My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

"Young Master, where are we going now?"

Jiang Xiaobai sat inside the carriage, and Zhang Xinnian's voice came through: "Back to the Marquis's residence?"

"Oh, no."

Jiang Xiaobai leaned against the carriage and suddenly smiled: "It's still early today, let's take a stroll around Minister Chen's residence!"

"What about Minister Chen?"

Zhang Xinnian's voice clearly carried surprise.

"Yes."

Jiang Xiaobai nodded with a smile.

Although Zhang Xinnian was puzzled, he did not ask any further questions and immediately pulled on the reins.

Soon, the carriage turned around on the long street and headed in the other direction.

Inside the carriage, Tang Ningshuang sat opposite Jiang Xiaobai, looking at him with obvious surprise. She opened her mouth, but seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

"hehe……"

Jiang Xiaobai naturally noticed Tang Ningshuang's reaction and couldn't help but smile, "What would Miss Tang like to ask?"

"Oh, I think Pei Shen's investigative abilities are quite good."

Tang Ningshuang looked at Jiang Xiaobai and said, "You could have simply handed the imperial examination case over to him to continue the investigation. Why did you have to go to Minister Chen's residence yourself?"

Chen Zhanqiu was, after all, a high-ranking official, holding a position of great power and influence.

Going there rashly without solid evidence would be somewhat presumptuous.

"Hehe, Lord Pei is indeed very capable in investigating cases."

Jiang Xiaobai nodded: "He's quick-witted and knows what to do next."

At this point, Jiang Xiaobai paused slightly: "But... he's too upright; he's not good at going astray."

"As for me, I'm not good at investigating cases, so... I can only take the crooked path!"

"..."

After hearing this, Tang Ningshuang said, "You are indeed an honest person."

"Of course."

Jiang Xiaobai chuckled and said, "This young master has always been honest and reliable!"

Tang Ningshuang rolled her eyes at Jiang Xiaobai and didn't reply.

Jiang Xiaobai didn't mind. He smiled, raised his hand to lift the carriage curtain, and looked outside.

Meanwhile, inside the main hall of Tianjifang.

When Pei Shen returned to the wooden disc, Chang Ying was still standing there, holding the paper in her hand, her eyes fixed on the small mechanical ball on the Heavenly Evolution Disc.

His expression was much more serious than when he saw the Xuanlin Armor being broken.

"Always in charge of things."

Pei Shen glanced at the wooden tray and asked curiously, "How many steps have we taken?"

Chang Ying didn't answer immediately. Only when the small ball fell into another groove did she say in a tight voice, "Eight steps."

"Now...all correct."

"All eight steps correct?"

Pei Shen looked surprised.

Eight steps isn't many.

This is enough to show that Jiang Xiaobai did not just write whatever came to mind.

Otherwise, let alone eight steps, they might not even be able to match three or five steps.

Thinking of this, Pei Shen also stood aside and began to watch carefully.

Soon, the tenth step, the fifteenth step, the twenty-third step.

On the Heavenly Evolution Plate, each time a copper bead rolled down, it corresponded perfectly to the number written on the paper.

Pei Shen's surprise gradually deepened.

Chang Ying gripped the paper even tighter, her eyes fixed on the celestial divination board, not daring to relax for a moment.

Gradually, as the copper beads continued to fall, the number of steps increased, thirty steps, forty steps.

When she still hadn't made a mistake on the fiftieth step, Chang Ying's hands were trembling slightly.

That's right. This thing may seem like just a small ball rolling down, but the mechanism inside changes every time it's turned.

Predicting the landing point in advance is extremely difficult.

Not to mention, he could calculate fifty steps in one go.

And...it's all correct!!

Pei Shen didn't speak, but his gaze grew increasingly serious.

Yes, he knew Jiang Xiaobai was smart, but only now did he realize that he seemed to have underestimated this young master Jiang.

It's simply unbelievable that someone could push fifty steps in such a short time.

Da da da!

The copper beads were still falling, but Jiang Xiaobai's writing remained completely correct.

Sixty steps, seventy steps, eighty steps!

Chang Ying's breathing had become extremely rapid.

When Jiang Xiaobai finally calculated the last number, Chang Ying looked at the mechanical copper bead, then at what Jiang Xiaobai had written, and her voice trembled slightly: "All correct."

"Really...all correct!"

After Chang Ying finished speaking, Pei Shen fell silent.

More than a hundred steps?

Jiang Xiaobai only stood there for a while, but he was able to calculate the changes of the Heavenly Evolution Disc more than a hundred steps ahead.

Is this...is this guy even human?

Is this the rumored heir of the Marquis of Zhenbei who is known for cockfighting, bird-watching, and being good for nothing?

If this is considered being ignorant and incompetent, then all the students in the world could probably go home and farm.

"No!"

At this moment, Chang Ying suddenly came to her senses and immediately turned around: "This matter must be reported to the young master immediately!"

After saying that, Chang Ying took the paper and hurried away.

She also remembered something else: Jiang Xiaobai had asked her to go to the Imperial College and mention his name.

She clearly didn't take it seriously at the time, but now it seems...

The person who created the method of calculation mentioned by Master Song might very well be Jiang Xiaobai himself!

After watching Chang Ying leave, Pei Shen's expression was slightly surprised. He stood in front of the Heavenly Evolution Disc and did some calculations, but after a moment, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

difficult!

too difficult!

What's wrong with Jiang Xiaobai's brain?!

……

Meanwhile, on the other side, as the carriage slowly came to a stop, Zhang Xinnian's voice came from outside: "Your Highness, we have arrived at the Minister's residence!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Tang Ningshuang got off the carriage first.

Jiang Xiaobai then walked out and looked up.

The gate of the mansion ahead was extremely high.

Two majestic stone lions stood at the entrance, the vermilion gate was tightly closed, and a plaque reading "Minister of Rites' Residence" hung outside the gate.

On both sides of the mansion gate, there were many family soldiers standing at this moment.

These men were all carrying knives, and their faces were cold.

It doesn't look like it's guarding the gate; it looks more like it's protecting people.

Ok?

Jiang Xiaobai raised an eyebrow slightly.

Whom is Minister Chen afraid of?

Are you afraid of him?

That can't be right.

"Your Highness, given the situation... it might not be wise for us to rush in."

Zhang Xinnian glanced at the guards and couldn't help but lower his voice, "How about I go back to the Marquis's residence and transfer some personal guards over?"

These household soldiers may be quite capable, but compared to the personal guards of their marquis's mansion, they are far inferior.

Without doing anything, just having them stand at the door would probably make these guards tremble with fear.

"Oh, no need."

Jiang Xiaobai shook his head and strode towards the Minister's residence.

Zhang Xinnian was startled when he saw this and quickly followed.

Tang Ningshuang was also surprised.

It has to be said, Jiang Xiaobai is really bold.

The fact that these private soldiers are lined up clearly indicates that they are not very welcoming to outsiders. Rushing in would likely only result in trouble.

Even being turned away.

Just as she expected, as soon as they approached, several guards stepped forward and instantly drew their swords, their blades gleaming coldly.

At this moment, a leading guard stepped forward and asked in a cold voice, "Who are you, and what are you doing here at the Minister's residence?"

"I am Jiang Xiaobai of the Marquis of Zhenbei's Mansion!"

Jiang Xiaobai spoke up.

As Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking, the leading guard's expression immediately turned cold: "Young Master Jiang, our Minister's residence does not welcome outsiders. Please leave immediately!"

"Otherwise... don't blame us for resorting to violence!"

"court death!"

Upon seeing this, Zhang Xinnian naturally grabbed the hilt of the knife as well, his gaze icy.

He was originally from the military, and seeing these people dare to treat his young master like this, his anger naturally flared up.

Tang Ningshuang kept her eyes fixed on the scene, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of trouble.

Faced with this scene, Jiang Xiaobai not only remained calm but also smiled as he looked at the soldier, saying, "No, you're wrong!"

"We should be the ones who dare to use knives!"

"You... ha, you dare not!"