I'm the Farmgirl You Can't Mess With

Chapter 1306: Years (2)

Qi Xiuyuan had already made up his mind to guide the Crown Prince to take over the government, with Fan Zijin assisting the Crown Prince. Therefore, not only was Qi Xiuyuan slowly handing over his authority to his son, but even Rong Xuan began to hand over his authority to Fan Zijin.

Even though Fan Zijin was smart, he had to ‘cross the river by feeling the rocks’ because there was no precedent to follow in the reform of the official system. In addition, he suddenly had to bear so much responsibility, so he was occupied with politics all day every day. Moreover, he had to supervise Qi Xiuyuan’s treatment and ensure he took his medicine. Also, he had to communicate with Little Treasure, plus take care of Little Bear whose parents were not by his side…

As a result, he inevitably neglected his biological son. Therefore, when Little An became a xiucai and suggested going to his Fourth Uncle, becoming a traveling scholar on the way, Fan Zijin agreed without thinking.

This trip was different from the past, where he only went out for a month or two. This time, Little An would be gone for three years.

As he followed Qi Haoran around, he dealt with many corrupt officials along the way and thoroughly understood the administrative matters and laws of the local provinces.

When he felt that he had accumulated enough experience, he dragged Tiger Head and Little Lion back to participate in the village examination.

Of course, Little An was the one taking the village examination. Tiger Head and Little Lion went to take the military school examination.

Qi Xiuyuan and Fan Zijin were originally worried that the three children would delay their studies by following Qi Haoran all over the country. Who knew that Little An would become the youngest juren since the founding of Great Qi?

If not for the fact that Fan Zijin was not in charge of the Imperial Examination and that Little An’s article was indeed well written, the officials in the court would have suspected that Fan Zijin was playing favorites.

After all, the boy was only 15 years old. Was Fan Zijin’s son that smart?

It was no wonder that everyone was so suspicious. This was because Little An, Tiger Head, and Little Lion were always seen hanging out together. The impression the three of them gave outsiders was that they were mischievous and kept causing trouble. Other than their own family and teachers, who would notice how smart they were?

In the end, it was the teachers of the Hanlin Academy who stood up for him. They stroked their beards and tactfully expressed their regret, saying that under their guidance, an unpolished jade like this would dazzle even more brightly.

It meant that Little An’s achievements could have been higher, but it was a pity that King Rong had held him back from achieving greater things.

However, Fan Zijin was very proud and said, “My son would be an unpolished jade in anyone’s hands.”

It had been three years since Little Madam Xia saw her son. Afraid that he would seek refuge with his Fourth Uncle again, she hurriedly asked, “It’s naturally fine to stay with Fourth Uncle. But considering he has been away from the capital for three years, when will he be back? It’s almost the new year. We can’t possibly ask Little Bear to go there to celebrate the new year with them again, right?”

Fan Zijin looked at his wife speechlessly. “The Mid-Autumn Festival has just passed. How is it almost the new year? Are you confused about the dates or something?”

Little Madam Xia said self-righteously, “After autumn passes, winter arrives. The new year isn’t that far away, is it?”

Fan Zijin understood what she was thinking. He waved his hand and said, “Don’t worry. Your son will be studying in the Imperial Academy now that he’s back. Haoran? Hmph, that kid is probably having fun outside. Let’s wait for another two years.”

Little Madam Xia was worried. “You may intend this for our son, but he might not listen to you.”

Fan Zijin stood up calmly and said, “Now that Tiger Head and Little Lion got into the military academy and are also going to stay in the capital to study, who is he going out to play with should he return to Haoran?”

Relieved, Little Madam Xia immediately said with a smile, “Since Tiger Head and Little Lion are staying in the capital to study, why don’t we let the three brothers stay at our residence so that I can take care of them? It won’t be good to let them stay in the palace, right?”

Fan Zijin nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m thinking. This way, the house will be livelier and you won’t be bored.”

Smiling, Little Madam Xia said, “With Little Fu accompanying me, how can I be bored?”

“I was just about to speak to you about this. Since Little Fu hasn’t seen much of the world, I plan to send him to Haoran to gain some experience.”

Little Madam Xia opened her mouth wide and tears quickly welled up. She cried, “Can’t you let both sons stay by my side?”

Fan Zijin grabbed her hand and comforted her. “I’m doing this for the sake of our sons. I’m busy all year round and can’t take care of them at all. A child has to be taught by a father. As their Fourth Uncle, Haoran can take on such a fatherly role. Look at how well Little An has been raised. Not only did he become a juren at such a young age, but he’s also healthy, skilled in martial arts and knowledgeable. Do you want Little Fu to rely on his older brother in the future?”

Fan Zijin persuaded her, “Look at Haoran’s sons. Even though Little Bear is promising, Tiger Head and Little Lion aren’t planning to rely on their older brother to live a cushy life, right? Didn’t they also work hard to practice martial arts and learn the art of war? Now, they’ve even gotten into the military academy. Surely my second son isn’t incomparable to them? He has to rely on his own ability to become an official.”

Of course. If he didn’t send his youngest son away, Little Madam Xia would raise him into a profligate son.

Because Fan Zijin was busy and Little Fu was young, Little Madam Xia had been taking care of him.

Without her eldest son by her side, Little Madam Xia inevitably doted on her youngest son a little too much. Even Fan Zijin’s face was filled with joy when facing the cute and round Little Fu. Hence, this son was getting bolder and bolder, and not in the right direction.

Once the boy-girl twins left, he lost his playmates and inevitably played with the children of other families. If Little An hadn’t gone to the Royal School to pick up his younger brother after meeting the Emperor, he wouldn’t have known that Little Fu went to bully his study companions after being bullied by the princes in the palace.

Now, there were only the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Prince in the Royal School. Wensu had long followed the Crown Prince into politics, and now had his own dedicated teacher. Without Mu Yangling’s control, the Royal School gradually changed.

That’s right, the Royal School was under Mu Yangling’s control.

The children who used to study in the Royal School, from the eldest Crown Prince, to the youngest Little Fu, were all taught by Mu Yangling in private. When they made mistakes in the Royal School, the teachers were used to complaining to Mu Yangling and letting her punish them.

Therefore, the Royal School was under Mu Yangling’s control.

However, Mu Yangling had been with Qi Haoran for the past three years and were busy teaching her own kids. Naturally, she now had less contact with the other children in the palace.

Qi Xiuyuan had chosen four study companions for the children and Little Fu. When they entered the palace, they naturally brought with them some bad habits from outside the palace. Now that there were more people in the Royal School, the conflict naturally increased.

And three years ago, when the Emperor was critically ill, Prince An sealed the palace gates and prevented the princes from entering and leaving. Even now, they were still brooding over it.

The Third Prince and Fourth Prince were already not that young at that time, so they naturally had their own likes and dislikes. Although the Fifth and Sixth Princes were young, they listened to their Mother Consorts very much. Therefore, Little Fu was inevitably ostracized in the palace.

Anyway, this kid was a ruthless one. Not only was he as smart as Fan Zijin, but under Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling’s nurturing, he had also developed a backbone. He actually used Fan Zijin’s power in the court to rope in the study companions. Although he would still be ostracized by the princes from time to time, he would also hit them back. Of course, he did not dare to hit the princes, so he hit the study companions behind them.

This made Little An, who was hiding and watching the commotion, fall back in anger. What glory was there in beating up the study companions? You should beat up whoever bullied you!

As Little An had grown up with Qi Wensu since he was young, it was very common for them to fight whenever they had a disagreement. Even though etiquette taught him not to beat up a prince, his childhood experiences taught him that a prince could be beaten up.

Little An couldn’t watch his younger brother be bullied, but staying here to go against the kids here was obviously not good for his growth.

Therefore, he suggested sending his younger brother to accompany the boy-girl twins. Anyway, they were about the same age, so he could be educated alongside them.

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