Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Looking at his disciple kneeling before him, clutching his robe and weeping, Zhao Siye felt an indescribable mix of emotions.

The disappointment and heartache I felt were genuine; the damage they caused is like a series of ugly scars.

But today, his actions of venturing into dangerous territory, risking severe punishment and even his life, just to serve those in prison do not seem fake.

So be it.

Being trapped in the past all day long is nothing but mutual torment.

In that instant when he knew something was amiss, yet still broke down the door and shielded Xie Wumian behind him, his heart had already made its choice.

Zhao Siye sighed and extended his hand.

Just as Zhao Siye was about to help Xie Wumian up.

Seeing the complex emotions on the faces of the master and disciple, and the guilty conscience on theirs, Shang Jingming spoke up again: "Is this all? Such a rebellious disciple deserves forty strokes of the cane. Mr. Zhao, you're being too lenient with him."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wumian, who had been helped up by Zhao Siye, stood rooted to the spot and did not move an inch.

Zhao Siye tried to pull the person up with his withered hand, but he couldn't manage it.

Xie Wumian reached out and picked up the warrant from the ground, presented it to Zhao Siye with both hands, and said in a hoarse voice, "Lord Shang is right. I betrayed my master and used my power to coerce others. Forty strokes of the cane are not excessive. Please put down the warrant; it is what I deserve."

Zhao Siye looked at the warrant but didn't reach out to take it. His face twitched, and he launched into a tirade: "You think forty strokes of the cane are so easy to endure? I'll break your legs! If I'd known you wanted it so badly, why would I have bothered? I'd have let this Shang fellow beat you to death!"

The man surnamed Shang protested his innocence: "Heaven and earth bear witness, Xie Wumian is your highly regarded disciple. Even if I didn't care about him, I would never have broken his leg, let alone killed him."

"If I really had that much influence, would you have just dragged me here to listen to your opera without any explanation?" Zhao Siye rolled his eyes, glanced at Shang Jingming, and then at his apprentice kneeling before him holding the order slip: "I'm more curious, when did my disciple catch Commander Shang's eye, making you go to such lengths to help him?"

Xie Wumian's heart skipped a beat; this was something he didn't understand either.

Isn't the teacher afraid that what happened just now was a charade between Shang Jingming and him?

She forgave him so easily...

Shang Jingming bowed with a embarrassed expression: "I was not very good at inviting you here as bait. I am grateful for your magnanimity and assistance in investigating the case and verifying the notes, despite past grievances. I have no way to repay you. I know that you still have a matter on your mind, so I thought of returning the favor."

Xie Wumian was unaware of the details, and the word "bait" made him change color slightly.

Enraged by Shang Jingming's words, Zhao Siye grabbed the warrant from Xie Wumian's hand and threw it at him: "Returning a favor? Throwing one of my disciples in jail wasn't enough, now you're tormenting another one of my disciples? Is this how you repay a favor?"

Shang Jingming knew he had really messed with the three of them, so he didn't flinch or dodge, intending to let the old man vent his anger so he wouldn't get into any trouble.

Just as the token was about to hit his chest, Shang Jingming's ears twitched, and he sensed someone approaching from behind. He instinctively tried to grab the person by the back of his hand.

Before he could make a move, a familiar scent assaulted him, and Shang Jingming's tense muscles quickly relaxed, instantly surrendering all resistance.

A force tugged at the back of his shirt, causing Shang Jingming to stumble back two steps. The token that had nearly hit his chest was precisely caught by a hand that reached out from the side and behind, accompanied by a slightly annoyed voice: "Just standing there like an idiot, didn't you know to dodge?"

Shang Jingming looked at the newcomer and was momentarily at a loss for how to address him in front of Zhao Siye and his apprentice.

Should I call you Your Majesty?

His Majesty is coming incognito, and Zhao Siye and his apprentice may not recognize him. What if he doesn't want to reveal his identity?

Call me teacher?

If Zhao Siye recognizes His Majesty, will he think that His Majesty's acceptance of a subject of similar age as a disciple is too frivolous and childish, and would damage His Majesty's wisdom?

Call me young master?

That's rather incongruous.

Qin Ji rarely saw his second disciple looking a bit dazed, and he watched him with great interest for a while.

Zhao Siye felt that the person looked familiar and the voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.

Xie Wumian felt that the voice sounded familiar, but because the other party only said one sentence briefly, he couldn't immediately tell when or where he had heard it before.

Qin Ji looked at Zhao Siye and Xie Wumian, who had not yet gotten up, and glanced at the "Mirror Hanging High" hanging above the desk. His attitude was distant yet polite: "Mr. Zhao, this is not the place to talk. Please move to another room."

"Jingming, lead the way."

Shang Jingming noticed a subtle difference in His Majesty compared to when he was hiding his identity and traveling incognito. He immediately realized something and respectfully replied, "Yes."

Zhao Siye helped Xie Wumian up, and both of them noticed Shang Jingming's respect for the young man.

Xie Wumian couldn't help but wonder about the person's identity.

The fact that the commander of the Five Cities Garrison directly addressed him as "Jingming" shows that the two had a very close relationship.

Despite being of similar age, he casually gave orders to Shang Jingming as if it were commonplace. Shang Jingming, far from being offended, treated him with great respect.

Shang Jingming gestured and said, "Mr. Zhao, Mr. Xie, this way please."

Zhao Siye did not take a step immediately. He stood still, his gaze lingering on the face of the young man who had just arrived for a moment, as if trying to make out something.

Silence, a kind of silence that makes one want to hold their breath, a silence that feels unfathomable and unapproachable.

This face is familiar; he must have seen it before, but for some reason, it's hard to match it with anyone in his memory.

"Mr. Zhao?" Shang Jingming called out to remind him.

Zhao Siye withdrew his gaze and did not ask any further questions: "Thank you for your trouble."

The four of them walked along the corridor to the back office and soon arrived at a side room.

As the oldest, most senior, and most respected among the four, Zhao Siye did not take a seat first, but instead looked at the young man who never introduced himself.

Qin Ji smiled slightly, took his seat in the main seat with an air of nonchalance, and poured himself a cup of tea: "Jingming was merely acting under orders and had no choice in the matter. He did not intend to offend you. This cup of tea is my apology to you, sir. I hope you will not take offense."

...

Update delivered, goal achieved, double update tomorrow~