Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

His Majesty's words were like a slap in the face, making Pei Lian's cheeks burn.

He moved his lips, wanting to say something in his defense, but a voice inside him told him that His Majesty was right.

That's why he felt even more embarrassed.

His body felt as if it were being burned, and his chest felt as if a heavy stone was pressing down on it. Pei Lian kowtowed again, blinking away the tears in his eyes: "Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty."

The boy, barely out of school, bowed his head, his back trembling slightly with pain, yet he still forced himself to maintain what little dignity he had left. Like a fledgling eagle whose feathers had been soaked by wind and rain, he was disheveled but still proud and stubborn.

Qin Ji just watched, letting him kneel on the ground, without calling him up for a long time.

Pei Lian persevered, refusing to lose his composure, large beads of sweat sliding down his forehead, neck, and into his collar.

Just as the boy was about to collapse from his knees, Qin Ji half-squatted down, raised his hand to help Pei Lian up, and softened his tone: "Little prodigy Pei, if you can't learn to look down on others, use your pride in the right place, and treat those less fortunate than you with humility, how can I believe you can be a good official who serves the people and listen to their voices?"

Pei Lian's arm was held by His Majesty's warm hand. He suddenly raised his head and met His Majesty's gaze, which was very close to his own.

There was no sarcasm or ridicule, no condescending pressure, only calm encouragement and expectation.

In that instant, Pei Lian suddenly understood the reason behind His Majesty's sudden shift from coldness to approachability.

Is this... His Majesty looking down from above?

Pei Lian opened his mouth, his throat tightened, and that uncontrollable sour feeling welled up again. He lowered his eyes, not daring to look at His Majesty, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Your subject has remembered."

Seeing his reaction, Qin Ji guessed that he had taken some of the advice to heart, so he released his grip, stood up, and said, "Good fortune and prosperity."

Pei Lian instinctively stiffened upon hearing the name of the head eunuch.

His Majesty just called out this name, and then, without saying a word, ordered someone to beat him fifty times.

Seeing the short, cock-like boy so frightened by his beating, Qin Ji smiled and said, "Take the third-ranked scholar down to clean him up and apply some medicine."

"Yes." Fu Lu stepped forward to help him. "Lord Pei, this way please."

Pei Lian bowed to His Majesty, politely declined the offer of gifts, gritted his teeth and insisted on leaving on his own, trying his best not to show any unusual behavior and to maintain what little dignity he had left.

Seeing this, Qin Ji gave Fu Lu a look and let him go.

Just as he was about to step out of the Qianzheng Hall, Qin Ji seemed to remember something, called him back, and instructed him: "Don't tell your teacher about my becoming Jiang Jibai's disciple."

Pei Lian had no choice; his voice still had a slight nasal tone: "Yes."

...

After a while, Fu Lu came to report back.

Qin Ji was copying Jiang Jibai's annotations when he casually asked, "All packed up?"

Fu Lu stepped forward and served His Majesty fresh tea: "Wash your face and wipe your sweat. Lord Pei is concerned about his reputation and wouldn't let this servant apply the medicine."

Qin Ji merely scoffed at this self-serving behavior, saying, "Let him be."

"He left the palace?"

Fu Lu knew what His Majesty was asking: "As you instructed, I sent Lord Bian Dou to deliver it." Lord Pei stared at him for a while without saying anything.

Qin Ji knew what was going on.

After copying the last few words and waiting for the ink to dry, he closed the book in front of him and handed it to Fulu: "Give this to Bian Yushu."

Fu Lu bowed and said, "Yes."

Qin Ji stopped him, "Have Bian Yushu come over here."

A short while later, Bian Yushu stood respectfully before the emperor, holding the book with annotations that His Majesty had just copied, his face full of emotion.

Before he could speak, Qin Ji stopped him: "There's no need for thanks. I summoned you here to give you something."

From improving the curved plow to the heavy-duty crossbow, Bian Yushu shone brightly in his area of ​​expertise, gaining an unprecedented sense of accomplishment.

Nowadays, the craftsmen in the workshop respectfully call him "Master Bian" when they see him. Even the Minister of Works and the Vice Minister will affectionately call him "Young Master Bian". They will occasionally ask him for help and listen to his ideas when they encounter problems related to mechanisms and divination.

Therefore, when His Majesty said he had something to entrust to him, this was the first thing he thought of.

He was a little embarrassed: "The thing you asked me to do isn't finished yet, but I'm already working on it, and I'll finish it as soon as possible!"

Qin Ji knew that he was busy with studying, supervising the production of a large number of heavy crossbows and catapults, and cooperating with Shang Jingming to train a group of elite soldiers who could use them skillfully, so he did not urge him.

"No rush, just make it for me by the end of this month."

Bian Yushu nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"I called you here today for something else." Qin Ji gestured for Fu Lu to hand him the items: "Tomorrow, take my imperial edict to Zheng Ying, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and borrow a few books from him."

"Borrow books?" Bian Yushu was completely confused.

If His Majesty wants any book, he can just send someone to the Imperial Academy to get it. Why did he have to give him a written order to borrow it?

Qin Ji pressed his fist to his lips and coughed lightly: "Your grandmaster wants to see."

Bian Yushu suddenly realized that His Majesty had borrowed his identity in front of his grandmaster, so he couldn't be too blatant.

He patted his chest and assured them, "Don't worry, I've got it covered."

Qin Ji wasn't entirely at ease with his confident demeanor, so he carefully explained everything to him.

Then he said, "Once you have the book, return to the palace and do not have too much interaction with Zheng Ying."

Bian Yushu nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

...

Pei Lian stepped out of the palace gate with heavy steps and got into the carriage that had been waiting outside for a long time.

The coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly drove toward Zhao Siye's residence.

Pei Lian's face turned pale, and she grabbed the side wall of the carriage for support.

After what seemed like an eternity, we finally arrived at our destination.

He touched his eyes, making sure they were not swollen or abnormal, took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and squeezed himself out of the carriage while holding onto the door frame.

Sure enough, an elderly man with gray hair and beard was waiting at the door. When he saw him, a look of joy flashed across his face, but he quickly put on a stern face and scolded, "Why are you back so late? I saw that all your classmates have already gone home to share the good news. Did you drink too much again?"

Pei Lian's eyes welled up with tears, but he forced back his tears and pretended to be nonchalant: "I didn't drink. His Majesty gave me a small banquet after the Qionglin Banquet, so I came back late."

...

Today's goal has been achieved. Double update tomorrow, the activity continues!