Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Shang Jingming and His Majesty were drinking tea and eating fruit by the field ridge, watching Bian Yushu in the field, sometimes scratching his head and sometimes gesturing as he held the curved plow.

He was trying to think of something to say.

Qin Ji glanced at him. "How was the deployment of the Five Cities Garrison today?"

Shang Jingming straightened his posture slightly. "The officials around the Jitian have set up three layers of visible sentries and two hidden checkpoints. All the attendees and their vehicles have been recorded and verified, and there are no abnormalities."

Qin Ji smiled slightly, not hesitating to praise him: "Well done."

Shang Jingming replied, "It's just my duty; I dare not take credit for it."

Qin Ji raised an eyebrow: "I heard that when you were recuperating at the villa, Shang Yu went to visit you?"

Besides him and Shang Yu, only Shen Jiangliu and Bian Yushu were present at the time.

Although the eldest master has a sharp tongue, he doesn't seem like the type to bring up this matter to His Majesty.

It's most likely that it's that idiot Bian Yushu.

Shang Jingming's expression didn't change much. He put down his teacup and said, "My father came to visit me once after hearing that I had been flogged."

Qin Ji couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled Bian Yushu's animated introduction of his "senior uncle" and how he had protected Shang Jingming, his "junior brother" who had suffered so much hardship.

He turned his gaze to Bian Yushu, who was busy in the field like a little bee.

Just when Shang Jingming thought that His Majesty had only asked casually and would not say anything more.

A casual yet remarkably clear voice rang out from the side, "When you're staying at the villa, if you don't want to see him, just have someone turn you away."

Shang Jingming suddenly turned his head. "Your Majesty?"

People at that time valued filial piety highly, and the relationship between father and son was an insurmountable obstacle.

His Majesty once told him to "be moved but restrained," which suggests that His Majesty did not approve of him openly breaking ties and being disobedient and unfilial.

He never expected His Majesty to say such things to him.

Qin Ji fiddled with the teacup beside him. "I called it the wrong name again."

Shang Jingming was so surprised that he blurted out the name, so he quickly corrected himself, "Teacher, I thought..."

"You're right, I certainly don't approve of you openly clashing with Shang Yu. That would be foolish and detrimental to your career." Qin Ji raised an eyebrow slightly. "But filial piety is unchangeable, but methods can be flexible..."

"The name of Bian Yushu that is now hanging in that villa is roughly the same as Bian Hongzhen's house, and it has nothing to do with Shang Yu."

You and Bian Yushu are still at odds, and you can't stand each other.

Why should Shang Yu get a good face?

"So what if the Bian family won't let him in?"

Shang Jingming: "..." That makes a lot of sense.

Qin Ji commented, "He seems quite clever, but why didn't he know to take a more roundabout approach to this? Well, it's alright."

Upon hearing this "that's fine," Shang Jingming looked at His Majesty again.

Qin Ji teased, "It feels good to be protected by your eldest uncle and eldest brother, doesn't it?"

Shang Jingming: "..."

Qin Ji tapped the wooden table beside him and said calmly, "Reply."

Shang Jingming opened his mouth.

Before Shang Jingming could answer, Qin Ji added, "Tell the truth, don't be hypocritical, otherwise you'll be deceiving the emperor."

Shang Jingming: "..."

A patch of red slowly crept up the back of his neck, and the tall, upright young man tried his best to appear less embarrassed.

He picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and said while digging his toes into the ground, "Very good."

Qin Ji's smile deepened, and he was about to tease him a few more times.

Shang Jingming pretended to look at the busy little bee in the field, "Does the teacher want to improve the curved plow?"

...

Second update delivered. Double updates tomorrow, more words to make up for, though the word count has decreased.

Hehe, you're praising me!