Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

She was lying on Jiang Jibai's lap, with a hand covering her back.

No matter how you look at it, it means you're going to get slapped by the poison master.

If it weren't for the severe punishment I received before, this would be a real blessing!

Before Qin Ji became Jiang Jibai's disciple, he had imagined this scene countless times.

When someone makes a mistake, they are punished by being pinned to their lap by their elders.

The elders scolded him with stern faces while helplessly trying to reason with him.

Affectionate discipline, strict yet loving, showing care and affection alongside him.

The poison master is ruthless and vicious. He had already regretfully given up on this idea, but who could have expected that good fortune would come so suddenly?

I want to... No, I don't want to, I'm in so much pain, I feel like I can't take it any longer.

If you have this good fortune, couldn't you have given it to me first? Why did you have to wait until now? Poison Master, sob sob!

Restraint, I must restrain myself.

But... a slap, a slap, it's something I've been longing for for so long.

A few slaps won't kill me, will they? I'll go all out!

Qin Ji's ears twitched, and he barely managed to steady his eager voice, "Teacher, are you going to punish me for doing something that disregards my safety and worries you?"

He spoke tactfully, without mentioning risking his life to save the emperor.

The words "No one is allowed to risk their life to save the emperor" are inappropriate for anyone other than Qin Ji to say; to say them would be disloyal.

Jiang Jibai was a gentleman and would not teach his disciple in this way. Qin Ji then downplayed the issue by saying that he disregarded his own safety, which gave his teacher a plausible excuse.

The nameless fire burning in Jiang Jibai's heart had not been extinguished since his little apprentice had asked for the punishment himself, but he had not yet taken action; he was hesitant.

Jiang Jibai sighed softly, "Jiang Liu volunteered to go to Ning'an, and you risked your life to save the emperor. As your teacher and as a citizen of Dayin, I should be proud to have two such disciples."

"At the Mid-Autumn Festival palace banquet, you accompanied His Majesty in his antics, impersonating him to see me. I was not without my worries."

"I'm afraid you'll flatter and fawn over the emperor, and that you'll go astray in your pursuit of His Majesty's favor, turning into a sycophantic minister who only knows how to fawn."

"As it turns out, I underestimated you back then."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ji shifted uncomfortably, "What if I'm actually seeking fortune through danger?"

"Swords have no eyes. People who seek wealth and status are willing to take certain risks but cherish their lives the most. They won't risk their lives like you do."

Jiang Jibai pulled his youngest disciple closer to prevent him from slipping off his lap. "Besides," he said, "you'll recommend Shang Jingming, whom you don't get along with, and you'll speak to His Majesty on behalf of your senior brother, whom you don't acknowledge, so I don't need to worry. These are not things a scheming opportunist would do, and they're not in your best interest."

It was Bian Yushu who risked his life to save the emperor.

The "recommendation of Shang Jingming, whom I don't get along with" was a fabricated story to explain the street fight and fool Jiang Jibai.

As for Shen Jiangliu, it was indeed he who generously protected him.

Although he was praised by his teacher, Qin Ji felt a little guilty about the truth of the praise and said in a low voice, "Teacher, you flatter me."

Jiang Jibai assumed he was just being shy, so he reached out and patted Qin Ji's head with the hand that was on his waist. "You and Jiang Liu, one loyal to the emperor and the other loving the people, are doing the right and meaningful things. I have no right to stop you and I won't stop you."

"But I have to admit, I was furious when I learned that you were risking your safety." Jiang Jibai patted Qin Ji on the back lightly, making Qin Ji jump and hiss in pain.

"You are still so young. Your father and brothers cherish you so much. You've only been my disciple for three short months. There are still many things I haven't had time to teach you. If..."

Jiang Jibai did not continue speaking, but Qin Ji had already understood the unspoken meaning.

That was the care and concern that Qin Ji had been searching for for a long time—from his elders.

"I've already asked for punishment," Qin Ji muttered.

He gazed at the blue bricks before him, then slowly and earnestly prepared to repeat himself, "It's my fault for causing you worry..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Jibai patted him on the back, interrupting him, "Saving the emperor was not wrong. You have no regrets towards anyone in this matter."

"Whether it's worry or anger, these emotions are mine, not yours, and you don't need to take responsibility for them."

A strange emotion welled up inside him, like drinking a cup of perfectly warm tea, or like something stabbing his heart. Qin Ji opened his mouth, unsure what to say, and after a long while asked, "Then, you're not going to punish me?"

He was momentarily at a loss, unsure whether to be moved by Jiang Jibai's open-mindedness or to regret that the opportunity had slipped away.

Jiang Jibai did not answer his question.

Qin Ji shifted his body and found that the hand covering his back remained motionless, showing no intention of letting him go, but it didn't slap him either, and they remained locked in a stalemate.

Qin Ji, completely bewildered, asked, "What are you hesitating about?"

Jiang Jibai slowly exhaled. "Reason tells me you're not wrong, but I'm really angry. If I can't help but take it out on you, then run away if you can."

Qin Ji: "...I won't run away."

The ducks are back.