Today, with that madman Zhang showing up, the matter of Wei Yu entering the palace was effectively canceled.

He was entangled by Zhang Qingsheng the whole day — starting from after breakfast in the morning, all the way until late afternoon — being relentlessly questioned with “May I ask how this formula came about?”, “How do you solve this problem?”, “Why must it be done this way?”…

How to describe the process?

It was even more torturous than the Ten Great Tortures of the Qing Dynasty.

Wei Yu’s brain had long since been retired, but Zhang Qingsheng’s nonstop questions made his head throb and forced him to dredge up all his long-dead memories!

With such endless repetition, how could the word “torment” even begin to describe it?!

However, despite the agony, the result was very much to Wei Yu’s liking.

Because Zhang Qingsheng voluntarily chose to stay.

“Your Highness is my kindred spirit. Today, I shall stay in the city!”

Inside the room, sheets of paper covered in ink were scattered everywhere. Zhang Qingsheng, with his messy hair, sat in the middle of it all. Though he looked slightly haggard, the look he gave Wei Yu was bright and fiery.

At that moment, Wei Yu was holding a brush, his head full of math problems. Hearing that, he was a bit slow to react.

“Huh? Sir, you’re not returning to the academy?”

“Not returning! I won’t be back there for several days!”

Zhang Qingsheng lovingly caressed that middle school textbook, his eyes full of obsession. “To come across such a treasured tome — why go back? The academy has only delayed me.”

Wei Yu: …

What a true mad scholar.

“Oh right.” Zhang Qingsheng looked up at Wei Yu again, his gaze intense. “The other day Your Highness mentioned inviting me to your residence to read books. Does that invitation still stand?”

It’s only been two days — of course it still stands!

“Naturally, it does.”

Wei Yu keenly sensed Zhang Qingsheng’s hidden intent. He immediately sat up straighter and smiled warmly: “If you’re willing to come read at my residence, I would be honored to welcome you at any time! Knowing your love for arithmetic, I still have quite a few books here…”

“There are more!”

Wei Yu hadn’t even finished speaking when Zhang Qingsheng leapt to his feet, his face full of excitement. “There are really more books? Are they the same as this one, titled Middle School Arithmetic Textbook?”

“Sir, you are truly brilliant.”

Wei Yu clapped his hands with admiration, then turned and said to Xiao Anzi, “Go — bring over all the Middle School Arithmetic Textbooks in my study. Sir is waiting to read them!”

After that, Wei Yu turned back with a smile, “My residence is spacious, and there are plenty of courtyards. It’s already late today — if Sir doesn’t mind, why not stay here? It’ll make it easier for us to discuss academic matters together.”

Damn it, what academic discussions!

He would immediately have those two little ones come over and badger Zhang Qingsheng to accept them as disciples, forcing him to stay on as their math teacher!

Once Zhang Qingsheng became the math tutor for those two little brats, he’d be so busy teaching he wouldn’t even have time to pester Wei Yu about academic discussions, right?

Tsk.

Truly brilliant, as expected of himself.

It was as if Zhang Qingsheng had been waiting for Wei Yu to say exactly that — he immediately agreed.

“Since Your Highness insists, it would be impolite to refuse!”

Zhang Qingsheng stood up, energetically gathering the scattered draft papers. Bai Ban wanted to help, but Zhang Qingsheng wouldn’t allow it.

“Eh, no need, no need, I’ll do it myself.”

He carefully collected the papers, murmuring under his breath, “These are treasures that could be passed down through the generations. They can’t be damaged!”

Wei Yu: …

No need to go that far — it’s just a pile of drafts. Middle schoolers ruin a dozen sheets a day, seriously.

—

And so, the arithmetic maniac officially moved in.

Just like Liu Huaiyuan, Zhang Qingsheng got his own small courtyard, and the two of them even lived close to each other.

On the very first day Zhang Qingsheng moved in, Liu Jiuyuan and Liu Chanyi, the two children, happened to finish their lessons with Liu Huaiyuan.

Seeing servants bustling in and out of the neighboring courtyard, clearly tidying up, Liu Jiuyuan got curious.

She found a servant to ask, “Is someone moving in?”

“Yes. His Highness has ordered it — today the Dean of White Horse Academy will be staying at the Prince’s Residence. Moreover, Master Zhang will continue living here in the future.”

The Dean?

No longer a country bumpkin, Liu Jiuyuan clearly understood how important the title of Academy Dean was.

But hearing that the Dean was moving in, her first thought was: this must be another teacher His Highness found for them!

Straightening her face, Liu Jiuyuan turned and solemnly said to Liu Chanyi, “Junior Brother, His Highness found another teacher. I think Master Zhang is a teacher specially found for you.”

With her typical, straightforward engineering brain, Liu Jiuyuan felt that His Highness must be a good person.

His Highness had brought her into the Prince’s Residence, found her a teacher, and had her focus on studying. It made no sense that after Liu Chanyi came, His Highness wouldn’t find him a teacher too!

Therefore, this Dean from White Horse Academy must surely be the teacher His Highness had found for Junior Brother!

Liu Chanyi looked up at her, his eyes brightening. “A teacher?”

The little boy had been tricked back here with promises of studying. Sadly, after days with Liu Huaiyuan — a language teacher — he still hadn’t learned what he wanted to learn. Now, hearing that His Highness had found him a teacher, how could he not be thrilled?

Liu Jiuyuan nodded firmly and pointed to the courtyard next door. “Mhm. The Dean of White Horse Academy will be your teacher from now on.”

Liu Chanyi followed her finger, looking toward the unfamiliar courtyard.

An unfamiliar place didn’t matter.

Because his future teacher was inside. He would finally learn the knowledge he wanted!

Showing rare joy, Liu Chanyi asked, “Senior Sister, can I go meet the new teacher now?”

Can he?

Liu Jiuyuan thought for two seconds and decided: he can.

“I’ll go with you to pay respects to our new teacher.”

“Okay.”

Thus, before Wei Yu had even given any instructions, the two little rascals took it upon themselves to complete the quest.

On the first day Zhang Qingsheng moved in, before he could even warm the seat, he was greeted by two children knocking at his door.

Then, after a few questions and tests, he was stunned to discover—

These two kids were both exceptionally talented prodigies!

Thinking about His Highness the Wise King, Zhang Qingsheng was filled with emotion.

Back in the capital, the world had only ever talked about the older princes, speaking their names with admiration and respect. As for the Ninth Prince — there wasn’t even a whisper.

The struggles and intrigue among princes truly were bloodless battles.

The Wise King, opening his own residence, was already grooming talents — and such rare, gifted ones too — and even managed to lure Zhang Qingsheng in to serve as a teacher.

Tsk, tsk.

Truly a candid and forthright Wise King.

Was Zhang Qingsheng troubled by this?

Sorry — not at all.

Sure, getting involved in the struggle for the throne was risky, but the Wise King had already given him a once-in-a-lifetime, impossible-to-refuse treasure!

He had already accepted the bribe — how could he still say no?

It’s just a throne struggle, right?

Fight!