The heart that had just felt a bit more at ease was instantly blocked again.

After a long while, she said: “Your Excellency treats life so lightly—aren’t you afraid of others’ cold mockery?”

Rong Wei lifted his eyelids to glance at her, let out a cold laugh, and didn’t answer.

He treated the world lightly naturally because the world had first treated him lightly. Everyone was just one life—when he had struggled bitterly countless times at the edge of life and death, he had never seen the world show him even a fraction of pity.

But he didn’t need those cheap things either.

Only, why bother bringing out his heart so earnestly, exposing it under the sky’s light for others to judge? What was the point of bringing it out? What meaning was there in the pity, sighs, understanding, and sympathy he might gain?

If someone truly had heart, they would naturally know and understand him; if they had no heart, complaining and selling misery would be useless.

Like the one in front of him now—she clearly appeared to be someone firm and resilient, yet she was putting on that false compassionate act, that womanly kindness.

It was… quite a mood killer.

His emotions sank down, and he closed his eyes without speaking.

Someone who usually had spring breezes in his eyes, once he fell silent, faintly exuded an aura of solemn killing intent and sinister coldness, looking somewhat mad.

Like a volcano that appeared calm, but with magma churning restlessly beneath.

Tie Ci knew in her heart that he had misunderstood, but she couldn’t explain either. She sighed inwardly, thinking, that’s fine too.

After that, the two had nothing to say along the way, returning to the academy in a rather oppressive atmosphere.

Tie Ci entered the academy, planning to hand the little cat over to Dan Shuang to care for, but Dan Shuang wasn’t someone who could carefully tend to living creatures. Just as she was hesitating, Rong Wei had already taken the bundle over, gave some instructions to the academy’s servants, and went to the kitchen to find some firewood. After a while, a servant brought goat’s milk and some tools. Rong Wei then began clanging and banging in the courtyard, making a box. Tie Ci had Dan Shuang find thin tubes to feed the little cat goat’s milk. While feeding, she secretly watched Rong Wei, seeing his nimble fingers and light movements—before long, he had made a box that was both beautiful and sturdy.

She watched Rong Wei half-kneeling on the ground, a nail held in his mouth as he worked, and for a moment felt somewhat dazed. It was as if she saw a farmhouse courtyard, daily life—you raise sheep while I do woodwork.

Just like countless ordinary couples in this world.

However, she instantly smiled with melancholy.

That was the happiness of ordinary people—she wasn’t destined for such a life.

Rather, it was Rong Wei who should marry a suitable and virtuous wife, sharing with her the mundane matters of daily life, the human warmth of firewood, rice, oil, and salt.

But thinking of such a scene inevitably made her heart feel blocked again.

After Rong Wei finished the box, he tossed aside his hammer and went into the room to sleep. Tie Ci slowly placed the little cat into the box, setting it in the main hall. To prevent anyone from stealing or playing with the cats, she hung up a sign: “Ye Shiba’s Beloved Pet.”

She figured that nowadays Ye Shiba’s fearsome reputation could make scholars cry at night, so naturally it could also make them retract their claws.

After all that commotion through half the night, she lay down and slept immediately, though in her dreams there were always people glaring at her viciously. Sometimes Feiyu’s face would appear, with pearl-like tears as she sobbed about Tie Ci being heartless. She ran along mountain paths, wailing and crying out “I’m bisexual!”

Then her daughter-obsessed father jumped out, declaring magnanimously: “Child, we’re not afraid of being bisexual—at most I’ll make you emperor! Whether male or female, bring them all into Ruixiang Palace—one as Consort Yu, one as Consort Wei.”

Tie Ci was startled awake by this supremely ambitious arrangement. Opening her eyes to find dawn had not yet broken, the room was peacefully asleep.

She quietly turned over, looking at Rong Wei’s profile.

He slept peacefully, his silhouette sunk in shadow like distant mountains.

Tie Ci pillowed her hand under her head, staring unblinkingly until Rong Wei suddenly moved slightly.

She was so startled she quickly closed her eyes.

But Rong Wei had only turned over to face her direction.

After a while, Tie Ci quietly opened one eye to peek at Rong Wei. With him sleeping facing her like this, she felt somewhat flustered. Her gaze fell on his lips, staring at those rounded lip pearls for a while, which made her heart even more flustered.

Better to sleep properly.

She closed her eyes.

But at this moment, Rong Wei opened his eyes, his gaze clear and bright without a trace of sleepiness.

Staring at Tie Ci’s sleeping face, the corner of his lips curved in a silent, mocking smile.

A little brat with thievish heart but no thievish courage.

Across from him, Tie Ci’s breathing gradually became light, fine, and long—she had truly fallen asleep.

Her sleeping posture wasn’t very good. With one turn, her blanket fell to the floor.

Rong Wei got out of bed to pick up the blanket, when a hand suddenly reached down from the bed, grabbing the other corner of the blanket.

Rong Wei looked up to see Rong Pu lifting his head from the bed.

The two stared at each other, each holding a corner of the blanket.

After a moment, Rong Wei smiled at Rong Pu, exerting force with one hand while opening his arms with the other.

Seeing that stance, Rong Pu knew this fellow was going to use full force, determined to pull him off the bed and into his own embrace.

When the blanket tore, the sound would surely wake Tie Ci. When Tie Ci opened her eyes, she would see him throwing himself into this guy’s arms.

The Crown Princess’s brain, soaked in various legendary romantic novels for over ten years, could instantly compose seven or eight stories with twisting plots that were both moving and tragic.

Rong Pu had no choice but to let go.

Rong Wei covered Tie Ci with the blanket. Her eyelashes fluttered as if she might wake, but his fingers gently brushed across her forehead, and she slept peacefully again.

This sleep was rarely sweet and sound. When Tie Ci woke in the morning, most everyone had already gotten up. Only Rong Wei, who had no classes and was recovering from injury, still lay in bed reading and eating snacks, scattering melon rinds and fruit shells all over the bed.

Tie Ci thought no wonder her final dreams had been filled with mice.

She got up, and Rong Wei didn’t even lift his eyelids—clearly his anger hadn’t subsided.

Though the Crown Princess had a good temperament, that was all surface appearance. She had never had the habit of pressing a warm face against someone’s cold backside, much less when that person was untouchable.

So she just went about her own washing and grooming, and checked on the little cats in the box outside.

From far away, she noticed the sign had changed to three smaller ones. Getting closer, she saw they read: “Ye Shiba’s Sister,” “Ye Shiba’s Elder Sister,” and “Ye Shiba’s Brother.”

Tie Ci: “…”

What wicked person stayed up in the middle of the night to name cats?

Li Zhi walked over, saw the signs and let out a “puchi” sound, quickly covering his mouth and laughing: “These names are quite endearing, just a bit long.”

Tie Ci said: “So don’t call them randomly. They’re clearly called Rong Rong, Yi Yi, and Rong Yi.”

Li Zhi’s eyes showed he was about to “puchi” again. Behind him, Fat Tiger asked foolishly: “Surname Rong? Eighteen, won’t Master Rong be unhappy…”

“What unhappy? Those are his own sons,” Tie Ci said. “Eating their fill, drinking their fill, sleeping stupidly, catching fleas—living easy.”

The room’s curtain was half-rolled, and Rong Wei was reaching his hand into a snack jar.

Hearing this, his hand paused slightly.

Li Zhi didn’t dare get involved in the clash between these two big shots. He pulled Fat Tiger away. Tie Ci, drooping her eyelids, fed the little cats more goat’s milk, then instructed Dan Shuang to go to Lingquan Village to inquire about Murong Duan’s whereabouts before going to class.

All day today, between classes everyone discussed the matter of the Crown Princess coming to inspect. Obviously, the young people were very curious about the legendary Crown Princess, but their respect was lacking.

The reason wasn’t strange either. Although the Xiao family had no children studying at Yueli Academy, under the pretext of assistance, they had arranged for many children of officials and gentry close to them to enroll. Many of the academy’s instructors, teaching assistants, and administrators also came from the Xiao faction. These people couldn’t openly criticize the Tie imperial clan, but they could secretly belittle the Crown Princess who had long been unable to inherit the imperial clan’s abilities and was of female body.

Now there were also rumors that the Empress Dowager intended to betroth Tie Ci to a Xiao family son, so how long this Crown Princess could live was still a question. Even less need to be concerned.

At lunch time, someone came to invite Tie Ci: “Brother Ye, we’re gathering in the dining hall today—all dormitories together—to discuss reception matters for the Crown Princess’s inspection. Will you join?”

Tie Ci: “Hmm?”

Someone passed by, laughed, and said: “Why speak so cryptically? Are we afraid the Crown Princess might hear? Brother Ye, we want to discuss how to give the Crown Princess a show of force, let her see the academy’s scholarly backbone and literati nobility that cannot be trifled with.”

Tie Ci: “???”

“Will you come? With your abilities, you could surely make that Crown Princess ashamed and flee in humiliation, never again daring to abuse her power.”

Tie Ci: “…Sure, sure.”

I’ll argue against myself!

She followed to the dining hall, where groups were talking excitedly. Someone said: “That day she’ll surely make us display our literary talents. Then we must trouble Brother Rong to take action, to teach that Crown Princess what it means to be learned and knowledgeable of past and present.”

Rong Pu smiled and nodded.

Someone said: “Everyone should go home and write a few pieces these days. If she wants us to submit articles for her review, we might as well put some effort into critiquing that one.”

Everyone giggled at this.

Someone said: “It’s agreed—if the teachers want to go welcome her, let them go. We’ll all claim illness, not one of us will go welcome her.”

“Right! Give her a show of force!”

“She’ll probably also want to see archery skills. I hear the Crown Princess has decent archery. Wolf Master, we’ll need you to take action and deflate her arrogance!”

Someone felt uneasy because Dan Ye’s attitude toward the Crown Princess had always been strange. Sometimes he’d curse her along with everyone else, but sometimes he wouldn’t allow others to speak of her. Just last night there had been a fight.

Dan Ye sat on the table, one foot propped against a stool, swaying back and forth. He glanced at Tie Ci and laughed heartily: “Deal! I’ll make her prostrate herself beneath my iron hooves!”

Everyone was energized.

Tie Ci listened with a smile.

Quite well-planned.

“The Crown Princess will probably also inquire about practical matters—that’s when Brother Eighteen will have his moment to shine!”

Everyone’s gaze swooshed toward Tie Ci.

Tie Ci hadn’t expected there would be a part for her. She was stunned for a moment, then smiled broadly: “Naturally.”

“If the Crown Princess seeks people with special skills, like arithmetic and such…”

“That would probably also trouble Brother Eighteen.”

“Small matter, small matter.”

Everyone was overjoyed. Among the laughter, Dan Ye’s laugh was particularly clear.

Rong Pu was gently shaking his head but had no intention of offering advice.

But Tie Ci knew in her heart that there was no such inspection, so things became interesting.

Some things, when spread around, would become true.

If everyone believed it was true and made all kinds of preparations waiting for the Crown Princess to come—whether what kind of preparations—when it fell through, there would inevitably be resentment.

Then that resentment would be hers to bear.

The scholars wouldn’t care whether it was rumor or not. How could news from the capital be false? Who would dare fabricate such a big matter? Even if Tie Ci explained it was rumor, it would be useless. Everyone would just think she had acted on a whim and then gone back on her word, pushing the blame onto subordinates. Many in high positions acted this way, didn’t they?

Thus, the evaluation of the heir being frivolous and unreliable was unavoidable. Offending scholars throughout the land and leaving a bad impression in the hearts of these future court officials was the real important matter.

Though it seemed like a trivial matter, the harm would be far-reaching.

As for who did this, one could figure it out with their toes.

Besides the Xiao family, who else would dare spread such rumors? Who else could make court officials and academy teachers all believe in this inspection story?

However, the Xiao family doing this had another purpose.

That was to force her out.

She had been incognito in Ziyang County for training, caused such a big incident, then ran away. But the Xiao family should still be able to guess she was very likely still in Haiyou.

Spreading this news—if she wasn’t in Haiyou and couldn’t rush over, her reputation would suffer.

If she was in Haiyou, she would definitely have to rush over to clear her name, thus exposing her location.

The Xiao family probably never expected that by coincidence, she was right in the academy.

The inspection date was in just three days. She couldn’t stay in the academy much longer—she had to hurry.

Inadvertently looking up, she saw a locked room in the teaching quarters. That was the office the mountain chief had given her for recruiting interns. A few days ago the academy had posted notices, and scattered people had come to apply, but most were concentrated among the poorly performing students from the later dormitories.

But Tie Ci wanted some students from good backgrounds more.

Not out of snobbery, but because these students would have greater chances of entering the court in the future. Being skilled in practical affairs would be more beneficial to the people’s livelihood.

She stopped, thought for a moment, and whistled.

After a while, Dan Shuang came at her call.

“Have Shen Mi and his companions spread a message these days—say that when the Crown Princess comes to inspect, she will directly select a group of people to fill staff and clerical positions. Remember, make it clear it’s for training and trial, without official positions.”

Dan Shuang said nothing and took the order.

Tie Ci also had a servant clean that room that no one had visited for several days.

The servant leaning on his broom asked: “Why not wait until people come to clean? No one’s been here for days.”

“It’s fine, just sweep. People will come soon.”

Tie Ci glanced at the currently thin registration book, chuckled, and walked away.

Lunch break was short, but she still strolled back once, telling herself it was to check on the cats.

Just entering the courtyard gate, she saw someone lifting a curtain to enter the room—it seemed to be Rong Wei. She entered the main hall, craned her neck, and saw Rong Wei still in bed crunching away, his posture seemingly unchanged.

Looking back at Rong Rong, Yi Yi, and Rong Yi, their eyes were already open, little bellies round and plump, with milk at the corners of their mouths—clearly just fed.

Who had fed them was obvious.

Tie Ci quietly poked Rong Yi’s belly—that was the only little male cat, the last born.

She suddenly discovered that Rong Rong and Yi Yi had soft stems tied around their necks with green leaves attached, the leaves covering their little bellies. On the leaves, in ant-sized characters, was written: “See no evil.”

Tie Ci chuckled, played with them for a while, then left.

After a while, Rong Wei shuffled in slippers off the bed, casually walking to the box’s edge and looking down.

Around Rong Yi’s waist was a circle of leaves spread out like a skirt, with “Hula dancer boy” written on the “skirt.”

Rong Wei laughed softly, his finger poking at the young cat, making it wobble and fall but constantly get back up. He crouched there, eyes unfocused, and after a long while, softly said: “You…”

…