Ye Qianning thought of the Crown Prince, Sang Qi. He was eight years old. Because of his poor health over the past two years, he hadn’t yet enrolled in the academy. He had just been placed in the beginners’ class after the start-of-term exams.

"Do you know why?"

"That kid wouldn’t let this little one take the monthly exam. He had his men throw him into a mud pit on the back mountain. I can’t believe he still managed to climb out," Little Honey said.

’No wonder...’

Currently, Crown Prince Sang Qi, the Eighth Prince Sang Zhi, the Eleventh Princess Sang Yin, and the Sixth Princess Sang Le were still attending classes at the academy.

The princesses held no sway over the Crown Prince, but another prince was a different matter entirely. If Sang Zhi’s abilities were to eclipse Sang Qi’s, it would make the Crown Prince look incompetent.

"Next time you see him getting bullied, come tell me." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Okay, but he has a lot of guards. You’ll probably be at a disadvantage if you try anything," Little Honey reminded her.

"A large group of them are just useless. They’re no help when it counts." Ye Qianning had never believed that there was strength in numbers.

"Tsk tsk, you son of a... you’re really something."

Little Honey had been about to curse, but it suddenly recalled the warnings from the past few days and got so scared it changed its tune on the spot.

Ye Qianning shot it a look. "Make sure you remember that next time."

Little Honey nodded frantically, then spread its wings and took flight. It absolutely adored this magical place, especially since the tree that bore their fruit was planted down below.

Ye Qianning grabbed Little Honey, exited her special space, and then released it into the air. By now, students were beginning to turn in their exam papers.

She turned to look at Sang Zhi. He was still writing, his expression earnest and solemn.

She glanced down at her own paper. ’If I hand in a blank test, it would be a poor way to repay the master for his teachings.’

Ye Qianning looked toward the master, and he happened to look over at her at the exact same time. Their eyes met. It was pretty awkward.

She lowered her head and scanned the monthly exam. Most of the questions were related to politics. The final question was a single word: "Stillness." It was like a modern essay prompt.

She silently picked up her brush and wrote a few words beneath the final prompt, "Stillness."

When Sang Zhi turned in his exam, Ye Qianning followed suit.

With the monthly exam over, the following day was a day of rest. This gave the masters time to grade the exams. On rest days, the princes and princesses were required to return to the palace and were not permitted to stay elsewhere.

Ye Qianning had wanted to go home as well, but she heard that the Zhan family and her father had yet to come to an agreement, and their relationship had grown rather tense.

Early on the morning of the academy’s rest day, Zhan Yi and his wife arrived at the foot of Lou Mountain, waiting to take their granddaughter home.

Not to be outdone, Xiang Minghou also arrived at Lou Mountain early, afraid someone might snatch his precious daughter away from him.

Hearing all this, Ye Qianning didn’t dare go back. She sent Luo Xuan down the mountain with a message: her master had assigned her extra schoolwork, so she wouldn’t be leaving the mountain for the rest day.

When the exams were being graded at the academy, Qian Fanji was also present, in addition to the masters.

Qian Fanji was Master Zhang’s most brilliant student and was occasionally invited to Lou Mountain to teach a class.

Master Zhang shook his head repeatedly as he reviewed Qian Zhuye’s exam paper before casually tossing it to Qian Fanji. "Take a look at that nephew of yours. See how he’s let his studies fall to ruin."

Qian Fanji picked it up, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the exam. The boy’s grades had never been outstanding, but they’d never been bad enough to fail before.

"You need to give him a stern talking-to when you get back. Tell him to stop fooling around with Ye Qianning all day. If this continues, he’ll be kicked out of the academy," Master Zhang chided.

"With Ye Qianning?"

"That’s right. And the Eighth Prince, and even Prime Minister Gao’s kid. You wouldn’t believe it, not a day goes by where they don’t break the rules. The most prominent troublemakers are your nephew and Ye Qianning. Talking in class, sneaking snacks, sleeping—they do it all. Making them copy the Disciple’s Rules eight hundred times wouldn’t even control them." The master’s head began to throb just at the mention of Ye Qianning’s name.