The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class

Chapter 103

Pan Hongzhi was the youngest of the three private tutors, having passed the imperial examination at the tender age of nineteen with a commendable rank. With his results, he could have taken up a minor official position, but having grown up in poverty, he was more inclined to pursue a lucrative livelihood to support his family.

The monthly stipend from Hanlin Academy was already higher than what most people earned outside, and what Marquis Manor offered was an amount he had never even dared to dream of. Thus, no matter how he felt personally, he always tried to suppress his emotions.

However, the little devil beside him was not pleased.

Glaring at him, he declared, "Hanlin North Academy... just wait for me to defeat you!"

Pan Hongzhi: "..."

So, all the grievances against Hanlin were now being directed at him? The situation didn't look too promising...

Xu Wan glanced at them and said, "Tutor Pan, please come out with me."

"Yes."

As the two stepped out, the little devil quickly leaned over and asked, "Brother, were you really not lying to me earlier?"

Zong Wenxiu was both amused and exasperated. "Really, I wasn't. You'll see for yourself. By the way, weren't you feeling bored? I think you should consider how to extract knowledge from Tutor Pan..."

"Extract knowledge?" The little devil, hearing this unfamiliar phrase, rolled his eyes and began to ponder seriously.

Pan Hongzhi's mood was anxious. His clear and rational mind in studies was now in complete disarray. Learning was the simplest for him, but teaching others was not, especially someone with the temperament of the little devil.

Xu Wan stood in the courtyard, looking him up and down. "Tutor Pan, your attire makes you look a bit old."

The nineteen-year-old youth, dressed in a somber long gown, appeared to be in his late twenties.

Pan Hongzhi hadn't expected the first comment to be about this. He replied somewhat sheepishly, "The young tutors at Hanlin North Academy all dress like this. I was taught to dress this way upon entering the academy, as it gives a more authoritative and dignified presence over the students."

Xu Wan nodded with a smile. "I understand, but it doesn't quite apply to Jincheng. He doesn't feel close to tutors; a senior brother figure would be more effective in communicating with him."

"Senior brother?"

Xu Wan smiled. "Yes, you are a scholar of this year's imperial examination, only one year ahead of him. Being his senior brother would make it easier to get along with him. I hope you can interact like friends, subtly instilling a learning mindset in him through daily interactions."

"Being friends with Young Master Cheng... is probably even harder than teaching him," Pan Hongzhi replied honestly.

So far, apart from his elder brother, Zong Wenxiu, the only people around Zong Jincheng were a bunch of spoiled brats. Becoming his friend seemed quite challenging.

Xu Wan smiled. "Then let me teach you a method."

"Hmm?"

In the darkness, it was very quiet.

The little devil turned over and asked, "Brother, are you asleep?"

Zong Wenxiu's voice came through. "Not yet, I can't sleep at this hour. I'm silently reciting some essays."

Zong Jincheng: "!"

His temper flared up instantly. "No wonder I've been studying for so long and still lag behind you. You're actually reciting essays while lying in bed at night!!"

The little devil sat up abruptly, angrily accusing him, feeling utterly deceived.

Damn it, even his brother was secretly outworking him!

Zong Wenxiu laughed and pulled him back down, explaining, "I'm just used to staying up past midnight. Since the madam has been insisting on earlier bedtimes, I haven't adjusted yet. But lying in bed and reciting essays for a while makes me sleepy and helps me fall asleep."

Hearing this, the little devil was satisfied. He said smugly, "See, I told you, reciting essays makes you sleepy—a great sleep aid!"

Zong Wenxiu chuckled and went along with it. "Yes, you're absolutely right."

The room fell silent again.

Not long after, the little devil asked again, "Brother, are you asleep?"

"...Not yet," Zong Wenxiu's voice carried a hint of drowsiness, but the little devil was still wide awake.

Zong Jincheng muttered, "When you lived in the slums, did you often go hungry and cold?"

"Hmm..." The drowsiness grew heavier.

The little devil continued, "Did you all huddle together under one quilt when you slept?"

"Hmm... sometimes there might not even be a quilt."

"Huh?" The little devil was stunned. "No quilt? Then what did you cover yourselves with?"

"Clothes, I guess."

The little devil lay in bed with wide eyes, getting more and more awake as they talked. He asked again, "What do you think Xu Wan is up to? I've been studying hard, but she keeps coming up with these weird tricks to mess with me."

...

After waiting a long time without a response, the little devil reached out and poked the person beside him, asking for the third time, "Brother, are you asleep?"