Jiang Yanyi was holding a freshly made tiger-skin chicken foot and went to check on the situation when she caught a glimpse through the crack in the door.

She saw Chi Qing reprimanding Chu Yanguo.

“With your handwriting, even a child just starting school could do better. What have you learned after years of study?”

Chi Qing was dressed in a sky-blue robe, holding what was presumably the poems Chu Yangui had copied.

His handsome face wore a serious expression, completely different from his usual easy-going demeanor, with sharpness in his brows and eyes.

He looked like a slender bamboo that, accustomed to its elegant and straight posture, had just realized its potential for sharpness after being cut.

Chi Qing’s words felt less like a lecture and more like a blade being drawn.

Chu Yangui bore the brunt of the scolding but kept his thin frame straight, defiantly retorting, “I just want to be a great warrior; what’s the use of practicing calligraphy like a poor scholar?”

Chi Qing raised a ruler. “Extend your hand.”

Reluctantly, Chu Yangui extended his hand, and Chi Qing struck it hard with the ruler.

Chu Yangui flinched in pain, gritting his teeth but not withdrawing his hand.

Chi Qing’s expression was unusually cold. “When you achieve nothing and rely on others for protection just to survive, you should drop this arrogant attitude. Do you think the king of hell won’t take you? The suffering you should bear has simply been pushed onto others. You can’t even write a few characters without it looking like a dog’s paw print, yet you want to ascend to greatness? Such ignorance and arrogance are foolishness!”

With red eyes from the scolding, Chu Yangui pressed his lips together and remained silent.

Chi Qing fixed his gaze on the stubborn boy and asked, “Do you know what you did wrong?”

Chu Yanguo replied, “I know.”

Chi Qing tossed the poems he had copied onto Chu Yangui’s desk. “If your homework tomorrow looks like this again, you might as well not study; I won’t teach fools.”

After listening to the exchange from the corner, Jiang Yiyi realized it wasn’t the right time to visit Chu Yangui, so she left with the tiger-skin chicken foot.

If she hadn’t heard it with her own ears, she could hardly have imagined that Chi Qing, usually so carefree, could be so strict when acting as a teacher.

Chu Zhong was standing just outside the door.

Seeing Jiang Yanyi leaving, he worried she might misunderstand and followed her for a distance before saying, “Miss, strict teachers produce outstanding students. Although Chi Junshi’s words were harsh, he means well for Young Master.”

Jiang Yanyi knew how careless her younger brother had been in his studies.

It was said that people who rebelled against their parents often had a stubborn streak, and she had privately noticed that Chu Yangui’s personality was a bit obsessive.

Her intention in making him study was to help him cultivate his character.

It was good that Chi Qing could discipline him, but Jiang Yanyi was also concerned that extreme measures could backfire.

She said to Chu Zhong, “Uncle Zhong, I understand everything you said; I don’t blame Chi Junshi.”

With a heart full of motherly worries, Jiang Yanyi went into the kitchen to make soup, using monkey head mushrooms, astragalus, an old hen, and dang shen to stew a pot of chicken soup that would nourish the stomach and boost energy.

The soup made from the hen strengthened the spleen and nourished the organs, the monkey head mushroom was good for the stomach, the astragalus promoted blood production, and the dang shen was a great tonic.

This was an exceptionally nourishing medicinal dish, both fragrant and nutritious.

When Chi Qing finished today’s lessons and came out of Chu Yangui’s room, Jiang Yanyi sent him the chicken soup, claiming it was to drive away the chill and warm the stomach.

When not teaching, Chi Qing reverted to his carefree demeanor.

He was pleasantly surprised when he received the soup from Jiang Yanyi.

After a moment of consideration, he figured out her intentions and smiled, saying, “Earlier, I was a bit too harsh on your brother, but I know my limits. He’s full of ambition and has faced many changes, yet he hasn’t truly suffered much. If he doesn’t experience some hardship, he’ll struggle to become great.”

Jiang Yanyi hadn’t expected him to see through her thoughts so easily.

She smiled awkwardly and replied, “Junshi, you’re too kind. It’s a blessing for Yanguo to receive your guidance.”

Chi Qing said, “He’s a good seedling but has been wasted for too many years. How much he can learn from now on depends on himself.”

After discussing the matter, Chi Qing took a sip of the chicken soup. It was rich and fragrant, and the flavor was excellent.

Although he was afraid of retaliating against someone by taking food from Jiang’s restaurant, it wouldn’t hurt to sneak some soup or pastries!

After sending Chi Qing off, Jiang Yanyi went to see Chu Yanguo, who was bent over the desk, concentrating hard on practicing his calligraphy, each stroke done with great seriousness.

Jiang Yanyi approached with the soup bowl. “I made some soup; drink it while it’s hot to nourish your body.”

Without lifting his head, Chu Yangui replied, “Sister, just put it on the table; I’ll drink it after I finish this page.”

Jiang Yanyi tentatively asked him, “What do you think of Chi Junshi’s teaching?”

Chu Yangui was sitting with his back to Jiang Yanyi, unaware that she had come to visit.

His hand paused for a moment as he wrote, “Very good.”

Seeing that Chu Yangui didn’t seem to hold a grudge against Chi Qing, Jiang Yanyi felt relieved.

She closely examined his writing and couldn’t help but remark, “Your horizontal and vertical strokes lack strength. The characters look scattered and misshapen.”

Chu Yangui glanced at Jiang Yiyi. “Sister, your writing is about as good as mine.”

Jiang Yanyi realized a moment too late that this little brat was throwing shade at her.

After all, she had been practicing with Feng Shuo’s calligraphy manual for quite a while, and no matter how her strokes turned out, they were still better looking than Chu Yanguo’s “dog-paw” writing.

She immediately said, “Give me the brush; I’ll write a couple of characters for you to see.”

Chu Yangui, not wanting to lose face, handed her the brush.

Jiang Yanyi took it, rolled up her sleeves, dipped the brush in ink, and wrote the characters “Yangui” in regular script with a smooth flow.

Her writing was neat and precise, with well-structured strokes that, while not yet exhibiting a lot of variation, were certainly legible.

The original owner had previously practiced the small calligraphy of flower hairpins.

When writing small characters, she used the tip of the brush, focusing on roundness and elegance.

When Jiang Yanyi first crossed over, she wasn’t accustomed to using a brush, and combined with the original owner’s poor calligraphy skills, her writing was often too big.

Later, she frequently practiced calligraphy under Feng Shuo’s watchful eye, copying his regular script manual, which resulted in her current writing style not resembling the small characters of flower hairpins at all.

Chu Yangui evidently noticed this as well. He asked, “Sister, I remember you used to practice small calligraphy.”

Jiang Yanyi replied, “I couldn’t find a manual for the small calligraphy, so I practiced with the regular script manual when I had some free time. My writing is much better than yours now.”

Her half-joking comment reignited Chu Yanguo’s fighting spirit.

He picked up the brush again. “I’ll definitely practice writing well!”

Jiang Yanyi laughed. “First, drink the soup.”

Chu Yangui, sullen, replied, “I won’t drink it. I want to practice writing first.”

---

At the Feng residence.

Feng Shuo looked at the documents on the table with an unhappy expression.

The officials and advisors present for the meeting didn’t dare to breathe a word.

Last night, the Turkic prince locked in the prison had cried out in pain, calling the guards.

In the chaos, he strangled a guard with iron chains, took the keys from the guard’s body, and escaped.

Feng Shuo glanced at Song Lushi standing below and said in a deep voice, “Have there been any leads on the search?”

Song Lushi wiped the sweat from his forehead and clasped his hands together. “The Turkic prince escaped last night. The city is under curfew, and the gates are closed; he cannot leave Xizhou. This morning, the gates did not open, and news of the city being under martial law spread to the four gates. To exit the city, one must show travel documents and match them with the prince’s likeness. So, the Turkic prince should still be in the city.”

This matter was of great importance, and it was essential not to let the news of the Turkic prince’s escape leak out.

Otherwise, it would cause unrest in Turkic territories, and he needed to keep this matter secret even from the young men in the residence.

Feng Shuo’s voice was colder than the raging northern winds outside. “What is the yamen doing? How could hundreds of people lose track of a half-dead prisoner?”

Song Lushi knelt down and said, “This is my negligence. However, I’ve already found some leads. I ask for the lord’s grace to allow me a few more days; I will definitely capture the Turkic prince!”

Feng Shuo raised his eyelids slightly. “Within three days, I want to see him alive or dead!”

Song Lushi knocked his head against the ground. “I accept the order!”

Feng Shuo instructed Xing Yao, “If the yamen lacks manpower, take some men to assist with the search. If necessary, shoot him down with arrows; he must not escape back to Turkic territory.”

If the Turkic prince returned to his homeland, Xizhou would welcome a fierce attack in the new year.

After discussing the matter, all the advisors and servants left.

The steward, Fu Xi, hurriedly entered with a letter sealed with a dark imprint. “Lord, a report has come from our spies.”

Feng Shuo took the letter and noticed the dark seal.

He broke the wax seal and quickly scanned the contents, his expression changing slightly. “Quickly summon Chu Changping here!”