Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Qin Ji subtly revealed a hint of unease and panic. "His Majesty decreed that I be chosen as his study companion, and the very next day he said he wanted to see how well I had learned, asking me to show him a few of my best essays. I remembered that you had recently given me five questions, so I gave him the essays I had just written. Who knew that His Majesty would be furious after reading them, without uttering a single word of reprimand, but instead ordered me to be dragged out and punished with twenty strokes of the cane. Teacher, I…"

Jiang Jibai's brow twitched upon hearing this. According to Bian Feibai, the problem most likely lay in the essay. The five questions he set were merely for assessment, standard and not particularly difficult. How could they have offended His Majesty?

Jiang Jibai rubbed his temples and asked, "Did you write anything outrageous in those five articles?"

Qin Ji shook his head, looking completely bewildered.

Jiang Jibai then asked, "Have you forgotten to avoid any taboos that might offend Your Majesty?"

Qin Ji shook his head decisively.

Unable to get any answers from his questions, Jiang Jibai simply reached out and said, "Give it to me."

Qin Ji took out a prepared article from the pocket under his sleeve and handed it to him.

Jiang Jibai unfolded the article and read five chapters at a glance, his expression becoming more and more interesting as he read, until he slammed the article down on the rattan table with a "thud." He took a deep breath, trying his best not to look at the annoying thing standing in front of him, lest he lose his temper and tie the person to a tree in the yard and whip them.

Jiang Jibai tapped his finger lightly on the rattan table, sneered, and sighed, "His Majesty is benevolent; twenty strokes of the cane are too lenient for you."

His Majesty probably wants to know why he was blind to choose you as his study companion, just as I want to know why I was blind to choose you as my student.

Qin Ji largely agreed with the statement that "Your Majesty is benevolent and virtuous".

This is after revisions; the original was utter nonsense and an eyesore.

I only punished Bian Yushu with twenty strokes of the cane; I am truly wise, kind, and magnanimous.

Jiang Jibai picked up the article, not even glancing at Qin Ji, and turned to go into the study. "Come here, let me explain it to you."

Is it just talk, no punishment?

How could you resist taking action? Gu Huaijin, are you even capable?

Qin Ji followed closely behind, his face full of existential doubt. When Jiang Jibai looked over, his expression changed to "annoyed" and "dejected".

Seeing his dejected appearance, Jiang Jibai's anger did not subside in the slightest; on the contrary, it seemed to be burning even more fiercely. He picked up his cup and drank a few sips of cold tea before he could barely calm down.

It wasn't that he didn't want to fight, but the kid had been under his tutelage for over ten days without ever having listened to a single lecture or received any guidance from him, yet he was beaten before he even got a chance.

He disliked punishing someone without first educating them. He had to first clear up the boy's doubts and guide him in his studies before he could deal with him properly. Otherwise, what kind of person would he be?

Jiang Jibai spread the five articles out on the desk, casually took a brush from the brush holder, dipped it in ink, and said, "What are you doing standing so far away? Come closer and take a look."

Qin Ji was surprised that he could actually hold back, and disappointedly moved closer.

Jiang Jibai started with these articles, analyzing their shortcomings in proposing and developing the topic. His casual pointers were insightful and penetrating, giving people a sense of clarity and enlightenment.

Jiang Jibai was different from the Hanlin scholars who lectured him. Before serving the emperor, Hanlin scholars sought only routine duties, with content that was predictable and lacked originality. Jiang Jibai, on the other hand, was erudite, insightful about governance and chaos, and skilled in rhetoric. His extensive travels and studies had broadened his horizons, allowing him to readily recount vivid and interesting anecdotes.

Qin Ji had only listened casually at first, but gradually he became really drawn in. He was shocked to see Jiang Jibai casually make changes that brought several unbearable articles back to life. He never expected that Jiang Jibai was such a talented person who could make something out of nothing.

Jiang Jibai occasionally asked a few questions, and Qin Ji couldn't help but join in, discussing them with great interest. It seemed like a harmonious scene of master and disciple exchanging ideas and enjoying each other's company. Before they knew it, two hours had passed, and Jiang Jibai had refilled his teacup several times.

I put down my pen; the pages of the article were covered with densely packed corrections, and I also circled the 17 misspelled or missing words.

Qin Ji had already started grinding ink for Jiang Jibai without anyone noticing, and because he was not skilled, some ink even got on his sleeve.

Seeing Jiang Jibai put down his pen, Qin Ji also put down his ink stick, stretched his legs which were getting sore from standing, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Although Gu Huaijin was dressed in plain clothes, he was no less talented than the great scholars he had ever met. With such talent and a noble background, he should not be an unknown figure.

Either he was truly a reclusive hermit, or he gave himself... a false name.

This is interesting. He comes from a good family, but lives in a dilapidated two-courtyard house. He has only two servants: a gatekeeper who watches over the door outside and a cook who just came in to serve tea to the master and his apprentice. He even gave himself a pseudonym.

Was their family guilty of a crime, and were they descendants of disgraced officials?

Or perhaps they live in seclusion in the city, unwilling to let others know their whereabouts?

While Qin Ji was scrutinizing Jiang Jibai, Jiang Jibai was also analyzing the young man sitting below him.

Judging from Bian Feibai's casual response to his impromptu question, this kid is quite knowledgeable and must have studied well.

The article he wrote wouldn't be this bad, but he wrote a few words without making a sound, and the handwriting wasn't a big problem.

This is interesting.

Jiang Jibai tapped his finger on the signature area at the end of the article and casually asked, "Bian Yushu?"

This was something Qin Ji had deliberately left unaltered when he copied it, intending to make it public. Qin Ji immediately replied, "Student Bian Yushu, courtesy name Feibai."

Jiang Jibai didn't dwell on the question; this answer was within his expectations. He got up and stretched his slightly stiff hands and feet, which had been sitting for two hours, and then casually pulled out the vine that had been placed in a vase with the small wooden stick from last time.

Now that the academic guidance has been given, it's time for a proper lesson.

Qin Ji had a premonition from his actions.

As expected, the cane struck the desk. Jiang Jibai smiled, but his voice was as cold as ice: "Did you really write these five articles?"

Qin Ji was overjoyed.

This trip out of the palace was definitely worthwhile; not only did we gain a lot, but we also had an unexpected surprise!