The Marquis Mansion’s Elite Class

The once illiterate little brat, now educated, could effortlessly lecture others with clear logic and precise wording—more than enough to outwit a spoiled young master from a military family.

Madam Shen was already basking in pride as she nibbled on melon seeds, commenting, "This Pang Jing is no match for Yibai. If you ask me, we should find someone more challenging to test my son’s true abilities."

Xu Wan rubbed her temples and chimed in, "Yibai has indeed improved a lot. When he first joined the class, he was just like Jincheng when I first met him—repeating the same few phrases over and over. But arguing is one thing; dragging the Minister of Rites into it isn’t appropriate. I’ll talk to him about it later."

Lady Wei gave her a thumbs-up. "You’re always so thoughtful, sister."

Pang Jing wasn’t very familiar with Shen Yibai, dismissing him as nothing more than a pale-faced scholar who only knew how to talk. But the military families held immense prestige in court—how could they be overshadowed by a mere Minister of Rites?

"How dare you! You… you actually dare lecture me? Do you even know who my father answers to? Cross me, and I’ll make sure every last one of you gets a beating!" Pang Jing, showing no growth, immediately fell back on name-dropping his powerful backer.

Zong Jincheng, recognizing the familiar script, knew Pang Jing was about to bring up his father’s superior—the Great General of Pacifying the West, Luo Jingfeng. With a smirk, he quickly raised his hand and exclaimed, "I know, I know! It’s the Emperor! Right?!"

"Pfft—" Wei Xinglu burst out laughing.

Jincheng was at it again.

Last time, he’d said it earnestly. Now, he was clearly just mocking Pang Jing, sending the crowd into roaring laughter.

Most of the young onlookers knew Pang Jing well—a bully who hid behind Luo Jingfeng’s authority, intimidating the weak while everyone seethed in silence. Now, facing the four little troublemakers who refused to back down, they finally had someone to stand up to him.

He Zheng, ever the tactful one, stifled his laughter and solemnly echoed the little devil’s words: "Well said, Big Brother!"

Applause erupted, and the momentarily quiet evening gathering reignited with noise. The four troublemakers paid Pang Jing no mind, darting around the garden while Shen Yibai deliberately bumped into him.

Oh, you think you’re tough?

Try laying a finger on me, I dare you!

Wei Xinglu followed suit, ramming into him too, though with slightly more courtesy: "Ah… my bad, didn’t mean to bump into you. Really, so sorry."

Pang Jing: "!!!"

Pang Jing had never met anyone more audacious than himself, let alone four at once. Fuming, his face flushed red as he pointed at them and shouted, "You’ve lost your minds! Ignoring me, bumping into me… Guards! Seize Shen Yibai! I’m going to teach him a lesson he won’t forget!"

At his command…

"……"

Not a single guard moved.

They were used to helping their young master bully the weak, but this group was anything but weak—especially with rumors that one of them was the Crown Prince’s illegitimate son. Who in their right mind would dare lay a hand on them?

With the guards frozen and the crowd’s jeers growing louder, Pang Jing resorted to grabbing at Shen Yibai’s clothes himself. "Shen Yibai, I’ll fight you!"

"Bring it on! You think I’m scared?" Shen Yibai shot back, refusing to back down.

Pang Jing, a year older and raised in a military family, had trained in martial arts since childhood. His street brawls had left him with a reckless, heavy-handed style. In no time, he had Shen Yibai pinned against a rockery, yanking at his clothes.

Shen Yibai’s face burned with fury. "You bastard! Can’t win an argument, so you resort to stripping me? Help! Is anyone going to stop this? Pang Jing is looting in the imperial palace!"

The crowd collectively took a step back.

This was beyond their pay grade. Better report it upstairs.

The three little troublemakers rushed in—two grabbing Pang Jing’s arms, one wrapping around his waist—hauling him backward.

Freed from the assault, Shen Yibai cracked his neck and lunged with a battle cry, tackling the restrained Pang Jing to the ground. His hands moved fast, retaliating in kind. "You undisciplined, ill-mannered brute! How dare you strip me in public? Let’s see how you like it!"

……

Xu Wan watched the scene unfold, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Are they… fighting?"

Madam He was equally baffled. "Why are they stripping each other now?"

Madam ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‍Shen gulped. "An eye for an eye, I suppose?"

Lady Wei snapped into action first, sprinting forward. "Quick, stop them! If Pang Jing ends up bare-bottomed, General Pang's Mansion will lose all face!"

A little scuffle among kids was fine, but outright humiliation crossed the line.

Her warning sent the other two mothers into motion, rushing to pull the five boys apart.

Xu Wan, unable to intervene, could only shake her head in amusement. The usually unflappable sisters were finally flustered—good, or she’d have questioned her sanity.

"Get up, get up! Yibai, stop it!"

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"Zheng’er, let go!"

"Xinglu, release him!"

Hearing their mothers, the three troublemakers immediately backed off—only to see Zong Jincheng standing far away, the picture of innocence as he told Xu Wan, "Mom, I didn’t strip him."

The three troublemakers: "!!"

You were the first to jump in, and now you’re selling us out? Acting all well-behaved in front of your mother—unbelievable!

Wei Xinglu cracked his knuckles. "Such a faker."

He wanted to punch him.

Shen Yibai gritted his teeth. "So fake."

He wanted to expose him.

He Zheng: Big Brother’s acting skills are top-tier!

Quick reflexes! Unshakable composure! As expected of you!!

Xu Wan ruffled the little devil’s hair, teasing, "Not the mastermind, but an accomplice, right?"

Zong Jincheng grinned, unbothered by the accusation, and tattled, "Pang Jing started it—he tried to steal our clothes and strip Yibai. We only stepped in to help!"

Xu Wan’s lips twitched. Yeah, right.

The way you all leaped into action was anything but reluctant. You were practically vibrating with excitement.

Pang Jing, though unharmed, was left in tattered clothes like a beggar. Humiliated, he burst into tears. "Mom! I want my mom! Call my dad—I want him to beat these brats senseless!"

The childish brawl had escalated enough to draw the mothers in. When Madam Pang arrived and saw Madam Shen and the others standing tall and unyielding, she knew they’d banded together against her and her son.

Outnumbered, Madam Pang immediately wailed, "Heavens! We’re being bullied! These noblewomen gang up on my poor, helpless child—is there no justice left? General! Come defend your family!"

Pang Jing, seeing his mother also burst into tears, began wailing at the top of his lungs, his mouth still shouting, "A bunch of grown-ups bullying a child! Dad, Dad, come help us..."

The crowd of women, children, and onlookers: "..."

Had they not witnessed the whole scene from the beginning, they might have been fooled by this dramatic mother-son duo. What was it called—fabricating accusations out of thin air? Shifting blame onto others? Or just plain shameless mischief?

Here it was, all on full display at once.