Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

After being hungry for half an hour, almost to the point of starvation, Qin Ji finally got this meal.

The meal wasn't served in the study, but in the adjacent side room.

Qin Ji stared at the eight-legged drum stool beside the dining table for a long time, hesitating and very conflicted.

I wanted to try sitting down to see what it felt like, but it hurts so much! Cushion, Gu Huaijin, didn't you think to put a cushion under me?

Hyacinth beans are one example, as is Gu Huaijin.

They have absolutely no sense of propriety!

Jiang Jibai remained unmoved as he sat at the table, observing Qin Ji's changing expression. He seemed oblivious to his little apprentice's predicament and smiled gently at him, saying, "Let's eat."

Qin Ji sat down with tears in his eyes, his face pale, and he was in so much pain that he almost jumped off the stool. No, he couldn't jump; he was in so much pain that he had no strength left.

That damned Gu Huaijin! He definitely did it on purpose, making sure everyone was seated in the right place, clearly intending to teach him a lesson.

He looks so refined and polite, I never expected him to be so ruthless. He's a hypocrite, a smiling tiger!

Qin Ji was never one to compromise himself, and he felt that sitting on a cushion would be just right, so he looked at Gu Huaijin expectantly and said, "Teacher, I know I was wrong."

Since I've admitted my mistake so readily, quickly give me a cushion.

The boy, his eyes drooping in remorse, looked utterly pathetic, a far cry from his previous confident and smug demeanor during his lectures. Jiang Jibai glanced at him. "If you can't sit, then eat standing up."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ji became somewhat reluctant again. He felt that eating while standing was not the same, and it was only right that he should feel uncomfortable sitting down after being punished.

That's what he thought, but he certainly couldn't say it like that. Qin Ji smiled "shyly" at Jiang Jibai, "It's too impolite to eat standing up for a teacher."

Jiang Jibai finally understood. She didn't want to sit because it hurt, and she didn't want to stand either. She was asking him for a cushion.

Not wanting to excessively torment his newly accepted apprentice, Jiang Jibai found a soft cushion and handed it over. He then noticed that Bian Feibai had already stood up, seemingly waiting for him to lay it down.

Jiang Jibai tentatively placed the cushion on the eight-legged drum stool, securing it with ropes tied to the four corners of the cushion to the stool legs. As expected, he received a satisfied expression from Qin Ji.

"Does he really think he's some kind of ancestor?" Jiang Jibai's smile deepened slightly.

There's plenty of time in the future; he'll eventually teach Bian Feibai a lesson for his arrogance and pampered lifestyle.

Qin Ji sat down leisurely, his expression changing slightly when he pressed on the injured area, but his ears slowly turned a little red.

After the two were seated, Qin Ji finally noticed the dishes on the table.

Stir-fried eggs, stir-fried radish, stir-fried cabbage.

Is my Minister of Justice from a poor family?

Why isn't there a single piece of meat, and not a single servant in the house?

Judging from his demeanor and mannerisms, he doesn't seem to have a good background. Could it be that I've misjudged him?

It wasn't that Jiang Jibai didn't want to properly entertain his newly minted disciple, it's just... seeing that Qin Ji was hesitant to pick up his chopsticks, Jiang Jibai asked, "Why aren't you eating?"

Although he asked the question, Jiang Jibai already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on. He figured that the arrogant young master probably couldn't stomach such simple food.

Qin Ji's reason wasn't that; back when he was still in the Cold Palace, he had eaten even worse. But now that he was the emperor, he needed to be careful about what he ate. Since there were no eunuchs to test the food for poison beforehand, he simply waited for Gu Huaijin to start eating first, saying, "Teacher is an elder; this disciple should serve you by eating first."

After Qin Ji finished speaking, he personally picked up a little bit of each dish and put it in Jiang Jibai's bowl, so that the poison on the chopsticks could be eliminated.

Jiang Jibai was a little surprised. From their previous interactions, it was clear that Qin Ji was used to being waited on and was self-centered, not the kind of person who would take the initiative to serve his teacher. He hadn't expected that Qin Jibai was just being prejudiced. He smiled gently at Qin Ji and ate the food Qin Ji had put on his plate. "You should eat with us too. It's just the two of us here, so there aren't many formalities."

Qin Ji watched him eat the food in his bowl, and seeing his gentle smile, he also smiled awkwardly, picked up a little egg and put it in his mouth, a fishy eggy smell hit his head.

Did you add salt? Why are there eggshells in there? Ugh, I was careless.

Qin Ji pretended to eat a few bites, but when he saw Jiang Jibai eat two bowls of rice without changing his expression, he couldn't help but feel a deep respect for him.

As expected of the person I chose, he can handle anything and is capable of great things!

Just as she mentally praised Gu Huaijin's culinary skills and put down her bowl, she heard Gu Huaijin say, "Now that I've accepted you, I should inform your family. May I ask your father's name and whether he has any free time these days?"

Logically, Jiang Jibai should have known about Bian Feibai's family background before accepting him as a disciple. However, Jiang Jibai believed in teaching without discrimination and didn't care much about the student's status. In addition, the surname Bian was indeed rare, and prominent families were even rarer. Judging from Qin Ji's various actions, he only needed to target those few families.

That name he made up on the spot has finally caught up with him. In that instant, Qin Ji's mind raced.