When Zhu Xiang returned to Wucheng, although he refused all the welcome banquets arranged for him, the scholars and merchants who were even slightly wealthy in Wucheng still held feasts, and the shops hung banners advertising discounts and gifts to celebrate his return.

Seeing this, Bai Qi first sighed that Zhu Xiang truly enjoyed the respect of the common people, then gently persuaded him that the people of Wucheng should tone things down a bit — this was overdoing it.

Zhu Xiang sighed. “When I’m in Wucheng, I can make them restrain themselves, but Zheng’er indulges them.”

Ying Zheng’s eyes wavered first, then he declared confidently, “My father and I will never be wary of Uncle!”

Bai Qi couldn’t help but laugh. “True. I was overthinking.”

Ying Zheng instantly grew smug. “Exactly. Uncle overthinks everything.”

This was Ying Zheng’s temperament—if he wanted to treat someone well, he wanted the whole world to treat them well too. Even the old yellow dog back home that died years ago — he still remembered that once he became King of Qin, he wanted to confer an official title upon it.

Bai Qi was amused again.

Ever since he let Zhu Xiang take care of him again, from Xianyang until now, in just two or three months, he had laughed more than in the past several years combined.

Laughing more often made his body feel much lighter too.

Although Li Mu had a house in Wucheng, he still stayed at Zhu Xiang’s place most of the time after returning.

Zhu Xiang tidied up a small courtyard next to Li Mu’s room and even made a small vegetable patch especially for Bai Qi.

Everyone Zhu Xiang befriended seemed to love setting aside a piece of their garden to grow vegetables for their own use — Bai Qi was no exception.

Perhaps due to forming a “bond with potatoes” at Changping, Bai Qi loved planting potatoes the most; Li Mu preferred pumpkins.

Zhu Xiang recommended sweet potatoes to Bai Qi, and Bai Qi ended up planting half his plot with them, saying he wanted to try the taste of this new “red-skinned potato.”

After settling a few things, Zhu Xiang went to visit poor little Chengjiao, who was obediently staying home drinking medicine because his gums were swollen and he had a slight fever.

When Zhu Xiang arrived, Chengjiao was hiding under his blanket.

Seeing the small, trembling lump under the quilt, Zhu Xiang instantly had a strong sense of déjà vu and turned to look at Ying Zheng.

Ying Zheng’s brow twitched. His anger surged. He strode over to the bed, grabbed the edge of the blanket, and yanked it up, revealing a chubby-cheeked little Chengjiao.

“Chengjiao! How many times have I told you? When you’re changing teeth, you must eat fewer sweets!” Ying Zheng roared. “Your whole mouth is swollen! Did you forget everything Elder Bian Que told you to avoid?!”

Zhu Xiang showed a nostalgic smile.

As expected — this was exactly like Zheng’er secretly eating snacks.

Chengjiao covered his mouth, still chewing, eyes wide with terror as he looked at his furious older brother.

Ying Zheng immediately demanded he spit it out.

Chengjiao shut his eyes tight, swallowed hard, licked his lips, and declared, “I swallowed it!”

Ying Zheng raised his hand.

Chengjiao squeezed his eyes shut.

“Enough, enough, Zheng’er, let it go for today. Uncle has just returned — give me some face and don’t hit your brother today,” Zhu Xiang hurriedly stepped in, ending his amusement at Chengjiao’s expense.

Chengjiao opened one eye and gave his long-unseen but still deeply-imprinted uncle a flattering smile, then shut his eyes again.

Watching these little gestures, Zhu Xiang could easily tell — if Zheng’er really hit Chengjiao hard, Chengjiao wouldn’t dare act like this. Clearly Zheng’er’s “smacks” were very light — probably even gentler than when Xueji beat Zheng’er. No wonder Chengjiao wasn’t afraid.

Zhu Xiang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Wasn’t Chengjiao supposed to be afraid of Zheng’er? Why did he now look like a shameless rascal relying on an indulgent older brother? Was Zheng’er too gentle with him? Or was it simply that children quickly test boundaries the moment they realize the adult won’t actually hit hard?

Ying Zheng growled, “If your new teeth come in crooked and you end up with a mouth full of rotten teeth, let’s see how you cry then!”

Chengjiao opened his eyes and muttered, “That won’t happen.”

Zhu Xiang said, “No, it really will.”

He lifted Chengjiao into his arms and skillfully retrieved every piece of hidden snack from his clothes.

Chengjiao stared at him in disbelief.

How did this unfamiliar uncle know all his hiding spots?! Even big brother couldn’t find them all!

Zhu Xiang only smiled.

Child, do you think you’re smarter than your brother? I’ve fought many rounds of snack warfare with Zheng’er and slightly outmatched him — if elders hadn’t kept sneaking him food, it wouldn’t be “slightly” but a complete victory.

“I heard one of Bian Que’s disciples opened a shop in town that specializes in treating teeth. In a few days, I’ll take you to take a look,” Zhu Xiang said warmly. “After you’ve gone a few times, tell Uncle again whether you want to protect your teeth.”

Chengjiao nodded blankly, staring longingly at the snacks Zhu Xiang confiscated.

Ying Zheng collected all the snacks with a cold smile.

Uncle is home now. Let’s see how you misbehave! You have no idea how many ways Uncle has to discipline children!

“Uncle, Chengjiao is yours now!” Ying Zheng complained. “I can’t teach this little brother anymore!”

Zhu Xiang asked curiously, “Chengjiao only needs basic enlightenment. You can’t even teach that?”

Ying Zheng snorted. “Teaching him characters is fine. But math… I give up. I don’t understand how he can recite the multiplication tables so well, but when you scramble the numbers and make him do single-digit addition, he still gets half of them wrong! They’re all in the multiplication table!”

Once Ying Zheng started complaining, he couldn’t stop.

He couldn’t understand how “1 + 9 = 10” became “9 + 1 = 7.”

At least say 8 — then I could pretend you mixed up addition and subtraction! But 9 + 1 = 7?! How did you even get that answer?!

No matter how hard he taught, Chengjiao would study earnestly but still make the same mistakes next time.

Ying Zheng had begun to dread teaching him math.

Whenever it was math-lesson time, his heart pounded, his head throbbed, and dread washed over him.

He didn’t even feel fear like this when going onto the battlefield.

“I see. Zheng’er, you’ve worked hard,” Zhu Xiang said, understanding his suffering.

His colleague and his colleague’s wife were both PhDs, but when their child was in elementary school, he still sometimes failed tests. Those two could teach university students just fine — their teaching methods were perfectly normal — yet their own kid simply couldn’t learn.

The wife’s father, a retired professor, refused to believe it and tutored the child during summer break. He got so angry his hypertension relapsed, scaring his daughter into tears. She never dared let him tutor the child again.

Thankfully Zheng’er was a prodigy.

Zhu Xiang said, “Since you’ll be supporting him in the future anyway, what are you afraid of even if Chengjiao is bad at math? Lower your expectations and you won’t get angry. He memorizes texts quickly, right? Let him manage literature and classics in the future.”

Chengjiao, still sad from his brother’s complaints, perked up upon hearing this.

Pouting bravely, he declared, “Exactly! Big brother will support me! I don’t need to learn math!”

Ying Zheng almost blacked out from anger.

What do you mean since I support you, you don’t need to study?!

He had finally managed to separate this little Chengjiao from the Guanjun who betrayed him in his dreams. In his heart, he had resolved that as long as Chengjiao never rebelled, he would never suspect him and would let him enjoy endless wealth and honor.

And now that he was ready to let Chengjiao become an official, the kid decided he’d rather be lazy?!

“Go earn your own living! I’m not supporting you!” Ying Zheng growled through clenched teeth. “Even Qin princes don’t get titles without achievements!”

Zhu Xiang teased, “No title, fine. Chengjiao’s small — he can’t eat much. Chengjiao, if Zheng’er doesn’t give you stipends, just eat at his table. I refuse to believe he’ll let you starve.”

Chengjiao looked at his brother and found that the Crown Prince seemed to be the weaker party in front of Uncle. With a newfound sense of backing, the child straightened proudly. “Exactly! Chengjiao eats very little! Brother can support me!”

Ying Zheng stomped his foot like a furious child. “Uncle! Teach Chengjiao in a good direction!”

Zhu Xiang burst into laughter, making Ying Zheng even angrier.

Fortunately, Xueji arrived soon to call them to dinner. Seeing Zhu Xiang teasing Ying Zheng, she pinched Zhu Xiang’s arm hard to vent for Ying Zheng.

Otherwise, Ying Zheng would probably cold-shoulder him all night.

“Don’t worry, Uncle will teach you,” Zhu Xiang told Chengjiao. “Even if you can’t learn it, Uncle won’t scold you.”

Chengjiao brightened. “Really?”

Zhu Xiang nodded. “Really.”

Poor math skills could be from undeveloped logic thinking — or simply lack of interest.

Zhu Xiang decided to use snacks as teaching tools from now on: Chengjiao would get a snack for every correct answer, and none for wrong ones.

Why would he scold a child? Happy learning is the way.

Seeing his uncle’s kind smile, Chengjiao clenched his tiny fists. “Uncle, I believe in you!”

Ying Zheng took one look at that smile and knew Uncle was absolutely planning something devious.

He shot his brother a cold stare. Just wait—soon you’ll be crying.

Xueji tapped Ying Zheng’s forehead lightly. “Enough. Stop glaring at your brother. Even if your uncle helps, you promised His Majesty you would teach Chengjiao together. You must not break your word.”

Ying Zheng’s stiff expression instantly dropped. “Auntie, you’re so strict…”

“That’s because your uncle is far too lenient with you,” Xueji said sternly. “If I don’t correct you, no one will.”

Ying Zheng lowered his head. “Yes.”

Seeing the Crown Prince being scolded, Chengjiao shrank timidly.

Zhu Xiang grew thoughtful.

Looks like Zheng’er never hit Chengjiao hard… but Xueji probably did.

This household definitely needed Xueji to keep the mischievous children in line.