“Hey, wake up!”
“Chen Ji, wake up!”

Chen Ji’s shoulder was heavily patted. In his sleep, he instinctively spun around, seized the hand, and twisted the person’s right arm behind their back.

The person caught cried out in pain, “Ow, let go!”

Chen Ji woke with a start. This was not the Inner Prison, nor the sea of fire beside Peony Bridge, nor the perilous city gate tunnel.

The air he breathed carried the strong scent of books and pine-scented ink from Zhixing Academy.

Here, there were only rows of bookshelves, no murderous intent of swords.

Chen Ji quickly released his grip. When he looked closely, he was startled to realize that the person he had just apprehended was Zhang Xia, dressed in fiery red.

Oh no!

How did he end up seizing her?

Rubbing her wrist, Zhang Xia frowned and said, “What kind of habit is that? It’s bad enough you sleep standing up, but you hit people when you wake up?”

Chen Ji explained, “My apologies, I was in a daze. I was having a nightmare about being chased, and when I was woken up, I instinctively resisted.”

Zhang Xia eyed Chen Ji suspiciously.

Recalling the scene, she felt that his speed was incredibly fast; her right hand was seized before she could even react, leaving her unable to move.

Chen Ji politely asked, “Miss Zhang, would you like to come back to Taiping Medical Clinic with me later? I’ll ask my master to prescribe some medicine for your sprain.”

However, Zhang Xia waved her hand dismissively. “No need, I’m not that delicate.”

Chen Ji then asked, “Miss Zhang, why did you call out to me just now?”

Zhang Xia got straight to the point: “Earlier, I misunderstood my father’s words and thought we were going to be engaged. In a moment of impulsiveness, I ran off and said some nonsensical things to you. I was originally looking for you to apologize, but since you twisted my arm today, I guess we’re even.”

Chen Ji was puzzled. “Apologize?”

Zhang Xia hummed. “If you really want me to apologize, I don’t mind.”

Chen Ji looked at Zhang Xia. Her phoenix eyes were like two sharp willow-leaf daggers, incredibly incisive.

He thought for a moment and said, “It was just a misunderstanding earlier, no need to apologize to me. Now that it’s cleared up, I wish Miss Zhang finds a good match.”

Zhang Xia looked at Chen Ji. “Weren’t you angry before?”

Chen Ji did not want to dwell on it. “No, I wasn’t angry. Let’s just drop the matter.”

“Alright!”

Seeing the matter concluded, Zhang Xia then asked, “Why were you late today? You look like you haven’t slept all night.”

Chen Ji remained silent.

Zhang Xia changed the subject. “I heard my father say you’re having a disagreement with Lord Chen and don’t want to return to the Chen family. But since you have the ambition to establish yourself and now have the opportunity to study with Master Wang, you should cherish it. Why are you giving up on yourself?”

Chen Ji replied earnestly, “I truly had an important matter to attend to; being late was not my intention.”

Zhang Xia asked curiously, “What matter?”

“I’m sorry, I cannot say.”

Zhang Xia said seriously, “Today is the first day of school. Even if it’s an extremely important matter, it should have been postponed. This is not only about being responsible for your own future and destiny, but also about showing respect to Master Wang. Master Wang is highly respected, and it’s not easy for ordinary scholars to even meet him. I hope you can correct your attitude and study well with him.”

Chen Ji said softly, “Being late on the first day of school is indeed wrong. I will apologize to Master Wang in person later.”

Zhang Xia looked at the bloodshot in his eyes and asked suspiciously, “You didn’t really go to a gambling house, like the rumors say, did you?”

Chen Ji calmly replied, “Think whatever you wish, Miss Zhang.”

No sooner had he spoken than a voice from the side said, “If he didn’t go gambling, why else would he be late?”

Chen Ji looked over and saw Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao emerging side by side. Chen Wenxiao sneered, continuing, “Zhang Xia, he definitely went gambling last night. You must be careful, what if Lord Zhang really wants to marry you to…”

Zhang Xia suddenly interrupted Chen Wenxiao, “How can you be so presumptuous without proof? Who I marry or don’t marry is none of your business!”

Chen Wenxiao was taken aback.

Zhang Xia scoffed, “Even if I were genuinely engaged to him, that would be between him and me. I can criticize him, but you cannot. Don’t think I don’t know how you got your top score in the imperial examination. I asked my father to transcribe your essays. Chen Wenzong and Lin Chaojing truly deserved their rankings, but your ‘Policy on Governance’ essay was utter rubbish. I wonder what exactly you learned in three years at Donglin Academy?”

Chen Wenxiao’s face instantly flushed. “You, how can you be so ungrateful? I was just defending you.”

“Do I need *you* to defend me?”

Zhang Xia sneered, “I hear you’ve been attending banquets recently, accepting congratulations. I advise you to just stay home, lest you make people laugh when you discuss essays.”

Chen Ji was also stunned. This Miss Zhang had a formidable tongue.

She wasn’t targeting him personally, but rather genuinely disdaining everyone who lacked knowledge.

At that moment, Princess Baili and the Young Master had just bid farewell to Wang Daosheng. As they entered the front hall, they saw Zhang Xia aggressively saying something.

Baili stepped forward, blocking Chen Ji, and with raised, delicate eyebrows, said, “Zhang Xia, what are you doing now?”

Zhang Xia looked at Baili, then at Chen Ji, and let out a soft exclamation of surprise.

Before she could speak, a carriage stopped at the entrance.

Zhang Zhuo lifted the carriage curtain, leaned out, and greeted everyone in the front hall, “Everyone’s here.”

The Young Master, Baili, Chen Wenzong, and others all cupped their hands and bowed, “Lord Zhang.”

Zhang Xia went to the door and asked curiously, “Father, why are you here?”

Zhang Zhuo chuckled, “Just passing by, thought I’d pick you up.”

Zhang Xia frowned, “I’m not a child anymore. You don’t need to pick me up. If others see this, they’ll think I’m spoiled.”

“It’s on my way, and it’s natural for a father to pick up his daughter. Others won’t say anything.”

Zhang Zhuo jumped out of the carriage, walked past Zhang Xia, and pulled Chen Ji aside.

Everyone in the front hall exchanged glances. Zhang Xia, looking at her father’s distracted back, suddenly felt that he hadn’t come to pick her up, but had found an excuse to come and see Chen Ji.

Behind a bookshelf, Zhang Zhuo lowered his voice and asked, “Do you need me to explain a thing or two to Wang Daosheng?”

Chen Ji looked at Zhang Zhuo with a strange expression. “Lord Zhang, when did you discover my identity?”

Zhang Zhuo proudly stroked his beard. “This official has an eidetic memory; I can recognize someone just by the sound of their footsteps.”

Chen Ji sighed inwardly, then cupped his hands and bowed. “I hope Lord Zhang can help keep this a secret.”

Zhang Zhuo laughed, “Don’t worry, don’t worry.”

As he spoke, Zhang Zhuo’s expression darkened. “It’s a pity you couldn’t take the official imperial examination path. Otherwise, after the palace examination next year, you could have come to assist me, and I would have been like a tiger with wings. Now that you’ve entered the Directorate of Ceremonial, once part of the eunuch faction, always part of the eunuch faction. Those civil officials will never accept you again.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Lord Zhang. It’s fine.”

Zhang Zhuo asked, “Do you need me to explain your tardiness today to Wang Daosheng?”

“No need!”

Chen Ji shook his head. “I’ll apologize to Master Wang myself. Lord Zhang, please don’t stay here; it might arouse suspicion.”

“Alright!”

Zhang Zhuo turned and walked out, taking Zhang Xia’s wrist and helping her into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Zhang Xia looked at her father. “You weren’t really here to pick me up, were you? You clearly came specifically to see Chen Ji.”

Zhang Zhuo thought for a moment and explained, “Yesterday, you acted rashly, running off and saying a lot of messy things to Chen Ji. Of course, I had to go explain things to him.”

Zhang Xia quickly said, “Father, don’t worry, I’ve already made it clear to him that we don’t have an engagement. But this Chen Ji is also quite something; he was late on the very first day of school. No wonder everyone says he’s useless.”

Zhang Zhuo was momentarily speechless.

He gently lifted the carriage curtain, watching Chen Ji stand at the academy gate, preparing to watch the carriage drive away.

This young man had clearly made a tremendous contribution last night, saving thousands of households in front of the west city gate, yet he couldn’t speak of it to anyone around him.

Zhang Zhuo sighed softly, “Being misunderstood must be an awful feeling.”

Zhang Xia asked curiously, “Father, what are you mumbling about?”

Zhang Zhuo lowered the curtain and said casually, “Daughter, when you judge people, don’t just listen to what others say; you have to get to know them yourself.”

Zhang Xia said, “Who cares? Anyway, from now on, we’ll keep to ourselves. What kind of person he is doesn’t concern me.”

With that, she surprisingly jumped out of the carriage and yelled, “Zaozao!”

The next moment, a date-red steed galloped out from a narrow alley.

As Zaozao passed Zhang Xia, it didn’t slow down. The girl, with quick eyes and hands, grabbed the saddle, and with a light leap, swung onto its back. “Father, go home by yourself. And don’t ever come pick me up again!”

Sitting in the carriage, Zhang Zhuo watched the girl riding off into the distance and murmured, “Daughter, you spoke too soon.”

In the front hall of Zhixing Academy.

Chen Wenzong and Chen Wenxiao had already gotten into their carriage and left.

Baili gently tugged at Chen Ji’s sleeve. “I asked my mother yesterday, and that Zhang Xia is just a lawless wild girl. You absolutely mustn’t take her words to heart. Years ago, she audited classes at the Imperial Academy in the capital and infuriated several professors there. Yet, Grand Secretary Xu dotes on her, and Xu Shu, the Deputy Supervisor of the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, also spoils her. No one can do anything about her.”

Chen Ji smiled. “It’s alright. Princess and Young Master, please return to the princely manor for now. I still need to apologize to Master Wang in person.”

The Young Master shrugged his neck. “Then you’d better be careful. Master Wang is very strict; we can’t help you.”

With that, the Young Master pulled Baili and headed outside.

Baili frowned. “Brother, don’t pull me. Let’s go and plead for Chen Ji too.”

The Young Master whispered, “Why would we go? To get scolded together? Master Wang has disliked me for a long time.”

Chen Ji listened to their fading voices, straightened his clothes, and stepped into the backyard.

The backyard was neat and tidy. In the southwest corner stood a plum tree, its buds already formed, ready to bloom.

Master Wang, dressed in a blue scholar’s robe, held a scripture scroll. A pure white paper flower adorned his chest, and he stood absorbed in thought beneath the plum tree.

Chen Ji stopped at a distance, cupped his hands, and bowed. “Master, last night I had an urgent matter…”

Wang Daosheng didn’t turn his head, merely looking at the plum blossoms as he calmly asked, “Was it a very important matter?”

Chen Ji earnestly replied, “Yes.”

Wang Daosheng said indifferently, “Do you think it’s more important to attend school on time today, or to accomplish that matter?”

Chen Ji hesitated for a moment. “Accomplishing that matter was more important.”

Wang Daosheng calmly said, “Then that’s enough.”

Chen Ji was puzzled. “Master?”

Wang Daosheng’s gaze slowly swept over him. “My Zhixing Academy cannot offer a career in officialdom; it can only teach you the path of being a person. But even the grandest principles cannot outweigh one’s true heart. If your true heart is flawless, simply follow it.”

Chen Ji cupped his hands and bowed again. “I understand.”

Wang Daosheng walked towards the main house, but before entering, he changed his tone. “But you must remember, breaking rules incurs punishment. That’s how rules are in the world, and that’s how they are at my Zhixing Academy. If you’re late again next time, just be prepared for your punishment.”

“Understood!”

Chen Ji looked at the now empty courtyard and then at the plum tree, feeling that this Wang Daosheng was a bit strange, different from Zhang Zhuo and also different from Chen Liqin.

He seemed like an unconventional scholar, adhering only to his own principles.

Chen Ji took a deep breath and turned to leave.

But as soon as he stepped outside, he froze. Jin Zhu was squatting across the street, wearing a straw hat, occasionally glancing towards the breakfast stall next door.

In the oil pan in front of the stall, vegetable dumplings and fried dough sticks were bubbling.

Chen Ji scanned Anxi Street to his left and right, then quickly approached Jin Zhu. “Lord Jin Zhu, we’ve only been apart for a few hours. There’s no need to miss me so much, is there?”

Hearing the voice, Jin Zhu suddenly looked up, his eyes gleaming. “Do you think I *want* to keep coming to find you? Your cultivation method arrived in Luocheng early. How strange! My letter recommending you for merit should have just reached the capital. Why was the cultivation method sent ahead of time?!”