Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 607 Teaching (3)

"Then how can you be sure that the things in those miscellaneous records are true and reliable, and which are simply non-existent?" Feng Xuxu pressed further.

"Your Majesty, although the Crown Prince and the Princess are young, they are exceptionally intelligent. I believe that with their intelligence and my instruction, they will certainly understand what can be believed and what cannot," the Minister replied.

Feng Xuxu nodded without disagreement, then turned to see her husband deep in thought. The hall fell silent for a long while until a cold voice full of authority said, "An entire afternoon is too long; I will give you just one hour, and it must be in the morning. Furthermore, I will conduct unannounced checks on their lessons periodically. If they fail to meet my satisfaction, I will not hesitate to punish you severely."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Rise, and unless there is anything else, you may take your leave."

Wu Feng, just having stood up, knelt down again upon hearing these words, "Your servant takes his leave."

The couple at the top seat watched him leave, with Feng Xuxu sneaking a glance at him: "You seem to have known about the children’s punishment beforehand."

"Indeed, I knew before you did," he didn’t conceal the truth from his wife and spoke frankly.

"Who is he? Have you investigated him thoroughly?" Feng Xuxu was looking at Wu Feng, who appeared to be in his thirties, wondering whether he had experienced any good tutelage in his studies.

Dugu Chen rose lightly to his feet, pulled Feng Xuxu up from the chair, and strolled towards the hall exit. As they walked, he told her, "Wu Feng is the grandson of Wu En, a man renowned in our nation as a pillar of integrity. His knowledge runs deep, and the sons and grandsons he has taught all have upstanding characters and are not afraid of death. Wu Feng, when he was merely thirteen, passed all three imperial examinations and obtained the title of Top Scholar. The late emperor intended to nurture his talents but the young man flatly refused, insisting on searching for some ’truth.’ The late emperor tried to retain him, to no avail, as his stubbornness was extreme. In a fit of anger, the late emperor exiled him from the Imperial Palace, declaring he should never be appointed. Wu Feng, proud and unyielding, simply turned and left. Upon returning home, he was scolded by his father, and the very next day he left home to wander, and he has been gone for thirteen years since."

"I see. Then how did you convince him to become the tutor for the children?"

"My mentor was Wu En. Wu Feng and I studied together. When he left home, it was I who secretly gave him his travel funds. He has always been grateful for that, so when I proposed that he tutor the Crown Prince and the Princess, he agreed without hesitation. And, as far as I know, those miscellaneous records he teaches are of his own creation."

"Ha ha ha, such an odd fellow indeed, eschewing high-ranking, lucrative posts to instead wander in search of knowledge," Feng Xuxu laughed, shaking her head.

Dugu Chen smiled in agreement, and, holding his wife close, persuaded her, "Entrusting the Crown Prince and Princess to him, I am at ease. He is a man of integrity, and he doesn’t associate too closely with any particular faction at court. The Ministers look down on men from the esteemed line of scholars, often finding them too arrogant, whereas the students aspire even more to be acknowledged as his disciples."

The couple arrived at Yangxin Hall and saw their two children reflecting on their mistakes. Seeing the master and mistress return, the tension seemed to lift. With their parents’ consent, Xuan Yue promptly left the room.

"Have the two of you reflected on your actions? What have you concluded?" Dugu Chen sat at the round table, looking sternly at them.

Qiqi and Yueyue turned around, glancing at each other and clutching the corners of their clothes nervously as they looked up at their father. Qiqi spoke up in a quiet voice, "Err, we shouldn’t have been disrespectful to our tutor during the lesson."

Dugu Chen then turned to his daughter, "And you?"