Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Qin Ji returned to the palace with the apprenticeship gift given by Jiang Jibai. He neither took the medicine from Jiang Jibai, nor sent anyone to get it from Doctor Liang, nor did he find an excuse to beat Biandou again.

Although he wouldn't need the books for the imperial examinations, he planned to make a copy himself and send it to Bian Yushu, so that his teacher's efforts wouldn't be wasted.

Bian Yushu's academic pressure increased. After returning from Yushan, in addition to Shen Hanlin, Zhao Hanlin and Wang Hanlin also began to teach him.

His studies now include new courses such as divination, the Mohist canon, and the investigation of things. Although these are much easier and more interesting to learn than the study of the classics, His Majesty does not allow him to fall behind in his studies of the classics.

So he was busy every day like a spinning top, and didn't even have time to be a little follower by His Majesty's side, until he was summoned by His Majesty again.

Bian Yushu was still preoccupied with her studies, and she took a book from His Majesty in a daze. It wasn't until Fu Lu reminded her several times in a low voice that she realized what was happening.

Fu Lu smiled and came to his rescue, "Young Master Bian has been working very hard lately, probably because he doesn't want to disappoint His Majesty's teachings."

Bian Yushu glanced at His Majesty discreetly, and seeing that His Majesty had no intention of questioning her, she smiled and opened the book in her hand.

The book was new, and the annotations were new too. He treasured the articles that His Majesty had revised for him, and he recognized His Majesty's handwriting.

Bian Yushu looked up with tears in her eyes, deeply moved. "Thank you, teacher. I will study hard."

This is just one book, and Bian Yushu is already so moved. But Qin Ji has a whole box of books like this.

He merely copied it once, but Jiang Jibai poured a great deal of effort into it.

In the past, he might have simply accepted the credit without saying anything more to Bian Yushu.

But now, looking into Bian Yushu's pure, trusting eyes, he told him, "This is the annotation your grandmaster made for me. I just copied it once. Study it carefully and don't let his hard work go to waste."

Even if it was just a copy, it was enough to shock Bian Yushu. What did he do to deserve that His Majesty would personally copy and annotate it for him?

You could have just had someone else do it, or let him copy it himself.

His Majesty is extremely busy with state affairs, yet he still takes time out of his busy schedule to do this for him.

Seeing the emotion in Bian Yushu's eyes, Qin Ji probably knew what he had misunderstood. "These annotations are the result of your grandmaster's hard work. I was going to copy them myself, but I gave them to you because you can use them."

Bian Yushu was deeply moved that His Majesty could still find the annotations useful to him, a testament to his master's profound understanding.

Qin Ji looked at Bian Shu's starry eyes and knew that the boy had been completely fooled and nothing he said would work. He chuckled and flicked him on the head.

Bian Yushu covered her head, finally grasping the key point of His Majesty's words, "Grandmaster? Is it that Grand Tutor who retired to his hometown?"

"It's not him." Qin Ji's gaze fell blankly on the distance. "Your grandmaster was Jiang Jibai, a renowned Confucian scholar and a great teacher."

This was the first time Qin Ji had openly discussed his relationship with Jiang Jibai in public, without any attempt to conceal it.

Only now did Fulu, who was serving at the side, truly understand the meaning of the wounds on His Majesty's body, and also understand the weight that the great scholar surnamed Jiang held in His Majesty's heart.

He had seen how much favor His Majesty had bestowed upon Young Master Bian, and His Majesty had told Young Master Bian that Jiang Jibai was his grandmaster and a good teacher.

Qin Ji truthfully told Bian Yushu about using his identity to become a disciple, and told him the reason why Yang Xiujun asked him to plead for Shen Jiangliu. He even told him why he recruited him to be his study companion.

Bian Yushu exclaimed "I see!" after a while, her clear doe eyes showing no trace of gloom.

Qin Ji asked him, "Don't you resent that I borrowed your identity to bring you to my side as a study companion?"

Bian Yushu replied with a smile, "I am so lucky to be able to come to your side by borrowing your identity."

Like a large stone finally being lifted from a dry well, Qin Ji reached out and rubbed his head. "I can't take you to see your grandmaster yet. You must keep this a secret from me and not reveal it to anyone else."

Bian Yushu nodded vigorously, "Your Majesty, rest assured!"

Although letting Bian Yushu, a simple-minded person, know these things would bring him countless troubles, Qin Ji, after careful consideration, still told him the truth.

He had no choice but to continue hiding the truth from Jiang Jibai, but at least he could stop deceiving another sincere heart.

...

The journey from Ning'an to the capital was arduous, and Shen Jiangliu and his entourage were exhausted, covered in dust and dirt.

Along the way, the two imperial inspectors who returned to the capital with Shen Jiangliu were not only implicated and faced several assassination attempts and close calls, but also had to endure mental attacks from Shen Jiangliu, making their suffering indescribable.

Upon arriving in the capital, the two were overjoyed to part ways with Shen Jiangliu and return to their respective homes.

Shen Jiangliu casually bowed to the two adults to say goodbye, "Take care, both of you. Don't die at home. I'm counting on you two to be my witnesses."

The two imperial inspectors paused, already accustomed to Shen Jiangliu's harsh words. They humbly inquired, "Lord Shen... what do you mean by that?"

Shen Jiangliu rubbed his nose. "Those assassins were indeed coming for me, but along the way, we've been through thick and thin together."

"You two know what you should and shouldn't know. You don't think everything will be fine just because you've parted ways with me, do you?"

"I wonder how capable the guards in your households are?"

"If that doesn't work, we'll live and die together. If you two die in the line of duty, I will definitely seek justice for you and not let the murderer go unpunished. Please rest assured, sirs."

The two: "..."

What kind of peace of mind do you expect us to have?

The two imperial inspectors, their faces ashen, withdrew their steps. "We'd better report to His Majesty as soon as possible."

Throughout the journey, Shen Jiangliu was protected by skilled guards who saved them from danger several times.

Compared to that, they could tolerate psychological torture...

……

Not wanting to cause trouble for his mentor, Shen Jiangliu did not follow the new address his teacher had given him, but instead returned to his private residence in the capital with two imperial censors.

The private residence had been vacant for a long time, with only an old servant and his grandson guarding the gate.

The old servant, surnamed Qian, was loyal and diligent. Even though Shen Jiangliu had been away from the capital for a long time, the house was cleaned up perfectly and ready for immediate move-in.

After settling the two censors in and washing away his fatigue, Shen Jiangliu finally had a moment to talk with Lao Qian.

Old Qian handed the tea to Shen Jiangliu, "Young master, would you like to invite the two gentlemen to dine with us?"

He was Shen Jiangliu's servant since he was young. He came from the River Conservancy Office of Lantai Province. He accompanied Shen Jiangliu to take the imperial examination and went to the capital. When Shen Jiangliu was demoted to the magistrate of Yangping County, he left him in the capital and refused to take him with him.

Over the years, he has always addressed Shen Jiangliu as "Young Master." No matter how Shen Jiangliu's status changed after passing the imperial examination and entering officialdom, he never changed how he addressed him.

He originally intended to go to Yangping with Shen Jiangliu, but Shen Jiangliu wouldn't allow it, saying, "What if you get hurt on the road at your age? Your grandson is only a few years old."

"The old are old, and the young are young. Are they going to help me or cause trouble? No, no! Stay here obediently and wait for your young master to return after his promotion."

Old Qian had been worried for a long time, fearing that his young master would not return. He was preparing to pack his things and go to find his young master to return to Lantai together whenever he received news that his young master had been stripped of his title.

His grandson is eleven years old this year, very robust, and can be of some help.

Who would have thought that upon receiving the young master's letter, he would actually return? It felt like a dream!

"Let's just send them to their rooms so they can eat separately. I think they have some issues with me." Shen Jiangliu picked up his teacup, sighed, and said, "Sigh, it's hard to be a good person."

Remembering something, Shen Jiangliu asked, "By the way, I saw that the house next door has been sold?"

That house had been vacant for a long time. The owner was not short of money and was not in a hurry to sell, so he asked for a high price. When he was in the capital, the house next door was always empty, with only a gatekeeper. Today, when he passed by, he found that there were servants guarding it and the gate had been changed.

Old Qian nodded. "I heard it was sold to the son of the Sichuan Provincial Governor, whose surname is Bian."

Shen Jiangliu's heart skipped a beat.

The son of the Provincial Governor of Western Sichuan, surnamed Bian.

Isn't this the junior student the teacher mentioned in his letter?

Fate, amazing.

Shen Jiangliu was surprised that his teacher's newly accepted junior apprentice had unintentionally become his neighbor, and couldn't help but feel a little curious, so he asked Lao Qian, "Have you met our new neighbor before?"

Old Qian replied, "I haven't met him, but I've heard that several young gentlemen have come and gone. Perhaps it's Young Master Bian and his friends. Young Master Bian probably doesn't live here often, only coming occasionally."

Shen Jiang considered visiting them, but considering he was currently in deep trouble, he suppressed the idea for the time being.