sovbooks Chapter 22: You think you're funny?
Chapter 22: You think you're funny?
The three of them arrived at Xia Chengxu's study one after another.
Xia Chengli asked, "What are your instructions, elder brother?"
Xia Chengxu asked, "What do you think of Third Brother Zong?"
Xia Chengren said lazily, "I'll just sit and watch. Isn't that a bit too unpleasant for you, brother?"
"Why can't you just say things directly? Why do you have to beat around the bush? If you keep being so blunt, I'm going back to sleep."
A hint of displeasure flashed across Xia Chengxu's face, but it disappeared in an instant.
He laughed and said, "Brother Ren is a straightforward person, so I might as well get straight to the point."
"Before my third brother Zong arrived, the four of us were the most outstanding, and it was hard to tell who was better."
"After the third brother Zong arrived, he surpassed all of us; the Emperor only doted on him."
"If we don't fight back now, where will we have a place to stand in the future?"
Xia Chengyan sneered, "He's nothing but an opportunist, a shameless scoundrel who's good at bewitching the Emperor!"
"How could someone so young write two such stunning poems?"
"They must have been looking for someone to steal the pen, but it's hateful that they tricked the Emperor into doing it, which made him feel smug."
Xia Chengren said sarcastically, "What if he really is a child prodigy, and these two poems were actually written by him?"
Xia Chengren's words left the three speechless.
After a long pause, Xia Chengxu finally spoke:
"Brother Ren's words are meaningless. I might as well speak frankly."
"If it were just the four of us, and we were evenly matched, the outcome would be entirely up to fate."
"Now that Brother Zong has arrived, if we don't join forces, I'm afraid he'll really outdo all four of us by himself."
"Are you really willing to accept this?"
The three of them looked at each other and exchanged glances.
It was clear that none of the three of them were willing to give up.
Xia Chengyan said, "Brother, just tell me, how do you plan to deal with him?"
Xia Chengxu nodded and said, "I have a plan. How about we give him a taste of his own medicine tomorrow?"
"Let's join forces and make sure the teacher takes all his exams tomorrow."
"We each have our strengths, and we each defeated this 'good third brother' in our respective fields!"
"Especially in poetry and prose, it is best to have the teacher give you a topic for a poem. Even if he has prepared in advance, he will never be able to guess the topic correctly."
"If he can't write poems as stunning as the first two, it will prove that the first two poems weren't written by him at all, and that will expose his true colors!"
"Since he was confined to the Prince's Palace for seven years, he must not have studied mathematics and physics. When the time comes, the two of you will surely be able to crush him under your feet."
"Isn't he arrogant? Isn't he a child prodigy? Didn't he write the best poem in our Great Qian Dynasty to curry favor with the Emperor?"
"Then we'll crush him into the dust, blunt his spirit, and plant the seeds of defeat in his heart!"
"Let Grandfather see that his so-called good grandson is inferior to us in every way."
"Is he, who is inferior to others in every way, still a good grandson?"
Xia Chengli clapped his hands and said, "Brother, this plan is brilliant! Before he can even show his face, we'll slap him to death, giving him no chance to rise!"
"Don't worry, brother. I can easily crush him in mathematics!"
Xia Chengyan said, "In terms of knowledge and understanding, I easily surpass him by leaps and bounds!"
Xia Chengren: "He does have some cleverness. He's only just arrived. Even if you crush him now, it's not a real achievement."
"What if he studies for a few months and then surpasses you all? Wouldn't that make you look stupid?"
Xia Chengxu: "..."
Xia Chengli: "..."
Xia Chengyan: "..."
Do you think you're funny?
If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute!
Xia Chengxu took a deep breath and said, "Brother Ren, are you perhaps in cahoots with him?"
Xia Chengyan: "He's only seven years old, how can he withstand such a blow?"
Xia Chengli: "After this blow, he will never recover and will never be our opponent again!"
Xia Chengren: "What if he can withstand it?"
Xia Chengxu, Xia Chengli, and Xia Chengyan: "Shut up!"
Xia Chengren: "Hmph, I don't need to scheme like that!"
"This afternoon, during martial arts practice, I'll teach him a lesson he can beat the shit out of him with one hand!"
Xia Chengxu and the other two took a deep breath, barely suppressing the urge to tear Xia Chengren's mouth apart.
For them, this attack must be a success.
If Xia Chengzong could be deposed, that would be the best thing ever.
Even if it really doesn't work, just try again.
……
The next morning, Xia Chengzong woke up early.
He stretched his body and then went to pay his respects to the Emperor and Empress.
After breakfast, he was led by a young eunuch and headed straight for the main hall.
The Great Hall was built in imitation of the Ming Dynasty and was a school specifically for the princes and grandsons of the emperor.
Now that the princes have all come of age, those studying here are all the younger generation of the imperial grandsons.
When Xia Chengzong arrived at the main hall, he found that seven or eight students had already arrived.
We all met at Emperor Yonglong's birthday celebration, and now that we're meeting again at the school, we can't help but exchange pleasantries.
Not long after, several more students walked in from outside.
"Third brother!"
"Third Brother!"
"Third Brother!"
Xia Chengqian's positive emotions +1 +1 +1
Xia Caiwei's positive emotions +1 +1 +1
Xia Chengkun's positive emotions +1 +1 +1
夏承志正面情绪+1+1+1+1+1
Xia Chengzong knew who had arrived without even looking.
He said with a smile, "Big brother, little sister, sixth brother, eighth brother, you've arrived? Come and sit here with me."
"Okay, Third Brother."
The little ones were quite nervous about attending class at Dabentang for the first time.
Now, seeing Xia Chengzong, even though it was his first time attending class here.
For some reason, they gradually felt at peace.
The three children surrounded Xia Chengzong, bombarding him with questions about whether he was getting used to living in the palace, whether the food was good, and when he would be going home.
When Xia Chengzong was at home, he often teased them, which caused the three children to often quarrel with him.
Now that they've only been apart for a day, the three little ones have become exceptionally enthusiastic towards him.
Xia Chengzong answered their questions in a disjointed manner, but they remained oblivious, continuing their enthusiastic responses.
As time went by, Xia Chengxu and the other three also arrived at the school one after another.
Of the four, the one with the highest status sat in the best seats at the front.
When Xia Chengzong saw the four of them enter, they all gave him a meaningful look, their eyes filled with fierce fighting spirit.
It's like you're about to go into the ring and fight yourself.
These four people, I'm afraid they have some serious illness?
Xia Chengzong felt completely bewildered.
However, he quickly became wary.
A spear in the open is easy to parry, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against.
Who knows what kind of schemes these four people might have up their sleeves? I should be careful.
A short while later, a thin old man walked in.
He walked up to the podium, picked up the ruler, and struck it heavily.
Snapped!
"Silence! Everyone back to your seats."