He was actually let off so lightly, just like that?

No further questions, no blame. Qi Yan froze for a moment; Xiao Shao had already pulled Yuan Yu and was heading outside.

Qi Yan got up to follow, but Xiao Shao's voice came from outside the door: "What are you following me for? It's incredibly boring. Sit down, this young master will be right back."

The days of studying were boring, so Xiao Shao found a pastime for himself. He planned to go catch ducks in Taiye Pool for a free meal, wrap them in lotus leaves and glutinous rice, and roast them to eat.

The ducks in the palace had been raised since the founding emperor of this dynasty. The emperors of successive generations had raised them with fine food. Every one of them was a registered, named ancestor, raised to be sleek and plump. Besides Xiao Shao, who relied on his status, no one present really dared to catch them.

Xie Guanghong called out from afar behind them, "You guys go ahead, I'm tired and will rest for a bit."

Xiao Shao waved his hand in agreement.

As soon as they left, the study fell completely silent. Qi Yan paused for a moment, opened the desk, laid out a fresh sheet of paper, ground the ink, and picked up a writing brush.

The policy essay had been written in a hurry, and many parts needed polishing and supplementation.

Qi Yan couldn't tell if Xiao Shao leaving was deliberately giving him an opening or if he simply felt playful. He didn't dare delay for a moment, continuing to write according to his train of thought. Suddenly, he heard someone gently tap on his desk. The newcomer was a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy, still carrying a childish innocence. He was a pageboy serving Master Song. He cupped his hands at Qi Yan and said, "Qi... Qi..."

The young boy hesitated for a moment, truly not knowing how to address Qi Yan. If he had met Qi Yan normally in the past, he should have called him 'Lord'. But since he had suffered the punishment, he could no longer be considered a complete man. He couldn't be called 'Lord', nor was it appropriate to call him 'Sir'. Therefore, he simply said, "Grand Tutor Song invites you."

Qi Yan paid it no mind, nodding as he said, "Please lead the way."

The two of them bypassed several corridors and stepped into a hidden courtyard behind the study. A side door was hidden by the vines of a rockery, very inconspicuous. The boy slid back the latch. "The place is a bit remote, but the Grand Tutor said that since you have entered the palace gates, you are considered an inner court official. There is a distinction between the inner and outer courts for him and you, so he dares not meet with you openly. He had to keep it hidden, so please do not take offense."

Qi Yan shook his head. "I wouldn't dare."

He stepped into the courtyard. Grand Tutor Song was standing by the window, his back to the light.

The old man's hair and beard were completely white, his figure thin and frail. His formerly straight back was now hunched over, as if crushed by something. In just a few short months, his official uniform had grown loose by more than two fingers' width. He had aged considerably. Catching sight of Qi Yan out of the corner of his eye, he let out a long sigh and pointed to the chair next to him. "Sit."

However, Qi Yan lifted the hem of his robes and knelt down straight.

As his knees hit the ground, a crisp thud rang out. The old man turned around in surprise and hurriedly reached out to help him up. "Good child, what are you doing?"

But he couldn't move him. Qi Yan bowed his body and kowtowed, pressing his forehead firmly against the bluestone bricks. "This disciple has been unfilial."

Grand Tutor Song was a great Confucian scholar of the current era. Bearing the title of Grand Tutor, his students were spread all over the world. Properly speaking, all the descendants of meritorious officials in the Imperial Study, and even Xiao Shao, who was destined to be crowned king and inherit a noble title in the future, were his students. Yet, after half a lifetime of managing, the only one he truly taught and placed great hopes in was Qi Yan.

Although the two did not say it explicitly, having reached the point of suffering castration, this student could be considered ruined.

Grand Tutor Song shakily took his seat, accepted Qi Yan's bow, and sighed. "I don't blame you."

"Your father was foolish. Three million taels of silver vanished into thin air while in his hands. That's three million taels, enough to fill an entire storehouse, sufficient for a year's silver pay for the border army. For such a massive crime, with the Emperor personally demanding accountability and the Three Judicial Offices jointly conducting the interrogation, who could have protected him... Good child, and who could have protected you?"

He looked at Qi Yan, looking at his pale and emaciated face, and sighed for a moment. "Never mind. I didn't call you here for this."

Grand Tutor Song stood up. "Your father also called me teacher back then and could be considered my student. Compared to you, he was much duller, yet he somehow wobbled his way into the position of Imperial Censor. I still remember when he came of age, it was I who performed his capping ceremony and chose his courtesy name."

"..."

Grand Tutor Song continued, "At the time, your father said that when you came of age, I should also be the one to perform the capping ceremony and choose your courtesy name. This old man gladly agreed. But your birthday is in the dog days of summer, and by that time, I might not even be able to see you. So I thought, it would be better to choose this courtesy name in advance."

Since he was by Xiao Shao's side, it wasn't as if Grand Tutor Song could see him whenever he wanted.

Qi Yan pressed his forehead hard against the stone slab, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

Grand Tutor Song: "Good child, raise your head."

Qi Yan had come to serve Xiao Shao in his studies dressed as a lowly slave. A servant's outfit that had just been rushed out hung loosely on his body, and his hair was combed into a simple bun. Grand Tutor Song reached out and removed his hairpin. He lowered his head, and his raven-feather-like long hair cascaded down, slumping to the ground.

Grand Tutor Song: "According to custom, the cap should be changed three times, culminating with the noble cap to signify adulthood, but we are short on time, so I will use this jade hairpin as a substitute. Our ancestors used jade to symbolize virtue. Although you..."

His hands trembled, and he couldn't continue speaking. He simply gathered Qi Yan's hair, replaced the wooden hairpin with the jade hairpin, and loosely tied it up.

Grand Tutor Song's old eyes were dim with age, and the hair bun was also crooked. He pulled Qi Yan to the side of the window, squinting and adjusting it for a long time. Stepping back two paces to observe it carefully, he was finally satisfied.

After that, he turned back to the desk, lifted his brush with suspended wrist, and then handed the piece of letter paper to Qi Yan. "Good child, this is your courtesy name. Ever since your father spoke to me about your capping ceremony, I flipped through texts for a long time before finally selecting this one. Take a look and see, is it good or not?"

Qi Yan's hands were trembling terribly. His vision was blurry, and he had to blink fiercely twice before he could steadily take it.

He saw the two characters "Pingzhang" written on the paper; the brushstrokes were vigorous and the ink full, imbued with an outstanding spirit.

Grand Tutor Song: "When a emperor sits in court and inquires about the Way, ruling effortlessly while regulating and making all things clear, only then can the seas be peaceful and the rivers clear, and the world be illuminated. As officials, we should take this as a motto, assist the emperor, and point out what is right and wrong."

He paused slightly for a moment. "Last night, I stayed awake all night, and I had thought about whether I should choose a different courtesy name for you."

As officials, one should take this as a motto and assist the emperor. But Qi Yan was a servant, a slave, a member of the eunuch faction, a eunuch—he was no longer an official.

Eunuchs did not need to assist the emperor.

Grand Tutor Song: "I thought it over and over, and couldn't come up with a better one, but I did have a few alternatives..."

He lifted the hem of his robes and was about to grasp the brush again, but Qi Yan suddenly straightened his body, walked two steps forward on his knees, and tightly grabbed Grand Tutor Song's hand.

He trembled like a leaf, barely able to maintain his kneeling posture. A drop of salty, wet tears rolled down his chin and hit the ground. Qi Yan shook his head tremblingly and choked out, "Teacher, I won't change it. Teacher, I won't change it..."

These words were forced out from the tip of his tongue, as if wringing out a mouthful of blood from his heart. Qi Yan kept shaking his head on his own, until at last, it almost turned into a frantic plea: "Teacher, I won't change it!"

Grand Tutor Song hesitated for a moment, patting his student's back. "Good child, we won't change it."

Neither of them said anything more. In the room, only Qi Yan's uncontrollable sobbing remained.

But in reality, both of them knew, what difference did it make whether he changed it or not?

Twenty years of hard studying by the cold window had been reduced to nothingness, and his fame and future had all turned to dust. No one would know that Qi Yan had a courtesy name, no one would call him by it. History books would not record it, and colleagues would not mention it.

Whether he had a courtesy name or not made not the slightest difference.

This was merely something for Grand Tutor Song and him to find comfort in.

He trembled for quite a while before finally calming down. The young boy knocked on the door ring. "Grand Tutor, it's time."

Staying in the side hall for too long—if someone with ulterior motives were to report it in a memorial, it would be difficult to resolve.

So, Grand Tutor Song gave Qi Yan a gentle push. "Good child, go back."

Qi Yan got up to take his leave. When he closed the door and looked back, Grand Tutor Song was standing all alone, his figure desolate. The formerly lean and stern Imperial Tutor was now a down-and-out old man.

The young boy led him back through the corridors. Qi Yan folded the paper with the two characters "Pingzhang" written on it and tucked it into his sleeve. He reached up to touch his hair bun, gritted his teeth, and undid it.

He held the jade hairpin in front of him and examined it for a moment. The jade was translucent and delicate, its color a milky white; it was a superb piece of fine jade. Although Grand Tutor Song held a high position, he was an upright and honest scholar. Such a valuable piece of jade was likely the old man's finest collection.

Qi Yan tucked the hairpin into his sleeve as well, putting it away securely. Then, he fumbled to tie up his hair bun again and inserted the wooden hairpin into it.

With his status, he shouldn't and couldn't wear such a fine jade hairpin.

After putting everything in order, Qi Yan walked back to the study. His expression was placid and his steps were unhurried. All his emotions were hidden beneath a mask. If it weren't for the wet stains on his cuffs, no one would be able to tell that he had cried.

But the moment he stepped into the study, Qi Yan came to a halt.

Xie Guanghong was blocking the doorway, looking him up and down.

The Xie family had been meritorious nobles for generations. The patriarch of the family had been the late Emperor's companion, and the family held the hereditary title of Marquis Yongyi. Xie Guanghong tilted his chin up. "Little Tanhua Qi, I never saw you around before, I didn't expect you to end up following the Second Prince. This is fine too. About that time your father impeached me for galloping a horse through the streets, shall we have a chat about it now?"

Qi Yan's father was an Imperial Censor of the righteous faction. Stated nicely, the position of Imperial Censor was to supervise all officials; stated harshly, it was to submit memorials and tattle. Qi Chen was especially famous for his love of impeaching. He had impeached nearly every prominent noble in the capital, and Xie Guanghong was no exception.

Back then, he had raced his horse through the streets and knocked over two shop fronts. A memorial submitted to the Emperor by Qi Chen resulted in him being grounded by his old man at home and having a fine horse confiscated.

Qi Yan took a step back, pinched his cuff, bowed, and lowered his head. "Young Lord, I'm afraid this is not in accordance with etiquette."

Even so, his body was tense, already preparing for the worst.

If he still had his official rank, Qi Yan wouldn't need to fear Xie Guanghong. But now, things had changed. If Xie Guanghong wanted to punish a slave, it couldn't be any simpler.

Xie Guanghong: "What, are you hoping to wait for His Second Highness to come back and save you?"

He let out a laugh. "Given my relationship with His Second Highness, do you really think that if I want to punish you, he would save you?"

Across half the garden, Xiao Shao was throwing things at the ducks by the lake.

He picked out a few flat stones from the shore and skipped them across the surface of the water, scattering a flock of ducks in a panic, but not hitting a single one.

Yuan Yu didn't dare throw stones at the palace ducks, so he only took charge of standing by the side and handing stones to Xiao Shao.

Xiao Shao had long passed the age of playing at hitting ducks. He lacked interest, and his aim was poor. Yuan Yu clapped the dirt off his hands. "You're not in top form today."

Xiao Shao: "Yeah, I've been throwing things at this flock of ducks for years, it's quite boring."

Yuan Yu: "It's very cold by the lake, should we go back early?"

Xiao Shao: "Eh, let's wait a bit longer."

God knows if Qi Yan had finished writing or not.

He took a large stone from Yuan Yu's hands, raised his arm, and was just about to throw it when he suddenly saw someone running over, panting heavily. Taking the steps two at a time, the person rushed over to Xiao Shao and Yuan Yu, dropping to his knees.

Yuan Yu frowned. "Yuan Ji, what are you doing being so reckless?"

This was Yuan Yu's personal servant, a born-and-raised slave of the Yuan family.

Yuan Ji said, "Your Highness, Young Lord, Young Lord Xie just blocked the door, claiming that the servant His Highness brought stole something. I saw that things didn't look right, so I came to inform the two of you."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Shao had already tossed away the stone in his hand and turned around. "Qi Yan?"

After Qi Yan became the Lord, his methods might have been sharp and ruthless, but in the early days, he was absolutely a bright and noble gentleman. That he would steal something—Xiao Shao wouldn't believe it in a hundred years.

He stepped down from the rockery and hastily lifted the hem of his robes. "Let's go, take me to have a look."