33. To become a cold and ruthless learning puppet.

Wei Xiuming stood with his hands behind his back, looking at his son's expression, and his lips twitched involuntarily: "...Huh?"

“That’s right!” The young prince nodded mechanically, his movements as stiff as a real puppet. “Your subject has severed all feelings and love, and my heart is as still as water. From now on, I will only know how to study and practice writing, and will no longer be troubled by matters of the heart!”

As he spoke, he even made a standard cupped-hand salute.

...As a result, because his movements were too stiff, he almost tripped over himself.

Wei Xiuming quickly reached out to support him, but his son sternly pushed him away: "Father, please have some self-respect. A puppet doesn't need to be helped. Even if you regret it, I won't change my mind! You all forced me to do this!"

Wei Xiuming couldn't hold back any longer.

"This doll..." Wei Xiuming coughed lightly to suppress his laughter, "Can it eat?"

"meeting!"

"Can you play?"

"No way!" the young prince declared firmly. "Puppets only know how to study!"

"Could it be..." Wei Xiuming suddenly reached out and scratched him, "that you're ticklish?"

"Hahaha... Stop..." The little prince instantly broke down, stomping his feet with laughter. "Father, you've cheated! You promised a puppet... Hahaha... You can't do this..."

Seeing his son laughing so hard he was doubled over, Wei Xiuming finally couldn't help but laugh out loud: "I think the mechanism of this puppet is not very secure."

The young prince quickly straightened his face, but his rosy cheeks and teary-eyed laughter betrayed him completely: "Your Majesty, this...this is a malfunction of the puppet!"

Wei Xiuming shook his head, then took the little prince's hand and slowly walked into the Wenhua Hall. The little prince had a stern face, but his heart was in turmoil.

The emperor himself escorted him back...

Hmph, they must be regretting it!

He secretly glanced at his father's profile.

Unfortunately, it's too late. He's now a cold and ruthless learning puppet!

-

Inside the Wenhua Hall.

The young prince had disappeared, and everyone was getting anxious. But when they looked up, they saw Wei Xiuming leading the young prince in.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Everyone hurriedly bowed.

Qu Zijin was about to step forward to explain what had happened and why the little prince had run away and hidden.

Wei Xiuming raised his hand to stop him: "My dear minister, there is no need to say more. I already know."

He patted Qu Zijin on the shoulder: "These two unruly fellows, I'm so grateful for your guidance."

Actually, he was quite pleased.

Qu Zijin actually persevered.

He thought he would run away in a few days.

After all, Qu Zijin looked like he would be so angry at his two sons that he would faint, and then come to him in a state of grief and indignation to hand over his resignation—and that was indeed the case.

However, Jin Lanyue stopped her at the time.

Qu Zijin took pity on her and stayed, and as she taught, she got used to it.

Now, Qu Zijin looked ashamed and said, "This humble subject is ashamed..."

"My dear minister, there's no need for such modesty," Wei Xiuming said with a smile. "You deserve much credit for keeping these two troublemakers in check."

The little princess stood to the side with a pout, but after being glanced at by Wei Xiuming, she immediately lowered her head obediently.

The young prince stood up straight, trying his best to maintain a cool expression.

Jin Lanyue huddled in the corner, not daring to breathe.

She was still a little scared.

Suddenly, Wei Xiuming's gaze fell on her, and he beckoned to her with a kind smile: "Little Tu... Princess Fukang, come here, let me hug you."

The little dumpling trembled with fright and cautiously moved over.

Wei Xiuming picked her up and pinched her cheek: "I heard you brought snacks for everyone? What a thoughtful and good child."

Seeing this, the young prince felt wronged.

Her father actually hugged her! But didn't comfort her at all!

This is outrageous! Who is the biological child?

"Um..." Jin Lanyue said timidly, "Everyone has..."

Wei Xiuming raised an eyebrow: "Oh? And what about mine?"

The little dumpling froze: "Uh... this..."

She really wasn't prepared!

The little dumpling panicked immediately: "Wait a minute..."

She fumbled in her pocket, finally pulling out a flattened walnut shortbread: "This, this is..."

Wei Xiuming took the pastry and took a bite: "Hmm, not bad. Remember to bring me one next time too."

The little dumpling stared at him blankly: "...Okay."

"Alright." Wei Xiuming put Jin Lanyue down and straightened his sleeves. "I still have official business to attend to."

He glanced at Qu Zijin and encouraged him, "I entrust these two children to you, my dear minister. I have faith in your abilities; you are sure you can handle these two troublemakers."

Qu Zijin really wanted to say that it probably wouldn't work.

But faced with the emperor's encouraging gaze, he forced a nod and said with difficulty, "...Okay."

Once Wei Xiuming had gone far away, the hall erupted in chaos.

The princess grabbed the little prince by the collar: "It's all your fault! Why were you running around like that?!"

"Let go! Let go! How dare you! Do you think I'm still the child I used to be? I am now—"

"What is it?" The princess squinted.

The young prince opened his mouth, then suddenly deflated: "...Never mind."

He thought angrily, "There's no point in explaining this to a little brat."

The five-year-old prince firmly believed that he was no longer the naive child he once was! He had experienced hardships, matured, and grown up.

From now on, he will study with all his might and amaze everyone!

Once they discover that he has become cold and heartless, and only knows how to study, they will definitely regret it, and they will definitely cry and beg him to return to his innocent and lovely self.

But it was too late! He wouldn't be going back!

"Don't daydream." A sweet, childlike voice brought him back to his senses. The little prince stopped his reverie and looked down to see Jin Lanyue tugging at his clothes.

“The tutor has already said three times that class is starting. The little princess is already seated, and we’re just waiting for you!” the little dumpling said.

The young prince was taken aback. Upon closer inspection, he found Qu Zijin sitting upright, staring at him. The little princess was also sitting very straight, and when she saw him looking over, she made a face.

The young prince blushed.

He was so engrossed in his fantasy that he didn't hear anything.

Jin Lanyue had already run back to her seat and sat down, and the little prince also sat down awkwardly with his head down.

Qu Zijin sighed, picked up the book, and began to explain the Analects.

The summer weather was a bit hot, and the cicadas were chirping incessantly.

Listening to the tutor's explanation, the three little ones were all a bit drowsy.

Jin Lanyue sat on the futon, her eyelids drooping little by little, then suddenly opening wide, trying hard not to fall asleep.

She would steal glances at the young prince beside her from time to time.

He had a serious expression on his face, his back was ramrod straight, and his eyes were fixed straight ahead, so much so that he didn't even notice that he was holding the book upside down.

"Your Highness," Qu Zijin suddenly called out, "What's the next line after 'A gentleman is open and honest'?"

The young prince snapped back to reality and hurriedly stood up: "Uh... this... that..."

He stammered, his fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes.

Jin Lanyue quietly tugged at his sleeve and whispered a reminder: "You're always so worried..."

“Little, little people are always worried!” the little prince repeated like a parrot.

Qu Zijin gave him a meaningful look, and surprisingly did not pursue the matter: "Sit down and listen attentively."

The young prince sat down stiffly, but his mind was in turmoil.

Damn it! His persona!

He gripped the pages of the book tightly.

How could a cold-blooded, bookish doll be reminded by a child even younger than himself just because he couldn't answer a question in class?

The young prince was very embarrassed and annoyed.

Jin Lanyue, who was standing to the side, glanced at him again.

Strange, why is the little prince spacing out again?