Chapter 012: Showcasing Learning Results

The teacher rambled on about a lot of things.

Like how personal matters shouldn’t be shared outside, and how the most important thing for a consort is to bear children. Since he can’t, he should be even more dedicated…

The teacher’s face turned red from all the talking.

He didn’t want to do this either, but the Crown Prince instructed him to. And based on his teaching experience over the past few days, if he didn’t explain clearly, this Crown Princess wouldn’t understand!

Even Lin Shouyan, with his thick skin, felt his face turn red.

Eager to end it, he repeatedly said he understood. But the teacher didn’t believe him and insisted he stammeringly recite it like a commandment before it was over.

He, a grown man, was forced to listen for over two hours!

Could Lin Shouyan take this lying down?

Shouldn’t he show Qi Zhen the results of his learning?

So, when Qi Zhen returned from outside and entered the room, the little fool jumped into his arms and planted a wooden horse-like kiss on his lips.

Qi Zhen didn’t even have time to react.

“Crown Prince brother, you’re back? Are you tired? The small kitchen has already prepared dinner. Does Crown Prince brother want to eat dinner first, or eat Yan Yan first?”

Qi Zhen: “…”

Xu Fuquan lowered his head.

The maid at the door blushed.

Qi Zhen almost threw this embarrassing Crown Princess out. The reprimanding words were on the tip of his tongue. He suddenly remembered the matter he mentioned to the teacher yesterday.

He had asked the teacher to teach the little fool the principle of “a wife should follow her husband,” and it seems the teacher overdid it, resulting in this effect.

It wasn’t exactly annoying.

Qi Zhen’s face felt a bit hot.

He didn’t want his subordinates to think he was a ruler who indulged in beauty and let it cloud his judgment, so he didn’t want to dwell on this matter.

Reluctantly, he endured it.

He handed the little toy he brought today to Lin Shouyan to distract him.

Then he ordered, “Serve the dishes.”

As soon as he said that.

The little fool smacked a kiss on his face, “Brother! I really like what you gave me!”

Qi Zhen: “…”

“Thank you, brother! Thank you, brother! Brother, kiss!”

Qi Zhen couldn’t take it anymore, confiscated the toy he just gave him, and warned that there would be no new toys or pastries for several days, and the teacher who taught rules would be sent away.

No need to learn rules.

Lin Shouyan was so happy he could laugh in his dreams.

But due to the little fool’s persona, without toys and pastries, he could only pitifully eat his meals, barely swallowing. After eating, he lay despondently on the soft couch by the window, playing with his hands.

The maids and eunuchs stood outside.

Lin Shouyan was passing the time when suddenly a small horse, the toy Qi Zhen brought back, was placed in his palm!

Lin Shouyan was stunned, holding the little horse, looking up at Qi Zhen who was looking down at him.

A question mark slowly formed on his face.

“Didn’t the teacher tell you that you can only be close to me when no one else is around?”

The little fool sat up, holding the little horse.

Qi Zhen: “I know you want to be close to me, but the ancestral rites cannot be abandoned. Even though you are a man, you are also my Crown Princess. What would it look like if word got out?”

“Brother doesn’t like me like this?”

Qi Zhen was at a loss for words.

How was he supposed to respond to such a straightforward question?

If it were anyone else, saying he didn’t like it might not be taken seriously, or they might realize it was a lie and know their boundaries.

But Lin Shouyan was a fool.

He would take it seriously.

“I never said that.”

The little fool beamed with joy, leaned over, and kissed him on the cheek, whispering, “Thank you, brother.”

Qi Zhen patted his head, his gaze sweeping over his pretty little face. He was beautiful, fair, and tender, with a pair of clean, moist eyes.

Qi Zhen bent down and picked him up.

Lin Shouyan was caught off guard, the little horse in his hand falling onto the soft couch.

“Crown Prince brother?”

Qi Zhen’s voice was steady, his tone rich.

“I’ve finished my meal.”

Lin Shouyan’s face flushed instantly, his heart racing.

–

Lin Shouyan was woken up by the nanny.

He had previously told the nanny to wake him up when the Crown Prince got up to practice swordsmanship, he wanted to take a look.

So handsome,

And with each look, one less look,

Lin Shouyan couldn’t help but watch.

He just threw on a cloak, sat on the soft couch under the window, opened a small crack in the window, and watched Qi Zhen practice swordsmanship through it. Qi Zhen was always so self-disciplined, adhering strictly to palace rules. It seemed all his indulgence was spent on him.

When Lin Shouyan saw Qi Zhen was almost done practicing, he slipped back into bed for a nap before getting up again.

After Qi Zhen finished practicing, he came in, wiped his sweat with a towel, glanced at the bed, then bent down to pick up the little horse that had fallen last night, and placed it back in Lin Shouyan’s palm before leaving.

Lin Shouyan was in a deep sleep, vaguely hearing a voice, “Little beauty?”

Then came Xu Fuquan’s panicked voice, “Master Zhou, you can’t call him that.”

“Why not? Isn’t Lin Shouyan good-looking? Just because you don’t dare doesn’t mean I don’t. Don’t think I don’t know, you all secretly want to call him that too!”

“Master Zhou, that’s a bit harsh.”

“Is he still asleep? His Highness asked me to bring some roast chicken from Pinxiang Tower…”

The voices got a bit chaotic after that.

Lin Shouyan didn’t hear clearly, groggily got up, changed his clothes, and ran out.

“Master Zhou!”

Zhou Xudong laughed, “Why not call me brother?”

“The Crown Prince brother doesn’t allow it.”

Zhou Xudong laughed again, tossing the roast chicken to a servant, “His Highness is busy today, asked me to keep you company, and not let you run around.”

Lin Shouyan frowned slightly.

Could it be that Qi Zhen was making a move?

Otherwise, why specifically find someone to watch him?

Lin Shouyan poked the system.

The system confirmed it.

Qi Zhen had made a move against the Fifth Prince.

Qi Zhen had exposed the Fifth Prince’s affair with the emperor’s man. At this moment, in the main hall, the emperor was so angry he kicked the Fifth Prince off the dragon throne.

Lin Shouyan applauded inwardly.

It was too exciting.

Lin Shouyan thought with such a scene, Qi Zhen would return late today, but who knew he’d come back earlier than usual. He even had lunch together.

Zhou Xudong: “He was very well-behaved today, didn’t run around, and didn’t leave the room. When I arrived, he hadn’t even gotten up. I taught him to write, but he was lazy, seemed listless.”

Qi Zhen’s lips curved into a small smile, which quickly disappeared.

Lin Shouyan noticed it.

Qi Zhen smiled.

Smiled at his inability to endure.

That smile was so infuriating, Lin Shouyan ignored Qi Zhen’s good looks, wanting to hit him.

Qi Zhen said, “I’m free this afternoon, I’ll teach him to write.”

Lin Shouyan’s face fell immediately.

Zhou Xudong laughed heartily, “He understood, huh!”

Lin Shouyan’s face darkened further.

He wasn’t that foolish!

Qi Zhen glanced lightly at Zhou Xudong, defending, “Lin Shouyan is just not that smart.”

Zhou Xudong was taken aback, stopped laughing, and looked at Qi Zhen in surprise, then his gaze drifted to Lin Shouyan.

His Highness actually defended him?

Before, just mentioning his name would make him scowl and frown.

Now he’s defending him?!

Lin Shouyan felt a burst of joy, showing Qi Zhen a big smile, generously sharing half of his pastry with him.

Zhou Xudong teased, “Young Master Lin, I kept you company for half a day, why don’t I get a share?”

Lin Shouyan shook his head.

You can’t have an affair with me, giving you some would just get me in trouble with Qi Zhen.

Zhou Xudong clutched his chest, dramatically claiming his heart hurt.

Qi Zhen didn’t even look at him, touched Lin Shouyan’s cup, and ordered a fresh hot one.

Zhou Xudong didn’t stay long before leaving.

Qi Zhen really did sit Lin Shouyan down at the desk, teaching him to write and recognize characters. The first thing he wrote was Lin Shouyan’s name. Qi Zhen’s handwriting was beautiful, strong, and powerful.

Lin Shouyan estimated that if this was brought to the modern world, it could sell for a good price.

While he was pondering how much to price it, Qi Zhen’s palm pressed against his forehead. Qi Zhen pushed him upright, “Sitting that close, can you recognize it?”

Qi Zhen touched his waist, without any emotion.

“Sit properly.”

Lin Shouyan straightened his posture.

This body, no exaggeration.

Recognized people.

When Qi Zhen touched him, he felt like an electric current was running wild inside him, unable to find an exit.

“Brother, I don’t want to write anymore…” Want to do something else.

Like me.

Qi Zhen’s voice was steady, “The New Year is coming, you’ll have to write lanterns. Are you planning to draw a picture on it like the wish tag at Qianshan Temple?”

Lin Shouyan was speechless.

He didn’t draw a picture, okay?!

He wrote words!

He wrote them behind Xu Fuquan’s back!

Xu Fuquan didn’t even see it, why spread such rumors?

Qi Zhen held his hand, guiding him to hold the brush, “I’ll teach you to write my name, just these two today.”

Qi Zhen picked up the brush, writing stroke by stroke on the paper.

— Zi Ji.

Qi Zhen’s small characters.