Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

He was acting under orders, the culprit, the young merchant's words when he "invited" him into the Five Cities Military Command, and his meaningful cupping towards the east... The identity of the person in front of him and all the guesses in his heart finally merged into one at this moment.

The young face before him overlapped with the youthful face in his memory, transcending time, and Zhao Siye finally understood where that sense of familiarity came from.

She's grown up; her demeanor and temperament are completely different from before, both familiar and strange.

A flicker of trembling appeared in his cloudy eyes as he bowed shakily, saying, "Your subject Zhao Guangqi greets Your Majesty."

Xie Wumian stood two steps behind Zhao Siye, originally searching his mind for the source of the familiarity in that voice. He had just locked onto a possible candidate when he was startled by his teacher's actions and the earth-shattering words "Greetings, Your Majesty," and immediately followed suit and bowed.

Qin Ji, already prepared, put down his teacup and stepped forward to precisely support Zhao Siye: "Old sir, there's no need for such formalities. It's been many years since we last met. How have you been?"

The young king's approachable demeanor and radiant inner strength momentarily stunned the septuagenarian, who murmured, "Good, good."

After saying "good" twice, Zhao Siye realized he had lost his composure and hurriedly tried to pull his arm out of the emperor's grasp, but the young man held him firmly.

Qin Ji helped him walk to the chair next to the main seat, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, gentle as a spring, "I'm traveling incognito today, so please treat me as just an ordinary young man. There's no need to be so formal. Please sit down."

After saying that, Qin Ji looked at Xie Wumian, who was still kneeling on the ground: "Jingming, offer Young Master Xie a seat."

Shang Jingming deftly helped Xie Wumian up: "Young Master Xie, I apologize for any offense today. This way, please."

Xie Wumian bowed respectfully to Qin Ji: "I am but a humble merchant, of lowly rank and humble status, and dare not sit at the same table as the Emperor. I am willing to perform the menial tasks of sweeping and cleaning, and serve my teacher."

Thinking of his disciple abandoning literature for commerce, and being reduced from a promising scholar to a lowly merchant, a trace of regret flashed in Zhao Siye's eyes. His white beard trembled slightly, and he was about to open his mouth to say something.

Before he could make a request, Qin Ji spoke first: "You were a Juren in the fourth year of Yuanxing. Although you abandoned literature for commerce, I do not recall the court ever revoking your academic title."

Both Zhao Siye and Xie Wumian were taken aback.

Abandoning literature for commerce and engaging in such despicable business to compete with the people for profit has always been despised by the literati. Once such a thing is done, it is tantamount to cutting off one's official career. Although the court has never explicitly abolished the title of official, one will no longer be accepted by the literati. Calling oneself a "scholar" will only make one a laughing stock. One can only call oneself a merchant, and at best, one can only gild one's own image as a Confucian merchant.

Your Majesty's words, could it be...?

A flicker of excitement appeared in Zhao Siye's eyes, and his white beard trembled.

Xie Wumian knelt down again, bowing his head to the ground, his fingers slightly curled, not daring to think too deeply.

Qin Ji pushed the poured tea towards Zhao Siye, but his gaze fell on Xie Wumian: "On the eve of the imperial examination in the seventh year of Yuanxing, you received a letter from home informing you that your father had been framed and imprisoned by the local government on charges of 'supporting bandits.' You inquired everywhere and learned that the local prefect was a protégé of Wang Jing. Your father was a smooth and shrewd man, always adhering to the rule of paying money to avoid trouble and serving the local government carefully. He had never made enemies with that prefect. After much investigation, you learned that his sudden attack was not because your father had offended him, but because he was instructed by someone else."

Xie Wumian stiffened and spoke up to stop him: "Your Majesty."

Zhao Siye suddenly stood up, his brows furrowed as he looked at the disciple kneeling below him, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Qin Ji said slowly, "Your decision to abandon literature for commerce wasn't driven by greed or self-degradation. It was because someone didn't want to see those who displeased him in court, so with a few words, others would come to his aid, making those he disliked 'disappear.' By abandoning literature for commerce, you and your apprentice became a laughingstock, subjected to ridicule and mockery, but in doing so, you protected your family, yourself, and..."

Before Qin Ji could finish speaking, Zhao Siye slumped into his chair, his eyes filled with pain and confusion. His aged voice trembled as he asked, "You also saved me?"

I see, I see.

Xie Wumian was just a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial civil service examination) back then. Even if he had some talent, why would he attract such a target from the powerful Wang Jing?

This was because he was his disciple, and because he had refused to flatter Wang Jing before he took office, thus becoming a thorn in Wang Jing's side.

Ironically, he thought his disciple had failed him, making him a laughingstock and subjecting him to ridicule, yet he refused to offer an explanation or even a single word. This caused him to grit his teeth whenever he thought about it, and he later became increasingly cold towards him.

Zhao Siye, his withered hands resting on the wooden table, stood up shakily, staggered towards Xie Wumian, bent down and extended his hand.

Xie Wumian crawled forward on his knees, took his teacher's trembling hands, looked at his teacher's hunched back, his eyes reddened, and his voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible: "I am an unfilial student, leaving without saying goodbye, causing you to suffer ridicule and heartbreak."

Xie Wumian felt that the teacher was gripping his hand very tightly, as if he wanted to crush his bones.

Zhao Siye, tears streaming down his face, said, "Even now, you still say such things? Where do you intend to put my old face?"

He raised his hand and, just like many years ago when Xie Wumian was a child, stroked his head: "You've been wronged."

Xie Wumian felt a lump in his throat.

Zhao Siye reached out and hugged him, sobbing uncontrollably: "Wumian, my good child, it's all my fault for dragging you down."

...

First update delivered. I'm having a bit of writer's block today, so everyone should get some sleep. I'll make up for the second update tomorrow.

I'm still a little over a hundred words short of writing this with love, but I've been writing fewer words lately and updating later. I'll do two updates tomorrow, plus the extra ones, for a total of three. Goodnight everyone.