That day upon returning, Lu Xian—that iron rooster—was so happy he plucked his own feathers and cheerfully paid out of his own pocket for a jar of Jinling Spring, which he brought back to Youhuang Pavilion.

The little servant attending him was stunned: “Are you running a fever?”

Lu Xian poured himself a cup of wine and took a sip with great satisfaction, only saying: “Every villain has their match, it’s not that karma won’t come—the time just hasn’t arrived yet! Hahaha…”

It would be even better if they could actually come to blows.

He thought leisurely.

“…”

The little servant, who had originally been worried he might be ill, now confirmed he was just having one of his usual fits of madness. The corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. He silently closed the door, simply leaving him alone in the room to be silly and happy.

—

The next morning there was a grand court assembly.

After court was dismissed, it was still early. Xie Wei was held up by several officials from the Ministry of Personnel for a conversation before he could extricate himself. After a moment’s consideration, he prepared to make a trip to the National History Bureau.

Unexpectedly, when he looked up, he saw two figures at the base of the Huangji Hall steps.

The person on the left had an upright countenance, and when speaking to the person on his right, his face bore a casual smile—this was none other than Chen Ying, the current Right Vice Minister of Justice. The person on the right was somewhat unfamiliar, wearing dark black official robes. His features were proper, his entire face cold and aloof. With downcast eyes and a restrained manner, he gave off a sense of austere severity.

As Xie Wei descended the steps, Chen Ying also noticed him. He smiled and said to the person on his right: “Let’s discuss this matter further once I return to the Ministry of Justice.”

Then he walked toward Xie Wei.

Xie Wei glanced behind him and was surprised to see that person also turn his face to look at him, nodding slightly. He was momentarily taken aback. Though he didn’t know this person’s identity, he nodded back in return.

Chen Ying stopped before Xie Wei, bowing with cupped hands: “I’ve heard that these past few days Teacher Xie has been busy and must also teach the Grand Princess in the palace. This Chen hasn’t dared to rashly visit your residence. I wonder when you might have some free time?”

But Xie Wei asked: “Who was that person just now?”

“Just now?”

Chen Ying instinctively looked back. The person who had just been speaking with him had already turned and was walking toward the palace gates, his hands clasped together and tucked in his sleeves. His bearing was upright and proper—truly not showing even the slightest sign of being someone currently targeted everywhere by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

When he brought up this person, his voice took on a more playful tone.

“A Secretary from the Jiangxi Bureau of Personnel recently transferred here, surname Zhang.”

Though Xie Wei currently held a nominal position, he was after all in the Emperor’s inner cabinet. Most matters in court and beyond passed through his hands once. Though he couldn’t exactly turn clouds and rain with a flip of his hand, he basically had an impression of every single matter.

As soon as Chen Ying mentioned it, he remembered.

Simply because the transfer order had been drafted by him, he said: “That Zhang Zhe who impeached Commander Zhou?”

Chen Ying observed Xie Wei’s expression and smiled: “Precisely that person. Teacher Xie may not know, but this man has quite formidable capabilities. He’s extremely proficient in criminal law matters, with every statute and regulation in his heart. It’s just that his temperament is both foul and stubborn, and he doesn’t really get along with others. He’d only been transferred to the Bureau of Personnel for a few days when the Northern Pacification Office of the Embroidered Uniform Guard invited me to several banquets. This Chen is currently unable to decide. What does Teacher Xie think?”

This Zhang Zhe had originally been a Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Justice. Once he impeached Commander Zhou, he offended the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Shen Lang had cursed about this person before the other Grand Secretaries in the cabinet, saying he didn’t understand flexibility and only caused trouble for him.

After all, the Embroidered Uniform Guard only handled affairs for the Emperor.

But even while so angry, Shen Lang had transferred him to the Ministry of Justice’s Bureau of Personnel with a stroke of his brush, from rank seven to rank six. Though it was ostensibly a promotion but actually a demotion, he still hadn’t dismissed him from office, which showed he still had some imperial favor.

And another thing…

A glimmer flashed in Xie Wei’s eyes as he looked at Chen Ying and said: “Minister Zheng of Justice is advanced in years. Last year he submitted a memorial requesting retirement to His Majesty, but His Majesty suppressed it, saying that if Minister Zheng retired, he wouldn’t be able to find someone suitable to manage the Ministry of Justice for a while. But this year, Censorate Supervising Censor Gu Chunfang’s term is nearly complete. It was precisely this person who strongly recommended Zhang Zhe—a mere aide and legal clerk by background—enabling him to enter officialdom. The wine can be drunk, the banquets can be attended, but how to handle the matter—that you must weigh yourself.”

Chen Ying’s heart immediately grew cold.

He heard the implication in Xie Wei’s words—that Gu Chunfang would soon become his direct superior, and Zhang Zhe probably couldn’t be touched. Thinking again of the plans he had previously calculated, he couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath of cold air and bowed to Xie Wei again: “Many thanks for Teacher’s guidance.”

But Xie Wei was indifferent, only saying: “I’ve been busy these past days. Come visit me again in a few days.”

Chen Ying said: “Yes.”

Xie Wei said no more, took leave of Chen Ying, put his hands behind his back, turned around, and headed straight toward the direction of the Wuying Hall.

The National History Bureau was under the Hanlin Academy, located in the east and west corridor rooms of Wuying Hall, primarily responsible for compiling national history and writing biographies of meritorious officials.

The grand court assembly had just been dismissed, and all the compilation officials were in the hall drinking tea.

Generally at this time they would discuss matters that occurred at court, or interesting news from various places. If the refined mood struck, they might even compose poetry or discuss literature.

But today was different from the past—the atmosphere was unavoidably oppressive.

Chief Compiler Zhang Zhong of the National History Bureau looked at the eight copies of Admonitions for Women placed on his desk. His face tightened and flushed purple-red. When he reached out to flip open the topmost copy and saw it was even stained with mud as if someone had thrown it on the ground, fire blazed in his eyes.

Even the little eunuch who had delivered the books couldn’t help but shrink his neck.

The next moment came a heavy sound—it was Zhang Zhong forcefully slapping the desk and standing up, loudly demanding: “Outrageous, outrageous! Who has the gall of a leopard to dare throw away books distributed by this official, and even dare to send them back before this official?!”

His words had barely fallen when a laugh came from outside the National History Bureau: “Chief Compiler Zhang, please calm your anger.”

The National History Bureau immediately fell silent.

Hearing the voice, Zhang Zhong turned his head to look outside the door and saw Xie Wei walking in. He couldn’t help but restrain some of his previous fury, though still without any good temper: “The esteemed Tutor arrives just in time. Look at that group of female students at Fengchen Hall—they don’t respect their teachers, don’t study their books, lawless and outrageous. Who knows who gave them such audacity!”

Xie Wei glanced at the eight copies of Admonitions for Women before him, his eyebrow raising slightly. He then sat down at the head of that row of circular armchairs and looked at Zhang Zhong calmly, saying: “I truly feel apologetic. This audacity was given by me, and the books were also thrown by me. I hadn’t expected Chief Compiler Zhang to be so angry—it rather makes me feel somewhat apprehensive.”

What… what…

Zhang Zhong felt a buzzing in his head and could hardly believe what he’d heard. After these words had circled through his mind three times and he understood their meaning, looking again at Xie Wei’s calm, smiling face before him, he felt a wave of panic and confusion. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, his legs went weak, his body swayed, and he nearly couldn’t stand steady.

—

The one lecturing on the Book of Songs in the hall was Zhao Yanhong. Jiang Xuening was listening below but was somewhat distracted.

After Xie Wei left yesterday, the entire Fengchen Hall had felt a bit strange.

The next class was taught by Sun Shu, Doctor of Mathematics from the Imperial Academy, who taught them mathematics. This person was relatively young in age, and his qualifications were also the shallowest compared to the other teachers. But perhaps precisely because of this, his attitude was the most humble, and his lectures strove to be comprehensible to everyone. He could be considered willing to answer any question, finally giving Jiang Xuening—who had been vexed by the other teachers for several days—a bit of hope for these days of palace study companionship.

But after class was dismissed, everyone had started arguing.

It was all because before Xie Wei’s lecture yesterday, he had actually thrown away the copies of Admonitions for Women that Teacher Zhang had distributed, and had even told them to all throw theirs away.

Jiang Xuening’s copy had been thrown by Xie Wei, so it didn’t count.

But the Grand Princess’s copy was genuinely thrown by herself.

The remaining seven study companions had all made no move at the time.

Among them, those as timid as Yao Rongrong were on edge over this, saying: “Teacher Xie told us to throw them away, and the Grand Princess also threw hers. But we didn’t move at all. Won’t—won’t this be somewhat bad?”

Chen Shuyi immediately mocked her: “Why didn’t you throw yours at the time?”

Yao Rongrong’s face flushed red and she dared not speak again.

But Zhou Baoying blinked: “I wanted to throw mine too, but seeing none of you throwing yours, I raised it up then put it back down.”

Chen Shuyi sneered coldly: “Is younger sister Baoying also wanting to defy propriety?”

Everyone heard the hostility in her words.

Xiao Shu had been silent on the side for a long time. Hearing Chen Shuyi’s tone so aggressive, she rarely frowned and actually turned her head to ask Jiang Xuening: “What does Second Miss Jiang think?”

Jiang Xuening hadn’t expected Xiao Shu would actually come ask her, and didn’t know what her purpose was. But in any case, her book had been thrown by Xie Wei—if there was blame to bear, Xie Wei would bear it—so she answered honestly: “If you want to throw it, throw it. If you don’t want to throw it, then keep it.”

Wasn’t Xie Wei also too lazy to care?

Her answer was equivalent to no answer.

Xiao Shu gave her a deep look, then turned back to the others and said: “Fengchen Hall’s lectures follow Teacher Xie’s lead. Though the other several teachers have profound learning and long experience, His Majesty can’t even remember their names. Teacher Xie’s initially prepared curriculum also had no Admonitions for Women—logically, it was Teacher Zhang who acted on his own initiative. Originally we didn’t know, so it was fine. Now that we know, we should make corrections. Moreover, we were originally study companions for the Grand Princess. Even Her Highness threw hers away, yet we study companions stood by and watched from the opposite shore. Those who know would say we are study companions for Her Highness, but those who don’t know might think Her Highness is a study companion for us.”

Chen Shuyi hadn’t expected at all that Xiao Shu would say such words. She stood up abruptly: “Does Ah Shu also agree with throwing the books? But I saw you sitting properly to the side at the time, without making the slightest move. Yet now you’re analyzing advantages and disadvantages—it’s truly surprising.”

But Xiao Shu didn’t grow angry, only saying: “I merely felt that the act of throwing books was somewhat disrespectful.”

Yao Xi tentatively asked: “Then what does elder sister Xiao mean?”

Xiao Shu said: “We’re all merely here as study companions in the palace. Relationships at court involve the whole body—it’s also not good to offend teachers too much, let alone such an action as throwing books. I think it’s better to collect the books and have someone return them to Teacher Zhang. If Teacher Zhang doesn’t ask about it, that’s fine. If he does ask, it was Teacher Xie’s instruction, and it can’t be counted as us not respecting our teachers. But I wonder what you all think?”

This was choosing a compromise approach.

Xiao Shu’s previous words had already explained the advantages and disadvantages. Those who had originally been hesitating were basically persuaded by her and all nodded in agreement.

Only Chen Shuyi wore a cold smile at the corner of her mouth, looking at Xiao Shu without speaking.

In the end, when everyone returned to Fengchen Hall and collected both the books thrown outside and those remaining on the desks, Chen Shuyi still didn’t join in. Therefore, the copies of Admonitions for Women ultimately sent back to Zhang Zhong at the National History Bureau numbered only eight.

Chen Shuyi’s copy still sat at the corner of her desk.

What expression must Zhang Zhong have had upon receiving the books?

When Jiang Xuening’s mind wandered to this point, she glanced toward Chen Shuyi’s position ahead, then looked away, her gaze falling back down to the open Book of Songs.

Today they were studying “Felling the Sandalwood Trees.”

She stared at it for a long while, but thought of Xie Wei’s changing expression yesterday when she had said “respectfully seeing you off.” She felt somewhat bewildered and confused. Blinking, she grabbed the small sheep-hair brush resting beside her, dipped the tip in a bit of ink, leaned down, and following the lines of poetry, square by square, blackened all the boxes within the characters.

By the time she had colored from “Felling the Sandalwood Trees” to “The Mountain Has Fusu,” Zhao Yanhong had finally finished lecturing. Though it wasn’t yet time for class dismissal, he waved his hand telling them to rest, collected his things, and left.

As soon as he left, Zhou Baoying jumped up and called to Fang Miao: “Quickly, quickly, let’s play chess!”

Fang Miao was speechless and choked with emotion. She sighed, set up the board, but absolutely didn’t want to play again. She pulled at the others: “You come, you come, you play with her!”

Zhou Baoying stamped her foot anxiously: “The next class is qin—Teacher Xie always arrives early. Hurry up!”

Everyone laughed at the sight.

In the end it was Xiao Shu who took pity and sat down to play with her.

These past two days, Shen Zhiyi had been watching them play and had picked up some of the meaning. Seeing the two set up their positions, she was about to wave Jiang Xuening over to watch together, but when she turned to look at her, she felt something was wrong.

Everyone else had qins on their desks, but hers was completely empty.

She walked over, puzzled: “Ningning, could you have remembered wrong? Today Teacher Xie is teaching qin—where’s your qin?”

Jiang Xuening was still flipping through the Book of Songs coloring in boxes. Hearing Shen Zhiyi’s question, she felt somewhat bitter in her mouth and for a moment didn’t know how to answer: Should she say that initially she’d been lazy and didn’t want to carry it back and forth so she’d simply left the qin at Xie Wei’s place, and later in her extreme anger had even forgotten about the qin altogether?

Her fingers holding the fine brush froze.

A drop of ink spread at her fingertip, but she still held on in a daze, not letting go.

Xie Wei was coming from the National History Bureau, but his steps along the way were somewhat slow. Following the steps up to the hall entrance, he looked inside and immediately noticed that young lady holding a brush and sitting there. In the open Book of Songs before her, all the characters with boxes had been colored in once. His gaze couldn’t help but linger on those pages for a moment.

She still had mischievousness after all…

He waved his hand to stop Shen Zhiyi from bowing to him and only walked to Jiang Xuening’s desk. The words caught in his throat for a moment, but finally emerged: “Today we study qin, but Second Miss Jiang’s qin is still in the side hall. If you have no pressing matters at the moment, why not accompany me to retrieve it?”

His voice was somewhat softened.

Jiang Xuening turned her head and only then saw Xie Wei: he must have just come from court, as his court robes hadn’t yet been changed. He wore all black as a base, with cloud-and-thunder patterns trimming the edges of his sleeves and hem, a waist sash bound, dark-colored official seal suspended, and covered by a black outer robe—an indescribable dignified and imposing bearing that suddenly made her feel she was seeing the Xie Wei from her previous life.

But when his gaze fell on her, it was quite peaceful.

Jiang Xuening slowly put down her brush and stood up, wanting to refuse.

But Xie Wei gave her no room to refuse, only saying: “Follow me.”

That was after all the qin Yan Lin had given her. Jiang Xuening stood in place hesitating for a moment, but ultimately still followed Xie Wei’s footsteps, walking behind him in silence, passing several corridor pillars, heading to the side hall.

At this moment, no eunuchs were attending.

Xie Wei stepped forward and pushed open the door. Looking back, he saw her standing at the entrance. Remembering that when she first came to the side hall she had also been like this, he wanted to speak, but the words reached his lips and were swallowed back.

He walked inside and took down both qins hanging on the wall.

Only then did Jiang Xuening move her steps and enter the side hall.

She recognized the banana-leaf qin’s case. Seeing Xie Wei take down the qin and place it on the desk, she only said in a low voice “Thank you, Teacher Xie,” then wanted to step forward, take the qin, and leave.

Unexpectedly, Xie Wei glanced at her and said: “Do you really think I brought you here just to retrieve the qin?”

Jiang Xuening’s movement stopped.

Xie Wei caught sight of that bit of stained ink on her fingertip. His brow furrowed lightly, and he pointed to the copper basin beside them that held water for washing hands: “Over there.”

Only following his gaze did Jiang Xuening notice she had ink on her hand. Looking again at the qin case, she understood Xie Wei was telling her to wash her hands. She felt stifled in her heart, but also didn’t want to speak more with him, so she walked over and pressed both hands into the water.

The ink was viscous and difficult to wash off once stained.

Jiang Xuening washed expressionlessly for a while before lifting her hands from the water. Looking up, she discovered there was no towel hanging on the rack.

Xie Wei was quite tall and had been leaning against the edge of the desk watching the entire time. At this moment he only picked up a snow-white brocade handkerchief from the desk and passed it over, just like that day when they were attacked below Cengxiao Tower.

Jiang Xuening remained silent and took it to dry her hands.

Xie Wei waited until she had finished drying them before reaching out to take the handkerchief back from her. He folded it into a neat square with one hand and placed it back on the desk, lightly pressing it with his fingertips. Turning his head to gaze at her, he sighed and said: “Still angry with me?”