Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Bian Yushu was shocked to hear His Majesty say such a thing and looked up in surprise.

His eyes were a little red and wide open, like some kind of small animal, pitiful yet adorable.

Qin Ji stood up, casually picked up the book beside him, walked over to Bian Yushu, tapped him on the head, and scolded, "You never easily interrupt me about politics in front of me. Every day, your mind is filled with how to study harder and improve faster. Isn't it strange that you suddenly asked about Shen Jiangliu, who has absolutely nothing to do with you?"

Bian Yushu touched her forehead where the book had tapped her, and breathed a sigh of relief. His Majesty wasn't as fierce as before. "His Majesty isn't angry with Yushu anymore?"

Qin Ji looked at him indifferently, without answering his question. Instead, he concisely explained to Bian Yushu the conflict between Shen Jiangliu and the Ning'an officialdom, the motives of Sun Han, the Ning'an Provincial Governor, in impeaching Shen Jiangliu, and the whole story.

As Bian Yushu listened, he would occasionally ask questions that Qin Ji found somewhat naive and laughable.

Although Qin Ji cursed the boy in his heart for being clueless, he still patiently answered each question.

As for why Yang Xiuyun said those inexplicable things to Bian Yushu, Qin Ji didn't mention it at all, and Bian Yushu didn't think to ask either.

Regarding the questions of whether Lord Yang was a good person and how His Majesty would deal with Shen Jiangliu, Bian Yushu had already formed his own judgment: "Lord Shen is a pillar of the nation, devoted to the people. His Majesty is discerning and will certainly not allow him to suffer injustice!"

It's such a simple and straightforward logic that it's both laughable and pathetic.

No sooner had Bian Yushu finished speaking than he was lightly struck on the head by the scroll. "If you try to guess the Emperor's will again, I will take your head."

Bian Yushu shrank back in fright. "I am foolish, Your Majesty, please don't be angry."

Indeed, they are dull-witted and lack intelligence.

Qin Ji glanced at him, then focused his gaze on the ground three feet away. "You're not stupid, you've just been too well protected by your family and lack experience. No one is born knowing these things."

Encouraged by His Majesty's words, Bian Yushu perked up considerably and proactively asked, "If I were to encounter such a situation again, what should I do?"

This was the first time in Qin Ji's life that someone had asked him so bluntly. If someone asked him to go to the emperor to inquire about information and say something nice, it would be quite a novel experience. "If you don't know what to do, just come to me and explain everything clearly."

"If you have anything you want to hide from me and are trying to probe me for, you'd better do it carefully, don't let me find out. If I do find out, I'll charge you with deceiving the emperor and..."

Bian Yushu immediately realized that His Majesty was about to "take your head off" again, so he hurriedly covered his swaying head and shook his head desperately, "Yushu would not dare to deceive His Majesty!"

After saying that, as if remembering something, she obediently added, "I didn't want to deceive the teacher either."

Qin Ji snorted coldly, tapping the scroll against Bian Yushu's leg through her clothes. "For the sake of you calling me teacher, this time I'll let you use your buttocks instead of your head to teach you a lesson."

After hearing what His Majesty said, Bian Yushu blushed and shut his mouth.

"Any other questions?"

Bian Yushu shook her head with a clear expression.

"Good fortune and prosperity".

Fu Lu, who was guarding outside the palace, immediately pushed open the door and bowed as he entered, saying, "Your Majesty."

Qin Ji did not return to the throne, but instead sat down on the "exclusive" chair next to Yu Shu, put down the book in his hand, and said, "Forty strokes of the cane, tighten the strings for Young Master Bian."

Bian Yushu still vividly remembered the painful lesson from the last fight. Forty was no small sum of money, and he shrank his neck nervously.

Even though they were leaving for the autumn hunt the next day, Bian Yushu didn't dare to bargain with Qin Ji and obediently kowtowed to accept the punishment.

Instead, Fu Lu offered a word of advice: "Your Majesty, we will be setting off for the autumn hunt tomorrow. According to custom, Young Master Bian must ride alongside your carriage. The capital is over a hundred li from Yushan. After forty strokes of the cane, Young Master Bian may not be able to withstand it..."

Qin Ji glanced at Bian Yushu, who was as honest as a quail, and finally decided to give him a break. "Twenty, the real amount."

Even if the number were halved, Bian Yushu's pressure would be much less. He gave Fu Lu a grateful look, then obediently kowtowed to express his gratitude, "Thank you for your leniency, Your Majesty."

His Majesty has already shown mercy, and Fu Lu accepted the order, about to take Bian Yushu away, when Qin Ji casually flipped through the book beside him and spoke, "Choose two who keep their mouths shut and punish them here."

Fu Lu immediately understood His Majesty's intention. He selected two calm and discreet eunuchs, gave them a warning, and led them into the Qianzheng Hall.

Bian Yushu received instruction from His Majesty, and Fu Lu was able to see His Majesty's favor towards Young Master Bian, something others might not have.

If he is taken away for punishment with great fanfare every few days, firstly, it will damage Bian Yushu's reputation, and secondly, it will inevitably lead some sycophants and opportunists to think that Bian Yushu is disliked by His Majesty, and they will serve him perfunctorily, perhaps even deducting or neglecting his tea and meals.

There are plenty of ways in the palace to make people uncomfortable without being able to find fault with them.

Although Bian Yushu hadn't thought that far ahead, he understood what His Majesty meant by "choose two who keep their mouths shut." He was deeply moved by His Majesty's actions of reducing the number of people he was given while also protecting his self-esteem.

Before anyone could come to arrest him, he obediently lay down on the bench, even whispering to the two eunuchs in charge of the punishment, "Thank you for your hard work."

The two had seen plenty of people who cried and begged for mercy, and others who remained silent and dignified, but they had never seen anyone who, even in this predicament, still remembered to politely thank them for their hard work and show gratitude. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was being rewarded rather than punished.

So on the first strike, I didn't control the force well and went a little too lightly.

With a dull pain, Bian Yushu let out a soft "uh," without crying out in pain.

Qin Ji casually flipped through the pages of the book, not even looking up. "Dusting it?"

Fu Lu knew that His Majesty had already been quite lenient with Young Master Bian, and that going too far would be counterproductive. He quickly flicked his whisk and conveyed, "His Majesty has ordered that he be punished severely."

The two eunuchs exchanged a glance, and in perfect unison, one on the left and one on the right, they swung their bamboo clappers high and brought them down.

Bian Yushu cried out in pain, but then remembered that she was in front of the Emperor and did not want to appear too out of line in front of His Majesty, so she bit her lower lip and only let out a weak sob.

Even though he kept telling himself that His Majesty had been lenient enough and that he shouldn't cry out loud and upset His Majesty, after enduring ten times, tears still welled up in Bian Yushu's clear eyes.

The kitten cried softly, as always, without bothering anyone, and looked very pitiful.

Qin Ji closed the book, leaned back in his chair, and tapped the cover lightly with his fingers, watching Bian Yushu suffer in silence.

Feeling His Majesty's gaze, Bian Yushu, who was in excruciating pain, gritted her teeth and gripped the stool leg, trying to suppress the sob that was about to come out of her mouth. But the moment the board fell, she let out a soft cry, and tears streamed down her face.

Twenty claps of the small bamboo clapper, and this is the pitiful sight he has.

Fortunately, it fell into my hands. If it had fallen into the hands of a poison master like Jiang Jibai, I don't know how pitiful it would have been.