Amidst the curling steam of the hot soup, Li Wanming's voice softened even more.
"Before he left, he told me, 'If a child is not educated, it's the father's fault; if the education is not strict, it's the teacher's negligence.' You're already twelve years old, yet you still haven't memorized even a single passage from *The Juvenile's Literary Garden* properly. This is not just your problem."
"He said that as the youngest in the family, it's only natural for the elders to dote on you more. But if this doting isn't kept in check, it turns into spoiling."
"However, you're also the second young master of the Prince Ning's Mansion. When you go out, all you see are people bowing and scraping, and all you hear are flatteries. Countless people indulge you, but no one is willing to give you a wake - up call and correct your behavior."
"Under such circumstances, if the elders at home keep protecting you blindly, it's inevitable that you'll become more and more unruly and less likely to reflect on yourself."
"Finally, he told me that this isn't your fault... or at least, not just your fault."
Xiao Jingbai was stunned.
He never expected that Pei Yanqi would speak up for him.
Moreover, every single word hit the nail on the head.
Since childhood, his father had been obsessed with flowers and plants and never cared about him. His mother was addicted to intrigue and power - grabbing. Although she doted on him, all she did was tell him to study hard and never bothered to listen to his innermost thoughts.
Over the years, his unruly and tyrannical behavior was perhaps due to his extreme loneliness...
"Did he really... say it wasn't my fault?" The young boy's voice was hoarse, and the end of his words drifted away in the night wind blowing through the corridor like a wisp of smoke.
Li Wanming picked up the freshly copied pages on his desk. The ink was still wet, and among the strokes that he had tried so hard to make horizontal and vertical were the tear stains that had dripped in the afternoon. Now, gilded by the candlelight, they were as bright as torches.
"Yes. Mr. Pei also said that you're very intelligent. As long as you're willing to study hard with him, you'll be able to pass the county examination and become a scholar in a year."
Xiao Jingbai suddenly looked up: "Really? Did Mr. Pei really say that?"
He was twelve years old this year, and he would only be thirteen next year... Passing the county examination and becoming a scholar at thirteen was no less than being a prodigy.
Li Wanming smiled faintly and placed the *The Juvenile's Literary Garden* that he used in class in front of him: "Do you know at what age your Mr. Pei passed the county examination and became a scholar?" She deliberately dragged out her words, blinked, and made a gesture: "Eight."
Xiao Jingbai's eyes widened suddenly.
Eight... That was truly a prodigy.
His gaze fell on the opened title page of *The Juvenile's Literary Garden*, where there were eight large characters written in elegant and refined calligraphy, which were undoubtedly Pei Yanqi's handwriting -
The young can be entrusted; the country can be at peace.
Xiao Jingbai's eyes instantly turned red.
Mr. Pei... actually had such high expectations for him.
Seeing his expression, Li Wanming knew it was about time - no more pushing, or the child would be overwhelmed.
She stood up, gently tapped Xiao Jingbai on the shoulder, and left the last words: "Mr. Pei is looking forward to having another number one scholar among his students."
After saying that, she left with her mission accomplished.
On the way back to Shiyong Residence, Chuntao couldn't help but ask: "Did Mr. Pei really say all those things?"
"Yes." Li Wanming said with a pained expression: "He nagged me to memorize them for quite a while and said I must recite them word - for - word. I even had to master the tone of my voice and the timing of taking out that book. Otherwise, it wouldn't work... I practiced for a long time at first!"
Chuntao nodded: "I knew it. How could the princess of the heir apparent say such moving words?"
Li Wanming gave her a sidelong glance: "What do you know! I'm a doer. Of course, I'm different from Pei Yanqi, who only knows how to talk! We each have our own specialties!"
...
After a day of tough love, Xiao Jingbai behaved much better.
The next evening, when Pei Yanqi stepped into the Prince Ning's Mansion again under the twilight, a warm yellow candlelight was already shining from the study in the Western Courtyard.
The young boy in front of the desk was dressed in a dark blue robe. The jade buttons on his collar were neatly fastened, and even the mutton - fat jade pendant around his waist hung right on the right side -
He was well - behaved and calm.
Seeing him come in, the young boy stood up and bowed: "Sir."
Pei Yanqi gave a soft grunt. His eyes swept over the neatly stacked paper notes on the boy's desk. He picked them up and flipped through them, then commented: "Although it's much better than at the beginning, your strokes still lack strength, and your wrist is too weak. Remember, writing is like wielding a sword. You need to make your strokes penetrate the paper while keeping your edge contained. You still need to practice hard."
The young boy lowered his eyes: "Yes."
Pei Yanqi put down the paper notes and walked to the desk to open the book: "Today, we're still studying *The Juvenile's Literary Garden*, Volume Two."
Xiao Jingbai quickly opened the book in front of him. The eight characters "The young can be entrusted; the country can be at peace" on the title page caught his eye, like a spark being ignited.
Suddenly, the evening wind blew outside the window, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus flowers through the corridor and dispelling some of the stuffiness in the room.
Finally, the sound of loud reading resounded in the study of the Western Courtyard.
The maids were amazed: "Look! Our second young master is actually studying!"
"Yes. Over the years, we've had so many teachers, but which time didn't end up in a mess? We've never seen our second young master actually sitting at the desk writing before!"
"The commotion yesterday was so intense that it scared me out of my wits! I didn't expect this gentle - looking teacher to be so strict. He actually dared to beat the young master..."
"You don't know! I heard that this teacher is a number one scholar and is in the good graces of both the emperor and the empress dowager! According to Sister Qinglan, not only is he qualified to teach our young master, but he's also qualified to teach the princes in the palace!"
"Really?" The maid who had spoken earlier covered her chest: "Mr. Pei is so amazing? No wonder he can tame the young master..."
"I think it's still the princess of the heir apparent who has a way. She even managed to invite a number one scholar!"
"Exactly. The second lady and the princess have been so angry and begged so many people about this matter, but nothing worked. The princess of the heir apparent has only been here for a few days, and she's already made our second young master behave so well..."
A cold female voice came from outside the door: "If you're so envious, maybe I should ask the second lady to transfer you to serve in the first branch!"
The young maids were instantly frightened into silence: "Granny Chen..."
"Go do your own things. What are you all standing here for!"
The young maids were scolded and quickly scattered.
Granny Chen tidied up her temples a bit and carried the food box in. A forced smile appeared on her face: "This old servant saw that you've been having class for so long. I was afraid that the teacher and the young master would be hungry, so I brought some snacks..."
As she said that, she was about to open the food box when she heard a "snap". A three - foot - long ebony ruler landed on her food box.
"I think I've said," Pei Yanqi's voice was as calm as a still well, "no idlers are allowed to disturb during class."
"This old servant is not an idler. I just saw that it's so late, and I was afraid that the young master would be hungry, so I brought some snacks for you to tide you over..."
"Granny Chen," Pei Yanqi suddenly said, "you've been in the mansion for a long time, haven't you? How come you don't even understand the principle that 'excellence in study is achieved through diligence, but destroyed by sloth'?"
"What...?" Granny Chen was stunned and was about to ask further, but Pei Yanqi used the ruler to pick up her food box and suddenly threw it out!