Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

After passing through the camp and entering the woods, Bian Yushu originally intended to find a large rock by the stream, but upon closer inspection, he noticed many people fetching water from the stream. So he immediately changed direction and slowly walked a little deeper into the woods.

They didn't find any large rocks in the woods, but they did find two tree stumps next to each other, which were just big enough for someone to lie down and rest on.

Bian Yushu pricked up her ears and looked around. After a while, she saw no one and heard no noise. Then, tears streamed down her face as she sniffled and leaned against the tree stump.

Waaaaah, it hurts!

Tears fell "plop, plop" onto the soil. Bian Yushu cried for a while with her mouth open. After venting her emotions, she raised her arm to wipe her tears and sobbed softly.

He slumped on the tree stump for a while, feeling that the tent was probably almost set up, before he leaned on the stump to get up.

Unexpectedly, when he got up, his foot slipped on the moss next to the wooden stake, and he fell forward headfirst, landing on his buttocks.

Bian Yushu was stunned by the fall.

"puff!"

Hahahahahahahaha.

A burst of laughter, like the ringing of barbells, erupted in the woods.

The laughter was all too familiar. Bian Yushu's blood rushed to his head instantly, his face turning bright red. For a moment, he didn't know whether to jump up and fight or dig a hole and bury himself.

The hunting party set up camp. Shang Jingming had no interest in watching Shang Yu and his adopted brother's seemingly loving father-son relationship, so he made up an excuse to slip away and found a large tree to lie down on a branch to sleep. But he had only been lying down for a short while when he heard footsteps on the fallen leaves.

Shang Jingming was a martial artist with sharp hearing and eyesight. Realizing someone was coming, he held his breath, wanting to see who had come to this secluded forest and what their intentions were.

Lifting his eyelids, he spotted Bian Yushu lurking around like a small animal, craning his neck to keep watch.

He also said that Bian Yushu had become quite capable, having spent some time by His Majesty's side and already knowing how to sneak around and do bad things. He was just about to scare him when he saw Bian Yushu stick his butt out and lie face down on the wooden stump, then start sobbing.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was like a sob, so plaintive that it would break the hearts of anyone who heard it and bring tears to their eyes. It was truly pitiful.

This posture suggests that the rider had been riding a horse all day and his butt was sore from the jolting, so he secretly found a place to cry.

Shang Jingming recalled that glance he had taken at the imperial carriage from afar, across the vast procession, earlier that day.

Riding a tall horse, with an upright posture, a face as beautiful as jade, and a face as cold as frost, he looked quite respectable.

He also said that the environment shapes people, and that Bian Yushu's personality was changed by being around His Majesty.

Who knew that when I turned my head, I would see such a miserable scene.

He covered his mouth to stifle his laughter, his laughter causing him to convulse, until the entire tree branch trembled.

Fortunately, Bian Yushu was so engrossed in crying that she didn't notice that there was someone lying on the tree next to her.

Shang Jingming hesitated for a few seconds between jumping out to tease him and pretending not to see him, and decided to choose the latter.

After all, this kid had instantly brightened his otherwise less-than-ideal mood, a truly remarkable achievement. Giving him some face and protecting his pitiful self-esteem is, in a way, his way of returning the favor.

Just as he was about to close his eyes and rest again, a loud "thump" was heard, and Shang Jingming's gaze was drawn to Bian Yushu, who was lying head down with her buttocks sticking out.

Shang Jingming held back for a long time, but finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, feeling great.

Unfortunately, it's too late to pretend I didn't see it now.

Shang Jingming jumped down from the tree, squatted down next to Bian Yushu, and poked his back with his finger. "Are you dazed from the fall? Can you get up? Do you need me to help you?"

"you!"

Blood rushed to her head, and Bian Yushu was both angry and ashamed. Her face turned red, and she tried to jump up from the ground, but the more she rushed, the more mistakes she made. She stepped on the hem of her clothes, rolled to the side, pressed on her wound, groaned in pain, and her eyes turned red again.

She held back her tears out of consideration for her mortal enemy.

Shang Jingming reached out to help him up, but Bian Yushu didn't even look at him. He pushed himself up to the side and stood up on his own, brushing the dirt off his body.

The other party didn't appreciate it, and Shang Jingming scoffed inwardly. He withdrew his hand, and the mischievous side of his nemesis began to resurface. "What's wrong with Bian, the tutor? Who wronged His Majesty's favorite?"

What is more unacceptable than losing face?

It's incredibly embarrassing to have embarrassed ourselves in front of our arch-enemy!

Bian Yushu's head was buzzing. He had no idea how long this bastard had been eavesdropping. The sarcasm and teasing only made him more disgusted. His face turned pale and then red. He squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth, "Mind your own business!"

Looking at Bian Yushu, who was bristling like a hedgehog, and remembering how he had just fallen headfirst, Shang Jingming couldn't help but spit out a "pfft!"

Bian Yushu: "..."

"Get out of my way." Bian Yushu was so ashamed and angry that she pushed Shang Jingming away. Ignoring the pain in her body, she strode out of the woods as if a ghost was chasing her.

Shang Jingming said from behind, overjoyed, "Keep reading with me, don't walk so fast, watch your step."

Bian Yushu paused, his teeth itching, and he clenched his fists, wanting to turn back and fight him.

He still retained a sliver of reason. Remembering the outcome of the last fight, he didn't have the guts to rush over. He could only swallow his anger, cover his ears, and run away in a few quick steps.

When they returned to the camp, the tents were already set up. Bian Yushu rushed into the tent, quickly tidied herself up, put on her undergarments, and lay down on her cot. She didn't even feel like going out for dinner, and only asked a eunuch to ask the Emperor for leave on her behalf.

After riding horses all day, I was exhausted and sleepy. I should have been able to fall asleep as soon as I closed my eyes, but all I could see was Shang Jingming's grinning face, which made me so angry that I couldn't sleep.

I don't know if it's because of my emotions, but the injuries on my body feel even more painful.

Wiping away her red eyes, Bian Yushu simply got up, rummaged through her box for her schoolwork, and lay back down on the bed to start quietly reciting her lessons.

He used to be uneducated and had only been the Emperor's study companion for a short time. He had been studying diligently these past few days, and although Shen Hanlin praised him for his rapid progress, Bian Yushu knew his own limitations and that he was still far behind his peers.

Unlike Shang Jingming, he doesn't have any outstanding skills. If he doesn't seize the time to study hard, how can he have the face to stay by His Majesty's side and shamelessly call His Majesty "teacher"?

With her books in hand, her attention shifted, and her previous sullen mood improved considerably. Bian Yushu truly calmed down and focused on her studies.

When Qin Ji brought Fu Lu into the tent, what he saw was Bian Yushu reading attentively.