"Yes!" The little boy said in his childish voice, twirling his tiny fingers. "Brother Huchang said he can take me and Pang Tuantuan to school, and when the teacher comes to check our homework, I'll have Pang Tuantuan give him a warm welcome. The teacher will be very happy to see that!"
Huo Chengche narrowed his eyes, glanced at the little radish head, and finally lowered his gaze to the Duke of Zhongwu.
The fat old man felt a chill run down his spine, shrank his neck, gave an awkward smile, and lowered his head even further.
"Is there anything else?" Huo Chengche asked the little boy with his usual gentle smile, patiently guiding him.
"Yes! Brother Wenshan said that when we go to the palace to play, we can bring Pang Tuantuan along when we play the game of catching little fish. That way, we won't have to worry about not being able to catch the Fifth Prince who always cheats!"
"Is that so?" Huo Chengche smiled faintly, his voice carrying a sharp, cold edge that pierced straight towards the Duke of Zhongwu.
Duke Zhongwu wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground right now.
"These little brats, how could they have come up with such audacious ideas when I wasn't watching them for a moment! It's outrageous!"
The Duke of Zhongwu wiped away a cold sweat, met Huo Chengche's ambiguous smile, and immediately spoke with righteous indignation.
"Hmm," Huo Chengche said coolly, a slight smile playing on his lips. "It is quite excessive, but Uncle, these little ones are right under your nose, how did they come up with these ideas? Hmm?"
Who let Duke Zhongwu get so engrossed in watching the play that he forgot to stop him in time?
The Duke of Zhongwu, his face contorted with grief and deep regret, forced a laugh and said, "Yes, yes, what happened! This is too much!"
"Wasn't it your uncle who instigated it?"
"No! Absolutely not!" Duke Zhongwu exclaimed in a flash, quickly denying it.
Huo Chengche smiled slightly, "Then I'll have to trouble you to prove yourself, Uncle. I've heard that the Imperial Study is currently short of a lecturer, so why don't you make amends by writing a letter requesting to fill the vacancy?"
"From now on, I'll have to trouble you, Uncle, to keep things safe and secure inside and outside the palace." Huo Chengche patted the Duke of Zhongwu on the shoulder.
"?!?!" Duke Zhongwu looked up and saw the curve of Huo Chengche's lips, and suddenly felt like he had been tricked.
The Imperial Study also had age-based admissions, and the vacant lecturer position was perfect for teaching these seven-, eight-, and nine-year-old boys. Boys of this age were simply a nuisance, causing trouble every three days and a major disturbance every five.
The scholar who was originally in charge was implicated and killed.
"Your Highness," the Duke of Zhongwu cried, his face contorted with grief, "Your Highness, I... I am your own uncle! Your own flesh and blood!"
Huo Chengche nodded and smiled, "Therefore, I trust my uncle."
Looking at his nephew's smile, Duke Zhongwu felt no joy at being trusted.
The little boy listened to the adults talking, then his eyes lit up and he asked in surprise, "Brother Crown Prince, do these older brothers come to the palace every day too?"
Huo Chengche looked at his little boy's bright eyes and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Yes, but these older boys aren't coming to the palace to play; they're going to school."
"Then Niannian can go play with them when they rest!" The little dumpling didn't understand what her prince brother meant at all, and happily kicked her short legs.
Then, the little boy added in his childish voice, "With chubby Tuan Tuan!"
Upon hearing this, Duke Zhongwu's head buzzed.
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