To prevent Jiang Yuanxi from skipping school, Jiang Yuansheng personally escorted her to the Imperial Academy.

When the Fourth Prince saw a familiar figure, he quickly got up and walked to Jiang Yuanxi.

“Yuanxi, why haven’t you been coming to class these past few days?”

The Fourth Prince, Jun Molin, was puzzled. “The teacher said he didn’t grant you leave.”

“He also said,” the three-year-old Sixth Prince, Jun He’an, added, “that he wants you to see why flowers are so red.”

“Sister, what does the teacher mean by that?” The Sixth Prince scratched his little hands, looking confused.

Because the Fourth Prince had spent a long time outside the palace, he hadn’t attended the Imperial Academy before.

After his health stabilized, the Emperor specifically arranged for him to attend classes with Jiang Yuanxi.

As for the Sixth Prince, he was purely brought along as an extra.

Having been spanked by her mother, Jiang Yuanxi naturally couldn’t let the two of them know.

“Yuanxi, I was sick, so I didn’t come.” Jiang Yuanxi replied righteously.

[My mother spanked me so hard, it still hurts.]

The Fourth Prince understood immediately.

The Sixth Prince scratched his head, “Sister, why did you—mmph mmph!”

Before he could finish, the Fourth Prince covered his mouth and pulled him to his seat.

The teacher, Kong Meng, walked into the classroom, sensing a pair of resentful eyes on him.

He pretended not to notice.

“Ahem.” Kong Meng cleared his throat.

“From today onwards, anyone who skips class will receive thirty strokes on the hand and must copy the Three Character Classic ten times.”

Seeing Jiang Yuanxi’s puffed-up face, the Fourth Prince knew that this rule was specifically set for her.

Jiang Yuanxi angrily pulled out a talisman and started drawing on it, but after a moment of hesitation, she quietly put it away.

[That old man educates the people and accumulates virtue—I’m not someone who holds petty grudges.]

Kong Meng opened his book and began teaching.

When class ended, Jiang Yuanxi waited until the teacher walked away, then quickly went up to his desk.

“Yuanxi, what are you planning?” Jun Molin asked.

Jiang Yuanxi grinned mischievously, turning her back to everyone.

The next class was still Kong Meng’s.

After talking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he instructed the students to practice writing.

Just as he picked up his tea cup, the entire class secretly watched him.

“Pfft!”

Kong Meng spat out his tea.

Looking at the bottom of his cup, he saw a thick layer of white salt—nearly half a cup full!

How much salt did they put in here?!

The students hid behind their books, stifling laughter.

Jiang Yuanxi sighed in relief.

But the Fourth Prince secretly worried—he had heard from his father that this Kong Meng had plenty of ways to deal with mischievous students.

Would Yuanxi really not regret provoking him?

Kong Meng scanned the classroom, his gaze finally landing on a certain little figure in the corner.

“Copy the Analects ten times!” he announced in a deep voice.

The students all wailed.

[We didn’t even do anything! Why are we being punished too?!]

Kong Meng paused. “However, if someone tells me who put the salt in my tea, today’s punishment will be canceled.”

Jiang Yuanxi suddenly felt countless eyes turning toward her.

“Teacher, it was her!” One student stood up and pointed at Jiang Yuanxi.

“Yes!” Another said, “I saw Jiang Yuanxi standing at your desk after class.”

“I saw her putting in the salt!”

…

In an instant, the classroom was filled with voices tattling on her.

The Sixth Prince glanced at Jiang Yuanxi, then, seeing her terrified expression, raised his hand.

“Teacher, I saw it!”

The Sixth Prince dramatically pointed at Jiang Yuanxi. “She didn’t just put in salt—she peed in it too!”

Jiang Yuanxi’s face turned green.

[What the hell—PEED?! Just to avoid writing homework, he’s actually making things up!]

“Yes, yes, teacher, she also pooped!”

“I saw it too! Even her great-grandfather peed in it!”

“And she also—”

Desperate to avoid writing homework, the students were making up all kinds of nonsense.

pForget friendship and loyalty—if it means skipping homework, they’d even dig up each other’s ancestors!]

Kong Meng calmly poured himself another cup of tea and drank it with satisfaction.

Trying to outsmart me? These little kids still have a long way to go.

In the end, Jiang Yuanxi was assigned to copy the Analects ten times.

Jiang Yuanxi wrinkled her little face, full of grief and indignation.

One chapter had 493 characters.

Ten times meant 4,930 characters!

This was practically a death sentence!

For the first time, Jiang Yuanxi felt that even her food tasted bitter.

…

The events at the Imperial Academy quickly reached the Emperor’s ears.

The Emperor laughed so hard he could barely stand straight.

The ministers in the meeting room also struggled to hold back their laughter.

The Emperor gave an order: “For Yuanxi’s meal today, add a pork knuckle. The little one likes it.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Court Eunuch Cao Cheng responded.

Laughing aside, there were still serious matters to discuss.

Minister of Personnel, Zhou Qun, reported, “Your Majesty, in seven or eight days, General Zhengyuan’s army will reach the border.”

The Emperor nodded.

Minister of War, Yue Tu, frowned. “It’s summer, and the Xiongnu grasslands are flourishing. The two nations have been at peace for years, and the Xiongnu have been plotting for a long time—this battle won’t be easy.”

Grand Commandant Sima Dao objected, “Your Majesty, Duke Han has extensive military experience. He should be the one leading this campaign.”

“Although Jiang Fengyuan has fought before, his experience is limited. Facing the Xiongnu—the strongest force in the northwest—is no small matter.”

The court debated fiercely.

In the end, the Emperor stood firm and chose Jiang Fengyuan to lead the army.

Had the Emperor’s favoritism toward the Jiang family gone so far as to disregard state affairs?

The Emperor’s expression darkened.

“Sima Dao, I said this discussion is over!”

Then he turned to his eldest son. “Crown Prince, what do you think?”

Crown Prince Jun Yin thought for a moment.

“Father, I believe Jiang Fengyuan will certainly claim the head of the Xiongnu leader.”

Yuanxi had once told him—only General Zhengyuan could reach the Xiongnu royal court.

No one else could.

The officials continued to protest.

The Emperor’s face darkened.

“If Jiang Fengyuan fails to reach the Xiongnu royal court, I will issue a public confession of fault!”

With that, he waved his sleeves. “All of you—get out!”

The officials were stunned.

Had the Emperor lost his mind?

In the history of the Yufeng Dynasty, when had an emperor ever issued a decree admitting fault for a minister’s failure?

The officials left in shock.

The Emperor gazed toward the northwest, deep in thought.

“Crown Prince, you’ve looked pale lately. Be sure to rest properly.”

The Crown Prince bowed. “Father, don’t worry. It’s probably just the heat—I’m fine.”

Leaving the hall, the Crown Prince shook his head.

Lately, he had been having constant nightmares and severe headaches, leaving him exhausted.

Even the imperial physicians found nothing wrong.

Perhaps it was just stress.

..

Back at the Jiang residence, Jiang Yuansheng called a family meeting.

Chen Xinwan sternly advised, “Yuanxi, you must respect your teachers and stop causing trouble.”

Jiang Yuanxi lowered her head, pretending to be remorseful.

[That old man is too evil. Hmph! My hands are raw from writing so much.]

Chen Xinwan gently checked her daughter’s hands but found them smooth—only stained with leftover food crumbs.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yuanxi was still lost in thought.

[Tomorrow, I’ll put a live turtle in his tea. Hehehe.]

Chen Xinwan: …

This child isn’t reflecting—she’s planning her next prank!

Jiang Yuanxi’s three older brothers immediately slipped out of the room and shut the door.

Jiang Yuanxi suddenly realized—she was alone.

Looking up, she saw Chen Xinwan standing before her, holding a ruler.

Jiang Yuanxi’s heart skipped a beat.

“Mother, I was wrong! Really wrong!”

“Spanking children is illegal!”

[Waaah, that old man is too evil!]