Chapter 84 - 82: Dad’s Mockery

Chapter 84: Chapter 82: Dad’s Mockery

Zeng Anmin’s gaze ultimately locked onto the small purple censer on the courtyard desk. Three incense sticks were burning inside.

"There is no need to rush so much when seeing me in the future," the Crown Prince said. He thoughtfully reached out and straightened Zeng Anmin’s collar, which wasn’t even messy, before reprimanding him gently. "You must always put yourself first."

"Thank you for your care, Your Highness." Zeng Anmin was somewhat moved.

He thought, "This little fatty Crown Prince really knows how to win people over! He’s far better than that flat-chested, brainless sister of his!!"

Even now, whenever he recalled Princess Ning’an’s speechless stupidity when he first transmigrated here, he still felt lingering fear.

"Haha, I am Wang Qianzhi, Imperial Tutor to the Crown Prince. A pleasure to meet you, Zeng Anmin."

Zeng Anmin saw a rather awkward-looking young man smiling and bowing to him. Even though the man appeared modest and polite, there was just something off about him. Regardless, he lacked the natural, gentle aura of Tongyu.

"I am Zeng Anmin, courtesy name Quan Fu." Since one shouldn’t slap a smiling face, Zeng Anmin naturally wouldn’t disrespect him and returned the greeting with a smile.

He had been waiting for the other party to properly introduce his courtesy name as well, only to find Wang Qianzhi standing there motionless.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the courtyard became somewhat delicate.

"This person is so rude!" Zeng Anmin frowned inwardly, feeling a bit displeased. In normal social interactions, this was etiquette that even a ten-year-old child knew. If the other party offered their courtesy name, it meant they intended to befriend you. The polite response would be to offer your own courtesy name in return to build a closer relationship. Yet this guy just stood there smiling and saying nothing? He was just short of explicitly saying, "I look down on you."

Zeng Anmin’s frown deepened. This guy was looking for trouble.

"Haha, Ruoshui is the son of Prince Qi. Since you both will be my Imperial Tutors from now on, you should get closer," the Crown Prince said. An amiable smile appeared on his chubby little face as he introduced them quite naturally. He then took Zeng Anmin’s hand and chuckled. "Come, have a seat."

"The son of Prince Qi?" Zeng Anmin came to a sudden realization.

He recalled what his father had told him back in Liangjiang Commandery.

"King Jiang and Prince Qi share the same mother. Prince Qi is at the Fourth Grade Grandmaster realm of Martial Art, making him the only High Grade Martial Artist in the imperial family..."

Now he understood. No wonder!

He thought, "So I was the one who killed his uncle! This kid holds a grudge against me!"

At this thought, the smile on his face deepened. Sitting on the ground under the Crown Prince’s guidance, he looked at Wang Qianzhi cheerfully and said, "I really should get closer to Ruoshui. When I return home, I will definitely pass the message to my father and tell him to get closer to Prince Qi as well."

If the other party wouldn’t give him face, there was no need for him to be polite either. Besides, with such a deep-seated grudge, there was no possibility of a civil conversation anyway, so he might as well say what made him feel good.

At these words, Wang Qianzhi’s eyelids twitched. In the entire bureaucracy right now, who didn’t know that King Jiang—his uncle—had died at the hands of Zeng Shilin? Zeng Anmin’s comment was nothing less than rubbing salt into Wang Qianzhi’s wounds.

Even the little fatty Crown Prince’s hand trembled at the remark. His large eyes reflected an even greater sense of disbelief. However, he reacted quickly and immediately chimed in with a laugh.

"We are all classmates here. Why be so modest among our own people?

"Quan Fu, I happen to have some doubts regarding poetry and would like to seek your advice."

"You flatter me, Your Highness. I wouldn’t dare claim to advise you." Zeng Anmin broke into a passionate smile, naturally following the Crown Prince’s lead.

The two of them acted as if they were old friends who hadn’t seen each other in years. One wanted to build rapport with a subordinate, while the other purely wanted to piss off Wang Qianzhi. For a while, they chatted with extreme enthusiasm.

Seeing this, Wang Qianzhi clenched his hands tightly under the desk. Pursing his lips, he stared dead at the Crown Prince.

He thought, "It’s obvious that... I was here first!!"

"What are you chatting about?" a lazy voice chimed in, drawing everyone’s attention in the courtyard.

Zeng Anmin subconsciously turned his head toward the entrance. He saw a slender figure slowly walking in from outside. The newcomer was exceptionally handsome, dressed in purple robes, and taking small, swaggering steps with extreme laziness. With his hands clasped behind his back, he casually strolled right in.

"Greetings, Crown Prince."

His voice carried a distinct sense of femininity. Offering a very casual bow to the Crown Prince, he plopped down beside Wang Qianzhi, his gaze sizing up Zeng Anmin’s face with great interest.

Wang Qianzhi stood up and bowed. "Greetings, Fourth Prince."

When the Crown Prince saw him, his chubby little face froze for a moment before quickly breaking into a smile. "Fourth Brother? What a rare guest! How do you have the time to visit my Qianyuan Palace today?"

"I’m not here for you, Big Brother. I just wanted to see exactly how talented the renowned Zeng Liangjiang, whose fame has moved Jiangnan, truly is," Wang Yuanhao said, a smile plastered across his effeminate face. He stared fixedly at Zeng Anmin. From beginning to end, his gaze never once landed on the Crown Prince or Wang Qianzhi.

"Greetings, Fourth Prince." Hearing that the newcomer was here to see him, Zeng Anmin made to stand up and bow.

"There’s no need to bow. I have admired you for a long time, and I came over today just to get a look at you," Wang Yuanhao said, smiling casually. He stretched out a pale arm to grab hold of Zeng Anmin. "Handsome, dashing, and dignified. You’re truly good-looking. As expected of the great talent capable of composing the Two Rivers Ode. You’re radiant with a heroic spirit that instantly wins people over."

Zeng Anmin pursed his lips. You really couldn’t deny it; this guy actually had a good eye! As a man, if someone praised his abilities, he would definitely suspect them of having ulterior motives. But if they praised his good looks... Ahem, you really couldn’t deny it, the person just seemed incredibly honest!