Bai Lihong possessed two major businesses on Splendid Plaza in the Western Market, namely the Hundred Treasure House, which sold ice, tinderboxes, and fine salt, and Tianyuan Tower.

After the New Year, Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao ordered people to thoroughly clean and refurbish Tianyuan Tower, specifically so that they could use the establishment to welcome the students who would be arriving in the capital and provide them with accommodations.

In order to provide them with the best experience, all one hundred deluxe rooms and one hundred standard rooms in the building were meticulously cleaned. The bedding was all replaced, and the tables, chairs, doors, and windows in the deluxe rooms were newly installed.

The tables and chairs in the lobby were given new tablecloths and cushions, and the already exceptionally clean kitchen was scrubbed to within an inch of its life.

Once everything was in order, Qin Xiao sent more than a dozen Imperial chefs from the palace, led by Matron Zhong, to take charge of the cooking.

Furthermore, Qin Chaoyang was appointed as the “Chief Examiner,” and would be working alongside Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan to handle all matters within the examination hall.

Chu Jiubian had Bai Lihong personally write the characters for “Clear Sky Tower,” which was then made into a gilded plaque and set in place of the previous “Tianyuan Tower” sign.^[1]

Every emperor from Chengzong to Yingzong had renamed this building at some point, so there was no talk when Bai Lihong made this change.

However, those with discerning minds understood the meaning of the characters 青云, which in addition to meaning “clear sky,” also represented the earnest hopes placed on those students coming to the capital and wished them a rapid rise to prominence.

Many people couldn’t understand why Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had chosen to arrange for the students to stay in such a busy area.

Logically, the noisy and bustling atmosphere of Splendid Plaza would be unfavorable for students who were preparing for the exams.

But Chu Jiubian had chosen this place deliberately.

The last exam consisted of two rounds, one of which tested professional skills.

There were a total of seven subjects. Classical studies students were required to write an essay on the spot about a certain subject, while math students would have to answer several problems posed by Chu Jiubian, and so on. Every student’s professional technical skills would be tested.

In the second round, Chu Jiubian, Qin Xiao, and Bai Lihong would present ten questions for the students to answer orally.

However, none of them would have to answer all of the questions; each person would only have to answer one or two.

These questions, along with the assessment of the students’ professional skills, needed to be addressed based on the actual situation in Great Ning, and required the students to have an understanding of all aspects of the territory.

Most of the students came from county seats and smaller towns and villages, and having witnessed the lives of the common people, even those in poverty, they had a deep understanding of this population.

On their journey to the capital for the Imperial Examinations, each of them had experienced assassination attempts, witnessed the local customs and traditions of the common people along the way, and experienced both the fawning and difficulties that came from those around them in the wake of their success. Having witnessed the vicissitudes of human nature, their mindsets were completely different than they had been initially, and their perspectives and understanding in regard to many subjects had naturally changed as well. 

But this was not enough.

Chu Jiubian also wanted them to live in the most prosperous and bustling part of the city, to witness the lifestyles of the extravagant and pleasure-seeking upper class, and therefore realize the great disparities that existed within Great Ning.

He would not control the movements of these students during their stay in the capital. Whether they chose to attend literary gatherings to meet the renowned scholars and dignitaries here, or to attend banquets with high-ranking officials and experience their flattery and solicitations, it was entirely up to them.

The dazzling splendor of the capital city would surely captivate these students.

However, if they were able to keep their composure under such circumstances and even gain deeper insight from their experiences, then they were the kind of people that Chu Jiubian would prioritize cultivating in the future.

He was confident that these students who had already achieved entrance into the Imperial Academy were no ordinary individuals.

They would undoubtedly deliver excellent results in Fengtian Hall, under the watchful eyes of the officials and vassal kings.

To these powerful figures, and to all the people of the world, they would showcase the brilliance of the students of the Imperial Academy.

In this way, they would make names for themselves.

Then, it would be possible for them to enter officialdom even sooner.

His intentions were not difficult to see. But these noble families, with their perpetual arrogance and contempt for those they viewed as beneath them, simply could not bring themselves to respect these small-town scholars who had previously been completely unknown.

Therefore, they only briefly considered why Chu Jiubian had housed the students in this location, thinking that perhaps he simply wanted to provide these students with more comfortable living conditions, and didn’t dwell on it further.

However, they still held some interest in a few of those students.

Tan Ji and Yan Jinsheng, for example, who had long been renowned scholars.

They were the only two among the great Confucian scholars who had passed the Imperial Examinations, but that didn’t mean that others lacked the necessary education to pass. It was simply due to the fact that the vast majority of these great scholars had either aligned themselves with powerful noble families or had disdained participating in the exams altogether.

Plus, those people were already widely-renowned and had many disciples of their own. It would be excellent if they passed the Imperial Examinations, but completely humiliating if they failed.

Since ancient times, there had been no first place in literature.

No one had ever ranked these scholars and intellectuals, but the Imperial Examinations were a major ranking system that would be known to the entire world.

Those proud and self-important scholars naturally didn’t want to be ranked below anyone.

Therefore, they simply chose not to participate.

When the rankings were announced, neither Tan Ji nor Yan Jinsheng had managed to secure first place in the subject of classical studies. Instead, they were overshadowed by the relatively unknown Lu Yao and Tan Yuzhu – a woman – and many people openly mocked the two scholars.

But the two of them were unbothered, and remained all smiles.

How could they not, when one of them had a daughter who had ranked second in the classics, and the other had a son who ranked first in engineering?

Seeing their children succeed brought them more pride than achieving success themselves.

That being said, despite receiving a substantial amount of ridicule, their positions and standings were undeniable, and many powerful forces wished to recruit them.

Among the four great noble families, the Xiao and Wang families both possessed stronger histories of literary tradition, and therefore extended their offers of friendship quite early on.

Even Huguang-wang, who was known for his appreciation of talents, and Dongjiang-wang, who prided himself on his philandering nature, extended invitations.

Tan Ji and Yan Jinsheng also became the primary targets of attention for all the various forces who wanted to see what choices they would make.

On the 15th day of the second month, a light snow began to fall in the capital, blanketing the branches and treetops and transforming the city into a beautiful snow-covered landscape.

However, perhaps because it was already March according to the lunar calendar, the weather had begun to warm up.

Even though it was snowing, it didn’t feel as cold as it had during the New Year’s festivities.

Splendid Plaza was as busy as ever. People from various factions frequently arrived outside of Clear Sky Tower, either presenting calling cards or delivering invitations.

The students staying in the building often came out in groups of two or three to stroll around various neighborhoods in the capital.

In addition, the Imperial Guard and City Defense Force led by An Wuji increased their patrols, taking special measures to secretly protect these students.

They wouldn’t interfere in normal social interactions between the students and others, but if someone were to attempt to forcibly take a student away, they wouldn’t be given the opportunity to do so.

It was almost noon.

Wang Qichen, the heir of the Wang family, was wearing his signature pink robes and white fox fur cloak. His long, slightly wavy hair cascaded down his shoulders as he stood at the entrance of Clear Sky Tower, holding an umbrella to shield himself from the snow.

From the moment the students had moved into Clear Sky Tower, no one had been allowed to enter the building without authorization.

Wang Qichen was no exception. So he simply stood in the doorway and nodded at the palace servant who came out to receive him, saying with a smile: “Asking Gonggong to summon the two great scholars Tan Ji and Yan Jinsheng for me.”

Both palace servants and eunuchs had been sent to serve in Clear Sky Tower.

The person before Wang Qichen was a eunuch, and he was even one from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs.

This eunuch naturally recognized Wang Qichen. He bowed respectfully but without subservience, saying: “Please wait a moment, Young Master Wang. This servant will fetch the two students at once.”

Chu Jiubian had instructed them that no matter which faction in the capital extended an invitation to the scholars, the relevant authorities must be notified right away.

Whether or not they accepted the invitation was up to the scholars themselves.

Anyone who wished to enter officialdom would have to navigate such matters, and at present, they were simply encountering them a little earlier.

“Thank you for your trouble,” Wang Qichen said with a smile.

In a loft across the way, Wang Wenyao, the second son of Family Head Wang Huanzhi, stood side by side with Deputy Minister of Justice Wang Ruzhen.

Holding hand warmers, they gazed over at the figure standing in front of Clear Sky Tower.

“Even he is going to seek out those great scholars,” Wang Ruzhen said with a smirk.

Wang Wenyao’s eyes were dark and deep as he said softly: “Even the head of the Xiao family lost all face when he came here in person. Those two people clearly have no intention of associating with the noble families, yet my elder brother can’t get that through his head.”

Wang Ruzhen said: “Indeed. However, his activity has increased in recent days, and it is said that the person behind that new paper has already made contact with him.”

A cold, fleeting smile flashed through Wang Wenyao’s eyes: “It seems to me that he’s the one who leaked the information.”

“Oh?” Wang Ruzhen tilted his head. “Does the Young Master know something?”

Wang Wenyao said: “My father has already made contact with the papermaker.”

Wang Ruzhen’s eyes lit up: “Has he said when they will meet?”

He had been present when the new paper was introduced, and had immediately recognized its superior quality.

If the Wang family could reach an agreement with the other party, even aside from the benefits to the family itself, a second-rank official like him in the Imperial Court would also benefit considerably.

It must be said that even though Langya Gold paper was difficult to obtain, he still received a monthly allowance of twenty sheets.

If he were to obtain the Yaotai Green paper at some point, he would be perfectly content with just ten sheets per month, or even five.

Wang Wenyao: “That person has arranged to meet my father tonight. As for the outcome…..”

His voice suddenly faltered, and he lurched forward, gripping the window ledge tightly with both hands as he fixed his gaze intently on something below.

His face was filled with astonishment.

Wang Ruzhen’s heart sank at this sight, and he quickly looked down as well.

The entrance of Clear Sky Tower, which had been deserted just moments before, was now bustling with people.

Three men and one woman emerged from the tower and approached Wang Qichen, and the two parties exchanged greetings.

These four individuals were none other than Tan Ji and Yan Jinsheng, whom various factions had tried to befriend and recruit without success, as well as their children, Tan Yuzhu and Yan Rui.

These four people had arrived in the capital at the end of the first month, and after checking into Clear Sky Tower, they had refused all recruitment offers.

Tan Ji and Yan Jinsheng hardly ever left the building, but their two children would occasionally go out to stroll around and take in the interesting new sights.

But the two children rarely interacted with anyone, and if they did, it was Tan Yuzhu who stepped in to decline any invitations offered to them.

Yan Rui was quite young, and was very dependent upon Tan Yuzhu, who was like an elder sister to him. Therefore, whenever a situation cropped up, he would hide behind her and remain silent.

Yet of all people, these four individuals had gone downstairs to meet with Wang Qichen today.

Even though this person hadn’t sent a formal invitation, and merely had a palace servant deliver a message, these four people still came down.

This was simply unacceptable.

However, something even more unacceptable was yet to come.

After exchanging greetings with Wang Qichen, the four students prepared to go elsewhere to have a more private conversation.

At this moment, two figures dressed in a very different style from what was common in the capital approached from a short distance away, then stopped in front of the group.

Those two were dressed in traditional Nanjiang garb, with silver ornaments, earrings, and chains jingling at their waists as they moved. Their faces were nearly identical, but their heights differed greatly.

The identities of these two individuals were already known to everyone in the capital – they were the prince and princess of Nanjiang-wang’s household.

Situ Zhaoling knew that there were many female candidates among those who had come to the capital for the examinations, and that the majority of them, sixteen in total, were involved in the subjects of needlework and medicine.

Thirteen were female embroiderers, and three were female doctors.

Situ Zhaoling had previously encountered those three female doctors right in her silk shop.

They were all in their early twenties at most, an age at which many women were concerned about their appearances.

Seeing that many of the women and young ladies in the capital were wearing Nanjiang silk, they found the vibrant colors to be particularly beautiful, and went to inquire about the prices. If the prices were reasonable, they intended to buy some silk to make dresses for themselves.

Since they were now students of the Imperial Academy and would be living in the capital from now on, they should naturally dress more respectably.

This mindset actually came about because they were residing in the most affluent part of the city and hadn’t been to the commoners’ district on the eastern side, which gave them the mistaken impression that everyone in the capital was wealthy.

However, they were not very wealthy themselves, and didn’t have much money to spare. They were even saving the funds bestowed upon them by the Imperial Court for future security.

Thus, upon learning how expensive the silk was, they gave up on the idea and prepared to leave.

But Situ Zhaoling happened to be upstairs at the time, and when she heard that students had arrived in the shop, she hurried downstairs.

She called out to the three of them with a smile, then stepped forward to greet them and introduce herself.

All three female doctors came from small towns, and the highest-ranking officials they had met were the county governor and others who had come to deliver the results of the Imperial Examinations.

Therefore, upon seeing a princess of the royal family whom they had only heard of in rumors, they all paled in fear, thinking that they must have accidentally offended her in some way.

They didn’t even consider that the princess might want to befriend them. After all, the status of doctors in this era was not particularly high, and the status of female doctors was even lower.

Everyone said that a woman should devote herself to her husband and children, and that spending their days outside the home, even if they were solely treating female patients, exhibited unruliness that was uncharacteristic of a good woman.

After being the recipients of so many demeaning remarks, they no longer dared to think highly of themselves.

If it weren’t for the Imperial Examinations, which had ignited an unfamiliar fire in their hearts, they might have soon given up practicing medicine and become good women according to societal norms, marrying and raising children.

In particular, the oldest of these three female doctors was already twenty-two years old, an age at which most commoner girls would have long been married. She had delayed for so many years due to her medical studies, and remained unmarried to this day.

However, due to her ability to earn money, her family never kicked her out of the home or even considered marrying her off. Their intention was simply for her to continue supporting her brothers.

But before the New Year, when her family learned that she had shamelessly registered to participate in the Imperial Examinations and thereby compete with men, they felt thoroughly disgraced and severed all ties with her.

As a woman, and given that Great Ning did not allow for female-headed households, she concluded that if she failed the Imperial Examinations, she would give up on practicing medicine and marry a widower.

Fortunately, she persevered with the mindset of “giving it one last shot,” and managed to make it this far.

She knew that her medical skills were subpar, and that she couldn’t compete on the level of qualified doctors.

The only reason she had made it this far was due to the rarity of female doctors. Only these three women had registered under the subject of medicine, which was why all of them were able to enter the Imperial Academy.

She had a low opinion of herself, and after moving into Clear Sky Tower, she became even more aware of the differences between herself and those around her.

In the past few days, there had been a constant stream of people seeking out students of various disciplines. Even many embroidery and silk shops had come looking for needlework students.

But nobody sought the services of these three female doctors.

Therefore, when they were stopped by a noble lady like Situ Zhaoling, none of the three even suspected that she might want to befriend them.

However, to their great surprise, Situ Zhaoling gently comforted them and invited them upstairs to sit down.

The three of them were in a daze, their minds completely blank. They didn’t know how to refuse, and in fact, didn’t dare refuse.

Thus, they followed Situ Zhaoling upstairs.

The princess was younger than all three of them, and possessed a lively and cheerful personality. Not only did she have snacks and tea sent up, but she also kept them engaged in conversation.

The conversation revolved around female doctors and women’s health issues, and she even asked them to take her pulse, as well as those of the seamstresses in the silk shop.

Upon receiving the good news of her excellent health, Situ Zhaoling happily showered them with compliments and promised to give each of them a garment as a consultation fee.

The three of them naturally dared not accept this, but Situ Zhaoling acted decisively and had the seamstresses take their measurements.

Today, Situ Zhaoling had appeared at Clear Sky Tower to bring those three sets of garments, as well as some small and delicate, but not overly-expensive jewelry.

Although she had called it a consultation fee, she was actually concerned for these female doctors and wished to do something nice for them, to at least allow them to feel a touch of kindness and stop being so timid and submissive.

When they encountered Wang Qichen at the building entrance, the eyes of the two children lit up.

But since they were in the presence of outsiders, they pretended not to be familiar with him and suppressed their excitement, offering formal greetings.

Wang Qichen also maintained his smile and returned their greetings in a graceful manner.

They didn’t talk for very long. After exchanging greetings, they made some polite small talk, and Wang Qichen prepared to leave with Tan Ji and the others.

But Situ Zhaoling was unable to hold herself back, and said: “Wait a moment.”

The group stopped in their tracks.

Wang Qichen said gently: “What can we do for the princess?”

“I’d like to ask Student Tan a question.” Situ Zhaoling regarded Tan Yuzhu with bright eyes and asked, “Would you do me the honor of having lunch with me?”

Wang Qichen smiled and turned his face away.

Tan Yuzhu caught a glimpse of this from the corner of her eye, but didn’t know what it meant.

She knew that her father was a subordinate of the Wang family’s heir, but she had never met this person before, and upon seeing him today, found him to be completely different from what she had imagined.

He didn’t fit any of the descriptions her father had used, such as “calm and reserved” or “mature beyond his years.” At most, he might only fit the description of “charming and elegant.”

Due to this, she was unable to make a judgment on the other’s personality and behavior upon their first meeting.

The political landscape in the capital was turbulent, with various forces intertwined in complex patterns, leaving her uncertain as to whether she should go with Situ Zhaoling or not.

But although she was uncertain, her father had a fairly good understanding of Wang Qichen.

Having caught the other’s reaction, he knew that Wang Qichen had no intention of stopping her. So he turned to his daughter and said: “Zhu’er, since the princess has invited you, you should go.”

Tan Yuzhu understood at once.

It seemed that the heir of the Wang family and the Nanjiang princess were on good terms.

So she gave a faint smile and said very softly to Situ Zhaoling: “Then I shall respectfully accept your invitation.”

Situ Zhaoling interacted primarily with other Nanjiang girls, who tended to have very spirited and energetic personalities. There were occasionally some who were more soft-spoken, but that was just surface-level. Once they became familiar with each other, they were all rather bold and unrestrained.

There were naturally a handful of girls she didn’t get along with. Those ones were fake and pretentious, constantly putting on an appearance of victimhood and making other women uncomfortable.

Situ Zhaoling knew that people could be either good or bad, regardless of whether they were male or female.

Therefore, she never bothered to give face to the people she didn’t like.

To be honest, before meeting Tan Yuzhu, she had always thought that women who spoke softly and had such refined manners were all rather pretentious, just like the Wang family.

Hm…..not including Wang Qichen.

But although Tan Yuzhu exhibited these qualities, her presence made one feel very comfortable, and Situ Zhaoling even felt her face flush slightly.

When she spoke again, she unconsciously lowered her voice: “Then please wait a moment, Student Tan. The clothes I promised to make for Miss Bai and the others are finished, so I’ll deliver them first, and then we can go.”

Tan Yuzhu was acquainted with the other students in Clear Sky Tower. Realizing that Situ Zhaoling was referring to the female students in the medical field, she nodded and said with a smile: “Please, Your Highness.”

Situ Zhaoyao also took a second look at this Student Tan. She truly possessed the demeanor of a wealthy noble lady, which contrasted sharply with his sister’s lively personality, but they were both beautiful in their own ways.

He then glanced at the youth who was staring in Tan Yuzhu’s direction and asked: “Are you Student Tan’s little brother?”

Yan Rui was surprised that a dignified prince would choose to speak to him. His face paled, and he quickly bowed before saying: “Yes.”

After saying this, he realized that he shouldn’t so easily speak half-truths to the royal family, and hastily added: “We’re not related, we just treat each other as siblings.”

Situ Zhaoyao was amused: “No need to be so nervous. My sister and I won’t eat you.”

Yan Rui forced a smile, which looked even more unpleasant than if he were to weep.

Seeing this, Tan Yuzhu patted him on the shoulder with a look of helpless amusement on her face.

“Would you like to join us?” Situ Zhaoyao asked Yan Rui. “We can chat while our older sisters are talking.”

Yan Rui instinctively cast another glance toward Tan Yuzhu, and when he saw her nod, a smile immediately appeared on his face. He quickly forced it back down and said to Situ Zhaoyao: “Thank you, Your Highness. I….I…..”

The more nervous he became, the more trouble he had speaking, which in turn elevated his nervousness and caused him to fall into a vicious cycle of awkwardness.

Yan Jinsheng couldn’t help but frown upon seeing his son this way, and anxiety arose in his heart.

His son had been this way since he was very young. He didn’t like to socialize with others, and only wanted to be around Tan Yuzhu. But he was in his teens now, and he couldn’t go on like this forever.

He had brought his son to participate in the Imperial Examinations with him partly due to Wang Qichen’s encouragement, and partly because he felt that the current Imperial Court was worth serving in.

Secondly, he had done so in order for his son to go out into the world, meet more people, and have more opportunities to gain experience.

But seeing him with his face flushed red from stifling his emotions, Yan Jinsheng couldn’t help but feel sorry for him and regret his actions.

Tan Ji understood his concerns, and tugged at his arm, saying: “Let’s go and speak with the Young Master. Zhu’er will do more good here than you will.”

Yan Rui could be very stubborn on occasion. He might not listen to his father, but he would always listen to Tan Yuzhu.

Therefore, Tan Yuzhu’s presence would indeed be more useful.

Yan Jinsheng felt somewhat relieved at this thought, and walked away with Tan Ji and Wang Qichen while casting frequent glances over his shoulder.

Situ Zhaoling handed the garments in her arms over to the three female doctors. They expressed their gratitude profusely, but unlike the first time, they were no longer so fearful and apprehensive. There was even a glimmer of hope in their eyes when they looked at the princess.

Seeing them in such high spirits, Situ Zhaoling was pleased, and turned to ask Tan Yuzhu if it would be alright to bring these female doctors along for the meal.

Tan Yuzhu was naturally fine with this.

Situ Zhaoling then extended the invitation to those three. They had previously discussed standing tall and being independent, just like the women of Nanjiang. 

Therefore, despite being slightly hesitant, they all agreed to go out for a meal together.

After asking the palace servants to help put away their new clothes and accessories, the seven of them then left Clear Sky Tower in a grand procession, leaving behind numerous pairs of watchful eyes.

Wang Ruzhen and Wang Wenyao stood upstairs with displeased expressions on their faces. Especially Wang Wenyao.

“He’s just using the Wang family name,” Wang Wenyao said in a low voice.

The Wang family had a long tradition of scholarship, so these esteemed scholars would naturally be willing to give them face.

Had it been Wang Wenyao who had personally invited Tan Ji and Yan Jinsheng out today, those two would have presumably given him face as well.

Wang Wenyao regretted that he had only extended invitations through messengers instead of going in person, all for the sake of saving face. However, he was unwilling to admit that Wang Qichen was more daring and capable than himself.

Wang Ruzhen, however, saw things much more clearly, and declined to offer a response.

In his opinion, these two renowned scholars must have had prior contact with Wang Qichen. The Wang family’s influence had nothing to do with it. Wang Qichen was relying solely on his own reputation.

This young master’s abilities were becoming increasingly unfathomable.

A sense of unease came over Wang Ruzhen. Could the rumors that Wang Qichen had made contact with the papermaker be true?

If the papermaker was comparing prices in order to get the best deal, it was possible that he had contacted Wang Qichen and Family Head Wang Huanzhi simultaneously.

Unaware of the other party’s thoughts, Wang Qichen simply found a restaurant and had a conversation with these renowned scholars he hadn’t had contact with in a long time.

The Situ siblings were also enjoying a pleasant conversation with the Imperial Academy students.

Situ Zhaoyao had initially just found Yan Rui’s personality somewhat amusing, but unexpectedly, he was the first-place scorer in the subject of engineering, and possessed considerable talent and achievements when it came to invention and innovation!

This perfectly matched Situ Zhaoyao’s interests.

When Yan Rui learned that this prince was also an inventor, his eyes immediately lit up, and he no longer felt nervous when speaking. In fact, he actually became quite the chatterbox.

This was Situ Zhaoyao’s first time encountering someone who could keep up with him on such topics, and it excited him greatly.

The two boys talked so extensively that they completely lost track of both time and their surroundings, and by the end, they were practically ready to swear an oath of brotherhood.

Meanwhile, Lu Yao had received an invitation from the Lu family.

“Will you go?” Qin Chuan asked him.

Lu Yao thought for a moment, then said: “I will.”

Although he had resolved to serve Grand Tutor Chu, it wouldn’t hurt to visit the Lu family and sound out their intentions.

Qin Chuan was of the same opinion, and felt that he should accompany him.

If Lu Yao wasn’t able to understand all of the subtle nuances of the interaction, Qin Chuan would be there to listen too.

Besides, opportunities to enter the inner circle of a powerful family were rare, particularly when it came to the Lu family.

The Lu family was very likely connected to the deaths of his parents!

A shadow of unease flickered in Qin Chuan’s eyes, and Lu Yao glanced over at him.

*

*

Inside the palace.

After lunch and some light exercise, Bai Lihong went to take a nap.

Chu Jiubian wanted to continue reviewing memorials, but Qin Xiao said: “My wound is itching a little. Could you take a look at it?”

“Itching?” Chu Jiubian said with a frown. “Then it should be almost healed.”

Qin Xiao added: “It also hurts a little.”

Chu Jiubian fixed him with a narrow-eyed look: “How can you lie with a perfectly straight face?”

People usually blinked or touched their noses when they lied, showing some sign of their guilt and nervousness.

Qin Xiao, on the other hand, didn’t react whatsoever.

Qin Xiao just smiled: “Because I’m not lying, ah.”

“……” Chu Jiubian turned around and walked away.

Qin Xiao quickly followed him, tilting his head to take in his expression: “You’re not going to look at it?”

Chu Jiubian’s eyelid twitched: “What is there for me to look at?”

Qin Xiao smiled and said nothing.

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[1] Tianyuan (天元) implies top-tier quality, or something like “Heavenly Cuisine.” ⮐

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Chapter 79 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 81