Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Bian Yushu knelt for almost half an hour, her knees aching like they were being pricked with needles, but she kept her head down, silent as a cicada in winter, not daring to move even slightly.

Qin Ji leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, and remained silent. The entire hall was so quiet it was suffocating; only the sounds of breathing and the occasional, quiet footsteps of a maidservant coming to refill the hot tea could be heard.

Upon receiving the message, Fu Lu bowed and said, "Young Master, Shang Jingming has arrived, saying he has come to apologize."

Qin Ji opened his eyes and said calmly, "Let him in."

Guan Yan and the servants who came with Shang Jingming were blocked outside the house and were not able to enter.

Led by a maid, Shang Jingming walked through the exquisite garden and waited under the corridor. He tried several times to get information out of the maid, but was met with firm but gentle rebukes.

No matter what Shang Jingming asked, the maid replied, "The master just changed today, this servant doesn't know."

When asked who the owner of the house was, he answered without hesitation: "Young Master Bian Yushu."

Shang Jingming grew increasingly anxious as he waited. Hearing a summons from the main hall, a maidservant curtsied and said, "Young Master Shang, this way please."

He managed to calm himself down and followed. When they reached the entrance of the main hall, the maid bowed and stepped aside.

As Shang Jingming stepped into the main hall, the first thing he saw was Bian Yushu, the owner of the house, kneeling respectfully and trembling with fear. The second thing he saw was a young gentleman sitting in the hall, his emotions unreadable, leisurely sipping tea.

This person looked to be about the same age as himself and Bian Yushu.

Shang Jingming's heart sank instantly, and he nervously swallowed.

Qin Ji took a sip of tea without saying a word, but Fu Lu, understanding his meaning, spoke up, "Is Young Master Shang here to apologize?"

He was in his forties, with a fair complexion and no beard, and a soft voice.

His last shred of hope was shattered, and Shang Jingming slid to his knees at lightning speed to the other side opposite Bian Yushu.

The two knelt symmetrically, one on the left and one on the right. They were both quite pragmatic, showing no trace of the arrogance they displayed in the street brawl not long ago.

Qin Ji put down his teacup and asked calmly, "Why does Young Master Shang perform such a grand ceremony?"

Shang Jingming suspected that he hadn't checked the almanac before leaving home. He had only casually fought with Bian Yushu, yet the names of his entire clan had started appearing and disappearing in the Book of Life and Death.

What did he say?

A good dog doesn't block the way.

Oh, right, there's one more thing.

—You and that guy tied together in the carriage are no match for me, you weakling.

The other party's question implied no intention of revealing their identity. Shang Jingming's head thudded to the ground, and he cautiously raised it slightly before asking, "May I ask which elder of Bian Yushu you are?"

This kid was clever enough not to reveal his identity; otherwise, just the crime of insulting the emperor would have cost him several heads.

Qin Ji didn't directly answer Shang Jingming's question. Instead, he casually tossed the question to the quail cowering on the other side, "Bian Yushu, who am I to you?"

Bian Yushu hadn't expected to be involved in this matter. He was so flustered by being called out that he broke out in a cold sweat. He wouldn't dare to claim any kinship with Qin Ji even if he had a hundred lives.

Remembering that Qin Ji had personally revised his essays, which could be considered as teaching him, Bian Yushu closed his eyes and said, "Teacher, you are Yushu's teacher!"

Shang Jingming originally thought this fool was going to offend the emperor by bringing up his elder brother or something, and he was still hesitating whether to plead for him when he himself was in danger. He never expected that Bian Yushu would make him look at him in a new light, so shameless that he could close his eyes and acknowledge the emperor, who was a year older than him, as his teacher.

It seems that environment truly shapes one's character; the palace was truly terrifying.

Seeing that Qin Ji remained noncommittal, although he did not acknowledge this "student," he at least did not refute Bian Yushu's words.

Shang Jingming immediately chimed in, "You are Yushu's teacher, so you are also my elder."

"You asked me why I performed such a grand ceremony. My answer is... I fought with Yushu in the street, which violated the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty. I should have been arrested on the spot. After returning to my residence, I thought about it again and again and felt extremely ashamed. The officers and soldiers of the Five Cities Garrison dared not arrest us because of our special status. However, we cannot be complacent about escaping punishment. Therefore, I have come to persuade Yushu to turn himself in with me."

"When I came in, I saw Yushu kneeling here. I knew that the elders must be holding me accountable for this matter. But after all, I was the one who started it. I felt guilty and that's why I performed this grand ceremony."

Bian Yushu felt nauseous hearing him keep mentioning "Yushu" over and over again, and after hearing his nonsense about turning himself in, she was furious, her face turning red with anger. Pointing at Shang Jingming, her finger trembled with rage, "You!"

If Shang Jingming had the heart to turn himself in, he would write Bian Yushu's name backwards!

Shang Jingming is far more astute than Bian Yushu.

She knew how to say things that would calm Qin Ji down and gain some goodwill, without blaming everything on Bian Yushu and making him disliked. This only made Bian Yushu seem excessively naive.

Qin Ji tapped his finger lightly on the table. "Since you say it violates the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty, then tell me, how should street fighting be dealt with according to the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty?"

Shang Jingming bowed and replied, "According to the laws of the Great Yin Dynasty, anyone who uses their hands or feet to beat another person and causes injury shall be punished with thirty strokes of the cane."

Qin Ji withdrew his gaze, leaned back in his chair, and casually pointed at Shang Jingming, "Knowingly committing a crime, forty."

Bian Yushu didn't write a single word more than "sixty".

As soon as Qin Ji finished speaking, servants immediately came in carrying benches and bamboo boards.

Shang Jingming breathed a sigh of relief, while Bian Yushu's face turned ashen.

Without waiting for anyone to invite him, Shang Jingming stood up on his own and swiftly lay down on the bench.

Bian Yushu knelt for almost half an hour before a servant helped him get up. He didn't dare to delay for a moment and walked towards the bench with a pale face and a limp.

Qin Ji leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping lightly over the two people pinned to benches on either side of him in the main room, and then he raised his hand slightly.

Fu Lu understood immediately and said, "Attack."

The bamboo slats on both sides fell almost simultaneously, hitting the two men with a dull thud.

Shang Jingming clasped his hands behind his back on the edge of the bench, as steady as a mountain, not moving an inch. Apart from a few beads of sweat on his forehead and a look of pain on his face, he only occasionally let out a muffled groan.

Although these servants were not lightly punished, it was still much better than the brutal beatings he received at home, and not too unbearable. It is clear that His Majesty only intended to give them a minor punishment as a warning, and had no intention of seriously injuring them.

On the other side, Bian Yushu couldn't help but let out a low sob. He felt pain, but he knew he had made a mistake and dared not cry too loudly to annoy His Majesty. So he bit his lip, enduring the pain until his whole body trembled, with only weak sobs occasionally escaping from his lips.

It's not annoying to listen to, but it's rather pitiful.

Hearing this, Shang Jingming, who was in the same boat as his friend, couldn't help but glance at him a few more times.

She has delicate, fair skin, and is very girly and delicate.

Over the years, if he hadn't been lenient with Bian Yushu, even if Bian Yushu and his entourage were all tied together, they wouldn't be enough for him to beat.

Shang Jingming imagined the scene of punching Bian Yushu until she cried. Although he looked pained, he was secretly overjoyed. The punishment seemed much gentler to him, and he unknowingly endured the pain until it was over.