The Trick to Teasing a Noble Family's Son - Chapter 34.1

Wei Lan rose from her bed at a leisurely pace, only to find that Xie Zichen was already fully dressed and waiting in the courtyard. The space outside was already filled with people standing in small groups when she finally stepped out. Since the sky had yet to brighten, eunuchs held up lanterns to lead everyone toward the Northern Yong Palace.

The first day of school brought an unavoidable sense of nervousness to the group. With the exception of Xie Zichen and Wei Lan, the students were merely in their teens. Their cleverness did not prevent them from carrying a natural sense of awe for their teachers. No one spoke a word the entire way there, and even Huan Heng treaded with an uncharacteristic caution.

They stepped carefully into the Listening Hall of the Northern Yong Palace. Each person took a seat on their respective side, following the division by “study companions.” Not long after, the Crown Prince and the Third Prince entered the hall at a measured pace.

Both princes wore plain daily attire. After the formal greetings concluded, the two of them each took their places at the head seats. Wei Lan found her seat directly behind the Third Prince. He noticed her the moment he sat down, glancing over his shoulder and arching a brow.

“It seems we’re rather fated to meet,” he remarked.

“Surely it is Heaven itself, seeing the sincerity of my feelings for Your Highness, that has arranged for us to meet again in such close proximity,” Wei Lan replied with a smile, unable to hold back the teasing words at the sight of that beautiful yet thorned smile across from her.

The people nearby: …
So cold.

Su Cheng, after a moment of stiffness, finally said, “When it comes to being nauseating, you’ve truly mastered the art.”

With that, he turned his head away, clearly unwilling to converse further.

Wei Lan was content with the quiet, propping her chin on one hand and leafing through the book before her.

The books of Great Chu were almost identical to those of Great Liang, except for the reversal of male and female roles. Other than that, not a single character was altered. As the former top scorer of Great Liang’s imperial examinations, Wei Lan could recite these texts backwards.

With nothing better to do, she sat in her seat reviewing The Spring and Autumn Annals. It was not long before Grand Tutor Xie Qing made his entrance.

He was a distant paternal cousin of Xie Zichen and appeared to be in his early fifties. Dressed impeccably and with an upright bearing, his every movement as he walked in to begin the lecture was the very image of an aristocratic gentleman.

‘The sons of the Xie clan should be like orchids and jade trees.’

The phrase surfaced unbidden in Wei Lan’s mind, prompting her to glance at Xie Zichen, seated properly nearby.

Although he was a concubine-born son, he had been placed beside Wang Xi in the second row, perhaps out of regard for the Grand Tutor’s family ties. Sitting with perfect posture, he seemed to sense Wei Lan’s gaze and cast a faint look in her direction.

Their eyes met for a brief moment. Wei Lan feigned nonchalance and turned her head away as everyone rose to greet Xie Qing before sitting down once more.

For the first lesson, Xie Qing took some time to identify the students before beginning his lecture on The Spring and Autumn Annals. He had spoken for less than half an hour when a most unharmonious snore broke the quiet of the hall.

Everyone could not help but turn around to look toward Huan Heng, who had deliberately switched his seat to the last row. Xie Qing, who was in the midst of an impassioned lecture, also heard the sound. He put down his book and frowned.

“Young Master Huan?” he called softly.

Huan Heng offered no response, sleeping soundly behind a book he had propped up on his desk.

Xie Qing stood, walked over to the back of the room, and knelt beside him for a closer look.

The room was silent. Wei Lan let out a discreet cough which prompted Huan Heng to stir. He blinked his eyes groggily and mumbled, “I think I heard Ah Lan cough…”

Everyone: …

Xie Qing, still wearing a polite smile, looked at him quietly.

Opening his eyes to meet the elder’s face, Huan Heng nearly jumped out of his seat. He might have drawn his sword on reflex if not for the absence of a weapon. Once he recovered from the shock, he patted his chest.

“Grand Tutor, why are you sitting next to me? You scared me! Is class over?”

Looking around in confusion, he added, “If it’s over, why are you all still sitting here? Time to leave, time to disperse!”

He took two steps toward the door before Xie Qing said, “Young Master Huan, please copy today’s lecture content one hundred times and submit it to me tomorrow. Also, kindly recite today’s material in full before the morning class tomorrow.”

Huan Heng froze mid-step and turned back with wide eyes.

“Why?”

“Young Master Huan,” Xie Qing looked up with a pleasant smile, “will you still sleep in class in the future?”

“Why can’t you sleep in class?” Huan Heng asked, genuinely puzzled. “I’ve been sleeping in class since I was a child!”

Wei Lan knew this to be true. Huan Heng had little interest in reading anything aside from military strategy and storybooks. His father, a general, had never been strict about his studies. A nap during lessons was tolerated since Huan Heng trained so hard in martial arts during the day.

Over time, this tolerance had formed a habit; class time meant sleep time. In his private tutoring back home, the most advanced text he had ever encountered was the Thousand Character Classic, which he could barely follow. Now faced with The Spring and Autumn Annals, he had decided from the very outset to simply doze off.

He never expected that Xie Qing would have such high expectations of him. He thought about resisting, then remembered that defiance might get him sent back to the frontier by the Emperor. He scratched his head and simply said, “Alright.”

After all… he had Wei Lan.

When class finally ended, Huan Heng rushed straight to her with bright eyes. She sighed before he could even speak.

“I know what you want. Go memorize the text.”

“Ah Lan, you’re the best!” he cheered, grabbing a book and trotting over.

Huan Heng couldn’t recognize many characters, so memorization required Wei Lan to teach him word by word, breaking everything down for him to swallow bit by bit.

The other students trickled out, greeting them on their way. Xie Zichen was the last to leave besides the two of them. He glanced once at Wei Lan patiently reading to Huan Heng, then stepped outside and exchanged a few words with a eunuch. After a moment’s thought, he turned and came back inside.

Wei Lan looked up in mild surprise.

“Brother Xie?”