Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Seeing that Jiang Jibai did not answer, Zheng Ying took it as a tacit agreement and instructed his servant, "Go to the private room next door and invite Mr. Jiang's outstanding student to come here for a chat."

Just as the servant was about to leave to carry out his orders, Zheng Ying remembered something and called him back again.

The scholars gathered for an elegant gathering, all of them young talents. If he were to invite only Jiang San in his own name, it would inevitably lead to gossip and envy.

"Don't say it was the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy who invited you. Just say..." Zheng Ying paused slightly, glanced at Jiang Jibai, and said considerately, "Just say that Mr. Jiang is having a small gathering with friends here, and when he heard that his disciple was here, he invited him over for a chat."

"As for the tea and snacks... let's just say they were a gift from Mr. Jiang."

The young disciple has a special status, serving as both a secret guard and the emperor's study companion.

Previously, he covered his face with a veil on Mangshan Mountain, presumably because he did not want to attract attention.

As the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, Zheng Ying should have met the junior disciples who often served His Majesty.

Once they meet, the news that the emperor's tutor is his disciple will likely be impossible to conceal.

For a bodyguard, such a great reputation may not be a good thing.

He was not familiar with this Master Zheng, and could not place his hopes on him keeping his young disciple's secret.

However, refusing outright would be too disrespectful to Chief Minister Zheng.

Previously, when he was invited to teach at the Imperial Academy, he refused. Now, when he wanted to see his young disciple, he refused outright. It was difficult for Chancellor Zheng to save face.

Jiang Jibai naturally understood the thoughtfulness of Zheng Jijiu's use of his name, but he couldn't let his junior disciple rush headlong into things without any preparation.

He stood up and said with a smile, "I thank the chief priest for his kindness on behalf of my apprentice. In that case, I will go and bring my apprentice here."

Previously, when asked if he wanted to go next door to see the scholars, he said he was afraid of disturbing their enjoyment. Now, upon hearing that his disciple was there, he has taken the initiative to ask to go.

They truly distinguish between close and distant relationships.

Zheng Jijiu wanted to go, but he had just flattered Jiang Jibai and pretended to be considering his disciple's feelings, so he didn't want to go back on his word.

He shook his head and chuckled, "Then I'll wait here?"

...

Jiang Jibai followed the pebbly path, around the bamboo grove, through a hanging flower archway, and into the courtyard of the adjacent private room.

From afar, one could hear the lively discussions among the scholars, just like in a bustling market.

Zou Rong, slightly tipsy, said, "Brother Lu, Brother Gu just used the phrase 'breaking willow branches' in your poem. You have to drink the penalty wine!"

"When did you use it? I don't remember."

"About three or four rounds ago, were you drunk and confused? You don't even remember that?"

"I think you're a bit tipsy. I don't remember ever using it."

"If you don't believe me, ask Brother Fu or the young prodigy Pei."

"Little Prodigy Pei drank way more than you; who knows if he got completely drunk."

"Hey, you still don't believe me?" Zou Rong got excited and called to Qin Ji, "Brother Jiang, where's your manuscript? Go through it, find the evidence, and slap it in his face."

Qin Ji stared blankly at the few "drummers" who genuinely treated him as a clerk, remaining unmoved.

Gu Zhenhe quickly tried to salvage the situation: "I did use it before the fourth wheel."

Even the person involved said it: Lu Zhongbo rolled up his sleeves indignantly, snatched the stack of poems in front of Qin Ji, and started rummaging through them: "I refuse to believe this!"

Zou Rong shook his head and commented, "They won't shed tears until they see the coffin."

Brother Lu, you should drink less in the future.

"I didn't drink too much. Even if I drank a lot, how much could I drink as much as Pei Xiaoshentong? He's perfectly fine."

Pei Lian held the wine jug, his eyes fixed on Qin Ji, where two small flames burned.

"You look down on me?! You actually look down on me?!"

He got more and more excited as he talked, finally stepping onto the tea table in front of him, raising his head and chin high, "You said you couldn't see my nostrils, now you can see them, right? Aren't they round?"

Qin Ji: "..."

Chen Han, who was standing next to him, couldn't stop him. While stealing glances at Qin Ji's expression, she tried to soothe the drunkard, "Little Prodigy Pei, you're drunk. Let me take you home."

"No, I won't leave! I want to have a showdown with Jiang Sanyi!"

Qin Ji scoffed at this, giving him a once-over: "Does this even need a decision?"

Pei Lian's blood boiled, and he rolled up his sleeves: "I'll fight you to the death!"

Yan Mingli: Good, good, good, I'm finally not the one on this list who offended His Majesty the most!

Little prodigy Pei, you won't be alone on the bench in the future.

While chaos erupted on their side, Jiang Jibai had already arrived at the door.

Looking around, it's a complete mess.

Pei Lian stood on the tea table, sleeves rolled up, eager to throw a punch, but Chen Han pulled him back from the side.

Lu Zhongbai and Zou Rong quickly flipped through the poems.

Gu Zhenhe, Chen Han, and Yan Mingli acted like firefighters, stopping one person and pulling another along.

Fu Xingjian's face was tense, his eyebrows were furrowed so tightly they could trap a fly, and his lips were pressed into a straight line. Every pore on his body seemed to say "Disgraceful to Civilization".

As for his junior disciples, they were the most at ease.

Sitting at the tea table, the folding fan, symbolizing "a great scholar's magnanimity," swayed back and forth, as if he were watching a grand opera.

This provoked Pei Lian so much that he stiffened his neck and howled at Chen Han, who was trying to stop him, "Don't stop me!"

Jiang Jibai's head started to ache again. He cleared his throat and stepped into the private room.

Several pairs of eyes in the private room turned to look at them simultaneously.

Pei Lian, as if he had found some incriminating evidence, raised his hoarse voice eight octaves, "Jiang San! Didn't you say your teacher had something to do today?"

"Is this what you meant by 'something's wrong'?"

...

Today's goal achieved! Double update tomorrow! *kiss*