I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 24: Third Brother, I Want to Go to the Countryside

"Even if you aren’t Third Brother’s daughter, you still have to learn the rules of etiquette and your studies," Sang Zhi said seriously.

"Who’s as idle as you are?"

"I’m very busy. I have to study late into the night every day."

"..."

"I hear you’re already six. You can’t be so lazy," Sang Zhi said.

"What’s wrong with being six? I’m just a little girl from the countryside. What’s the point of me learning etiquette?" Ye Qianning rolled her eyes. ’Good and evil come from within; rules can’t teach a person’s heart.’ 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

’Especially those princes and nobles, the scions of the Imperial Family. Which one of them doesn’t use their status to treat commoners as less than human?’

’Righteous in public, but devils in private.’

"What you learn is for your own benefit. It has nothing to do with your status."

"Have you ever been to the countryside? If I spend my time learning formal greetings and etiquette, who am I going to perform for when I go back? People would just think I’m crazy."

"You..."

"What about me? You study etiquette and rules because you’re a noble who has everything handed to you. Commoners learn how to survive." Seeing he didn’t quite seem to understand, Ye Qianning continued, "You don’t understand them, and they don’t understand your scholarship. You simply exist in different worlds. It’s fine for you to do your own thing, but you have no right to demand everyone else be just like you."

Sang Zhi stared at her in silence for a moment. After a while, he lowered his gaze, seemingly pondering her words.

"Anyway, to each their own. Kids shouldn’t worry so much, or you’ll turn into a little old man," Ye Qianning sighed.

’He’s a ten-year-old with no trace of childlike innocence. In a few more years, he’ll definitely be a full-blown old fogey.’

"You are rotten wood that cannot be carved." Sang Zhi looked up, his cheeks puffed out in anger.

Ye Qianning couldn’t help but laugh. She thought the little old fogey was deep in thought, but it turned out he was just fuming.

’Now *that’s* the kind of expression a child should have.’

"Rotten wood can be carved into a flower. Want me to carve one for you someday and show you?"

"You... Hmph." Sang Zhi snorted heavily. He flicked his sleeves, clasped his small hands behind his back, and turned to leave.

’Ye Qianning raised a hand to rub her nose. ’That little old fogey wants to lecture me? A few more run-ins like this, and sooner or later, I’ll corrupt this prim and proper little prig.’

Sang Zhi walked all the way back to his courtyard, the little fatty’s words replaying in his mind. The more he thought about them, the more he felt she had a point.

"Eighth Brother." Sang Yan happened to see him at the entrance to the courtyard.

Sang Zhi looked up. "Third Brother, what are you doing here?"

"I heard you hadn’t returned to the palace, so I came to check on you."

"Master Fanghua will be staying at the Prince Mansion for four days. I thought it would be too much trouble to leave the palace every day, so I had Imperial Uncle inform Father Emperor. I’ll return to the palace after Master Fanghua leaves," Sang Zhi explained.

"If you’re not comfortable staying at Imperial Uncle’s mansion, you can come to mine."

"Thank you, Third Brother. But Imperial Uncle’s mansion is quite nice, so you don’t need to worry about me. On that note, Third Brother, have you taken care of your business?"

Sang Yan thought of those four people and sighed. "I suppose so."

"That’s good, then." Sang Zhi nodded.

"You should get some rest. I’ll come again tomorrow."

"Mm."

Sang Yan turned away, his mind heavy with worry. Once Xiang Minghou returned to the capital, the matter of the child would surely stir up some trouble.

After all, Gu Shuo, Xiang Minghou, and Qian Fanji were all influential figures in the imperial capital. If rumors of this affair were to spread, it would undoubtedly cause a major incident.

"Third Brother."

A young but steady voice interrupted Sang Yan’s reverie.

Sang Yan had already walked a fair distance. Hearing the shout, he turned back, his gaze falling upon a faint, blurry shadow in the distance. "Eighth Brother, what is it?"

In the darkness, Sang Zhi’s small face was exceptionally grave, and his young voice was utterly serious.

"Third Brother, I want to go to the countryside."

"..."

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