With so many heads turned his way in curiosity, Zhang Fengxi had no other choice but to answer.
"This poem specifically tells about the then supreme general's eternal loyalty toward the reigning heavenly emperor. At that time, war with the ghost realm tore the heavenly realm apart."
The Grand Tutor nodded in acknowledgment.
"And from which palace did the supreme general hail?"
Zhang Fengxi unwittingly curled his fingers into fists.
"The Longjing Palace," he answered.
Ironic how his ancestor eternalized his loyalty to the emperor within "Odes of Power", but Zhang Fengxi did the exact opposite in his previous life.
He imagined that said ancestor must be rolling inside his grave when Zhang Fengxi raised his spear against Xie Jianyu.
Zhang Fengxi stole a glance at Xie Jianyu. When he saw that the crown prince was looking at him as well, he quickly averted his gaze.
"Of course, he knows about this poem then," Zhou Guiying loudly complained. "His parents must have read it to him a thousand times since he was a child!"
"That is not wrong, but does this mean that the Qingyuan Palace does not care about pursuing the same valorous values?"
The knot on Zhou Guiying's throat bobbed up and down nervously.
"This student has misspoken. Begging the Grand Tutor for forgiveness."
"Copy the two passages a hundred times today and submit it to me first thing tomorrow," the Grand Tutor said. "Now, let's continue with the lesson for today..."
Zhang Fengxi stared at Jiang Muchen's back.
Zhou Guiying did not know the meaning of the verses, but what about Jiang Muchen? He clearly also did not know! Just like Zhou Guiying, he must have thought that the verses contained romantic notions. Otherwise, why use them to flirt with Xie Jianyu?
Even worse, that Xie Jianyu was dense enough to not know the meaning behind Jiang Muchen's actions!
Also, did the present Jiang Muchen know about Xie Jianyu's real gender?
Zhang Fengxi bit into the tail of his ink brush.
If he did, he would have taken Xie Jianyu for himself.
Xie Jianyu would not have preserved his virginity for so many years. Or kept the truth about his gender.
On the other side... Jiang Muchen rooted for Xie Jianyu. He wanted Xie Jianyu to inherit the throne. Maybe that's why he did not touch Xie Jianyu.
He must be quite livid when he found out that he, Zhang Fengxi, dishonored Xie Jianyu and even put his baby inside him.
A smirk spread on Zhang Fengxi's face.
Heh. Poor Jiang Muchen.
But then Jiang Muchen's last words to him echoed within his skull.
"You are the worst, Zhang Fengxi. You do not deserve Jianyu's kindness. You do not deserve to be this child's father."
Zhang Fengxi muttered curses under his breath.
Look at the way Jiang Muchen treated Xie Jianyu.
He cherished him so much.
He loved him so much that he did not dare to lay with him. He secretly loved him from afar, giving his love unconditionally to the man who could never be his.
It was not Zhang Fengxi's kind of love.
When Zhang Fengxi fell in love, he wanted to possess the person and made him his. His lover's body should bear his marks, his lips should call his name in bed.
What would Xie Jianyu look like, naked?
What would he feel like when Zhang Fengxi ran his hands across his body?
How did he react when...
Zhang Fengxi knocked at the side of his head repeatedly when obscene images of Xie Jianyu flooded his mind.
"Stop it," he chastised himself.
"You promised to leave Xie Jianyu alone in this life.
Jiang Muchen is not going to harm Xie Jianyu.
As long as you don't interfere this time, Xie Jianyu will be just fine. He can keep up the lie about being an alpha forever. It has nothing to do with you."
"... Fengxi."
"ZHANG FENGXI!"
Crap.
The Grand Tutor looked like he was about to throw Zhang Fengxi into the pond outside.
"What are you daydreaming about?"
"I... Nothing," Zhang Fengxi stuttered. "It was nothing."
"Nothing, eh? Write me an essay about 'nothing', at least three pages long before going home today. You will read it out loud first thing tomorrow morning."
"....."
Crap, crap.
As if things could not be worse, the Grand Tutor turned to look at Xie Jianyu and said, "Sorry to trouble the Crown Prince. Will you please watch over Prince Zhang Fengxi while he is doing his assignment?"
Obedient as ever, Xie Jianyu cupped his hands together and replied, "This student will do as the Grand Tutor asks."
Crap, crap, crap.