Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Fang Yanqing closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

I had long heard that His Majesty was unfathomably cunning, and what I have seen today confirms those rumors.

Has the teacher ever seen this side of his youngest student?

How would you feel if you knew the truth?

His Majesty's current actions clearly demonstrate his intention to conceal his identity to the end, and he even issued orders to the secret guards in front of him.

Whether he intends to expose His Majesty or secretly run away with his teacher, it is no different from an ant trying to shake a tree, or climbing to the sky.

For a moment, the carriage was unusually quiet, with only the sound of wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs.

A moment later, Fang Yanqing raised his eyes to meet the gaze of the emperor, all his flattery, slickness, and feigned madness vanishing instantly: "If Your Majesty refuses to relinquish control, the entire world belongs to the emperor. Even if this humble subject wanted to take my teacher away, where could we run to? And for how long?"

Qin Ji tightened his grip on the folding fan slightly and said listlessly, "Wouldn't it be better if you pretended to be deaf and dumb and let everything remain the same? Once I entered the Jiang residence, I was just my teacher's little disciple, regardless of whether I was a subject or a ruler."

Fang Yanqing inexplicably sensed a hint of desolation in His Majesty's words.

He had no idea how deep the teacher-student relationship had become between his teacher and the Emperor during the six months his teacher had been in the capital.

But people's hearts are fickle, let alone a ruler's.

Your Majesty's mind is as deep as the sea; how could you not understand this principle?

He did not speak directly, but slowly began: "Emperor Xuanzong of the previous dynasty ascended the throne at a young age, and Grand Tutor Huo Yucheng assisted him in governing, devoting himself to the state for thirteen years. When Xuanzong was young, he said: 'The Grand Tutor is to me as water is to fish. In the future, I will treat him with the respect due to a teacher until the end, and serve him as I would my father.'"

"Three years later, Huo Yucheng fell seriously ill. Emperor Xuanzong wept at his bedside, personally attending to his needs with medicine and never taking off his clothes. He burned incense and prayed day and night. Huo Yucheng recovered and was moved to tears. At that time, it became a popular story throughout the court and the country."

"Three years later, Emperor Xuanzong assumed personal rule. Many ministers in the court were dissatisfied with Huo Yucheng's monopoly of power and repeatedly submitted memorials to impeach him. Emperor Xuanzong was furious and burned all the impeachment memorials in front of the court and the public, saying: 'If any villains try to sow discord between me and the Grand Tutor, their entire family will be executed.'"

"Three years later, Huo Yucheng was suspected by Xuan Zong due to the slander of the eunuchs, and the relationship between the emperor and his ministers became estranged, no longer what it used to be."

"In less than two years, Huo Yucheng exhausted himself, his life force depleted, and as he lay on his sickbed, he wanted to see Emperor Xuanzong. The emperor refused to see him, laughing and saying, 'Old dog, have you finally met your match?'"

"Upon hearing these words, Huo Yucheng vomited blood and died. After his death, General Xuan dug up his coffin and abandoned his body, and all the Huo family members were purged."

Fang Yanqing did not directly advise him, but instead told him a well-known story from the previous dynasty. Qin Ji knew perfectly well what Fang Yanqing meant.

Qin Ji remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "In his later years, Emperor Xuanzong recalled the past and regretted his past actions. He reburied the remains of the Grand Tutor and recalled the exiled members of the Huo family, entrusting them with important responsibilities. Moreover... I am not the Emperor Xuanzong of the previous dynasty, and my teacher is not the powerful Huo Yucheng."

"Fang Yanqing," Qin Ji looked into Fang Yanqing's eyes, "I've read just as much history as you have about Emperor Xuanzong and Grand Tutor Huo. With history as a mirror, do you think I would repeat Emperor Xuanzong's mistakes?"

Fang Yanqing met Qin Ji's gaze without flinching: "Your Majesty, you are a wise and virtuous ruler, and I have never doubted your sincere heart towards your teacher. However... wasn't Emperor Xuanzong's heart genuine when he served him medicine at his sickbed and burned the impeachment memorials?"

"The problem isn't whether you are Emperor Xuanzong or whether your teacher is incredibly powerful. It's that..." Fang Yanqing paused slightly, "...from the moment you concealed your identity, became your student, received your teachings, and forged a dangerous relationship, your teacher was already doomed."

He spoke slowly, word by word: "With just a thought, your teacher can become the next Huo Yucheng at any time."

The air in the carriage seemed to have been completely sucked out, and the atmosphere was as stagnant as mud.

Qin Ji did not say anything more in an attempt to persuade him.

He leaned against the car wall, tapping the fan ribs with his fingers.

The emperor's power was supreme; he was like a god residing high in the heavens, capable of unleashing bloodshed and storms with a mere flick of his wrist, or causing mountains to roar and seas to surge.

Can he blame an ant the size of a grain of sand for its natural wariness and anxiety towards a behemoth like an elephant?

Since he had taken this position, it was destined that he would be alienated by imperial power and feared by others throughout his life.

"I am not asking for your opinion."

Qin Ji gently stroked the folding fan in his hand, looked into Fang Yanqing's eyes, and said calmly, "Give up your idea of ​​taking Jiang Jibai to escape into the world. Without my permission, you can't even leave the capital."

A cold smile played on his lips: "If you don't believe me... you're welcome to try."

Fang Yanqing remained silent for a long time.

He knew that it would be incredibly difficult to escape with his teacher right under the noses of the secret guards.

His Majesty was in high spirits and wouldn't listen to any advice.

When His Majesty refuses to let go and is unable to help the teacher out of the current predicament, the best approach is not to give up and let things spiral out of control, but to maintain the current balance, play along with His Majesty, gain his trust, and look forward to the future.

"What if one day, teacher, you want to leave?" Fang Yanqing asked.

Qin Ji did not answer the question for a long time until the carriage stopped in front of the Jiang residence, and Bian Dou respectfully lifted the curtain.

Qin Ji ducked down and crawled out of the carriage.

A listless voice reached Fang Yanqing's ears: "Time will tell."

...

The two entered the Jiang residence one after the other, and sure enough, Jiang Jibai and Shen Jiangliu were already waiting in the main hall.

Jiang Jibai was somewhat surprised to see the two brothers arrive together. "Feibai, aren't you on duty today?"

Shen Jiangliu had anticipated this. He glanced at His Majesty, then at his second junior brother who seemed somewhat distracted, and then closed his eyes and mind, like an old monk in deep meditation.

Qin Ji glanced at Fang Yanqing beside him: "I was on duty in the palace today for the imperial examination. After the examination, I simply asked His Majesty for leave and took Fang Yanqing back with me."

"Isn't it already curfew outside? Why are you back so late?" Jiang Jibai asked casually.

Qin Ji flicked his folding fan and blurted out, "I just got a new fan, shouldn't Fang Yanqing give me a gift?"

Jiang Jibai then noticed the new fan pendant tied to the bottom of the folding fan he had given to his junior disciple.

The sun must have risen in the west! When did the second disciple start giving things away on his own initiative?

Could it be that his junior brother has some kind of leverage over him?

Jiang Jibai's gaze swept back and forth between the two disciples' faces, and he said indifferently, "You won't even call him your second senior brother, yet Yanqing actually gave you a gift?"

Qin Ji knew that Jiang Jibai was not someone who could be easily fooled.

Although Qin Ji had already arranged for the things Fang Yanqing bought to be delivered directly to Shen Jiangliu's residence via a different route, the two of them had to find a suitable reason to return so late.

Qin Jilong's mind raced, and he proactively put his arm around Fang Yanqing's shoulder, adopting a buddy-buddy-like demeanor as he shouted at Jiang Jibai, "So what?! We're fellow disciples, and you're not happy about that?"

After shouting, he lowered his voice, just enough for Jiang Jibai to hear, and whispered in Fang Yanqing's ear, "I've done what I promised you. I didn't say a word about you spying on the emperor during the palace examination in front of the teacher!"

Fang Yanqing: "..."

Jiang Jibai: "..."