Grand Tutor Zhao was the first to recover, snorting and glaring, "You don't know? Then what are you doing at the Grand Tutor's Courtyard? Are you perhaps hogging a table to watch a play?"

Xi Xizhi blinked innocently, "That's why I came here to learn to read. Is this not a place for learning? Or is this not the Imperial Academy, and I've come to the wrong place?"

Xi Xizhi's innocent and naive eyes made everyone feel embarrassed.

Zhao Taifu was furious. All the children sent to Taifu Academy in the past had received their first education. He had never encountered anyone who sent a child who didn't know a single word.

"You!" Grand Tutor Zhao shouted, but couldn't utter a word until he had rested for a while before continuing, "Since you can't read, why did you say you understood when I asked you earlier? Are you pretending to be hoarse? Be honest. Don't you understand these principles?"

Xi Xizhi thought about it seriously for a while, "I understand. But I didn't say anything wrong. I understand everything you said, I just can't read the words on paper. As for pretending to be hoarse? I did that."

With a spirit of courage and responsibility, Xi Xizhi confessed everything as soon as she opened her mouth.

Grand Tutor Zhao was still angry. He raised the rattan cane and said, "Since you know you're wrong, then you must be punished. Come here."

Xi Xizhi stared at the vine, hesitated for a long time, and finally walked over.

"Hands out."

Xi Xizhi followed the instructions and extended her fair and tender palm.

Snap...

A heavy rattan cane struck Xi Xizhi's palm, immediately leaving a red mark.

All the children in the room shrank back in fear, except for An Yunyi, who quietly looked this way.

At this moment, Xi Xizhi had only one thought in her mind! It really is the cycle of heaven, and retribution will come sooner or later.

Yesterday she slapped An Honghan's palm, but today she was slapped back by a tutor.

"This lash is to teach you how to be a person."

"The second lesson is to teach you to be honest and trustworthy."

"The third lash teaches you not to pretend to know what you don't."

"The fourth lash is to teach you not to offend your teachers or elders."

Xi Xizhi couldn't remember how many times she was whipped, but her palms grew redder and more painful.

Several times she wanted to pull her hand away, but when she thought of An Honghan, Xi Xizhi held back. She couldn't just rely on her powerful backer to open doors and get special privileges everywhere, even though An Honghan wouldn't object, she still had her pride.

Zhao Taifu, being a teacher, had a whole host of reasons for hitting people.

He stopped after the twenty-seventh lash.

"This is just a lesson. If you dare to do it again next time, I, the Grand Tutor, will punish you double." Grand Tutor Zhao was over fifty years old. After beating him for so long, he was exhausted and slumped in his chair, panting.

Xi Xizhi looked at her torn and bleeding palms, gritted her teeth, and slowly closed them.

Her palms throbbed with pain, the burning sensation tormenting Xi Xizhi's nerves.

Grand Tutor Zhao, having finished his lesson and seeing that it was almost time, said, "That concludes today's lesson. If there is anything you don't understand, please ask me privately."

He waved his hand, and all the children rushed out.

Xi Xizhi was completely dumbfounded! She had been here for half a day, and apart from being beaten, she hadn't learned a single word. Even if she had intended to use that beating as tuition, it was still far too unfair.

So, Xi Xizhi, who had a great thirst for knowledge, took two steps forward and said, "Grand Tutor Zhao, I want to learn to read."

Zhao Taifu couldn't catch his breath and fainted from anger.

"Such a simple matter, doesn't your family have anyone to hire a tutor for you?" Grand Tutor Zhao always taught the principles of governing the country and how to conduct oneself in society, never the art of literacy. Since the children sent here to study were all literate, he didn't need to worry about this at all.

When he mentioned his family, Xi Xizhi immediately thought of An Honghan. At least in this world, she only knew An Honghan, and they ate and lived together, so they should be considered family, right?

So he truthfully said, "My family sent me here to learn to read."

Grand Tutor Zhao didn't react at first, then thought for a moment, "Who are your family members?"

“An Honghan,” Xi Xizhi said in detail, completely disregarding the shock it would cause to outsiders.

Grand Tutor Zhao leaned back in his chair, nearly falling over. He gripped the armrest tightly to keep from tumbling. "Is...is it His Majesty?"

"Didn't he bring me here?" Xi Xizhi said innocently.

Zhao Taifu felt like dying. He wondered if this child was His Majesty's illegitimate daughter. Judging from Xi Xizhi's appearance of seven or eight years old, it was very possible that she was His Majesty's child from his youth.

"What is your relationship with His Majesty?" Grand Tutor Zhao stammered.

Xi Xizhi opened her mouth to answer, but before she could utter a single syllable, Lin En rushed in from outside.

Lin En saw Zhao Taifu nod first, and then asked, "Little ancestor, how is it? Have you learned even a little bit? Zhao Taifu is the best tutor in the palace. Those who are taught by him are all pillars of the country."

The word "little ancestor" sent chills down Zhao Taifu's spine. Seeing Lin En's attitude toward Xi Xizhi, he realized it was true and was too frightened to utter another word.

"I haven't learned anything." Her palms hurt, but Xi Xizhi still pretended to be fine and replied indifferently.

Lynn's lips twitched slightly, then he comforted the child, saying, "It's nothing. Nobody knows everything on the first day. Let's go back to Panlong Palace. His Majesty will probably be back soon too."

Xi Xizhi responded and followed Lin En out the door.

Grand Tutor Zhao watched the figure disappear, his heart pounding wildly. While it was common for them, as grand tutors, to use canes to discipline students,... if the other person was His Majesty's daughter, that was a different story. Regardless of her status, given His Majesty's temperament, would he really let it go so easily?

As a result, a great uproar was stirred up in the palace after that day, and all sorts of rumors about Xi Xizhi being An Honghan's daughter spread everywhere.

As soon as Xi Xizhi stepped into the Panlong Hall, she saw An Honghan, dressed in a dragon robe, already sitting in a chair drinking tea.

She walked over hesitantly, reaching out to grab a piece of pastry from the table, but then withdrew her hand halfway. The red, throbbing wound on her palm reminded her that she absolutely mustn't let anyone see it.

"What did you learn?" An Honghan asked, looking up.

Xi Xizhi stood awkwardly in place, pondering how to tell An Honghan that Zhao Taifu's curriculum was not suitable for her. In fact, Xi Xizhi really didn't need to learn those principles from Zhao Taifu, because she had already learned quite a bit in her previous life, although she had almost forgotten it all.

The thing she needs to learn most now is to learn to read.

Lynn smoothed things over, saying, "Your Majesty, it's only her first day at the Imperial Tutor's Academy. She probably hasn't learned much yet. The first day is for getting used to the environment."

Xi Xizhi put her hands behind her back so that no one could see them.