After the emperor read her mind, the salted fish concubine effortlessly won the title of empress.

Chapter 439 Extra Chapter: That Year's Peach Blossoms 3

Shen Shixi selectively ignored him. "Grandpa, do you still want to hear me talk about the Doctrine of the Mean? If you don't want to, that's fine too."

Old Master Shen was almost driven mad with anger, but he really wanted to hear his granddaughter's astonishing words, so he had to swallow his anger and save face for his granddaughter. He said to the Eighth Prince, "Xi'er was just giving an example. She is still young, and there may be some inappropriate examples. Please don't misunderstand, Your Highness."

It means that she is not usually like this.

The Shen family didn't have any shrewish women who would curse in the streets.

Li Yuanke smiled and said, "What the Grand Tutor said is very true. Although the Second Miss is intelligent and quick-witted, she is still young. I would never misunderstand."

Grandpa Shen was relieved and said to Shen Shixi, "Xi'er, tell me."

Shen Shixi said, "The reason why the Doctrine of the Mean is the most difficult is because it talks about very abstract things, that is, it is not concrete. It rises to the level of cosmology and self-cultivation. Without a certain wisdom and foundation, no matter how many times you memorize it, you will not understand it and will think that the Doctrine of the Mean means impartiality."

Grandpa Shen felt that after hearing his granddaughter's words, it seemed he hadn't understood the Doctrine of the Mean, and asked, "Have you read it?"

Shen Shixi was getting a little tired of sitting, so she quietly leaned a little closer to Li Yuanke. Li Yuanke instinctively wanted to move away, but he restrained himself in time, feeling that offending this young girl would probably not be a good thing.

The little peach blossom spirit was only three years old, so there was no question of gender distinction. He consciously acted as her cushion, remaining completely still, and even rested his elbows on the table to cover her up.

Shen Shixi thought this young man was quite sensible. Well, good-looking boys are definitely not stupid.

"Grandpa, what's the difference between listening to you read every few days and reading it myself?"

The old man paused for a moment, then asked, "You can recite it?"

Shen Shixi wasn't sure either, "More or less. Even if I don't memorize it, I should be able to after my handsome older brother reads it a few more times."

Old Master Shen then asked, "Then tell me, how does the Doctrine of the Mean come to discuss that kind of worldview and self-cultivation?"

Shen Shixi pondered for a moment. In her previous life, she had seen related discussions online. "The Doctrine of the Mean has only two core arguments. One is 'holding to the two extremes and using the middle way,' which means holding to the two extremes and using the middle way for the benefit of the people. The other is 'achieving harmony and balance,' which means that when heaven and earth are in their proper places, all things can grow and develop. This is the worldview."

As for self-cultivation, the Doctrine of the Mean offers four methodological points: timely action, self-discipline in solitude, sincerity, and harmony without conformity.

Grandpa Shen gasped. Was his granddaughter born with innate knowledge?

Shen Shixi had achieved her goal of intimidation. "Grandpa, am I right?"

At that time, Li Yuanke couldn't translate her words and didn't understand that they meant, "Do I still need to study?"

Looking at the Grand Tutor, he knew that the little peach blossom spirit was right. It could be said that none of the teachers in the palace could explain it as concisely and easily as the little peach blossom spirit.

In comparison, Li Yuanke felt that those so-called great Confucian scholars were dedicated to making their students more and more confused, and the less they understood, the more they could demonstrate the profound and subtle meaning of the sage's words.

Based on the little peach blossom spirit's summary, he felt that he had already understood the Four Books and that learning more should be easy. So he said, "Grand Tutor, I think what the Second Miss said makes a lot of sense. Please teach me the Spring and Autumn Annals."

Grandpa Shen agreed wholeheartedly, so he put away the Spring and Autumn Annals and decided to start teaching the two children from the Great Learning.

Shen Shixi didn't open her textbook, but instead leaned over to read it with Li Yuanke, with half of her body resting on Li Yuanke's body.

In this era, sitting doesn't mean sitting on a chair, but kneeling, which means sitting on your own calves. Wouldn't you get exhausted after a while?

She crossed her arms and rested them on the table, her buttocks resting against Li Yuanke. She was comfortable, while Li Yuanke was exhausted.

After Grandpa Shen finished speaking, Shen Shixi asked for a break, dramatically swinging his leg, "Grandpa, my leg is going to break!"

Seeing his granddaughter's unseemly behavior, Grandpa Shen was so angry he wanted to beat her to death—it was too embarrassing—but he also felt sorry for her. "Did you remember?"

Shen Shixi quickly jumped up and pulled Li Yuanke up as well. "Grandpa, isn't it a pleasure to learn and practice what you've learned? Even the sages said that you shouldn't rush into learning. Reviewing every day can help you gain new knowledge. Let's go play now."

He pulled Li Yuanke out of the study.

Li Yuanke realized that although the little peach blossom spirit was small, she had many ideas, so he dared not resist.

Shen Shixi wanted to swing on the swing and asked Li Yuanke to push her as high as possible. Li Yuanke put in all his strength, and when they were halfway up, she suddenly changed from sitting to standing and laughed loudly, which scared Li Yuanke half to death.

He quickly grabbed the rope, and as she fell, he rushed forward to catch her and pull her down. Shen Shixi was caught off guard and was wondering what was going on when the swing wobbled and, due to inertia, slammed hard into Li Yuanke's leg.

"How could you stand up? Don't you know it's dangerous?" Li Yuanke asked, still shaken, ignoring the pain in his legs.

Seeing his lingering fear, Shen Shixi felt a little annoyed. She hadn't expected her little brother to be worried about her safety, so she quickly comforted him, "It's okay, I often do this. I'm very strong, I won't fall."

Li Yuanke put her down on the ground, rubbed his injured leg, and said, "If you keep doing this, I will never push you on the swing again."

Shen Shixi was never afraid of being threatened. She said "Oh" and without saying a word, she lifted Li Yuanke's robe and started to pull down his pants.

Li Yuanke was terrified, grabbing his pants and stammering, "What, what are you going to do?"

Shen Shixi had already pulled up his trouser leg and saw a large bruise on his knee. She felt sorry for him and touched it with her chubby little finger. "Does it hurt?"

Her skin is so good, the legendary smooth and creamy skin, wow, it feels so nice to the touch too.

It's a pity I can't touch it often.

Li Yuanke gasped, it really hurt, "Thank goodness!"

"Let me rub it on for you with some medicated wine!" Shen Shixi said with concern.

The medicinal wine smells terrible, but for the sake of the beautiful lady, I'll just have to bear with it!

Li Gui wondered if his eyesight was bad. He couldn't help but feel that the second young lady looked lecherous and wanted to take advantage of His Highness. But the girl was only three years old. He rubbed his eyes and thought that he was probably just imagining things.

Shen Shixi quickly brought over the medicinal wine and massaged Li Yuanke's legs. Her small hands caressed his delicate skin, and Shen Shixi felt a surge of pleasure throughout her body.

Beautiful women are truly healing!

Li Yuanke didn't feel any force; the chubby little hand moved around on his leg and then touched other places.

Who would have thought that a three-year-old child would be so lecherous?

He thought Shen Shixi was distracted, so he quickly said, "It doesn't hurt here."

"Oh, I thought you were in pain!" Shen Shixi quickly withdrew her hand and rubbed his leg a couple more times, this time with a little more force, but it still made Li Yuanke feel uncomfortable.

"Okay, it doesn't hurt anymore."

Li Yuanke didn't want to enslave such a young child, and was about to pull his legs back when he heard someone shout, "Shen Shixi, what are you doing?"

Then, a girl of similar age rushed over, grabbed the little peach blossom spirit by the collar and yanked him, causing the little peach blossom spirit to fall on his bottom.

At that moment, Li Yuanke felt as if his heart had been shattered in two, and he was furious.

Li Yuanke scooped Shen Shixi up in his arms and yelled at the girl, "What are you doing? Who told you to hurt her?"