[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling":3,"chapter-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-80":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Top Scholar of Da Ling",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2288915,4475,"Chapter 80: Slapping the Face, Resigning from Office","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-80",80,"\u003Cp>Huang Chaoran’s face darkened: “Director Jiang, Zhu Tianxiang has been imprisoned, and Miss Liu has received justice. As a human being, you should know when to stop—don’t go stirring up unnecessary trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered: “Who was it just now, firmly insisting that I produce evidence, and then you’d resign and retire? Now you want to break your word?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Chaoran scoffed: “So what if I break my word? This isn’t the capital—don’t go looking for trouble for no reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Chaoran’s face darkened further, his resentment and fury plain in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Liu Yifei, still kneeling on the ground, whispered softly: “Director Jiang, let it go.” She wisely reminded Jiang Mingyu not to provoke Huang Chaoran further, lest the situation worsen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Mingyu ignored her and turned to Wang Zhe: “Regional Military Commissioner, you saw clearly what just happened. The words about resigning and retiring were spoken by the Longshi himself—I didn’t force him. Now that Miss Liu has produced evidence, isn’t it time for the Longshi to keep his promise?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhe looked troubled and shook his head wearily: “Director Jiang, that was just idle talk. We’re all officials of Da Feng—we should get along. Show mercy when you can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression seemed one of helplessness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s eyes flashed with coldness: “Forgive me for speaking plainly, but Regional Military Commissioner, your words sound too easy. Had Miss Liu not appeared in time, I’d likely be dead already, murdered by the Longshi. He clearly intended to kill me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I ask you, had Miss Liu not arrived in time, would the Longshi have shown mercy and spared me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went on alone: “That’s impossible—he’d already prepared to send me to the Ministry of Personnel for punishment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Am I not right, Longshi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Chaoran sneered: “So what? You struck my nephew in public—do you think I’d let you off so easily?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Chaoran sneered: “That’s right—you beat my nephew in the street. How could I possibly let you go? My Huang family and the Zhu family are both major clans in the state. If I let you go, what face would we have left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiang Mingyu, I warn you—stop pressing this, or you’ll regret it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu’s voice turned icy: “You’re outraged because I struck your nephew. But when Zhu Tianxiang harassed a village girl, why didn’t you say a word?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you consider your nephew a person, but the village girl isn’t? Is she just meant to be abused by you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice rang like thunder, shaking the empty hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Yi fei, hearing his righteous fury, blushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu turned again to Wang Zhe: “Regional Military Commissioner, the matter has gone this far—he shows no remorse, and openly threatens me. If you don’t punish him severely, who will still hold you in respect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhe’s face darkened, and Jiang Mingyu continued: “Moreover, you may not know this, but before coming here, Zhu Tianxiang boasted that he had powerful patrons in the state office. He claimed he himself was the law of the city, and even you, Regional Military Commissioner, owed him respect. My dozen attendants all heard him say it—if you doubt me, summon them here for confrontation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I truly can’t imagine who else in the state office, besides the Longshi, would back that scoundrel. Zhu Tianxiang made wild claims first, and the Longshi openly broke his word after. These two families, Zhu and Huang, are truly admirable. If you don’t punish them severely, word will spread—and who will ever respect you, Regional Military Commissioner?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhe’s expression turned stern: “Huang Longshi, I truly underestimated you and your nephew. It seems that someday soon, I may need to rely on your favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Chaoran was stunned, and immediately begged humbly: “My lord, I dare not! I dare not! Even if I had the audacity of heaven and earth, I’d never dare to disrespect the Regional Military Commissioner—please don’t listen to Jiang Mingyu’s lies!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice had grown strained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wang Zhe snorted coldly: “Dare not? Is there anything Huang Longshi dares not do? Do you really think I don’t know what Zhu Tianxiang is? Do you think I’m blind and deaf?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Out of respect for our years as colleagues, working side by side, I’ve remained silent all this time. I hoped one day you two would awaken and repent—but instead, you’ve grown even more reckless. Now, at this final moment, you dare threaten Director Jiang? You’re utterly beyond redemption.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As a high-ranking official, you broke your word in public and disgraced all Da Feng officials. Do you think I’m someone you can bully?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You say Director Jiang is lying? Fine—I’ll summon his attendants and find out the truth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But consider this carefully—if this becomes known to outsiders, you’ll have no chance of redemption.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhe slammed his hand on the desk and barked: “Hand over the Longshi seal immediately—I’ll let you leave in peace. Otherwise, I’ll review the daily records and punish you both for multiple crimes. Decide for yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Huang Chaoran’s legs buckled, and he collapsed helplessly onto the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never imagined that because his nephew had harassed a woman, he’d lose his official post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Huang Chaoran wanted to carve Jiang Mingyu into a thousand pieces, and to curse Zhu Tianxiang—half-dead as he was—ten thousand times over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for you, this gluttonous, pleasure-seeking, woman-chasing beast, how could things have come to this? You deserve to die!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhe had already resolved to punish him severely. If Huang Chaoran didn’t voluntarily resign, he’d be thrown into prison to await judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Huang Chaoran still sitting motionless, Wang Zhe snorted: “Since Longshi Huang refuses to take responsibility, I won’t force you. Someone—take Huang Chaoran...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could finish, Huang Chaoran, face ashen, cried out in desperation: “My lord, calm down! I’ll hand over the seal! I’ll hand it over!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With trembling hands, he handed the Longshi token—the symbol of his authority—to the yamen runners who were about to drag him away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Jiang Mingyu’s smug smile, Huang Chaoran gritted his teeth: “Jiang Mingyu, wait and see—I swear I won’t let you go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu stepped forward two paces and slapped him hard across the face, coldly saying: “Huang Chaoran, you’re just a commoner now. Do you even have the right to speak my name? Want revenge? Come on—I’ll be waiting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Chaoran, stung by the heavy slap, glared with bloodshot eyes like an enraged bull: “Fine! I, Huang Chaoran, will seek vengeance—I won’t stop!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spat out those words through clenched teeth, voice low and chilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu sneered: “You’d better think about whether I’ll let you live if you keep causing trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough. The Regional Military Commissioner’s office isn’t your place to act like a rabble-rouser. Someone—throw him out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the man who had just been so high above them was tossed out like a sack of garbage by the yamen runners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the matter settled, Jiang Mingyu bowed to Wang Zhe: “Thank you, Regional Military Commissioner, for upholding justice today—I’m deeply grateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This matter is concluded. I’ll take Miss Liu back to Shangmu. I take my leave.” With a slight nod, he turned to depart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wang Zhe called out to stop him: “Director Jiang, wait—I have something urgent to discuss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu paused, puzzled: “Regional Military Commissioner, what do you need?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Zhe’s face showed concern: “The Zhu and Huang families are powerful clans in this city. Now that you’ve offended Huang Chaoran, your days won’t be easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Mingyu smiled calmly: “When soldiers come, meet them with soldiers; when water comes, block it with earth. Huang Chaoran alone is nothing compared to external threats. Besides, you, Regional Military Commissioner, guard this state—how could the Zhu and Huang families stir up any real trouble? I take my leave.” He bowed slightly again, preparing to depart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wang Zhe’s eyes flickered, and he called out again: “Director Jiang, wait—I still have something urgent to say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Jiang Mingyu halted, baffled, his curiosity about what Wang Zhe wanted to say deepening.\u003C\u002Fp>",1348,"2026-06-20T03:28:17.113Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","85aa174b6b287eb917ee4c9253ad1cd2369017cd6bed87b9e73395b5401ac15d","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-81","the-top-scholar-of-da-ling-chapter-79",392,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-top-scholar-of-da-ling-cover.jpg"]