I Refuse to Attend Valor Academy
Lily Evans stared at Gregory Gu Jr. in shock—she never dreamed a person could be so shameless!
If a village woman acted shamelessly, you could chalk it up to ignorance. But for a learned scholar like Gregory Gu Jr. to be so brazen? Now that was truly eye-opening.
Gregory Gu Jr. looked at Lily with utter confidence, waiting for her reply.
In Gregory Gu Jr.'s calculations, Alexander Hayes might wield immense power, but he was a military man. The Gu Family led the scholar-officials, and in many areas, Alexander simply couldn't compete.
Take Valor Academy, for example—it's firmly under Gu Family control. The teachers and administrators are all handpicked loyalists, and Alexander Hayes can't hope to influence the academy anytime soon.
Gregory Gu Jr. had banked on this, which was why he felt so secure.
You could tell from Lily's efforts to open a village school—she was a visionary woman who valued education deeply. She'd even spent a fortune to give local children a place to learn, so when it came to her own family, Lily would care even more about their schooling.
"It's just admiring some maple leaves and sharing tea, Princess Consort. Won't you reconsider?" Gregory Gu Jr. said with a soft chuckle.
"Reconsider my foot, you sanctimonious hypocrite!" Suddenly, a figure burst in from the side door—Leonard Yuan, face flushed, rushed in and planted himself in front of Lily. He glared at Gregory Gu Jr. with disappointment and contempt, then spat forcefully on the ground. "You despicable, shameless fraud! Using your position to threaten my cousin! Gregory Gu Jr., I used to admire you at Phoenix Academy and wanted to be just like you when I grew up. I must've been blind! I'd rather beg on the streets than turn into a hypocrite like you! Lily, forget that stupid Valor Academy—I'm not going!"
Leonard Yuan's chest heaved as he stared at Gregory Gu Jr., eyes full of disappointment.
Once, to a young scholar like Leonard Yuan, Gregory Gu Jr.—Imperial Grand Tutor, top of the literary world—was an idol. His knowledge and presence inspired countless students, who secretly vowed to be just as accomplished someday.
But now, Leonard had overheard Gregory Gu Jr.—his former idol—abusing his position, using the academy to threaten Lily, and asking a married woman to join him for some ridiculous leaf-viewing and tea. It was utterly shameless!
Even the most despicable village ruffian is better than you, Gregory Gu Jr.!
Gregory Gu Jr. clicked his tongue and sneered, "Princess Consort, look at how your dear brother stands up for you—he'd rather give up his spot at Valor Academy than see you wronged. But you? You won't suffer even a little for your good brother's sake. Isn't that just a bit selfish?"
Leonard Yuan fumed, snatched up a teacup, and slammed it down in front of him, nearly shouting, "Shameless scoundrel! Trying to sow discord! You rotten fraud, I bet your Valor Academy is nothing but a den of filth! Even if you begged me, I wouldn't go! Stop trying to hurt my sister, you villain—get out! If you bully her again, you'll answer to me!"
Saying this, Leonard, all fired up, dashed to the side, grabbed an ornament from the shelf, and hurled it at Gregory Gu Jr., yelling, "You shameless dog, get out!"