Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Ying Zheng had not expected to return so soon.

The original agreement was for five days, but the time was not yet up, and the manpower in various places had not been fully arranged, so Li Si hurriedly invited them back.

While Zhou Wenqing's teaching methods and content were certainly novel and interesting, arousing curiosity, the root cause was entirely due to the outstanding performance of the child named Azhu.

Although Ying Zheng did not come in person, his residence was not far away, and he received secret reports almost every day. Every secret report always mentioned the name "A Zhu".

While the other children were still clutching twigs, their names scrawled crookedly, A-Zhu had been specially granted permission to pick up a calligraphy brush and write carefully and neatly, stroke by stroke, at Zhou Wenqing's desk, without showing any impatience.

In the past, when Zhou Wenqing was recuperating from his injury and practicing calligraphy at his desk, he would quietly lie beside him, watching intently, not even daring to blink, full of interest. The results of this silent influence are now evident—in just three days, he has already read one volume of Zhou Wenqing's self-compiled thirty-six-volume primer on characters from beginning to end, and can read every word clearly.

His mathematical abilities were even more astonishing. While other children were still counting on their fingers and struggling to do addition and subtraction within ten, Ah Zhu had already memorized Zhou Wenqing's "Nine-Nine Multiplication Tables" perfectly and could apply them.

Even when Li Si was curiously discussing the completely unfamiliar "method of overall planning and drawing" with Zhou Wenqing while listening in, he seemed to be completely clueless.

Based on the children's age, academic background, and the time they could attend class, Zhou Wenqing divided the students into three classes: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3.

Thanks to his outstanding academic performance and exceptional comprehension over the past three days, Ah-Zhu was not only singled out for instruction by Zhou Wen-Qing, but also helped take care of the trivial matters of each class, earning him the title of "class monitor" in each class.

This "class monitor" position is not something an ordinary child can hold—they must excel academically, keep the group of mischievous kids with their own tempers in check, know who is present each day, who is absent and why, who is weaker in which subject and needs help, and who is at fault in a fight with whom. All of this must be coordinated and reported to Mr. Zhou Wenqing.

What's most interesting is that when little Zhu puts on a serious face in front of his friends to explain things and help with class affairs, he has the composure of a little adult. He already has the demeanor of Zhou Wenqing's little assistant. He is neither humble nor arrogant, and in his actions and words, he has gradually learned the way of humility and courtesy.

But in the blink of an eye, the child's innocence would quietly resurface. His eyes would widen with curiosity, and occasionally he would recklessly cause some harmless trouble, or even lead the way in causing trouble. Then, with his head down and toes shuffling on the ground, he would dejectedly go to Zhou Wenqing to admit his mistake. In that manner, he was clearly a child who had not yet lost his childishness.

Li Si, watching from the side, couldn't help but marvel.

Seeing the growing approval in Zhou Wenqing's eyes, and the undisguised admiration and obedience of the children, Li Si could no longer sit still.

Li Si truly felt a bit numb.

How could a mere country boy be so intelligent!

Why did Zhou Wenqing have to be the one to run into it first?!

Openly trying to steal someone else's disciple right now would be too unseemly and beneath his dignity, but looking at Ah Zhu's clever little devil appearance, he really liked him and was itching to try it.

In the past few days, he not only wandered around Zhou Wenqing's courtyard, but also secretly looked at the children in several nearby villages, but he couldn't find a second talent with such potential.

What a pity!

"—Oh, wait a minute!"

Li Si suddenly snapped out of his daze and cursed himself inwardly, "This is no time to be thinking about these things!"

Your Majesty! If Prince Fusu is not sent here soon, not only will he be unable to obtain the title of "First Disciple," but he may even fall behind in his studies!

So when Ying Zheng arrived, the carriage sped along at breakneck speed, almost shaking itself to pieces, as it rushed towards the village.

Moreover, not only Ying Zheng was sitting in the carriage, but also the one Zhou Wenqing had been longing for—Prince Fusu.

He was the only one; it wasn't that the other young masters didn't want to take him, it was just that... there wasn't enough time!

Ever since he saw the details of Zhou Wenqing's first lesson in the secret report and read the lesson plan that Li Si had secretly copied and sent him, Ying Zheng had already made up his mind.

No one else can be Fusu's teacher but Zhou Wenqing!

The original plan was good: he would go and listen to a lesson first, be a little reserved, and then naturally bring up his own child. Wouldn't that be more relaxed and appropriate?

Unfortunately... plans can't keep up with changes!

Seeing that Ah Zhu was becoming more and more outstanding every day, and the words in Li Si's urgent report were almost sparks flying, Ying Zheng's idea of ​​"taking things slowly" had long been shattered by reality.

Enough already, what's there to be coy about? If we drag this out any longer, not only will the title of "first disciple" be lost, but when it comes time for the apprenticeship, Zhou Wenqing might look at the spirited Azhu in front of him, and then glance at Fusu, who has already started his studies but may not suit his taste. If he were to reject him with a simple "This child is not a promising talent"... that scene would be truly "lively".

After all, students are like blank slates when you take them on; it's most satisfying when you teach them from scratch and mold them into something useful by your own hands.

Thinking about it that way, how can we wait any longer?

Thus came this hurried trip, with the carriage speeding and dust flying, all to bring Fusu over as a "transfer student".

Fusu sat quietly in the carriage, his demeanor dignified and his behavior appropriate, everything conforming to etiquette and rules. However, in front of his father, his respect always revealed a hint of tension and restraint—which was quite normal, as how many people in the world could completely relax when facing the King of Qin?

But Ying Zheng saw it all and frowned almost imperceptibly.

Hu Hai wouldn't be so reserved. That kid even dared to grab his sleeve and beg for toys. And that girl Yin Man was even more outrageous, showing off her little whip everywhere every day.

As the eldest son and future crown prince, Fusu should be more prudent, but he must not lack composure and magnanimity in his demeanor.

Thinking of this, Ying Zheng sighed inwardly. He had indeed been negligent in the past. He was busy with state affairs and hoped that the crown prince would be kind-hearted, so he entrusted the task of enlightening Fusu to that group of pedantic Confucian scholars... Now that he thought about it, he had indeed been too lenient.

I only hope that Zhou Wenqing can really teach him well.

Ying Zheng had already made the purpose of this trip clear to Fusu: they were not the King of Qin and his eldest son at this moment, but the wealthy merchant "Zhao Zhong" and his son. Their identities had to be kept strictly confidential and never revealed.

Therefore, at this moment, Fusu was also wearing ordinary coarse linen clothes. The soft brocade robes were replaced with this rough fabric, which felt unfamiliar and a little stiff, but he just sat quietly without any change in expression.

She didn't seem spoiled—this might offer Ying Zheng some comfort.

Fusu is only nine years old this year. Even though he has been taught to be more mature since childhood, he is still a child, a child who has grown up in the palace and has never set foot in the countryside.

Although he placed his hands comfortably on his knees and his back was straight, his clear eyes would occasionally glance at the fields, farmhouses and distant mountains flashing past the window, with a hint of childlike curiosity and exploration in them.

He didn't really understand why his father had suddenly brought him to this rural area to become the apprentice of an unknown commoner.

Fusu knew that his father had previously preferred the renowned Confucian scholar Chunyu Yue.

However, obeying his father's orders and observing etiquette were natural and proper for Fusu. Since his father had made the decision, he complied without hesitation.

Regardless of who his future teacher is, Fusu will always respect the proper etiquette between teacher and student.

Zhou Wenqing was completely unaware of Fusu's arrival at this moment.

He was in class when he was suddenly caught in a "minor trouble"—

His tutoring center, which had only been open for a few days, was reported by someone!