Chapter 340: Chapter 215: Fun_2
After some horsing around, the brothers obediently sat back and continued chatting.
Back at their old home, the three of them often sat together like this to talk.
"Big brother, in the court, you might..." Zheng Cheng didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Zheng Rang knew what Zheng Cheng wanted to say and gave him a reassuring smile.
"I’ve already made it clear that I will be loyal to the Emperor, just like our father."
"Big brother, even if you say that, do you think those people will give up on you?" Zheng Cheng believed that choosing to become a craftsman at the Shangfang Department was the wisest choice for him. He liked simple things and disliked troublesome matters. There were too many troubles in the court, along with many schemes and intrigues, which he hated the most.
"Whether they give up is their matter; whether I want to be drawn in is mine." Zheng Rang said, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp, "I just want to be a loyal minister and realize my ambitions. As for the struggle between the Princes, I have no interest in participating."
Zheng Qian, on the side, made a sarcastic remark, "Big brother, even if you don’t want to, those people will force you to become one of them."
"Little brother is right." Zheng Cheng feared exactly this, "Our father is too famous, and even though he hasn’t returned for over ten years, these people in the court still hold him in their thoughts."
Zheng Qian pursed his lips and said, "I said before not to enter the capital as the sons of Zheng Xilin, but you didn’t listen. Now you see how troublesome being Zheng Xilin’s son is."
Zheng Rang glanced helplessly at Zheng Qian, "Do not address father by name."
"Big brother, I fear they might use sinister means to force you." Zheng Cheng looked worried, "They might think you’re easy to deal with."
"If they really think that, it would suit me just fine." Zheng Rang curled his lips into a meaningful smile, "Although I am not as good as father, it doesn’t mean I’m easily bullied."
Zheng Qian said, "Big brother, you don’t need to be afraid. You have me."
Hearing his little brother say this, Zheng Rang felt touched. He was about to say something when Zheng Qian continued, "Big brother, you’re really foolish, but I’m smart. I can help you see through their schemes and also help you deal with them."
The feeling of being touched vanished completely. Zheng Rang ground his teeth and said to Zheng Qian, "Well, thank you so much."
Zheng Qian waved his hand and said, "Big brother, we’re brothers, no need to be so polite with me. Besides, you’re so foolish, if I don’t help you, you might really get into trouble..."
Before he could finish his words, Zheng Rang started tickling him.
Zheng Qian was extremely ticklish, and within moments he was on the ground, laughing and begging for mercy.
Zheng Cheng also joined in, tickling Zheng Qian together with Zheng Rang.
Every time Zheng Qian drove them crazy, they would tickle him.
The three brothers played around for a while longer before finally returning to their rooms to rest.
Before parting, Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng repeatedly reminded Zheng Qian not to go too overboard when attending the Imperial College the next day.
Recently, Zheng Qian had become quite the celebrity at the Imperial College, in every sense of the word.
On his first day at the Imperial College, he went looking for people to challenge. During this period, he challenged all the famous and talented students of the college. Unsurprisingly, he won.
Zheng Qian never knew what humility meant, being naturally arrogant and domineering. Even after winning, he didn’t forget to mock his opponents for being foolish. Moreover, he openly criticized the Imperial College for being inadequate, which angered all the students there.
Now, people challenged him every day. Initially, it was about poetry, essays, and literature, then it turned into challenges involving music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and now it even included arithmetic and other things considered unconventional by the students. In short, everything was up for competition.
The students of the Imperial College thought that this arrogant brat Zheng Qian couldn’t possibly be good at everything, but to their surprise, Zheng Qian was indeed skilled in everything. No matter what they competed with him in, they all lost to him, and lost badly.
Zheng Qian was born knowing how to read. When he was still a baby and couldn’t yet speak, he already recognized words. By the time he could talk, he could recite many poems, songs, and essays.
He didn’t like going out to play and preferred staying home to read. He liked all sorts of books; as long as it was a book, he liked it.
Zheng Xilin never restricted what books his sons could read; as long as they wanted to read, he let them, even if the books were those that couldn’t be seen in public.
Zheng Qian also had a photographic memory, able to remember word-for-word everything he read. Moreover, he was extraordinarily capable of learning, able to pick up knowledge from all kinds of books.