Upon entering the Imperial Academy, Feng Xiaoli quickly took a familiar turn inside.

She heard that her brother was detained right next to Sacrificial Officer Guo's room, and wondered how he was eating and sleeping lately.

Feng Xiaoli was pondering with concern when suddenly, her head ached as someone grabbed a tuft of her hair.

"Xiao Li, that's not where you should be going."

Turning around, Feng Xiaoli saw Dongfang Jin.

Ever since he had consolidated the Wenhua Seal, Dongfang Jin had become much more composed, courteous in all his interactions, except when it came to Feng Xiaoli, whom he couldn't resist teasing.

She hadn't seen him for a while, and the little girl seemed more delicately adorable than ever.

She had grown a bit taller, yet still half a head shorter than Dongfang Jin.

Her eyes, like ripe black grapes, were glossy and watery; her chubby, tender face was simply irresistible to pinch.

Feng Xiaoli, puffing up her cheeks in anger, glared.

"Dongfang Jin, you're bullying again; I'm going to tell Sacrificial Officer Guo."

"Don't fool me. Sacrificial Officer Guo is napping at this time. Why did you come here? The Imperial Academy is all boys; men and women shouldn't have such contact. Don't come here again," Dongfang Jin sternly lectured.

With so many men at the Imperial Academy and Feng Xiaoli being so cute, what if someone abducted her?

The nature of Feng Xiaoli was much like her mother, Feng Bailing; she acted without avoidance or restraint, which was not good.

But perhaps that was one reason he liked her; on her, Dongfang Jin saw something he yearned for.

"Boys and girls are separated only after the age of seven, I'm just three and a half years old, plus, I avoided everyone else anyway. I came here to pick up Brother Xiaojin, don't block my way, move aside!"

Feng Xiaoli fiercely said.

Initially, when Dugu Xiaojin was put under confinement, Feng Xiaoli clamored daily to visit him. Feng Bailing, finding no other choice, told her she could only fetch Dugu Xiaojin at the end of the month, and now that the end of the month had come, she hurried here.

"Unfortunately, Dugu Xiaojin's confinement extends till next month. You won't be able to see him."

Dongfang Jin glanced toward the nearby confinement room.

"My mother said that as long as Brother Xiaojin studies well, he can come out."

Feng Xiaoli pouted.

Brother Xiaojin was so smart, studying well was as simple for him as eating and sleeping.

Dongfang Jin was somewhat aware of the deal between Feng Bailing and Sacrificial Officer Guo.

He shook his head.

"He won't be able to finish all those books."

Dongfang Jin had people secretly watching over Dugu Xiaojin, who showed signs of dejection knowing he couldn't participate in the Competition Among Ten Countries. Recently, he ate and slept a lot and was even reprimanded by Sacrificial Officer Guo for wetting a treasured book with his drool while sleeping.

Sacrificial Officer Guo tested his academic progress, but instead of improving, Dugu Xiaojin had even started forgetting his previous studies, which made Sacrificial Officer Guo so furious that he turned around and walked away.

Such a state of Dugu Xiaojin, how could he possibly come out early.

"I don't believe it, I want to see Brother Xiaojin."

Feng Xiaoli swiftly dodged past Dongfang Jin.

Dongfang Jin cornered his lips into a smile, readied his hand to grab Feng Xiaoli,

but then—

From behind, Sacrificial Officer Guo's whip struck on Dongfang Jin's backside.

"Knowing that I was napping yet causing such a racket here."

Dongfang Jin turned around and indeed saw the stern face of Sacrificial Officer Guo.

Hmph, so what if he was napping.

Little Li could wake him up in minutes.

Feng Xiaoli stuck her tongue out at Dongfang Jin.

Although she no longer disliked Dongfang Jin as before, she still did not favor the people of the Crown Prince Mansion.

"Dachun... Xiao Li, why did you run over?"

Seeing Feng Xiaoli, Sacrificial Officer Guo's stern face showed a trace of a smile.

Although he only studied in the Imperial Academy for a few days, Sacrificial Officer Guo was deeply impressed by Feng Xiaoli.

Such a good child, smart and sweet-talking, and good-looking too—who wouldn't like her!

It's a pity she's a girl, otherwise, she definitely wouldn't be inferior to Dongfang Jin and Dugu Xiaojin.

"Dongfang Jin, did you just say that anyone who can solve this problem can go to the Competition Among Ten Countries? If my brother can go to the Competition, does it mean he doesn't have to be locked up anymore? You are the Imperial Grandson, your word counts, right?"

Feng Xiaoli, clever beyond her years, eyed Dongfang Jin.

In Dongfang Jin's hands was a test paper set by Hua Wushang, while the other students received transcribed versions.

She had sneaked in, but her ears were sharply tuned, catching every word that Dongfang Jin had said in front of the other students.

Seeing Feng Xiaoli's intent, Dongfang Jin knew what she was up to.

He was ready to refuse outright.

He had finally managed to confine his strong rival, Dugu Xiaojin, to his room; how could he allow him to come out?

But watching Feng Xiaoli, with her big, flashing eyes full of pleading, he found the "no" at the tip of his tongue impossible to utter.

As if possessed, he nodded.

"It's Lord Hua's decision."

Nowadays, in the Crown Prince Mansion, Hua Wushang's word even outweighed the Crown Prince's; whatever Hua Wushang said, the Crown Prince would agree.

"Brother Xiaojin, come and do the problem."

Feng Xiaoli snatched the test paper from Dongfang Jin's hands and ran to the door, knocking loudly.

It's settled.

Dongfang Jin thought to himself that even if Dugu Xiaojin managed to get this test paper, he might not be able to solve it.

This wasn't an ordinary test; it was specially set by Hua Wushang for the Competition Among Ten Countries.

Even Dongfang Jin, who had the Wenhua Seal, could only solve seventy percent of it correctly.

When the door opened, Dugu Xiaojin walked out.

He looked groggy.

Seeing Dugu Xiaojin looking like that, Sacrificial Officer Guo felt both pained and helpless.

"Why did you come?"

Dugu Xiaojin rubbed his sister's head; he had rushed back all the way.

Upon return, he saw "Dugu Xiaojin" drooling in a pile of books.

Having just switched back to his own body, he had taken a nap, only to be visited by Feng Xiaoli and Dongfang Jin.

When Feng Bailing arrived, the siblings were already hand in hand, ready to go home.

"Dugu Xiaojin has been released from confinement! Sacrificial Officer Guo has great courage to defy the Emperor's will."

Inside the Crown Prince Mansion, when Nalan Yan'er received the news, she was so angry that her face turned ashen.

The confinement of Dugu Xiaojin, apparently ordered by Sacrificial Officer Guo, was actually instigated by Emperor Yongye in secret.

For this reason, Nalan Yan'er believed that Dugu Xiaojin had absolutely no chance to participate in the Competition Among Ten Countries—no one dared defy Emperor Yongye's will.

"Dongfang Jin, did you do that on purpose? I've told you before not to associate with those wild brats. I'm going to report to the Emperor right away."

Nalan Yan'er was about to enter the palace to file a complaint against Sacrificial Officer Guo when Hua Wushang walked in.

"Crown Princess Consort, stay calm for a moment and look at this test paper first."

With that, Hua Wushang handed a test paper to Nalan Yan'er.

Upon seeing the test paper, Nalan Yan'er was stunned.

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