Xie Chang'an gave Ye Jingchen a very innocent and pure smile.
Having been an emperor in his past life, Xie Chang'an could easily see through Ye Jingchen's ulterior motives. Ye Jing and that completely tamed little madman were willing to cooperate with him, but he was unwilling to let him have his way.
Beneath that harmless child's skin lies a soul just like his!
He will definitely make the other party reveal more flaws, and then uncover his true identity!
In this life, he must ensure the safety of his family and control or eliminate all uncertainties!
The old lady was unaware of the previous events, and since she had a very good impression of Ye Jingchen, she did not doubt his intentions at all. She said gratefully, "On behalf of Chang'an, I thank Your Highness for your consideration. Your Highness's studies are of utmost importance, and you must not let Chang'an delay your studies."
Ye Jingchen: ...
Why is it so hard for him to not want to study?!
After exchanging greetings, Ye Jingchen finally met his other three study companions.
Wu Zemin, the grandson of the Minister of Rites, is ten years old this year. He is the oldest among the students. His words and deeds are strict and polite, just like a little adult.
Gu Beichen, the grandson of the Imperial Academy Chancellor, is also eight years old this year. He is calm and composed when facing him.
This is a little genius. He loves reading and has become famous at a young age because of his extensive reading. He will surely achieve the highest honors in the imperial examinations and become famous throughout the world.
As for Yun Shu, the son of the Marquis of Zhongyong—
When Ye Jingchen saw the chubby boy in front of him, he was so surprised that he couldn't close his mouth.
The future heartthrob, Young Marquis Yun, will be known throughout the capital as a heartthrob. Was he actually a chubby little boy when he was a child?
Are you making fun of me for being fat?!
Yun Shu was all too familiar with the Crown Prince's expression; almost everyone who saw him wore the same look.
The crown prince's expression was particularly exaggerated.
Who isn't a pampered baby at home?
The young prince immediately forgot the earnest teachings of his elders and asked fiercely.
"Yun Shu, you must not be disrespectful to His Highness the Crown Prince!" Marquis Zhongyong hurriedly reprimanded.
Seeing Ye Jingchen's shocked expression, Xie Chang'an seemed to have something on his mind.
Yun Shu was famous for being chubby when he was a child, but the Crown Prince didn't know that, which means that he was not a member of the royal family or a noble family in his previous life.
"I didn't mean to mock the young prince. I envy him! You must eat very well to have such a generous allowance. Your elders must like you very much, right?" Ye Jingchen suppressed his surprise and replaced it with admiration and envy.
"How do you know I'm eating well? And how do you know my family likes me?" Yun Shu asked in confusion, momentarily forgetting her anger.
"Because I am also favored by Father Emperor, I am a little chubby." Ye Jingchen stretched out his chubby paws to show him.
"What's this? You're nowhere near as good as me!" Yun Shu proudly stretched out her paw, which was almost twice the size of Ye Jingchen's paw.
“Indeed…” Ye Jingchen silently withdrew his hand.
No comparison! No comparison!
But will this chubby and silly Yun Shu really be the heart thief who will one day captivate countless young women in the capital and make them want to marry no one but her?
"Ahem! Yun Shu, you mustn't be so disrespectful in front of His Highness!" The Marquis of Zhongyong's old face turned bright red as he began to wonder if his family should have allowed Yun Shu to come to the palace to be the Crown Prince's study companion.
The position of the Crown Prince's companion is certainly an honor, but won't their silly son be completely controlled by the Crown Prince in the palace?
Once the child is sent to the Eastern Palace, the parents should take their leave, a situation that brings joy to some and sorrow to others.
Of course, only the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor was troubled.
The other three families, especially the old lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, were quite satisfied with His Highness the Crown Prince. Her kind attitude amazed everyone present who knew the old lady's past temperament.
After seeing off the parents and the three public servants and three orphans, Ye Jingchen immediately straightened his back.
"Although I have chosen you to be my study companions, I am not a tyrant. Your own wishes are also important. Consider today a trial period. If you do not wish to be my study companions after today's lessons, inform me tomorrow. I will then inform my father and remove you from your study companion status without punishing your families." He said sincerely to the four children.
The reason they didn't choose to say it in front of their parents was naturally because the identity of 'the prince's companion' was too tempting, and their family would not give it up easily.
Saying it to their faces will not only fail to achieve the desired effect, but may even backfire and make them overthink.
Ye Jingchen only wanted to say these words to these children.
He personally selected them, so naturally he wouldn't give up easily!
He asked this question simply to leave a good first impression on his study companions.
In fact, apart from Xie Chang'an, whom he personally invited, the other children could not decide whether or not to become his study companions.
He seemed to be giving them the power of choice, but in reality, it was just empty talk.
However, in this era of absolute imperial power, his respect would seem all the more precious.
As expected, Wu Zemin and Gu Beichen were both moved, while Yun Xiaopangzi looked delighted, clearly not wanting to be a study companion. As for Xie Chang'an, his expression was calm, and Ye Jingchen couldn't discern anything from his face.
It can only be said that he truly deserves to be the male protagonist of the novel; he has been different from ordinary people since childhood and doesn't seem like a six-year-old child at all.
Having finished speaking, Ye Jingchen signaled to the attendant that the lesson could begin.
Today is the first lesson after the Crown Prince selected his study companions. To show that it is important, the teacher is Qin Feng, the third-ranked scholar in the previous imperial examination.
Being chosen as the third-ranked scholar, Qin Feng's appearance was naturally outstanding, with striking eyebrows and sharp eyes, and a very handsome appearance.
However, after serving as the Crown Prince's tutor for three years, the carefree and unrestrained spirit he once had—"riding on the spring breeze, galloping swiftly, seeing all the flowers of Shengjing in a single day"—was worn away, leaving him only with a serious and unsmiling demeanor.
"This lesson will be on the Analects. Your Highness previously studied the Yan Yuan chapter of the Analects, and we will continue today."
"Sir—don't you need to ask Young Master Xie and the others where they are in their studies?" Ye Jingchen raised his hand to ask.
After asking the question, he looked at Xie Chang'an and Yun Shu with anticipation.
As for Wu Zemin and Gu Beichen, there's no point in relying on them. One is two years older than the original owner, and the other is famous. They might have already finished studying the Analects.
Only Yun Shu and Xie Chang'an, both younger than him and pampered at home, and Xie Chang'an in poor health, shouldn't be able to learn so quickly.
Unexpectedly—
"I've finished learning," Xie Chang'an said casually.
“I finished learning this lesson yesterday, and today is a good day to review it—to learn something new from what I’ve learned!” Yun Shu said excitedly.
After saying that, she gave Ye Jingchen a smug look.
It's not hard to imagine that the phrase "reviewing the old to learn the new" must have been something his family specifically taught him.
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