Jing Xingzhi’s Daily Life in Ancient Times

“He is back.”

The child she had thrown away came back.

Those few words shook Wu Shuangxi’s heart repeatedly.

Did she truly have no regrets about discharging her own son? However, over the past ten years, what good would regret do? It would only bring unhappiness and darken her life.

So, for more than a decade, Wu Shuangxi had convinced herself that she had done nothing wrong and harbored no regrets. Everything she had done was justified.

But when Ning Yongyuan exposed everything, Wu Shuangxi felt as though it was all a cruel twist of fate.

That child had returned to seek vengeance against her!

No wonder… regardless of whether the child had any expectations of his mother or father.

Abandoned and mistreated by his adopted brother, upon reflection, he discovered it was all because of his own mother, and he despised her!

Wu Shuangxi’s face turned pale, and not even the bold red lipstick could hide the gloom on her face.

After a while, amidst the creaking of the carriage, Wu Shuangxi raised her head and straightened her back.

Her lips moved, and what she said was: “I wouldn’t lose.”

Then she looked at Ning Yongyuan: “Your grandmother doesn’t know about these things. I heard she’s been in poor health lately. Will you behave?”

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Jing Xingzhi left the palace and even considered blocking Comrade Xiao Ning as he left to surprise him.

But upon reflection, he abandoned the idea.

Jing Xingzhi also knew that in Li Yunxi’s eyes, he was someone who held his teacher in high regard.

Though they shared a similar demeanor, Li Yunxi was unaware of this!

If he attempted to block Ning Yongyuan, it would ruin his reputation. If Li Yunxi saw it, it would spell disaster.

Second Senior Brother was too formidable to offend.

As evening fell, Jing Xingzhi had dinner, laid out his clothes, and resumed painting. After completing his artwork, Jing Xingzhi took a good nap, planning to explore the capital the next day.

Little did Jing Xingzhi expect that Li Yunxi would pester him the following day, asking Zhang Tong to summon him.

Somewhat reluctantly, Jing Xingzhi followed along.

After entering the Kaiyang Palace, Li Yunxi smiled and asked the young eunuch to bring a chair, his smile radiating warmth.

But Jing Xingzhi was taken aback.

A generation old emperor suddenly smiling at a young scholar—was this a sign of moral decay or a loss of humanity? It sounded like a story.

Jing Xingzhi grappled with inner turmoil but dared not show it. Instead, he maintained his composure and ignored Li Yunxi.

Li Yunxi pressed his flushed face against the cool chair for a moment. Sensing readiness, he gestured toward the screen.

They moved in unison, and Concubine Zhong emerged from the small room hidden behind the screen.

Concubine Zhong was dressed in a sapphire blue gown and appeared to be around thirty years old. Her makeup was understated, and she wore a genuine smile, showing no signs anger of the previous day’s altercation.

Li Yunxi introduced her: “This is Concubine Zhong, your sister-in-law and Jiarui’s mother.”

Upon hearing this, Concubine Zhong gracefully bowed. “I have met the little brother, and apologize on behalf of Jiarui, who is uneducated.”

Jing Xingzhi’s expression remained unchanged as he replied calmly, “I’ve met Concubine Zhong.”

Jing Xingzhi didn’t take the apology to heart at all. As the modern saying, if apologies were useful, then why would they need the police? Besides, apologies on behalf of others were rather tedious!

Unaware that Li Jiarui had knelt for two hours the day before, resulting in his legs swelling like pig’s hooves, Jing Xingzhi kept his calm demeanor.

Li Yunxi inwardly sighed upon seeing Concubine Zhong apologize.

Li Jiarui’s behavior was becoming increasingly audacious. Reflecting on it, Li Yunxi felt responsible himself. As a child, he found Li Jiarui lively and adorable, often intervening when Concubine Zhong attempted to discipline him—a decision that now seemed to have backfired.

Li Yunxi’s eyes gleamed with hope as he addressed the person he had chosen to “look after the child”: “Xingzhi, could you do me a favor as your senior brother?”

Jing Xingzhi looked puzzled but sensed something amiss deep down.

Such a flattering smile must surely signify a loss of humanity!

Jing Xingzhi shook his head decisively. “Senior brother, I plan to return to care for our teacher after the Wanshou Festival. I’m afraid I won’t have time for other tasks.”

“After the festival, there’s the hunting expedition! It’ll be a great experience. You can return to our teacher thereafter,” Li Yunxi suggested cheerfully. “If you’re concerned about your studies, you can attend the Royal Academy on weekdays!”

Just as Jing Xingzhi was about to decline, Concubine Zhong interjected.

Concubine Zhong said, “Your Majesty’s idea is just right! Those gentlemen don’t have to come on weekdays. And if it’s just right, you can also teach the second, third, and fourth princes by example, so that they don’t do stupid things again!”

As they sang and harmonized, both pairs of eyes were fixed on Jing Xingzhi.

Jing Xingzhi shook his head decisively: “Xingzhi is still young and did not dare to take on such an important responsibility.”

This evil man and woman wanted to coax him into taking care of the baby! The baby was a complicated and naughty kid, he couldn’t have been more miserable teaching that baby.

But he didn’t expect Li Yunxi, the emperor, to be so shameless. He held his forehead and sighed: “Oh…, by the way, you don’t want those stupid kids to be unable to recognize our teacher and step on the portrait of the teacher again, right?”

What Li Yunxi meant was if Jing Xingzhi didn’t do it, it was because he didn’t want to.

It was evident that Li Yunxi had grown a little impatient after being rejected twice and resorted to shameless tricks. But whether the trick was shameless or not didn’t matter, as long as it worked.

But he didn’t expect Jing Xingzhi to continue shaking his head.

Li Yunxi’s face darkened a bit as he thought to himself, ‘I’ve said so and you still refuse?!’

Concubine Zhong became more attentive. She glanced at Li Yunxi and signaled him to calm down. Then she asked gently, “Junior brother, what worries do you have?”

When Li Jiarui was a child, Li Yunxi didn’t care, and Concubine Zhong couldn’t care. Later, Concubine Zhong didn’t dare to be too harsh when she was in charge of Li Jiarui. But as a mother, she saw that her child was getting worse and worse, and she was eager to find someone to take care of Li Jiarui.

Otherwise, if Li Yunxi went with her in the future, no one would respect the Zhong family.

Zhong family was loyal to Li Yunxi for her sake. Anyone else would not tolerate Li Jiarui again and again.

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Jing Xingzhi still shook his head: “Senior brother, sister-in-law, children’s education must start from an early age. Tell them right and wrong, what they should do and what they shouldn’t do. Concepts are developed day by day and cannot be changed easily. So, Xingzhi has no way to teach His Highness.”

Hearing this, Concubine Zhong lowered her head and sighed.

But Li Yunxi said: “That prodigal son needs to be taught. Come on, just teach him hard!”

After that, Li Yunxi, the unreasonable tyrant, looked directly at Zhang Tong: “Zhang Tong, go and take out the silver whip.”

After saying this, he looked at Jing Xingzhi, “Xingzhi, if you have the whip in hand, you can teach Li Jiarui however you want, even beat me if you wish!”

‘Don’t say that… I’m going to get excited!’

Sure enough, all the good things came later. Jing Xingzhi sighed inwardly and was “forced” to take over the silver whip.

Taking the whip, Jing Xingzhi reminded him politely: “If His Highness is too naughty, Xingzhi will really beat him.”

Li Yunxi nodded happily: “Hit!”

Concubine Zhong smiled brightly: “Hit!”

Jing Xingzhi nodded, but felt something strange for no reason.

It seemed the second senior brother and Concubine Zhong were a little anxious about the naughty child to be beaten.

After he got the whip, Jing Xingzhi did not go to the Royal Academy immediately because the Wanshou Festival was coming.