The next day.
Before dawn, Ye Jingchen was woken up by Fangfei's persistent waking.
Because he got up so early, Ye Jingchen's low mood persisted until he reached the Wenhua Hall.
Faced with Ye Jingchen like this, even Ye Jinghe silently distanced himself from him.
My brother's illness is terrifying, even more so than when he goes crazy!
Wu Zemin and Gu Beichen arrived even earlier than Ye Jingchen. When Ye Jingchen arrived, they were already sitting at the desk reading.
Despite his young age, his back was ramrod straight, his hair was perfectly styled, and his clothes were without a single wrinkle. If it weren't for the occasional flipping through a book, he would have looked just like two statues.
This is probably what a typical heir from a prestigious family should look like.
He just doesn't act like a child.
Upon seeing him, Wu Zemin and Gu Beichen stood up to greet him, and Ye Jingchen returned the greeting solemnly. Afterward, they each sat down and began reading their respective books.
A moment later, Yun Shu came running in, panting, afraid of being late.
But Xie Chang'an, who entered shortly after him, remained calm and composed.
As the saying goes, "Read a book a hundred times and its meaning will become clear," and "Reviewing the old and learning the new, one can become a teacher!" When it's time for morning reading, a lecturer leads everyone in reading.
I studied the Analects yesterday, and I'm reading it again today.
The lecturer did not use a book, but led the reading based on his memory.
He read very attentively and was completely absorbed in it, his voice rising and falling with intonation, and he swayed his head.
Several children followed along with him as he read, and soon Wu Zemin and Gu Beichen also began to sway their heads and immerse themselves in the reading.
Yun Shu didn't sway along because he was yawning while reading, clearly indicating he hadn't slept well.
As for Xie Chang'an, he was completely unaffected by the lecturer. Although his lips were moving, Ye Jingchen didn't hear his voice at all.
Ye Jingchen read along for a few sentences, but no matter how the lecturer shook his head, how he spoke in a rhythmic voice, or how Yun Xiaopang yawned incessantly, it was all too hypnotic for him. Before long, his eyes were starting to close, and his head was nodding off.
There were only six students in the Wenhua Hall. Ye Jinghe also had a separate teacher who taught him to recite the Three Character Classic. The lecturer leading the reading soon noticed that Ye Jingchen was dozing off.
However, this was not the first time His Highness the Crown Prince had dozed off. In the past, when it was time for morning reading, the Crown Prince would either not come at all, or even if he did, he would be fast asleep. If anyone woke him up, he would get angry. Over time, the lecturers simply turned a blind eye.
In any case, when the Crown Prince is reading aloud, His Majesty is also holding the morning court session and it is impossible for him to appear in the Wenhua Hall. So as long as they don't say anything and the people in the Eastern Palace don't say anything, His Majesty will never know these things.
The same thing happened this time; the lecturer only paused for a moment before continuing to recite his book.
Morning reading is a way for students to review what they've learned and gain new knowledge, and isn't it the same for him?
Wu Zemin and Gu Beichen were so engrossed in their studies that they paid no attention to what was happening around them. Yun Shu was in a similar state to Ye Jingchen; she couldn't even open her eyes, so she naturally wouldn't notice that Ye Jingchen in front of her had already gone to sleep.
Only Xie Chang'an noticed it the moment Ye Jingchen started pecking at rice like a chick.
Seeing Ye Jingchen dozing off without any restraint, Xie Chang'an was very annoyed.
Because of his job as a tutor, he had to get up before dawn every day to rush to the palace, and he never dozed off. So why should Ye Jingchen doze off?
Without making a sound, he took out a gold bean from the pouch at his waist, flicked it with his finger, and smashed it into the back of Ye Jingchen's neck.
His aim was excellent, and the golden bean hit the target precisely. However, whether it was because his force was too light, the other party was sleeping too soundly, or Ye Jingchen's neck was too thick, he didn't react at all when hit by the golden bean.
Xie Chang'an refused to believe it and flicked another golden bean at the same spot.
This time, Ye Jingchen reacted, but he only touched the spot on the back of his neck where he had been hit, and then continued pecking at rice like a chicken.
Xie Chang'an persisted and smashed the same spot a third time, this time with even more force.
"Who hit me?!" Ye Jingchen roared, slamming his fist on the table as he stood up.
The reading aloud stopped abruptly, and everyone looked at him.
Ye Jingchen glanced at the four children behind him and immediately identified the perpetrator.
"Young Master Xie, it's one thing for you not to study properly, but why are you disturbing my studies?" Ye Jingchen asked righteously, as if he wasn't the one who had just fallen asleep.
Xie Chang'an particularly admired his shamelessness.
"Your Highness, don't you have eyes in the back of your head? Why are you so sure it's me?" he asked calmly.
"When I turned around, I saw the wicked smile on your lips. Who else could it be but you?" Ye Jingchen said with absolute certainty.
He did notice the wicked smile on Xie Chang'an's lips, but his certainty wasn't solely based on that smile.
In this era of social hierarchy, given his status, even if the other three children saw him dozing off, they wouldn't dare to throw things at him. Only Xie Chang'an, dressed in the skin of a six-year-old child, who knows what's inside?
Xie Chang'an stared at Ye Jingchen for a long time before suddenly saying, "Your Highness, there's drool at the corner of your mouth."
Was he drooling while dozing off?
Ye Jingchen subconsciously reached out to touch it, but as soon as his fingers moved, he realized that Xie Chang'an was bluffing him.
If he really drooled, it's impossible that he wouldn't have any recollection of it while he was dozing off.
He frowned. "Young Master Xie, did you get up too early and not sleep well? You're starting to talk nonsense."
"Alright—" Xie Chang'an was a little disappointed that he couldn't fool anyone, and pouted, "I was just bored, so I was playing with gold beans. I didn't expect to accidentally hit His Highness the Crown Prince. I'm sorry!"
He said it without any sincerity.
"Young Master Xie carries gold coins with him. Is the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion really that wealthy?" Ye Jingchen asked inquiringly.
"I don't have any gold beans at home. These were given to me by my great-uncle during the New Year. He's such a kind man, he gave me a huge handful!" Xie Chang'an said with a smile, then took out a lot more golden beans from his purse.
Ye Jingchen immediately understood the unspoken meaning behind his words.
Cousin uncle?
Who is Xie Chang'an's maternal uncle?
"Wow—who is your great-uncle? How come he's so rich?!" Yun Shu asked Ye Jingchen the question that was on his mind.
“They are my grandmother’s relatives. They are really rich. Their house is made of gold. Every time they see me, they give me lots of gold beans to play with!”
That's quite an exaggeration, isn't it?
Ye Jingchen's lips twitched. He was now certain that Xie Chang'an wanted to mess with his so-called maternal uncle.
With the golden beans right in front of her, Yun Shu had no doubt whatsoever. Her face was full of envy as she exclaimed, "If only I had such a rich and generous great-uncle!"
"Xie Chang'an, I really envy you!"
"Then I'll give you a few gold beans to play with. Anyway, I have plenty of these. If I run out, I can ask my great-uncle for more!" Xie Chang'an said, handing the gold beans in his hand to Yun Shu.
Ye Jingchen: ...
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