Teacher Xiao looked calm as he spoke. "Since you brought this to me, I'll obey the academy's rule and take you as my disciple. However, there's something that you might need to know. Although there are ten discipleship tokens like this, there are three pieces that are slightly different."
Chu Jian felt a jolt and said immediately, "Do elaborate, Teacher."
"Three pieces belong to the Crown Prince. Although they're dug from the same rock, there are some faint yellow patterns on them. The color is pale, like a gush of yellow smoke. Therefore, these ten jades were separated. Many didn't know about this," added Teacher Xiao.
Chu Jian's expression changed after hearing that.
The ten pieces of jade were carved with the Royal Academy's insignia. He thought that was the only difference.
"The Crown Prince has two pieces now as he gave one piece as a reward a few days ago. Young Lady Xie won it, and that brat who just left lost it a few days back," Teacher Xiao said calmly.
In other words, if the jade was not lost, the discipleship would belong to Xie Pinghuai.
Chu Jian looked rather troubled. "That's very observant of you, Teacher. Someone gave me this piece of jade. I didn't find it anywhere else."
"You're rather popular in the academy. Naturally, I believe that you're not a reckless person. However, the Crown Prince has strict rules. Nobody dares to mess with his things. You'll need to explain to him how you obtained this item and made me your Master," said Teacher Xiao.
Chu Jian felt something bitter in his throat. If he knew this would happen, he would not have used this piece of jade. It was just too attention-seeking.
Although other jades were rare, he could by spending more effort or silver if he wanted it.
However, he did not expect the Crown Prince's jades would be different from others. If that was the case…
It would be a problem since he had it!
He was currently in a pickle. He was already here, so if he said he wanted to give up on the discipleship, would Teacher Xiao not think he was treating him as a fool?
Moreover, many people had seen him on the way here…
If he regretted it at the moment, the embarrassing failure aside, others would really think that he had picked the jade from somewhere!
Sweat was dripping on Chu Jian's forehead. "My father obtained this piece of jade in a clean way… A young lady from the Gulan Academy gifted it. My cousin said that a young lady thought the jade was too attention-seeking. Her talent is only mediocre, and she dares not apply for discipleship. She's only willing to use this piece of jade in exchange for the recommendation letter into our Royal Academy…"
"So, it should be that young lady who found the jade?" Teacher Xiao said while smiling.
Chu Jian pursed his lips, feeling helpless. He could only say, "I heard that young lady is Master Xie's stepdaughter…"
In reality, he knew that the Xie family had lost the piece of jade.
Therefore, he had guessed that Young Lady Pei had stolen the jade to trade a discipleship quota for herself. However, he pretended not to know. After all, there were many pieces of jade. Nobody could say that the one he had was from the Xie family!
Never had he expected the Crown Prince's jades were marked!
Teacher Xiao nodded. "I see. I suppose that young lady found the jade and didn't tell Xie Pinghuai.
"I understand now. I'll speak to His Highness for you."
Chu Jian felt helpless.
Teacher Xiao returned the piece of jade to Zhao Xuanjing.
Theoretically, the academy should carve the student's name before giving it out.
However, this piece was different. He had to speak to the Crown Prince first. If the Crown Prince did not mind, they could carve it before giving it back to Chu Jian.
Naturally, according to his understanding of the Crown Prince…
The Crown Prince would definitely suspect that Chu Jian knew what had happened. Therefore, even if the discipleship happened, Chu Jian might no longer own the jade.