Yang Fei and Yin Fei, along with a grand procession, came to send Li Yin and Li You to school. When their carriages reached the foot of Yushan, Yang Fei immediately fell in love with the place. Not only had the summer heat completely dissipated, but the surrounding farmhouses were also neat and orderly. The characteristic half-sided houses of Guanzhong were whitewashed with lime, topped with red brick tiles that looked festive. The roads were wide, flat, and smooth, with many taverns and teahouses along the way for rest stops—a scene of great peace and prosperity.

She hadn’t left the palace gates in ten years, so everything looked fresh to her. The dilapidated scenes she’d witnessed in earlier years had always weighed on her mind, as she considered them the sins of her father. Now, suddenly seeing the common people living and working in peace and contentment, her anxieties naturally dissolved considerably. She kept lifting the carriage curtain to look around.

Li Ke personally drove his mother’s carriage, sitting on the shaft and constantly telling her where they were and what interesting stories there were about each place. He pointed to a place emitting black smoke in the distance and said that was the cement kiln. This thing was so useful now that even though the government burned it day and night, there still wasn’t enough. When he went to his fiefdom in Shu in the future, a cement kiln would be absolutely indispensable no matter what.

“Ke’er, your younger brother is incorrigibly mischievous. Could you ask the academy’s teachers to be lenient and punish him more lightly considering his young age? Mother heard you describe those methods—they sound similar to military law.”

Having seen enough scenery, she naturally began worrying about her troublesome younger son.

“Mother, you’re right—the academy operates under military law. Either take the rod or go into solitary confinement; there’s no third option. Xiao Yin will definitely get beaten with the rod. Don’t worry too much—a man won’t amount to anything without suffering some hardship.”

“This time you have a half-month vacation, so your son can accompany you to enjoy the mountains and waters. If you’re interested, you can also attend classes by Master Li Gang, Master Yushan, Master Yuanzhang, and Master Lishi. These four masters are all learned scholars who lecture extremely well. Sometimes your son doesn’t even want class to end. If you want to hear novel stories, go to Yun Ye’s classroom—all sorts of incredible things, all kinds of strange theories will make your trip worthwhile.”

“Your son will ask Daoist Sun to examine your body. No more of those palace quacks who claim to diagnose illness through a curtain—that’s absurd. Last time, Empress Dowager had her pulse taken directly by Master Sun. This time you’ll do the same, and surely the palace won’t blame us.”

“The academy also has a massive dragon skeleton, as big as half a room, with teeth over a foot long—a true ancient beast. There’s also a strange gate—if you enter from the left without knowing the correct method, you’ll come out from the right. It was built by the Gongshu family, masters of civil engineering and mechanisms. They’re descendants of Lu Ban.”

“Master Zhao’s tea brewing and Yun Ye’s cooking are both indispensable. Boating on the Dongyang River, with green mountains facing each other and jade-green water like a ribbon—you’ll definitely love it.”

Li Ke spoke eloquently about the arrangements he’d made for his mother, wanting her to taste all at once the happiness she’d never experienced in her lifetime. Being locked in the deep palace compound all one’s life was also a form of torment.

By this time, Li Yin had long forgotten his elder brother’s warnings. Sitting in Li Ke’s light carriage, he raced along the main road. Li You watched with envy and jumped down from his mother’s carriage, calling to Li Yin. The two climbed into the carriage, drove off the driver, and frantically whipped the horses themselves. Pedestrians by the roadside scrambled to dodge them in alarm, while the two boys laughed loudly in the carriage.

Li Gang, Yun Ye, Xu Jingzong, and Liu Xian were already waiting at the end of the road. Seeing the carriages approaching from afar, they rose to greet them, only to discover a light carriage charging wildly toward them, trampling countless baskets of mulberry leaves. These were left by the villagers by the roadside, planning to dry the dew before taking them back to feed the silkworms. Now they were all ruined—silkworms couldn’t eat mulberry leaves that had touched dirt, as they would contract diseases.

The academy was full of spoiled brats, so they’d seen plenty of this. Yun Ye quickly helped Li Gang step to the side of the road. Xu Jingzong also consciously moved back. Liu Xian tightened his wrist guards, stepped forward, and grabbed the reins in one motion. The horse suddenly reared up on its front legs and couldn’t advance another step.

Li You and Li Yin tumbled from the carriage. As they got up and prepared to curse, Li Yin suddenly noticed Yun Ye standing there with an encouraging expression on his face, as if hoping he would launch into a tirade. Mischievous children are usually clever—he quickly covered his own mouth. He knew how formidable Yun Ye was, having been tricked by him plenty of times back in the palace.

Li You still couldn’t read the situation. The words “you dog thief” had just left his mouth when Li Yin covered it, though he continued to curse indistinctly through the muffling.

The four men standing there all knew who these two were. Li Gang had already knitted his aged brows and turned to Liu Xian, saying, “Li Yin galloped his horse and trampled farmers’ mulberry leaves—twenty strokes of the rod. Li You committed the same offense—twenty strokes. He also insulted his teachers—ten more strokes.”

Liu Xian had become numb to punishing dragon sons and phoenix grandsons over the years. These two boys weren’t even on his radar. With a wave of his hand, several burly men sprang out from behind and carried off the two princes like catching chickens.

Yun Ye apologized to the farmers and told them to come to the academy later for compensation. The farmers were used to this routine from the academy, so they simply went about collecting the unsoiled mulberry leaves without making a fuss.

When the carriages arrived, Li Ke craned his neck looking for his younger brother. Seeing only his carriage stopped by the roadside, he knew something was wrong. Looking at the farmers in the distance collecting their broken baskets, he knew his younger brother had most likely already been sent to the academy for punishment.

Covering his forehead, he explained the situation to his mother and also recounted the events to Yin Fei. The two anxious mothers hurriedly descended from the carriage and paid their respects to Li Gang. Li Gang had formerly been Grand Tutor, a position of great honor. He only paid respects to the Emperor and Empress; as for other consorts, they weren’t in his regard. Moreover, Yang Fei had studied under him in the former Sui palace in earlier years. Yin Fei was the same—back then, he and Yin Fei’s father had been colleagues. It was only later, when the Yin family dug up the Li family’s ancestral graves—an act Li Gang considered too extreme—that he ceased contact with them. Yet Yin Fei had always regarded Li Gang as an elder.

“You two were once good children with ambition and drive. Why are you now so lax in disciplining your own children? What is the reason for this?” Old Li exploded. The students being sent now were more outrageous than the last, one harder to teach than the next—naturally he was angry.

The two imperial consorts, whether by status or age, dared not talk back to Li Gang and could only bow their heads in apology.

“Very well, since they’ve been entrusted to the academy, this old man will discipline them. You shall have no objections. Fortunately, they’re still young, so there’s no great harm done. Since you rarely leave the palace, let Prince Shu accompany you to relax.”

Having said this, he boarded Li Ke’s carriage and had Yun Ye drive him up the mountain. This scene left Xu Jingzong dumbfounded. Was this the bearing of a great literary master of his generation? When would he himself ever reach such heights?

He had no grounds to be assertive, so he respectfully invited the ladies to board their carriages to continue the journey.

Yin Fei joined Yang Fei in her carriage, covering her mouth and giggling continuously. The distraught Yang Fei found this strange and asked why.

“Elder sister, I haven’t seen Teacher in so many years. I never imagined he’d still have that same temper, though his health remains robust.” Yin Fei laughed and added, “Now I’m not worried about You’er anymore. With Teacher disciplining him, can he still fly to the heavens?”

“You! I heard from Ke’er that the academy operates under military law. What if they beat the two of them up badly? You won’t even have anywhere to cry.”

“Elder sister, have you never been beaten with Teacher’s rod? I certainly received plenty. Even now thinking about it, my palms ache. As for You’er, Teacher will exercise proper judgment. These days I plan to attend Teacher’s lectures again. Tell me, if I can’t answer the questions, will Teacher still strike my palms?”

These words made Yang Fei’s heart ache. Yin Fei was like herself—their happiest times had been when studying with their teacher. Hadn’t all the days after that been lived in trepidation? Her thoughts instantly returned to that carefree girlhood. Those times were truly beautiful!

Many noblewomen lived on Yushan. Hearing that imperial consorts had come to Yushan, they all stood at the entrance to the villa district to welcome them. After exchanging pleasantries, Li Ke first escorted Yin Fei to the imperial villa to settle in, then welcomed his mother to his own villa.

Apart from his mother’s personal palace maids, he arranged all other eunuchs and palace maids in the adjacent small courtyard. Pushing open the small building’s courtyard gate, the yard was filled with blooming wildflowers of various colors. It lacked the grandeur of the imperial palace but had its own distinctive charm.

The small building was covered with thick carpets that reached the ankles. By the window facing the green mountains sat a brocade couch. To idle away time holding a leisurely book, gazing at the distant green mountains, taking a little nap—this was truly a beautiful thing in the mortal world.

The small building was like the most exquisite jewelry box, immediately capturing Yang Fei’s heart within it. The green mountains were like dark eyebrows, and the small building was like a beauty mark at the brow tip—not destroying this beauty’s countenance but making it appear more lively. This was a young maiden’s dream!

Li Ke didn’t immediately disturb his mother, only pointing out to the palace maids where the wine was, where the perfume was, where the bedding was, and how to use the washing implements. The palace maid stared at the celadon toilet at a loss. Li Ke sat on it to demonstrate for her, and finally pulled the blue cord. Immediately water gushed out, making the palace maid beam with delight, wishing she could try it right now.

“Tell Mother I’ll come back for dinner and ask her to try the academy’s food.” After speaking, he glanced once more at his mother sitting on the brocade couch staring blankly at the distant mountains, then left with a smile, closing the door behind him.

Li Tai, when your mother came, you made me carry water. Now that my mother’s here, don’t think you’ll escape either. My mother also needs the cleanest water—only that water is worthy of my mother’s peerless beauty. Li Tai, just you wait. Elder brother is coming to find you. We’ll carry water tonight, with big buckets!

With a resolute heart, Li Ke enthusiastically went to find Li Tai. As for his younger brother Li Yin, he was long outside his consideration. Plenty of people got beaten at the academy—he’d never seen anyone seriously injured.

He didn’t know what kind of torment Li Yin was currently suffering. Li You had already fainted—scared into unconsciousness. His small heart had suffered severe trauma. Earlier, a person covered in festering, mangled flesh had grabbed Li You’s foot and begged him to reform and work hard, otherwise this would be his fate too. Before he could say anything else, Li You’s eyes rolled back and he fainted.

Immediately two people in white hemp cloth carried Li You onto a bloodstained table and stripped off all his clothing, binding his hands and feet to the platform.

Yun Ye walked in wearing white clothing, his face covered with a mask, holding an extremely sharp small knife in his hand. He drew a circle with a brush on Li You’s chest, seemingly preparing to dig out his heart.

Li Yin asked through chattering teeth, “What are you going to do?”

“Oh, Xiao Yin, it’s nothing. I’m going to change Xiao You’s heart.” Under the ghastly green lamplight, Yun Ye’s eyes seemed to emit a red glow.