Once, Jiang Xuening had thought about the eighteen methods of dealing with Confucius. Now, she couldn’t help but begin pondering the eighteen methods of dealing with herself.

In the strange looks everyone had given her earlier, suddenly there was more sympathy.

After all, jealousy was jealousy, and looking down on someone was looking down on them, but no one had expected that merely being poor at playing qin would result in being kept after class by the master. Regardless of how gentle Master Xie appeared, for students, this kind of thing could be called “dire news”—truly somewhat frightening.

So, in the time that followed…

Everyone took Jiang Xuening as a warning. Even Shen Zhiyi, whose manner had been relaxed before, now summoned her full spirit to practice qin seriously, fearing the next one kept behind by the master would be herself.

Jiang Xuening remained silently wordless.

For the entire shichen, she just sat in her position, not daring to touch that qin.

When class ended, everyone stood up to bow and bid farewell to Xie Wei.

Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but cast her gaze toward the others.

Someone like Xiao Shu, who kept a low profile, only glanced at her once.

Someone like You Yue, who clearly had grievances with her, lightly snorted through her nose, quite gloating.

Fang Miao looked at her with utmost pity, giving her a look that said she couldn’t help.

Jiang Xuening knew the others couldn’t be relied upon, but still tried to grasp at a last straw of hope. She couldn’t help calling out when Shen Zhiyi passed by: “Grand Princess…”

Shen Zhiyi came over and squeezed her hand, saying earnestly: “Master Xie is a very good person. You must work hard.”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

Shen Zhiyi even encouragingly nodded at her and made a fist gesture before walking out from the hall.

A bit despairing.

Everyone had left completely.

Most of the attending palace servants had also dispersed.

Outside, the daylight shone through the window paper, bright and pale.

Xie Wei placed his Emei qin into its case, held it diagonally in his arms, walked down from the front of the hall, only glanced at her once and said: “Follow.”

Jiang Xuening’s heart felt ice cold. She lifted her feet to follow.

But unexpectedly, after taking just one step, Xie Wei’s footsteps stopped.

His eyelids lowered. Half the light from the hall entrance fell into his lashes and pupils, making the depths appear even darker and more somber. He reminded her: “Qin.”

Only then did Jiang Xuening react. She returned and carefully picked up the Jiao’an that she’d barely touched today.

Xie Wei left the hall and went straight to the side hall.

After all, he was still somewhat different from the other masters. And having presided over classics mat lectures in the palace all these years, this time the palace specially set aside the side hall of Fengchen Hall for him to use as a rest area.

The closer Jiang Xuening got to that side hall, the more urgently her eyelids jumped.

Arriving at the side hall entrance, there was even a young eunuch leaning in the corridor to attend. Seeing Xie Wei approach, he quickly straightened his body, his face full of smiles as he came forward: “Grand Preceptor, you’ve worked hard. Class is over? The Internal Affairs Bureau has autumn tea sent from Fujian the other day. Shall this slave brew some for you?”

Xie Wei lightly said “mm.”

That eunuch was about to go down to the adjacent tea room to brew tea, but as he withdrew, he couldn’t help but curiously glance at Jiang Xuening, seemingly wondering why Grand Preceptor Xie would bring a young lady here.

Xie Wei entered the side hall.

But Jiang Xuening’s footsteps stopped at the hall entrance, as if inside was some dragon’s pool or tiger’s den that she didn’t dare enter.

Without turning his head, Xie Wei said: “Come in.”

Jiang Xuening steeled her heart, thinking that at least they were now in the imperial palace. Even if Xie Wei had great abilities in secret, he wouldn’t murder someone in broad daylight. So she stepped inside.

A warm, melting atmosphere immediately rushed toward her.

She couldn’t help but freeze.

The side hall was much smaller than the main hall, and the layout wasn’t as open. But aside from the open door and one east-facing window, all other doors and windows were tightly closed, and there were even braziers burning silver charcoal.

The originally cold floor tiles were covered with thick wool carpet, silent when stepped upon.

Tall bookshelves served as partitions.

They were piled full of various ancient texts.

Going around the bookshelf, one could see a desk and a qin table. In the northeast corner was even a long wooden platform, on which several long pieces of lumber were actually placed, with other tools like marking lines, planes, and carving knives set beside them.

Xie Wei hung up his own qin, then turned to point Jiang Xuening toward the empty qin table. He himself sat down on one side of the warm kang by the window, lowered his eyelids and said: “I heard that Second Miss Ning saved a young eunuch named Zheng Bao at the entrance of Kunning Palace yesterday.”

Jiang Xuening had just put down the qin. Hearing these words, she was nearly scared to her knees.

She had thought Xie Wei kept her behind alone truly to instruct her on playing qin. Where would she have expected that just upon entering this side hall, his opening words would be this? All the hair on her body immediately stood on end!

Saving Zheng Bao that day had been in full view of everyone. Even if she wanted to deny it, she couldn’t refute it, much less now when Xie Wei was asking her face to face.

This was someone who would rebel in the future and inevitably had his own eyes and ears in the palace.

To play dumb and crazy before Xie Wei was courting death.

Jiang Xuening forced herself to calm down and haltingly replied: “Yes.”

The contemplation in Xie Wei’s eyes floated up. He actually said to her: “The seal-holding eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, Wang Xingjia, is a favored person beside His Majesty. Although Zheng Bao serves in the inner palace and is an inconspicuous managing eunuch in Kunning Palace, Wang Xingjia has secretly always looked favorably upon him, counting as half a master to Zheng Bao. And because Zheng Bao is loyal and very filial, recently he’s been quite wanting to find an opportunity to promote him. Second Miss Ning’s kind heart happened very coincidentally.”

Jiang Xuening never expected he would actually know.

Her heart’s most secret scheme hadn’t even been in place for a day, and the next day it was already exposed by someone. It truly frightened her out of her wits.

She instinctively wanted to lie and deny it.

But lifting her head, she only met Xie Wei’s clear and knowing gaze, as if he could see completely through her. For a moment, the courage that had just surged up was completely extinguished. She only felt her throat dry, unable to speak.

Xie Wei calmly looked at her: “Did you know this and deliberately save him?”

Jiang Xuening didn’t dare admit it.

After all, the last time she entered the palace, Xie Wei had already warned her to obediently stay under his watch, not cause trouble, and not anger him.

But facing Xie Wei, she also didn’t dare lie.

Because the consequences of lying were even worse.

In an instant, her thoughts turned a hundred times. At the critical moment, Jiang Xuening suddenly remembered the ultimate move for dealing with Xie Wei that she’d discovered earlier in the main hall of Fengchen Hall. So she flattened the corners of her lips, lowered her brows and eyes, and actually pouted her mouth and buried her head.

There were too many sorrowful matters—just thinking about them could make her cry.

When she lifted her eyes again, her eye sockets were red, tears pooled at the bottom of her eyes like a placid lake at high tide about to overflow. She pitifully opened her mouth: “There are so many things in the palace—what Wang Xingjia or Wang Jiuyi—I’m just someone who entered the palace only a few days ago. How could I possibly know so much?”

“…”

Xie Wei looked at her without speaking.

Jiang Xuening felt his reaction was somewhat off, not quite the same as what she’d thought earlier. Her heart couldn’t help but drum with uncertainty.

But the act had already been performed—could it be taken back?

She brazenly continued fake crying: “Moreover, at first I didn’t want to save that young eunuch called what’s-his-name Zheng Bao. It was when we were passing by on our way back that we saw Prince Linzi standing in front of him as if to save him, but later with the interruption His Highness forgot about it. I saw that young eunuch was pitiful, so I said a word to Grand Princess. The one who truly spoke to save him was Grand Princess. Master Xie, last time you kept saying you wanted to trust me, but now in every matter, where does it look like you want to trust me? Liar!”

The young girl in her prime bloom had a beautiful appearance. Her features were refined and bright, even with a bit of cold, seductive flamboyance. However, when crying, she lowered her brows and eyes, adopting a submissive posture that made her appear pitiful.

There was that bit of cunning and minor mischief carved into her bones.

While crying, she also fake-casually watched his expression. Her black and white eyeballs were like moist glazed glass, quite bewitching as they turned.

Xie Wei couldn’t help but think: Did he look like someone who particularly fell for this act?

At first, Jiang Xuening cried because she felt Xie Wei fell for this, thinking maybe she could muddle through with it. Who would have thought Xie Wei would just look at her with this thoughtful gaze, seemingly unmoved.

The more she cried, the less confident her heart became.

Just then, a light knock came from outside the door. That young eunuch brought in tea, saying: “Grand Preceptor, tea.”

Her sobbing thus stopped.

That young eunuch brought two cups of tea. One cup was placed on the kang table at Xie Wei’s hand, one cup was placed beside the qin table in front of Jiang Xuening. Not knowing if he’d heard what happened in this side hall before, he didn’t raise his head for another look. After setting down the tea cups, he bowed and withdrew.

Xie Wei picked up the tea cup, lifted the lid, and hearing the crying had stopped, only raised an eyebrow: “Not crying anymore?”

Jiang Xuening: “…”

If she still couldn’t see that Xie Wei actually didn’t fall for this act, then she’d truly be an idiot.

She became honest: “Suddenly feel like it’s not actually that sad.”

Xie Wei said “oh,” his manner leisurely as he drank a sip of tea, looking at her with a half-smile: “Can’t tell—not good at learning qin, but quite strong at fake crying.”

Jiang Xuening felt stifled: “Isn’t this because I’m afraid of your punishment…”

Xie Wei said: “With a clear conscience, why fear ghosts knocking at the door?”

Jiang Xuening muttered in a low voice: “Can’t people let ghosts knock at the wrong door?”

Xie Wei stopped speaking and looked at her.

Jiang Xuening immediately buried her head down, not daring to talk back anymore: “Master Xie is completely right. Being a ghost is so powerful—how could they possibly not recognize doors?”

Xie Wei: “…”

He put down the tea cup and asked her again: “Why did you save Zheng Bao?”

Jiang Xuening appeared obedient on her face, but her brain was already spinning rapidly.

Telling the truth would definitely be dead.

But telling complete lies, Xie Wei probably wouldn’t believe it.

So she immediately had a compromise idea. She also forcibly unloaded the resistance and defense in her heart, making herself appear more vulnerable and more sincere at this moment: “Xuening just arrived at the palace, without support or backing. Master and Yan Lin, and Grand Princess—all of you insisted I enter the palace and stand out. The other study companions naturally view me as an enemy. If I don’t have someone to look after me, if I encounter something like what happened in Cining Palace, with danger at every step, I won’t even know how I died in the future. I’m afraid, so when we returned past Kunning Palace, I thought if I could save a young eunuch, perhaps he’d be useful in the future.”

Hearing this, Xie Wei fell silent.

Jiang Xuening’s voice lowered as she defended herself: “My thoughts aren’t pure, but others haven’t given me a chance to be a good person either. Master sees what I’ve done and only knows to blame me, but never puts yourself in my shoes to think for me.”

What happened in Cining Palace and how great the aftermath implications were—no one knew better than Xie Wei.

Hearing Jiang Xuening mention it now, his gaze changed.

Finally he asked her: “Your heart feels wronged?”

Jiang Xuening nodded: “Wronged.”

Xie Wei then fell silent again.

Jiang Xuening’s heart was pounding wildly. When she lifted her eyes, there was slight fear, but also hidden hope. She actually tried asking: “Then, then is Zheng Bao really that formidable? Will he be promoted by that what’s-his-name Wang Xingjia in the future?”

This appearance was as if she originally didn’t know Zheng Bao was so formidable, but had only just learned it from his mouth.

Xie Wei couldn’t help but want to distinguish truth from falsehood.

But lifting his eyelids up, seeing her two hands placed properly on her knees as she sat dutifully behind that qin table, her dense, long, dark lashes moist, her snow-white cheeks still hanging tear traces from earlier that she hadn’t wiped dry—he ultimately turned his thoughts and said: “Never mind.”

He said to her: “Wang Xingjia merely has such plans. However, palace matters change in the blink of an eye. Someone favored today may fall completely tomorrow. Having some connections in the palace isn’t a bad thing, but if you’re not careful and get entangled in struggles, it may not avoid bringing disaster upon yourself. Since I’ve received Yan Lin’s entrustment and also your esteemed father’s request, I’m giving you some guidance. You be careful in your actions and never make wrong steps.”

Those four words “make wrong steps” carried deep meaning.

Jiang Xuening understood he was definitely not simply referring to showing favor to Zheng Bao to gain someone to look after her in the palace. He was probably also warning her not to think of using Zheng Bao to report his treasonous intentions. How could she still dare not be obedient?

She lowered her eyes: “Yes, thank you for Master Xie’s guidance.”

Xie Wei then said: “The qin—try once more. Let me see.”

Jiang Xuening’s mind was still full of thoughts about this round of “battle of wits” with Xie Wei. Where would she have expected he wouldn’t even shift his topic, directly mentioning the qin matter? She was thus stunned for quite a while before reacting—

After all this fuss, he was still going to give her private tutoring.

She thought after discussing Zheng Bao’s matter he would let her go!

The Jiao’an was placed on the qin table.

Jiang Xuening wanted to die.

Seeing her not move, Xie Wei already lightly furrowed his brows, saying: “I have nothing to do this afternoon either. If you don’t play, we’ll just waste time here.”

Who wants to waste time here with you!

Simply more frightening than staying with the King of Hell!

Weighing her options, Jiang Xuening’s survival instinct ultimately overcame her meager backbone. She took a deep breath, sat up straight, placed her fingers on the strings, and haltingly played a small section of the “Immortal Elder’s Air” that Xie Wei had taught.

This piece was also called “Tuning the Strings to Begin Playing.” It was an opening finger exercise that most people learning qin knew, mainly used to practice fingering techniques.

Although Jiang Xuening hadn’t touched the qin in the hall, she’d deliberately memorized this small section of the opening exercise.

Playing it now, although the tuning and fingering weren’t accurate, there were actually no major errors.

Xie Wei looked at her fingers and only said: “Continue playing.”

Jiang Xuening didn’t dare say much else. With a breath held at her chest, when her hands’ ten fingers lifted again, they became even more tense.

This time, the moment she pressed down, the very first note was too heavy.

Xie Wei thus rose and walked to her qin table to observe closely.

However, the more he watched, the more mistakes Jiang Xuening made. Her playing wasn’t even as good as the first time.

Xie Wei knew she feared him, but this was also an unsolvable matter. Moreover, in matters of qin, he always concentrated single-mindedly. So he said: “This piece corresponds throughout. At the end of each phrase is one loose and one pressed. You’re pressing the strings too tightly. When playing, you need to loosen them more.”

Jiang Xuening tried to relax and played it once more.

Xie Wei only said “rotten wood can’t be carved.” Seeing that although her right hand seemed to have loosened, her left hand’s five fingers were still curled, and the fingering was also wrong, he frowned and leaned forward slightly, reaching out his hand.

Jiang Xuening’s fingers were as slender as peeled scallion roots. Below her transparent nails was a pale pink. Even with incorrect fingering, pressing on the qin strings was still quite pleasing to look at.

When learning qin, jade bracelets and hand chains were all removed.

Xie Wei originally meant to teach her the correct fingering, but as soon as he drew near and lowered his eyes, he saw that thin, white wrist exposed. The scar from forcefully cutting to draw blood back then was like an old thorn climbing on that snow-white skin.

Although faded, it was still somewhat fierce and glaring.

His fingers that had just reached out suddenly paused.

Jiang Xuening had just finished playing and felt this attempt was much better than the first. In her heart she was thinking she’d made progress and should get some praise. But she hadn’t expected Xie Wei to knock her back down with “rotten wood can’t be carved,” much less expect him to suddenly reach his hand toward her.

In that instant, her entire scalp went numb.

Looking again at Xie Wei’s gaze, it fell neither askew nor off-center right on that scar on her wrist. Not knowing why, she was suddenly terribly afraid, fearing he would touch it. In her haste, she hurriedly stood up!

“Crash!”

She’d originally been sitting at the qin table. Rising suddenly and urgently, she hit the table edge in front, stumbled on the brocade stool behind, and immediately the table tilted and things fell. Even she herself cried out in alarm as she fell backward.

Seeing this, Xie Wei immediately reached out his hand—

His sky-blue crane cloak had wide, large sleeves that caught the wind as they swept past Jiang Xuening’s eyes.

Then…

He firmly caught that Jiao’an ancient qin.

With a “thud,” the qin table fell, the brocade stool also fell, and Jiang Xuening landed on her bottom in that thick wool carpet. It hurt a bit, and her gaze was also somewhat dazed.

That Jiao’an landed safely in Xie Wei’s palms.

He stood holding the qin, also looking at her.

Quiet.

Besides quiet, it was still quiet.

Xie Wei: “…”

Something seemed not quite right?

Jiang Xuening: “…”

No, there didn’t seem to be any problem.