Di Qingyu, You Have Betrayed Your Teacher and Ancestors!

Seeing her like this, Gao Qian, who disliked sentimental moments, immediately laughed and scolded her.

"Hmph, all right, sit down. Didn't you know this old man wouldn't blame you?"

When he had questioned Di Qingyu earlier, he hadn't meant to blame or interrogate her. He had only been asking on behalf of the common people whether she had a solution.

"No, it's because you're kind, teacher."

Di Qingyu lowered her hands and relaxed with a soft laugh, returning to her carefree manner as she sat down again.

"Teacher, since that senior brother wants to know who helped him, why don't you introduce me to him? Otherwise, if he gets promoted to the royal city someday and takes issue with what I do, he might submit a memorial denouncing me."

"It seems you still intend to do some outrageous things in the future, if you're even anticipating a reaction from him." Gao Qian was so exasperated by her words that he laughed.

"I can't help it. You taught me well."

"All right, then. I'll write him a letter and tell him about it. Let it stay between the three of us."

"Thank you, teacher."

Di Qingyu knew Gao Qian was lending her a hand. He was not only helping her establish a good relationship with Zhang Mingzheng, but also making him owe her a favor.

Zhang Mingzheng was Gao Qian's student and was now a prefect. There would always be a chance for him to be transferred to the central government later, and then he could help smooth things over.

"Teacher, there's one more thing I'd like your help with."

"Go on."

Gao Qian picked up his brush and began writing the letter right in front of her, without even raising his head. He truly both loved and hated this mischievous student he had taken in when he was already half a foot in the grave.

Di Qingyu said, "I'd like a list of the juren from across the country who will take next year's spring examination, including information about their backgrounds, learning, character, and so on."

Gao Qian froze at her words and slowly raised his head. "What do you want the list for?"

These scholars were the Xiling Dynasty's future reserve of officials, and the compiled list could not be shown to others lightly. Although he knew Di Qingyu had some unusual ideas, he still had to get a clear answer.

Di Qingyu got straight to the point. "I want people of my own."

Although she had a few informants at court now, she had not personally raised them up, but had shown them favor midway through their careers. It was not a long-term plan. She could slowly gather the names of the juren herself by spending money and resources, but that would take too long. After Gao Qian's earlier words, which had stopped just short of making things clear, she dared to take a bold chance.

Her words left Gao Qian speechless.

After hesitating for a moment, he closed his eyes. "Forget it. Just pretend you never came to see me today."

He couldn't do it. This was his bottom line as grand preceptor.

"..."

Di Qingyu held her composure and said nothing. She remained seated, looking at him without a word.

Seeing no movement from her, yet still feeling her direct gaze on him, Gao Qian held out for a while. In the end, he couldn't help opening his eyes and scolding her angrily, full of resentment.

"All right, all right! Come here in a few days. I'll only let you have one look, and you're not allowed to take it away or copy it! How much you remember will be up to you."

This was his final bottom line. The list would be made public sooner or later anyway.

"Thank you, teacher. Then I'll take my leave and won't keep you from your dinner."

The expressionless Di Qingyu suddenly smiled, stood up, and cupped her hands in an infuriatingly smug salute as she spoke in a loud voice.

"Get lost. This old man had no intention of keeping you for dinner anyway."

Seeing her act so pleased with herself after getting what she wanted, Gao Qian's anger flared. He rolled his eyes, bristled his beard, and shouted at her. He really had taken a little ancestor as his disciple.

"I'll take my leave. Take care, teacher."

Smiling like a fox, Di Qingyu finished her salute, turned around, and left the study.

Gao Qian watched her go, the feigned anger on his face vanishing at once. Then he looked at the precious wine on the desk, his mouth watering as he thought of having a few more cups.

But unexpectedly-

"Greetings, teacher's wife." Di Qingyu, who was just about to close the door, suddenly called out.

?! Wasn't she playing cards with the madam of the Li household? How had she come back?

Gao Qian's hand trembled in fright, and he hurriedly fumbled to hide the wine pot and cups.

"Have you been drinking?"

Gao Qian's wife smelled the wine on Di Qingyu and looked displeased.

Di Qingyu was also afraid of this decisive, forceful wife of her teacher. In any case, their business was settled, so, holding to the principle of letting a fellow Daoist die rather than herself, she immediately passed the blame.

"Yes, teacher gave me the wine." To prove her innocence, she added another truth. "The cups are hidden in a box on the bookshelf."

With that, she slipped away as if her feet had been greased.

Behind her came the roar of the lioness of Hedong.

"Gao Qian! I wondered why you wouldn't let me tidy your study. So you hid the wine cups in a book box! And you even dared to drag Qingyu into drinking with you!"

"Drink! I'll let you drink today!"

"Di Qingyu!!! You have betrayed your teacher and ancestors!"

Gao Qian's furious roar was followed by a flurry of clattering and scuffling.

Di Qingyu flinched, shook her head, and hurried away.

Teacher, may fortune be on your side.

After leaving the grand preceptor's residence, Di Qingyu returned to the imperial palace.

After all, someone was probably getting anxious from waiting.

As soon as she returned to Yaohua Hall, Jieyu Wei, who had exchanged a distant glance with Di Qingyu that morning, came to visit.

Di Qingyu had someone invite her into the hall.

As soon as Jieyu Wei entered, she saw Di Qingyu drinking medicine by the brazier, which made her even more certain that Di Qingyu was in frail health. She walked over.

"Greetings, Sixth Princess."

Di Qingyu did not rise to welcome her. She merely raised a hand in a token gesture to help her up and said with a smile,

"Please rise, Jieyu Wei. Come sit here and warm yourself by the fire."

Jieyu Wei was somewhat unsure of her temperament, but judging by her attitude toward the consorts that morning, she probably disliked being disobeyed. So she thanked her.

"Thank you, Sixth Princess."

She went over and sat down beside Di Qingyu.

"Chunzhi, serve tea."

"Yes."

Di Qingyu held out a plate of pastries to her and smiled softly. "Did you only enter the palace a few days ago, Jieyu Wei?"

Jieyu Wei was a little nervous, so she picked up a pastry and held it to ease the awkwardness. Hearing Di Qingyu's question, she hurriedly answered with a smile.

"Yes, I only entered the palace four days ago."

It was truly the first time she had seen anything like Di Qingyu talking back to all the consorts that morning. She had been somewhat intimidated and did not dare underestimate this fourteen-year-old princess.

"How old are you this year, Jieyu Wei? You look very young. You can't be more than a few years older than me, can you?"

"I'm nineteen this year, five years older than Your Highness."

"Oh, no wonder I feel so close to you, Jieyu Wei. It's not like talking to the other consorts; I always feel a little awkward around my elders." Nineteen, and my imperial father is almost forty. Another old ox eating tender grass!

Jieyu Wei was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor. "You flatter me, Princess, but I feel close to you too. I have a younger sister who happens to be the same age as you."

"Really?" Di Qingyu smiled. "Then if you have time someday, Jieyu Wei, you could bring your sister into the palace to keep me company. Life in the palace is far too dull. If I'm not paying my respects to the consorts, I'm listening to imperial father lecture me."

"Thank you for your kindness, Princess, but my younger sister is playful by nature. I'm afraid she would disturb your peace." Jieyu Wei did not dare actually bring her sister into the palace. After all, she herself lived here in constant trepidation.

"In that case, I won't insist."

Seeing her decline, Di Qingyu said nothing more. It had only been a polite remark to warm up the conversation in the first place.

After they chatted for a while, Di Qingyu still did not make anything clear, and Jieyu Wei finally could not sit still any longer. She raised her eyes and looked at her nervously.

"Sixth Princess, I have an important matter I'd like to discuss with you in private. Would that be..."

"Of course." Di Qingyu's lips curved slightly, as though she had anticipated this. She glanced at Chunzhi and the others.

Without needing to be told, everyone silently withdrew of their own accord.