It was only later, while scrubbing the chamber pot, that Ren Yaoqi realized she had unconsciously become bold enough to talk back to Pei Zhiyan.

Though Pei Zhiyan was lazy and indifferent by nature, he possessed vast knowledge of astronomy and geography, and had exceptional patience – he was truly an excellent teacher.

After several years had passed, Ren Yaoqi gradually relaxed her guard in their interactions, beginning to truly respect him as her teacher and regard him as an elder brother.

Pei Zhiyan indeed never remarried. Since he had no heir, the main branch of the Pei family kept urging him to take a new wife, with some elders even sending beautiful servant girls to him. When Pei Zhiyan grew tired of this harassment, he would send Ren Yaoqi to dismiss these people. Eventually, the main family stopped sending people to him.

Once, after testing Ren Yaoqi’s studies, Pei Zhiyan suddenly asked: “Has anyone from the main family come by recently?”

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment: “Someone came a few days ago, delivered some medicinal herbs and left.”

Pei Zhiyan lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time, then as if understanding something, he rubbed his forehead and sighed with a bitter smile: “So be it… losing some reputation isn’t such a big deal.”

Ren Yaoqi was somewhat bewildered.

However, Pei Zhiyan didn’t explain, merely glanced at her and smiled slightly: “This time, your punishment is to eat celery for a month.”

Ren Yaoqi wasn’t particularly picky about food, with her only dislike being the taste of celery. Hearing this, she couldn’t help but be stunned: “Sir, was there something wrong with my answers just now?”

Pei Zhiyan lay back down on his couch, saying leisurely, “Absolutely correct. You read very seriously – a teachable child.”

“Then why must I still be punished?!” Ren Yaoqi frowned.

Pei Zhiyan didn’t lift his head: “Because I am the teacher and you are the student.”

Ren Yaoqi: “…”

It was only much later that Ren Yaoqi learned that outsiders believed she was Pei Zhiyan’s concubine – an extremely favored one at that. However, despite following Pei Zhiyan for many years, no news of her pregnancy had ever emerged. Combined with the fact that Pei Zhiyan’s late wife, Lady Ouyang, had also been childless after many years of marriage, and that Pei Zhiyan refused to remarry after his wife’s death, the Pei family assumed he had some unspeakable difficulty. Thus, they didn’t dare pressure him too harshly, and whenever Pei family members came calling, Pei Zhiyan would always send Ren Yaoqi to deal with them.

Ren Yaoqi spent many years under Pei Zhiyan’s guidance. At first, she could only passively endure, but later, she was occasionally able to give her teacher some harmless retorts. She gradually grew from a somewhat arrogant little girl who relied on her cleverness into her current composed demeanor, unperturbed by all manner of events.

The hardships of her growth journey, when counted in detail, formed a heart-wrenching history of blood and tears.

Standing there reminiscing about those past interactions between teacher and student, Ren Yaoqi felt both emotional and warm, until Mrs. Xu’s voice recalled her from her reverie.

“This is the student I mentioned before. Yaoqi, come over and pay your respects to Master Pei.”

Though Ren Yaoqi’s mind had wandered through many thoughts, it had only been an instant. While Mrs. Xu noticed that Ren Yaoqi had been stunned for a moment, she simply assumed it was due to suddenly encountering Pei Zhiyan, thinking nothing more of it. She merely called for Ren Yaoqi to come forward and greet Pei Zhiyan properly.

Ren Yaoqi collected herself and stepped forward to pay respects to both the Xu couple and Pei Zhiyan.

Pei Zhiyan thoughtfully withdrew his gaze from Ren Yaoqi, nodded with a slight smile, then asked: “The prescription your teacher is currently taking – did you give it to her?”

Seeing that Ren Yaoqi didn’t immediately respond, Mrs. Xu explained: “Because my younger sister had the same illness as me from birth, but unfortunately she… sigh! Jinyan has always regretted my sister’s passing. So he has spent many years studying pharmacology. Yesterday, when he saw the medicine I was drinking, he said it was perfectly suited to the condition. After learning about the acupressure techniques you taught me to alleviate symptoms, I mentioned you to him. He and I are close relatives and old friends despite the age difference, so he’s also your elder. We’re all family here, chatting together – you needn’t be formal.”

Ren Yaoqi wasn’t being formal; she simply didn’t know how to respond to Pei Zhiyan. The prescription was indeed one she had given to Mrs. Xu, but it was also one that Pei Zhiyan had researched from medical texts in her previous life.

She could only say: “I did give it to my teacher. The prescription came from the notes of a former court physician that I found in my maternal grandfather’s collection.”

Pei Zhiyan pondered: “Which former court physician’s notes, may I ask?” Pei Zhiyan had naturally studied many medical cases and prescriptions left by court physicians.

Ren Yaoqi thought for a moment and replied: “Imperial Physician Hu Zhongyun.”

Pei Zhiyan showed sudden understanding: “So it was – him-him-no wonder.”

Mrs. Xu was rather surprised: “You’ve also heard of this Imperial Physician Hu?” No wonder Mrs. Xu was surprised – though Hu Zhongyun was an imperial physician, he wasn’t particularly famous. He had left no celebrated medical tales during his lifetime, and having lived over four hundred years ago, even the well-read Mrs. Xu and Xu Wanli were unfamiliar with this physician.

Ren Yaoqi thought to herself: Master Pei would naturally know him. This prescription was one he had developed by studying medical cases and texts left by Hu Zhongyun and other renowned physicians.

“I have a notebook he passed to his son, which indeed contains unique insights into heart ailments. If this prescription came from him, it’s not surprising,” Pei Zhiyan said to Mrs. Xu.

Pei Zhiyan studied Ren Yaoqi for a while, then smiled: “However, for someone so young and not from a medical family to have such insight is quite remarkable. Your teacher has acquired an excellent student.”

Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help thinking privately: When I was your student, I never saw you make such observations! Indeed, students are always better when they belong to someone else.

Naturally, Pei Zhiyan couldn’t hear her thoughts. Now meeting as strangers, Pei Zhiyan had only shown surprise when first seeing Ren Yaoqi. After inquiring about the prescription, he chatted with Scholar Xu about other matters, not paying much attention to Ren Yaoqi, making her feel that the flash of surprise she had seen in Pei Zhiyan’s eyes earlier was perhaps just her imagination.

Mrs. Xu left the square table to Xu Wanli and Pei Zhiyan, while she took Ren Yaoqi to sit at the small table by the cabin window to discuss recent work on restoring incomplete musical scores.

Just then, the sound of firecrackers and gongs, and drums erupted outside, so loud it drowned out the conversations of those on the boat. The attention of Pei Zhiyan and Xu Wanli, who had been drinking tea and chatting on the other side, was also drawn over.

Mrs. Xu smiled: “The dragon boat races are about to begin. Jinyan, you haven’t seen Yanbei’s dragon boat races before, have you?”

Pei Zhiyan smiled slightly: “Indeed, I haven’t, though judging from the boats’ appearance alone, those from Jiangnan have more elaborate decorations.”

Hearing this, Mrs. Xu couldn’t help glancing at the magnificently gilded dragon boat anchored in the middle of the waterway, laughing: “That’s quite true, but dragon boat racing is about racing – you only know who wins after they compete. How can you determine victory based on appearance alone?”

Pei Zhiyan nodded in agreement.

Though this year’s dragon boat festival was even livelier than previous years, the proceedings still followed the usual format. The Prince of Yanbei, along with the heads of the Yun, Su, and Lei families, mounted the high platform, joined by two other court officials.

Everyone on the boat turned their attention to the festivities. Xu Wanli looked at Pei Zhiyan: “Aren’t you going up there?”

Pei Zhiyan glanced at the high platform and leisurely sipped his tea: “Let others have the spotlight. I’d rather stay here and play a few pleasant games with you – we still haven’t finished yesterday’s chess match.”

Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help glancing at the relaxed-looking Pei Zhiyan. She knew her teacher’s nature well – he was surely thinking: Losing would be embarrassing, winning would earn resentment. Better to hide here drinking tea in comfort.

By now, many servants with baskets were shuttling between the various pavilions along the riverbank, seeking people to place bets.

Some servants also came aboard the boats moored at the riverside.

Mrs. Xu looked at Xu Wanli and Pei Zhiyan, smiling: “Why don’t we also make some wagers?”

Xu Wanli stroked his beard and laughed, teasing: “Madam is a perpetual loser with an impressive record of defeats – whether you bet or not, the result is the same.”

Mrs. Xu glared at him: “Sir may be a constant winner, but you bet on the Prince of Yanbei’s victory every year. Even when you win, there’s no honor in it!”

Pei Zhiyan couldn’t help laughing out loud, while Ren Yaoqi wanted to laugh but didn’t dare. She had never seen the usually serious and proper Scholar Xu display such a side. No wonder people said Scholar Xu and Mrs. Xu were harmoniously matched with deep affection.

Just then, Nanny Gao hurriedly pushed through the cabin door: “Master, Madam, Second Young Master Xiao has arrived.”

Xu Wanli and Mrs. Xu exchanged glances, seeming somewhat surprised. Xu Wanli quickly said, “Please invite the young master in.”

Ren Yaoqi was startled and couldn’t help looking toward the cabin entrance, just in time to see Xiao Jingxi duck his head as he entered the cabin.

Xu Wanli smiled: “My boat is quite small – had I known you were coming, I should have borrowed the prince’s pleasure boat.” His words were very familiar.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxi smiled and said warmly, “I’ve come to invite you all to the pleasure boat.”

As he spoke, his gaze swept over everyone on the boat. When he looked at Ren Yaoqi, he paused slightly, then looked away, finally settling on Pei Zhiyan: “Hearing that Master Pei was here with you, sir, I took the liberty of coming over. I hope I’m not interrupting your reunion.”

Pei Zhiyan was also looking at Xiao Jingxi. Hearing this, he smiled and nodded: “Young Master Xiao, it’s been quite a while.” The two were acquainted.

Mrs. Xu smiled: “Since we’re reminiscing about old times, you’re also an old acquaintance, so naturally you’re not interrupting.”

Xu Wanli asked Pei Zhiyan: “I’ve seen the Prince of Yanbei’s pleasure boat but never been aboard. Today I’ll benefit from your connections?”

Xiao Jingxi couldn’t help but laugh: “Sir, your words sound like you’re blaming me.”

Mrs. Xu said: “Jingxi, don’t mind your teacher – when he’s happy, he likes to talk nonsense. This habit hasn’t changed in all these years. You’ve come at just the right time – we were about to place bets on the competition. More people make it livelier.”