The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Chapter 21

Zong Wenxiu instinctively looked at his younger brother.

Oh no...

It seems I'm going to break my promise to my brother.

The "Meng Qiu" is a text of only 2,384 characters, yet it contains around six hundred historical anecdotes from the Spring and Autumn period to the Southern and Northern Dynasties, covering politics, military, culture, art, divination, customs, and more.

If he were to memorize it like Zong Jincheng, doing it in a month would be no problem. However, the issue is that Madam Xu said she would test him, and it certainly wouldn't be a simple quiz.

His mother once mentioned that Madam Xu is the eldest daughter of the Ministry of Justice's Minister, raised in a strict household, and well-read. If she intends to test him, he definitely can't try to bluff his way through like his brother.

"Yes, Madam Xu, Wenxiu will study diligently," the young boy said humbly, looking very obedient.

Zong Jincheng immediately exploded.

He complained loudly, "That's unfair! He's always learning new things; how can I ever catch up with his pace? This is simply unreasonable!"

He was already behind by over a hundred books, and now there's another one he's never even heard of, "Meng Qiu." He felt even more exhausted just thinking about it.

Xu Wan calmly said, "It's only fair that he studies while you do. Do you think you're playing a game of 'carving a boat to find a lost sword'?"

Zong Jincheng didn't understand what she meant by "carving a boat to find a lost sword," but he guessed it wasn't a compliment. He glared at her with his round, flushed face.

Xu Wan: "..."

This little hothead's face is as red as a branding iron.

However, Xu Wan didn't want to push him too far. She turned around and said, "Besides 'Meng Qiu,' as long as you can keep up with Wenxiu's progress, our agreement still stands."

She didn't want this little troublemaker to keep coming up with schemes every day.

After Xu Wan said this, the tense atmosphere eased, and the little troublemaker stopped his antics. As he watched her leaving back, he still felt a bit of anger lingering. He waved his hand at her back, as if trying to scratch her from afar.

He looked like he wanted to claw her to death from a distance.

Zong Wenxiu, who had been observing the exchange between the two, saw his brother flailing his arms at Madam Xu's back like a little lobster waving its claws. He found it both amusing and helpless.

He quickly stepped in to mediate, soothingly saying, "Alright, alright, Madam Xu is actually very kind. Don't be angry. I'll read with you."

The little troublemaker, still full of resentment towards Xu Wan, looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Do you like that woman?"

"Hmm?"

Zong Wenxiu was stunned for a moment. He was about to nod, but seeing his brother's face filled with a threatening "If you say yes, I'll kill you," he swallowed hard and said, "Maybe it's because I haven't met many people, but Madam Xu is the kindest person to me besides my mother... Oh, and also besides you."

Luckily, Zong Wenxiu managed to add that last part in time, or the little troublemaker would have started another tantrum. He pouted and grumbled, "She's not a good person. You should stay away from her."

Zong Wenxiu forced a smile and agreed half-heartedly, "Mmm..."

After saying that, Zong Jincheng lay down again, closed his eyes, and instructed Shunzi to read aloud, resuming his lazy memorization method.

Zong Wenxiu could only sigh silently and shake his head in helplessness.

Time passed quickly. Xu Wan knew the two were studying hard and wisely refrained from disturbing them. It was rare for the little troublemaker to stay home for a whole month, almost like a completely different person.

On the day of the examination, Xu Wan came to observe.

Seeing the little troublemaker seriously studying, even Baili Xi, the teacher, couldn't help but admire him: "Jincheng, though a bit mischievous, is not entirely hopeless. Alright, today I'll test you with something simple. Write out the 'Thousand Character Classic' from memory."

Xu Wan swore she hadn't coordinated with Baili Xi. The teacher didn't know that the little troublemaker could only recite but not read or write.

She had thought that if the boy could obediently memorize the text, she could compromise and return his servants and money, ending the feud between them.

But now...

Baili Xi probably thought writing the "Thousand Character Classic" was an easy task, but for the little troublemaker, even memorizing the "Strategies of the Warring States" would be easier.

She glanced at the boy, wondering if she should step in to help, but then thought it might be better for him to suffer a setback under the teacher's hands, which could motivate him to study harder.

When Zong Jincheng heard the question, he looked at Xu Wan and saw her waiting to see his failure.

Hmph, bad woman.

Do you think you're so smart?

Today, I'm going to turn the tables!

Shunzi, following Baili Xi's instructions, placed the inkstone, brush, ink, and paper on the table. He opened the inkstone and was about to grind the ink as usual when he noticed a momentary reflection of light in the water. When he looked again, it seemed like he had just imagined it.

He rubbed his eyes and continued grinding the ink.

The little troublemaker sat calmly at his desk, while Zong Wenxiu, beside him, looked more anxious than the one being tested.

It felt like an eternity as the ink was being ground.

Even Baili Xi couldn't help but yawn: "Is the ink ready?"

"Yes, it's ready," Shunzi replied and stepped aside.

The little troublemaker confidently picked up the brush, dipped it in the ink, and began writing on the paper. However, each stroke came out blurry, and some characters even seemed to disappear.

Shunzi was puzzled.

"This... why are the characters like this?" Could it be that he didn't grind the ink properly?

Baili Xi also came down and saw Zong Jincheng innocently lifting his brush, saying sincerely, "Teacher, it seems we bought a fake inkstone."

The little troublemaker's face was always very convincing. When he wasn't angry, he looked innocent and charming, even when not smiling.

Baili Xi, who had witnessed his mischief during the first few days but now observed his obedient change, wouldn't hold a grudge.

The old man looked at him now and thought of his talented student, Zong Zhao. He just smiled kindly and said, "Then recite it instead. We'll try writing again another day."

Xu Wan: "..."

Teacher, you're so easily fooled. What blinded your eyes?

Was it the lingering teacher-student love from the previous generation?

Zong Jincheng stood up to thank him and then began to shake his head and sway his head while reciting the "Thousand Character Classic." As Baili Xi's smile grew more satisfied, he even volunteered to recite a few pages of the "Strategies of the Warring States" to see if he had memorized them correctly.

Xu Wan: "???"

How did this kid's emotional intelligence suddenly spike?

He even knew how to turn passive into active, guiding Baili Xi to follow his train of thought. Anyone unaware of the situation would surely praise him for his hard work and progress!

Indeed, Baili Xi's admiration was impossible to hide.

That's right! This is it!

This is the son of Zong Zhao!

The next great scholar of the capital!