Jiang Yuanxi, who had never feared heaven or earth, now had someone to be afraid of.

That person was Master Kong Meng.

Why? Because he would tattle.

The next day at school, Jiang Yuanxi shot several glares at the old man during class.

Kong Meng chuckled. “Jiang Yuanxi, have you memorized the chapter of the Analects?”

Since there were two classes, a junior and a senior one, and he couldn’t manage both, Kong Meng had no choice but to move Jiang Yuanxi to the senior class.

Fortunately, the little one hadn’t noticed yet.

“Yes!” Jiang Yuanxi stood up confidently.

“I only need to read it once to remember it!” She lifted her chin.

Trying to stump her?

Dream on!

Impossible!

The other students didn’t believe her.

The chapter had 493 characters, and even the most talented students needed a long time to memorize it.

Read it once and remember it?

What a joke!

Even if her older brother, Jiang Yuansheng, was the top scholar in the land, he couldn’t brag like that.

Many doubted her claim, including Sima Yi.

“Jiang Yuanxi, you must be bluffing,” he scoffed.

Just because she was young, did she think she could lie?

As if no one else knew how to lie.

He himself had memorized the entire Analects!

…Though even he didn’t quite believe that.

Wang Hanqi didn’t believe it either.

Although Jiang Yuanxi had saved his mother, facts were facts.

“Yuanxi, if you lie, the teacher will punish you by smacking your hands.”

Jiang Yuanxi turned around in surprise. “Why are you guys here?”

She suddenly realized that all the students in class today were older kids.

The Fourth Prince was here, but the Sixth Prince was nowhere to be seen.

Wang Hanqi explained, “Yuanxi, don’t you know? Starting today, you’re in the senior class with us.”

Jiang Yuanxi suddenly understood.

[It must be because I’m too smart! The teacher saw my talent and promoted me.]

Thinking this way, even Master Kong looked more pleasant to her.

Nearby, Fourth Prince Jun Molin shook his head and sighed.

As confident as ever.

He only hoped the teacher wouldn’t make her copy Analects too many times.

Speaking of which, had she finished the ten repetitions from yesterday?

Wang Hanqi whispered a warning, “The teacher is very strict, so be careful, Yuanxi.”

Master Kong spoke up, “Since you claim to know it, then recite it.”

Jiang Yuanxi coughed twice.

“Confucius said: ‘Is it not a pleasure to learn and practice what is learned at the right time? To have friends come from afar, is it not delightful? … Do not worry about others not knowing you, but worry about not knowing others.’”

Silence fell over the classroom.

“She really… really recited it!”

Sima Yi was unconvinced. “Jiang Yuansheng must have taught her in advance.”

Otherwise, how could she memorize so many words at once?

To test her, Wang Hanqi randomly pulled out a book from his desk.

“This one—can you recite it?”

This was a rare book he had secretly taken from his father’s library. There was no way she had seen it before.

The next moment, Jiang Yuanxi flawlessly recited every word.

Now, every senior student in the class felt their intelligence had been trampled on.

Kong Meng watched with satisfaction.

These boys, so arrogant just because they had some knowledge, were now utterly defeated by a toddler.

Sima Yi, still skeptical, accused Wang Hanqi, “She must’ve read that book before.”

Everyone knew Jiang Yuansheng and Wang Hanqi were as close as brothers.

Wang Hanqi fumed. “Nonsense!”

“This is a rare manuscript I just ‘borrowed’ from my father’s study this morning!”

“Do you even know what a rare manuscript is?”

Unwilling to accept defeat, the other students picked random books and read passages aloud.

Jiang Yuanxi still recited every word flawlessly.

The students’ self-esteem took a heavy blow.

“I… I’d better study more,” one muttered in shame.

“So this is what they call a genius…” Another sighed.

Jiang Yuanxi, basking in the praise, was overjoyed.

“Everyone, sit down.” Master Kong knocked on the table.

“Yuanxi, explain this passage: ‘The gentleman does not seek to eat his fill, nor does he seek comfort in his dwelling. He is diligent in work and cautious in speech. He seeks the company of the virtuous in order to correct himself. This can be called true learning.’”

“Easy!”

Master Kong narrowed his eyes.

Had he really found a prodigy?

Jiang Yuanxi put her hands behind her back and confidently declared:

“A man should eat well, live well, take care of his kidneys, and dress nicely.”

Then she added her own opinion: “Teacher, I think men and women are the same. How can sages be so biased?”

“Pfft!”

Master Kong nearly choked on his tea.

What kind of nonsense was this?!

Fourth Prince shook his head—still an illiterate child.

The students stifled their laughter.

Master Kong quickly regained his composure. “Jun Molin, explain the correct meaning.”

The prince stood and calmly recited:

“It means that a gentleman does not pursue gluttony or comfort, works diligently, speaks cautiously, and seeks the guidance of the wise to improve himself. This is what it means to be truly learned.”

Jiang Yuanxi’s big eyes widened in disbelief.

Master Kong then solemnly said:

“There is always someone better, and the sky is vast. Do not be arrogant about your talent, and do not rely on petty tricks.”

Everyone knew who those last words were directed at.

Master Kong had successfully humbled both the arrogant students and Jiang Yuanxi in one move.

…

After school, Jiang Yuanxi was unusually quiet.

Jun Molin comforted her, “Yuanxi, you’re still young. You’ll learn all this in time.”

Kicking small stones along the road, Jiang Yuanxi thought:

[Right! Once I learn it, I’ll go back and show that old man how amazing I am!]

Jun Molin: …

All his comforting was in vain.

If Jiang Yuanxi could surpass the great scholar Confucius, he’d chop off his own head and kick it like a ball.

Encouraged by Jun Molin’s words, Jiang Yuanxi perked up again.

“Brother Molin,” she called sweetly, her big black eyes shining.

Jun Molin, unable to resist her cuteness, pinched her chubby cheeks and said, “What is it?”

Jiang Yuanxi pulled out her pet tortoise and climbed onto it.

“My head hurts, my feet hurt, my stomach hurts…”

Jun Molin grew concerned. “The palace has imperial doctors. I’ll take you there.”

“No, no, no.”

Jiang Yuanxi frantically waved her hands, making sure he saw the unfinished copy work in her bag.

“I want to go home and see my mother. She can heal me. But… oh no, the teacher assigned copy work, and I haven’t finished it. What should I do?”

Jun Molin: “Don’t worry, I’ll do it for you. But first, let’s visit the imperial doctor.”

“Heheh..!” Jiang Yuanxi quickly covered her mouth.

She coughed twice. “Tortoise, let’s go home to find Mom.”

She and her tortoise ran off in a flash.

Jun Molin glanced at the homework in his hands and chuckled helplessly.

She was getting cleverer.

…..

Back home, Jiang Yuanxi threw down her bag and ran outside.

Chen Xinwan called after her, “Yuanxi, where are you going?”

“No homework today!” she answered without looking back.

Chen Xinwan felt uneasy.

She murmured, “Chun Zhi, do you think Yuanxi will grow up to be a gentle and well-mannered young lady?”

Chun Zhi and Chun Tao exchanged glances and smiled.

“Madam, in a month, Miss will turn two.”

“…She’ll probably just get even more mischievous.”