"Our place is small, so it’s normal for you not to know. Even I just recently learned the truth. The famous Gongliang Liao is actually just a poor old man who offended the powerful, was banished from the Capital City, and can never return."

Qin Yao’s mouth twitched slightly, thinking to herself, I’ve known long ago! Just didn’t tell you.

On the surface, she put on a slightly surprised expression and tentatively asked, "Did they include you and your master in the humiliation?"

Liu Ji shook his head. "After all, my senior brother is the beloved grandson of the Prime Minister, and he has Prefect He as his uncle. Who dares to say anything in Zijing Mansion?"

Besides, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Although Gongliang Liao offended the powerful and fell from grace, he is knowledgeable and has offended the Princess to uphold Sheng Country’s ethics and morals. Many Confucian Scholars support him.

Some even use him as a model, unafraid to die while remonstrating, requesting Your Majesty to punish the Princess severely and reinstate Gongliang Liao as the Crown Prince’s Tutor.

Of course, for such stubborn scholars, Gongliang Liao himself also finds it speechless.

The bloody lesson he teaches is right in front of them, meant to warn future generations against impulsive actions.

Instead, they follow along blindly, which is a completely reverse understanding.

So, to sum up, only Liu Ji was bullied, and neither the master nor the senior brother could protect him much.

It was impossible for the three of them to stick together all the time; everyone had their own things to do. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

And Liu Ji couldn’t hide behind his master and senior brother forever. If he were such a coward, Gongliang Liao would definitely kick him flying.

A man’s dignity must be earned by himself!

But his background is there, and to those noble sons, Liu Ji’s kind of background appearing alongside them in Guangwen Book Hall for studies itself is a kind of trespassing and provocation.

Furthermore, this village man has an extraordinary appearance, making these noble sons seem like mere foils. It’s no wonder they see him an eyesore!

Liu Ji glanced sideways at Qin Yao and saw her expression turn slightly cold. He raised his sleeve and symbolically wiped the corner of his eye.

"Wife, don’t worry about me too much. As long as I can earn a title, this hardship is nothing, just some verbal ridicule, occasionally asking me to bark like a dog in front of everyone to amuse them, or using my status to make me serve them tea and water. If I endure, it will pass..."

"As long as I can stay in the book hall and see those rare books, and earn a title for you, this grievance is really nothing..."

"I was wrong for always thinking about silver, I shouldn’t have been so vain, thinking of buying gifts with silver to placate them, hoping for peace and having time to focus on my studies."

Liu Ji sniffed, stood firmly, and looked emotionally at the woman in the pink skirt before him, "Wife, as long as you come to see me, I’m already content."

Qin Yao took a deep breath, looked at the resilient ’young bamboo’ in front of her, and then out the window, suddenly asked:

"Are they all in the city?"

Liu Ji responded with an ’um’ before suddenly showing a panicked expression, "Wife, you’re not going to teach them a lesson for me, are you? They surely can’t trouble you so. I can endure it; please don’t dirty your hands for my sake, it’s not worth it."

Qin Yao stared at his face, which looked even more handsome under the moonlight, exuding an indistinguishable smile or anger, "I haven’t made you bark like a dog, so how dare they!"

"Put on your clothes, we’re going." Qin Yao urged.

Liu Ji quickly dressed while weakly asking, "Wife, where are we going?"

She coolly replied, "To seek your revenge."

The sinister tone and abrupt fierce gaze made her look somewhat terrifying under the light moonlight.

Liu Ji swallowed hard, thinking surely she wouldn’t go as far as beheading people, right?

Had he exaggerated too much?

Before he could react, a breeze passed, and then he found himself being carried by Qin Yao to the rooftop, her arms around his waist.

For the first time, Liu Ji stood so high, with a broad view that seemed to put the whole city underfoot.

This feeling was wonderfully exhilarating!

Yet reason told him he’d better stop this rampaging woman before things got out of hand.

"Wife, let’s go back. You just arrived at the Prefecture and haven’t had time to rest. It’s so late, let’s go back to the inn and sleep." Liu Ji tightly held onto her sleeve, persuading.

Qin Yao glared sideways at him, "What? You don’t want revenge anymore?"

Liu Ji shook his head, of course, he did! Revenge was a must!

It’s just not the right time.

"Wife, take me down first, and I’ll explain to you in detail." Liu Ji pointed to the courtyard below. He glanced down, mother, it’s really high!

Qin Yao remained unmoved, crossing her arms and staring at him, "Speak here."

"...Alright." Liu Ji figured speaking here was fine.

Carefully squatting down, he felt the tiles and sat down.

The moon hung like a crescent in the sky, the hustle and bustle of the city continued in the distance, and the cool breeze blew over his body, making him feel completely at ease.

Having suppressed his feelings for so long, looking at the myriad lights now, Liu Ji finally felt a moment of tranquility.

Qin Yao sat beside him, bending one leg and resting her elbow on her knee, motioning him to speak quickly.

Seeing the urgency in her eyes, Liu Ji turned and blinked, genuinely shedding tears from the wind.

Boohoo, his wife is truly wonderful!

"Actually, I’ve already found a solution, just that without silver taels in hand, it’s a bit inconvenient to proceed."

Liu Ji’s eyes narrowed slightly, filled with dark calculations, his lips curling into a sinister smile as he spoke in a hushed tone:

"That person and his friend came to the book hall together, both relying on their family backgrounds to trouble me. Those other noble sons only joined in to curry favor with them..."

Their bond is exceptionally strong, playing with women together, enjoying delicacies together, sleeping together daily as if they’re one person, their brotherhood unbreakable.

Except for one thing, both are extremely concerned about their status in the eyes of outsiders. If anyone praises one of them, the other’s smile becomes somewhat forced.

So I merely provoked a little, saying those noble sons believed among them, one had more gentlemanly qualities than the other, and their atmosphere became tense.

"These past two days, my life has been much better. Those two dogs are now suspicious of each other, just a bit more fire, and the jealous dog will go mad, biting the other to death!"

In front of Qin Yao, Liu Ji made no effort to conceal his dark side, didn’t even bother to put on an act.

After all, she knew his true nature better than anyone, so disguising was completely unnecessary.

Qin Yao clicked her tongue twice, Liu San you sly old dog, "In the end, it’s still about his father’s silver!"

Lifting her hand as if to smack him, Liu Ji moved his handsome face closer to her, saying sadly, "Wife, go ahead and hit me, being hit by you is better than being beaten by those two dogs."

Qin Yao hesitated with her raised hand.

Then kicked him down with her foot!