CHAPTER 261: CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE

At noon after class, Mr. Xiao called Zhao Yao over.

Zhao Yao frowned and said to the Eighth Prince, "Eighth Brother, you go back first."

"Don’t I need to wait for you?" The Eighth Prince was a bit worried.

"No need." Zhao Yao waved his hand at the Eighth Prince, "Eighth Brother, I’ll be fine. Go have your lunch quickly."

"Then I’ll head back first." The Eighth Prince knew that Mr. Xiao wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for Zhao Yao. Calling Zhao Yao over was probably because he hadn’t been paying attention in class.

Zhao Yao went to Mr. Xiao’s study. "Sir, what do you need from me?"

Mr. Xiao gestured for Zhao Yao to sit down. Zhao Yao obediently took a seat opposite him.

"You previously asked me to find teachers for you, and I have found a few."

Zhao Yao guessed that Mr. Xiao had called him over for this matter. Upon hearing this, his eyes instantly lit up, "Sir, thank you so much."

Mr. Xiao replied gently, "They are three friends of mine. Don’t worry, they will keep it confidential."

"Sir, thank you so much." Zhao Yao said gratefully.

"It’s nothing." Mr. Xiao handed a note to Zhao Yao, "These are their addresses. You can have your second uncle visit them directly."

Zhao Yao took the note and opened it. It detailed the names and addresses of the three teachers.

"Sir, do your three friends really not mind teaching orphans?"

"I told them it was on your request, and they agreed."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao showed a look of surprise and confusion on his face, "Why did they agree just because I asked?"

"These three friends of mine aren’t smooth operators. They have peculiar tempers like mine and don’t want to teach the children from noble or official families."

"So they are willing to teach children from humble families?"

"They also wish to achieve something." Mr. Xiao made no secret of it, "In the future, you will be enfeoffed and they want to follow you to your fief."

Hearing this, Zhao Yao understood the intentions of Mr. Xiao’s three friends.

"Sir, if your three friends are willing to follow me to my fief, I would be more than happy. However, it will be at least ten years before I go to my fief. Can they wait?"

"They can wait." Mr. Xiao gave Zhao Yao a deep look, hesitated, and then said, "You’re not only seeking teachers for orphans, are you?"

Zhao Yao was slightly taken aback by Mr. Xiao’s words. He then blinked and feigned ignorance, "Sir, I don’t understand what you mean."

"Tenth Highness, you’re not unintelligent. On the contrary, you’re quite clever." Mr. Xiao’s eyes were not piercing, but Zhao Yao felt Mr. Xiao had seen through him. "You’ve been hiding your talent."

Zhao Yao felt a tightness in his heart. He wanted to continue pretending to be ignorant, but facing Mr. Xiao’s perceptive gaze, he couldn’t keep up the act.

Mr. Xiao said nothing more and quietly looked at Zhao Yao.

Zhao Yao could sense that Mr. Xiao bore him no ill will. He hesitated internally for a moment, then candidly admitted, "I didn’t expect Sir to see through me." He smiled and continued, "I thought I played the fool well enough to deceive everyone. How did you notice, Sir?"

Upon Zhao Yao’s admission, a flicker of surprise crossed Mr. Xiao’s eyes, and then he smiled kindly.

"Creating a stirrup is not something a fool can do."

Zhao Yao said in amazement, "Sir, did you discover my pretense because of the stirrup?"

"No, I knew you were hiding your talent all along."

"Ah?" Zhao Yao was shocked, "You knew from the start?" Obviously, he had acted the fool so convincingly that no one, not even the astutely intelligent Eighth Brother, had noticed. How did Mr. Xiao notice?

"I’ve taught many students." Having extensive teaching experience, Mr. Xiao had encountered all sorts of students. He had seen students like Zhao Yao who hid their talents.

Zhao Yao understood what Mr. Xiao meant, and he immediately thought about how Mr. Xiao always patiently taught him, unlike other teachers who lacked patience with him.

"That’s why Sir treats me so well."

"You’re my student. It’s my responsibility to guide you well." Mr. Xiao liked Zhao Yao, not because he deliberately concealed his talent, but because he had a pair of clear, pure eyes.

Most people hide their talents for ambition, but Zhao Yao did so merely for survival.

Mr. Xiao knew Zhao Yao was different from the other princes; he was just an ordinary, simple child.

"Sir, your insight is indeed sharp." Zhao Yao chuckled, "Besides my mother, no one sees through my act of playing dumb."

Mr. Xiao smiled slightly, "I have always had a keen eye."