"He'd probably be over the moon if he knew you've forgiven him," Zhao Shuning said, looking out the window.
The sky was gradually turning pale.
"I've got something to attend to and must head back. If you're leaving too, Your Highness, I won't see you off."
"Very well."
"Miss Luo—"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"Whatever for?"
"All these issues stem from the sins of our previous generation. Yet, it's Qingyan who's had to bear the brunt. What he did to you can ultimately be traced back to the foolish things I did when I was young, which had such a profound impact on him."
"He's paid the price, and so have you."
Zhao Shuning had no intention of pursuing this matter any further.
"Farewell, Miss Luo."
Zhao Shuning nodded and left the official residence.
When she returned to her quarters, it was already daylight. Exhausted, she went to bed.
It was evening when she was roused from her sleep by the anxious report of a disciple outside.
"What's going on?"
"Reporting to Elder, Ye Xuan from the Eastern Wilds has been missing for a day and night. He didn't go to school today either. Elder Ling Ruo has sent us to search for him everywhere and asked us to inform you."
Zhao Shuning got out of bed.
As if remembering something, she slapped her forehead.
"It's all right. Tell them not to look anymore. I know where he is."
"Elder Luo?"
"Go back."
"Yes."
Zhao Shuning got up, freshened up briefly, grabbed a purple potato rice ball from behind, and headed towards the punishment chamber.
The purple potato rice ball was a specialty of the Eastern Wilds, and Zhao Shuning was quite fond of it.
When she reached the punishment chamber, it was pitch - black inside.
Zhao Shuning coughed first, then walked in.
As she entered, the area around the punishment chamber brightened up.
Ye Xuan was still standing there in the same position as yesterday.
The moment he saw Zhao Shuning, the emotions on his face could no longer be contained.
The punishment chamber was airtight and extremely private. No sound from inside could be heard outside.
"You, you're unworthy of being an elder!"
Zhao Shuning had intended to release Ye Xuan from the restriction, but seeing his expression of hatred, she stopped her hand.
Instead, she sat down on a chair.
"Why haven't you let me go yet?"
"Let you go so you can attack me?"
"You locked me up here first. You clearly said it would be for twelve hours, but most of the twelve hours have passed."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
"Yes, I know. That's why I've come to let you go."
"Then why don't you hurry up and release the restriction and let me out?"
"Now I've changed my mind. I'm not going to let you out."
Ye Xuan was stunned.
The young boy's face was full of questions and resentment. He almost gritted his teeth and asked, "Why?"
"Because you were rude."
"You were the one who violated the ethics of an elder first."
"Yes, I was."
Ye Xuan looked at the woman opposite him.
How could she be so matter - of - fact?
"If you did something wrong, why can't I say it?"
"Of course you can. I'm not stopping you. You've said it, and I haven't blamed you."
"Then why don't you release the restriction for me?"
"I'm not in a good mood. Is that okay?"
"You? You! You're the punishment elder. How can you be so shameless and act like a rogue?"
Zhao Shuning placed the purple potato rice ball on the table.
She nodded and said nonchalantly, "I'm just that unreasonable. I've never considered myself a gentleman. Besides, as you said, I'm not much older than you. Don't try to morally blackmail me, because I—have no morals."
Ye Xuan was truly convinced.
For so long, this Elder Luo opposite him was the first person who had made him so angry that he was about to spit blood, yet he was completely helpless.
He couldn't beat her, and he couldn't argue with her either.
Ye Xuan's legs and feet had lost all sensation.
He had no choice but to plead, "Elder Luo, I was wrong. Please release the restriction for me, okay?"
"What did you say?"
"I was wrong—"
"Pardon?"
"Sorry."
"That's right. You're a good boy. Good boy—"
Zhao Shuning snapped her fingers. The next moment, Ye Xuan could move his hands, but he couldn't move for a while because his whole body was numb.
This punishment was even more unbearable than being tied to a pillar and whipped severely.
It took Ye Xuan a long time to react.
Then, his legs could move.
The first thing he wanted to do was to attack Zhao Shuning by surprise.
However, just as his fist was about to touch Zhao Shuning, she handed the purple potato rice ball to him behind her.
"Have something to eat first."
"Purple potato rice ball?"
"Yes."
"You'll need the strength to fight me after you've eaten."
Ye Xuan was about to refuse, but his stomach growled.
"Eat. Your stomach is growling. It's food from your hometown. You should be used to it."
Ye Xuan took the purple potato rice ball and gobbled it up.
"Eat. After you've eaten, go back and rest. In the future, don't bully others just because of your status. Don't think you're invincible in this academy. Remember, there's always someone better."
After saying this, Zhao Shuning left.
After Ye Xuan finished eating, he quietly walked out of the punishment chamber.
Looking towards the Eastern Wilds, he wiped the corner of his eye. No one knew what was on his mind at that moment.
Zhao Shuning returned to her room.
She tried to contact Ye Feng but failed after multiple attempts.
She had no choice but to try to contact Ye Qingluan.
As soon as the image appeared, Ye Qingluan asked, "Yan'er, what's up?"
"Mother, I have a question for you."
"What is it?"
Zhao Shuning thought for a while and then said, "I want to know how much you know about Grandfather. Or, when you were young, did you see any women around Grandfather?"
Ye Qingluan thought carefully for a while and then shook her head.
Zhao Shuning added, "Mother, think carefully."
"Really not. Yan'er, don't you know what kind of person your grandfather is? What exactly are you trying to ask?"
Zhao Shuning sighed.
She said, "Mother, do you know Gu Qingqing?"
Ye Qingluan was stunned first and then replied, "You already know?"
Could it be that things were really as she had suspected?
"Mother, could you please tell me everything you know about the relationship between Gu Qingqing and Grandfather? Is there really a story between them?"
Ye Qingluan frowned slightly.
"What story?"
"Doesn't Gu Qingqing have a—story with Grandfather?"
Ye Qingluan now understood what Zhao Shuning meant.
She quickly said, "You silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"Mother?"
"Gu Qingqing is my older sister. Nominally, she's also your aunt."
Aunt?
This sudden turn of events left Zhao Shuning stunned on the spot.
She then remembered what Xia Qingyan had said to Xia Yan. He had said that Mother had never wronged Xia Yan.
Could there be a hidden truth behind this, apart from what Xia Yan had said?