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"How did you know all that?"

Young Master Piao broke into a smile. "Because my family is rich."

Oh, damn it! That damned rich kid! It was bad enough that he toyed with female cats when he had nothing better to do, but he even pried into other people's private lives.

"No need to panic, Pig Kid. I came here for one simple reason: to ask you to find something for me in Dongxu Mansion. Once it's done... you know." He gave a sly smile and rubbed his fingertips together, practically reeking of enticing money.

She narrowed her eyes, cleared her throat, and pushed his tempting fingers away. "I don't even know if I'll pass the examination!" To preserve her good name, she had already turned down the examiner's confession. What good fortune could possibly let her pass after offending him?

"Don't worry. I guarantee you'll pass with flying colors."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because my family is rich."

"..." What a punchable answer. Was society really that corrupt? "What do you want me to find?"

"Inside Dongxu Mansion is a Mini-Court—the current emperor's advisers behind the scenes. They hold no official posts, yet each wields more real power than many officials wearing the Black Gauze Hat. The emperor favors them deeply and has given each of them a Seal..."

"You want me to steal the Seals they carry? I, Young Master Ba, would never commit such a crime!" Steal Seals belonging to the emperor's confidants? How many heads did he think she had?

"Steal?"

"Didn't you say they each have a Seal and ask me to steal them for you, so you could do all sorts of evil things in their names?"

Young Master Piao blinked and waved a hand, looking utterly innocent. "Those Seals are just gifts for them to give away."

"What? G-gifts?"

He nodded vigorously. "Just little gifts that can be used as Death-Exemption Tokens."

"Death-Exemption Tokens? Those are incredibly valuable! How could I possibly steal one?"

"Pig Kid, you have a wicked mind. When did I ever ask you to steal anything? I only want to know who they gave their Seals to."

"..."

"What's that suspicious look for?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Aren't you curious who the people closest to the Holy Emperor—the future ministers who'll wield Imperial Power in the grand hall—have given their hearts to?"

"You mean..."

"Wouldn't the person who received a Seal be the person its owner cared about most?"

Of course! It was a Death-Exemption Token, after all. If someone gave it away instead of keeping it, didn't that mean the recipient mattered more than their own life? For that person, they would risk everything!

That might be true, but... she shot him a sidelong glance.

"Young Master Piao, forgive my bluntness, but you haven't sorted out your own love life. Isn't this a bit too nosy?"

"Little Jing is one of the six."

So that was it! All these twists and turns, and he was still trying to find out about Young Master Chenjing!

"So you didn't receive Young Master Chenjing's Seal?"

"..." He smiled without a word, gazing toward the distant sky.

What a desolate smile... He knew Young Master Chenjing cared most about someone else, and he couldn't contain that little pang of disappointment. So he planned to pay her, his "love-life sleuth," for information?

It was only harmless gossip, after all. It betrayed neither her teachers nor her ancestors, and it didn't go against human decency. She had done plenty of this sort of digging for material when she wrote love letters for other people. She could absolutely accept the job. Mm-hmm!

"How much silver do I get when it's done?"

"How about I write you a blank check?"

"A b-blank check? Really?" Her eyes lit up.

Young Master Piao, with the silly cat perched on his head, smiled serenely. "Because my family is rich."

Oh! The same words sounded so different at the right moment. What a beautiful line!

"I'll arrange an identity for you. It'll make it much easier to gather confidential information."

"What identity?"

"You'll find out when the time comes. Just follow the arrangements, read the room, and get this done properly for me. Afterward... heh, you know!"

"Deal!" It was just a few juicy rumors, yet they were worth this much money! What a bargain!

"Then here's to a pleasant partnership, Pig Kid. Come, let's seal it with a high five."

With that, Young Master Piao held out his hand. Smack! Smack! Two crisp high fives rang out beside the river at sunset, startling countless crows into the air with raucous caws.

A few days later, the results were posted at the city gate. Sure enough, Zhu Bafu's name was on the list. She had become a newly admitted Academy Student at Dongxu Mansion.

She hadn't been struck from the list by the Prime Minister's Son after all. Money really could make ghosts turn millstones in this world. Young Master Piao's "Because my family is rich" worked even better than an Imperial Decree! Zhu Bafu felt she had found herself a generous fool. Rich young masters really did lead such empty lives, with nothing to occupy their minds, that they cared about the future court ministers' romantic gossip.

Still, it worked out perfectly for her. She got to study at Dongxu Mansion and pocket some extra silver besides!

Xiaojiu! Praise me! Praise me for killing two birds with one stone, hitting two targets with one arrow, one husband and two wives—anything at all! Just praise me to your heart's content!

Hahahahaha!

"You passed?" Zhu Xiaojiu remained as composed as ever as he looked at the admission notice Zhu Bafu had brought back with such a swagger. "As you should have."

...Just three words? What did he mean, "as you should have"? As her little brother, shouldn't he cheer on his older sister, who worked so hard to support the family and had so much pressure on her?

"Starting tomorrow, come to the academy with me for classes. Remember to pretend you don't know me. Don't cause me any unnecessary trouble."