The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Pan Hongzhi was the youngest of the three private tutors, having passed the imperial examination at the tender age of nineteen with a commendable rank. With his results, he could have taken up a minor official position, but having grown up in poverty, he was more inclined to pursue a lucrative livelihood to support his family.

The monthly stipend from Hanlin Academy was already higher than what most people earned outside, and what Marquis Manor offered was an amount he had never even dared to dream of. Thus, no matter how he felt personally, he always tried to suppress his emotions.

However, the little devil beside him was not pleased.

Glaring at him, he declared, "Hanlin North Academy... just wait for me to defeat you!"

Pan Hongzhi: "..."

So, all the grievances against Hanlin were now being directed at him? The situation didn't look too promising...

Xu Wan glanced at them and said, "Tutor Pan, please come out with me."

"Yes."

As the two stepped out, the little devil quickly leaned over and asked, "Brother, were you really not lying to me earlier?"

Zong Wenxiu was both amused and exasperated. "Really, I wasn't. You'll see for yourself. By the way, weren't you feeling bored? I think you should consider how to extract knowledge from Tutor Pan..."

"Extract knowledge?" The little devil, hearing this unfamiliar phrase, rolled his eyes and began to ponder seriously.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Pan Hongzhi's mood was anxious. His clear and rational mind in studies was now in complete disarray. Learning was the simplest for him, but teaching others was not, especially someone with the temperament of the little devil.

Xu Wan stood in the courtyard, looking him up and down. "Tutor Pan, your attire makes you look a bit old."

The nineteen-year-old youth, dressed in a somber long gown, appeared to be in his late twenties.

Pan Hongzhi hadn't expected the first comment to be about this. He replied somewhat sheepishly, "The young tutors at Hanlin North Academy all dress like this. I was taught to dress this way upon entering the academy, as it gives a more authoritative and dignified presence over the students."

Xu Wan nodded with a smile. "I understand, but it doesn't quite apply to Jincheng. He doesn't feel close to tutors; a senior brother figure would be more effective in communicating with him."

"Senior brother?"

Xu Wan smiled. "Yes, you are a scholar of this year's imperial examination, only one year ahead of him. Being his senior brother would make it easier to get along with him. I hope you can interact like friends, subtly instilling a learning mindset in him through daily interactions."

"Being friends with Young Master Cheng... is probably even harder than teaching him," Pan Hongzhi replied honestly.

So far, apart from his elder brother, Zong Wenxiu, the only people around Zong Jincheng were a bunch of spoiled brats. Becoming his friend seemed quite challenging.

Xu Wan smiled. "Then let me teach you a method."

"Hmm?"

"Make him admire you," Xu Wan said. "What Jincheng is learning now is quite basic, but you know that the imperial examination tests much deeper knowledge, which this little devil has never encountered..."

Pan Hongzhi suddenly understood and finally smiled. "Thank you for your guidance, Madam. I understand now."

The moving plan was not executed immediately.

Since both children's bedrooms had large beds, squeezing in an additional bed would be too cramped. The most suitable solution would be to custom-make two bunk beds, which would facilitate better communication.

However, it was too unconventional, and Xu Wan didn't want to attract unnecessary attention or trouble.

"Tomorrow, order four beds, all single-sized, and place them in opposite corners of the room, leaving some space."

Xu Wan didn't actually intend for them to sleep right next to each other from the start, with no sense of privacy. Otherwise, the little devil might throw a tantrum and refuse to cooperate. By placing the beds farther apart initially, perhaps he would later request to have them closer together.

Cui Zhi asked, "Madam, the young masters usually sleep on large beds. Are you sure about replacing them all with small beds? Should we prepare a small couch for the tutors?"

Xu Wan refused. "No, if they are to live together, it should be on equal terms. These two children don't need such large beds; it would be a waste of space."

"..." Alright, the madam has the final say.

While Xu Wan went to select beds for the four of them, the tutors spent the night tossing and turning, and the two brothers were also in a complex mood.

Just before bedtime, Xu Wan sent a message that Zong Wenxiu would be spending the night with Zong Jincheng.

Both were a bit confused.

But Zong Wenxiu quickly understood that the madam wanted his younger brother to get used to sharing a room with someone. He immediately agreed, "Alright, I'll go."

The little devil's mixed feelings hadn't subsided when he heard the news. He couldn't quite tell if he was happy or not, but in the end, it all turned into a sense of novelty.

The servants helped the two young masters wash up and get into bed. Shunzi asked, "Young Master Cheng, Young Master Xiu, would you like two quilts or one?"

Zong Jincheng's large bed naturally came with a large quilt, but considering he had never shared a bed with anyone before, the question was asked.

"Hmm..." Zong Jincheng hesitated, not answering yet.

Zong Wenxiu stepped in to help. "Two quilts, let's get used to it first."

"Yes."

Zong Jincheng was still lying in bed, feeling bewildered. The quilts were quickly brought in, and each had their own little blanket to lie under.

It was hard to describe the feeling.

Suddenly, there was a stranger in the room... well, not a stranger, but a familiar person. The air seemed a bit more crowded, but since it was his brother, he didn't feel repelled—just a bit odd.

In the darkness, it was very quiet.

The little devil turned over and asked, "Brother, are you asleep?"

Zong Wenxiu's voice came through. "Not yet, I can't sleep at this hour. I'm silently reciting some essays."

Zong Jincheng: "!"

His temper flared up instantly. "No wonder I've been studying for so long and still lag behind you. You're actually reciting essays while lying in bed at night!!"

The little devil sat up abruptly, angrily accusing him, feeling utterly deceived.

Damn it, even his brother was secretly outworking him!

Zong Wenxiu laughed and pulled him back down, explaining, "I'm just used to staying up past midnight. Since the madam has been insisting on earlier bedtimes, I haven't adjusted yet. But lying in bed and reciting essays for a while makes me sleepy and helps me fall asleep."

Hearing this, the little devil was satisfied. He said smugly, "See, I told you, reciting essays makes you sleepy—a great sleep aid!"

Zong Wenxiu chuckled and went along with it. "Yes, you're absolutely right."

The room fell silent again.

Not long after, the little devil asked again, "Brother, are you asleep?"

"...Not yet," Zong Wenxiu's voice carried a hint of drowsiness, but the little devil was still wide awake.

Zong Jincheng muttered, "When you lived in the slums, did you often go hungry and cold?"

"Hmm..." The drowsiness grew heavier.

The little devil continued, "Did you all huddle together under one quilt when you slept?"

"Hmm... sometimes there might not even be a quilt."

"Huh?" The little devil was stunned. "No quilt? Then what did you cover yourselves with?"

"Clothes, I guess."

The little devil lay in bed with wide eyes, getting more and more awake as they talked. He asked again, "What do you think Xu Wan is up to? I've been studying hard, but she keeps coming up with these weird tricks to mess with me."

...

After waiting a long time without a response, the little devil reached out and poked the person beside him, asking for the third time, "Brother, are you asleep?"