The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Zong Jincheng nodded affirmatively. "That makes sense. Let’s start investigating."

The young boys leapt up from their chairs in unison, agilely scattering to search through the bookshelves. When it came to energy and initiative, these little scions were truly unmatched.

"Xinglu, check the history of the Qin dynasty. There were many political reforms back then, and high-ranking officials often faced threats to their lives. So, they must have cultivated many trusted confidants. Otherwise, without loyal subordinates to carry out their orders, they’d easily be betrayed."

"Brilliant! That really opens up the line of thinking! I’ll go look into the Qin dynasty!"

"Jincheng, and the Tang dynasty too—there were so many coups during the Tang. Would they dare rebel without trusted allies by their side?"

"Exactly! No wonder there were factions like the Crown Prince’s faction and the Princes’ faction. It’s always one group against another when it comes to rebellion."

"So, non-factional subordinates really shouldn’t be entrusted with important matters. What if there’s a spy among them? Then everyone’s heads would roll, right?"

"Good grief, brothers, weren’t we discussing the appointment of trusted officials? How did we end up researching rebellions? How many people promote subordinates just to rebel?"

……

The debates in the Marquis Manor Elite Class grew louder. The boys giggled and bickered as they flipped through historical texts, their arguments growing more sophisticated, even quoting classics to bolster their points.

Outside in the pavilion, Xu Wan ate pomegranates, the lively chatter of the boys drifting to her ears on the gentle autumn breeze. It felt like returning to the pure, uncomplicated days of school.

"How lively," Xu Wan remarked nostalgically.

Cui Zhi chuckled. "Madam enjoys the liveliness now, but earlier, you were worried about having too many children in the manor."

Xu Wan smiled faintly. "I do love a lively atmosphere, and I adore having lots of children. But the condition is… don’t make me raise them all, alright?"

Playing with a crowd of children is joy; raising them is madness.

Cui Zhi stifled a laugh. "Madam, you’d actually be perfect for running an academy as its headmistress. The teachers would handle the children, and you could simply enjoy watching them study and play."

Xu ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‍Wan considered the idea. It wasn’t a bad goal.

Once this volume’s Queen Mother secured a hundred thousand taels of silver, her first order of business would be to open a grand academy and indulge in the role of headmistress.

By evening, the boys had finally completed their tasks and dispersed to bed. Zong Jincheng hesitated for a moment before heading to his mother’s courtyard.

Xu Wan had just removed her hairpins when he arrived. She turned to him and asked, "What’s the matter? Not nervous about tomorrow’s discussion, are you? It’s not a debate—there’s no winning or losing."

The little troublemaker shook his head. "No, today we studied a lot of history and uncovered the pros and cons of appointing trusted officials. We’ll definitely give you a thorough discussion tomorrow. But… I’ve been thinking about another question, unrelated to the discussion."

"What question?" Xu Wan turned fully toward him, reinserting a hairpin as she prepared to stand.

In the flickering candlelight, the boy looked up at her and asked, "Do non-factional people feel wronged when they’re abandoned?"

……

Xu Wan froze, her hand pausing mid-air.

It was like reopening an old wound—one she thought had long healed, only to realize the scar had never truly faded.

Lowering her gaze, she murmured, "They would. Anyone would feel hurt if they were cast aside."

Zong Jincheng pressed further. "Mother, have you ever been abandoned?"

Seeing her distant expression, the little troublemaker suddenly recalled her past in the Shangshu Manor—how her mother and sister had treated her poorly, and how her father had failed her too.

Her earlier days must have been so hard.

Xu Wan’s eyes wavered, but she managed a faint smile. "Yes, I suppose."

She had been abandoned by her parents, and once by a superior too. Because she wasn’t their favorite, not their most trusted, she would never be their first choice.

Zong Jincheng suddenly rushed forward, colliding into her. His small, chubby arms wrapped around her tightly as he declared with solemn conviction, "Mother, from now on, I’ll protect you. You’re the most important person to me. I’ll never, ever abandon you."

The little body in her arms was warm. Xu Wan tilted her head up, fighting back the tears stirred by his words.

The closest bonds in this world didn’t have to be tied by blood. The familial affection she had missed in both her past and present life—she had finally found it in a child who shared no blood relation with her.

At last, she had someone who considered her the most important.

Xu Wan wrapped her arms around him, gently patting his back as she whispered, "Alright… I believe you. My Jincheng will protect his mother for a lifetime."

The little troublemaker beamed up at her, immediately launching into another grand proclamation. "Mother, I’ll study hard, pass the imperial exams, and become a second-rank official! Then I’ll ask the Emperor to grant you the title of second-rank noble consort!"

Xu Wan burst into laughter, utterly helpless against his silver tongue. Amused, she humored him, "Yes, yes, do your best. I’ll wait to bask in the glory of my second-rank official son."

The little troublemaker preened. "Mm! Just wait for me!"

After Zong Jincheng left, Xu Wan sat at her table for a long time, lost in thought. Remembering her first encounter with the boy, it felt like a lifetime ago.

And then she recalled that embrace—so warm.

Xu Wan exhaled deeply. "That boy… he sure knows how to ambush an old mother’s heart."

The next day, as the sun rose, the discussion began.

But today’s audience was larger than expected. Aside from Baili Xi and the other tutors, Xu Wan had also invited two officials—one from the Wei family and one from the Shen family.

Li Qi, Investigating Censor of the Court of Censors, seventh rank.

Zhang Zheng, Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites, sixth rank.

The debate topic had been proposed by the Crown Prince, organized and promoted by Xu Wan, with all the participating boys being sons of influential families. The Wei and Shen families, eager to support their children’s education, had immediately sent two officials on their day off to assist.

Baili Xi stroked his beard, nodding approvingly.

Excellent, excellent—making full use of every available resource to help the children learn, understand, and apply their knowledge. Only now did he genuinely believe, deep down, that these boys might truly shine in the imperial examinations.

The five private tutors were utterly awestruck.

Though they held some prestige among scholars, they were merely provincial graduates and metropolitan graduates—nowhere near the standing of actual officials.

Especially these two, who had been dispatched on their day off—clearly trusted and favored subordinates, undoubtedly the right-hand men of the Right Censor-in-Chief and the Minister of Rites.

Jiang Yan whispered to Pan Hongzhi, "A Crown Prince’s tutor, private instructors with provincial graduate qualifications, and now even court officials guiding them… This Elite Class is terrifying. Forget Hanlin North Academy—even the sons of chancellors wouldn’t have access to such high-level learning conditions! This is too much… it’s just too much…"