The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 271
Translated by Pure
Extra 7: Mu Yang’s Past Matters
At the age of twelve, Mu Yang experienced a sudden growth spurt, no longer needing to crane his neck to look up at Chi Jingxi.
After two years of palace study, he progressed from struggling to read a single line to occasionally producing a decent essay or two.
However, these were sporadic and inconsistent achievements.
Occasionally, when he presented his essays to Chi Jingxi, the latter would shake his head and sigh, "Yang'er, it’s already quite an achievement for you to have written such a lengthy piece of nonsense."
During those times, Mu Yang's psyche was still delicate, so hearing such comments inevitably left him feeling disheartened and downcast. To lift his spirits, he took his ‘lengthy piece of nonsense’ and presented it to General Mu.
General Mu, having been illiterate for much of his life, only acquired the ability to read later on, without delving into the nuances of writing. Faced with Mu Yang's verbose and elaborate prose, he found himself at a loss.
However, upon seeing his eager young son gazing at him expectantly, he promptly gave a hearty thumbs-up and proudly exclaimed, "As expected of my son!"
The father and son then shared a good laugh.
…
Speaking of General Mu.
This uncouth fellow used to hold the firm belief that the most futile occupation was that of a scholar, harboring a deep-seated disdain for scholarly pursuits.
However, upon assuming official duties, he was forced to engage with written texts, an experience he found to be excruciatingly arduous. To him, mastering literature was even worse than enduring the torment of being stabbed repeatedly. And this matter had left a lasting psychological scar.
Hence, General Mu's expectations for Mu Yang's literary achievements were modest. When he dispatched his son to study in the palace, he merely hoped that Mu Yang would attain proficiency in recognizing Chinese characters. Little did he anticipate the depth of knowledge and skill required beyond mere literacy. Upon reading Mu Yang's essay, he was genuinely impressed by his son's capabilities.
Subsequently, General Mu proudly showcased Mu Yang's composition to fellow officials on numerous occasions, often prefacing his display with the same introduction: "Let me show you the essay written by my son. He is only twelve years old..."
Following the reading of Mu Yang's essay, a cascade of praises ensued. He was hailed as the reincarnation of Wenquxing[1], or an exceptionally gifted individual, among other flattering epithets.
Despite recognizing the nonsensical nature of the composition, court officials carefully concealed their true sentiments and lauded Mu Yang with false accolades. They understood the importance of maintaining harmony and avoiding offense, particularly when dealing with a resolute and authoritative figure like General Mu, who was known for his favoritism towards his son.
Until one day, the general met the prime minister.
General Mu had always disliked Fu Sheng, so he proudly presented the crumpled essay paper to Fu Sheng.
In an uncommon display of geniality, Fu Sheng accepted the essay, though upon perusing its contents, his expression soured slightly. "Remarkable," he muttered with a furrowed brow.
Brimming with pride, General Mu boasted, "What can I say, that’s my son! Isn’t he amazing?"
Little did General Mu anticipate Prime Minister Fu's additional commentary: "To have penned such a voluminous essay devoid of any substance is truly remarkable."
Startled by this unexpected turn, General Mu swiftly reclaimed the essay, his expression darkening with anger. He shot a fierce glare at Fu Sheng, warning, "Fu Sheng, just you wait!"
During the morning imperial court session, just as proceedings were drawing to a close, General Mu abruptly interjected, "Your Majesty, I have a matter that needs your decision!"
The emperor recognized the familiar opening and braced himself for what was likely another altercation involving Prime Minister Fu.
With a weary sigh, he asked, "Must zhen adjudicate this matter personally?"
General Mu nodded gravely.
Observing the wearied expression on the emperor's face, he relented, "Very well, proceed."
So General Mu grew passionate, embellishing the story as he recounted Prime Minister Fu's criticism of his son's essay.
The emperor rubbed his temples, feeling the onset of a headache. "Is that all?"
General Mu's tone became more animated as he elaborated on Prime Minister Fu's disdain for his own past illiteracy. "Prime Minister Fu looks down on me for my lack of education, so he mocks my son and refuses to acknowledge Yang’er's talent!"
"Prime Minister Fu was the top scorer in the palace examination at a young age. Naturally, he tends to be strict when critiquing a young child’s essay. It must have been an unintentional comment, General Mu, you should not pay it much attention," the emperor reassured, eager to retire from the conversation.
"So what if he was the top scorer in the palace examination?" General Mu shouted loudly. "Does that give him the right to look down on my son?"
As he spoke, he retrieved the essay and said, "Your Majesty, please take a look at what Yang’er wrote..."
"Alright, alright, zhen understand," the emperor quickly conceded, waving his hand to calm General Mu down. "Zhen is delighted to hear zhen’s beloved official’s son's talent. How about zhen bestow upon Yang’er the title of 'The Talented'?"
General Mu was pleased, and he gratefully accepted the emperor's decision. He carefully stored the crumpled essay and bowed in thanks.
The emperor inscribed the words "The Talented" and handed it to General Mu, visibly relieved. As if weary from the ordeal, he swiftly declared the end of the court session and retired.
General Mu proudly strutted around, flaunting the emperor's bestowed title. Though the other officials secretly chuckled at his behavior, they couldn't help but envy his favor with the emperor.
For the next three months, the title of "The Talented" accompanied Mu Yang. With him being affectionately referred to as "The Talented" by his classmates.
…
When Mu Yang initially began his studies in the palace, few held high expectations for him.
His reading abilities were minimal. Even Li Bo sighed heartbrokenedly when he saw his shallow foundation, lamenting on the fact that such a good boy was almost wasted in the hands of General.
Everyone in the Reading Hall laughed at him behind his back. Once in class, Li Boyuan asked him to get up and read the text aloud. When he got stuck, someone couldn't hold back and bursted out laughing.
Despite his youth, Mu Yang mirrored General Mu's fiery temper perfectly. Frustrated, he attempted to tear the book apart and said in his milky ten-year-old voice, "I won't read this stupid book anymore!"
However, he didn’t have enough strength to tear apart.
In a fit of rage, he resorted to gnawing on the pages with his teeth.
Startled, Li Boyuan rushed forward, attempting to retrieve the book from Mu Yang's mouth, exclaiming, "Aiyo! You can't eat this, you can't eat it!"
Mu Yang, determined and resolute, clenched his fists tightly, shut his eyes, and gritted his teeth, engaging in a relentless tug-of-war with Li Boyuan. Despite Li Boyuan's attempts to reason with him, Mu Yang adamantly refused to open his mouth.
The other children in the Reading Hall were astonished by Mu Yang's audacity. None had ever dared to challenge Li Boyuan before, and they watched in awe at the unprecedented standoff.
Meanwhile, Chi Jingxi, who had been quietly transcribing texts, grew increasingly irritated by the commotion. Rising from his seat, he strode over to Mu Yang, delivering a swift rap on the back of his head. "Open your mouth," he commanded firmly.
Feeling the sting of Chi Jingxi's rebuke, Mu Yang swiftly complied, turning to face him with a mixture of indignation and resignation. He gingerly rubbed the back of his head, his demeanor softening. "Brother Xi, why did you hit me?"
"Why were you chewing on this book?" Chi Jingxi countered, his expression stern.
"Somebody laughed at me," Mu Yang replied, his voice laced with frustration.
"Then hit whoever dares to laugh at you," Chi Jingxi declared boldly.
"But I don't know who's laughing at me," Mu Yang lamented.
"Then next time, pay attention and you'll figure it out," Chi Jingxi advised before returning to his seat. "Now be quiet, so I can focus on my copying."
Mu Yang simply nodded and obediently took his seat, falling into silence.
…
Later, when class was over, Chi Jingxi approached Li Boyuan's room, bowing respectfully. "Teacher, this student wants to discuss a matter."
Li Boyuan always liked Chi Jingxi, so he immediately said with a smile, "What is it, Xi'er?"
"Mu Yang, the son of General Mu, lacks talent and knowledge, so he burdens the Teacher with extra effort. This student is willing to share this burden with you. I will oversee Mu Yang's studies after class to ensure he no longer disrupts the class in the future." Chi Jingxi's composed and articulate speech surprised Li Boyuan, despite his tender age.
"This approach is commendable, but Mu Yang has a stubborn and mischievous nature. Disciplining him might lead to tension and trouble," Li Boyuan expressed his concern.
"It won't be a problem," Chi Jingxi dismissed, "He can't outbeat me."
With Li Boyuan's approval, the arrangement proceeded smoothly.
From then on, after every class, Mu Yang would reluctantly accompany Chi Jingxi to study at his residence. Initially resistant, Mu Yang soon fell into line under Chi Jingxi's firm guidance. Aware of Chi Jingxi's authoritative demeanor, Mu Yang dared not disobey when summoned.
After each study session, Mu Yang enjoyed the delicious food served in Chi Jingxi's palace and received martial arts lessons from him. Over time, Mu Yang's eagerness to learn grew, and he began to follow Chi Jingxi willingly, without needing to be called.
Within half a month, Mu Yang was able to read out loud fluently, and there was no word he could not distinguish.
And because of his close bond with Chi Jingxi, no one in Reading Hall dared to laugh at him again.
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Footnote:
[1] Wenquxing - In Chinese mythology, Wenquxing (文曲星, 'Star of Literature') is a god responsible for overseeing literary pursuits and examinations. Those who excel in literary skills and hold high-ranking positions in the imperial court are often associated with the incarnation of Wenquxing to the mortal realm.
