setting aside the intrigue of the examination for now—filling his stomach was the right thing to do.

Zhong Bai remained silent, his face gloomy, the darkness of his expression betraying his inner irritation.