The Princess Consort of Pingyang absentmindedly patted Duoduo's head and led her into the room.
After they finished eating, the Prince of Pingyang put down his chopsticks.
"Let's go, Father will take you to meet your teacher."
"Okay!"
Duoduo hopped down from her chair.
She pushed the Prince of Pingyang's wheelchair and smiled at the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
"Mother, I'm going to class first! I'll come back to keep you company in a little while!"
The Princess Consort of Pingyang managed a forced smile and waved at Duoduo.
The Prince of Pingyang and Duoduo arrived at the outer study. Pushing the door open, Duoduo saw a familiar figure.
"Big sister?"
Duoduo jumped up happily.
She let go of the wheelchair and ran toward Yingniang.
Yingniang also ran over. The two little girls stood facing each other, holding hands and laughing joyfully.
Li Jin bowed and cupped his hands in greeting to the Prince of Pingyang.
"This commoner pays his respects to Your Highness!"
The Prince of Pingyang extended a hand. "There is no need for such formality."
Li Jin straightened up, quietly observing the Prince of Pingyang.
The Prince of Pingyang also looked at Li Jin.
Both could see the assessing look in each other's eyes.
Li Jin looked away first and turned his gaze to Duoduo, who was smiling and greeting Yingniang.
"This commoner greets the Princess. Yingniang, why haven't you paid your respects to the Princess?"
Duoduo held onto Yingniang's hand to stop her from bowing, looking at Li Jin with a face full of curiosity.
"Excuse me, are you my teacher?"
The Prince of Pingyang coughed.
"Duoduo, come here and greet your teacher."
Obediently, Duoduo let go of Yingniang's hand and walked over to the Prince of Pingyang's side.
"Your student greets you, Teacher!"
Duoduo bowed properly to Li Jin. Li Jin did not step aside to avoid the bow; instead, he nodded with a smile.
"This is a meeting gift from your teacher to the Princess."
Li Jin took out a palm-sized stuffed doll from his sleeve pocket.
The doll was shaped like a bunny, with long ears, big eyes, and an adorable expression on its face.
Duoduo instantly fell in love with it.
"Wow! It's so cute! Thank you, Teacher!"
Duoduo's fondness for this teacher immediately multiplied.
"Father, can big sister attend class with me?"
Duoduo blinked her big eyes, looking at the Prince of Pingyang with full expectation.
The Prince of Pingyang nodded.
"Yingniang is your study companion. You must work hard and not let yourself be outdone!"
Duoduo nodded with absolute confidence.
"Mhm! I will work hard!"
The Prince of Pingyang's gaze flicked over the bunny in Duoduo's hands.
"The embroidery is a bit ugly."
Li Jin smiled.
"This was made by my wife. Her needlework has never been very good."
"To make this doll, all ten of her fingers were pricked like sieves."
The Prince of Pingyang frowned.
"Then it is a gift from your wife, not from you."
The Prince of Pingyang felt that Li Jin had just lied.
The smile on Li Jin's face did not waver at all.
"This commoner drew the pattern."
"Father, Mother described it, and you drew it. What's more, you even complained that it was ugly!"
Standing to the side, Yingniang sold out her father without hesitation.
"You child, didn't your father draw it? Didn't your father bring it here to give to the Princess?"
Li Jin explained to Yingniang with a smile.
Yingniang nodded. "Yes."
Li Jin looked at the Prince of Pingyang with a smile, and the Prince of Pingyang assessed Li Jin once more.
This man was rather interesting!
"Now that the meeting gifts have been given, let us begin the class."
The Prince of Pingyang did not say much more. He pushed his wheelchair to a desk on the side.
He picked up a book and began to read.
This posture made it clear that he intended to audit the class.
Li Jin did not panic. He waved his hand, signaling Duoduo and Yingniang to sit properly.
"Today is our first class. I will test you with a few questions to see how your studies are progressing."
Duoduo nodded confidently, but Yingniang beside her was very nervous.
"First, recite the Three Character Classic. Who wants to go first?"
Duoduo looked at Yingniang. Yingniang hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'll go first."
"Alright," Li Jin nodded.
"Men at their birth, are naturally good. Their natures are much the same; their habits become widely different..."
Yingniang recited the beginning very smoothly, but she stumbled a bit toward the end.
However, fortunately, she managed to recite it all.
"Good, you may sit down. Princess, it is your turn."
Li Jin looked at Duoduo with a smile, and Duoduo stood up.
She glanced at the Prince of Pingyang not far away. He was looking at his book without moving, as if everything in the world had nothing to do with him.
"Princess, please begin." Li Jin looked at Duoduo encouragingly.
Duoduo looked at Li Jin and began to recite.
Duoduo recited with perfect cadence. Her childish, milky voice was very pleasant to hear.
Li Jin nodded repeatedly. When Duoduo finished reciting, he clapped his hands in praise.
"Next, the Standards for being a Good Pupil and Child."
Seeing the hesitation on Yingniang's face, Duoduo simply opened her mouth and began to recite.
Very quickly, she finished reciting the Standards for being a Good Pupil and Child.
This time, she did not pause, smiling as she went straight into reciting another book.
Yingniang rested her chin in her hands, looking at Duoduo with a face full of admiration.
Li Jin had originally intended to test Duoduo, so when she recited one book after another, he did not stop her.
But as time went on, the surprise on his face grew greater and greater.
Because Duoduo not only finished reciting basic texts like the Three Character Classic, but she also recited the Analects and the Mencius fluently.
Seeing that Duoduo was about to start reciting the Great Learning, he hurriedly called for her to stop.
"Princess, have you read all these books?"
Duoduo tilted her head. "They are all on Father's bookshelf."
Li Jin cast a glance in the direction of the Prince of Pingyang.
"Merely being able to recite them is not enough; you must also understand their meanings."
Duoduo blinked.
"Teacher, Father said the same thing."
Li Jin turned his head slightly to study Duoduo. "Then I will quote a line or two. Will the Princess try to explain them?"
Duoduo nodded and said in her milky voice, "Okay."
"Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?" Li Jin decided to start with a relatively simple sentence.
"Having like-minded friends come from a long distance away is a happy occasion."
Duoduo thought for a moment and quickly gave the answer.
Li Jin raised an eyebrow.
"A just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust cause finds little support."
Duoduo thought for a brief moment and immediately began to explain it.
Yingniang rested her chin in her hands, watching the back-and-forth exchange between her father and Duoduo.
"The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families."
Li Jin looked at Duoduo. This time, Duoduo thought for a slightly longer time.
However, she still managed to explain it smoothly.
Li Jin did not pose another question; instead, he looked at Duoduo with a probing expression.
Duoduo did not understand why, so she gave Li Jin a sweet, obedient smile.
"Did I say it wrong? Please instruct me, Teacher!"
As Duoduo spoke, she even gave a little bow.
"Princess, may I be so bold as to ask who your previous teacher was?"
Li Jin could not help but ask what was on his mind.
Duoduo tilted her head and thought about it.
"My teacher? Does Nanny Li count?"
"Well, what I mean is, who taught you all those things just now?"
Duoduo looked at the Prince of Pingyang. "It was Father!"
Li Jin looked up at the Prince of Pingyang and saw that the Prince had already put down his book and was watching them.
He bowed to the Prince of Pingyang.
"Dare I ask Your Highness, since the Princess has already learned to such a degree, what is the purpose of inviting this commoner here?"
