159: Chapter 159 Chen the Prodigy

Chen Shanzhi snapped his eyes open.

Warm sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling his face with a cozy warmth.

His vision gradually cleared, revealing a young girl in a pink ruqun standing before him, looking quite cross.

The little girl pouted, her large, watery eyes filled with unconcealed annoyance.

A fair, delicate little hand was expertly pinching his ear.

Chen Shanzhi stared blankly at the familiar, pretty face before him.

"Qinger?"

Chen Shanzhi murmured to himself, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Hadn't he been run through the chest by that group of black-clad death soldiers?

The agonizing pain of the blade shredding his heart still seemed to linger in his chest.

But what was happening?

Was this the revolving lantern of memories before death?

Or did Hell have such beautiful sunlight?

Seeing Chen Shanzhi staring blankly at her without speaking or apologizing, Ouyang Wanqing thought he was playing dumb.

Her little temper flared up instantly.

Her right hand, which had originally just been for show, decisively increased its force and gave a sharp twist!

"Hiss—!"

A very real, burning pain shot from his ear.

Chen Shanzhi gasped from the pain.

It hurts!

This wasn't a dying vision, and it wasn't a dream!

A thought flashed through his mind like a bolt of lightning.

Rebirth?

For some reason, the unfamiliar term 'Rebirth' was something he had never heard of or seen in any ancient texts before.

But at this moment, it jumped into his mind perfectly.

The heavens have opened their eyes! He had actually returned to when he was ten years old, back when he was still staying at the Prime Ministers Mansion!

Without any hesitation, Chen Shanzhi bolted up from the ground.

He pulled the young Ouyang Wanqing, who wasn't even shoulder-high to him yet, into a tight embrace.

"Qinger... this is wonderful... so wonderful..."

Chen Shanzhi greedily breathed in the faint, delicate fragrance from Ouyang Wanqing, feeling the real warmth and softness in his arms.

The desperate parting in death from his previous life had been like a mountain weighing on his heart.

In this moment, his emotions breached the dam; he was like a child who had suffered a great injustice.

Burying his head in Ouyang Wanqing's shoulder, he began to sob uncharacteristically.

This sudden move left Ouyang Wanqing completely bewildered.

The little girl was squeezed so hard she could barely breathe; her delicate face turned bright red, and she looked utterly confused.

What was wrong with Chen San?

He got caught cheating and instead of apologizing, he started crying?

Hmph, what a crybaby, he has no shame at all!

Ouyang Wanqing huffed arrogantly in her heart, but seeing Chen Shanzhi crying so heartbreakingly, her heart softened despite herself.

She didn't push him away; instead, she awkwardly reached out her small hand and gently patted Chen Shanzhi's back.

"Alright, alright. You're so old and yet you're crying like a three-year-old. Aren't you ashamed?"

Ouyang Wanqing comforted him clumsily, acting like a little adult.

"Stop crying. At most... at most we'll cancel the punishment. I won't ride you like a white horse, okay?"

Hearing this, Chen Shanzhi finally recovered from his surge of emotion.

He let go and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

He looked at Ouyang Wanqing, whose little mouth was slightly pouted and who was a bit shy from being hugged.

Chen Shanzhi broke into a bright smile.

"How can we do that?"

Chen Shanzhi lay flat on the grass on all fours, patted his back, and said seriously:

"One must accept their losses! Come on, the little white horse is ready for departure!"

Ouyang Wanqing was stunned, then a bright smile bloomed on her previously worried face.

She glanced at Chen Shanzhi with some hesitation: "Then... you said it, I didn't force you! You're not allowed to cry again later!"

Finished speaking, and fearing Chen Shanzhi would go back on his word.

Ouyang Wanqing nimbly lifted her skirt and sat astride Chen Shanzhi's back.

With a wave of her small hand, she shouted clearly: "Giddy-up!"

"Right away!"

Chen Shanzhi crawled vigorously across the garden grass, exaggeratingly imitating the sounds of a horse as he went.

From his back came Ouyang Wanqing's crisp, pleasant laughter, sounding like silver bells.

Listening to the laughter, Chen Shanzhi supported the light girl on his back while calculating in his mind.

In this new life, the heavens had given him a chance to reshuffle the deck!

In this life, he would absolutely not stand by like last time and watch the woman he loved.

Be used as a political pawn by her father and married off to that First Prince she didn't like at all!

Never!

...

At dusk.

Chen Shanzhi returned to the remote courtyard where he stayed within the Prime Ministers Mansion.

His brow hadn't unfurrowed the entire way back; his mind was consumed by one question.

How could he legitimately marry Ouyang Wanqing?

According to the trajectory of his previous life, his and Wanqing's feelings for each other truly erupted when they were fifteen.

As fate would have it, that was also the year Chancellor Ouyang, in order to consolidate the mansion's position, planned to marry Wanqing to the First Prince.

In other words, the time left for him was, at most, five years!

Within these five years, he had to make a name for himself so that the arrogant Prime Minister would willingly marry his daughter to him!

However, when Chen Shanzhi calmly analyzed his current situation.

He discovered in despair that this was a start on Hell difficulty!

What was he?

Just a country bumpkin from out of town!

His honest father was only able to hold a minor official position in the capital because of Chancellor Ouyang's support.

Compared to that First Prince who held great power and was backed by an enormous faction.

He was merely an insignificant ant; the man could crush his entire family with just a pinky finger!

But just because there was no way now didn't mean there wouldn't be one later!

Over the next few days.

Chen Shanzhi continued to accompany Ouyang Wanqing in her play on schedule.

But having been reborn, he naturally displayed a maturity and humor far beyond his years when interacting with her.

This caused Ouyang Wanqing, who already had a good impression of him, to undergo a subtle shift in attitude in a very short time.

He went from being a playmate she ran wild with to a "wise older brother" she relied on for many things.

The real turning point came on the day Chen Shanzhi followed Ouyang Wanqing to the Prime Ministers Mansion's private school.

While the schoolmaster droned on about the tedious Four Books and Five Classics.

Chen Shanzhi casually flipped through the books.

In the next second, he was completely stunned!

He was shocked to find that those originally obscure and difficult ancient texts could be clearly imprinted in his mind with just a glance, allowing him to recite them backwards!

He could even keenly see through to the essence of the profound and subtle meanings within!

Photographic memory? Instant comprehension?

Chen Shanzhi laughed wildly in his heart.

He knew that his chance to turn the tables had arrived!

In the current imperial court, literary talent and scholarship were highly valued!

From that day on, Chen Shanzhi began to distinguish himself in the mansion's school.

Whether it was tricky policy essays or meticulous historical and philosophical texts.

He could answer everything with ease, even drawing broader conclusions and offering insightful opinions.

In just a few months!

The title of "Chen the Child Prodigy" quickly spread out of the Prime Ministers Mansion, as if it had grown wings, reaching the entire capital's literary circles!

Even the habitually arrogant Chancellor Ouyang.

After personally calling Chen Shanzhi to his study to test his scholarship in depth.

He slapped the table in amazement, repeatedly praising that this boy was certainly no ordinary person!

But Chen Shanzhi remained extremely clear-headed.

This was not enough!

No matter how loud the title of prodigy was, it was just an empty name.

To be able to challenge the First Prince in five years, he needed an opportunity that would directly catch the attention of the current Emperor!

So, over the next four years.

Although Chen Shanzhi was famous, he kept an extremely low profile.

He deliberately declined all invitations to poetry and literature gatherings in the capital.

This led to a certain rumor gradually spreading through the capital:

That Chen the Child Prodigy was just a bookworm who could only memorize things, and when it came to the art of poetry which truly tested talent, he was an unlearned fraud!

Chen Shanzhi dismissed these sneers; he was like a great bird preening its feathers, quietly waiting for the moment to soar into the sky.