Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Jiang Jibai was a gentleman, and Qin Ji had anticipated receiving a great deal of "good fortune" before he even uttered those words. However, the gradual cooling of Jiang Jibai's expression still made Qin Ji's heart skip a beat, and a certain part of his body tensed up slightly in alertness.

Before Jiang Jibai could speak, Qin Ji, under his imposing gaze, braced himself and asked, feigning ignorance, "Teacher, do you disapprove of what I'm doing?"

Qin Ji had countless ways to subtly inquire about Jiang Jibai's opinion on the matter, but he chose the most inappropriate one.

He was not unaware that such a question would anger Jiang Jibai, nor was he unaware that such a question would cause Jiang Jibai to re-evaluate him as a disciple.

But this is his inner self, neither a gentleman's nor a kind one.

Qin Ji harbored murderous intent towards Qin Xi and his two children.

He could disguise himself as a benevolent and righteous gentleman with a clear conscience in front of Jiang Jibai.

You can also tell Jiang Jibai that His Majesty wants to eliminate the root of the problem, and that you are hesitant about whether to advise him, and ask Jiang Jibai for his opinion.

No matter how perfect the facade, when it crumbles, it will only become a sharp blade aimed at Jiang Jibai.

Even if he couldn't reveal his identity to Jiang Jibai, he wanted Jiang Jibai to see the real him little by little.

He was a man who cared for the world and was diligent in his duties and loved the people.

He was also decisive and ruthless.

Only by making Jiang Jibai develop feelings for his true self as a master and disciple can Jiang Jibai be unable to let go or sever ties when his identity is exposed in the future, and project the affection he has developed with his little disciple onto the high and mighty King of Da Yin.

Otherwise, what if Jiang Jibai discovers that everything was a lie? His kind and quick-witted disciple is actually a cold-blooded, ruthless, and cunning individual, a completely different person from before? Would Jiang Jibai not hesitate to sever this "absurd" master-disciple relationship, believing it to be a deception from beginning to end?

Qin Ji revealed his murderous intent to Jiang Jibai, and also gave Jiang Jibai the opportunity to "speak out".

He didn't know if it was the last bit of pitiful conscience he had left, but he was still hoping that Jiang Jibai could pull him back.

He's been too bloodthirsty lately.

Jiang Jibai's gaze swept across Qin Ji's face inch by inch.

He discovered that whenever he thought he knew his young disciple well enough, he would give him a new perspective.

Like a riddle, each time a different answer can be found.

Initially, he thought Bian Feibai was a rebellious teenager who was a bit clever and audacious.

Later, Jiang Jibai misunderstood him as flattering the emperor and feared that he would go astray. He was also moved by his filial piety and loyalty to the emperor, which led him to save the emperor with his own body.

Not long ago, he even saw his shrewdness and experience in dealing with people because of his junior disciple's resistance to punishment.

This time, however, he struck me like a thunderbolt from the blue with his ruthless and reckless words.

A smooth talker who had once admired Shen Jiangliu as more suited for officialdom, rashly offered such reckless and ill-considered advice.

A man who hesitated to enter officialdom out of filial piety, and risked his life to save the emperor, suddenly became so vicious as to advise the emperor to eradicate the threat completely and not spare even the youngest children.

"Whether I agree or not, don't you know?"

Jiang Jibai's voice, devoid of any warmth, almost froze Qin Ji's bones. He could feel the piercing gaze on his face.

Qin Ji knew that he had told too many lies, and in trying to show his true self, inconsistencies were bound to arouse Jiang Jibai's suspicion.

Before Jiang Jibai could press him for answers, Qin Ji spoke up, “The Prince of Rui’an colluded with the Provincial Governor of Ning’an to plot His Majesty’s assassination at Yushan. If such a treasonous act is not severely punished, His Majesty’s prestige will be damaged. Throughout history, no one who has attempted to assassinate the emperor has ever escaped unscathed.”

"As for his two children... let's leave the daughter aside."

Qin Ji raised his eyes and looked directly at Jiang Jibai. "Who can guarantee that his son, upon learning of his father's death, won't harbor resentment and then contact his former subordinates to stir up trouble?"

"By then, how many more people will be involved, and how much more blood will be shed?"

"When a father plots treason, his children are implicated. By exchanging the lives of his two children for future peace and tranquility, this is why I am advising Your Majesty."

"Teacher, do you think I did something wrong?"

The young disciple spoke with conviction and conviction. Yet his eyelashes resembled two trembling butterfly wings, and his gaze was no longer as firm and sharp as when he had snatched the rattan paddle from his hand.

It's less about seeking validation and more about asking for help.

Qin Ji saw Jiang Jibai's icy gaze gradually build up to a raging inferno of anger.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and just as he was about to speak, he heard Jiang Jibai sneer, "Bian Feibai, you've come here asking for a beating?"

Jiang Jibai summoned Uncle Li, his voice just loud enough for Qin Ji to hear, and said, "Go and fetch the bench and my bamboo whip."

Qin Ji shuddered as he watched Jiang Jibai's retreating figure.

It's not that bad, is it?

The sound of the bench hitting the ground made Qin Ji's Adam's apple bob silently.

The last time he was punished was more than two months ago at the Mid-Autumn Festival palace banquet, a painful lesson he still vividly remembers.

Qin Ji's gaze followed the bamboo whip in Uncle Li's hand to Jiang Jibai's hand.

Unlike the whip Qin Ji had imagined, the so-called bamboo whip was made of three thin bamboos, each about the thickness of a chopstick, tightly twisted together in a spiral pattern. It was less than two feet long and about the thickness of a thumb. Its texture combined stiffness and elasticity, and at first glance, it looked even more terrifying than the rattan cane that Qin Ji listed as the worst of the "instruments of torture".

Sweat poured from Qin Ji's palms as alarm bells rang in his mind.

Jiang Jibai slanted the hand holding the bamboo whip across the bench.

Accompanied by the painful hissing of the air, the clear sound of striking the bench exploded in the study.

The bamboo whip bent into a terrifying arc due to the force, but showed no sign of breaking. It bounced back to its original straight shape. On the other hand, the bench showed a visibly white mark.

Qin Ji swallowed nervously.

They've gone too far.

May your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea!

Soon, Jiang Jibai's words, leaving no room for negotiation, rang out in the study: "Since you've come looking for a beating, then I won't waste any more words with you."

"Lie down." The three words were spoken with icy coldness.

The poison master was clearly in a bad mood, so Qin Ji didn't dare to delay. He gritted his teeth and got up to lie down on the bench.

The bamboo whip swiftly extended, blocking Qin Ji between him and the bench, stopping his movements. "Kneel, lie face down, place the bench under your arms, and hug him."