Chapter One, Two, and Three: First Encounter with the Great Sycophant

Qu Renbin felt quite awkward for a moment, but after catching a glimpse of Kou Peihan, his expression softened and he offered a gentle smile. "You little rascal, hmph!"

Kou Peihan gave him a playful grin, and Qu Renbin felt not the slightest bit of resentment. He only felt a quiet pang of regret; if he could truly have taken a student like Zhou Zhi, it would have been a crowning fulfillment of his twilight years. But, alas! With this mischievous girl involved, his long-cherished wish would remain unfulfilled.

Chen Guangyao was already stunned. He had never imagined that Kou Peihan would urge Zhou Zhi to become his disciple. As the county magistrate, although he held the degree of *jinshi*, he did not lecture or take on formal students. According to the customs of the Great Ming at that time, any scholar in Qingdu County who passed the *xiucai* examination was considered a student of Magistrate Chen Guangyao, but that relationship was merely nominal.

For someone like Zhou Zhi, a commoner with no official status, to ask to become his disciple put Chen Guangyao in a difficult position. He was troubled because since Kou Peihan had spoken up, it was hard for him to refuse.

Zhou Zhi also felt it was inappropriate to ask to become the magistrate's student directly, but since Kou Peihan had initiated it—and Zhou Zhi had already noticed the close relationship between the magistrate and her—he thought to himself, "So what if it's inappropriate? To truly become the magistrate's student would be a tremendous surprise and a great honor for me."

With this thought, Zhou Zhi obediently performed the formal kowtow ceremony to become a disciple. He hadn't knelt for the magistrate earlier, but this time, he knelt firmly and sincerely. This left Chen Guangyao in a bind, his face showing clear hesitation.

"Uncle Chen, are you unwilling to take Zhou Zhi as your student? You saw the essay he wrote earlier; Zhou Zhi is exceptionally brilliant. Uncle Chen, it’s not for me to criticize, but in my view, taking Zhou Zhi as your student is your honor! His future achievements will surely far surpass those of a lowly seventh-rank official like you," Kou Peihan said, her little mouth moving as she kept a straight, pretty face.

Hearing such praise from Kou Peihan, Zhou Zhi’s heart blossomed with joy, and he was overwhelmed with delight.

"Oh, Han, sigh..." Chen Guangyao said helplessly. He then turned to Zhou Zhi and said, "Get up, Zhou Zhi. I accept you as my student!"

"This humble one thanks the Magistrate! I thank my teacher!" Zhou Zhi, overjoyed, said in a clear voice.

How could Zhou Zhi not be happy? This trip to Qingdu County had been incredibly fruitful. A country boy had, in one step, become the student of the county magistrate. This meant that in next year’s preliminary examinations, the first hurdle—the county test—was guaranteed to be passed. After all, if the magistrate’s own student couldn't pass an exam set by the magistrate himself, where would the magistrate’s face be?

After rising, Zhou Zhi stood with his head bowed in respect. Chen Guangyao examined him from head to toe once more and nodded with satisfaction. He then turned to Qu Renbin and said, "Teacher, although I have accepted Zhou Zhi as my student, I have no time to tutor or guide him. I must ask you to put forth the effort to mentor him!"

Qu Renbin smiled. "I am well aware, haha! Since Zhou Zhi is now your student, I will pass on everything I have learned to him."

Qu Renbin and Chen Guangyao were as close as father and son, so it was only natural for him to agree. Zhou Zhi hurriedly thanked Qu Renbin as well.

Qu Renbin said, "Zhou Zhi, starting tomorrow, you will stay at the County Academy. You are not an official student of the academy, but I will teach you whenever I have spare time. I have quite a collection of books in my study; I will make a list for you, and you must follow my instructions every day."

It felt as if a giant pie had fallen from the sky; it was sheer luck, and Zhou Zhi's heart was racing wildly. However, he was well aware that while everything had come easily, it was primarily thanks to Kou Peihan.

Zhou Zhi could not help but feel immense gratitude, looking at Kou Peihan with a burning gaze. Feeling his eyes upon her, Kou Peihan’s pretty face instantly flushed red, like the vibrant sunset glow—exceedingly beautiful and captivating.

It was clear to everyone that Kou Peihan, having reached the age of budding romance, had developed feelings for Zhou Zhi. Qu Renbin and Chen Guangyao exchanged a look, their eyes filled with regret. After all, Kou Peihan was a daughter of a prominent family, while Zhou Zhi was merely a poor boy from the countryside; they were not a match in social standing.

Yet, they knew her temperament well. It was impossible to dissuade her; when Kou Peihan was truly stubborn, even her father, Kou Dagang, was helpless.

Kou Dagang was the thousand-household officer at the Daomaguan Garrison. Chen Guangyao was a native of Tang County. Although Chen had grown up in poverty, he had studied diligently. After passing the *juren* examination, he had met Kou Dagang and they had become friends. Once Chen Guangyao became a *jinshi* and the magistrate of Qingdu, he naturally grew even closer to the Kou family. Despite the difference in their official ranks, they called each other brothers and became confidants.

It was because of this bond that Kou Peihan and her brother, Kou Tong, often came to play in Qingdu County. Kou Peihan was particularly favored by Chen Guangyao. As for Qu Renbin, he had a long-standing history with the Kou family as well. In his youth, Qu Renbin’s family was so poor that he lacked the travel expenses to return home after taking the imperial examinations. It was Kou Shen, Kou Peihan’s great-grandfather—who was an official in the capital at the time—who helped him out of regional solidarity, allowing him to return home. Later, Kou Shen helped Qu Renbin many more times, leaving him eternally grateful.

It was because of this debt of gratitude that Qu Renbin had always cherished the Kou family, and their relationship had remained steadfast over the years.

Chen Guangyao and Qu Renbin both realized simultaneously that Kou Peihan had snuck out. If Kou Dagang were to find out that she had developed romantic feelings for a country boy, he would surely blame the two of them for failing to stop it. Now, their only recourse was to turn Zhou Zhi into a highly learned scholar as quickly as possible, raising his status step by step so that perhaps, when the time came, Kou Dagang’s fury would be tempered.

Cheng Ke and his son, witnessing Zhou Zhi’s stroke of fortune in becoming Chen Guangyao’s student, were consumed with envy, jealousy, and hatred. They had intended to ruin Zhou Zhi’s prospects and humiliate him, but instead, they had ended up humiliated and disgraced themselves. With the status of the magistrate’s student, it would be much harder to target or deal with Zhou Zhi in the future.

However, both father and son were petty men who held grudges. They could not swallow this insult. Cheng Ke, in particular, was calculating and devious. He reasoned that even though Zhou Zhi had established a connection with the magistrate, there were things beyond the magistrate’s control. If the Cheng family were to join forces with the Chen family, along with the Taoist priest Li Shun whom the Chen family had invited... hmph! They would surely find a way to finish Zhou Zhi off.

Cheng Ke had already developed murderous intent. He swept a sinister look toward Zhou Zhi, then bowed to Magistrate Chen Guangyao. "Magistrate, Brother Qu, my son and I will take our leave now!"

Chen Guangyao had never liked Cheng Ke, but he had to maintain necessary appearances, as Cheng Ke was, after all, a *juren*. "Haha! Travel safely," Chen Guangyao said. He then turned to the brawny man behind him. "Jiang Bin, go and see them out!"

The brawny man grunted in acknowledgment and followed Cheng Ke and Cheng Dingbang out the door.

Zhou Zhi stood in a daze, wondering about the fierce-looking man. Jiang Bin? Could he be the notorious sycophant who would later serve the Zhengde Emperor?