The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

Zhao Yin was a diligent and honest scholar who had endured over a decade of rigorous study. He rose early to read and stayed up late, maintaining a disciplined routine that demanded more effort than most. Therefore, even though he often accompanied Zong Wenxiu in studying until midnight, he never found it exhausting, as this was his comfort zone.

As a child, he had many siblings, but due to limited financial resources, only he was sent to the academy. His elders took on all the household chores, allowing him to focus solely on his studies.

In other words, studying was his forte.

Zhao Yin reflected on his life and mustered up courage again, silently comforting himself: "It's fine, it's fine. Teaching a student is nothing to be afraid of. At most, I’ll just have to act like Pan Hongzhi and pretend to admire the little devil."

Kids, after all, are easy to please.

He lay down on his bed and blew out the lamp.

However, the extinguishing of the light seemed to act as a signal, further stimulating the desire to talk. The little devil, lying on the bed in the opposite corner, turned over and thoughtfully asked, "Mr. Zhao, are you comfortable sleeping with me?"

Zhao Yin lied through his teeth, "Of course, I’m comfortable..."

In reality, a little voice inside him was already begging for mercy: "Please, let me go back. I want to sleep with that well-behaved child, Wenxiu!"

The little devil pondered and said, "I’m quite comfortable too."

Zhao Yin was suddenly horrified: "!!!"

No, no, no! Don’t get comfortable! I’m only here to substitute for three days. I need to go back!

In contrast to Zhao Yin’s anxiety, the little devil was much more relaxed. He murmured, "When Xu Wan first suggested sleeping together, I was really annoyed. But after my brother slept with me once, I thought it was quite nice. It’s so lively, much more fun than sleeping alone."

Zhao Yin closed his eyes and thought: That’s because you treat sleeping together as chatting. Who in their right mind would chat with you until midnight!

The little devil continued, "Mr. Pan is also great. He’s my most reliable friend and even teaches me how to defeat the students of Hanlin North Academy. I feel so lucky to have such a selfless teacher like him!"

Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Yin quickly chimed in, "Exactly! Hongzhi is not only knowledgeable but also has a deep understanding of Hanlin North Academy. I’m sure that under his guidance, Jincheng, you’ll dominate the four academies in no time!"

Say yes, say yes! As long as the little devil remains devoted to Pan Hongzhi, I’ll have nothing to do with this, and I can go back to my well-behaved child!

The little devil indeed got excited, "Right, right? You think so too! I’ve always said I’m destined to be the top of the four academies. Hanlin North Academy, all the so-called geniuses in the capital, Qin Ye, and all those great scholars—they’ll all be crushed under my feet!"

Zhao Yin: "..."

No, ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‍I really don’t think so. You’re way too arrogant, kid.

You’re really asking for a beating.

But as someone desperate to switch back with Pan Hongzhi, Zhao Yin had no choice but to grit his teeth and mimic Pan Hongzhi’s manner, closing his eyes and replying, "Of course..."

Once again receiving affirmation, the little devil let out an extremely arrogant laugh in the dead of night: "Hahahahaha..."

Zhao Yin pulled the blanket over his head, desperately covering his ears.

Endure, just endure.

There’s hope as long as I endure.

Zhao Yin took a deep breath, on the verge of regaining his composure, when suddenly the little devil said something that shattered all his efforts.

"But my brother also needs Mr. Pan..." Zong Jincheng counted on his fingers, "My brother is so good to me. He stands up for me, applies medicine for me, kneels in the ancestral hall for me, buys me pear juice, and even lent me a huge sum of money without expecting repayment. Fifty taels—that’s two and a half months of his savings, enough to support Da Jingzhe and his sister... Well, even though defeating Qin Ye is important, my brother is still the most important."

Zhao Yin felt like he couldn’t breathe.

"So I’ve decided..." Just as the little devil was about to speak, Zhao Yin finally threw off the blanket and sat up, shouting, "I scored higher than Pan Hongzhi!"

"Huh?" Zong Jincheng was confused, "What do you mean by scoring higher?"

"The imperial exams, my ranking is higher than his. I’ll definitely teach Wenxiu better than he can!" Zhao Yin was going crazy. If he didn’t speak up now, he was afraid he’d be stuck with the little devil for three years instead of three days.

Zong Jincheng exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Zhao, you’ve been hiding your talents! I was just about to say I’d let Mr. Pan teach my brother."

Zhao Yin broke out in a cold sweat.

So that’s what this kid was planning.

That was close.

Zhao Yin felt that the quickest reaction of his life was just now, when he showcased his abilities. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

After the little devil’s idea was dismissed, he continued to ask random questions, whatever came to mind. Zhao Yin, however, remained on high alert, not daring to relax, afraid that one wrong answer would lead to complete disaster.

Late into the night, the chatterbox finally tired out and gradually fell silent.

Only then did Zhao Yin relax. He let out a long sigh, thinking that he had finally survived the first night.

It was so hard. He was drenched in sweat but didn’t dare to get up and wash, fearing he might wake the little devil and cause even more trouble.

He forced himself to fall asleep quickly, as he still had to accompany the little devil in his studies the next day. He couldn’t afford to be listless...

Zhao Yin soon fell into a deep sleep.

"Ah! I remembered there’s another essay about study methods!"

In the dead of night, the little devil’s loud shout startled the birds in the courtyard, causing them to fly around in chaos until they bumped into the birdcage and fell unconscious.

Zhao Yin was jolted awake, feeling as if he had been struck by lightning. Trembling, he pulled the blanket back over his head...

After a night of torment, Zhao Yin looked like a frostbitten eggplant, completely wilted.

Pan Hongzhi, seeing his two dark circles early in the morning, laughed heartily. The tables had turned, and it was now his turn to mock Zhao Yin, who had once laughed at him mercilessly.

Zhao Yin looked utterly defeated, "Money is so hard to earn."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

After being pestered by the little devil all night, he had even considered puncturing his eardrums. He was so terrified that he vowed never to have children. It was too frightening. His younger siblings at home were never this energetic.

Pan Hongzhi gloated, "Brother Zhao, what time did you finally fall asleep last night?"

Zhao Yin replied numbly, "I don’t remember. Maybe around dawn. That kid doesn’t stay still even when he’s asleep. He fell off the bed, got up, and went right back to sleep. I’m the kind of person who, once woken up, can’t fall back asleep easily. I’m so jealous."

Then he suddenly asked, "How come you’re not affected? You always look so energetic."

Zhao Yin wondered, does being two years older really make you age that quickly?

He was only twenty-one, still in his prime!

Pan Hongzhi patted his shoulder and handed him two small round objects, offering some friendly advice, "Chat with him for a bit at night, then plug your ears and pretend to sleep. Otherwise, he’ll talk non-stop."