Since that "first birthday celebration plus version" that ended with "Tuanzi" trying to eat "the world," time has flown by, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Under Emperor Xiao Che's firm implementation of the "Buddhist-style education" philosophy, the eldest prince, Xiao Mu'an, successfully grew into a healthy, lively, and... mischievous three-year-old.
At three years old, she has reached the age to start school.
Inside the study of Kunning Palace, Lin Wanwan was discussing the grand plan for "Tuanzi's" education with Xiao Che.
"Your Majesty, I believe that Mu'an can no longer just play in the palace as before." Lin Wanwan looked at her son, who was chasing a butterfly with great interest in a small wooden stick not far away, and her eyes were full of gentle smiles. "He needs playmates of the same age and needs to learn how to get along with others. The Royal Academy has many children of the royal family and ministers, which is a good place for him."
She advocates for "Tuanzi" to learn alongside ordinary children, integrate into the group, and cultivate basic social skills. This is a perfectly normal modern educational philosophy—fair competition and mutual growth.
"Yes, Your Majesty is right." Upon hearing this, Xiao Che agreed without hesitation, his face showing approval. "It will certainly benefit the Crown Prince's growth by allowing him to interact with more people his own age. We shall do as Your Majesty says."
His quick and reasonable agreement surprised Lin Wanwan, who had prepared a whole host of arguments, and made her feel a slight, almost imperceptible, suspicion.
When did this guy become so easy to talk to?
However, seeing Xiao Che's calm and gentlemanly demeanor, Lin Wanwan finally dispelled her doubts, assuming that he had finally reached a consensus with her on parenting concepts.
But she was ultimately too naive. She forgot that her husband had no sense of reason or limits when it came to spoiling their son.
Xiao Che verbally agreed, but behind the scenes, he immediately launched a series of astonishing "behind-the-scenes operations".
That afternoon, the head of the Royal Academy, the same Wang Taifu who had predicted the Crown Prince would become a spoiled brat based on the saying "a doting mother spoils her son," and who almost resigned on the spot because of it, was once again "invited" into the Imperial Study.
Two years have passed, and the old Grand Tutor's back seems even more hunched. He walked cautiously into the imperial study that had once left him with a great psychological shadow, wondering what shocking new parenting ideas this unconventional emperor had come up with this time.
"Grand Tutor Wang," Xiao Che got straight to the point, "The Crown Prince is about to enroll in school. Have you made all the preparations at the academy?"
"Your Majesty, everything has been prepared according to regulations, and we await Your Highness..."
"Not enough." Xiao Che interrupted him directly, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority.
He stepped out from behind the dragon desk, walked up to the old tutor, and began to personally issue a series of enrollment instructions that could be described as "tyrannical terms".
“Firstly,” Xiao Che held up a finger, “in class, whenever the Grand Tutor asks a question, regardless of its difficulty, he must… let the Crown Prince answer first.”
Grand Tutor Wang was taken aback, then nodded: "This is the proper etiquette for the crown prince, this old minister understands."
“No, you don’t understand.” Xiao Che shook his head, his eyes becoming somewhat unfathomable. “What I mean is, even if the Crown Prince answers incorrectly, you must… praise him!”
"Huh?" Grand Tutor Wang was stunned on the spot.
“For example,” Xiao Che demonstrated personally, “if you ask him ‘What is one plus one?’ and he answers ‘three,’ you can’t say he’s wrong! You should say… ‘Your Highness’s thinking is novel and unconventional; he can even perceive the wonders of the great Dao beyond common sense. He is truly a genius!’ Do you understand?”
Grand Tutor Wang's mouth gaped open in an "O" shape; he was completely dumbfounded. Was this teaching and nurturing, or flattery?
However, Xiao Che didn't give him a chance to refute and had already extended his second finger.
"Secondly, regarding the study companions. All study companions must unconditionally defer to the Crown Prince! If the Crown Prince wants to play ball, they must accompany him; if the Crown Prince wants to read, they must remain quiet. They are not allowed to compete with the Crown Prince for anything, nor are they allowed to...outshine the Crown Prince in any way!"
At this point, his voice grew even colder, "In short, you are not allowed to be smarter than the Crown Prince, not allowed to be stronger than the Crown Prince, and absolutely not allowed to... be more popular than the Crown Prince!"
Wang Taifu was sweating profusely. This wasn't selecting a study companion; it was clearly choosing a bunch of "yes-men" and "background figures" for the Crown Prince! Growing up in such an environment, wouldn't His Highness the Crown Prince be turned into a self-centered... little tyrant?
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!" He finally couldn't hold back any longer and knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face. "His Highness the Crown Prince is the future of the nation. He should be close to virtuous ministers, stay away from petty men, and learn from good friends so that he can become a great man! What you've done is...you've ruined His Highness!"
Faced with the old Grand Tutor's tearful and impassioned remonstrance, Xiao Che merely looked down at him, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever, and coldly said:
"Grand Tutor, you seem to have forgotten. In the academy, my son is first and foremost the Crown Prince, and only then a student. I sent him there to let him experience life, not to suffer injustice!"
His voice was filled with a father's obsessive and unreasonable love.
"As for whether he will amount to anything, I will personally guide him; why should anyone else interfere? Your task is to ensure that he spends every day at the academy happily, contentedly, and with confidence! Do you understand?"
Grand Tutor Wang collapsed to his knees, looking at the emperor before him who had completely transformed into a tyrannical ruler who was fiercely protective of his own. For the first time, he felt what it truly meant to be powerless to reverse the situation.
He knew he could no longer stop his father's determination to "abuse his power for personal gain".
However, he still underestimated the depths of this "scoundrel" father's depravity.
Xiao Che's next move opened his eyes even wider.
"Furthermore," Xiao Che seemed to remember something and instructed the chief eunuch beside him, "Issue my decree that tomorrow, all the selected companion children will be interviewed by me personally!"
His Majesty the Emperor is actually going to personally interview a group of three- to five-year-old toddlers!
The news caused an uproar among the nobles and ministers of the capital.
Everyone thought this was an immense honor, and they all dressed up their most prized sons and grandsons beautifully, giving them countless instructions to make sure they could show off their intelligence and talent in front of His Majesty the next day.
So, the next day, what could be called the most bizarre "interview" in history was solemnly staged in the Imperial Study.
The first person brought in was the prime minister's grandson, who was only four years old and could already recite half of the "Thousand Character Classic," earning him the reputation of a child prodigy.
The little fellow lived up to expectations, reciting the Thousand Character Classic fluently and clearly in front of Xiao Che, which made the old prime minister accompanying him feel proud and full of pride.
Xiao Che listened expressionlessly, nodded, and then asked his first question: "Who do you think is smarter, you or the Crown Prince?"
Without a second thought, the little guy proudly puffed out his chest and declared, "Of course it's me!"
"Drag him away," Xiao Che said expressionlessly to the guard. "Next."
The old prime minister: "..."
The second one to enter was the son of the Minister of War. He was five years old, with a robust and chubby face. Despite his young age, he possessed immense strength and could draw a small bow.
"Who do you think is stronger, you or the Crown Prince?" Xiao Che asked the same question.
"I can lift a stone weight!" the little guy proudly showed off his biceps.
"Scan it," Xiao Che said without looking up. "Next."
Minister of War: "..."
The third person to enter was the son of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. He was exquisitely handsome, with red lips and white teeth, and his large eyes were especially beautiful. Everyone loved him.
Xiao Che merely glanced at it before waving his hand dismissively.
"Your Majesty, you...you haven't asked yet..." The Vice Minister of Personnel asked, puzzled.
Xiao Che coldly raised his eyes: "My son must be the most popular one in the academy. He's too 'handsome' and will steal my son's thunder. Next!"
Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel: "..."
After an interview, every child who showed even the slightest potential for "intelligence," "strength," or "handsomeness" was ruthlessly rejected by Xiao Che for all sorts of unbelievable reasons!
In the end, only a group of seemingly honest and simple-minded, mediocre candidates, some even with snot running down their noses, remained in the Imperial Study... "safe" candidates.
Looking at the group of children who posed no "threat" to his son, Xiao Che finally nodded in satisfaction.
On the first day of school, Lin Wanwan was still a little worried. She secretly went to the Royal Academy and hid outside the window to see how her son's studies were going on the first day.
However, when she saw the scene in the classroom, she froze on the spot.
In the spacious and bright classroom, her son "Tuanzi" was surrounded by a group of seemingly honest and kind-hearted study companions, who were like stars around the moon, in the very center.
On the platform, the highly respected Grand Tutor Wang pointed to a crooked, chick drawn by "Tuanzi" on paper, as if it had been run over by a wheel. With an almost fanatical, exaggerated expression, he exclaimed in praise:
"Your Highness's painting! The brushwork is so unrestrained, and the artistic conception is so lofty, it's simply astonishing! With just a few strokes, it has captured the spirit of an eagle soaring through the sky! These are phoenix feathers, these are dragon claws, and this painting even faintly exudes the aura of a ruler who reigns supreme!"
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