In the end, it was Zong Wenxiu who explained on his behalf: "My brother has changed because he’s been reading a lot lately and has gained a better understanding of things, which is why he’s made the right choice. He’s improved compared to before, and this change is a good one. Otherwise, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have been so angry and actively proposed punishing Zhai Yao."
Zong Jincheng snorted, feeling entirely comfortable as he added, "Did you all understand? My brother makes perfect sense!"
His brother was his perfect spokesperson!
Wei Xinglu was momentarily stunned but then continued chatting with He Zheng: "I told you he was possessed by a ghost, and you didn’t believe me. Now he listens to everything that half-brother of his says. It’s such an embarrassment to us brothers."
Zong Jincheng: "!!!"
Damn, why was he even wasting time with Wei Xinglu?
That jerk could just keep being one of the four little troublemakers until he’s ninety-nine!
Zong Jincheng grabbed Zong Wenxiu and walked away, "Brother, let’s go. Don’t bother with them anymore; they’re all too dumb."
Zong Wenxiu thought about it and agreed. It would take too long to reform a troublemaker, so he might as well focus all his energy on making his younger brother even better.
Unexpectedly, as soon as He Zheng heard they were leaving, he hurriedly called out, "Jincheng, don’t go! I believe in you. You’re still my best brother!"
Wei Xinglu was dumbfounded and chased after them, "What? Am I not your best brother? He Zheng, explain yourself. Who’s your closest brother here?"
Zong Jincheng turned his head, seeing He Zheng’s sparkling eyes, and asked, "You think I’m right?"
He Zheng nodded vigorously, "As long as you keep helping me climb over walls, even if you set Zhai Yao’s house on fire, I’d still think you’re right!"
Zong Jincheng: "…………"
Who could understand this? I really want to curse!
Why would I even set Zhai Yao’s house on fire?
He gritted his teeth and asked, "So, in your mind, there’s no right or wrong. Whoever helps you climb walls is your god, right?"
He Zheng nodded eagerly, "My real dad isn’t that great anyway."
Zong Jincheng rolled his eyes to the sky.
He said, "Let’s go, brother. Hurry up. Don’t hang out with these two idiots, or the knowledge I’ve worked so hard to fill my head with will get contaminated!"
"!!!" He Zheng wasn’t happy about being called an idiot, but he latched onto the word "knowledge" and excitedly asked, "A head full of knowledge? Jincheng, have you been reading lately? What have you been reading? Have you read the *Thousand Character Classic*?"
Mentioning books, the little troublemaker’s desire to show off was immediately ignited, and he stopped in his tracks!
He lifted his head proudly and said, "Such a basic introductory book? Of course, I’ve read it. Not only have I read it, but I can also recite it!"
"Really?" He Zheng exclaimed in delight, "Can you recite it for me? I only heard a little bit last time before my dad took the book away!"
"What’s so hard about that?" Zong Jincheng opened his mouth and started reciting, even thoughtfully repeating the translation afterward.
He Zheng’s eyes were filled with admiration and envy!
"What about the *Three Character Classic*? You must know that one too, right?"
"That’s even simpler than the *Thousand Character Classic*…"
Wei Xinglu watched as the two started reciting books, and his eyes nearly popped out of his head, "Wait… are you serious? We’re the four little troublemakers, not the four great scholars!"
Zong Jincheng continued, "I can even recite the *Strategies of the Warring States*!"
He Zheng: "That’s amazing!!!"
"……"
Wei Xinglu went from standing and rolling his eyes to sitting on the ground and rolling his eyes, eventually chewing on a piece of grass while listening to Zong Jincheng recite from the *Strategies of the Warring States* all the way to the *Geographical Records*.
He Zheng clapped enthusiastically, praising Zong Jincheng until he was practically unrecognizable, and so another round of reciting began…
Wei Xinglu spat out the grass in his mouth, unable to take it anymore, and muttered, "If this isn’t possession by a ghost, how else could Zong Jincheng go from a troublemaker to a scholar in just three months?"
The servant beside him twitched his lips, thinking to himself that the young master just couldn’t stand seeing someone else work harder than him.
Wei Xinglu stood up seriously and said, "No, I can’t let my brother’s body be taken over by a ghost. Go, hire a ghost exorcist at any cost. I need to save my brother!"
So what if he’s a troublemaker? He’s still my brother. This ghost who can recite books is terrifying!
"……" The servant suppressed a sigh, "Yes, sir."
The recital finally ended when He Zheng’s father showed up. If it weren’t for the servant’s timely warning, He Zheng would have almost been caught secretly listening to books.
Back at the hunting grounds, people were bustling about, returning with their hands full of prey, praising the Crown Prince’s generosity.
The Zong brothers had been forced by Xu Wan to come and relax, so they had no competitive spirit for hunting and weren’t bothered by others’ bountiful returns.
Especially Zong Jincheng, who had been showing off in front of He Zheng and Wei Xinglu all afternoon, his pride growing uncontrollably.
On the way back, he was like a lovesick girl, occasionally sighing to Zong Wenxiu, "Ah, brother, how am I so amazing?"
Xu Wan: "……"
I’m right here, and you’re completely ignoring me, huh?
Zong Wenxiu, on the other hand, didn’t hold back his praise, "You really are the smartest kid I’ve ever met. Even someone as talented as Qin Ye can’t memorize things after just one read, but you can. This proves you’re a natural learner, and you’ll definitely become a great scholar in the future!"
Hearing that he was better than Qin Ye, Zong Jincheng was so pleased he started kicking his legs, laughing, "A great scholar, a great scholar! I’ll be the greatest scholar, and no one will be as knowledgeable as me!"
First, it was He Zheng who admired him, then his brother, then Qin Ye, the tutors, Baili Fuzi, and even the Crown Prince!
Zong Jincheng got lost in his daydream, his little feet kicking wildly again.
"Hey!" Xu Wan called out impatiently.
Zong Jincheng frowned at her voice and asked, "What? I’m not ‘hey.’ That’s so rude!"
Xu Wan glared at him, "You’re kicking my foot."
Zong Jincheng looked down and saw his foot was indeed stepping on Xu Wan’s embroidered shoe, so he quickly pulled it back.
He pretended nothing happened, "The carriage is just too small, you know… it’s too cramped. Wait, why are you even squeezing into the same carriage as us? Can’t you find another one?"
Xu Wan smiled sweetly, "Carriages are expensive, you know?"
Zong Jincheng: "…… The Marquis’s estate isn’t poor. Why are you being so frugal?"
Xu Wan nodded, "Then you can run back to the estate. Wenxiu and I will fit just fine."
Zong Jincheng: "!"
One day, he’d make Xu Wan admire him so much that she’d never casually mock him again!
