w, there's nothing wrong with him, he's just too eccentric. If he comes to endure hardship and hard work for a month, maybe he can curb his strange temper. 。That settled it. Mr. Zhou had other matter...President Zhou had known Mr. Guo for a while, after all, they both worked in academies. Before the capital was moved, the academy run by the Guo family was quite well-known.

For Guo's family's plight and the passing of Mr. Guo, Dean Zhou felt deep sympathy. He had always been kind to Guo Wenhao, a shy and introverted child, showing him special care.

At that moment, he smiled and took the juice, asking, "What good luck did you guys agree on when you were playing football under the scorching sun"

Guo Wenhao's eyes sparkled as he replied, "If the Fenglei team loses, we'll buy the Difeng team three days' worth of cold drinks. If Difeng loses, then we'll give the Fenglei team two Jade Cucumbers."

“Haha, you guys have big appetites!” Dr. Zhou couldn't help but laugh and replied, “Since I'm here, I’ll add some spice to the competition. The winning team will have a feast tonight, with eight dishes and a pot of wine!”

"Really" Guo Wenhao was delighted and quickly bent down to pay his respects. Then he ran quickly to report the good news to everyone.

The boys on the field had already seen the headmaster arrive, and hearing that there was going to be another feast as a celebration made them even more excited. They were shrieking and chasing after the ball, swinging their legs like wheels of fire, leaving sparks and streaks of light in their wake.

However, within two minutes, the outcome of the match was decided, with the Gale Force team winning a goal.

Mao Ge'er and Zhi Min, along with others, hugged each other tightly, jumping and shouting, as if they had won the entire world.

The boys from the Wind and Thunder team were quite gentlemanly, not one of them swearing or complaining. Instead, they jostled to drink water while reviewing the game, discussing which goals had been unfair.

The Dean sent a silver amulet to the Gale Squad, and Catboy held it in his hand and generously invited the opponents.

"Brothers, the dean's reward is quite generous, enough for two tables of wine and feast. Let's have a drink together tonight"

"Alright! We must get absolutely drunk!"

"Haha, there's wine to drink! That's righteous!"

"I have to eat a meal, I'm exhausted!"

The youngsters of the Wind Thunder Squad grinned broadly, responding with cheers and laughter, overjoyed.

Meowger then said, “I’ll have Zheng Qi go get some emerald gourd and put it in ice water later. We can eat it together tonight. But don't forget to buy us three days worth of iced drinks!”

"Haha, good brother! Don't worry, we said what we meant!" The disciples of the Fenglei team cheered. They lost the competition but still had jade melon and wine to enjoy. This day was perfect!

More than twenty boys, wearing their clothes haphazardly, bowed to Mr. Tong and Dean Zhou before heading off together to take a bath, shoulder to shoulder.

The students who came to watch the commotion gradually dispersed.

Of course, those who were served by maids and female servants in their master's household were the fastest runners.

Just now they were hiding behind the trees, blushing, but they had a good eye-full...

The Dean was in no hurry to leave, and he drank juice and ate jade melon with Mr. Tong.

After a long silence, gazing at the empty court, Dean Zhou let out a long sigh.

Starting tomorrow, the academy will be closed for seven days. When someone asked about it, they said that a test would be held after seven days, and those who failed would be expelled.

Closing the academy means that the entire institution is closed for intense study. Only people authorized to buy food are allowed in and out through the small door near the dining hall. No one else, including Dean Zhou, is permitted to enter or leave.

Of course, all the students' families are not allowed to visit either.

Mr. Cheng was taken aback for a moment, then his face broke into a smile. "Director, this is the right thing to do."

The director also smiled, “Previously, I was mistaken. The imperial court is dangerous, and this old scholar who only knows how to read would be left with nothing but bones if I got involved.”

"It's better to stay here at the academy, protecting this peace and watching over these children until they grow up safely."

Mr. Cheng was not eloquent and could only rise to his feet, bowing deeply...

During dinner time, two banquet tables were set up in the private rooms of the canteen, each with twelve boys, sitting a little cramped.

But young people, most like to be lively and crowded together, they feel closer that way.

Li Lao San knew his nephews won the game, and he was happy too.

Even if the head physician hadn't given him five taels of silver, he wouldn't have been stingy with the wine and food.

You know, these kids, regardless of their family background or how many years they spent studying at the academy, all have bright futures ahead of them after graduation.

All these are the connections of my nephews. They will have classmates wherever they go in the future, and things will surely go smoothly for them.

It's especially precious because we played football shirtless together, celebrated victories with drinks, and were like brothers!

The back kitchen also brought out their best dishes. Eight dishes were not only delicious in color, aroma, and taste but also served in large bowls, for fear that the boys wouldn't have enough to eat.

Not only that, but Li Lao San also specially sent a food box to the Zhou family, giving the director a plate of "Carp Leaping over the Dragon Gate" and a plate of "Golden Jade Full Hall," making Director Zhou unable to resist drinking two cups of wine...

Without mentioning how lively the academy was, let's return to Shoukang Palace. The Empress Dowager waited for two days, but the Noble Consort did not come to pay her respects.

Even the most foolish person probably knows something is wrong.

The Empress Dowager was so enraged that she nearly smashed all the porcelain in the house. As darkness fell, she could no longer contain herself and ordered the elderly eunuch to leave the palace through a secret passage.

Unfortunately, she didn't know that the passage had already been guarded by guards for many days...

All night long, the Empress stayed in the main hall, not closing her eyes for a moment.

She was betting, betting that the last hand wouldn't be discovered, betting she still had one more shot.

As a result, when the sky began to lighten with the first blush of dawn, the elderly eunuch had still not returned…

She could no longer hold it in, screaming and raging with fury, smashing anything she could get her hands on!

"I refuse to accept this! How, how is this possible!"

The movement inside the house woke up the eunuchs and maidservants guarding outside. Even with sleepy eyes, their first unconscious action was to kneel down quickly.

This is Shoukang Palace, the first rule for survival!

At this moment, the palace gate was suddenly thrown open and a hundred or so guards, armed with long swords, rushed in. They kicked and shoved people around, dislocating jaws and tying them up like dumplings.

Even the Empress Dowager wasn't spared; she barely had time to catch her breath before her hands were cut off.

She was furious, almost insane, and she shrieked, "Outrageous! You wretch, stop it! This imperial concubine demands to see the Emperor, bring him here, bring him here!"

Unfortunately, the guards didn't listen to her at all. They quickly bound her tightly, gagged her, and threw her onto the bed in the inner chamber before leaving...

And at this moment, the Emperor, having just woken up and donned his clean dragon robe, had received the final list from the elderly eunuch's confession.

He rarely showed such a smile, but now he beamed with satisfaction and said, “Good, I’ve finally found all the hidden dangers. When I expose them one by one, there will be no more turmoil in court. Then I can rest easy…”

Yi Zongtang bowed his head and knelt to put on the emperor's boots, as if he hadn't heard anything.

Look closely, and you'll see the complexity in his eyes.

Serving the Emperor for decades, nothing compares to the hardship of these past two months.

The dying emperor was like a wounded beast, wanting to crush all threats just so that in the future, his cubs could grow up safely and soundly...

At this time, let alone who harbors ill intentions, even those slightly involved are easily wiped out.

I thought today would be another day of bloodshed and chaos, but the Emperor ended up shelving the list. Then, he asked Yi the Steward, “What has the Third Princess been doing these past few days”d cowardly.Jia Yin stood beside her grandmother, looking pitifully at the carriage as it drove away. Her big eyes were filled with envy.Li Laotai turned back and saw her, immediately grabbing her gran...