Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

After giving Pei Lian his advice, Qin Ji looked the boy up and down and commented, "He doesn't look like he's just been interrogated."

Shang Jingming understood immediately and instructed the two soldiers guarding outside: "Take the third-ranked scholar to change into a suitable outfit."

Pei Lian was taken away in a daze, changed into prison clothes, had his hair ornament askew, and was splashed with water before being brought back in a "disheveled" state.

Qin Ji tapped the table lightly with his fingers, feeling that something was still missing.

He asked with concern, "You've been on tenterhooks these past few days, haven't you? You must be having trouble eating?"

Pei Lian hadn't expected His Majesty to care about this, and replied somewhat awkwardly, "It's alright."

Qin Ji very "considerately" pushed the snacks on the table to the opposite side of the wooden table: "Sit down, have something to eat."

Pei Lian glanced at the snacks, then at the gloomy, blood-stained environment, and then at the sturdy wooden chair.

He doesn't necessarily need to fill his stomach, and he doesn't need these snacks either...

Okay, he has to eat it.

How could he possibly refuse a gift from His Majesty?

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty." Pei Lian uttered the words almost by himself, and his face turned pale the moment he sat down.

Qin Ji withdrew his gaze with satisfaction.

This is just right.

He chatted casually with Pei Lian for a while, and said some words of consideration.

Pei Lian lost his appetite and had to concentrate on answering the Emperor's questions, fearing that he would be accused of disrespecting the Emperor's grace. The sweat seeping from his nose and forehead quickly mixed with the wet stains on his face, making his disheveled appearance seem more real.

Finally, after leisurely finishing a cup of tea, Qin Ji mercifully released the man: "Send him back."

Pei Lian stood up as if granted a pardon, his posture slightly unnatural. Shang Jingming saw through it but didn't say anything, silently sympathizing with Pei Lian for a second before calmly ordering the soldiers to "escort" him back to the prison.

After Pei Lian left, His Majesty's voice came from behind, tinged with a hint of mockery: "Zhao Siye is not easy to deal with, is he?"

Shang Jingming turned around and met the emperor's ambiguous smile. He sighed helplessly, "If there's anything I can do, I'll do it. It's just that I got a teacup thrown at me and my clothes got wet. It's nothing."

Qin Ji was almost overwhelmed by the pitiful aroma of the tea.

This kid is truly his personal disciple!

He laughed and retorted, "So, loyalty and filial piety go unrecorded, like wearing fine clothes in the dark, is that it?"

Shang Jingming smiled slyly and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Teacher."

Qin Ji glanced at him and asked, "Was that a compliment?"

With a smile, Shang Jingming poured him some tea: "The loyalty and filial piety you spoke of are honors that not everyone can possess."

Qin Ji enjoyed the service of his second disciple and trusted minister. His gaze swept over the faint dark circles under the man's eyes. He put away his joking expression and said slowly, "You have to take charge of the affairs of the Five Cities Military Command, train elite soldiers with Bian Yushu to use the new crossbows, handle the case of selling exam questions for me, and consult with several old generals on military strategy. You've worked hard."

"It's not hard work. These days are fulfilling. If it weren't for your entrustment of this important task, Jingming would still be just a playboy who spends his days chasing dogs and fighting cocks, doing nothing productive. How could he be where he is today?"

He wasn't afraid of being overwhelmed with work and constantly busy; he was only afraid of being ignored and having nowhere to go, living like a homeless, lonely soul in the world.

Shang Jingming said, "Besides, didn't you spare Jingming a beating a few days ago?"

Qin Ji chuckled: "You're not allowed to lose a single simulation, and you even have the old generals who taught you take turns competing against you. That's asking too much of you."

Shang Jingming replied without hesitation, "It's a good thing that you have high expectations of me."

This was the second time Qin Ji had heard Shang Jingming say this.

This time, Qin Ji didn't tease him. Instead, he stood up and patted him on the shoulder: "Don't push yourself too hard. My Marquis of Champion is already excellent enough. He doesn't need to prove himself to me repeatedly."

Shang Jingming was taken aback, his eyes gleaming. He moved his throat, but could only utter a single "yes".

Qin Ji walked over to the tiger bench and tossed the used porcelain bottle to Shang Jingming: "Keep it safe."

Pei Lian was going to see Xie Wumian again tonight, and since it was hard to explain where the ointment came from, he didn't tell Xie Wumian to take it with him.

Shang Jingming readily put the medicine into his sleeve. "Don't worry, I'll call Pei Xiaotanhua over every now and then under the guise of interrogation to apply the medicine."

"If that's not enough for you, ask Dr. Liang to prepare some more for you."

After a moment of awkwardness, Shang Jingming asked, "Don't you think Dr. Liang's gaze towards you is becoming increasingly strange?"

Qin Ji: "..."

He doesn't know anything! This is a fine tradition of our sect!

That's extremely disrespectful; I'll have him executed sooner or later.

"It's almost midnight. If we don't leave soon, we might run into Xie Wumian." Qin Ji stepped out of the torture chamber.

Although it wouldn't be a big deal if they bumped into each other, since Xie Wumian had never seen his true face, it would be best to avoid trouble to prevent any unforeseen problems.

Shang Jingming hurriedly followed and draped the cloak over His Majesty.

Qin Ji put on his hood, slightly concealing his face, and the two walked out along the passageway one after the other. When they passed Pei Lian's prison, Qin Ji even glanced at it.

Pei Lian seemed to sense something, raised his head on the bed board, and paid his respects to Qin Ji from afar.

Qin Ji withdrew his gaze, his feet never pausing for a moment.

After they disappeared around the corner, a prisoner muttered under his breath, "Wearing cloaks, acting all mysterious, I wonder who they are."

"Didn't you see that the man surnamed Shang personally escorted him? He must be some important figure."

"That young master was interrogated tonight; it might be related to his case."

"Tsk, look at the pathetic state that kid was in when he was brought back. Even if he had more money, he still wouldn't be able to act so arrogantly here."

"Shh, keep your voice down, or the constables will hear you and beat you up."

"They're just doing things for money, why would they care about anything else? If they were really that powerful, would they be able to interrogate people so easily, leaving them in such a miserable state?"

"I didn't see any blood on him. How bad could his condition be?"

"Didn't you hear that guy surnamed Shang call him Pei the Little Scholar? He has special privileges, so he certainly can't openly act all bloody and ruthless. There are plenty of ways to torture people here; I've seen it all before."

...

Qin Ji and Shang Jingming arrived at the prison gate.

Shang Jingming gave the constable a wink, and the constable was about to open the gate. At the same time, outside the gate, Constable Chai was complaining to Xie Wumian in a low voice: "Didn't you say it was just you alone? Don't you know that having another person increases the risk?"

...

First update delivered. I have some things to do tomorrow, so I'll be taking a day off. I won't be counting the number of updates today.

I can't finish writing the second update today, I have to get up early tomorrow, I'll find time to finish it then. Love you~