In the Imperial Study, the Yongxing Emperor reviewed the memorial submitted by the Cabinet, which detailed various matters concerning donations, including but not limited to how to promote donations, establish standards, and audit the assets of officials who claimed to be impoverished.

The memorial contained over a thousand characters.

Reviewing memorials was no easier than reading books, as many ministers embedded “traps” within their submissions.

If an emperor didn’t want to be played for a fool by civil officials, he had to keenly detect these traps in the memorials.

In this aspect, no one could help—because once on the throne, the entire court became one’s enemy.

The Yongxing Emperor was promoting donations for disaster relief and couldn’t afford mistakes at this crucial moment, so he read with particular attention.

“Your Majesty!”

At this moment, Chief Eunuch Zhao Xuanzhen hurriedly entered the Imperial Study and said in a low voice:

“The Imperial Tutor has fallen ill.”

The Yongxing Emperor shifted his gaze from the memorial, pinched his brow, then asked:

“Ill? Ah, the Imperial Tutor is advanced in years and shouldn’t be overly taxed. Go to the Imperial Pharmacy and fetch some qi-supplementing and blood-activating pills for him.”

Zhao Xuanzhen acknowledged this but didn’t leave, continuing:

“The Imperial Tutor says he wishes to resign his position and stop teaching the young masters and mistresses. He requests Your Majesty find someone else.

“He wants to go to the Xu Manor as a teacher, to instruct the younger sister of Xu Xinnian, the Hanlin Academy scholar.”

What? The Yongxing Emperor was greatly surprised and couldn’t make sense of it.

Chief Eunuch Zhao Xuanzhen said:

“The Imperial Tutor means that he must devote himself wholly to educating that child and cannot be distracted. He hopes Your Majesty will understand.”

The Yongxing Emperor’s expression turned serious as he leaned forward slightly, asking in surprise:

“Does that child possess extraordinary talent and intelligence, inspiring the Imperial Tutor’s love for talent?

“Interesting. Even with Huai Qing back then, the Imperial Tutor never showed such dedication. Tsk tsk, the Xu family truly is full of outstanding individuals—first there was Xu Qi’an, then Xu Cijiu, and now unexpectedly even a small girl child is no ordinary person.”

After speaking, he saw Zhao Xuanzhen’s face was stiff, seemingly not knowing how to explain.

“Hmm?” The Yongxing Emperor expressed his confusion with a nasal sound.

“Your Majesty doesn’t know, but the Imperial Tutor was angered to illness…”

Zhao Xuanzhen quietly related to the Yongxing Emperor what had happened in the Upper Study.

…The Yongxing Emperor remained silent for a long time, falling into deep self-reproach.

After a while, he said: “Send that girl back to the Xu Manor. I will write a memorial to comfort the Imperial Tutor. During this time, don’t let him leave the palace, and take good care of him.”

Zhao Xuanzhen acknowledged this, then mumbled:

“We can keep him for now, but not forever.”

The Yongxing Emperor was silent for a long time before slowly saying:

“I will issue an imperial decree to the Xu family, forbidding them from allowing the Imperial Tutor to visit.”

After dismissing Zhao Xuanzhen, the Yongxing Emperor took a sip of ginseng tea and recalled what the Chief Eunuch had said, clicking his tongue repeatedly:

“Incredible, incredible.

“I don’t believe anyone could be so stupid. I must find time to test her myself.”

…

The carriage wheels rumbled to a stop at the Xu Manor, and the little dumpling jumped down with her small cloth bag on her back.

The bag was bulging, seemingly full of things.

These were the pastries she had gotten from Huai Qing.

Xu Xinnian leaped down from the carriage after her, walking into the manor expressionlessly.

The little dumpling placed both hands behind her waist, head lowered, and rushed into the manor, tripping at the entrance and falling flat.

“Second Brother, I fell.”

She raised her face to look at Xu Xinnian.

Second Young Master Xu’s handsome face twitched. “And?”

She patted her bottom and stood up, protecting the pastries in her small bag while cautiously watching Xu Xinnian.

? Xu Xinnian frowned at her.

The little dumpling carefully glanced at her second brother, then suddenly ran away in fear.

Xu Xinnian was stunned for a long while before realizing that he hadn’t shown her a good face the whole way, and his foolish sister thought he was coveting her pastries.

The evidence is that when she fell, he didn’t help her up.

They proceeded to the inner courtyard, where they saw mother and daughter staring at each other.

The second Aunt asked angrily: “Why is she back? Was she expelled from the palace again?”

Xu Xinnian nodded.

“You…”

Second Aunt’s chest heaved violently with anger as she gritted her teeth: “What happened?”

Xu Xinnian said helplessly:

“Ling’yin angered the Imperial Tutor to illness. Heh, by tomorrow, her name will spread throughout the official circles and literary world.

“All scholars will know that the Imperial Tutor, deeply learned and highly respected in the literary world, was bedridden from anger by a child.”

Second Aunt’s body swayed as she suddenly thought of many things, saying with a pale face:

“How will Ling’yin ever find a husband in the future?”

Xu Xinnian couldn’t help but laugh in anger, reproaching:

“It’s all Mother’s fault. Ling’yin isn’t cut out for studying, but you weren’t willing to accept it, singlemindedly wanting her to study and become a talented lady.”

Second Aunt was overcome with grief and shifted the blame to Second Uncle:

“Look at how foolish she is, she takes after your father. If she had taken after me, she would have mastered the four arts at such a young age.”

“But I’ve been studying hard!”

Ling’yin said plaintively while eating the delicious palace pastries.

Xu Xinnian pinched his brow, worried about another matter—once this incident spread, Ling’yin might become a coveted target for those seeking to make a name for themselves.

The Imperial Tutor, with his status as a scholar of the Imperial Academy, had cultivated righteous qi and held a leading position in the literary world.

If someone could successfully enlighten a child that even the Imperial Tutor couldn’t teach, wouldn’t they become instantly famous throughout the land?

Before actually meeting Ling’yin, no one would think they couldn’t handle a mere child, so they would surely flock to visit in countless numbers.

“To become famous in the capital for stupidity, what kind of situation is this…”

Xu Xinnian massaged his temples with a headache.

…

The next morning.

Li Lingsu came knocking, and as the wooden bolt slid open, the door opened to reveal Xu Qi’an standing by the window drinking tea, while Mu Nanzhi sat at the table controlling the little white fox as she brushed its teeth with a pig-bristle toothbrush.

“Wuu wuu wuu…”

The little white fox made sounds of distress, occasionally kicking its limbs.

“Don’t move, you need to brush your teeth properly or your mouth will stink,”

Mu Nanzhi said.

“I don’t stink… wuu wuu…”

The little white fox habitually protested, though seemingly used to this treatment, its resistance was minimal.

She’s raising it like a daughter… Li Lingsu remarked internally, then said:

“Senior Xu, the staff has prepared breakfast downstairs.”

His address of “Senior Xu” didn’t carry as much sincerity as before.

The little white fox seized the opportunity to escape from Mu Nanzhi, crying out: “Hungry hungry!”

As it spoke, it spat out the foam.

The group went downstairs to see Miao Youfang already seated at the table, eating his breakfast.

Everyone got a bowl of white porridge, three meat buns, two steamed buns, and a plate of pickled vegetables.

Shengyi County wasn’t wealthy, resources were scarce, and the common people were just managing to feed themselves.

There was no port nearby and trade wasn’t developed, so even with money, the inn couldn’t provide better fare.

Everyone sat down and ate quietly.

Miao Youfang asked: “Senior, where are we going next?”

“After we find the Dragon Qi host in Jiangzhou, we’ll go to Jianzhou,” Xu Qi’an said.

Jianzhou… Li Lingsu’s expression changed slightly as he hurriedly lowered his head to drink porridge.

“Guest, staying or just passing through?”

The waiter’s enthusiastic voice drew their attention. Miao Youfang turned to look, his eyes brightening slightly.

The waiter was greeting a rather attractive young woman wearing plain short clothes and cowhide boots, with an extremely graceful figure.

She had delicate features and resolute eyes, exuding an unapproachable coldness.

“Staying!”

The woman said.

Watching the waiter lead her upstairs, Li Lingsu teased:

“Didn’t you say you’d slept with many courtesans? Is this all you amount to?”

Miao Youfang reluctantly withdrew his gaze and retorted:

“How can courtesans compare to female martial artists? Speaking of which, during my most glorious month, several female martial artists tried to seduce me.

“But I cruelly rejected them.”

The most glorious month referred to when he was possessed by Dragon Qi.

Li Lingsu asked in surprise: “Why?”

Miao Youfang sighed helplessly:

“You don’t understand. In the martial world, women are always in trouble. The more beautiful the woman, the more trouble.

“This isn’t about their personality—beautiful female martial artists always attract trouble. Sometimes when you encounter a powerful fighter who likes beautiful women, you cannot refuse when they want to sleep with you.

“You can’t expect every martial artist to have a chivalrous heart like yours truly.

“So what should you do as their companion? Stand up for them and risk being killed? Not stand up for them and suffer humiliation? It’s better to just go it alone.”

Li Lingsu and Xu Qi’an wore expressions of “lesson learned.”

Neither the Heavenly Sect playboy nor the capital’s playboy had encountered such situations.

Miao Youfang suddenly showed a lecherous expression and said: “Brother Li, you claim to have been with countless women, including high-level martial artists. Any above Tier 6?”

Li Lingsu nodded: “Of course.”

Miao Youfang snickered: “This little brother is very curious—Tier 6 martial artists have bronze skin and iron bones, could your little soft stick break through their physical body?”

That’s quite a unique perspective… Xu Qi’an, who had never slept with any martial artists above Tier 6, also turned to look at Li Lingsu.

“How crude!”

Li Lingsu didn’t know how to answer.

Xu Qi’an and Miao Youfang snickered.

Miao Youfang laughed: “Actually, I’ve figured it out. Fish scale armor is also impervious to weapons, but an embroidery needle can still pierce through the gaps.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly collapsed face-first onto the table, unconscious.

Li Lingsu held a soul in his palm, squinting as he smiled:

“Brother Miao, you have some interesting ideas.”

At this moment, a yellow mongrel took advantage of the waiter’s absence to run in.

Li Lingsu flicked his finger to push the soul into the mongrel’s body.

“Where did this mongrel come from? Get out, get out!”

The waiter came downstairs, swinging a stick to chase away the yellow mongrel, hitting it several times.

Li Lingsu’s smile deepened as he threw out a meat bun: “Poor fellow, here, master’s treat for you.”

“Woof woof woof…”

The yellow mongrel ignored the meat bun and barked rhythmically outside the inn.

“He’s cursing at you!” Xu Qi’an said.

“What’s he saying?” Li Lingsu asked with a smile.

“He’s saying your son was born without a father, your mother was a courtesan, all the women you’ve slept with have found new lovers and given birth to lots of children who are waiting for you to come home so they can call you daddy.”

Xu Qi’an said.

…Li Lingsu stared in shock, his face stiffening: “How do you know?”

“I can understand animal languages.” Xu Qi’an said with a smile, then added:

“Oh, he just said you have a nice ass!”

Li Lingsu flew into a rage, rolling up his sleeves as he stood up. “I’m going to skin it alive today and eat dog meat…”

Suddenly he felt someone tap his back, and then his primordial spirit and magical powers were completely sealed.

The Holy Son turned pale as he looked back at Xu Qi’an:

“What, what are you doing?”

Xu Qi’an smiled: “We need to be fair. Go on, fight.”

Soon after, passers-by and inn guests either stopped to watch or poked their heads out to observe a man and dog biting and fighting fiercely.

The crowd cheered loudly, sometimes encouraging the man, sometimes applauding the dog.

Xu Qi’an and Mu Nanzhi finished their breakfast in a pleasant atmosphere.

…

In a small city in Yuzhou, in the morning mist, at a brothel.

Under the terrified gazes of patrons and courtesans, Ji Xuan took out a small bronze tripod and collected an unconscious, blood-covered man into it.

He glanced at the smashed stairs and cracked floor, tossed down a silver ingot, and left.

Outside the brothel on the street, by a small stall, the one-armed White Tiger, the brother and sister Xu Yuanshuang, the charming Liu Hongmian, and the rainbow-robed Qi Han Danxiang… were all eating breakfast with lowered heads.

Ji Xuan sat down without ceremony and had the stall owner bring him a bowl of steaming soy milk. He gulped down half the bowl with satisfaction and let out a contented breath:

“The thirteenth Dragon Qi host.”

Liu Hongmian pouted: “Too bad they’re all scattered Dragon Qi.”

Ji Xuan smiled:

“Many little makes a mickle. When scattered Dragon Qi accumulates to a certain level, its attraction to other Dragon Qi will strengthen.

“We should thank Sister Yuanshuang for her help. Without the aid of her Qi-seeing technique, how could we have been so quick?”

Xu Yuanshuang said coolly: “You should thank the Heaven’s Secrets Palace spies. Without their full effort in gathering intelligence, you couldn’t have collected Dragon Qi so quickly.”

Ji Xuan was about to speak when he saw Xu Yuanshuang take out a note from her waist pouch and say:

“Latest intelligence: a Dragon Qi host has been discovered in Yuzhou, one of the nine crucial Dragon Qi.

“The spies in Yuzhou didn’t dare act rashly, fearing to alert them since Dragon Qi can attract good fortune and avoid calamity.”

Ji Xuan’s eyes lit up: “Yuzhou? That’s not far from here.”