Chapter 557 - 524: I Really Am Your Uncle

Chapter 557: Chapter 524: I Really Am Your Uncle

Perhaps considering that this is a new student just enrolled, the scholar was quite accommodating. He held a scroll in one hand and a ruler in the other, and when he reached Yuanbao’s side, he gently tapped the desk with the ruler, "Tell me, what are the Ancient Three Forms?"

As soon as his voice fell, everyone’s gaze immediately focused on Yuanbao.

Most were just watching the show.

Having been ill for so many days, Yuanbao was somewhat unaccustomed to attending his first class and was sound asleep, not hearing a thing.

The scholar’s expression turned unfriendly, and the long ruler tapped heavily again.

When Yuanbao first went to the Study Room, he was unaccustomed to the schedule. Having dozed off during classes before, he would often be called upon. Hearing the ruler sound, he reflexively stood up; his eyes not yet fully open as a question from a Study Room teacher bounced in his mind. Without thinking, he answered in a sleep-laden nasal tone, "Dwell respectfully, serve diligently, be loyal to others."

Scholar: "..."

Classmates: "..."

To his right was a youth of similar age, whose surname was Lin, who propped his book up to cover his mouth and said softly, "Brother Xiao Yao, we are in a mathematics class."

Yuanbao glanced at the book in the scholar’s hand, and sure enough, it was He Luo Mathematics, while his answer was from Mencius.

The scholar did not look at him, his voice stern, "The Imperial College is a place for study, not a bedroom at your home. If you cannot maintain a proper and serious attitude, better to return early. Don’t think that because you have spent two years by the side of a noble, you can disregard the rules of the Imperial College. The Capital is not lacking in superficial scions of nobility, and what the Imperial College precisely doesn’t need is such people."

Yuanbao was quite calm in this regard; with each sentence the scholar said, he merely nodded in agreement.

This kind of shamelessness makes it difficult for others to deal with him.

The scholar listened as the ruler tapped the desk twice again, "Hmm, hmmm, what’s the use of agreeing? Write the Ancient Three Forms a thousand times and hand it in first thing tomorrow morning!"

After Noon let out, the previous classmate with the surname Lin came up to ask him, "Actually, with your level, Brother Xiao Yao, you should have graduated long ago. Why insist on staying to suffer?"

Yuanbao was perplexed for quite some time before realizing "Brother Xiao Yao" was addressing him.

He yawned, dipped his brush in ink, and continued copying the Ancient Three Forms with a voice as languid as his demeanor, "Maybe just bored."

Lin looked curious, "Are everyone from the Study Room as charismatic as you?"

Yuanbao paused in his writing, recalling someone stern and exceptionally capable to the point of absurdity, suddenly laughing, "Perhaps."

"Brother Xiao Yao, stop copying, the cafeteria will run out of food if we are late, aren’t you hungry from sitting so long?" Lin patted his stomach, smacking his lips.

Yuanbao had written twenty copies, tossed his brush into the ink wash, tidied his things, and followed Lin outside.

The Ancient Three Forms: Taiyi, Liu Ren, Qimen Dunjia

The Crown Prince’s courses in the Study Room were so diverse and comprehensive that the Emperor ordered some to be introduced into the Imperial College, and Yuanbao only just realized that these courses at the Imperial College were added within the past two years.

Apparently, the Emperor intended to cultivate talent comprehensively at the Imperial College, Yuanbao thought.

The meal was secured by Lin for him, and the two found a secluded spot to sit. Lin had taken quite a liking to Yuanbao and advised him while eating, "The afternoon’s course is in rites and music, Brother Xiao Yao, make sure not to mix it up again."

Chewing on chicken pieces, Yuanbao answered indistinctly, "I won’t be coming in the afternoon."

Lin: "Slightly chastised by the scholar, and you skip a class, people from the Study Room sure are audacious!"

—

After lunch, Lin returned to the dormitory for a nap, but Yuanbao didn’t go home. He sat in the empty lecture hall and copied the Ancient Three Forms over a hundred times, then made his way to the Divine Soldier Bureau, marking the hour.

Zhao Xi seemed to have just arrived, spotted Yuanbao in the hallway, made no greeting, expressionless, walking forward.

Yuanbao called him twice, without response.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Yuanbao caught up, "Why are you ignoring me?"

Zhao Xi stopped in his tracks, indifferently, "What is it?"

"Can’t I greet you without a reason?" Yuanbao realized Zhao Xi still had no intention of acknowledging him, grumbled quietly, "I was the one scolded at my house that day, not you. If anyone should be angry, it’s me. Why are you the one acting tense?"

Zhao Xi: "Even if you’re angry, there’s a limit. What’s with causing a fuss at the Imperial College?"

Yuanbao instantly realized Zhao Xi was referring to that morning’s accursed Ancient Three Forms.

He found it amusing, "I had just gotten out, and you already got wind of it, Zhao Xi, are you spying on me?"

"No need to eavesdrop," Zhao Xi looked straight ahead, "A Crown Prince’s Companion causing such uproar is hard not to hear about."

Yuanbao rubbed his nose bridge, "I didn’t quite catch what the scholar’s question was, did I?"

Remembering something, he suddenly slapped his forehead, "I won’t talk to you anymore, a thousand copies of the Ancient Three Forms... if I don’t hurry, I’ll be burning the midnight oil again tonight."

With that, he leapt into Zhao Xi’s office, sat at the desk, and began writing with his head down, spreading paper and grinding ink.

Zhao Xi stood outside the door, glancing sideways at Yuanbao, his black eyes slightly narrowed.

Only after Old Marquis Lu sent someone to summon him did Zhao Xi turn and leave slowly.

Yuanbao spent the entire afternoon in Zhao Xi’s office, his hand almost gave out before grudgingly completing the thousand copies. At this moment, if anyone were to mention the Ancient Three Forms before him, he might well vomit.

Once the ink had dried, Yuanbao gathered all the papers, placed them back into a writing box, flexed his aching arm and twisted his neck, planning to go outside for air and prepare to head home for dinner.

Upon exiting, he saw several Black Clerk officials from the Divine Soldier Bureau whispering about something. Upon noticing him, their gazes turned peculiar, as if examining some newfangled commodity.

Yuanbao approached a few steps, and they immediately bowed, "Young Master."

Yuanbao’s eyes swept over them, "Being startled one by one, were you speaking ill of me behind my back just now?"

Several Black Clerks replied in unison, "We wouldn’t dare."

Yuanbao continued to rub his aching arm, "Where is the Crown Prince?"

"His Highness..." One of the Black Clerks hesitated in speech, stammering.

"Hmm?"

Another gathered courage to say, "Outside, there is a pestering person insisting he is young master’s uncle, and presently his Highness is outside dealing with him."

"My uncle?" Yuanbao’s face abruptly darkened; he ignored their advice not to venture out, briskly striding to the entrance.

Sure enough, beside a large white jade stone lion stood a tall, thin man in a dark blue round-collared robe, shouting something, blocked from advancing by two Black Clerks.

Zhao Xi stood with hands behind his back on the stone steps, saying nothing.

Upon seeing Yuanbao emerge, the man’s eyes lit up, calling loudly, "Yuanbao, Yuanbao, have them loosen their hold, I am your uncle!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi turned his head slightly, noticing Yuanbao had somehow appeared by his side, he asked, "Do you know this man?"

Yuanbao looked at the man carefully, then suddenly laughed, "The Emperor’s title of ’Young Master Xiao Yao,’ attracting romance is one thing, but now even uncles appear out of nowhere. Maybe in a couple of days, I’ll miraculously gain a pair of parents too, what do you say, Your Highness?"

Zhao Xi continued his silence, uttering no response.

Normally, Yuanbao might have the inclination to play along with this person claiming to be his uncle, but having just copied the Ancient Three Forms a thousand times today, he found himself exhausted. He waved his hand, instructing the Black Clerks, "Let him leave."

The blue-robed man was the Wang Family Young Master, having traveled from the Capital, raised his voice upon hearing this, "Yuanbao, I really am your uncle! If you don’t believe me, take me to see Third Son. Had it not been for him back then, how could your parents have died on their journey home? It was the Song family who went too far; when your mother died, she cut ties between our two families, not allowing me, as your uncle, to see you."

Yuanbao froze in place, "What are you saying?"

Wang Xiaolang saw his expression turn grim and sighed, "Yuanbao, all these years, it’s not that your uncle doesn’t care for you. I wanted to, even wanted to take you back to the Wang family, but your grandparents wouldn’t allow it, really, I had no choice..."

"Absurd!" Yuanbao said with a stern face, "Speak nonsense one more word, and don’t doubt I’ll have you expelled from the Capital!"

"Song Yuanbao!" Wang Xiaolang continued to shout, "How old is Erlang’s daughter? You’re already fifteen this year. Do you really think you’re the biological son of Third Son?"

Yuanbao clenched his fists, turned to head inside, Zhao Xi grabbed his wrist, shaking his head, "Minister Song has been dispatched to buy materials for mechanical beasts early this morning, he is not here."