Poet Immortal, Poet Sage, Duke of the State!

After the ten children realized what was happening, Xishe instantly erupted into chaos.

"Oh, so you're making us memorize texts without even giving a lecture?"

"This is way too difficult! I can't understand a single sentence of that book!"

"Oh no, what am I going to do if I can't memorize it tomorrow?"

"No, I want to hear the story of Havoc in Heaven. I need to ask my father when I get back!"

"Please let me know after you ask me; I want to hear the rest of the story!"

"Tell me too, I want to hear it too..."

……

These young nobles weren't interested in the contents of the "Imperial Canon of Heaven," but if they couldn't memorize it, no one could listen to the story of Sun Wukong's havoc in the Heavenly Palace.

It's not a big deal if I can't hear it myself; the more important thing is that it will prevent everyone else from hearing it.

Despite their mischievous and playful nature, they are extremely loyal and unwilling to cause trouble for others because of themselves.

Everyone had originally planned to play Cuju (ancient Chinese football) together after class.

But at this moment, no one was in the mood for playing around.

Wang Hao's father was a secretary in the Ministry of Rites, well-versed in the classics. After everyone had discussed it, they immediately set off in a grand procession towards the Ministry of Rites.

In the east dormitory, Zhao Rui was giving a lecture when he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

He turned his head and saw Chen Chang'an's ten students running out of the schoolhouse in a swarm.

This startled him.

There was still nearly half an hour before class ended. Was Chen Chang'an going to let them go now?

He sneered inwardly. Chen Chang'an's irresponsibility and passive-aggressive attitude were exactly what he wanted to see.

He was about to continue the lesson when the children below became restless.

We all came to the East Palace for classes together, so why should those other people go off to play while we have to sit here and listen to the teacher talk about these boring things?

Upon realizing this, the sons of the ten noble families all began to protest.

"Sir, this is not fair!"

"Why do we have to go home even though they've all left!"

"Yeah, why can they go out and have fun, but we can too!"

"get out of class dismissed! get out of class dismissed!"

……

The students' earlier seriousness was merely an act under Zhao Rui's intimidation. Once they saw that the other children who had come with them had gone out to play, they could no longer maintain the facade and began to protest, turning the entire classroom into chaos.

"Silence! Silence!"

Zhao Rui resorted to his old trick, slamming the ruler hard on the table.

This time, the students were in complete disarray and remained unmoved.

Snapped!

Zhao Rui had broken his ruler, but the schoolhouse remained silent. Finally, at his wit's end, Zhao Rui waved his hand and said, "Go, go, all of you go. You all need to memorize and recite what I taught today. Tomorrow, anyone who can't recite it will be punished with ten strokes of the cane and will have to stand and listen to the lesson!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the ten children rushed out in a swarm.

Zhao Rui rubbed his temples. These sons of noble families were more difficult to teach than he had imagined. As for Chen Chang'an, they must have run away on their own initiative...

Thinking of this, Zhao Rui's mood suddenly improved.

At least, the students he taught started running later than Chen Chang'an's students...

However, after returning to the Hanlin Academy, he still went to Dou Wenhuan's duty room to complain: "Your Excellency, Chen Chang'an is not strict in disciplining the students, and even my students are affected..."

This time, Dou Wenhuan didn't take the opportunity to make a scene. Instead, he gently patted Chen Chang'an's shoulder and said, "During your competition, no outsiders are allowed to interfere. Just bear with it for now. Maybe in a few days, Chen Chang'an will admit defeat on his own..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Rui could only hold back for the time being.

At this moment, ten young men in brocade robes had already arrived in front of the Department of Rites.

The Ministry of Rites was located on the east side of the Imperial City. Among the Six Ministries, the Ministry of Rites held a special position. Although its officials had no real power, the Ministry of Rites was indispensable for organizing the imperial examinations and any ceremonies of the court.

It can be said that the Ministry of Rites was the Hanlin Academy of the Six Ministries.

As one of the most prestigious of the six ministries, the Ministry of Rites usually had few affairs and rarely had outsiders visiting its offices.

At this moment, the guards on duty at the entrance of the Ministry of Rites saw a group of teenagers running over from afar and quickly stepped forward to stop them.

Upon recognizing the newcomers as sons of noble families, the guard quickly composed himself and cautiously inquired, "Gentlemen, what brings you to the Ministry of Rites?"

The group of teenagers didn't bother to explain to him and rushed into the Ministry of Rites.

Inside a room in the Ministry of Rites, Wang Xuan, a senior official of the Ministry of Rites, sat at his desk, checking recent ceremony records, when suddenly a flurry of footsteps came from outside the room.

He turned his head and saw his son leading a group of noble sons blocking the entrance to the yamen. He immediately frowned and his face darkened.

In his memory, his son was always naughty and playful, idle all day long, and disliked studying. When he was urged to memorize books and study, his son would make all sorts of excuses and complain endlessly.

Yesterday, His Majesty selected some children from the families of princes and ministers to study at the Eastern Palace. This is a great opportunity, and Wang Xuan was overjoyed all night.

It should be their class time now, but Wang Hao has brought a group of students to the Ministry of Rites. Needless to say, they must have skipped class to play again...

It's one thing for him to skip classes at the private school on ordinary days, but he even dares to skip classes at the Crown Prince's palace! This kid is getting more and more outrageous. If we don't teach him a lesson, he probably won't learn his lesson...

Wang Xuan's hand was already on his belt, preparing to give this unfilial son a good beating in public. He had only untied half of his belt when Wang Hao rushed in and hurriedly asked, "Father, what does the first paragraph of the general outline of the 'Imperial Canon of Heaven' mean... Father, why are you untying your belt?"

Wang Xuan, a secretary in the Ministry of Rites, was taken aback upon hearing this. He then silently fastened his belt and said, "It's nothing. I was a little too full at lunch. I just loosened my belt..."

Then, he looked at his son with astonishment, as if he were meeting him for the first time.

In fact, this was indeed the first time his son had asked him about his homework.

Wang Xuan coughed lightly, his tone softening slightly, and said, "Why did you suddenly ask about this?"

Wang Hao said anxiously, "Dad, do you even understand? If you don't understand, I'll go ask someone else. There's no time..."

They need to memorize the original text and meaning of the first paragraph of the general outline of the "Essentials of Heaven's Mandate" before class tomorrow, so they can't afford to be delayed in the slightest.

Wang Xuan paused for a moment, then said, "Isn't it just the *Cheng Tian Yao Dian*? Your father could recite it from memory when he was six. The first paragraph of the book's general outline is... Of all things in heaven and earth, humanity is the most precious. Of all things in humanity, the heart is the foundation. Therefore, those who govern the world must first govern the heart; those who govern the heart must first understand principles. When principles are understood, the heart is upright; when the heart is upright, actions are proper; when actions are proper, the world will submit to them... This paragraph means..."

Before long, ten sons of princes and ministers, including Wang Hao, ran out of the duty room, sat on the steps of the Ministry of Rites courtyard, and began reciting their books aloud.

"Of all things in heaven and earth, humanity is the most precious. Of all things in humanity, the heart is the foundation..."

"Therefore, those who govern the world must first govern the hearts of men; those who govern the hearts of men must first understand the principles. When the principles are understood, the heart is upright; when the heart is upright, one's conduct is proper; when one's conduct is proper, the world will submit to one another..."

Upon hearing their voices, some officials from the Ministry of Rites emerged from their duty rooms.

Seeing these most unruly sons of princes and nobles in the capital sitting upright on the steps, reciting the classics with their heads swaying, they were all stunned.

Even spoiled brats are starting to memorize books...

Is he still reciting the "Chengtian Yaodian"?

Is the sun rising in the west today?