Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Seeing his apprentice's pale face, Qin Ji gave him a reassuring look.

Knowing that His Majesty did not intend to expel him from the household, Bian Yushu immediately calmed down, obediently stepped back, and stood aside.

Qin Ji tempted him with benefits, saying, "You should know that being my apprentice is different from being an ordinary subject."

Bian Hongzhen certainly knew.

If Your Majesty wishes to take on disciples, you only need to spread the word, and countless high-ranking officials and nobles will flock to you, sending their children to serve before the Emperor.

People have varying degrees of closeness and distance, and even the highest-ranking emperor is no exception.

Unlike the nominal positions in the imperial examinations, these were true disciples of the emperor, receiving instruction from His Majesty. With such a connection, a meteoric rise in rank was almost guaranteed, and even family prominence and the rise of one person to power and influence of their entire family were not impossible.

But Bian Hongzhen never had such expectations for his son.

Yu Shu was a treasure left behind by his wife with her life. He hoped that Yu Shu could live freely, do what she liked, not be bound by rules, and not have to live in constant fear and trepidation.

If I become His Majesty's student.

Yu Shu had no choice but to follow the rules, to live by the Emperor's whims, and to learn to be cautious in her words and actions.

Thunder and rain, all are the emperor's grace.

If one is deceived by temporary favors, once the thunderbolts strike, Yu Shu will have no choice but to endure it, whether she likes it or not.

How could Bian Hongzhen bear to part with his son, whom he had carefully nurtured for so many years?

Bian Hongzhen earnestly said, "Yushu has never suffered any hardship since childhood and has been spoiled by me. I do not wish for him to become famous among the princes, but only hope that he can live a peaceful life. If he becomes Your Majesty's student, I am afraid he will cause trouble and trouble Your Majesty. In that case, it would be his fault."

Qin Ji beckoned to Bian Yushu, who scurried over and said, "Go help your father up and have him sit down."

Bian Yushu quietly tugged at her father's sleeve.

Bian Hongzhen had no choice but to comply and returned to the tea table.

Bian Dou brought over a cushion, and Qin Ji casually instructed Bian Yushu, "You sit down too."

To her left was His Majesty, and to her right was her father. Yu Shu sat down with a smile on her face.

Qin Ji looked at Bian Hongzhen, "I understand your love for your son, Bian Qing, but it's rather domineering of you to make such a drastic decision for Yu Shu. Why not listen to Yu Shu's thoughts?"

Do we even need to listen?

My son's elbow is completely bent out of place...

Bian Hongzhen didn't respond to this, subconsciously refusing, "Yushu is still young."

"Father, I'm already seventeen!" Bian Yushu immediately retorted.

Qin Ji's gaze swept between the father and son, finally landing on Bian Yushu's face. He asked calmly, "Yushu, do you know why your father refused to become my disciple on your behalf?"

Bian Yushu pursed her lips, looked at Bian Hongzhen, and nodded gently, "Father is doing this for my own good."

This simple, almost naive answer brought a knowing smile to Bian Hongzhen's face.

"Why do I say it's for your own good?" Qin Ji calmly took a sip of tea.

Bian Yushu said earnestly, "Father hopes that I can live a peaceful and smooth life, and is afraid that I will be too disciplined and unhappy by His Majesty's side."

Bian Hongzhen's smile froze.

Although the reasoning was sound, these words made him feel dizzy and disoriented.

While patting his son's leg under the tea table to signal him to stop talking, he smiled and tried to smooth things over, saying, "That's not what your father meant. Your father is just worried that you've become too undisciplined and that your words and actions might offend His Majesty."

Qin Ji was not offended, but instead asked about Bian Yushu's injuries, "Do your wounds still hurt?"

Bian Yushu was surprised that His Majesty would suddenly bring this up, and hurriedly shook his head.

"to be honest."

Bian Yushu blushed crimson, and answered in a barely audible voice, "It hurts."

"I have many rules governing my household, and my expectations of you are high. You often offend others and are frequently punished with a beating. Even with injuries, you still have to study and perform your duties..." Qin Ji asked slowly, under Bian Hongzhen's increasingly tender gaze towards his son, "Are you unhappy?"

Bian Yushu shook her head vigorously, "I'm not unhappy."

Qin Ji put down his teacup. "What are you thinking?"

Bian Yushu looked at Bian Hongzhen on her right, bit her lip, and slowly said, "Your Majesty has different expectations for Yushu."

Light green tea leaves float on the surface of the tea soup, and steaming hot air rises.

Bian Hongzhen paused slightly as he looked at the tea soup, then turned to his son.

Bian Yushu looked particularly serious. "I'm not smart, and I'm not good at studying. My father and brothers spoil me and want me to be happy."

So I became a playboy, living my days away. My servants flattered me, and my friends fawned over me. But I also knew... they looked down on me.

The servants revered my father's status as the provincial governor and envied me for being born into such a fortunate family. My friends, behind my back, laughed at me, calling me a lucky fool.

Even if they are my friends' elders and look at me with good intentions, they would never teach their children to be like me.

"Your Majesty has never looked down on me." At this point, Bian Yushu smiled and turned to Qin Ji, "You have high expectations of me."

"You would teach me things I didn't understand, just like you taught me how to disassemble the mechanical bird. Even if I only understood half of what you said, you wouldn't treat me like a fool."

It hurt a lot when I was beaten, but you always reasoned with me and never wronged me.

I've never felt so fulfilled before; I can feel myself improving every single day.

Bian Yushu paused for a moment, "I can hardly believe that I could participate in such important matters as improving catapults and heavy crossbows."

It turns out I can do things that others can't.

It turns out my hobby wasn't so bad after all; it even had an extraordinary meaning.

As he spoke of these things, Bian Yushu's eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, as if countless stars had shed their radiant robes and spread their light across his pupils.

Bian Hongzhen looked at his son's bright and spirited eyes for a long time before letting out a sigh.

His hand landed on Bian Yushu's temple. "Father has held you back."

Bian Yushu shook her head fiercely, "Father's kindness to me is different from His Majesty's kindness to me. You let me know that no matter what I am like, you will stand behind me unconditionally and protect me from the wind and rain; no matter how high I climb, you will catch me when I fall."

Bian Yushu glanced at Bian Hongzhen on his right, then at the Emperor on his left, and concluded:

"You are the best father in the world."

"His Majesty is also the best teacher in the world."

"I am truly the luckiest person in the world!"