Qi Yu saw him at a glance and called out, "Jiang Zhen!"

Hearing this, Chu Jin's gaze shifted slightly, finally revealing a trace of surprise.

Shen Mengzhi hadn't expected to run into the two of them here. He froze for a moment before coming to his senses and said, "Are you looking for Teacher? He's not here."

"Not here? Alright, Brother Chu, you'll just have to come back later. Teacher has always been elusive, you'll get used to it." After Qi Yu finished speaking, he remembered to introduce the two. "...Oh, I almost forgot! Brother Chu, this is Senior Brother Jiang, Jiang Zhen."

He wanted to introduce Chu Jin as well, but he heard Shen Mengzhi say, "I know. Qi Yu, you should go back. I have a few things to discuss with the Heir."

"Oh, then I'll be going!" Qi Yu waved his hand. "It's a deal, remember to come tutor me tonight, don't forget!"

Shen Mengzhi chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling like stars. "I know."

After speaking, he turned to Chu Jin and was caught off guard by the latter's intrigued gaze, freezing for a moment. He quickly relaxed, wiping the smile from his face, and said slowly, "Heir, Heshan Academy is strict in its scholarship. There are three hundred rules that must be memorized."

That sense of detached propriety was back again.

Chu Jin averted his gaze and said nonchalantly, "And how should I memorize them?"

Then, he watched, wide-eyed, as the person before him produced a manual as if by magic, explaining with premeditation, "These are the rules. The Heir simply needs to copy them by hand once."

Chu Jin: “...”

His expression was rather indescribable as he took the manual. Seeing him frown, Shen Mengzhi added, "Every new student at the academy must copy the rules by hand, without exception."

The manual was a handwritten copy. The calligraphy on it was elegant and graceful, flowing like clouds and water, a refreshing sight to behold.

Chu Jin casually flipped through a few pages and asked, seemingly unintentionally, "What are the consequences for breaking the rules?"

"The punishment varies with the severity of the offense," Shen Mengzhi said. "A minor infraction will result in being assigned cleaning duties, while a major one will lead to expulsion."

Expulsion was exactly what Chu Jin wanted, so he asked with a smile, "Oh—then may I ask, Senior Brother, which rule carries the heaviest punishment?"

His attitude was far from serious, causing Shen Mengzhi to frown slightly.

"There is no ranking of mistakes." He stared at Chu Jin for a long while before he couldn't help but remind him, "To knowingly transgress is an even greater offense."

Chu Jin raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Shen Mengzhi knew he hadn't taken his words to heart and finally lost his patience, his expression turning slightly cold. "If the Heir has no other business, you may return to rest."

But Chu Jin said, "As it happens, I do have one more matter I'd like to discuss with Senior Brother."

"Coming to Yanling this time, I'm unfamiliar with the place and the people. The local customs are quite different from those of Old Qin, so I brought a follower with me." He called it a discussion, yet his tone held no hint of compromise or concession as he said slowly, "I'd like for him to live with me in the Xuan Study..."

Before he could finish, Shen Mengzhi had already interrupted him in a cold voice, "Heir, that is against the rules."

Chu Jin scoffed and said leisurely, "I just looked through these three hundred rules, and I didn't see anything forbidding followers. How is it against the rules?"

"Rule thirty-one," Shen Mengzhi said, "Unauthorized outsiders are not permitted to enter the academy."

He spoke with finality, leaving no room for argument. Chu Jin's dark eyes rested on him for a moment, his smile widening.

"Then let him enroll. How about that? My follower, though of common birth, is exceptionally gifted. Heshan Academy has always been inclusive, where princes, nobles, and commoners study in the same room and sit at the same desks. I see no reason why he cannot study at the academy." He looked directly into Shen Mengzhi's eyes, showing no sign of backing down. "Senior Brother also came up this way. I wonder if this is feasible?"

The only person who had enrolled as a commoner was standing right before him. The teasing insinuation in Chu Jin's words could not have been more obvious.

Shen Mengzhi couldn't help but curl his fingers slightly, but his expression remained impassive. "...I do not have the authority to decide."

"If the Heir is not satisfied with my answer," he said indifferently, "you had best ask Teacher."

With that, Shen Mengzhi nodded, still maintaining his etiquette, then flicked his sleeves and departed without another glance at him.

Chu Jin watched his cold, retreating back, his smile slowly fading. The frivolity vanished from his face, replaced by a cold and heavy expression. He stood there for a moment, then returned to the Xuan Study, lost in thought.

Lamps were already lit in the Xuan Study, a figure flickering on the window. Chu Jin glanced at it and pushed the door open. His personal attendant, Xu Zhan, was holding a stack of books half his height. Seeing him return, he consciously put down the items in his hands. "Heir."

Chu Jin responded with a faint sound of acknowledgment and reached out to pour a cup of tea.

"Your Highness," Xu Zhan walked over. "Have you met Old Teacher Fang?"

Chu Jin stared at the green leaves bobbing in the tea. "No, but I met his personal disciple."

Xu Zhan asked hurriedly, "What is he like?"

"Stiff and proper, impervious to persuasion," Chu Jin recalled Shen Mengzhi's standoffish demeanor and said casually, "He's a tricky one."

"But I don't need to waste my time with him. I know what to do next."

Xu Zhan nodded and lowered his voice. "The Young Master sent a letter. He said to connect with our people in Xiangjing as soon as possible, and also to be careful of the spies sent by the Prince of Yanling."

"Oh," Chu Jin's expression didn't change. "Have you investigated everyone in the academy?"

"We have. Their identities, family backgrounds, and the powers behind them are all in this register."

Xu Zhan handed over a register. Chu Jin took it and flipped through it, seeing it was densely packed with the names, families, and other information of the academy's students.

Xu Zhan stood to the side. From his angle, he could only see Chu Jin's lowered eyelashes casting a shadow over his face, obscuring his expression. He only heard him say calmly, "The Young Master truly has impressive means."

Xu Zhan was stunned, not understanding his meaning for a moment.

Chu Jin flipped to a page, and his gaze stopped. The previous pages were all filled with records, making this one seem particularly abrupt, with only a few sparse words.

—Jiang Zhen, native of Yuya, Yanling. Father, Jiang Qi, Supervisor in Yuya City. Older brother, Jiang Huan, serves in the Imperial Guard Department of Yuya City.

Truly a commoner.

Seeing him silent, Xu Zhan guessed in a low voice, "Your Highness, do you think this person could be the spy?"

Chu Jin's thoughts were still on his first meeting with Shen Mengzhi. With just a thought, the man's expression, appearance, and radiant grace replayed unceasingly in his mind. He frowned, and it was a while before he heard Xu Zhan's question, to which he replied perfunctorily, "Hard to say."

"A thousand people, a thousand faces. Can you see them clearly?" Chu Jin sneered. "And who can guarantee there's only one spy?"

With that, a deep annoyance colored his features, his voice as cold as ice. "Xiao Zhuo wants to blindfold my eyes and ears. This Heshan Academy is the cage he's imprisoned me in. But he's miscalculated, thinking this little academy can hold me."

Xu Zhan said cautiously, "Your Highness, are you planning..."

Chu Jin lowered his eyes, looking at the manual in his hand, filled with the three hundred rules.

He suddenly smiled, the irritation vanishing in an instant. He murmured to himself, "Of course I can't refuse Xiao Zhuo's good intentions, but what if... this academy won't keep me?"

The next day, after class, Shen Mengzhi sat upright at his desk, his brows lowered and eyes downcast, copying the day's lesson.

Amidst the clamor, Qi Yu snuck over and sat down opposite him. "Jiang Zhen, stop writing. Brother Chu is hosting a banquet at the Red Sleeve Pavilion tonight. Let's go down the mountain and have some fun together!"

The Red Sleeve Pavilion was the largest restaurant in Xufang. Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, not a single day passed when it wasn't packed with people, cups clinking. Even at the foot of Heshan, one could hear its nightly songs and music.

Shen Mengzhi's brush did not pause. "I'm not going."

"Hey, you..." Qi Yu shook his head and lowered his voice. "He's the Heir of Old Qin. You should at least give him some face."

Hearing this, Shen Mengzhi looked up and gave him a strange glance. "I'm not asking him for anything, nor do we have any connection. Why should I give him face?"

“...”

Qi Yu still hadn't given up. "That may be so..."

"I don't like him."

Qi Yu choked, the words on the tip of his tongue instantly forgotten.

Shen Mengzhi gave him a slight smile, his voice calm. "Out of sight, out of mind."

He had spoken with such finality that Qi Yu couldn't press him further, saying resentfully, "Alright, it seems a lot happened after I left yesterday."

Seeing Shen Mengzhi remain silent, his eyes darted about, and he switched to being Chu Jin's advocate. "Could it be a misunderstanding? You two have only met once. I know Brother Chu. He's a bit of a libertine, so it's normal that you don't approve, but he's a good person at heart..."

Shen Mengzhi gently put down his brush.

"When did he bribe you?" he chuckled.

Qi Yu said, "I haven't! I'm just worried you two will hurt your harmony. We're all classmates, we see each other every day. It wouldn't be good if there's bad blood between you."

Shen Mengzhi paused, then broke into a smile. "I was joking. You don't need to worry."

But a third person interjected, "What kind of joke?"

The two of them froze and turned their heads at the same time, only to see Chu Jin leaning against the window, a smile at the corners of his eyes, his gaze deep as he watched them.

Qi Yu: “...”

Shen Mengzhi: “...”

There was the guilty feeling of being caught red-handed doing something bad behind someone's back.

Chu Jin's gaze wandered over their faces a few times before finally landing on the lingering smile at the corner of Shen Mengzhi's lips. But the other person refused to grant his wish; the smile vanished in an instant, and he reverted to his aloof demeanor.

Shen Mengzhi looked at him, his tone returning to one of peace. "It's nothing."

Chu Jin clearly looked like he didn't believe him, but he didn't ask further. Instead, he turned to Qi Yu and smiled. "Brother Qi, see you at the Red Sleeve Pavilion tonight. Don't forget."

Qi Yu patted his chest. "Rest assured! I'm bringing a jar of my privately stashed Gardenia Brew. It's a famous Yanling wine, you've definitely never had it!"

"Excellent," Chu Jin said cheerfully. "Senior Brother Jiang, will you join us?"

Shen Mengzhi shook his head. "I don't drink. The Heir should enjoy himself."

Qi Yu immediately said, "It's true, Jiang Zhen really can't drink."

Chu Jin glanced at him and sighed softly. "That's a real shame. I was worried that life at the academy was too dull, and was thinking of inviting a few beautiful dancers from Yanling to perform and relieve Senior Brother's boredom."

These words would have been especially pleasing to Qi Yu, but they had the opposite effect on Shen Mengzhi. Sensing the frivolity in his tone, Shen Mengzhi couldn't help but frown slightly. "There's no need."

He said no, but others were clamoring for it. In an instant, a group of rakish young disciples gathered around and said in unison, "We do!"

Having lived in these mountains for over half a year, leading a simple and ascetic life day in and day out, the fifteen and sixteen-year-old boys were long since restless. As sons of wealthy families, how could they have ever suffered such an injustice?

Now with Chu Jin taking the lead, it was as if they had found an outlet. As for the three hundred rules, they had long been cast to the back of their minds.

Amidst the restless commotion, Shen Mengzhi reminded them faintly, "You are only allowed to go down the mountain three times a month. Who goes down, when they go down, and their entries and exits are all recorded. You should keep count yourselves."

His words were like a basin of cold water, sobering up their heated minds a little. A chorus of complaints immediately arose.

Chu Jin met Shen Mengzhi's eyes and, as if deliberately contradicting him, curled his lips into a smile. "And what if we exceed three times?"

Shen Mengzhi stared at him. For once, he wasn't as cold as ice. Instead, he uncharacteristically revealed a slight smile, tinged with a hard-to-detect mischievousness.

Chu Jin was momentarily dazed. Then he heard him say slowly, languidly, "According to the rules, exceeding three times... will earn you a week of scrubbing the latrine buckets."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was deafening.

Chu Jin: “...”

Everyone: “...”

Truly terrifying.