Jin Lanyue swallowed hard and stammered, “G-Grand Tutor, is yur body doing okay?”
“What?” Both the Grand Tutor and the princess were stunned.
“Jus… if yur body isn’t doing okay, Yue’er will still come to rescue yu,” she babbled haphazardly, speaking whatever popped into her mind. “So, yu must be well and healthy, don’t let anyone bully yu…”
The princess was left completely bewildered. She reached out to feel Jin Lanyue’s forehead. “You haven’t been scared out of your mind, have you?”
“Am I…?” Jin Lanyue wasn’t too sure. “Anyway… Grand Tutor, you must be well, be healthy, and be happy…”
Just like how her daddy and mommy wished for her to be healthy and happy.
Across from her, Qu Zijin’s heart trembled upon hearing her words.
He had started his career as the top scholar of the imperial examinations, basking in boundless glory. However, because he was stern and old-fashioned by nature, despite being deeply learned and talented, his lack of interpersonal skills led to him being repeatedly suppressed and marginalized.
In the end, he was even reassigned to serve as the princess’s Grand Tutor.
He abruptly lifted his eyes to look at Jin Lanyue. The latter was startled by his sudden gaze, but she still stared back at him with pure earnestness.
…He couldn’t even remember the last time someone had shown him genuine care.
He was constantly surrounded by suppression and ridicule; thus, this sudden eruption of concern and blessing seemed out of place yet incredibly precious.
Even though… it came from a little toddler who was endlessly murmuring about “rescuing” him, entirely overestimating her own capabilities.
“Hmph,” he gave a soft snort and turned around. “Do not be late next time.”
The princess turned to Jin Lanyue in shock. “Wow, you’re amazing! How did you do that?”
“It’s…” Jin Lanyue wanted to speak, but found that she couldn’t utter a single word regarding the strange voice.
So, she said in a babyish voice, “Someone taught me… though I didn’t seem to understand it…”
【Mission Completed.】
【You raided the execution ground at a tremendous cost, and narrowly escaping death, you finally rescued Qu Zijin. Now, he stands before you completely whole and unharmed.】
【Reward Obtained: Protection Amulet (Can block fatal damage once).】
“Aren’t you two going to catch up?” Ahead of them, Qu Zijin urged them to hurry into the classroom.
“Oh oh, coming, coming!” Jin Lanyue took two steps forward on her short legs, then “thud, thud, thud” backtracked. She grabbed the little princess—who was still standing in place with her mouth pouted like a stubborn donkey—and pulled her into the classroom to sit down.
The very first class of Jin Lanyue’s life officially began!
Qu Zijin was teaching the Three Character Classic.
However, it was highly apparent that while he was excellent at studying, he possessed absolutely no talent for teaching.
His reading sounded exactly like a monk chanting scriptures, making one feel incredibly drowsy.
Within just fifteen minutes, Jin Lanyue felt her head spinning, wanting nothing more than to sleep.
She forced her eyes wide open and pinched her little mouth with her hand to stop herself from yawning.
Thud.
Beside her, the little princess collapsed directly onto the desk and fell fast asleep, snoring softly.
“Utterly scandalous! Utterly scandalous!” Qu Zijin flew into a rage, slamming his hand hard against the desk.
“Huh?” The princess was startled awake, mumbling in a daze, “Is school over?”
“Your Highness is so indolent, I am afraid I have no choice but to report this matter to His Majesty!”
“What?!” Hearing that Qu Zijin was going to tell her parent, the princess jolted wide awake. “No way!”
“There is no room for negotiation!” Qu Zijin said coldly. “Given the current situation of you two, I am afraid it will take a whole year just to learn a single copy of the Three Character Classic!”
“W-we will study hard!” Jin Lanyue quickly grabbed the princess’s hand. She was so afraid the princess would fight with the Grand Tutor again.
Qu Zijin looked at her. His attitude was slightly softer, but his speech remained stiff. “Judging by the current situation, you two aren’t absorbing anything at all.”
“I absorbed it, really!” Jin Lanyue raised her hand. “I’ve learned it…”
“Lies!” Qu Zijin lowered his brows and interrupted her. “You have only been learning for less than fifteen minutes. How could you have learned it?”
He even looked at Jin Lanyue with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. “I originally thought you were different from the princess. Now it seems that though you are not spoiled, you are full of lies!”
“But…” Being startled repeatedly left Jin Lanyue feeling incredibly aggrieved. Tears began to well up and roll around in her eyes. “But Yue’er really knows how to recite it…”
“Still sophistries!” Qu Zijin scolded her. “Before you entered the palace, I asked the Marquis of Beiding and learned that you have never read books or recognized characters. How could you memorize the Three Character Classic in a mere fifteen minutes?”
The Grand Tutor didn’t believe her…
Jin Lanyue sniffled piteously. Her eyes were brimming with tears, but she didn’t dare to cry.
“Why are you being so fierce!” The princess righteously slammed the table and stood up. “If she says she knows it, then she knows it!”
Qu Zijin felt this was completely preposterous. “Since that is the case, Jin Lanyue, you shall recite the first two chapters of the Three Character Classic.”
He thought for a moment, then added, “It is still not too late for you to admit your mistake now. If you remain obstinate, do not blame me for reporting today’s events to His Majesty exactly as they happened.”
“You only know how to tattle,” the princess grumbled unhappily. “What if she actually recites it?”
Qu Zijin felt this was impossible. “If she can truly memorize the entire text in just fifteen minutes after I have only explained it once—with such talent, what’s the harm in me bowing to her as my master?”
The two of them turned their gaze simultaneously to look at Jin Lanyue.
Jin Lanyue wiped her eyes and said softly, “Then I’m gonna recite it now…”
“Recite it.” Qu Zijin held his wooden ferule, keeping his eyes lowered.
“Mm…” Jin Lanyue opened her mouth. “At the beginning of life, sex is fundamentally good. Their natures are similar, but their habits make them drift apart…”
Qu Zijin abruptly lifted his eyes to look at her.
“In the past, Mengzi’s mother chose her neighbors carefully…”
Qu Zijin’s expression turned solemn, and he sat up straight.
“…If teaching is not strict, it is the laziness of the teacher.”
Jin Lanyue’s voice was crisp and sweet.
A three-year-old child naturally spoke with a bit of a babyish lisp, slightly slurred, and some pronunciations weren’t entirely clear.
But her recitation—was completely flawless.
The classroom remained silent for quite a long time.
Jin Lanyue was still a bit nervous, her little heart thumping.
She didn’t know why either; she clearly hadn’t learned it before, but as the Grand Tutor gave his simple explanation, the Three Character Classic vividly surfaced in her mind, as if she had learned it a long time ago.
Qu Zijin’s expression was one of absolute disbelief, his eyes staring blankly at the chubby baby doll in front of him.
“Huh,” the princess looked at her, then looked at Qu Zijin, asking in confusion, “Are you finished reciting?”
“Whatever! Let’s just say you’re finished,” she decisively clapped her hands, while lifting her small head to glare at Qu Zijin. “Hey, what else do you have to say?”
The Marquis of Beiding had already been waiting outside Wenhua Hall half an hour early, waiting for his precious daughter to finish school.
Jin Lanyue waved goodbye to the princess. Just as she stepped out of the hall, she spotted her daddy.
Her eyes lit up. She instantly abandoned the “ladylike steps” the nanny had taught her, skipping and bounding right into the Marquis of Beiding’s arms.
“Oh, my little Yue’er,” the Marquis of Beiding smiled warmly as he scooped her up. “Was studying hard?”
“Not hard at all! The Grand Tutor praised me for being smart!” Jin Lanyue proudly tilted her small head up, her face practically begging for praise. “The princess and I are friends now!”
“Really? That’s amazing!” The Marquis of Beiding was somewhat surprised.
He had originally been rather worried. Although his precious daughter was smart, she was still very young. Leaving her parents and family so suddenly to go study might not be easy to adjust to.
Furthermore, he had heard that this princess was not easy to get along with, having already driven away several study companions in the span of two years.
Initially, he had made up his mind—if his daughter couldn’t take it or was mistreated, he would bring her back even if he had to risk being demoted. He would absolutely not allow her to be bullied outside.
He had never expected that Jin Lanyue would do so well, not only earning praise from the strict Grand Tutor, but even getting the arrogant and domineering princess to accept her and become friends.
“Daddy knew my Yue’er is the most amazing!” The Marquis of Beiding laughed heartily. “Your mother and brothers are still waiting for you at home. They will definitely be overjoyed when they hear this news.”
The Marquis of Beiding held her and prepared to leave. However, a voice suddenly echoed from inside Wenhua Hall—
“Master! Master, please wait!”
Hearing the voice from inside Wenhua Hall, the Marquis of Beiding turned his head, only to see a young man shouting “Master” while walking quickly toward them—it was precisely Qu Zijin.
Startled, Jin Lanyue buried her head fiercely into her daddy’s embrace.
You can’t see me, you can’t see me…
“Grand Tutor Qu?” The oblivious Marquis of Beiding looked left and right, asking in confusion, “Where is your master?”
Then, he watched in utter horror as Qu Zijin walked right up to his daughter, bowed with deep respect, and spoke: “Master, this student has a few words he wishes to say.”