Bai Yaoyu listened, and without a word, removed his own outer robe and laid it on the long stone bench.
Bai Zhi’er elegantly lifted her small skirt and, after sitting down, patted the spot beside her.
"Sister Youzhen, come on, let’s wait for my daddy together."
Fang Youzhen looked at the princely heir’s brocade under Bai Zhi’er’s bottom.
She cleared her throat: "No need, I’m fine standing."
Bai Zhi’er wiggled her chubby little finger: "Come on! Don’t be shy, please sit!"
Fang Youzhen pressed her red lips tightly.
Beside her, Bai Yaoyu glanced at her with his dark eyes, speaking lightly: "You should sit, my sister has asked several times now."
Bai Zhi’er’s big eyes were moist and clear, her little pink face full of innocence.
Fang Youzhen couldn’t bear to refuse any longer, so she sat down as told.
But her body was straight and tense, seemingly a bit uneasy.
After all, she was sitting on Bai Yaoyu’s outer robe.
Bai Yaoyu turned his head and glanced at the people kneeling over there, resigned to their fate.
He frowned and said, "The accusation of insulting the princess is serious enough to disband Mingyang Academy, right?"
Fang Youzhen immediately looked up at him: "It can’t be disbanded. Although Mingyang Academy was established with my father’s money on the surface, in reality, it was built because a goddess commanded him to in a dream."
"The true owner of Mingyang Academy is the female fairy in my father’s dream."
"And only she has the token of the academy. To truly disband it, she would need to personally appear with the token and decide to abolish it."
"Otherwise, the officials whom the Master sends to the court will surely petition collectively to keep the academy, and then the Emperor would have a headache."
Bai Yaoyu sneered, his sword-like brows and starry eyes filled with arrogance.
"A goddess? A token? How elusive and ridiculous."
"What if one day someone shows up with an object claiming Mingyang Academy is theirs, then what?"
Fang Youzhen didn’t like his arrogant tone.
She frowned slightly and said, "My father can recognize the real one, as he is the only one who has seen what the token looks like."
Suddenly, Bai Zhi’er, who was sitting obediently listening to their conversation, spoke softly—
"Hmm? In that case, Sister Youzhen, you should tell Uncle Fang to be careful of his safety!"
As soon as she said this, both Bai Yaoyu and Fang Youzhen were taken aback.
There was an inexplicable surprise in their eyes.
Bai Zhi’er’s long lashes fluttered, her small round face filled with confusion.
"What’s wrong, did Zhi’er say something wrong?"
Fang Youzhen became a little excited and held Bai Zhi’er’s small hand.
"No, Your Highness, you’ve truly awakened me!"
Bai Yaoyu slightly furrowed his long brows and said, "Zhi’er is right. The reason they rely on Mingyang Academy to commit acts of misconduct is that nowadays, every year during the imperial examinations, Mingyang Academy can sponsor many students to become officials."
"Gradually, they have formed their own faction in the court and are using public power for personal gain!"
"They must also be aware that with my uncle’s personality, he will eventually take action to reform the academy."
"To prevent the academy from being disbanded, the only possibility is to destroy the token."
Fang Youzhen nodded and exchanged a glance with Bai Yaoyu: "And right now, only my father knows what the token looks like, so his current situation is already fraught with danger!"
Bai Zhi’er clapped her small hands, her brows and eyes smiling sweetly: "Exactly, exactly~ Third Brother, Sister Youzhen, you two have such great understanding!"
Fang Youzhen was taken aback.
She couldn’t help but look at Bai Yaoyu, who was also raising his brows and staring at her.
Their four eyes met, and for a moment, they both let out a low hum, turning their heads away from each other.