Shen Jingxian put on a look of feigned understanding, tilted her head at the teacher, and asked, "If I don't need to respect and cherish the servants, does that mean I don't have to be good to my teacher either? Should I listen to my mother or my teacher?"
Shen Jingxian lowered her little head, looking as if she was troubled.
Duan Shaoguang felt an unexpected pang in his heart when he heard Shen Jingxian's words.
Shen Jingxian was very obedient. Although they had just met, from her earlier rebuttal, he had already realized that this pampered Little Princess was not blindly spoiled by the Queen.
But the Princess was only 4 years old, a blank slate at such an age, on which anyone could leave impressions that last a lifetime.
If he hadn't appeared just then, if that ill-intentioned servant had kept whispering such things in the Princess's ears day and night, he dared not imagine what the once cheerful and well-behaved Princess might have become.
Duan Shaoguang squatted down, not caring even as his robe touched the ground. He looked straight into Shen Jingxian's eyes, not angered by her words, and showed a face of attempted gentleness.
It was attempted gentleness because he really tried.
Shen Jingxian couldn't quite describe the feeling; it was like a killer whose face had stiffened from years of not smiling, struggling to show a twisted smile to abduct children.
"Princess, the teacher is not a servant, but your teacher. All the things you don't understand or are unsure about, you can ask your teacher. But the teacher's words may not always be right; what anyone says, even your mother, is not necessarily right. You must think for yourself, judge for yourself whether you should, can, or want to do something."
Shen Jingxian nodded.
Well said! She agreed!
But the problem was, did the teacher forget something? She was only 4 years old; could she really understand such profound words at that age?
But it didn't matter. There's a kind of understanding where you assume someone understands.
Clearly, this was the state the teacher was in with her now.
"Alright, go inside."
Shen Jingxian walked into the classroom with her short little legs, while Ming Xiang was stopped outside by the teacher.
Ming Xiang called out strenuously to the Princess, but Shen Jingxian pretended not to hear and found a seat at the back of the classroom. She tossed her schoolbag down and began to marvel.
Though it was an elementary school, the four treasures of the study were all present; the type of wood used for the desk was unknown but seemed very precious, with intricate patterns carved on it.
Kind of like... that tuft on Lazy Sheep's head?
Who designed this? They must have some Sheep Village genes in them. Shen Jingxian decided to tell her father to request a desk with Pleasant Goat hair shape, so it's smarter.
In Yunyi Country, the nation was powerful, and the status of women was not low either. There were no restrictions requiring women to stay at home to support their husbands and educate their children. Those with ability could even enter the court as officials or go into battle. Although there might be only one Female Official for every hundred officials, the state's attitude was evident.
This was also reflected in education.
Until the age of 8, both boys and girls received the same early education, and only after 8 did their schooling diverge.
Overall, Yunyi Country had fewer rules for women, but the separation between men and women was still very strict.
While Shen Jingxian was observing her surroundings, the other children were observing her as well.
Song Yan lowered the hatred in her eyes and recalled her past life, where her husband called out for the Princess day and night.
That was her most painful time.
We've met again, Shen Jingxian. In this life, I definitely won't let you ruin my life.
Just as Shen Jingxian was giggling in her head, she suddenly sneezed hard.
Perhaps because the sneeze was so loud, all the little ones, including Duan Shaoguang, turned to look at her.
Inside, Shen Jingxian was a mature adult; would she be embarrassed by the gazes of these little ones? No, she wouldn't. She could even smile sheepishly and cute herself out of trouble.
Song Yan: Hmph, it turns out Shen Jingxian liked to put on airs since she was little.
Others: Cute!
Shen Jingxian wondered if the introductory reading materials in all worlds were the Three Character Classic, the Thousand Character Classic, and the Disciples' Rule.
Clearly, this dynasty never appeared in modern history and was a fictional one. Yet the reading materials for fictional dynasties were the same as modern ones?
This must be what's called a fluid fictional dynasty with ironclad introductory texts.
Before long, the thing Shen Jingxian worried about most came along with the plot.
The teacher asked them to copy the Three Character Classic on paper by themselves.
Song Yan raised her brush to write, her posture and demeanor not that of a beginner. Even at her young age, she already had an air of sophistication.