I’m the Farmgirl You Can’t Mess With
Chapter 865 - Chapter 865 Persuasion (2)

Chapter 865: Persuasion (2) Chapter 865: Persuasion (2) Editor: Atlas Studios Fang Zhiyuan raised his brows and said, “Your Highness, are you here today to discuss the ‘Annotations to the Four Books’ with me?

There’s no need for that, because I don’t intend to recommend Your Highnesses to read this book.” “No.” Mu Yangling looked up at Fang Zhiyuan and said with a smile, “I’m here to tell Junior Tutor Fang that what the world thinks is good might not necessarily be good, and what the world is used to might not be good either.

Nowadays, not only do students in Jiangnan have to buy a copy of ‘Annotations to the Four Books’ when they enter school, but other schools also gradually require this of their students.

However, ‘Annotations to the Four Books’ is just the opinion of one school of thought.

The people who read ‘Annotations to the Four Books’ are actually reading Zhu Xi’s annotations to the four books, but scholars worship the book as a bible.

After decades or a hundred years, there’d only be one interpretation of the Four Books.

Junior Tutor Fang, do you think this is good or bad?” Fang Zhiyuan’s expression changed.

This was a matter of national importance.

Why was Princess Consort Rong the one to be talking with him about it?

Fang Zhiyuan’s mind raced as he stared at Mu Yangling.

Mu Yangling was still thinking about how to bring up the two-day break thing.

As Fang Zhiyuan did not show his emotions on his face, she did not know how shocked Fang Zhiyuan was.

She continued, “You’re familiar with poetry and books, and you’re also the Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor.

As such, you should know that there are different opinions when it comes to interpreting books.

You shouldn’t force conformity.

After all, people are different, and their thoughts and experiences are also different.

Naturally, their opinions will be different.

Hence, Confucius had long suggested that students ought to be taught according to their aptitude.” Fang Zhiyuan nodded cautiously.

“Your Highness is right.” Seeing that he agreed with her, Mu Yangling heaved a sigh of relief and said with a smile, “Then what teaching method do you think is suitable for His Highness the Crown Prince and the descendants of the royal family, Junior Tutor Fang?” Stunned, Fang Zhiyuan glanced at the Crown Prince and Crown Prince, who were standing at the side with their hands by their sides.

He smiled and said, “Your Highness, don’t worry.

Our teachers at the Royal School have a set of teaching methods for the Crown Prince and other princes.

We won’t force rote learning upon them, nor will we analyze to them the Four Books based upon the ‘Annotations to the Four Books’ .” There was a strong team of teachers in the Royal School, and there were only two students now.

It could be said that the teaching task was very easy.

If Princess Consort Rong only wanted them to take care of the Prince and teach him according to his personality and hobbies, there wouldn’t be a problem.

“Junior Tutor Fang, a child’s development depends on more than just books.

According to the current learning schedule for them, how much time do children have to do their own things?” Fang Zhiyuan frowned.

“The Crown Prince and the Prince are both children.

What other things do they have to do?” Mu Yangling had been waiting for Fang Zhiyuan to say this.

She turned around and said to the Crown Prince, “Little Treasure, tell your teacher everything you have to do every day.” Little Treasure had a lot of things to do.

Because his schedule was very tight, he had formed a habit over the past two years, so listing out the activities was as simple as memorizing books.

From what time he woke up in the morning to go to school to what he thought and did during school, he articulated everything clearly.

When he was on break, he would leave the palace to go to the farmstead to check on the schools he set up and settle some matters.

Then, he would go shopping and buy some small gifts for his Royal Father, Mother, and his younger siblingsaEUR| Fang Zhiyuan did not know that the Crown Prince was actually sponsoring the children at the farmstead to go to school.

Hence, when he heard that the Crown Prince had to take care of the Second Prince and the Eldest Princess when they played after school, his heart trembled.

Unless they were brothers born from the same mother, there was rarely a harmonious relationship between brothers in the royal family.

However, seeing as the Crown Prince could bring the Second Prince to play without any accidents, Fang Zhiyuan instantly understood the intentions of the Empress.

Little Treasure stole a glance at his Fourth Aunt.

Seeing her nod encouragingly at him, he whispered to Fang Zhiyuan, “But Teacher, I don’t get to spend much time with my younger siblings.

I often bring them to play for a while before having to leave to do my homework or sleep.

I don’t have much time to rest either.

There are still many things I want to do but can’t do.” Fang Zhiyuan turned to look at Mu Yangling.

At this moment, he was no longer sure of Mu Yangling’s motive for coming.

Could it be to intercede on behalf of the Crown Prince and get their classes to end earlier?

But wouldn’t it be more appropriate for the Emperor or the Empress to speak to him about this instead?

Although they were the Crown Prince’s teachers, they were also the Emperor’s subjects and so would not disobey his orders.

Before Fang Zhiyuan could come up with an explanation, Mu Yangling continued, “Junior Tutor Fang, now that you’ve heard from the Crown Prince, you should hear from Little Bear, too.

Little Bear, tell us what you’ve done every day when you were studying with Teacher Yuan.

Then, tell us what you’re doing every day after entering the palace.” Little Bear was not as systematic as Little Treasure.

Moreover, he did not have a plan for what he did every day, so his words were a little chaotic.

However, as the Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor, Fang Zhiyuan had an excellent ability to summarize.

Hence, he quickly summarized Little Bear’s exciting life.

This kid’s learning life in the Prince’s Residence was very exciting.

Every day, after waking up, he would first practice martial arts with his father, then take a shower and eat breakfast before going to school.

Teacher Yuan was very tolerant of him and taught him according to his aptitude.

As a result, even after half a year, he still only knew how to read the Three Character Classic.

Alright, a teacher who discriminated against students’ intelligence was not a good teacher.

Hence, Fang Zhiyuan adjusted his attitude and continued to listen.

In the afternoons, Little Bear finished school early.

One of his main subjects was “Natural Inquiry,” so after school, he either led his younger brothers in all kinds of mischiefaEUR”climbing roofs, fishing in ponds, or digging around treesaEUR”or he would tinker with wooden machinery.

Natural Inquiry, in simpler terms, was just like modern-day physics.

It wasn’t Mu Yangling’s idea to have him learn this, but Little Bear expressed a strong interest in it after touring Blackie’s carpentry course and desired to make a crossbow himself.

Qi Haoran had always doted on his son, so he readily sent a crossbow craftsman in the army to teach him.

However, after learning it, he was very interested in mechanical principles.

This was not something a crossbow craftsman could teach him.

After Mu Yangling consulted Teacher Yuan and found out that he also knew the basics of Natural Inquiry, she decided to let him teach her son about this subject.

In order to learn Natural Inquiry, one had to first learn arithmetic well.

Of course, Teacher Yuan, who knew the prince’s personality well, knew that he couldn’t dryly teach him arithmetic alone.

Instead, he would teach him some basic physics principles every few days and then assign him practical assignments, such as making kites, Kongming Lanterns, boats, and wooden horsesaEUR| Therefore, the prince was very busy.

This was Fang Zhiyuan’s final conclusion.

Unlike the palace, Little Bear had a two-day break for every five days of study, in addition to having a break during the solstice of spring and summer.

In addition, when the farm was busy, the Prince would also take a long vacation because he had to plant and transplant rice in the farmstead.

Regarding this, Fang Zhiyuan had his doubts.

Prince Rong’s heir apparent transplanting rice?

Could it be that he was simply standing on the ridge and watching at the side?

Fang Zhiyuan was very good at hiding his emotions, so he did not show it.

So, the other three people present naturally did not know that Fang Zhiyuan suspected that Little Bear was faking it.

But the upright Fang Zhiyuan did not want to see the Princess Consort being deceived, so he couldn’t help but ask, “In that case, what insights has the Prince gleaned from his experience with farming?”