A smile lingered at the corners of the Prince of Pingyang's mouth.
"The knowledge she possesses now is merely scratching the surface."
"I hope you can teach her more profound principles. Zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, military tactics, horseback riding, and archery—she must learn them all."
Li Jin was somewhat surprised.
"Your Highness, you are placing great expectations on the Princess! Will it not be too heavy a burden for her?"
The Prince of Pingyang rubbed his fingers together and looked at Duoduo.
"The teacher thinks it's too heavy. What do you think, Duoduo?"
Duoduo shook her head.
"It's not heavy! I can learn!"
The relaxed expression on Li Jin's face faded.
He had originally thought that the Prince of Pingyang invited him here because he was eager for his talent and wanted to hire him as a strategist.
However, after conversing with the Prince of Pingyang, the Prince suddenly told him that he wanted him to be the Princess's teacher.
In his heart, Li Jin was somewhat reluctant.
After all, girls would eventually marry.
No matter how much they learned, they couldn't achieve great things in the future like men could.
With his mind full of wisdom, teaching a female disciple was not as fulfilling as assisting an ambitious young man in building a great career.
Yet, Duoduo's knowledge surprised him.
The Prince of Pingyang's expectations made him feel an even heavier sense of responsibility.
He vaguely felt that this matter was not as simple as just being a teacher.
Li Jin lifted the hem of his robe and knelt before the Prince of Pingyang.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness. This commoner is shallow in talent and learning, and I fear I am not qualified to be the Princess's teacher. I beg Your Highness to retract the order."
The Prince of Pingyang sat in his wheelchair, quietly watching Li Jin.
Yingniang did not understand why her father suddenly refused. She reached out to pull Li Jin.
"Father, a word spoken by a gentleman cannot be taken back even by a team of horses!"
"You already agreed, how can you go back on your word?"
The Prince of Pingyang laughed.
"Li Jin, look, even your daughter understands this principle. How can you break your promise?"
Duoduo stood in front of Li Jin, looking at him seriously with her big eyes.
"Excuse me, teacher, is it because I am too stupid that you are unwilling to teach me?"
Looking at Duoduo's crystal-clear eyes, Li Jin felt ashamed of himself.
"Princess, it is this commoner's knowledge that is insufficient to be your teacher."
"I am worried that I might hinder the Princess's talent!"
"She is still young now; what she needs is to build a solid foundation," the Prince of Pingyang said.
"When she is a bit older, I will naturally arrange for someone else to instruct her."
The Prince of Pingyang's words made Li Jin realize that once he boarded the Prince's ship, there was no getting off.
"Since that is the case, this commoner will try his best."
"Then I will trouble you. Stand up and continue the lesson."
The Prince of Pingyang said as he picked up his book again and continued reading.
Li Jin stood up and continued to test Duoduo with some questions.
This time, he put away his contempt and tested her more deeply.
Some questions were even those that would appear in the imperial examinations.
Duoduo was momentarily stumped, but she still boldly spoke her thoughts.
Li Jin couldn't help but nod in appreciation.
Although Duoduo's words were very immature and childish, she already had some good insights.
Given time, this child would definitely make people look at her with new respect.
It was a pity; if she were a boy, she would surely achieve great things.
While feeling regretful, Li Jin organized his thoughts.
With Duoduo's current reserve of knowledge, he had to prepare seriously so as not to fail her talent.
After testing her knowledge from books, Li Jin continued to test other areas.
Zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, martial arts, horseback riding, and archery—he had Duoduo demonstrate them all.
The more he understood Duoduo, the more a look of admiration began to appear in Li Jin's eyes.
Li Jin had heard a little about this daughter of the Prince of Pingyang.
His wife had also told him some inside information.
Li Jin naturally knew that the Princess had been disliked by her biological parents since she was young.
Later, she was brought back to the mansion by the Prince of Pingyang and recognized as his legitimate daughter.
It had only been a short month or two, yet this child had managed to learn to this extent, which truly surprised him.
If it was just book knowledge, and Duoduo had a photographic memory, achieving this would not be difficult.
However, in things like martial arts, horseback riding, and archery, Duoduo was not much inferior to Yingniang.
One must know that Yingniang had started practicing since she was very young.
For a four-year-old child to learn in one or two months what others achieved in years or even decades...
How could that be explained away merely by talent?
A student like this, who had talent, was willing to endure hardship, and possessed a drive to improve.
What virtue or ability did he have to encounter her?
Li Jin suddenly looked forward to it very much: if he taught all his profound knowledge to Duoduo, what kind of result would that yield?
Li Jin began to lecture Duoduo very seriously, and Duoduo listened very attentively.
When they encountered points of disagreement, Duoduo would even debate with him.
Li Jin did not get angry; he would cite various classical allusions to explain things to Duoduo one by one.
The two were so engrossed in the lesson that they did not even know when the Prince of Pingyang had left.
Pitter-patter!
A fierce wind swept in, and heavy rain poured down.
Raindrops from outside drifted through the window and wet the paper on Duoduo's desk. Only then did Duoduo look up.
"It's raining!"
Duoduo put down her brush and ran happily to the window.
Li Jin did not scold her; he also stood by the window.
"It seems the river's waters have been swept up, pouring down from the void in a wondrous display. The waves press against a thousand trees, while a single pavilion stands precarious in the wind and rain."
Duoduo curiously tilted her little head and looked at Li Jin.
"Teacher, is this a poem about heavy rain?"
Li Jin nodded.
"Yes, poetry springs from the heart and arises from emotion."
"Everything in the world can be written into a poem or painted in a picture."
Facing the pouring rain outside the window, Li Jin explained to Duoduo the imagery of the poem he had just recited.
Following that, he consecutively recited several more poems and verses about rain.
Duoduo listened with utmost focus, absorbing every drop of knowledge like a thirsty sponge.
Li Jin turned his head and saw his daughter, Yingniang, looking at him and Duoduo with an envious expression.
Li Jin stopped and patted his daughter's shoulder.
"Everything has its own strengths and weaknesses. Focus on what you are good at, and that is how you will live happily."
Because of her father's care, Yingniang suddenly felt happy.
"Yes! Father, I understand!"
Looking at the pouring rain outside, Duoduo suddenly remembered that she still had one thing left to do.
She bowed to Li Jin.
"Teacher, may I take a short leave of absence?"
Li Jin nodded.
"Does the Princess need to be excused? Would the Princess like Yingniang to accompany her?"
Yingniang ran over and held Duoduo's hand.
"Sister, I will go with you."
Duoduo hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"Okay!"
The two children ran out hand in hand.
Only then did Li Jin sit down, spread out the rice paper, and begin writing out his teaching plan.
Now, he needed to completely overhaul and formulate a curriculum more suited for the Princess.
Duoduo pulled Yingniang into the covered corridor, and she stopped in her tracks.
"Sister, wait for me here. I'll be right back."
Yingniang was very confused. "Where are you going?"
Duoduo pointed toward the distant garden.
"I want to go to the garden to look at the flowers."
"But the rain is so heavy right now. Why not wait until it stops before going to look?"
"No! I have to go right now! It won't look as nice if I'm late."
As Duoduo spoke, she grabbed an umbrella from a maid's hands and dashed into the rain.
