The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

After deliberating for the entire journey on how to apologize, He Zheng found himself unable to utter a single word upon seeing Xu Wan. Terrified, he feared that the rare opportunity he had fought so hard to obtain would be ruined by his own hands.

Yet, all he had wanted was to study a bit more. He had never anticipated such an accident would occur.

Compensating the Marquis Manor financially was manageable, but the bigger issue was the essence of the matter. If Xu Wan discovered that he was willing to go to any lengths just to study, she would surely banish him, just like his biological father had done.

He knew his father was disappointed in him.

Xu Wan, with a frown, pulled him up and said, "The House Physician is here. Let him check you first. We'll talk about the rest later."

"Um..." He Zheng trembled as he got up.

The House Physician led him inside, where he took off his clothes for a thorough examination. He found a few minor burns on He Zheng's body, but the boy didn't make a sound.

While a servant helped He Zheng put on his clothes, the House Physician attended to his wounds and applied medicine.

A while later, the House Physician emerged and reported to Xu Wan, "Madam, Young Master He has three minor burns, two on his arms and one on his hand. The injuries have been treated with medicine. He should avoid strenuous arm movements for the next few days and rest well to recover."

Xu Wan politely replied, "Thank you for your efforts, especially so late at night."

"It's my duty, Madam. You're too kind."

"Cui Zhi, see that the House Physician gets back and rests," Xu Wan instructed.

"Yes."@@novelbin@@

Once everyone had left the room, it was just Xu Wan and He Zheng.

He Zheng was about to kneel and beg for forgiveness when Xu Wan asked, "What were you doing lighting a fire in your blanket?"

He Zheng stammered, "I... I was studying, but I was afraid of waking Teacher Cheng, so I lit a candle inside my blanket..."

Xu Wan: "...

This kind of studying method, she had actually used herself.

During her boarding school days, the dormitory lights went out early. Wanting to read a bit more without disturbing others, she'd hidden a flashlight under her blanket to study.

But she had a flashlight.

What was he thinking, lighting a candle inside a blanket?

He Zheng was scared to say, "I raised the blanket with my body and squatted on the bed to study. I, I left enough space so the candle wouldn't touch the blanket, but later, I got too tired and dozed off... and the blanket caught fire..."

Xu Wan could already picture the scene.

On one hand, she understood his intentions, but on the other, she felt a headache coming on. Still, she couldn't help but add, "A candle in a completely sealed blanket would go out."

He Zheng nodded, "At first, it kept going out, but then I propped up a corner of the blanket, creating an opening, and the candle stayed lit. The opening was on the side facing away from Teacher Cheng..."

Xu Wan inwardly marveled. What a smooth operation he had set up. If not for the accidental doze, it could have been a flawless plan.

Now she understood why he was one of the Four Little Trouble-Makers.

For the sake of studying, he could be obedient, but he also indulged in all sorts of mischief – like repeatedly climbing walls and breaking his arm, or drugging his father to sneak out and read.

And now, he almost burnt his room down just to study.

His intentions were good, and his tricks held a bit of logic, but his mindset, methods, and approach were all wrong.

If it were Jin Cheng, he would have reasoned and persuaded her or Teacher Cheng. At worst, he’d engage Teacher Cheng in endless conversation, extracting knowledge through dialogue. Or he'd find a safer method like capturing fireflies and placing them in a lantern without a candle.

As for Wenxiu, he wouldn’t dare defy her orders or devise tricks. At most, he’d close his eyes and silently recite what he learned, avoiding trouble and not disturbing others.

But He Zheng was similar to Zong Jincheng – overly creative in thought but accustomed to acting alone, resulting in unintentional mistakes and literally bumping his head until he bled.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌‍boy pitifully knelt, begging for forgiveness, all to prevent being banished, invoking both sympathy and sternness.

Xu Wan took a deep breath and began to educate the child, "Teacher Cheng already told you during the day that following our teaching methods, you can pass the Child Prodigy Class entrance exam within five months. Jin Cheng and Wenxiu were both admitted under our guidance. Do you lack faith in us or in yourself?"

He Zheng meekly replied, "I just fear... the unpredictable, so I wanted to work a bit harder."

"Then why didn't you explain to Teacher Cheng?" Xu Wan asked, "You could have clearly stated your thoughts to him. Perhaps he would have granted you an extra half hour each day."

He Zheng's eyes lit up in disbelief. "Would... would he?"

Xu Wan said, "You’ll never know unless you ask. If you don’t ask, it will never happen. I understand you’re afraid to speak up in front of your father, but the people here aren’t your father. Everyone you’ll meet in the future has a different personality. All big and small matters in this world require you to take the initiative; only then can you be certain."

He Zheng nodded blankly, "Alright, aunty, I’ll listen to you. I’ll inform you and Teacher Cheng beforehand about anything I plan to do. I’ll change."

Xu Wan exhaled, continuing her lecture, "Then let me talk about lighting a candle in your blanket. I ask you, if the fire hadn’t burnt the blanket during your nap, what were you planning? Study until dawn? Then wash your face and continue studying?"

He Zheng: "...

He hadn't thought that far. He just wanted to study more, adhering to Xu Wan's principle of utilizing every spare moment to read.

Xu Wan corrected him, "The human body has its limits, and exceeding them won't always manifest as illness. But if you persist in staying awake without sleep, you’ll die within seven days."

He Zheng shuddered at the word 'death,' recalling the day his father almost strangled him, mistakenly believing he intended patricide.

"Aunty... Aunty, I was wrong. I made a huge mistake... I..." He Zheng, genuinely frightened, apologized repeatedly.

"Not done yet," Xu Wan continued.

He Zheng: "..."

Xu Wan expounded on the details, "You woke up from dozing off when the fire burnt you, being in pain led to your realization of the fire. But what if the fire hadn’t burnt you, and had started burning the bed first? The smoke could have choked you unconscious before you even had a chance to call for help. You and Teacher Cheng, who is diligently preparing you for the Child Prodigy Class, might have burnt to death in that fire."

He Zheng recoiled in terror.

He could hardly believe that his mere desire to study could endanger Teacher Cheng, who had been so kind, teaching him to read and write, and even marking the important points in his studies.

He Zheng was overcome with regret.

Xu Wan maintained a stoic expression, watching him sternly.

In truth, the blanket's fire probably would have burnt He Zheng before it could have suffocated him. But to terrify the boy, Xu Wan exaggerated that minuscule possibility to instill a deep sense of fear about the consequences of his actions.

This child was unlike Jin Cheng or Wenxiu; he was too stubborn. Persuasive tales suited for his intense nature would help make him reflect on his actions and reconsider his approach to future endeavors.