Chapter 51

Chapter 51

"It's scalding," Pei Zhuo complained.

Summer had arrived; who would want to drink hot water now?

Disdain was written all over his face, but he still lowered his head and took a sip. The hot water made his already rosy lips even more vivid.

Xiao Xun: "My apologies."

The students, led by Jin She, felt uneasy. The Emperor standing and serving tea to Master Pei while they sat and watched was clearly inappropriate. However, the harmonious relationship between the Emperor and Empress made it even more awkward for them to stand and greet the Emperor.

This scene, straight out of a storybook, was too perfect to ruin. If only they could be invisible spectators!

Master Pei glanced up through the steam rising from the tea and noticed the stupefied students.

Oh no, he had gotten so used to being alone with the Emperor these past two days that he momentarily forgot to maintain a facade in front of others.

He snatched the teapot and shooed Xiao Xun off: "Your Majesty, please attend to your own affairs."

Xiao Xun nodded and casually walked away.

The students eagerly watched the Emperor, but it was clear that Xiao Xun was not one to flaunt his authority. He didn’t overshadow the host or give any orders.

This was Master Pei's stage; he was merely the one serving tea.

The storybooks said that Master Pei and the Emperor interacted casually, like a common couple, but they had their doubts. No matter how good the relationship between the Emperor and Empress was, the Empress would still have to greet the Emperor with respect—that was the rule of the palace.

However, the Emperor and Empress were not the type to be overly formal!

So informal, coming and going as he pleased, so casual that they forgot to bid the Emperor farewell.

The students were drenched in sweat; they’d committed a serious breach of etiquette!

But no one seemed to care... unless the Emperor and Empress's relationship soured, and the Emperor later recalled this scene and had them all executed.

Jin She touched the back of his neck. With Master Pei around, he felt his head was safe.

A sense of security... these words flashed through Jin She’s mind. He had been present at the Peach Blossom River incident that day and witnessed firsthand how Master Pei, who was initially unharmed, slipped and disappeared into the water while trying to help a student who was about to fall in.

Master Pei would protect his students; they only needed to focus on teaching.

Teachers ought to protect their students; they should also cherish their young charges like Master Pei.

Master Pei cleared his throat: "Everyone, did you bring the high school materials to Yangzhou?"

Jin She: "We did."

Master Pei encouraged them: "Teaching in Yangzhou isn’t the end but the beginning. One should pursue lifelong learning. If you tackle challenges in the future, you can still write to me and come to the capital for further studies."

Master Pei: "I’ve also brought back materials for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies—advanced mathematics, biochemistry, organic chemistry... there’s no end to learning."

The students looked at each other and lowered their heads.

Undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies? They were still grappling with high school material and had to teach elementary school. They couldn’t even imagine how profound those advanced studies would be!

Some of them had come to Yangzhou to teach because they lacked the ability, and they’d felt a bit frustrated.

Now, all their frustrations were gone. Ahhh, no undergraduate studies! No advanced mathematics! Teaching elementary school is an honor indeed!

They still remember the top student in their class, who struggled so much with advanced math that he had to ask the principal to write a memorial to the Emperor for help.

Submitting a memorial every three days somehow didn’t anger the Emperor, but it made everyone nervous for the top student.

What a combination of genius and cluelessness! Always bringing up the Emperor’s pain!

Pei Zhuo could tell just from their expressions. His encouragement was as useless as the 4523’s promotion.

Jin She used the example of the top student writing memorials to show just how hard advanced math was.

As Pei Zhuo listened, he rubbed the armrest, wondering if this counted as filling in for his husband... no, for his teacher.

Xiao Xun was actually willing to answer questions—Pei Zhuo hadn’t taught for nothing, though it had come at a small cost.

He pressed the back of his hand to his flushed cheek.

What was Xiao Xun’s mood while answering questions? Was he gritting his teeth or seething with resentment? After all, Pei Zhuo had left abruptly, yet Xiao Xun had handled everything so meticulously, clearly expecting him to return.

Would this quiet act of kindness come with a price tag?

Pei Zhuo snapped out of his thoughts and told the students, "It’s okay if you don’t pursue higher studies. Just keep reading middle school textbooks, and you can become middle school teachers as your students advance."

Students: Great, great—as long as we don’t have to study advanced math, we’re good.

Pei Zhuo: "Alright, let’s hear your teaching plans one by one."

...

Two hours later, Pei Zhuo stretched and said, "Tomorrow I’ll head back to the capital. I’m leaving Jiangnan’s education in your hands. Earlier, I took in some beggars and taught them pinyin. They’re ready for first grade. Jin She, you’re in charge of the new year’s enrollment. Organize them into a class and make sure there’s no discrimination on campus."

Jin She bowed and said, "I’ll follow your instructions, Teacher."

Pei Zhuo: "The funds from the Emperor’s crackdown on canal transport corruption will all go toward education. Don’t hold back—go all out to nurture talents for Great Xuan!"

"Students will do their utmost."

The night before leaving Yangzhou, Pei Zhuo brought FuFu to say goodbye to the beggars.

He’d bought this courtyard to be a shared home for the beggars. Zhang Yun and Zhang Feng, two kids, would go with him to the capital. They’d spent so much time with FuFu they couldn’t bear to leave.

Summer nights were perfect for cooling off, and the group sat in a circle in the courtyard as Pei Fufu said goodbye to each one.

Pei Fufu: "I won’t be able to beg for you anymore. You’ll have to do it yourselves."

Pei Zhuo chuckled: "From now on, everyone will have food."

Pei Fufu: "Grandma too?"

Pei Zhuo: "Yes."

Pei Fufu’s eyes widened, and he ran to an old beggar, asking, "Grandpa too?"

Pei Zhuo: "Yes."

Pei Fufu went around pointing at each person, making sure everyone would have food.

"Really!"

Pei Zhuo said, "Because FuFu begged so much food from the uncle with sixty-four dishes, it’ll last a while."

Pei Fufu pursed his lips, making the baby fat on his cheeks even more noticeable.

We should look for more kind uncles like him.

Everyone present knew the true identities of Pei Zhuo and Pei Fufu. They say children have short memories, but the Crown Prince, despite his noble status, did not forget them before leaving.

The old beggar wiped his tears. After becoming a beggar, he thought he would die aimlessly on the streets. He even tried to lessen the Crown Prince's burden of begging, but Master Pei encouraged them to live well, mentioning that "industrialization" was on the horizon. Even with a lame leg, he could still contribute.

He waited, anticipating the White Jade Capital.

...

Pei Zhuo carried FuFu back, who had been overly excited but was now asleep, and saw Xiao Xun personally packing his luggage.

Xiao Xun's serious expression made Pei Zhuo wonder if he might open a "Queen's Museum," showcasing all the everyday items he and Pei Fufu had used.

Hearing Pei Zhuo's footsteps but not FuFu's, Xiao Xun swiftly turned and rushed to the door, taking the little one who was asleep on his father's shoulder.

"You're back."

After handing over the child, Pei Zhuo felt somewhat relieved: "FuFu is already asleep."

Xiao Xun didn't put FuFu on the bed right away but held him in his arms, gently patting his back and soothing him for a while.

Pei Zhuo had no idea where Xiao Xun picked up his child-comforting skills, but it seemed quite professional. He reassured him: "He sleeps like a log, no need for all this, just plop him on the bed."

Xiao Xun seemed to have something on his mind but stayed silent.

Recalling what his students had said about Xiao Xun teaching advanced math, Pei Zhuo thanked him sincerely: "Thank you for answering the students' questions while I was away."

Xiao Xun gazed at him for a moment and asked a seemingly unrelated question: "Does FuFu sleep with you every night?"

Pei Zhuo said, "Yes."

Xiao Xun: "Hold off on thanking me."

Pei Zhuo: "..." You're actually planning to demand a reward.

Xiao Xun carried the little one to the bed, holding him with one hand while arranging the pillows on the bed with the other.

He wasn't about to take away Pei Fufu's right to sleep with his dad just because he'd become a father.

The kid's only a year and a half, and the father-son bond is still pretty new. What if he ends up not liking him over this?

The three of them would sleep together, and the reward would have to be put on hold.

Pei Zhuo tentatively followed him to the bedside: "Well... after all, education is the backbone of the country, the future of the nation, something you, as emperor, must prioritize. You should be thanking me."

Xiao Xun: "Yes, I'll repay you with my life."

Pei Zhuo thought, what a crafty emperor, but he couldn't say no.

...

Early the next morning, the Emperor's dragon boat departed for the capital. Pei Zhuo left the posthouse, and on his way to the dock, he felt like the people's enthusiastic stares were about to burn a hole through his face.

"Look, that's the fairy queen! He's holding the Crown Prince's hand!"

"The red rope on the queen's hand, I have the same one. Which royal is Master Lü Lü? He had the nerve to sell it, but I almost didn't have the nerve to wear it."

"Everyone’s wearing it, so it’s fine. Our Emperor is truly one of a kind, with a heart as vast as the ocean."

"Mine was bought by my father in Yujing, a limited edition for the Year of the Goat, just like the Empress’s."

"Ah, mine is this year’s puppy design."

Pei Zhuo spotted dozens of identical bracelets in an instant. The weather was a bit hot, so he raised his hand to shield his eyes from the sun, exposing the thin string on his wrist, which set off a wave of gasps.

"..." Is it really such a big deal?

Pei Zhuo had been in Yangzhou for a month and was already famous for taking in beggars. Last night, when he appeared without disguise at the beggar’s courtyard, people finally connected "Mr. Zhang" with Master Pei and the Empress.

They called Mr. Zhang a heaven-sent savior, and indeed he was. Now the Emperor is coming to take him back.

The Empress, devoted to saving the people, really is as amazing as the stories say!

A bit closer, just a bit—the Emperor won’t mind.

There were too many people in the city who had been asked for food by the Crown Prince. Pei Fufu, sharp-eyed, would greet them whenever he saw them, causing the procession to move exceptionally slowly, completely oblivious to his father’s embarrassment.

The canal was packed with onlookers for miles, and it wasn’t until an hour later that it became quiet.

Pei Zhuo lay on the small couch by the window, enjoying the river breeze. The Emperor’s boat was seriously comfortable.

"The folks in Yangzhou are way too friendly."

Xiao Xun, finally free from official duties on the boat, focused on taking care of the child.

He said indifferently, "Can’t take the heat?"

Pei Zhuo: "Huh?"

Xiao Xun: "Yujing is where all these stories come from."

Pei Zhuo: "You’re not even trying to rein it in?!"

Xiao Xun said coolly, "Oh, because you didn’t write to ask me to control it. If I’d known, I wouldn’t have bothered."

"..." Xiao Xun would never let him live down not writing.

Pei Zhuo had no clue he’d left but was still alive in the stories.

"Dad! It’s the uncle who traffics people!" Pei Fufu, who loved the deck, was the first to spot the figure in red on the shore.

The fleet would dock at the pier, and Xiao Xun, having discovered issues on the way, would deal with the locals on the way back.

However, he settled accounts quickly, having sent guards ahead to handle things. Xiao Xun was basically there to strip them of their titles.

Xiao Fei waited on the shore for the boat to dock and immediately spotted the little one on the deck of the central ship.

He’d heard this was his very own nephew!

The sailors tossed ropes to moor the boat, and Pei Fufu loved watching the docking, eager to climb to the edge.

To stop him from doing something risky, Pei Zhuo tied a cloth strip to his clothes and secured it to the boat to keep him from falling into the water.

Pei Fufu looked up at the sailors tossing the ropes: "Uncle’s got some serious muscles!"

"How many bowls of rice does Uncle eat? My dad should eat that much too."

The boatman was initially flustered when Crown Prince started chatting with him, but later got used to it and could even respond calmly.

"One bowl of rice, a big bowl."

Pei Fufu: "Your bowl is so big, Uncle!"

Xiao Fei, hearing the little one address someone else as "uncle" from a few meters away, was consumed with jealousy.

Tch.

Clearly, only he is the uncle, no one else gets to be called Uncle!

How could his nephew call someone else "uncle"?!