Feng Jin'chen spent half an hour kissing the chicken's rear, not memorizing a single character.
Just as he was about to drift off into a blissful daze, Ye Tinglan waved his hand and pulled him back.
"What, you can't memorize it?"
His gaze was as if he intended to freeze him into a candied haw.
Feng Jin'chen clenched his small fists around the hem of his clothes and mumbled, "Uncle Wang, I... I'm nervous."
He was so scared his legs were trembling, how could he possibly memorize it!
Unexpectedly, Ye Tinglan's hand, which had been holding him by the back of his collar, loosened.
"Then you shall stay here and recall it properly. When you are no longer nervous, go to the study and recite it to this king."
With that, he flicked his sleeve and rose. As he left, he casually took all the food on the table with him.
Feng Jin'chen's small face was filled with terror. "Hey...!"
That was the breakfast Jian Ye had bought for him!
Unwillingly, he chased two steps, only to be met with a cold warning.
"If I catch you disobeying the rules again, you will be moved back to the main courtyard immediately, and I will personally look after you."
"!"
Feng Jin'chen decisively ran back.
He patted his shrunken stomach, about to pick up the cup of milk to drink.
Before his small hand could even touch it, a stone flew in from outside, hitting with a "swish" and shattering the porcelain cup before him.
Feng Jin'chen's small face turned deathly pale, and he immediately recoiled as if shocked.
Outside, Ye Tinglan's voice drifted from afar once more.
"No drinks either."
Feng Jin'chen: "!!!"
This was too much! Wuwuwu...
He needed legal aid right now!
And he wouldn't say another word until his lawyer arrived! o(╥﹏╥)o
Not long after Ye Tinglan left, Jian Ye returned.
Seeing him lurking suspiciously outside, hesitating to come in for a long time.
Feng Jin'chen pouted, speaking angrily, "What are you still looking at! That bad guy left long ago!"
Hmph!
This Jian Ye, he had actually abandoned him and fled through the window!
He was very angry!
Upon being seen, Jian Ye touched his nose and lowered his head as he approached.
"Young master..."
Feng Jin'chen's small face tightened even more. "What are you still doing here! He's torturing me to death! He, he, he..."
He made him kiss a chicken's rear! And took all the food away!
Wuwuwu, he was simply not human!
Jian Ye chuckled sheepishly and took out two pieces of sugar crisp cake from his embrace, offering them to him.
"Young master, I know you're still hungry, so I specifically went out to buy these just now."
"They're still warm. Please calm down and eat them while they're hot."
Feng Jin'chen's tears stopped for a moment.
"Don't think this means I'll forgive you..."
Jian Ye nodded and took a string of candied hawthorn from his sleeve.
Feng Jin'chen: "I'll forgive you a little for now."
However, he had only taken two bites when someone else arrived from outside.
Fearing it was Ye Tinglan returning, his body trembled, and he quickly stuffed the half-eaten sugar crisp cake and the candied hawthorn into Jian Ye's hands.
"Quick... quickly hide them!"
Jian Ye nodded, holding them and running behind the curtain.
As soon as he stood still, a voice, tinged with surprise, sounded from outside.
"Uncle Xiao Qi? Are your injuries healed?"
He hadn't seen Qi Xuan for two days since he was poisoned that night.
Now that it was him and not Ye Tinglan, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Qi Xuan nodded and, meeting his questioning gaze, began to explain.
"His Highness ordered me to watch over you, saying that you will only be released when you have memorized the Hundred Family Surnames."
His gaze shifted to the curtain behind, and his voice rose.
"His Highness also said that people of the Xuan sect are greedy for pleasure and lack ambition. Keeping them here will only corrupt the young master."
"If you truly care for the young master's well-being, you should be sensible and leave on your own."
"Uncle Xiao Qi..."
Qi Xuan remained unmoved.
"Call him out. I've already seen him."
"..."
Since he had been discovered, there was no point in hiding any longer.
Jian Ye slowly moved out, still holding the food from earlier.
Qi Xuan glanced at it, his brow furrowing slightly.
"His Highness was indeed correct."
These people from the Xuan sect simply did not understand the path of cultivation. They acted as they pleased, recklessly and arbitrarily, and this would only corrupt the young master!
Jian Ye had been somewhat guilty at first, but now, facing Qi Xuan's gaze, he became indignant.
"What do you mean by that?"
"The young master spent two years in the Xuan sect, enjoying a life of ease and happiness, never having any troubles. But since moving to this Prince Mo's mansion, he has not only worried day and night but also hasn't had enough to eat or wear, losing two pounds. Is this the educational philosophy you speak of?"
How could one not be fed!
This Prince Mo's mansion, though it appeared grand, was stingy and petty!
Qi Xuan wanted to call him a liar, but before he could utter a word, Jian Ye interrupted him again.
"Also, don't forget that your life was saved by my young lady. Since the people of my Xuan sect are so incompetent, why don't you ask Prince Mo himself to save you!"
To eat from a bowl and curse the mother, he had never seen anyone like this!
"You are simply being unreasonable!"
"I dare not, compared to the people of your Prince Mo's mansion, I am still lacking."
"How dare you!"
"Alas, that's just how it is!"
"..."
The two were at each other's throats, about to come to blows in the room.
Feng Jin'chen's small face turned back and forth, and he quickly stepped forward to take the sugar crisp cake and candied hawthorn.
"Oh, you two, go out, go out! You're disturbing my eyes!"
The door slammed shut, sweeping Qi Xuan and Jian Ye out together.
After staying in the room for nearly a day, Feng Jin'chen still could not escape the fate of reciting his lessons.
Seeing the sky outside about to darken, he patted his shrunken stomach and sighed.
The door opened from the inside. Qi Xuan and Jian Ye immediately stepped forward.
"Young master."
They spoke in unison, with faint traces of swelling and redness on their faces.
Feng Jin'chen's small face was dejected. "I've memorized it."
Upon hearing this, Qi Xuan's face lit up. "I will take you to the study now."
He then led Feng Jin'chen out. Before leaving, he gave Jian Ye another warning from afar.
Having not eaten much all day, Feng Jin'chen walked listlessly, his vision even a bit blurry.
Just as he was lost in thought, a female voice came from the side.
"Guard Qi."
Qi Xuan paused slightly and nodded upon recognizing the person. "County Princess."
Yun Shu nodded, but her gaze fell upon Feng Jin'chen behind him, with a hint of inquiry.
"What are you two up to?"
She had heard that this little dumpling was brought back to the mansion by Ye Tinglan from outside, and that he was not only willing to personally teach him but also intended to adopt him as his godson.
She hadn't seen him for the past two days and hadn't expected to encounter him here.
Qi Xuan nodded. "His Highness ordered the young master to recite the Hundred Family Surnames, and I am about to take him there."
As he finished speaking, a clear rumbling sound came from his stomach. The little dumpling beside him clutched his belly, his small face clearly showing extreme reluctance.
Yun Shu's eyes flickered slightly, and she immediately said with a gentle smile.
"It seems he is hungry. Memorizing books must be very tiring. Why don't you go to my place for some snacks first?"