The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 290

Xu Wan had watched how this child studied tirelessly. Among the entire advanced class, he was the only one who maintained the purest love for learning from beginning to end.

Now, seeing him grow up so well, Xu Wan felt deeply gratified. "That’s good. Auntie will be waiting to see your name on the golden list."

"Mm!" He Zheng smiled at her, then waved as he boarded the He Family’s carriage.

Shen Yibai and Wei Xinglu were exhausted after five days of exams. The Shen and Wei Families had taken them home, planning to send them back to the advanced class in a couple of days. But given their personalities, they’d probably rush to the Zong Family first thing tomorrow morning.

After ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‍bidding farewell to the other ladies, Xu Wan took the two children home. Along the way, Zong Jincheng kept speculating whether Wei Xinglu and Shen Yibai would pass the child prodigy exam. But no matter how many possibilities he considered, he couldn’t imagine Shen Yibai succeeding.

Zong Wenxiu couldn’t help but laugh. "Little brother, are you sure there’s no personal bias in your judgment?"

Among all the brothers in the advanced class, those two fought the most frequently. A couple of wrong words, and they’d be wrestling again—more often than drinking water.

The little troublemaker insisted stubbornly, "Not at all! This is a fair assessment. Shen Yibai always scores lower than Wei Xinglu. He’s the bottom of our class."

Xu Wan teased, "I’ve noticed you’ve gotten quite agile lately. Hmm… have you been building muscles from fighting Shen Yibai so much?"

"Eh?" The little troublemaker was baffled.

Muscles? What was that?

Zong Wenxiu immediately rolled up his sleeve and felt his arm. Sure enough, it was firm. His brother concluded, "Auntie is absolutely right. He’s developed muscles from pinching Shen Yibai."

The little troublemaker: "???"

Zong Jincheng flushed red and protested, "No way! This is from writing!"

Xu Wan rolled her eyes. "Writing only gives you calluses, not muscles."

Zong Wenxiu rolled up his own sleeve to show him. "See? I don’t have any."

The little troublemaker: "..."

No. If I don’t admit it, it’s not true.

Zong Jincheng closed his eyes, covered his ears, and stubbornly pretended otherwise.

"Ah, doesn’t Shen Yibai pinch his cheeks a lot too?" Xu Wan asked Zong Wenxiu.

Zong Wenxiu nodded. "All the time."

Xu Wan mused, "Wouldn’t that make his cheeks sag over time?"

The little troublemaker, who heard everything: "???"

In his mind, he pictured his cheeks losing elasticity from Shen Yibai’s pinches, sagging down to his chin, turning a handsome young boy into a seventy-year-old man.

!!!

That was terrifying!!!

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Zong Jincheng clenched his fists and declared angrily, "If Shen Yibai dares to pinch my face again, I’ll stretch his ears until they look like Pig Bajie’s!"

Xu Wan rubbed her nose, thinking to herself: Let’s hope you two stop at step one and never fight again.

At the Minister’s Mansion.

He Zheng hadn’t been home in a long time and felt uneasy as he approached. Madam He, seeing him hesitate outside the carriage, felt a pang of worry but forced herself to stay calm. "Zheng’er, come inside."

"Oh, okay." He Zheng quickly stepped forward and took Madam He’s hand.

They entered the mansion, and the gates slowly closed behind them.

Thud—

He Zheng’s heart sank. He turned around and saw the gates shut tight.

Guards stood expressionless on either side, while servants emerged from all directions in the courtyard.

He Zheng’s eyes widened, his legs instinctively weakening.

He wanted to back away.

"Mother, wh-what’s going on? Why close the gates in broad daylight?" His voice trembled, though he tried to smile, hoping this was just a joke.

Madam He closed her eyes, tears already falling. She wiped them away and whispered, "Zheng’er, be good. From now on, you won’t be studying at the Marquis Manor. Your father has arranged for you to continue your studies here. I’ve bought you so many books—your courtyard has a huge bookshelf now."

He Zheng couldn’t believe it. "Why can’t I study at the Marquis Manor anymore? Mother, this is too sudden. Did you talk to Auntie? Does she agree? I don’t! I want to study there! I want to study with Jincheng and the others!"

He tried to run, but a guard scooped him up and carried him straight to his courtyard.

He Zheng struggled. "Let me go! Put me down! You lied! No one’s sick—you just tricked me into coming back!"

Madam He followed, explaining desperately, "Zheng’er, I had no choice. Your father made this decision—you know how he is. I’ll explain to your aunt later, but you can’t go to the Zong Family anymore. It’ll bring disaster on us."

"No! You’re lying!"

In his courtyard, He Zheng was locked inside his room. True enough, there was an enormous bookshelf—something he’d always dreamed of. He never imagined he’d have one at home.

But the price for this bookshelf was losing the advanced class forever.

He pounded on the door. "Mother, let me out! I want to study at the Zong Family! I don’t want to study alone! I want to see my brothers, my teachers! I want to take the imperial exams with Auntie and the others!"

Madam He said softly, "Study here. Our home is just as good. Isn’t this what you wanted? You love reading—now you have it. Isn’t this enough?"

"No! It’s not! I don’t want this!"

Madam He turned to the servants. "Watch the young master. Don’t let him leave. Buy him any books he wants. As long as he stays inside, indulge him in everything else."

He Zheng grew frantic. "Mother, how long will you keep me locked up?"

Madam He clenched her teeth. "Until you stop wanting to go to the Zong Family."

He Zheng collapsed to the floor, utterly lost.

"How did things turn out like this? What happened…?"

His mind was in chaos—trying to force himself to stay calm while crumbling inside.

"Disaster on us… disaster… What could the Zong Family have done to endanger us?"

He looked up at the towering bookshelf, filled to the brim, the scent of paper thick in the air. He stood and walked toward it.

"No. I can’t give up. I have to find the answer."

At the Marquis Manor.

With He Zheng and the others performing well in the exams, the entire advanced class was in high spirits. Though Zong Jincheng mocked Shen Yibai, deep down, he still hoped he’d pass.

He even discussed with Zong Wenxiu whether, in the month waiting for the child prodigy results, the three of them could start studying for the provincial exams to make the most of their time.

That night, Zong Jincheng had two dreams.

The first dream was a good one. He dreamed that the entire elite class had passed the imperial examinations, astonishing the entire capital. The students and teachers of Hanlin North Academy were so furious they were hopping mad, and the dean personally came to their door to ask for the secret behind their outstanding results.

Zong Jincheng proudly boasted in the dream: "Of course, it's all because of me—the great prodigy! Leading by example is crucial. We, the four young scions, are the capital's four great talents, and soon we'll be the nation's four great talents, leaving our names in history for eternity! Ahahahahaha..."