Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Having achieved his goal and gained another talented individual, Qin Ji did not intend to linger outside the palace and rose to leave the private room.

"You can put your mind at ease about Liu Qinghong's matter. He is involved in the theft of the defense map. After a few days when the storm has passed, I will have someone send him home."

"Tangyuan has some martial arts skills, so let her stay by your side; she'll be enough to protect you."

"Thank you for your care, Your Majesty." Although Liu Zhiwei did not know the details, with His Majesty's golden words, she had nothing to worry about.

Observing His Majesty's expression, she spoke up for Liu Qinghong, "Although my brother acts somewhat unruly, he still has principles and would not do anything to betray his country for personal gain."

"I'm the one who dragged him down, which is why he did some outrageous things in order to save more money."

"He did all this so that I would have enough to eat and wear, so that I could get treatment for my leg, so that he could buy me books..."

Liu Qinghong was a student at the Imperial Academy, and Qin Ji knew that Liu Zhiwei's words were intended to change his impression of Liu Qinghong.

Qin Ji's gaze fell into the empty space, lost in thought. He casually offered a word of advice: "Since we're family, let's not talk about being a burden. It's a blessing to have a brother like this. Cherish him."

Liu Zhiwei was taken aback by these words, never expecting the emperor, who was high above her, to say such a thing to her.

She had never experienced the chaos of the late emperor's funeral; she only heard from her brother that every household in the capital closed their doors, and the sounds of soldiers charging and fighting rang out for several days.

The blood of the royal family and the soldiers flowed like a river.

As a result, the royal bloodline has dwindled to nothingness.

I heard that not long ago, His Majesty personally ordered Prince Rui'an to commit suicide.

The king, high above all others, holds unlimited power, yet he has no family members by his side with whom he can speak.

This path of being a lonely figure, where one is often isolated and isolated, must be quite solitary, right?

"Thank you for your comfort, Your Majesty. I will remember your kindness."

Qin Ji added casually, "Tangyuan was injured for the country and is a person who has made contributions to the country. She retired because of her injury, but because of her status, she cannot be publicly acknowledged. Since you call her sister, treat her well. After a few years, when all the duties she has handled are completed and the files are sealed, I will establish a female household for her, and bestow a house and land upon her. From then on, she will be reborn."

After Qin Ji finished speaking, he turned and left.

Liu Zhiwei clearly felt two eager gazes directed at her. Those gazes were not directed at her, but followed His Majesty, almost scorching the air, surging with indescribable excitement and determination.

Liu Zhiwei almost instantly realized that the "Lord Bian" and the guard next to him were the same kind of people as Sister Tangyuan.

His Majesty's words just now moved them deeply, making them willing to serve him one after another, and even... to die for him.

She pushed her wheelchair to follow, saying, "Your Majesty, I have just cast another divination for you."

Qin Ji stopped and looked at her.

Liu Zhiwei bowed and slowly but firmly gave the divination inscription: "A holy ruler will appear, the mandate of heaven will be revealed, his power and virtue will be widely spread, and the Great Yin Dynasty will prosper."

Qin Ji glanced at her. "I hope it is as you say. I will take this as a reminder."

Turning around, a slight smile played on his lips. Just as he was about to leave, the little girl behind him asked:

"Your Majesty, that Lord Bian is not the real Provincial Governor of Western Sichuan, is he?"

Qin Ji turned around, and instead of answering, asked, "When you were talking to him, how many times did he steal glances at me?"

Without hesitation, Liu Zhiwei replied, "Three times. When I entered the private room, he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye; when I gave him the divination text for my brother, he looked at it again while drinking tea; and later, when I mentioned the defense map, he looked at it a third time."

"That's how I figured out that the person in charge here isn't him, but you."

Qin Ji chuckled softly, glancing at the mooncake. "How many times have you looked at me?"

Mooncake bowed and replied, "Five times, including when I poured her tea and when I asked her why she didn't calculate whether her brother could return alive."

Mooncake bowed slightly to Liu Zhiwei and said with a smile, "Miss Liu, I am not the Provincial Governor of Western Sichuan, but a test given to you by His Majesty."

The group left, leaving Liu Zhiwei standing there dumbfounded.

Tangyuan came over to ask, "Miss, shall we go back to Yulin Lane?"

Seeing that Liu Zhiwei didn't react, she asked again, "Miss?"

Liu Zhiwei clutched the abacus at her waist, staring at the floor tiles with a deep sense of dejection. "Sister Tangyuan, I'm questioning the meaning of life."

...

After recovering from her injuries for a few days, Liu Qinghong noticed a significant improvement in her treatment starting one evening.

Doctor Liang came to treat his injuries more often, the servants took better care of him, and even the food became better.

Not only were there two more dishes for dinner, but the quality of the dishes also improved.

Wait, what's going on here?

Are you trying to make a fuss about him again?

Is he still alive?

Now that the hundred strokes of the cane have been received, the matter should be over, right?

Liu Qinghong tried to subtly inquire with the servants several times, but each time she received a professional smile.

"Please rest and recover. The young master instructed that he will send you home in a few days, so you can still make it in time for the New Year."

Liu Qinghong: "..."

Please don't do this, it scares me.

Why am I so worried?

Are you sure you're not going to send me on my way in a few days?

...

Finally, another day off arrived, and it was also the day that Qin Ji took his "father" to the Jiangji Baimen Gate.

Qin Ji changed his clothes and took Bian Hongzhen to the market.

Qin Ji smiled and said to the "wooden stump" beside him, "What are you looking at me for? Shouldn't a father bring a gift when he visits his son's teacher for the first time?"

Bian Hongzhen: "..."