Chapter 254: Officials of the Current Dynasty Come to Instruct

Zong Jincheng nodded in affirmation: "That makes sense, let's start investigating."

The young boys all jumped up from their chairs and moved swiftly to look for books in the various bookcases. When it comes to energy and action, these little dandies are unrivaled.

"Xinglu, check the history of Qin. There were many reforms at that time, and the lives of high-ranking officials were often threatened. So they must have cultivated many confidants. Otherwise, if there were no direct descendants to do the work, they would most likely be betrayed."

"Great! My train of thought has been opened up! Then I'll go look up the history of Qin!"

"Jincheng, there was also the Tang Dynasty. There were many coups d'état during the Tang Dynasty. If they didn't have their trusted followers around, would they dare to rebel?"

"Yes, yes. No wonder there are the Prince's Party and the Prince's Party. Rebellion is always one group against another."

"Then subordinates who are not direct descendants should not be reused. Otherwise, if there is a spy among them, then everyone will lose their heads, right?"

"Help me, big brother, aren't we discussing the appointment of direct officials? How come they all found rebellion? How could so many subordinates be promoted for the purpose of rebellion?"

…

The discussions in the key class of the Marquis' Mansion were getting louder and louder. The young boys were laughing and looking up history books while quarreling and arguing with each other. Their eloquence became more and more fluent, and they even kept quoting from classics.

Xu Wan was eating pomegranates in the pavilion outside, listening to the chattering of a few kids. The autumn breeze blew gently, and it seemed as if she had returned to the clean and pure campus days.

"It's so lively." Xu Wan said with some nostalgia.

Cuizhi said with a smile: "Madam, you feel the place is lively again now. Previously, you were worried that there would be too many children in the mansion."

Xu Wan chuckled and said, "I really like lively occasions, and I also like lots and lots of children. But the premise is... don't let me take care of them all, okay?"

Making a group of kids happy will make you happy, raising a group of kids will drive you crazy.

Cuizhi couldn't help laughing and said, "Madam, you are actually more suitable to open an academy and be the dean. The children in the academy will be taken care of by the teacher, and you can just watch the children happily study and play in the academy."

Xu Wan thought about it and decided that this was a good goal.

After Wang's mother in this volume got 100,000 taels of silver, the first thing she did was to open a large academy and enjoy the life of a dean.

At night, the young boys finally finished all their tasks and went to bed. Zong Jincheng hesitated for a while and finally went to his mother's yard.

Xu Wan had just taken off her red hairpin and turned to ask him when she saw him coming, "What's wrong? Are you nervous about tomorrow's discussion? There's no need to debate, and there's no winning or losing."

The little devil shook his head and said, "No, we have looked up a lot of history books today and found out the advantages and disadvantages of employing direct descendants. I will be able to discuss it with you in detail tomorrow. However, I am still thinking about a question that has nothing to do with the discussion."

"What's the problem?" Xu Wan turned around, put the red hairpin back on her head, and prepared to get up and go over.

Under the flickering candlelight, the young boy looked up and asked her, "Will people who are not direct descendants feel wronged when they are abandoned?"

…

Xu Wan was stunned for a moment, her hand stuck in mid-air.

It's like an old wound that is suddenly opened. It should have healed completely, but you find that the scar is still there and has never disappeared.

She lowered her brows and said, "Yes, anyone who is abandoned will be sad."

Zong Jincheng asked again: "Has mother ever been abandoned?"

Seeing her dazed look, the little devil suddenly remembered that when she was in the Shangshu Mansion, the mother and daughter treated her badly, and her father also treated her badly.

She must have had a very difficult time in the past.

Xu Wan's eyes flickered and she smiled faintly: "I think so."

She had been abandoned by her parents and her superiors because she was not their direct descendant and was not their favorite, so she would never be their first choice.

Zong Jincheng suddenly ran forward and bumped into her. The young boy stretched out his chubby little paws to hug her and promised earnestly: "Mom, I will protect you in the future. You are the most important person to me. I will never, ever give up on you."

The little cub in her arms felt warm. Xu Wan tilted her head back, trying hard to swallow back her tears of shock.

The closest relationship in the world does not necessarily require blood ties. The family affection that she had never received in both her past and present families was obtained from a child who was not related by blood.

She finally found someone who regarded her as the most important person.

Xu Wan stretched out her arm and gently patted the kid's back, saying again and again: "Okay... I believe you. Our Chengcheng will protect Mom for the rest of her life."

The little devil raised his head with a smile and started to brag again: "Mom, I will study hard, pass the imperial examination, and become a second-rank official in the future. When the time comes, I will ask the emperor to grant you an imperial decree and let you become a second-rank imperial lady!"

Xu Wan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She was helpless against his cute little mouth. She smiled and said, "Okay, okay, keep going. I'm waiting to benefit from my son's status as a high-ranking official."

The little devil said happily: "Well! Wait for me!"

After Zong Jincheng left, Xu Wan sat at the table for a long time without recovering from her shock. When she recalled the first time she saw this child, it seemed so long ago, like a lifetime ago.

She thought of the hug just now, it was so warm.

Xu Wan sighed and said, "This kid really hurts my mother's heart."

The next day, the sun slowly rose and the discussion began.

But there were too many spectators today. In addition to Baili Xi and all the teachers, Xu Wan also borrowed two adults from the Wei family and the Shen family.

The Supervisor of the Censorate, Li Qi, was of the seventh rank.

The Deputy Director of the Ministry of Rites, Zhang Zheng, was of the sixth rank.

The topic was proposed by the prince and organized by Xu Wan. All the children in the class were sons of the rich and powerful. The Wei and Shen families were very supportive of educating their children well, and immediately invited two officials who were on holiday to come and help.

Baili Xi stroked his beard and nodded continuously.

Good, good, make good use of all available identities to help children learn, understand and apply better. Only then did he truly feel from the bottom of his heart: these children may really shine in science.

The five personal trainers were really eye-opening.

Although they had some fame among many students, they were only titles of Juren and Jinshi, which could not be compared with official officials.

Especially the two in front of him who were sent here on a rest day. They are obviously familiar and useful subordinates. They must be the direct descendants of Youdu Wei Shi and Minister Shen of the Ministry of Rites.

Jiang Yan whispered to Pan Hongzhi: "The Prince's assistant teacher and the Master Juren are giving one-on-one instruction, and now there are even officials coming to give instruction. This key class is too scary. I don't think it would be possible for even the prime minister's son to get such high learning conditions, let alone the North Court of the Imperial Academy? Too arrogant, really too arrogant..."