OMG! Tyrant's Pampered Baby Is a Valued Princess-Chapter 574: You Want to Speak Up for a Thief?

The crowd burst into an uproar upon hearing this.

The bookstore manager spat, "To think you’re a scholar, yet you have the nerve to say such things!"

"Instead of focusing on your studies, you’re thinking about bribing your way through. How’s that different from buying official positions through corruption!"

He grabbed the scholar’s collar and, as if seething with anger, delivered another punch to the scholar.

Painfully, the scholar’s mouth corner bled with foam.

The mocking voices from those around, pointing and sneering, turned his shame into anger.

He hysterically retorted, "Without money, you can’t buy connections, can’t even enter the exam hall, let alone talk of the imperial exams!"

Finally, he broke down in tears.

"Years of tireless study are no match for someone else’s chest of gold. How laughable, how absurd!"

The academy’s manager furiously shouted, "Caught red-handed, yet you still refuse to repent, spinning words deceitfully."

As he spoke, he raised his fist, intending to hit the scholar again.

Suddenly, a sharp rebuke came from the crowd.

"Stop!"

Bai Zhi’er was stunned, turning her head to see Jun Kuang, by her side, unable to bear it any longer.

The academy’s manager lifted his head, observing the clean and well-dressed Jun Kuang, as he broke through the crowd and walked over.

"What, is the young master here to speak for this thieving scoundrel?"

Jun Kuang’s gaze was profoundly deep, starkly contrasting with his usual gentle and refined demeanor.

Bai Zhi’er blinked her big eyes and quietly observed.

Jun Kuang glanced at the scholar.

His voice was crisp and cold, "It’s wrong that he stole, but you’ve already beaten him like this, trampling his dignity as a scholar into the ground in public."

"Everything should have its limits. Further violence would be inappropriate. Shopkeeper, let him go!"

The academy’s manager let out a hissing laugh, "I never imagined someone would plead on behalf of a thief."

Those around also murmured, pointing fingers at Jun Kuang’s actions.

"So young, yet can’t distinguish right from wrong. Won’t be a good person when he grows up!"

"Exactly, no matter how you look at it, stealing is wrong. The academy’s manager was saving him!"

Hearing the crowd’s reproach, Jun Kuang showed no sign of retreat.

He stepped forward, his gaze firm, his voice clear.

"Stealing is wrong, but excessive violence is also wrong. If no one stops it, do you, Shopkeeper, intend to beat him to within an inch of his life to quell your anger?"

"Would breaking him or killing him pacify your rage?"

Jun Kuang’s words left the academy’s manager momentarily stunned.

Subsequently, Jun Kuang pulled a silver ingot from his sleeve and handed it over.

"He stole your books; I’ll compensate on his behalf. If you wish to take him to the government, I won’t stop you. But if not, let him go!"

The academy’s manager squinted, glanced at the silver ingot in Jun Kuang’s hand, and then lowered his head, peering at the bruised and battered scholar.

Taking it to the government would inevitably accuse him of assault too. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The academy’s manager roughly threw the scholar aside, reaching out to take the silver from Jun Kuang.

"Consider yourself lucky for encountering a benefactor willing to teach you a lesson." The manager spat at the scholar lying on the ground.

He then turned to Jun Kuang, chuckling, "The young master’s sudden act of kindness is understandable, but he has a record of theft. Hopefully, he won’t squander your goodwill in the future!"

After speaking, the manager strode away.

The surrounding populace also gradually dispersed.

Jun Kuang finally pursed his lips, extending a hand to help the scholar up.

The scholar was over twenty, much older than Jun Kuang, but his sniffling demeanor was apparently less composed than the young boy.

"Thank you, young master." The scholar wiped his tears.