The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 238

“Jin Cheng, come down for dinner,” Xu Wan called as she went upstairs to fetch him.

The little troublemaker turned around, his pensive face instantly lighting up with a bright smile. He dashed over, tilting his head up and grinning, “Mom, why did you come to call me?”

Xu Wan naturally took his hand and led him downstairs. “Wenxiu and the others have already gone to eat. They said you wouldn’t come down, so I came to check on you. What’s wrong? Was the Crown Prince’s lesson too difficult to understand?”

Jin Cheng shook his head. “No, I understood everything the Crown Prince taught. I’m just worried about his health… Mom, can I go to the Eastern Palace to see him on this day every month? I don’t want him to travel so far to come see me.”

Xu Wan paused and asked, “Did the Crown Prince agree to that?”

Jin Cheng shook his head again. “No.”

Xu Wan breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s for the best. The palace is a complicated place. It’s not appropriate for you to go there every month.”

The little one thought of the rumors and pouted. “Why are people still spreading such nonsense after all this time? The Crown Prince already has his own children.”

Xu Wan chuckled. “You have the nerve to say that. Didn’t you tell Tongya during the dance hall case that you were the Crown Prince’s son?”

“I only said that to make her feel comfortable enough to confess,” Jin Cheng argued.

Xu Wan replied, “Well, then it’s no wonder people suspect you have a connection to the Crown Prince. To anyone paying attention, it’s clear the Crown Prince favors you.”

The little troublemaker mumbled, “It’s just because I’m adorable. The Crown Prince likes kids like me.”

“Alright, alright, you’re adorable. You’re the most adorable kid in the world, okay?” Xu Wan said, amused.

Jin Cheng pouted and glared at her. “You’re not complimenting me sincerely.”

Xu Wan: “...”

This little brat sure has high standards.

That night, Jin Cheng went to He Zheng’s room to discuss the direction of their debate topic for the next day. He Zheng’s mouth hung wider and wider, like a naive child who had never seen the world before.

To be fair, Jin Cheng’s ideas were bold, and even Cheng Zhidong and Pan Hongzhi found them astonishing. The little troublemaker was a genius at sophistry. If he went on like this, it would be hard to refute him.

After Jin Cheng left, the two teachers were still pondering how they would counter him if they were the ones debating…

The next day, the debate competition began.

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The debate was novel, and the topic had a strong contrast. Apart from Xu Wan and the five private tutors, even Baili Xi came to listen out of curiosity, with Baili Weihong standing by his side.

The three little ones on the “Good Officials” team stood on the moral high ground. Regardless of how much knowledge they had, they were brimming with confidence.

After all, their argument was universally accepted as correct.

Shen Yibai opened his mouth with bold words: “Jin Cheng, you’re going to cry when you lose today. We’re definitely going to win.”

Wei Xinglu crossed his arms and chimed in, “I completely agree.”

Zong Wenxiu smiled and added, “Brother, I won’t go easy on you today.”

Jin Cheng placed his hands on the table, exuding arrogance. “I hope you’ll still be this confident when the debate is over.”

He Zheng timidly added, “You’re going to lose. My big brother is really strong… I mean, I’m strong too now…”

Shen Yibai burst out laughing. “He Zheng, why are you stuttering? Are you scared of us? Why don’t you just surrender? It’ll be three against Jin Cheng.”

He Zheng looked miserable. “I am scared, but I’m scared of my big brother, and I’m scared of what I’m about to say… Auntie, can you have Buyan and Cui Liu stand closer? I’m afraid they’ll rush over and beat us up after I speak.”

The adults in the room couldn’t help but laugh at his words.

Xu Wan kindly nodded. “Buyan, Cui Liu, move closer and be ready to break up any fights.”

Cui ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‍Liu: “Yes.”

Buyan: “…”

Breaking up fights, acting as bodyguards…

When will this absurd life ever end?

Once the pre-debate trash talk was over, Xu Wan stood in the middle and added the rules: “Given the nature of this debate topic, all statements made during the competition do not reflect the debaters’ actual beliefs. Please refrain from personal attacks after the debate ends.”

The kids nodded in unison.

Even Baili Xi, to everyone’s surprise, nodded in agreement. Zong Zhao’s wife was as thoughtful as ever.

“Let the debate begin.”

“I’ll go first,” said Shen Yibai, the first speaker for the affirmative side. He had prepared his argument in advance and spoke with confidence. “The existence of good officials ensures the stability of the nation and the well-being of the people. Take Bao Zheng, for example. He stood up to powerful figures, fought for justice for the common people, and was deeply loved by them. His name has been remembered for generations.”

Xu Wan listened and nodded.

Not bad. For just two days of preparation, he managed to understand the topic to this extent and provide examples. Good job.

When it was the turn of the first speaker for the negative side, He Zheng timidly raised his head and said, “Bad officials don’t choose to be bad willingly. Some are forced into it, like being pushed to the brink and having no choice but to do evil. For example, if someone threatens you, saying they’ll cut off one of your fingers if you don’t comply, and the government can’t help you. If you resist, they’ll cut off another finger. You can’t seek help, and you can’t escape. Would you continue to be a good official, or would you become a bad one?”

Zong Wenxiu responded seriously, “I would remain a good official. Even if they cut off all my fingers, as long as I have my last breath, I won’t collude with them. Mencius said, ‘Wealth and honor cannot corrupt me, poverty and low status cannot move me, and power and force cannot subdue me.’ That’s what it means to be a true gentleman.”

“Well said!” Shen Yibai led the applause.

“Brother Wenxiu, you’re amazing!” Wei Xinglu also clapped. Auntie had found them such a strong teammate. Zong Wenxiu, the Childhood Scholar, really knew how to argue, quoting one sage after another.

The three kids on the affirmative side were full of righteous energy, their momentum strong.

Jin Cheng didn’t move at all. He Zheng, recalling what his big brother had taught him the day before, swallowed nervously. Should he really say it?

Would Brother Wenxiu kill him after this…?

But if he didn’t say it, they wouldn’t be able to counter. He turned to Buyan and said, “Buyan, can you stand next to me? I’m scared.”

Buyan: “…”

He walked over expressionlessly.

With a personal bodyguard by his side, He Zheng finally mustered the courage to counter. “Brother Wenxiu, I know you’re not afraid of death. But evil people have no limits to their cruelty. They’ll target what matters most to you. What if, instead of cutting off your fingers, they threatened to cut off your mother’s, one by one…?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Baili Weihong.

Baili Weihong, suddenly brought into the conversation, was momentarily stunned. But as the etiquette teacher, she managed to maintain her composure.

This move was clearly Jin Cheng’s idea. Wenxiu had grown up in the slums with his mother, and she was the most important person in his life. Even if he didn’t care about his own safety, he couldn’t abandon his mother…

“You!” Sure enough, Zong Wenxiu stood up, glaring at He Zheng.

No wonder He Zheng had been too scared to speak earlier. This was downright asking for a beating.

He Zheng quickly grabbed Buyan and hid behind him.

Help! Brother Wenxiu, I was forced to say this by my big brother. These aren’t my words…