Since the last incident, the Prime Minister’s residence had temporarily stopped troubling the Jiang family.

However, the Jiang family knew that the Prime Minister’s residence would never let it go so easily.

“Yuanwu, assign more people to protect Yuanxi and Yuancheng,” Jiang Yuansheng instructed.

Jiang Yuanwu nodded. “Don’t worry, big brother. If the Sima family dares to touch Yuanxi again, I’ll make them regret it.”

Although the Jiang family did not have as much power as the Prime Minister’s residence, they were not ones to be bullied.

Jiang Yuansheng asked, “How is third brother’s business?”

Jiang Yuan replied, “Big brother, rest assured, we’ve already secured a partnership with the Mu family. With their help, the Prime Minister’s residence won’t be able to interfere.”

The Mu family was responsible for supplying goods to the royal palace.

No matter how bold the Prime Minister’s residence was, they would never dare to obstruct deliveries to the imperial court.

“That’s great news.”

Meanwhile, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had become lively since Jiang Yuanxi’s arrival.

She was doing her best to teach them, but how much they could learn depended on their own talent.

After all, the art of drawing talismans was not something that could be mastered in a day.

With a single stroke, a simple exorcism talisman appeared on the paper.

Pei Zhengyi had never seen Jiang Yuanxi draw talismans before and was shocked.

He even saw a faint golden glow on the talisman paper.

“May I ask, Princess, what kind of talisman is this?”

“It’s an exorcism talisman. Super easy to draw!” Jiang Yuanxi took a bite of her dried meat and casually pushed the finished talisman forward.

The disciples of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau tried to imitate her, but they couldn’t even complete half of the drawing before they had to stop.

Drawing talismans required one smooth, uninterrupted motion.

Once the flow was broken, the attempt was a failure.

Seeing all the wasted paper around them, Jiang Yuanxi frowned. “It’s really easy to draw! Why are you all wasting paper?”

The disciples: “……”

Some talents… simply couldn’t be learned.

Just as she was speaking, a shadow suddenly fell over Jiang Yuanxi.

“You must be Jiang Yuanxi?”

The disciples of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau immediately bowed. “Greetings, Master Kong.”

The renowned Confucian scholar, Master Kong, had unexpectedly arrived at the bureau.

Jiang Yuanxi looked up and was met with the sight of a long, flowing white beard, like a waterfall.

“Old grandpa, who are you?”

Master Kong chuckled, stroking his beard. “I am your teacher.”

Jiang Yuanxi crossed her arms. “I don’t need a teacher. I’m already the best.”

“Hahaha,” Master Kong laughed. “That is not for you to decide.”

Pei Zhengyi whispered in Jiang Yuanxi’s ear, “Princess, this is the most esteemed scholar of our time. Being taught by him is a blessing beyond measure.”

It was the first time Master Kong had ever offered to personally mentor someone.

“A great scholar?”

Jiang Yuanxi scratched her head. “Can you eat that?”

Pei Zhengyi panicked.

The princess was still too young to understand the significance of this opportunity!

He added, “If you learn from Master Kong, you’ll be even more powerful than your big brother.” Jiang Yuansheng was one of the most talented cultivators in the kingdom.

If Jiang Yuanxi received guidance from Master Kong, she would surpass even him.

Jiang Yuanxi immediately shook her head.

“No way! I can’t steal my big brother’s spotlight. I’m already amazing enough.”

Master Kong hadn’t expected anyone to refuse his teachings.

He had only agreed to teach her as a favor to someone else.

If not for Jiang Yuanxi, the Fourth Prince wouldn’t have been able to walk in public again.

A trace of disappointment flickered in Master Kong’s eyes.

She was still too young.

There was no need to rush.

After all, she was only a little over a year old—still at the age of wetting the bed.

What could she possibly learn?

Master Kong casually asked, “Have you memorized the Hundred Family Surnames and the Three Character Classic?”

Jiang Yuanxi was puzzled. “Do people actually memorize those?”

Master Kong’s disappointment deepened.

By this age, most noble children had already started learning the Hundred Family Surnames, yet the princess hadn’t even been introduced to them.

He had been too hasty. If Jiang Yuanxi didn’t want to learn, he could always teach someone else.

“If you haven’t memorized them, you’ll learn in time.”

“Wait, aren’t they really easy?”

Jiang Yuanxi immediately began reciting, “Zhao, Qian, Sun, Li, Zhou…”

She flawlessly recited the entire Hundred Family Surnames.

Master Kong was stunned.

He had assumed she would only recall a few lines.

He hadn’t expected her to recite the whole thing without a single mistake.

“Little girl, how long did it take you to memorize that?” he asked.

Jiang Yuanxi tilted her head. “Isn’t it just a matter of looking at it once?”

[This old grandpa is so weird.]

Pei Zhengyi suddenly had an idea. He hurriedly grabbed a book from the shelf and flipped it open.

“Princess, can you memorize this passage from A Memorial to the Throne?”

Master Kong did not stop him.

He, too, was curious about the little girl’s abilities.

Jiang Yuanxi glanced at the densely packed characters and started reading. “The late emperor, uh, was, uh, in…”

Pei Zhengyi suddenly remembered—the princess couldn’t read yet.

“Pei Jian, read it to her.”

Pei Jian complied, reciting the passage aloud. After he finished, Jiang Yuanxi repeated it word for word without a single mistake.

Pei Jian was amazed.

He had just read the passage and still hadn’t fully remembered it, yet the princess had memorized it after hearing it once.

A genius!

Master Kong was shocked. “Little girl, is this your first time reciting A Memorial to the Throne?”

Even for adults, memorizing this passage took considerable effort.

Yet this little girl had done it in one go. It was unbelievable.

“This is easy! My fourth brother gives me books to read, and I can recite the whole thing after just one look.” Jiang Yuanxi puffed up proudly.

Pei Zhengyi was curious. “What kind of books does the princess usually read?”

“Uh, The Scholar and the Widow’s Forbidden Love, My Neighbor’s Secret Affair with Madam Wang, A Love Deeper Than the Ocean…”

She listed over thirty books in one breath.

Pei Zhengyi was dumbfounded.

What kind of family upbringing was this?!

Jiang Fengyuan, that supposedly serious and proper general, turned out to be anything but decent!

Who in their right mind let a one-year-old read such books?!

Master Kong’s lips twitched.

Well played, General Jiang.

Well played.

Meanwhile, at the military camp outside the city, Jiang Fengyuan sneezed five times in a row.

Could his wife be missing him?

Master Kong quickly recovered from his shock.

Now even more determined, he said, “Little one, becoming my disciple has many benefits.”

Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes lit up. “Will there be delicious food? Can I see handsome men?”

Master Kong hadn’t expected these questions. Gritting his teeth, he answered, “Yes, both!”

Jiang Yuanxi beamed. “Okay! I’ll be your student!”