Your Majesty, Please Be Obedient - Chapter 13

Jiang Qiyan took the Teacher’s words to heart, etching them firmly into his memory. He felt that the Teacher was so brilliant to come up with such a method. It wasn’t as hurtful to their relationship as asking directly, yet it avoided the heartache of remaining silent and never knowing the truth. The Teacher was truly full of wisdom.

Jiang Qiyan looked at Pu Tingsong with eyes full of admiration, but Pu Tingsong did not look back at him, keeping his gaze fixed on the road ahead. After he had stared at Pu Tingsong for a very long time, Pu Tingsong suddenly lowered his head and glanced at him.

“Why is Qiyan looking at your teacher like that?”

“Want to learn?” Pu Tingsong considered for a moment, then shook his head. “You are too small. When you grow to be eight years old, I will teach you the art of power and statecraft.”

Really? Does that mean he could become as formidable as the Teacher? He really wanted to grow up faster. If he were just a bit older, he could help the Teacher with his work instead of having the Teacher take care of him all the time.

Without realizing it, they had nearly reached the dining hall. Jiang Qiyan looked ahead and saw two chairs. Were they prepared for him? Jiang Qiyan let go of Pu Tingsong’s hand and walked toward the chair next to the head of the table.

“Qiyan, come here.”

He turned around, only to see that the Teacher was already seated and was gently patting his lap.

“That chair is for your little friend.”

Oh, so it was added for Fang Wuming. Then where was he supposed to sit? Jiang Qiyan unconsciously bit his index finger, feeling a bit awkward and lost.

“What are you dazed for?” Pu Tingsong sighed, pulling the boy in front of him. His gaze fell on his own lap as he patted it twice more. “You sit here.”

Ah? Is this okay? If Brother Fang comes over to eat later, would he be unhappy? Would he feel like the Teacher was playing favorites? Jiang Qiyan didn’t want to make his friend sad, nor did he want the Teacher’s image to look bad in front of his friend. So he just shook his head and stood still.

Clack.

It was the sound of chopsticks hitting the table. It wasn’t very loud, but in the quiet manor, it was incredibly distinct. Jiang Qiyan felt as though the sound resonated from within his own heart, striking his very soul. His ears rang slightly; the clacking sound seemed to echo through the emptiness of his mind.

His legs suddenly felt so weak. Jiang Qiyan was trembling. His knees felt sore, and a similar hollow, aching sensation rose up his spine. He couldn’t stand steadily anymore. Jiang Qiyan grabbed the table leg for support. He felt his head go numb, rendering him unable to think.

“How did you get scared like this?” A large hand reached over, scratching under his chin as one would a cat. “Was I being too loud?”

Actually, the sound wasn’t loud. He just felt that, just now, the Teacher’s aura had changed. And so, he was forced to remember what his Teacher hated most.

“Wuu.” Jiang Qiyan was scared into a whimper. After two pitiful sobs escaped his throat, he forcibly choked them back. “I, I didn’t. I didn’t mean to refuse. I won’t refuse anymore.”

He hugged the Teacher’s left leg, his little feet kicking as he struggled to climb onto the Teacher’s lap. His hair was shaking so much it almost left an afterimage. “Teacher, please don’t be unhappy.”

“When did I say I was unhappy?” Pu Tingsong was in an excellent mood. He reached out to scoop up the child’s waist, helping him up while protecting him from falling. “Are you that afraid of me being unhappy?”

Yes, and not entirely. He just wanted the Teacher to be happy every day.

Jiang Qiyan sat on the Teacher’s lap. The Teacher adjusted his posture to make sure he was sitting securely. Before long, Fang Wuming was led in by the housekeeper. He looked at the little Crown Prince in the Imperial Preceptor’s arms and couldn’t help but sigh in his heart.

How was he supposed to compete with this? He had planned to sow discord and then coax some information out of the little Crown Prince. But as it turned out, they were practically inseparable; they even ate while holding each other. Seeing this level of intimacy was truly frustrating.

He had to change his approach. If driving a wedge between them wouldn’t work, he would walk the path of friendship to the end and become a confidant. Once they became best friends who shared everything, the little Crown Prince would eventually have a slip of the tongue.

Fang Wuming didn’t know that he had already been sentenced to a suspended death by the Imperial Preceptor, nor did he know what storms awaited him in the future. He simply offered a polite thank you and sat down, waiting for the Imperial Preceptor to pick up his chopsticks first. After chewing on dry, choking buns all day, he could finally eat some real food. If he kept eating like that, his throat would have been stretched raw.

Pu Tingsong leisurely picked up a duck leg and placed it into a small bowl decorated with a blue and white bunny pattern. Fang Wuming nodded at Pu Tingsong and smiled. Just as he was about to grab the other leg, that leg landed in Pu Tingsong’s own bowl.

Wait, what?

Acting as if no one else was there, Pu Tingsong carefully peeled the skin off both duck legs. He picked up the meat from the bunny bowl and tore it into strips, neatly arranging them. After finishing one, he tore the other, placing those strips into the small bowl as well. In no time, the small bowl was piled high.

Fang Wuming watched, dumbfounded. How could he spoil him to this extent! When he was four or five, his father, mother, and grandfather had never torn leg meat for him like that. They always made him gnaw on it himself! Comparing yourself to others really is infuriating!

Being stared at constantly made Jiang Qiyan feel a bit shy, especially since the person staring was about his age. That boy could eat by himself, while he still needed the Teacher to feed him. It made him look a bit delicate and spoiled.

The more Jiang Qiyan thought about it, the more embarrassed he became. Yet, the Teacher handed him a small spoon and told him to scoop the meat up! Over there, Fang Wuming could use chopsticks, while he was still using a spoon. The porcelain spoon even had a cute blue and white rabbit on it. How embarrassing.

“Teacher, I, I want chopsticks.”

“You are still small.” Pu Tingsong wiped his hands clean and tapped the boy’s forehead with his fingertip. “Whatever you want to eat, I will help you.”

“I, I’m not small.”

Fang Wuming could do it, so he could too. He had always used chopsticks in the palace. Besides, he used chopsticks yesterday too, even though the Teacher ended up holding him and feeding him later.

“If you aren’t small, then who is?” Pu Tingsong laughed. “You are the youngest here. It is only right for me to take more care of you. Just accept it; there’s no need to feel embarrassed.”

A teary-eyed little rabbit is very cute, and a red-faced little rabbit is also very cute. There was no denying he liked it; Jiang Qiyan was indeed a pet very much to his liking.

With his face flushed, Jiang Qiyan snuggled in the Teacher’s arms and used the small spoon to eat the shredded duck. It tasted wonderful, and besides, it was personally fed by the Teacher.

Fang Wuming’s smile was getting harder to maintain. To be fair, he was a little jealous. He could have had someone to spoil him too. Although it might not have been this exaggerated, at least he wouldn’t be all alone.

But Pu Tingsong ruined everything! It was Pu Tingsong who ruined his life!

Fang Wuming lowered his head to focus on eating. He ate elegantly, but his hands were trembling with a slightness that only he could detect. No one knew how he had survived this past year. Falling from the son of a Prime Minister to a beggar, he had experienced too much and seen too much of the coldness of the world. Later, people from his mother’s side came to get him and told him that the execution of the entire Fang family was Pu Tingsong’s doing. From then on, his aimless life finally had a goal.

He must have his revenge! He must!

After dinner, Pu Tingsong carried the boy to the study, letting him sit nearby to play for a while so he could accompany him until the imperial reports were finished before sleeping.

As the night grew dark, Fang Wuming emerged from his guest room, having changed into black night-traveling clothes. Since Pu Tingsong and the little Crown Prince were in the study, he could sneak into the master bedroom to take a look. He pressed his back against the wall, walking very carefully. He didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.

Suddenly, a folding fan landed on his shoulder!

He was scared out of his wits and almost screamed, but a voice suddenly came from above his head. “Young Master Fang, wandering over to someone else’s bedroom? That’s not very good, is it?”

Why was it this annoying guy again!

Fang Wuming pushed the fan away with a smile. “Look at what you’re saying. Wuming was just passing by.”

“I, the Pavilion Master, have many virtues, but my only flaw is that I know everything. Whether Young Master Fang was actually passing by, do you want to guess if I know or not?”

Who cares if you know.

Fang Wuming continued to smile and said, “Sir is truly impressive; Wuming admires you. Could you let Wuming go to relieve himself? You see, nature calls.”

“Reasonable. If I didn’t let Young Master Fang go, I wonder how you would badmouth me.”

Fang Wuming felt that Qin Shizhi’s tone was incredibly sarcastic and eccentric to the extreme. Why was he so noisy?

“Ah, what a pity. I just happened to find some files regarding the former Prime Minister. But since nature calls, it wouldn’t be right for me to stop you, would it?”

“Give it to me!” Fang Wuming instantly grabbed Qin Shizhi’s sleeve. “Qin Shizhi, what do you know?”

“I told you, I am all-knowing and all-aware. You want it? Fine. Young Master Fang, come with me.” Qin Shizhi shook his fan. “I happen to be short of a servant girl. You shall serve me tonight.”

“As you said, what can Wuming’s small frame do? I am afraid I cannot serve the Pavilion Master well.” Fang Wuming clenched his fists tightly.

“You should at least know how to pound legs and massage shoulders, right?” Qin Shizhi’s smile grew even more brilliant. “My feet are tired from running around every day; I just need someone to give them a good rub.”

Dammit! This cursed bastard actually wants him, the son of a Prime Minister, to rub someone’s feet! He would endure!

Fang Wuming said through gritted teeth, “Will you give it to me after I am done?”

“Depends on my mood.”

The candlelight in the study flickered. Jiang Qiyan leaned close to Pu Tingsong, poking his little head under the Teacher’s arm to peek at the stack of reports on the desk. The Teacher is so busy. Imperial Father is really too much. This is clearly work Imperial Father should be doing; how can he order the Teacher around like this?

Is it because the Teacher is alone and easy to bully that Imperial Father keeps bullying him, making it so the Teacher doesn’t even have time to sleep?

His hair was ruffled as Pu Tingsong’s pen didn’t stop. “Where did this curious little head pop out from? Hmm? I am busy. If you are bored, find a book to read, or if you are sleepy, you can sleep on my lap for a bit.”

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