The recent trafficking incident had been surprisingly resolved, but few knew the full story. Li Sanlang told his grandfather about it, but his grandfather remained silent. Li Sanlang believed Xu Zhen's actions were heroic and deserved praise, so he went to the headmaster to share the news.
The headmaster, thinking Li Sanlang had been tricked by Xu Zhen, began considering how to reprimand her. However, when Ge Xier and other students also spoke up, hoping the headmaster would allow Xu Zhen to rest at home due to her injuries, the headmaster relented. Although still skeptical of Xu Zhen's deeds, he gave her three days off out of goodwill.
Xu Zhen was grateful, rushing to the door to express her thanks.
The headmaster sternly said, "Even on leave, you can't just do nothing!"
Xu Zhen's heart sank, "What else do I have to do?"
"Copy exam questions." The headmaster pulled out a blue-covered book from his robe, thicker than a normal textbook, handing it to Xu Zhen. "These are a hundred questions for the Emperor's exam. Since you have nothing else to do at home, copy them ten times."
Ten copies? That was excessive.
Xu Zhen wanted to negotiate, but before she could speak, the headmaster had already walked away, leaving her no choice but to tearfully promise to do her best.
Birds chirped overhead.
Looking up, Xu Zhen saw the sky was clear after the rain, a vast expanse of pale blue like a wide open sea, occasionally graced by black birds soaring and circling above.
Feeling invigorated and refreshed, she decided to set the exam booklet aside and go for a walk.
First, she went to Yunmo Workshop to buy some Xuan paper, then to the pharmacy for herbal medicine, eager to treat Little Beggar's injuries.
After brewing the medicine, Xu Zhen carried a bowl into the room, finding Xun Qianchun standing at the desk.
Worried about her hands, Xu Zhen asked, "What are you doing?"
Xun Qianchun turned to look at Xu Zhen, slowly replying, "Reading."
Xu Zhen crouched to place the medicine on a low table, asking, "Which book do you want? I'll get it for you."
"Zhuangzi," Xun Qianchun answered.
Noticing the book on a shelf, Xu Zhen fetched it, standing on tiptoes. Since Xun Qianchun's hands weren't well enough to turn pages, Xu Zhen sat on the bed with her, turning pages and reading aloud.
When she reached the passage, "Those who value their lives more than the world can be entrusted with the world; those who love themselves more than the world can be entrusted with the world," Xu Zhen thought Little Beggar, destined to be an empress, should learn more about governance.
She asked, "Do you understand this sentence?"
Xun Qianchun nodded.
"What does it mean?" Xu Zhen asked.
Xun Qianchun explained, "Those who value and love themselves more than the world can be entrusted with it."
