Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Qin Ji returned to the palace with the poison master's seal, carefully folded it like a treasure, put it in a box, placed it by his pillow, and had a good dream all night.

The next day was the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month.

Officials have officially started their holidays, and year-end political affairs have finally come to an end.

As the emperor of the Great Yin Dynasty, Qin Ji was required to perform year-end sacrifices, offering prayers to Heaven and Earth and his ancestors, and praying for favorable weather, peace, and prosperity in the coming year.

After the sacrificial ceremony was completed, Qin Ji finally had time to deal with someone.

Qin Ji tapped the desk with his knuckles, expressionless.

After a day and a night of anxious anticipation, the lentil emerged from the shadows and slid to its knees, prostrating itself on the ground.

Qin Ji narrowed his eyes slightly, "You're doing a good job as a bodyguard."

A chill ran down his spine to his neck, and Bean looked on with despair.

In that situation, if he hadn't run, His Majesty's disguise would have been exposed, and he would have been doomed.

If he had taken His Majesty with him, and given the commotion on the roof, Jiang Daru and Lord Bian hadn't seen anything when they came out, with Jiang Daru's keen senses, he would have been suspicious, and he would have been dead too.

So he simply ran away...

God knows how terrified he was when he later heard His Majesty crying from the rooftop.

The ingredients were prepared to this extent, causing His Majesty to be tricked and beaten severely. Was he practically about to be boiled alive...?

Bian Dou dared not defend himself, and slammed his head on the ground, utterly despondent, "Your subordinate deserves to die."

The spacious Qianzheng Hall was silent, except for the soft tapping of His Majesty's knuckles on the desk. With each rhythmic tap, Biandou's scalp tingled, and he worried that at any moment, his unsteady head would roll off his neck like a ball.

Qin Ji leaned back on the throne, his hand casually resting on the armrest. "Tell me, what did you hear on the rooftop?"

Having been by his side for so long, he knew a thing or two about the qualities of a food ingredient. If he hadn't heard something horrifying, he wouldn't have slipped on the roof and alerted Jiang Jibai.

If they were truly such incompetent fools, how could Qin Ji dare to entrust his safety to them?

Cold sweat rolled down his forehead, and Lentil's throat bobbed with difficulty.

They guarded the ingredients day and night, so of course they knew it was a rumor.

But could a mere ingredient casually utter such rumors that involve His Majesty's privacy?

In short, lentils are "baseless rumors and baseless gossip."

As soon as he finished speaking, Bean felt the gaze from the throne, sometimes on his neck, sometimes on the top of his head, as if contemplating whether to behead him or skin him alive.

Lentil felt breathless, and just as he was about to describe in detail what he had heard, His Majesty's voice rang out again in the Qianzheng Hall, neither warm nor cold.

"What did Jiang Jibai and Bian Hongzhen say to each other while lingering at the Jiang residence's entrance?"

Lentil: "..."

We've discussed your disciplinary authority; is that something to say?

His Majesty also specifically instructed Jiang Daru not to tell Bian Hongzhen about his punishment.

Jiang Daru agreed in order to appease His Majesty.

If he were to say it, would His Majesty be furious?

Ah... Heaven is going to destroy my ingredients!

Biandou said with difficulty, "Lord Bian showed you affection, and Scholar Jiang demonstrated his sense of responsibility as a teacher."

Qin Ji paused, his fingers tapping the armrest, and sneered, "If you utter another word of nonsense, I will send you down to serve the late emperor right now."

Biandou's throat tightened, he reached up and touched his neck, and finally his hands fell limply to his sides. In a tone of utter despair, he stated bluntly, "The last thing Jiang Daru said to Lord Bian in the room in a low voice was 'the inclination to share a peach and cut off one's sleeve.'"

Qin Ji: "?"

Jiang Jibai, you scoundrel! I value you so highly, yet you secretly spread lewd rumors about me?

Whose peach did you take, whose sleeve did you cut? If you can't produce evidence, I will exterminate your entire family!

"Go on."

The three concise words, devoid of any emotion, were enough for Biandou to see that His Majesty's hand was gripping the armrest so tightly that his knuckles were deformed.

With lifeless eyes, Bian Dou knelt like an emotionless wooden stake. "Mr. Jiang escorted Lord Bian to the door and asked Lord Bian for your... right to 'pounce as a form of punishment'."

"..."

Qin Ji loosened his grip on the dragon claw holding the armrest, and his toes involuntarily gripped the ground.

Before he could tell Biandou to shut up, Biandou's monotone voice rang out in the Qianzheng Hall like a chant.

"Mr. Jiang said he has already punished you several times."

"Lord Bian vehemently criticized Mr. Jiang, earnestly persuading him to abandon this outdated and inflexible habit. In the end, he was convinced by Mr. Jiang's sincerity and reluctantly agreed to turn a blind eye. He also asked Mr. Jiang to respect his opinion and not to force him."

Qin Ji: "..."

That was close; I almost lost my good fortune.

Jiang Jibai, you big liar, you big liar!

You dare to reveal anything? My national system!!!

Bian Hongzhen, you've found out what you shouldn't have known. I'm going to execute you!

Qin Ji looked around.

Fu Lu had already bowed and retreated to the corner of the wall, pretending to be a potted plant.

The lentils knelt upright, as if their souls had left their bodies, their eyes lifeless.

Qin Ji smashed the teacup.

Fu Lu continued to feign death.

The lentils ignored the teacup bursting open beside him, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Qin Ji pointed at the lentils, "Drag them away, 53 strokes."

The spirit of the lentil has returned to its rightful place.

I'm alive, I think I'm alive?

Thank goodness, I escaped death by a hair's breadth. I almost thought I was going to be boiled in a pot, it scared me to death.

Waaah, 53 board level, looks like I'll be spending the New Year crawling on my stomach.

Those bastards, ginger, red beans, and barley, are definitely going to come and mock me again.

I did that so that His Majesty's identity wouldn't be exposed.

Bean, you've been wronged!

Fu Lu secretly observed His Majesty's expression and decided to go out and avoid the limelight, allowing His Majesty some time alone.

He took small, quick steps to Bean's side, trying to keep his voice down, "Lord Bean, this way please."

Biandou's legs were still weak, so he helped her up, and the two of them leaned on each other and helped each other out of the Qianzheng Hall.

The main gate leading directly to the Qianzheng Hall closed behind them, and the two breathed a sigh of relief as His Majesty's piercing gaze was blocked by the door.

Bian Dou clutched his chest, still shaken, while Fu Lu wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve.

The two exchanged a glance, tacitly agreeing not to mention what had happened before, and simultaneously made a gesture to seal their mouths.

Bian Dou was delivered by Fu Lu to Si Xi, the chief executioner.

Si Xi greeted him with a beaming smile, "Eunuch Fu, what can I do for you?"

Fu Lu pointed to the lentils next to him with his whisk, "His Majesty has decreed, 53 strokes."

Si Xi couldn't help but mutter, "Why are there even whole numbers?"

Fu Lu tossed a whisk and said, "Just hit me when I tell you to! Why all the nonsense?"

Si Xi nodded quickly, "Yes, yes."

Just as Sixi was about to invite Biandou to sit on the bench, he suddenly realized that this gentleman looked familiar.

So he lowered his voice and asked Fulu, "This gentleman, how should we greet him?"

Before Fulu could speak, Biandou slumped onto the bench with a look of utter despair and said, "I'll hit you for real."

...

The second update is here.

Goal achieved, double updates tomorrow.