Chapter 703: Talking

Editor: Atlas Studios

Grand Tutor Lu couldn’t help but slam the table and roar angrily, “Childish!” However, he couldn’t do anything to Qi Haoran. A dark glint flashed across his eyes. Though it was true that he couldn’t do anything to Qi Haoran on the surface, there were countless ways to make him suffer under the table.

“Don’t leave the residence for the next few days, lest Qi Haoran accosts you and humiliates you again.” As he spoke, he said with displeasure, “I’ve long asked you to become an official, but you were unwilling. Seei, with no official title, you have to kneel before him.”

Lu Jie lowered his head and drank his tea, pretending not to hear his father. He did not like bureaucracy, so it was useless no matter what his father said.

Grand Tutor Lu was even angrier when he saw him like this. However, his son had always been stubborn and looked like he had no desires. There was nothing he could do about it.

When Qi Haoran returned to the Qi Residence, Little Bear had already calmed down. He was sitting on the couch and playing with his toys. When he heard the commotion, he only looked up at his father before lowering his head to continue playing with his toys, instead of rushing up to hug him like before.

Qi Haoran frowned slightly and turned to ask Mu Yangling, “Has he been like this all day?”

Mu Yangling stroked his head and said, “He’s much better now. He was completely listless just now. He wouldn’t even play with toys and just nestled in my arms.”

Qi Haoran gritted his teeth. “The Lu family, hmph.” Qi Haoran looked at Little Bear resentfully and said, “You admit to whatever others say about you? If you can’t even withstand such a small setback, how can you accomplish anything great in the future? Your father, I, was even called a silly kid since I was young. But look, other than your uncle, who else in the entire Great Qi is better than me? Who now dares to say that I’m a fool?”

Qi Haoran said, “In the future, if anyone dares to say that you’re mute or a fool, just beat him up. I’ll deal with the aftermath for you.”

Tears welled up in Little Bear’s eyes as he said aggrievedly, “I’m not mute.”

Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling froze and looked at each other in disbelief. The shock in their eyes could not be mistaken.

Qi Haoran couldn’t help but swallow his saliva. He squatted in front of Little Bear and asked, “Son, what did you say just now?”

Little Bear was a little nervous, but he still repeated himself, “I’m not mute.”

Although his words weren’t clear, he was indeed speaking. Excitement flashed across Qi Haoran and Mu Yangling’s eyes. They hugged Little Bear in their arms and said gently, “Of course our Little Bear isn’t mute. Come, call me Daddy.”

Little Bear pursed his lips and looked at Qi Haoran for a long time before saying slowly under his parents’ expectant gazes, “Daddy.”

His voice was a little muffled, but one could tell what he meant. Qi Haoran laughed excitedly, picked up Little Bear, and threw him into the air. After catching him steadily, he praised with a laugh, “Good son!”

Then, he was a little worried. Previously, his son did not speak because he was awakening to his talent. Now that he could speak, he wondered if there was anything wrong with his health.

Qi Haoran hurriedly got someone to call Imperial Physician Wang over and asked Fei Bai to immediately enter the palace to invite more imperial physicians.

Mu Yangling excitedly poured a glass of water for Little Bear and said, “Come, son, moisten your throat.”

Little Bear took a sip and said vaguely, “Thank you.”

Mu Yangling was even happier and kissed him on the cheek. “Son, call me Mother.”

“Mother.”

Imperial Physician Wang came over very quickly and examined Little Bear three times. He repeatedly confirmed that there was nothing wrong with Little Bear and that he had now learned how to speak.

The other imperial physicians from the Imperial Institute of Medicine also arrived very quickly and came to the same conclusion as Imperial Physician Wang. Seeing how excited Prince Rong and his wife were, the imperial physicians kindly reminded them not to let the child speak too much all at once. They had to take it step by step and be careful not to over-exert his throat.

As Little Bear’s words were very vague now, one had to guess to understand. But as long as they kept correcting him, he could catch up to other three-year-olds.

Little Bear didn’t speak like other children, spitting out word by word. He could speak in phrases right away, which showed that although he couldn’t speak in the past, his language skills weren’t weak.

Qi Haoran was overjoyed. That night, he carried Little Bear and taught him how to recognize people. He let Little Bear address each of them once and planned to bring the child into the palace the next day.

However, Mu Yangling stopped him. “Considering Little Bear just fought with someone, it’s better to keep a low profile for now.”

Qi Haoran said unhappily, “It’s not Little Bear’s fault for fighting. Why should we keep a low profile? I’ll bring Little Bear to the court assembly tomorrow and get him to address those court officials one by one. Let them see if our Little Bear is mute.”

“The imperial physician just told Little Bear to speak less. Why should he go address some unrelated outsiders when he’s still struggling to greet everyone in our family?”

Qi Haoran agreed when he heard that. His eyes darted around and he said, “We can’t let Little Bear’s grievances go just like that. I’ll bring him out after he learns to speak fluently.”

Qi Haoran stuffed the child into Mu Yangling’s arms and patted his butt. “I’ll go chase after the imperial physicians and tell them not to speak nonsense.”

When Qi Haoran entered the palace, the imperial physician was reporting Little Bear’s health condition to Qi Xiuyuan. Thus, it saved him the trouble of having to ask the imperial physicians himself; he could just ask Qi Xiuyuan to order them to keep quiet.

Qi Xiuyuan glanced at Qi Haoran and then at the Imperial Institute of Medicine’s Chief Physician, who was kneeling below. The Chief Physician hurriedly guaranteed that they would never tell anyone.

Qi Xiuyuan waved his hand to dismiss the Chief Physician before looking at Qi Haoran and asking, “What do you want now? I heard that you angered Grand Tutor Lu and even accosted Lu Jie.”

Qi Haoran pursed his lips. “I merely said a word or two and he’s mad? What about his grandson insulting Little Bear like that?”

Qi Xiuyuan tidied up his desk and said, “That’s enough. Grand Tutor Lu isn’t a magnanimous person. It won’t do you any good to piss him off.”

“Big Brother.” Qi Haoran said with a frown, “Since you know that Grand Tutor Lu has dubious character, why did you still appoint him to be the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor? Isn’t this giving him a chance to lead Little Treasure astray?”

Qi Xiuyuan snorted softly. “I didn’t appoint him to be the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor to teach Little Treasure knowledge, nor to teach Little Treasure how to conduct himself. Instead, I want him to teach Little Treasure etiquette and some tricks of the aristocratic families. There’ll naturally be another teacher responsible for imparting Little Treasure knowledge. As for teaching Little Treasure how to conduct himself, I’m still alive.”

Qi Xiuyuan had conferred Hanlin Scholar Fang Zhiyuan as the Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor. Little Treasure mainly studied with him, and the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor was just an idle position. Every day, there was a limit to the scope and duration of the lessons that Grand Tutor Lu could come to the palace to give Little Treasure.

Compared to Grand Tutor Lu, Fang Zhiyuan was much younger, but his knowledge and character were top-notch. He was once Grand Tutor Yan’s student. Back then, when Grand Tutor Yan passed away, he had risked the world’s condemnation to wear mourning clothes for Grand Tutor Yan. Just like how Qi Xiuyuan admired Grand Tutor Yan very much, he naturally admired Fang Zhiyuan.

Therefore, when he was choosing a teacher for Little Treasure back then, he did not choose those famous scholars. Instead, he chose Fang Zhiyuan, who was just a fifth-grade Hanlin scholar. He made an exception and conferred him the title of second-grade Junior Tutor of the Heir-apparent. He also let him enter the Ministry of Works to learn the ropes.

Qi Xiuyuan said, “Since Little Bear can already speak, he can begin schooling. Send him to the palace and let the brothers study together.”

Qi Haoran hesitated. “He’s only three years old. Isn’t that too early?”

Back then, he had only started learning with Fan Zijin when he was six years old.

Qi Xiuyuan glared at him and said, “Do you think that your son is like you? I’ll give you ten days to prepare. Send him to the palace immediately. While you’re in the capital, let him commence his education with a good teacher. Meanwhile, I’ll find another teacher and get him to follow you guys to Qiannan subsequently. Let me tell you, don’t think of only teaching him martial arts. Even if our Qi family’s children and grandchildren can’t excel at both martial arts and academics, they can’t be so one-sided. Look at your memorial. Fortunately, I was the one who read it. If it were anyone else, they’d probably laugh their heads off…” He proceeded to tell Qi Haoran off.

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