Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Years of resentment melted away under the impact of the truth, the misunderstandings that had created a barrier crumbled, and the master and disciple embraced and wept.

Qin Ji held his teacup, watching this scene, lost in thought.

He did not disturb them. When the two had calmed down and realized they had been disrespectful in front of the emperor, they hurriedly tried to kowtow to him. Only then did he put down his teacup, stand up again, and help the elderly man in his seventies.

He amiably helped Zhao Siye back to his seat, and looking at Xie Wumian, who was kneeling on the ground, his voice was gentle yet authoritative: "I have heard that you have traveled all over the country these years, and the Xie family's businesses are spread across several provinces. You have done a good job in business."

Xie Wumian's heart skipped a beat: "It's nothing but petty scheming, hardly worthy of respect, and might offend His Majesty's ears."

"You don't need to belittle yourself like that." Qin Ji calmly sat back in his seat. "Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, although merchants are ranked last, they are the ones who facilitate the flow of goods and services, the lifeblood of the world, and are indispensable. Without merchants, how could products from all directions circulate? How could the people's livelihood be sustained?"

Over the years, he has endured countless taunts and ridicule, with many saying that he was blinded by greed, short-sighted, and that he would give up a good official position to engage in a lowly and despicable profession.

Even his former friends, some of whom initially spoke up for him against all odds, eventually couldn't bear the gossip about his dealings with merchants and, pressured by societal criticism, gradually drifted away from him.

Unexpectedly, even today, in front of the supreme ruler of the world, I have received a fair assessment.

Xie Wumian's heart was filled with complex emotions that were hard to express, and he silently kowtowed.

The emperor's calm voice continued to speak eloquently.

"In the ninth year of Yuanxing, there was a locust plague in Lizhou, Yangzhou and other places. It is said that your Xie family opened the granary and insisted on selling grain at the original price, which helped the government to crack down on unscrupulous merchants who hoarded goods and stabilized prices, so that the people did not cause any unrest."

"In the tenth year of Yuanxing, there was a heavy snow in Hedong. Countless houses collapsed and many people froze to death or suffered from frostbite. It was your Xie family that took the lead and led the caravan to transport grain and cotton clothing from neighboring prefectures to relieve the urgent crisis."

Xie Wumian was stunned. He hadn't expected that His Majesty would know about such trivial matters.

Qin Ji lightly tapped the armrest of the armchair with his finger, giving it the highest praise: "Although you abandoned literature for commerce, you have never abandoned your conscience or your sense of righteousness. You are a hundred times better than some parasites who plunder the people and line their own pockets. Old Master Zhao has taught you a good apprentice. You don't need to belittle yourself."

Xie Wumian felt a surge of emotion and touched his forehead to the ground: "I have only done my bit of effort. I am ashamed and do not deserve such praise from Your Majesty."

"After years of hard work and dedication, you've built a vast family business. Can you really bear to relinquish control and hand it back to a collateral branch of the clan?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Wumian suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with barely concealed disbelief.

Zhao Siye's hand, stroking his beard, trembled uncontrollably. He turned his head to look at the Emperor, his cloudy eyes glistening with tears of excitement.

Qin Ji gestured for Shang Jingming to present a plate of pastries to Xie Wumian: "Since the court has not stripped you of your academic title, you are still a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination). This year's spring examination has just ended, and the next metropolitan examination will be held in three years, as is customary. In three years, are you confident that you can pick up your books again, go back to the examination hall to prove yourself, and stand openly alongside your junior brother in the court to serve me?"

Zhao Siye was so excited that he stood up from his chair again, a thousand words stuck in his throat, and he covered his face with his hand to wipe away tears.

Xie Wumian straightened up, her eyes red-rimmed, and looked at the plate of pastries handed to her. With trembling hands, she picked up a piece, covered it with her sleeve, and swallowed it mouthful by mouthful with hot tears.

He bowed again, his voice low and hoarse: "This humble subject is willing to do everything in my power to serve the emperor and live up to his great favor."

A hint of satisfaction appeared in Qin Ji's eyes. He didn't immediately tell Xie Wumian to get up, but instead warned him, "If you pass the imperial examination with flying colors in three years, I hope you won't forget your original intention of stabilizing prices and benefiting the people. Let me make this clear: if you abuse your power for personal gain or collude with merchants in the future, all the favors I granted you today will be taken back one by one. At that time, not only will your future be ruined, but even your teacher's influence won't be able to save your life."

With his forehead pressed firmly against the floor tiles, Xie Wumian said without the slightest hesitation, "This humble subject will remember Your Majesty's teachings and dare not forget my roots."

Qin Ji smiled faintly: "Get up and sit down below your teacher. This time, don't say anything about being of lowly status or insignificant, lest you upset your teacher."

Xie Wumian looked at the old man who was so happy for him that he shed tears, and said with a look of shame, "I am an unfilial student and have worried you."

Zhao Siye raised his hand and wiped his face, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions that were difficult to express.

He felt regret and heartache for the misunderstandings of the past years, but was also happy for the bright future his disciple was in, and deeply impressed by the emperor's combination of kindness and severity.

In the two years since His Majesty assumed personal rule, he has heard countless praises of the current emperor from others, which have painted a picture of him as a wise and decisive ruler who combines kindness and severity, and is unfathomable.

This portrait doesn't match the image of the incompetent and powerless emperor he once knew; in fact, it's quite different.

The two conflicting views led him to reason to believe that His Majesty was enduring hardship and humiliation, concealing his true strength under the regency of the Empress Dowager and the rule of Wang Jing, waiting for the opportune moment.

Emotionally, however, I still feel dazed.

How old was His Majesty then?

At the age when a child should be carefree, he learns to read people's hearts, to protect his life and the precarious throne amidst the wolves surrounding him.

They fooled the Empress Dowager, they fooled Wang Jing, they fooled the entire court, and they fooled him.

...

The second update from yesterday is here. The first update today should be after 10 PM.

I forgot to wish everyone a happy Children's Day yesterday, so today I'll wish everyone a happy Children's Day (June 2nd) haha.

Today's energy generation is 800 units short of reaching its target. Let's all keep going!