On the five newly added desks, writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and textbooks for studying were laid out.
Ye Jinghe was the youngest and had never attended school before, so there was only one copy of the Three Character Classic on his desk.
As for the four companions, they had several stacks of books on their desks, just like Ye Jingchen's desk. From the Three Character Classic to the Hundred Family Surnames, the Thousand Character Classic, the Standards for Being a Good Student and Child, the Analects, the Book of Rites, the Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents, the Book of Changes, and the Classic of Filial Piety, all the enlightenment books that Ye Jingchen knew were here.
There were also some classics, historical texts, philosophical works, and literary collections, which Ye Jingchen had only heard of but never read, covering various aspects.
Ye Jingchen just glanced at the titles of those books and saw how thick they were, and he wanted to die.
Moreover, Ye Jingchen had to face the problem he least wanted to face after transmigrating into the book.
He asked Fangfei very sincerely, "Where have I learned in my studies?"
Fangfei: ...
"After falling into the water, I had a high fever again, so there are some things I don't remember very clearly," Ye Jingchen said without changing his expression.
Fangfei stared at him for a long time, then took out the Analects, the Book of Rites, the Book of Poetry, the Book of Changes, and the Classic of Filial Piety in turn, opened different pages, and spread them out in front of Ye Jingchen.
Ye Jingchen: ...
I can overlook the Analects and the Book of Poetry; I studied and read quite a bit of them when I was young, so I'm at least familiar with their writing style. But as for the Book of Rites, the Classic of Filial Piety, and the Book of Changes, I'd say I know very little about them, if not completely.
That's why he hates reading.
Fortunately, he now has four study companions. Their learning progress is definitely different from his, especially Xie Chang'an, who is only six years old and in poor health, so he probably hasn't learned much. When the time comes, he can ask the teacher to start from the progress of the study companion who has learned the least, so that he can review what he has learned and learn something new.
Ye Jingchen was making all sorts of plans in his mind, unaware that when the emperor was finding him a study companion, he had already revealed his learning progress to the various ministers. Even if there were some who were learning slower than him, after these few days of tutoring, they had all caught up with him.
As for Xie Chang'an, he was reborn. He had already finished learning all the books in his previous life. Even if he were to start over now, his memories of books would still be there. So, it wouldn't matter where he learned from.
Chongzheng Hall.
After the emperor finished his morning court session and had his breakfast, the four ministers were already waiting for him in the Chongzheng Hall with their children.
Every official who entered Chongzheng Hall would inevitably see the peony flowers displayed in the most conspicuous position. The emerald green leaves, even after being separated from the branches for several days, remained lush and vibrant under the meticulous care of Eunuch Zhang Shunde.
The Minister of Rites, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and the Marquis of Zhongyong were frequent visitors to the Chongzheng Hall and had seen this peony before. However, they had to pretend to be very curious and gather around the peony, commenting on it and praising it in various ways.
If they weren't facing the flowers, they would have to face the old matriarch of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Even the oldest Imperial Academy Chancellor was a generation younger than the Dowager Empress, and his official rank and position were all below hers. He had to treat her with the respect due to a junior and be extremely deferential, daring not to offend her in the slightest.
This is not just because the old lady was old or had a high rank, but because when she was young, she was a legendary figure who could fight on the battlefield and turn the tide of battle.
They would glance at the flowers for a while, and then, thinking they were being discreet, stealthily stealthily glance at the old lady sitting there, and Xie Chang'an standing obediently beside her.
Why is the old lady here? No one told them that the young master of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was also on the list of companions!
Fortunately, the emperor arrived soon, easing their awkwardness.
The old lady rose from her chair and, together with Xie Chang'an, paid her respects to the emperor.
The emperor could not possibly allow the old lady to kneel before him, so he rushed forward to help her up. As for the other three, they naturally had to perform the grand ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows in a proper manner.
The three children imitated their elders, and although their movements were clumsy, there was nothing wrong with them.
Only Xie Chang'an, his body wrapped in a black fox fur coat, was thin and small, his little face was deathly pale, and he looked like he had not recovered from a serious illness. His movements were also very slow. While the other children had already finished bowing and kowtowing three times, he had only kowtowed once.
This child looks just like Xie Shaoling!
The emperor felt quite uncomfortable seeing him bow to him.
The thought of Xie Shaoling returning to the capital soon made her feel even more choked up.
"Chang'an is not in good health, so there's no need for you to pay your respects. If you fall ill again, Chen'er will complain about me!" The emperor said with a forced smile as he lifted Xie Chang'an up.
This is Xie Shaoling's son!
After lifting the person up, he quickly let go and moved away from him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xie Chang'an said softly, then gave the emperor an embarrassed smile.
This smile doesn't resemble Xie Shaoling's at all; at least the emperor isn't so bothered by it anymore.
After the emperor sat down, he looked at all four children. In particular, when he saw that Xiao Yunshu was even more plump than he remembered, his displeasure at seeing Xie Chang'an vanished, and he revealed a very cheerful smile.
When Chen'er sees this chubby little boy, he will be very surprised and delighted. He can't wait to see him!
Although the emperor always joked that Ye Jingchen's selection of a study companion was like selecting a concubine, the emperor also knew that the study companion was no less important to the prince than the empress or concubine.
If any of these attendants are of ill intent and lead the crown prince astray, even if the emperor were to execute their entire clan afterward, it would still be difficult to quell his hatred.
That's why the emperor summoned these four families before going to the Wenhua Hall, and gave encouragement and admonitions to the four children and their elders.
Given that Ye Jingchen placed too much emphasis on appearance when choosing his study companions, which was suspected of being improper, the emperor further warned them that the crown prince was the heir apparent and of noble status, and they should maintain a certain distance from him.
Afterwards, the emperor, citing the need to handle state affairs, instructed Zhang Shunde to take them to the Eastern Palace to see the Crown Prince.
Meanwhile, Ye Jingchen was suffering terribly in the Eastern Palace.
He had always resisted studying, so he had forgotten to do his homework in this area. As a result, today when he chose his study companions, the Crown Prince's tutor, Grand Tutor, Junior Tutor, and Junior Guardian—all three dukes and three ministers—were present, along with six attendants and several lecturers. They all gathered at the Eastern Palace after the morning court session.
The key issue is that he doesn't recognize a single one of these huge crowds!
When the eunuch came in to announce the news, Ye Jingchen's face turned pale instantly.
"Please invite the teachers to take their seats in the main hall and serve tea. I will be there shortly."
After dismissing the eunuch, he said to Fangfei with a stern face, "After I had a high fever, I not only don't remember where I was in my studies, but I don't even remember my teachers."
He spoke without batting an eye, his tone confident and self-assured, making Fangfei's lips twitch.
"Your Highness, you said you had a fire, and you remember everything else except anything related to your studies?" Fangfei asked expressionlessly.
Her expression clearly said, "I don't believe you for a second!"
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