Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Now that things have come to this, Xie Wumian no longer has the mind to feel complicated about the words "Zhao Siye's outstanding student".

He did not sit down, but instead gave a respectful bow: "Commander Shang, you must already know the purpose of my visit. Your Majesty's grace is boundless, and I humbly request that you, in accordance with the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty, allow me to enter the prison to serve my teacher with medicine, so as to fulfill my humanity and not fail Your Majesty's benevolence."

They used the emperor's name and banners to justify their actions, constantly praising the emperor's boundless grace and benevolence, hoping to make Shang Jingming hesitate and dare not obstruct them any further.

Shang Jingming showed no sign of anger, instead stroking the sword at his waist: "According to the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty, if a prisoner is over seventy years old and seriously ill, a relative should be allowed to visit him. If the prisoner is an official of the fifth rank or above, one relative may enter the prison to serve him. Zhao Siye, the retired Director of the Imperial Academy, should indeed fall under this category. However…"

Shang Jingming raised his lips, his sharp gaze meeting Xie Wumian's eyes: "Who do you consider a relative?"

"If I remember correctly, when I went to the Zhao residence to arrest him, I personally heard Zhao Siye say that he and Pei Lian were master and disciple. You are just a merchant, you have absolutely no connection with him."

Xie Wumian remained unfazed: "That's a misconception. I angered you that day, and how could you take my words seriously? There are countless fathers in this world who would tell their sons, 'Just pretend I never had you as a son.' Does that mean the son isn't a son, capable of neglecting his parents and fulfilling his filial duties?"

"Everyone knows that my master granted me permission to return to the sect at Huixian Tower that day. Huixian Tower offered free admission, and all the guests present were my witnesses. If Commander Shang has any doubts, he can send someone to verify it. Then he will know that what I said is true."

Shang Jingming leaned back in his chair, draped his long legs over the desk, crossed his hands over his stomach, and looked Xie Wumian up and down. His casual demeanor was unlike that of the commander of the Five Cities Garrison in charge of the capital's security; instead, it revealed some of the roguishness of a former playboy.

"Young Master Xie, I have indeed heard about what happened that day." His elbow rested on the armrest of his official chair, his tone sarcastic: "You put your teacher on the hot seat, used public opinion to your advantage, and took advantage of Zhao Siye's reluctance to let you go, forcing him to take you back into his tutelage. And you have the nerve to talk about filial piety?"

Xie Wumian's expression remained unchanged, but his hand under his sleeve clenched into a fist slightly. "No matter what means I used, it is now a fait accompli that I have returned to my teacher's tutelage. As the commander of the Five Cities Garrison, you should act in accordance with the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty, not use this as an excuse to prevent me from serving you."

Instead of getting angry, Shang Jingming laughed, putting his long legs down from the desk and leaning forward: "Even if I acknowledge you as Zhao Siye's disciple, it doesn't mean you're qualified to serve him. Relatives, relatives, that means blood relatives, siblings, grandparents, parents, uncles, brothers, wives, concubines, children, and grandchildren. Where does a disciple who has betrayed and returned rank?"

"Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, and Teacher. Among the five cardinal relationships, the teacher is the most important. Filial piety and brotherly love extend beyond blood ties to teachers as well. Now that the teacher's son is not in the capital, his disciple, being half a son, is naturally entitled to serve him in prison according to the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty."

"Half a son?" Shang Jingming raised an eyebrow and asked, "Then you first severed ties with your sect, and then used force to compel them to return. Young Master Xie, is such a 'son' filial or not?"

Before Xie Wumian could answer, he said meaningfully, "According to the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty, filial impiety is one of the ten heinous crimes and is unforgivable. Aren't you afraid that after you enter the service of the Emperor, once Zhao Siye recovers, I will punish you for filial impiety and sentence you to hanging?"

Xie Wumian's fingertips dug into his flesh. Thinking of his teacher, who was on the verge of death, he looked directly at Shang Jingming without fear and uttered only four words: "Do as you see fit."

Shang Jingming glanced indifferently at the figure standing outside, then calmly looked away, clicking his tongue and saying, "Xie Wumian, I originally intended to let you off the hook because your teacher only had two disciples, as a way to preserve some of his legacy. Since you've been jumping around and insisting on getting involved in this case, don't blame me for being impolite."

Seeing that Xie Wumian remained unmoved, he stared into Xie Wumian's eyes and said meaningfully, "I've always said that selling exam questions is not a simple matter. How can there be only the person who sets the questions, but also a well-established sales channel? He is a learned scholar, and you are a merchant who makes a fortune every day. It's quite a coincidence."

He paused slightly, his voice slow but full of pressure: "Your teacher is over seventy years old, an official, and highly respected. I have the means but nowhere to use them, and I can't get him to talk. So naturally I have to ask you, my 'relative,' for your cooperation."

Thinking of Pei Lian's disheveled appearance back then, Xie Wumian naturally knew what the so-called cooperation meant.

Shang Jingming dared not torture his teacher and repeatedly invited doctors, precisely because he was afraid of harming the teacher.

If something were to happen to the teacher before a confession is obtained, the censorate's accusations alone would be enough to cause him a lot of trouble.

Unlike the promising third-place scholar in the imperial examination, he was now just a businessman, of low rank and insignificant position, and could freely "show off his skills" on him without restraint.

If he succumbs to torture and gives in, not only him, but also his teacher and junior brother will be doomed.

Xie Wumian smiled lightly: "You may use your 'unusable' methods on me, but please remember one thing, Commander Shang: I have been doing business all over the country these past years, with shops and businesses all over the country. If anything happens to my teacher or junior brother, your despicable methods of humiliating a great scholar and tormenting a third-place scholar will be spread everywhere and known to all."

He bowed respectfully and said, "I have already posted notices to invite renowned doctors, and I have brought a physician with me today. I ask Commander Shang to take good care of my teacher and junior apprentice. If anything happens to them, I, Xie, am just a merchant, and my life is not worth much, but Commander Shang's career and reputation..."

Xie Wumian slightly raised her eyes: "Then we'll have to be buried with you."

...

Yesterday's has been added, and today's will be around 2 PM.

Today's energy expenditure is only about 950 units short, which is quite a lot. Keep it up, everyone!