Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

While it's called an explanation, there's bound to be some settling of scores later, and good fortune is on its way.

With Gu Zhenhe by his side, Qin Ji stood up calmly, showing no sign of unease, and followed him with a smile, straightening his clothes.

The master and apprentice walked out of the Sidingzhai one after the other, passed through the tiled houses, and followed the bluestone path to the secluded house located deep in the academy, where the teachers lived.

The houses are built along the mountainside, clustered together in twos and threes, separated by fences or bamboo groves, forming relatively independent yet interconnected courtyards.

Qin Ji followed Jiang Jibai into a house in a small courtyard.

The room was simply furnished with a bed, a table, a chair, a bamboo bookshelf against the wall, and a few small wooden stools.

The size is just right for one person, but it feels a bit cramped when two people squeeze in.

Qin Ji stood by the door, looking around to make sure he was in his surroundings.

Upon discovering that someone was in a nearby house, he closed the door tightly and sealed the windows by his desk.

Jiang Jibai had just lit the small stove when he turned around and saw his little disciple looking like a thief. A smile appeared in his eyes.

This kid is quite self-aware.

He scooped a pot of water from the water vat in the yard, put it on the stove to boil, and casually asked, "Why are you here today? Aren't you on duty?"

Qin Ji moved a small stool and sat down by the stove. "I went out of the palace to run errands for His Majesty and got half a day off. When I went to your residence, I found you were not there. Uncle Li told me that you had gone to Songjian Academy to give lectures."

Qin Ji rubbed his hands together to warm them by the fire, muttering to himself with dissatisfaction, "I've never heard you mention this to me."

Jiang Jibai glanced helplessly at his junior disciple, stood up, straightened his sleeves, and said, "I've only been here for two days."

"Then what should I do on my days off? Come here and listen to your lectures with them?" Qin Ji picked at his ear.

Jiang Jibai patted his youngest disciple on the head. "How could I forget you? When you're on leave, I'll return to the Jiang residence, and other teachers will take over the lessons at the Sidingzhai Academy."

"That's more like it," Qin Ji snorted.

Jiang Jibai glanced at him, steer the conversation back to the main topic, "Jiang San?"

Qin Ji grinned broadly, his eyes barely visible, and said matter-of-factly, "Jiang Jibai's third disciple, Jiang San, what's the problem?"

Jiang San, Jiang San, so this is the San.

Touched by his young disciple's radiant smile, a warmth appeared in Jiang Jibai's eyes.

He raised his voice slightly, "Li Hongye?"

A hint of guilt flashed across Qin Ji's face, but he quickly seemed to remember something, and waved his swollen, red hand in front of Jiang Jibai, accusingly asking, "What is this? What is this?"

"No way, is Jiang Daru going to be punished twice for the same offense?"

The water in the kettle boiled and began to bubble. Jiang Jibai poured the boiling water into the teapot, and the tea leaves were swept up by the water flow and floated and unfurled in the teapot.

He pulled the chair from his desk to the fireplace, poured two cups of tea, handed one to Qin Ji, and sat around the fireplace with his young disciple. His expression was relaxed, and his voice was gentle, clear, and unhurried. "Feibai, thank you for protecting me."

Qin Ji's accusatory expression vanished, replaced by a dizzy feeling, as if he had bumped his head on cotton.

Instead of receiving the expected punishment, he was met with a sincere thank you.

My heart felt warm and throbbed, and I also felt a little embarrassed.

"What's the big deal?" Qin Ji snorted lightly, blowing on the hot tea in his cup. The rising steam obscured his eyes, which were filled with emotion. "Didn't you say that it's a teacher's duty to protect their students?"

He lowered his gaze, watching the tea leaves floating in the cup, then suddenly looked up, meeting Jiang Jibai's eyes with a smile, and said decisively, "It's only natural for students to protect their teachers."

Looking at his sincere young disciples, Jiang Jibai felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He smiled slightly, his words carrying a hidden meaning, "Knowing you'll be punished, you still want to protect them?"

Qin Ji inwardly grumbled.

I was wondering when this poison master became so easy to talk to?

So this is where I was waiting.

Qin Ji knew he couldn't escape punishment. He took a sip of his tea, casually placed it on the stool beside him, hummed in dissatisfaction, then stood up and leaned on the desk. "Just punish me if you want to, why beat around the bush..."

The young disciple did not answer his question, but he answered it with his actions.

Jiang Jibai, who was always very principled, was unusually hesitant at this moment.

He never expected anything in return for his efforts with his disciples, yet he received a warm response.

The boy was sharp-tongued, but he was actually willingly leaning on the desk, looking like he was about to be punished, even though his original intention was to stand up for him.

The motive was pure and sincere.

Should he punish him for this passionate affection?

What stance should be taken?

But a mistake is a mistake.

Jiang Jibai looked at the boy's back and slowly said, "Come here."

Qin Ji twitched his ears alertly.

not good.

The two-word mantra.

He quickly turned around and walked back to the stove.

But there's nowhere to lie down here!

Could it be...? Qin Ji's gaze shifted to Jiang Jibai's legs, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.

Fortune, good luck?

Jiang Jibai had no idea what his little disciple was thinking. He patted the stool next to him to signal to his disciple.

Qin Ji looked at the small wooden stool with a troubled expression, and clicked his tongue regretfully, "Isn't this a bit too short and small? With my long arms and legs, it's not very convenient for me..."

Jiang Jibai couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm asking you to sit down."

Qin Ji found it hard to believe.

Has this drug addict really changed his ways?

He said "Oh" and sat down with some skepticism.

Jiang Jibai asked calmly, "Do you remember how Fu Xingjian evaluated you when he spoke up for you?"

Thanks to his good memory, Qin Ji hadn't forgotten. He pursed his lips and said slowly, "...inappropriate words and arrogant attitude."

Jiang Jibai asked, "Do you think his assessment is reasonable?"

What's the reason?

To speak ill of one's ruler is a crime punishable by death!

The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she wisely changed them into a reluctant "just a little bit."

"Feibai, thank you for standing up for me."

Not wanting to hurt his young disciple's sincere intention to protect him, Jiang Jibai expressed his gratitude again, then paused slightly and gently guided him, "However, you must know that not everyone in this world is like you, with an excellent background and outstanding talent."

More often, they are ordinary people like Yan Mingli, who come from poor backgrounds, have mediocre talents, and have selfish motives.

Or, in your words, they are those useless people who blame heaven, earth, their parents, their environment, and their husbands, but never look for the cause within themselves.

"..."

Qin Ji opened his mouth, unsure how to refute. He hadn't expected Jiang Jibai to remember his insults so clearly.

Jiang Jibai slowly pointed out: "The imperial examination may be the only way for them to change their fate in this life. At this critical moment when the spring examination is about to begin, they are like taut strings, and the slightest disturbance can cause great disturbance to them."

"At this time, I came to Songjian Academy to teach under an assumed name. They were unwilling and had their own thoughts, which wasn't so incomprehensible, was it?"

"But he can't just use public opinion to label you like that." For some reason, Qin Ji felt a little uncomfortable, and he immediately retorted.

"Yan Mingli has his faults, and I'm not saying it's wrong for you to defend me and refute him on my behalf." Jiang Jibai carefully chose his words. "I just want to tell you that you might need to reconsider your wording. Your perspective is too high and too arrogant."

An ordinary person with average talent might only be able to catch a glimpse of the exceptionally gifted by studying diligently with all their might. Even if they spend their entire life climbing upwards, they might still not be able to match the starting point of someone else.

Their families placed all their hopes on them, and they dared not relax for a moment.

Yet, someone with a higher standing can negate their past with a single sentence and despise them as a useless person who doesn't look for reasons within themselves.

I'm not just referring to Yan Mingli.

You need to understand that not everyone will be rewarded for their efforts, and not everyone will reap the rewards for their hard work.

They fear change and might fuss over something as trivial as changing tutors three months before the imperial examinations, which could lead to hostility towards me. They might be distracted by small things and even fall ill before the exams.

Jiang Jibai asked, "Do you think those ordinary students in Sidingzhai who oppose me are unworthy of listening to my lectures and only deserve to be called useless?"

...

The first update is here; the second update will be at midnight.

I'm short 600 units of electricity generated by love! Love you all, mua~