Chapter 110

Jiang Xiurun wasn’t angry.

She knew her teacher’s character well—he was a man of utmost integrity.

By summoning her to his home instead of sending a letter to sever their teacher-student relationship, he was giving her a chance to explain herself.

So when her teacher’s scolding words came, she smiled calmly and said, “Actually, Teacher, you’re mistaken. It’s not just copper coins that develop a foul smell when kept for too long; even books can develop a musty odor if left untouched. If you’re worried about the smell, perhaps you should open the windows more often to air things out.”

Master Mufeng glared at her.

“You still dare to argue and imply that I’m being foolish? Then explain to me what this ridiculous mulberry and silkworm tax is all about!”

Jiang Xiurun replied calmly, “Most people think that imposing taxes is just a way to exploit the people and enrich the state treasury. But they forget that taxes can also guide the people away from excessive profit-seeking, which can harm the nation’s foundation… Teacher, if I ever lose my mind and start taxing rice fields to build earth god temples, then you can sever ties with me. But until then, isn’t it a bit premature?”

When it came to matters of state, Jiang Xiurun couldn’t explain everything in detail.

But Master Mufeng was no fool.

After listening to Jiang Xiurun’s explanation, he pondered for a moment and understood the deeper meaning behind her words.

This beloved disciple of his had always been clever and unconventional.

He had been puzzled earlier—how could a young man who once paid no heed to superstitions suddenly start believing in feng shui?

Now, seeing her still mischievous and full of cunning, Master Mufeng felt reassured.

In truth, Master Mufeng had heard the rumors about Jiang Herun long ago.

The students at the academy often discussed this senior of theirs, but he had always refrained from interfering in his students’ official duties and hadn’t questioned Jiang Xiurun about it.

However, a few days ago, a distant relative from his hometown came to the capital, bringing his family and weeping about how the mulberry and silkworm tax had ruined their lives.

Master Mufeng could no longer sit idly by and summoned Jiang Xiurun for an explanation.

That day, the “copper-stinking” Chief Minister Jiang finally entered her teacher’s study.

The two of them played a game of chess as they had in the past, and Jiang Xiurun played a tune on the qin for her teacher.

Afterward, she ate a bowl of noodles stuffed with braised meat and pickled vegetables, prepared by her teacher’s wife, before taking her leave.

Everything seemed fine, but for some reason, two days later, rumors spread throughout the capital that Chief Minister Jiang had been expelled by Master Mufeng.

During the midday break at the government office, Ji Binglin rushed over.

He hadn’t come empty-handed—he brought a letter of recommendation from the retired former prime minister.

When he saw Jiang Xiurun, he didn’t even bother to wipe the sweat from his brow and said, “I worked as a clerk for the prime minister for several years and earned his favor. He has some connection with Master Mufeng. If you take this letter and plead with Master Mufeng, he will surely reconsider!”

Jiang Xiurun took the letter and saw that it was dated just the day before.

The former prime minister lived in seclusion in the mountains outside the capital, so Ji Binglin must have rushed to visit him as soon as he heard the news of her expulsion, obtained the letter, and hurried back overnight.

This man’s sincerity was truly touching!

Although Jiang Xiurun didn’t need such a letter of appeal, she was deeply moved by Ji Binglin’s actions.

She stood up and bowed deeply to him, saying, “Brother Ji, you are truly a kindred spirit!”

She then explained the misunderstanding, assuring him that she had not been expelled by her teacher and had simply gone to her teacher’s home for a meal of noodles and braised meat.

Ji Binglin was stunned for a moment, then slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “Oh no! I also asked several of your classmates to plead with Master Mufeng on your behalf. If this is all a misunderstanding, wouldn’t we be disturbing him for no reason?”

Hearing this, Jiang Xiurun quickly took Ji Binglin with her and rushed to Master Mufeng’s home in a carriage.

From a distance, they could see that the newly varnished gate of Master Mufeng’s residence had been smashed open, leaving a gaping hole.

Wooden splinters littered the ground, and the scene was a complete mess.

From inside the gate came a furious roar: “Old man! Why did you expel Jiang? If you expel him, I’m ashamed to call myself your student too! Today, I’ll sever ties with you and expel you as well!”

Jiang Xiurun’s heart sank.

That voice was unmistakably Dou Siwu’s.

Before the carriage even came to a complete stop, Jiang Xiurun jumped out and ran to the gate.

Sure enough, Dou Siwu was standing in the courtyard, shouting at the top of his lungs.

One of his pant legs was covered in wood splinters, evidence that he had kicked the gate open.

His leg strength had clearly improved.

The other classmates, likely unprepared for Dou Siwu’s explosive temper, were trying to calm him down.

Master Mufeng, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, was accompanied by the crown prince.

The two had apparently been meeting when the noise erupted and had come to investigate.

The usually calm and composed Master Mufeng was so furious that he was gasping for breath, one hand clutching his chest.

Jiang Xiurun was also shaken by Dou Siwu’s actions.

She rushed over and punched him hard in the chest, shouting, “You idiot! What do you think you’re doing?”

When Dou Siwu saw Jiang Xiurun, he immediately grabbed her shoulders and said, “Brother Jiang, don’t worry. We know what you’re going through. I don’t understand this mulberry and silkworm tax business, but I know your character. How could I let you suffer this humiliation alone? Today, I’ll argue with him until he takes back his decision. If he refuses, we’ll all leave with you!”

Dou Siwu spoke with great passion, but the other classmates quickly waved their hands and explained to their teacher, “Teacher, that’s just Dou Siwu’s idea. We would never abandon you. We… we just came to see you today.”

Dou Siwu, seeing his classmates desert him, was furious and about to rebuke them when Qian’er, who had been standing beside Jiang Xiurun, couldn’t take it anymore.

She kicked Dou Siwu, forcing him to his knees, and hissed, “Who spread the rumor that my master was expelled? It’s completely false! You fool, apologize to the teacher right now!”

Hearing Qian’er’s words, Dou Siwu was stunned for a moment.

He blinked in confusion, sweat dripping from his forehead as he looked back at the shattered gate and then at his teacher, whose beard was trembling with anger…

That day, Master Mufeng’s courtyard was filled with kneeling students, all pleading with their teacher to calm down and not expel Dou Siwu.

Dou Siwu, tears streaming down his face, apologized profusely for his misunderstanding and rash actions.

Even the crown prince interceded on his behalf, and Master Mufeng finally calmed down.

He punished Dou Siwu by making him pay for a new pair of high-quality lacquered gates and assigned him to copy Confucian texts ten times to calm his temper.

In the end, the exhausted group stayed for a meal of noodle soup with meat sauce prepared by Master Mufeng’s wife.

Seeing that his teacher’s wife had specially added two poached eggs to his bowl, Dou Siwu was overcome with remorse.

He ate his noodles while tearfully calling out to his teacher, his eating manners so atrocious that it was hard to watch.

With the misunderstanding resolved, the group eventually dispersed.

When the crown prince invited Jiang Xiurun into his carriage, he looked at her and asked coolly, “Since when did you have so many loyal classmates willing to risk their lives for you?”

Jiang Xiurun replied honestly, “I didn’t know either…”

To be honest, although the whole incident had been a farce, Jiang Xiurun was deeply moved.

She hadn’t expected that, in this life, she would form such deep friendships in Luo’an.

Ji Binglin’s sincerity and Dou Siwu’s straightforwardness left her at a loss for how to repay them.

At the very least, she now knew that even if the whole world misunderstood her, she still had close friends who would support her without question.

To live a second life like this—it was enough!

But while Jiang Xiurun was content, Feng Liwu was feeling anything but bitterness.

He had heard the rumors early on and had even casually asked Jiang Xiurun about them the previous night.

Although she had brushed it off as nonsense, he wasn’t entirely convinced, worried that she might be hiding her embarrassment and suffering in silence.

So he had gone to Master Mufeng’s home today to verify the situation.

He had been the first to arrive at Master Mufeng’s residence to investigate.

Even if Master Mufeng had indeed expelled Jiang Xiurun, he had ways to make the teacher reconsider.

But his efforts were overshadowed by Ji Binglin’s hundred-mile journey to obtain a letter of recommendation and Dou Siwu’s dramatic gate-smashing.

Now, although his woman was sitting beside him, her face was filled with a strange sense of gratitude—clearly not directed at him.

Feng Liwu suddenly felt a tightness in his chest and, for the first time, understood the jealousy that often plagued the women of the inner palace.

Dealing with these attention-seeking scoundrels really made his teeth itch with the urge to tear them apart!

However, Jiang Xiurun also realized why Feng Liwu had appeared at Master Mufeng’s residence.

Her heart warmed, and she wrapped her arms around Feng Liwu’s waist, planting a big kiss on his handsome cheek.

The crown prince’s mood improved slightly, though he still maintained a stern expression.

“After all the trouble I went through for you, just one kiss?”

Jiang Xiurun blushed slightly and whispered something in his ear.

Feng Liwu’s eyes lit up, and he wrapped his arm around her waist.

“Since you’ve said so, you’d better keep your word. We’ll do it a few more times tonight.”

For a while, the carriage was filled with a warm, intimate atmosphere.

Feng Liwu didn’t care that Jiang Xiurun was still in her official robes, holding her in his arms and kissing her several times.

The sound of their laughter drifted out of the carriage.

Someone hidden in the shadows of an alleyway caught a glimpse of the two laughing inside the carriage when the breeze lifted the curtain.

His body trembled slightly, and his scarred face twisted in anger.

The burly man behind him reminded him, “The second prince has ordered that you shouldn’t appear in public for now. You should go back soon to avoid causing trouble.”

The man smiled grimly—yes, to the world, he was already “dead.”

When his family received news that he had been killed by bandits and fallen off a cliff, they had already held a memorial service for him.

His new wife, Madam Xu, had even demanded to return to her family, refusing to remain faithful to him.

All of this was thanks to the person in that carriage.

If he couldn’t avenge this humiliation, the resentment of narrowly escaping death would never be quelled!

With this thought, he suppressed the turmoil in his heart and followed the burly man into the deepening darkness as the sun set…

The crown prince, who rarely hosted banquets, suddenly decided to throw a lively tea party.

The rumors about Chief Minister Jiang’s expulsion were dispelled when Master Mufeng and his disciple attended the tea party at the crown prince’s residence together.

Master Mufeng, renowned for his qin skills, performed a duet with his beloved disciple Jiang Herun in front of the guests.

The old and the young, their sleeves fluttering, played a piece called “High Mountains and Flowing Water,” its profound meaning clear to all.

Master Mufeng, who rarely praised his students, didn’t hold back this time.

He declared to the crowd, “Herun is a rare talent. To have such a disciple is my good fortune!”