The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

But once the little devil was appeased and stopped howling about favoritism, Cheng Zhidong began teaching He Zheng how to read and write, using a book with carefully marked highlights.

He Zheng's memory was also quite good, and coupled with his intense focus on his studies, he picked up the characters very quickly. This secluded learning session lasted all day, and by the time half of the hour of XU (7:30 PM) had passed, Zong Jincheng and Zong Wenxiu were packing up to go to bed.

He Zheng was a bit stunned when he was called: "So early to sleep? Aren't scholars supposed to study until the hour of ZI (11:00 PM)?"

Zong Jincheng patted his shoulder and said, "That's for adults. Kids need more sleep, or else they won't grow tall."

"Ah... but I've only learned so little," He Zheng protested, not wanting to sleep.

Zong Jincheng pulled him up and said, "Don't worry, our teachers in the key class are all very capable. With your studying method, you're sure to pass the exams."

The little devil said this with his mouth, but in his heart, he was thinking: This is Xu Wan's idea. That woman may always oppose me, but when it comes to studying and exams, she's never been wrong.@@novelbin@@

It's strange—it's as if she's possessed by the spirit of a top scholar.

The little devil propped his cheek and pondered. Maybe one day, he should give Xu Wan a test?

He Zheng half-believed, half-doubted, stood up, but before leaving, he took the book with him.

Zong Wenxiu reminded him, "You don't need to take the book. You'll sleep with Teacher Cheng tonight. The teachers all have good routines—they wash up and then go to sleep, no time left for you to read."

"Ah?" He Zheng, like a little quail, listened as the two brothers explained the situation to him, yet he still hugged the "Meng Qiu" tightly in his arms.

At night, after the lights were out, the entire Marquis Manor fell silent.

He Zheng tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. This was his first time sharing a room with a stranger, and no matter how much he adjusted, he couldn't get comfortable. Especially after today's events, his long-held dream had finally come true.

The key class of Marquis Manor... who knew how much he loved that grand study. The room was vast and spacious, filled to the brim with all kinds of books. The fragrance of books and ink filled the air, even more perfect than he had imagined in his dreams.

But only for five months.

Five months later, if he didn't meet his father's expectations, he would have to leave this place...

The more He Zheng thought about it, the more distressed he became. In the middle of the night, thoughts always seemed to spiral into gloominess. He felt that he had finally gotten such a great learning opportunity but was wasting precious studying time by going to bed so early. This just wasn't right.

He fished "Meng Qiu" out from under his pillow, but the room was too dark, and even with the moonlight, he could hardly see the characters on the paper. He turned to look at Cheng Zhidong—in the dark, he couldn't make out his face, but the figure seemed quiet, probably asleep.

He thought: If I light a candle, it will surely wake Teacher Cheng, and he will definitely scold me to sleep immediately.

How can I read without waking Teacher Cheng?

He Zheng grabbed his quilt and rolled over, and suddenly, he had an idea...

At ZI (11:00 PM), the night was at its deepest.

Xu Wan had already sunk into a deep sleep, dreaming of Zong Jincheng holding a hundred thousand taels of silver, telling her with a smile: "I passed the first rank exam! This hundred thousand taels is for you."

Xu Wan was so happy that even her smile in the dream spilled over to the real world.

At that moment, a knock on the door from Cui Zhi outside interrupted Xu Wan's dream just as she was about to take the silver.

Xu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌‍Wan, in a frenzy: "!!!!!!!"

Ruining someone's sweet dream—it's worse than a lightning strike from heaven!!

Cui Zhi's voice, though low, carried a sense of urgency: "Madam, are you awake?"

Xu Wan calmed herself and responded: "Come in, what's the matter?"

Late at night, what urgent matter could it be?

She was furious—a little later and it would have been fine. Just a few seconds more, and she would have gotten the silver...

Cui Zhi pushed the door open and whispered, "He Zheng's room caught fire. The servants are putting it out."

"What??" Xu Wan instantly woke up.

She quickly scrambled out of bed, grabbed her clothes, and put them on while asking, "Is the child and the teacher all right? Did an assassin get into the manor? Why would they target He Zheng? He's only been here for a day..."

Cui Zhi helped Xu Wan put on her shoes and comb her hair while explaining, "Everyone's fine, and it wasn't a big fire either. Just He Zheng's bed caught fire, and since it was noticed early, the room didn't burn, and it should be out by now."

"He Zheng's bed?" Xu Wan, still foggy from just waking up, couldn't understand how a bed could catch fire.

She quickly put on her outer robe and rushed outside.

He Zheng lived in the courtyard next to Zong Jincheng, but the heavy sleeper that Zong Jincheng was, he didn't wake up at all. He just rolled over contentedly and went back to sleep, making Pan Hongzhi, who had been woken up, extremely jealous.

In the adjacent courtyard,Zong Wenxiu and Zhao Yin also rushed back.

"What happened, He Zheng? Are you all right?" Zong Wenxiu was the first to arrive, seeing the soot-covered and terrified He Zheng.

Xu Wan arrived shortly after, holding He Zheng and asking, "Are you okay? Cui Zhi, quickly go call the manor doctor to come take a look."

Zhao Yin turned to Cheng Zhidong and asked, "What's going on? How did your room catch fire?"

Cheng Zhidong was also dumbfounded: "I don't know. I woke up to see He Zheng trying to put out the fire on the bed, so I quickly called for help."

He Zheng trembled all over, scared to death that Xu Wan would blame him, not daring to say a word.

Summer nights had big temperature changes, and Xu Wan felt him shivering. Quickly she took off her cape and wrapped it around him.

"Come, Auntie will take you to another courtyard to sleep," Xu Wan said, leading him away, also telling the others, "It's all right, everyone go back to sleep, we'll talk tomorrow."

Zhao Yin took Zong Wenxiu back, and Cheng Zhidong wanted to follow, but Xu Wan told him to go back to his room to sleep. She had something to say to He Zheng.

Soon everyone dispersed. Xu Wan arranged for him in a new room, ordering someone to clean his face and change his clothes.

He Zheng, hearing Xu Wan wanted to question him, trembled all the way, dawdling over changing clothes, reluctant to come out.

Until Xu Wan stood up and approached, he hastily knelt on the ground, terrified: "I'm sorry Auntie, it's all my fault, I accidentally set the quilt on fire, causing this fire, making everyone wake up. I... I... I didn't do it on purpose, please, please don't send me away, I want to study, I want to stay at the Marquis Manor, I don't want to leave..."