“I heard that my husband was quite the sensation last night…”

She thought she had kept the events of last night a secret, but upon returning from her run, she discovered that everyone at home already knew. After all, the actions he took might have fooled others, but they certainly wouldn't have escaped the notice of the Su family and Li Pin nearby. It was being treated as an amusing story. Su Wending and others probably mentioned it in the morning, and now Su Tan'er was bringing it up as well.

“Five hundred taels for one performance, the husband is really generous.” Xiao Chan said with a giggle as she brought over a bowl of rice porridge. Juan'er turned her head and whispered to Xing'er, "What a spendthrift." Actually, after getting familiar with Ning Yi, it was just teasing. Everyone could hear the words, and when Ning Yi jokingly raised his spoon as if to hit her, she laughed and ran away.

"Alright, alright, this is the first time Husband has been there, stop teasing him about it."

Although five hundred taels of silver was indeed a large sum, Su Tan'er found Ning Yi's actions last night amusing and didn't seem to mind. After everyone was seated, she casually asked, "Does Husband know that Yuan Jin'er?"

Ning Yi thought for a moment. "Not really well, but I know another one."

Xiao Chan's eyes lit up. "The one in white who sang 'Shui Diao Ge Tou'? Young Master Wending said this morning that she sang it so well, using a new singing method. I originally thought it was Husband's style, but when I tried to sing it, Young Master Wending said it wasn't." As she spoke, she chuckled and hummed a few lines, clearly pleased with herself. "Is it as good as what Husband taught?"

"She's really amazing." Ning Yi picked up a piece of pickled cowpea, shook his head, and smiled. "Xiao Chan, you're an amateur. You can't compare."

"Hmm." Xiao Chan pursed her lips, then lowered her head to drink her porridge. Xing'er asked, "Who is she?"

"Probably a girl who admires Husband's talent." Su Tan'er said with a smile.

"Her name is Nie Yunzhu. She's quite capable. I saved her once." Ning Yi replied, then began to talk about the morning when Nie Yunzhu chased after a hen and fell into the river, from her clumsy pursuit of the hen to how he was later affected and slapped in the face. The expressions in the room became rather strange.

"Is that...the one who sells preserved eggs and has some entanglement with Gu Yanzhen?"

"Gu Yanzhen...tsk..." Ning Yi shrugged noncommittally.

By this time, breakfast was over. They talked about some trivial matters related to Nie Yunzhu, Su Tan'er occasionally glanced at Ning Yi, and then smiled. "Husband makes her sound so amazing. If there's a chance, I'd like to meet this Yunzhu girl..."

"Not many people recognized her last night, so it's best not to spread it around."

"I understand."

There was much more that could be said, but for Su Tan'er, it was time to go out and take care of some business. For the time being, she could only suppress some of her thoughts and look at Ning Yi, who seemed as normal as ever. There were more and more things to do these days. In the morning, she took Chan'er, Juan'er, and Xing'er out with her, while Ning Yi planned to go to the courtyard next to the academy to organize his small laboratory. As he came out of the courtyard near noon and was heading towards the academy, he saw two carriages parked in front of the already closed academy. They were still the carriages of Kang Wang's residence. Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu, the siblings, and several guards seemed to have just knocked on the door and found no one. They were coming this way. Among the guards was Lu Agui, who greeted him with surprise.

"We came over just now, but we didn't expect the academy to be closed. We were just about to go to the Su residence when we ran into you here. What a coincidence."

"Heh, the situation has been tense these past few days. The city gates might close at any time, so the academy held a meeting yesterday and decided to close temporarily."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ning Yi looked at Zhou Pei and Zhou Junwu next to him, and then smiled and asked, "Brother Lu, what brings you here? Heh...it's not to challenge the academy again, is it?" He teased the siblings.

"How dare we." Lu Agui quickly shook his head. "We are here to..."

"My sister and I are here to become students!" Zhou Junwu interrupted before Lu Agui could finish, putting on a very sincere appearance. Zhou Pei, on the other hand, was stunned and a little embarrassed. She looked at her brother and then at Ning Yi. "I...I still have questions to ask..."

Ning Yi looked at her and couldn't help but laugh. Lu Agui coughed awkwardly beside them, probably knowing Ning Yi's personality and wanting to smooth things over. Ning Yi thought for a moment and looked at Zhou Pei. "I heard you're very good at arithmetic?"

Zhou Pei looked at him, blinked, and thought for a moment before humming softly, "Mm."

"I'll ask you a few of the simplest questions. If you answer them, you can ask me questions, how about it?"

"...Okay." Zhou Pei hesitated for a moment before nodding, then turning around. "I'll go get paper and pen."

"No need to get them, they really are the simplest." Ning Yi laughed. When Zhou Pei turned around in confusion, he held out one finger. "Tell me, what number is this?"

The little girl looked at the finger, then at Ning Yi, then back at the finger and Ning Yi. Her eyes darted back and forth, and she frowned, seemingly thinking about Ning Yi's sophistry and tricks. After a long while, she finally spoke cautiously. "Master Chen once said that one is one, two is two, right is right, wrong is wrong. Those who try to confuse these basic things are engaging in sophistry..."

She spoke slowly, with an air of righteousness, watching Ning Yi's reaction. Ning Yi's finger moved slightly in the air. "Uh, did someone really say that? Who is Master Chen?"

"Master Chen Qiulan, is a guest of Kang Wang's residence, a great Confucian scholar of this era, and often interacts with my master." Lu Agui said from the side.

"Oh." Ning Yi nodded, his finger still extended. "That makes sense, but after saying so much, what number is this?"

"...One." After a moment, she answered briefly and forcefully.

"Oh." Ning Yi nodded and held out two fingers. "What number is this?"

"Two." This time, there was no hesitation. The little girl raised her head, looking as if she was saying, "See what tricks you can pull."

Then three fingers: "What does one plus one equal?"

"Three!" The answer was still loud and clear.

Ning Yi withdrew his hand and laughed. Zhou Pei in front, and Zhou Junwu and Lu Agui beside her, were still subconsciously waiting for Ning Yi's fourth question. Seeing Ning Yi's expression, Zhou Junwu reacted with an "ah." Zhou Pei blinked. "What, aren't you going to continue uh...ga?"

Zhou Junwu and Lu Agui laughed beside her. The little girl finally realized what had happened, and her face turned red. "You you you, you cheated...how could you..."

"Heh, you're overthinking it...You should be polite. Otherwise...do you want to go back on your word?"

"I...I won't go back on my word. What do you want to do!"

"What do I want to do? Just kidding, but now I don't have to answer your questions, right?" Ning Yi shrugged at Lu Agui. "They must be very difficult, it's great not to have to answer them." Lu Agui also laughed there. Zhou Junwu raised his hand, his eyes almost glowing. "Me, me, me, I don't want to ask questions, Mr. Ning, can I become a student?"

"The academy is there. Anyone who wants to enter can enter. It's just that it's closed now. If you find it interesting, come in and pay the tuition when it opens."

Ning Yi said casually. Lu Agui whispered, "Actually, if possible, Kang Wang hopes that Liheng can go to the Wang residence to teach, and it would be best if you could have a guest official position in the Wang residence. I know Liheng doesn't like being an official, but this guest official position doesn't involve any compulsion, just receiving a salary every month. I wonder what Liheng thinks?"

"How does Kang Wang know about me?"

"It's a long story. Actually, Kang Wang has only heard of Liheng's talent. This was my master's request. If possible, I hope you can teach the two young princes and young princess some useful things. Of course, the guest official position depends on Liheng's wishes."

Ning Yi thought for a moment. "Then...I'll have to thank you for your kindness. I don't know much. It doesn't matter if I have two more students. They can come to the classroom and listen to the lectures. I'll teach whatever I can, of course. But going to the Wang residence is out of the question. I have a strange personality. It's okay to tell stories or something when there are many people, but if I teach alone, I really don't know what to teach."

Zhou Junwu tugged at Lu Agui's clothes and then happily expressed his opinion. "I also think the academy is good, and my sister...sister?"

He turned to look at his sister, only to see that Zhou Pei had been at a loss for words and was still sulking in silence. But Zhou Junwu was still very happy, and then turned back. "It will be more interesting when my sister and I come to the academy." It seemed that he usually found studying at home or attending some private schools of great scholars boring, and now he couldn't wait to play in a new place. Lu Agui thought for a moment. "Since Liheng has said so, I will report back like this. I think the problem is not too big. But probably one or two people will accompany you on weekdays. Of course, it won't disturb Liheng's class."

"I understand this." Ning Yi nodded. The group traveled along the road with the carriages, followed by several guards. After a while, Ning Yi asked, "Brother Lu, what exactly do you mean by 'it's a long story'?"

Lu Agui thought for a moment before saying softly, "Actually...the things that Liheng said in the classroom with Li Pin Li Dexin a few days ago, the young prince and young princess happened to hear. I don't know what Liheng said exactly, but..."

He explained everything as it was, and Ning Yi finally knew what had happened.

"My master has been thinking about what Liheng said these past few days. It can be seen that he attaches great importance to Liheng's words. Sometimes he also says that Liheng is rebellious and outrageous, but all in all, I'm afraid Liheng has hit the nail on the head. If it weren't for something important today, he would have come with the two young princes and young princess. Heh, I know my master's personality. He will inevitably have to argue with Liheng, but letting the young prince and young princess become Liheng's students was also personally said by my master. Today, I just came to ask for Liheng's opinion. My master said that according to Liheng's personality, the young prince and young princess had to come in person to show respect. When the true apprenticeship happens, it won't be so simple. Kang Wang will also have to show up. That's how etiquette is, Liheng needs to be prepared..."

Lu Agui smiled as he spoke, and then mentioned another matter to Ning Yi.

"Oh, what Liheng said just now about closing the city gates, it will be in the next day or two. Today is the thirteenth, tomorrow is the fourteenth. On the fifteenth, the Zhongyuan Festival, every household worships their ancestors. Many people outside the city have lost their families, I'm afraid things will happen..."

Before he could finish speaking, the rapid sound of bells and gongs came from the east of Jiangning City. The carriages stopped there for a moment, and then everyone turned to look in that direction. Separated by layers of houses, they naturally couldn't see the scene, but in this moment, the whole city seemed to be much quieter. A sense of oppression came from the east, and then the faint noise and chaos began to grow louder.

"Something happened..."

It was close to noon on the street when Ning Yi heard Lu Agui mutter...