Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Jiang Jibai didn't notice the fierce look of dissatisfaction with Yang Xiuyun in his young disciple's eyes. "Ning'an has been controlled by those parasites for many years. His Majesty killed many people in order to clear the world. The court is in need of talented people right now. Perhaps more people will be selected in next year's imperial examination."

"After the New Year, Yanqing will arrive in the capital to take the imperial examination. At that time, you three brothers will be able to gather together."

Just when we got a cheap senior brother, we're about to get another cheap senior brother.

Qin Ji glanced at Shen Jiangliu and muttered to himself.

Judging from the appearance of this cheap senior brother, who knows what kind of person the cheap second senior brother is?

Besides, his identity is already exposed on all sides; if another one comes along...

No.

Let him be deposed, deposed!

But if he really did have some skill...

Qin Ji glanced at the book box being carried in by the servants and made a quick decision: Then let's just pack it up with Yang Xiuyun and send it to Ning'an!

Jiang Jibai couldn't grasp the young disciple's inner thoughts. He simply followed the topic and threw out another bombshell: "Ning'an is in dire need of reconstruction. After your Uncle Yang was sent to a post outside the capital, we don't know when we'll be able to see him again. He's a good friend of mine. He'll be leaving the capital after the New Year, and I'll be going to see him off. You two should come with me."

Qin Ji was struck dumb.

Shen Jiangliu looked at Qin Ji.

They were at ease, watching the fire from the sidelines, gloating over the misfortune.

You can't hide fire with paper; let's see how long this honeycomb briquette with small holes can keep it a secret.

Qin Ji seemed to sense something, narrowed his eyes in displeasure, and shot a glare at Shen Jiangliu.

Shen Jiangliu looked down at his nose, his face full of loyalty.

After dropping the bomb without anyone noticing, Jiang Jibai dragged his two apprentices, each with their own thoughts, back to a couch and made them lie down in a row.

Qin Ji: "?"

presumptuous!

Jiang Jibai, what are you doing?

Shen Jiangliu, get off me!

Shen Jiangliu: "..."

Teacher, there's really no need for that.

Do you even realize that lying on the emperor's throne is an act of usurpation? Usurpation!

Seeing his two apprentices' reluctant expressions, Jiang Jibai said indifferently, "Weren't we supposed to be getting to know each other better?"

"Or were you two not really making up just now?"

The voice was slightly cold, and a faint sense of oppression washed over them, as if they would be dragged away for further punishment if they dared to utter a single word of dissent.

Qin Ji reached out and hooked his arm around Shen Jiangliu's shoulder, while Shen Jiangliu raised his arm and casually draped it over Qin Ji's back. The two of them said in unison, "It's true."

...

After receiving a string of good fortune and being reprimanded, Shen Jiangliu still had to get back to work the next day.

Qin Ji endured the pain and sat expressionlessly on the throne, listening to the ministers' reports.

As they continued their discussion, the topic turned to how to deal with Prince Rui'an and his relatives, and they began to argue amongst themselves. Qin Ji impatiently tapped the armrest with his finger.

The ministers fell silent almost instantly upon seeing the Emperor's grim expression.

Qin Ji, remembering the kindness of his nephew's advice that "patience is the key to success," did not go so far as to exterminate them all.

"The Prince of Rui'an conspired with Sun Han to assassinate the emperor and rebel, which is unforgivable. He is hereby ordered to commit suicide."

"His relatives were sent to the imperial mausoleum, and they were not allowed to leave without an imperial edict. Those who violated this order would be punished with the serious crime of fleeing the mausoleum."

This was a disguised form of confinement, which both punished the ringleader and appropriately demonstrated His Majesty's magnanimity.

The lives of these two young children had only just begun, yet they were already destined to be bound to the imperial tomb for life, never to be free. It was hard to say whether preserving their lives was a blessing or a curse for them.

The imperial edict had been issued, and cries of "Your Majesty is merciful!" rose and fell.

Shen Jiangliu really found it hard to reconcile the image of the emperor on the throne, who held the power of life and death, with the junior brother he had seen with his teacher yesterday.

He withdrew his awe-inspiring gaze, lowered his eyes and stood at the back of the court officials, joining the crowd in shouting, "Your Majesty is merciful."

Suddenly I overheard two colleagues whispering to each other.

"Your Majesty, why do you look so pale today? My liver is trembling, and I can hardly breathe."

"Perhaps he was too heartbroken by the Prince of Rui'an's rebellion; the imperial clan is in decline, and the Prince of Rui'an has become muddle-headed!"

It doesn't seem like it, maybe it is...

Stop thinking about it.

I couldn't resist.

Shen Jiangliu: "Pfft—"

Qin Ji just wanted it to end quickly; he felt it was cruel to himself to sit upright for even a second longer. He raised his hand, stopping the ministers from singing his praises.

Therefore, Shen Jiangliu's "poof" sound became particularly prominent.

All eyes in the hall were drawn to Shen Jiangliu.

Qin Ji narrowed his eyes slightly. "Why is Shen Qing laughing?"

You, Shen Jiangliu, can't give me a coherent explanation? I'll have you executed!

The chilling tone in His Majesty's voice silenced all the ministers in the hall. Shen Jiangliu keenly sensed that his two colleagues quietly moved a little further away from him.

He quickly stepped forward and knelt down to prevent the man with the small hole from using this as an excuse to make trouble. "Your Majesty's wisdom cannot be summed up in a mere word like 'benevolence'!" he said. "First, I laugh at how Prince Rui'an deserves his punishment. Second, I laugh at how Heaven blesses the Great Yin Dynasty with such a wise ruler as you. How could His Majesty's virtue be summarized by a mere word like 'benevolence'?"

The official in the blue robe, who was standing a step in front of him and had just heard him shout "Your Majesty is merciful," turned his head and glanced at him.

Anyone who knew Shen Jiangliu before he was demoted had experienced his sharp tongue.

Although he did offend many people, his courage to disregard life and death and openly satirize Wang Jing earned him admiration from everyone.

Unexpectedly, after serving as a county official in the local area for several years, his flattery skills improved significantly.

It's truly heartbreaking!

They reacted quickly.

Qin Ji snorted inwardly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, but he did not intend to lash out at his "favored minister" in public.

"Get up."

Just as Shen Jiangliu returned to the ranks, Qin Ji issued another decree.

"Since the autumn hunt, many officials, both inside and outside the court, have reported unusual beasts and auspicious omens. This trend of exaggeration only wastes energy and does nothing to address the root causes of the problem. From now on, any official who includes flattering words about auspicious omens in their memorials will be punished for deceiving the emperor."

Many ministers who had been considering such a scheme felt a chill run down their spines and abandoned their plans to scheme in this regard.

The courtiers shouted, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Some were sincere, while others lacked energy.

With a single glance from Qin Ji, Fu Lu announced loudly, "Dismiss the court."

His Majesty rose to leave, and the officials filed out. Just as Shen Jiangliu was about to step down the stone steps outside the palace, Fulu stopped him.

"Lord Shen, His Majesty requests your presence."

...

When Shen Jiangliu followed Fulu into the Qianzheng Hall, he saw several eunuchs carrying a sand table inside.

He glanced at it, recognized it as being in the Ning'an-Lishui area, and then looked at it a few more times.

Qin Ji led Bian Yushu in from outside, and Shen Jiangliu hurriedly went to greet them and bowed.

Bian Yushu knew that Lord Shen was His Majesty's senior brother. Remembering that she had acted in front of him last time, she felt a little embarrassed and took the initiative to greet him softly, "Lord Shen."

He actually thought this was his junior brother last time.

The result was a bad boy who cooperated with His Majesty in putting on an act.

The teacher's personal disguise.

Shen Jiangliu nodded slightly to him.

Qin Ji walked to the edge of the sand table and pointed to a canyon on it. "You previously submitted a memorial suggesting that building a sluice gate here could alleviate the pressure of the autumn floods in Ning'an?"

"Yes, but this is a crucial passage with a rapid current. The gears and gates are constantly subjected to the impact of the rushing water and the wear and tear of the mud and sand. If they rust or get stuck and malfunction, the consequences will be unimaginable." Shen Jiangliu stopped maintaining his posture and walked slowly with a limp, which drew sidelong glances from Fu Lu and Bian Yushu.

The two were in the same boat. Shen Jiangliu took the opportunity to expose his shortcomings in front of this small-hole honeycomb briquette, sacrificing his face to show that he had not meant to mock His Majesty in the court just now.

Qin Ji scoffed lightly, "Lord Shen has difficulty walking, please have a seat."