On this side, He Ketian still didn’t know that her casual remark about throwing blame had telepathically summoned her brother… She was secretly applauding her own cleverness, thinking that finally she wouldn’t have to play chess with Shi Fa Ke anymore!

But then she saw Shi Fa Ke winking at her mysteriously, “Don’t worry, wait for me!”

With that, she turned around and went back into the room.

He Ketian immediately had a bad premonition…

Sure enough, she saw Shi Fa Ke emerge from the room carrying two wicker chess containers, presenting them to He Ketian like treasures. Inside was a complete set of chess pieces made from black and white agate.

“My father found these at the shop. Knowing I liked them, he brought them back for me. Let’s use this set today!”

…He Ketian nearly spat blood.

While He Ketian was enduring humiliation and playing chess with Shi Fa Ke, the Master Linyuan she yearned for was teaching at the academy.

Although Lu Chi had a somewhat strange temperament, his good looks more than made up for it, so his classes were always pleasing to the eye. However, today in class, there was always a resentful gaze following him closely.

Of course, Lu Chi had no psychological burden about this.

After school ended, he slowly finished organizing his books. When he turned around, he was met with a puffy, angry bun-shaped face—who else could it be but the little fatty Zhu Li?

“Teacher!” Seeing that Lu Chi had been ignoring him, the little fatty couldn’t hold back and spoke first.

Then he bit his lip with some annoyance, feeling that speaking first seemed like losing!

“Hmm?” Lu Chi looked at him with calm composure, as if he hadn’t noticed the raging fire in his eyes.

“Teacher, did you tattle on me to my grandfather yesterday?!” The little fatty glared at him with a face full of tragic indignation.

What a waste of his sincere heart! He had even wanted to introduce his talented and beautiful fourth sister to the teacher as a wife, but it turned out that yesterday when the teacher visited, it wasn’t to meet fourth sister, but to tattle on him to his grandfather!

How could people’s hearts be so dark!

No wonder yesterday outside grandfather’s study, the teacher was unusually gentle in a way that made one’s hair stand on end. Remembering that scene, the little fatty’s eyes turned red with anger… Heaven knows what he had experienced in grandfather’s study yesterday.

Lu Chi chuckled lightly and nodded very frankly, “Yes.”

The little fatty’s face immediately flushed red. He stared at the completely unashamed teacher with disbelief—this was completely shameless! To admit to tattling so righteously, where was the justice in heaven!

“Is there anything else?” Lu Chi seemed completely oblivious to the little fatty’s anger, facing his furious gaze without any pressure.

“What… exactly did you tell my grandfather?!” The little fatty glared angrily at the utterly shameless teacher.

“I told Old Master Zhu that his grandson Zhu Li is a genius with a photographic memory,” Lu Chi smiled slightly.

The little fatty was stunned.

He had always been mischievous and troublesome, despised by gods and ghosts alike. His mother’s son had already passed the scholar examination, while he couldn’t even enter the clan school. He wasn’t unaware that everyone shook their heads when mentioning him, but his mother said people came in many types—some like his brother were bookworms who could do nothing but study, while others were born unable to read books, like him… But he was born into wealth and nobility, and others were merely jealous, so he shouldn’t pay attention to others’ opinions.

From then on, he became even more mischievous and unrestrained.

But now, his teacher said… he was actually a genius with a photographic memory?

He instinctively felt the teacher was lying, but he knew the teacher wouldn’t lie and wouldn’t deign to lie, so perhaps… he really was a genius?

Thinking this way, he actually felt somewhat pleased.

Lu Chi could tell what the little fatty was thinking from his expression, and couldn’t help but reveal a very subtle smile.

Rarely, Lu Chi didn’t pour cold water on him, letting him be happy for a while. After all, he was about to face the darkest days of his life… Old Master Zhu now knew that this grandson who had never been valued actually had exceptional talent. Like finding a treasure, he was rolling up his sleeves and vowing to straighten out this little sapling that had been raised crooked. As the saying goes, deep love brings strict discipline—since Old Master Zhu had high expectations for him, he would certainly use thunderous methods.

All the carefree and happy days of the past would become fleeting clouds. Every day, he would no longer face a stepmother who granted his every wish, intending to spoil him into a useless wastrel, but Old Master Zhu’s intimidating stern face.

Just thinking about it was somewhat exciting.

The little fatty Zhu Li was still immersed in the wonderful fantasy of being a genius, completely unaware of his teacher’s sinister malice, and didn’t know that his days of suffering… were about to arrive.

And all of this was because of the man before him who was smiling so subtly.

Many years later, Zhu Li, dressed in court robes and wearing a three-branch nine-leaf crown, knelt before the Hall of Supreme Harmony to receive the imperial decree: “First rank, first place Zhu Li, granted the degree of Advanced Scholar.”

And that was merely the beginning of his brilliance.

Although Zhu Li was raised by his stepmother, his life could be considered smooth. In his childhood, his stepmother intended to spoil him to death, but compared to his brother who had been forced by his mother to study since childhood and became a bookworm, his childhood could be said to be very carefree and comfortable.

When he reached adolescence, at the most important turning point of his life, he met his teacher Lu Chi…

Later historical records show that Zhu Li’s life was extremely brilliant. He eventually became Prime Minister, assisting the Son of Heaven and managing all affairs, reaching the pinnacle that all scholars most desired, becoming a model for scholars throughout the realm.

If asked who Zhu Li was most grateful to in his life, and who made him gnash his teeth with the most hatred, it would definitely be his teacher, Lu Chi.

However, those were all stories for later.

At this moment, Zhu Li was about to face the darkest moment of his life…

In the Shi family’s small courtyard, He Ketian, who had calculated everything but still couldn’t escape, patiently accompanied Shi Fa Ke through another game of chess. Shi Fa Ke lost miserably without question.

“A’ke, let’s rest for a bit. Aren’t you tired of playing chess all the time?” He Ketian said, unable to bear it any longer.

She just couldn’t understand why someone could keep losing at chess yet maintain such an enthusiastic attitude!

“Not tired at all,” Shi Fa Ke blinked innocently. “It’s rare to have someone willing to play chess with me. Ketian, you’re so good to me.”

He Ketian’s mouth twitched. Even being praised didn’t make her feel happy at all!

“But I’m tired of it,” He Ketian’s patience finally ran out. She darkened her face, reached out to push the chess pieces away, and adopted an attitude of complete non-cooperation.

The chess board immediately became a mess.

Shi Fa Ke glanced at the chaotic chess board, then pursed her lips and looked at her, with a somewhat strange expression on her face.

He Ketian felt a bit unnerved under her gaze, hesitating whether to soften her stance. After all, she still had a favor to ask of her… It wouldn’t be good if she angered her and couldn’t resolve the situation.

Just as she was hesitating and struggling, she saw Shi Fa Ke suddenly burst out laughing with a “puchi.”

“Finally couldn’t hold back anymore,” Shi Fa Ke laughed so hard her teeth showed but not her eyes, looking absolutely delighted.

He Ketian was dumbfounded by her laughter. “What… what’s wrong? What do you mean?”

Shi Fa Ke was laughing so hard she could barely stop.

Although He Ketian didn’t know what she was laughing about, she had undoubtedly entertained her, and this realization made her face flush red—not from embarrassment, but from anger.

Finally, before He Ketian’s anger could fully erupt, Shi Fa Ke managed to stop laughing. While wiping the tears from her eyes, she said, “I’ve been wondering how long you could endure me. It looks like today is indeed your limit.”

He Ketian’s eyes widened in shock. “You… you know…”