Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Although they already knew that Mr. Gu was the renowned scholar Jiang Jibai, the people in the private room were still shocked when they saw Jiang Jibai enter.

After several breaths of silence, Zou Rong and the others hurriedly bowed to Jiang Jibai.

Fu Xingjian also stood up and respectfully bowed to Jiang Jibai: "Mr. Jiang."

Pei Lian angrily said to Chen Han, who kept tugging at his sleeve, "Stop pulling my sleeve!"

After saying that, he got down from the tea table, but stumbled and was caught by Chen Han.

Pei Lian brushed Chen Han's hand away and stepped forward in a few quick steps. "Mr. Jiang, you've come at the perfect time. Jiang San and I still have a game of strategy to play. Since you're here today, why don't you host a match for us and decide the winner?"

The boy reeked of alcohol; his cheeks were flushed, his steps were unsteady, and his eyes were glazed—clearly, he was quite drunk.

After all, he was Zhao Siye's apprentice, so Jiang Jibai had to take care of him. He helped Pei Lian up and said to Chen Han beside him, "He's drunk, so I'll have to trouble you to take him back to Zhao Siye."

He was not a student of Si Dingzhai, and Chen Han did not expect that the great scholar Jiang would ask him for help. He quickly said, "Don't worry, Mr. Jiang, I will make sure he gets there safely."

Jiang Jibai smiled faintly: "Thank you."

When Qin Ji saw Jiang Jibai come in, helping this person and asking for help from that person, while only caring about that arrogant brat Pei Lian, he flicked open his folding fan and then flicked it closed again, making a rustling sound as the pages swished.

Jiang Jibai was already used to his apprentice's tendency to make some noise to attract his attention when he was dissatisfied, and he was about to speak.

Pei Lian immediately objected: "I'm not going! I won't go anywhere unless I'm in a superior position with Jiang San."

He's so drunk he's starting to slur his words.

Jiang Jibai spoke calmly and gently: "You've drunk too much. The result of this competition can't be taken seriously. Your teacher and I are close friends despite our age difference. There will be other opportunities in the future. There's no need to rush."

"It's alright!" Pei Lian immediately said, "Although I've been drinking, my mind is still clear, and my thoughts are flowing like a spring."

He pointed at Gu Zhenhe and the others: "If you don't believe me, ask them."

"So, Mr. Jiang, you don't need to feel that this is unfair to me." Pei Lian shook his head. "I feel perfectly fine right now."

Looking at the swaying young man, Jiang Jibai went along with the drunkard's change of words: "You're using alcohol to express your feelings, aren't you taking advantage of your state? Even if you win, it won't be a satisfying victory."

Pei Lian was taken aback.

The alcohol-numbed brain struggled to function.

That makes sense. If he wants to win, he should win fair and square, so that Jiang San is convinced. If he takes the stage when he is in top form, wouldn't that be bullying him?

But he was unwilling to let this rare opportunity slip away.

He had a sudden inspiration: "Then let Jiang San drink too!"

"If we're in the same situation, it doesn't count as cheating..."

Before he could finish speaking, Pei Lian groaned, rolled his eyes, and collapsed headfirst.

Chen Han rushed to help, and the two of them fell into a heap.

Jiang Jibai looked at his junior disciple who was slowly retracting his hand chop: "..."

Qin Ji glanced at the two people sprawled on the ground, his face neither flushed nor his heart skipped a beat: "What's the point of getting entangled with a drunkard? It's a waste of time."

Gu Zhenhe and Yan Mingli: The first people to be knocked unconscious by His Majesty himself, they were shocked.

The man, who was both drunk and unconscious, was incredibly heavy. Chen Han tried to move Pei Lian for a long time but couldn't budge him. She looked at Gu and Yan and said, "Come and lend a hand. Help him to my carriage first."

The two of them had been wanting to make a quick getaway for a while; they couldn't breathe if they stayed any longer, so they quickly got Pei Lian away.

Jiang Jibai shifted his gaze from his junior disciple's face and addressed the remaining people in the private room, saying, "My friend and I were having tea in the next room when we heard the commotion here. Upon inquiring, we learned that you were composing poems together. Hearing that my disciple was among them, he wished to meet him and thus came to bother us."

"I'm sorry to have disturbed your enjoyment."

The word "friend" made Qin Ji's eyelids twitch wildly, and alarm bells went off in his mind.

Lu Zhongbai and Zou Rong were surprised by Jiang Daru's politeness and quickly waved their hands, saying, "No, no, we won't bother you."

The wave of his hand was so large that a piece of paper flew to the ground, caught by his sleeve.

Jiang Jibai bent down and picked it up.

Zou Rong quickly said, "It's the poem we just composed, which Brother Jiang San helped me transcribe."

Because he always kept in mind that he was using Bian Yushu's pseudonym and was here as Jiang San, Jiang Jibai's apprentice, Qin Ji used the official script very carefully, imitating Bian Yushu's handwriting, but not completely, and added a little bit of his own style.

In this way, if the news were to accidentally get out and fall into Jiang Jibai's hands, it wouldn't arouse his suspicion. And those who know his identity wouldn't find it strange that his official script was exactly the same as Bian Yushu's after he entered officialdom, since he never used the official script when he wrote official documents.

Jiang Jibai didn't say anything.

He handed over the paper: "I'm taking Jiang San to meet with some friends. You all have a good time."

The group said, "Please take care, sir."

Jiang Jibai nodded and left, while Qin Ji, playing with his folding fan, followed.

The two left the private room and walked along the pebbled path to the private room next door.

Qin Ji suddenly said, "You're quite good at sweet-talking people."

Jiang Jibai couldn't help but chuckle at the sarcastic tone. Instead of answering, he asked, "So you knocked him out?"

Qin Ji, feeling somewhat guilty, retorted, "Didn't I learn this from you? A gentleman uses actions, not words!"

He squinted at Jiang Jibai: "If I were drunk and acting like him, would you be so accommodating?"

"Your handwriting has changed a bit."

Qin Ji said "proudly," "How about the new calligraphy model? It looks even better than before, doesn't it?"

After saying that, she seemed to remember something and persisted, "Don't try to change the subject! You're quite good at coaxing other people's apprentices, aren't you?"

Jiang Jibai glanced at him, his eyes smiling, "You're just good with words."

Qin Ji felt a burning sensation at the back of his head and then fell silent.

After taking a couple of steps, he stopped and started talking again: "Where do you get so many friends? And who are they this time?"

Having fallen into countless traps, Qin Ji's vigilance was now at its peak.

His vest was drafty and couldn't withstand much more damage!

Jiang Jibai wouldn't go any further in that direction until he explained himself clearly.

What if it turns out to be another official appointed by the imperial court?

What if they hear a noise and realize that Jiang Jibai has brought his apprentice, and then warmly greet him at the door?

I don't want to play the unlucky bear anymore!

...

The first update is here; the second update should be after 1 PM.

We're still 245 posts short of the "powered by love" goal; whether there will be a double update tomorrow depends on everyone!