Chapter 214: A Photographic Memory
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
In the ancient halls of the Royal Academy, Lu Chao Chao stood somewhat lost, surrounded by her senior brothers. The scene was quite mismatched, with the large group of seniors towering over little Chao Chao, who was merely two years old. Any onlooker would feel a pang of sympathy at the sight.
“Isn’t it a bit unfair for all of us seniors to challenge a two-year-old junior sister?” whispered one concerned senior. “Perhaps just one of us should face her?” The group fretted over the consequences if Princess Sunshine were to lose and cry—knowing the king’s temper could flare, and he had made great efforts for his beloved adopted daughter to be included in the academy.
Sitting obediently on a bench, Chao Chao’s voice chimed in a sweet, babyish tone, “You can all compete together. I want to go home and drink my milk…”
This only heightened the seniors’ discomfort. She was still so young, a baby who needed her milk.
From the sidelines, Prime Minister Yuan observed the young princess. His initial intent had been to honor her for saving his grandson, but her evident sharpness had piqued his deeper interest. Of all his disciples, she was proving to be exceptionally bright.
“What should we compete on? She probably hasn’t even learned the Three Character Classic yet,” the students muttered among themselves.
Chao Chao, raising her tiny hand, surprised everyone. “I learned it!”
On the bench, she swayed slightly as she began to recite, her voice clear and steady, “People at birth, are naturally good…”
“Without carving, jade cannot become useful…”
“The Three Luminaries are the sun, moon, and stars…” she mumbled, her head bobbing lightly.
“I only learned up to here today; I don’t know the rest,” she admitted, waving her small hands, her hair tufts bouncing with each movement.
Teacher Zhu, who was overseeing the session, was astounded. “I didn’t teach her that! I only recited it once to the class to familiarize them with it!”
The students exchanged looks of disbelief.
“Brother Lu, did you teach her the Three Character Classic at home?” one teased.
Lu Yuan Shu, standing among them, simply smiled.
“Let’s test her on the Four Books and Five Classics then. Chao Chao is only two, so she might not grasp the interpretations yet. You all recite first, and then Chao Chao will follow,” Lu Yuan Shu proposed.
After a moment of contemplation, they agreed. “Let’s do as Brother Lu suggests.”
Those who were studying for the civil service exams opted out of the competition. They felt there was no honor in winning or losing against a toddler, and they preferred to focus on their studies.
For the first round, they selected a student from the A class, a thirteen-year-old who had already earned the title of scholar and was known throughout the capital for his brilliance—if not for being overshadowed by Lu Yuan Shu.
“Listen well, Chao Chao. You know the Three Character Classic; I will recite it to you. I learned it at four and memorized it in a day!” he boasted proudly, his chest puffing out.
The crowd murmured their impressions.
“It took me three days; I’m really slow,” one admitted.
“I managed in two days,” another added.
Curious, someone turned to Lu Yuan Shu, “Brother Lu, how long did it take you?”
Lu Yuan Shu’s response was a faint smile. “Three times.”
A wave of envy swept through the crowd; one young boy frowned, remembering his brother had needed six attempts.
The young scholar, with a flourish, clasped his hands behind his back and flawlessly recited the entire text.
Mirroring his posture, Chao Chao looked up with serious eyes and recited every word, matching his cadence and pauses perfectly, not missing a single beat.
Amid the ancient, echoing chambers of the Royal Academy, the crowd was left utterly astounded. “Brother Lu, did you start her education this early? A two-year-old has not only learned but can also recite the entire Three Character Classic!”
“No wonder you dared to send her to the academy.”
Yet, only the young scholar harbored suspicions. Could it be his imagination?
During his recitation of “suspending the head and stabbing the thigh,” he had slipped up due to a sore throat, a mistake unnoticed by the others. Remarkably, Chao Chao replicated that very error in her own recitation.
Could she really have learned it in advance?
Doubts clouded the young scholar’s mind as he stood in a corner, watching Chao Chao intently, his lips pressed tightly in thought.
Meanwhile, Lu Yuan Xiao, inspired by Chao Chao, had also gained admission to the academy.
Li Siqi, seeing the uneven match, could not contain his irritation. “So many senior brothers are competing against Chao Chao alone. Aren’t you afraid your sister will cry? And you’re still laughing!”
Lu Yuan Xiao touched his cheek, puzzled. “Am I laughing? Hehe, it’s actually quite good. Finally, it’s not just me facing this!” He couldn’t help but laugh, a sense of relief washing over him.
“Who’s next?” Chao Chao asked innocently, her voice soft and youthful.
“Oh, the little one is urging us now,” chuckled the crowd, still not taking her seriously.
“Since Sister Sunshine is so confident, let the First Prince teach you a lesson,” declared the First Prince with a proud smirk.
“Has Lu Yuan Shu taught you the Analects?” he inquired.
Chao Chao shook her head, her baby voice clear. “Big Brother never taught me to read, First Prince.”
[Oh, oh, oh, this is the child raised by Consort Hui after being taken in…]
A twitch of concern flickered across Lu Yuan Shu’s face.
The First Prince, who had excelled at the academy, once stood close to being named the throne’s heir before his appointment. It seemed Consort Hui preferred to keep him away from the power struggles.
“When I was free, I recited the entire Analects, twenty chapters, sixteen thousand words,” boasted the First Prince.
“Sister Sunshine, listen well.”
With a hand behind his back, the First Prince began, “The Master said, ‘Is it not a pleasure, having learned something, to try it out at due intervals? Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar? Is it not gentlemanly not to take offense when others fail to appreciate your abilities?'”
Despite several attempts, the First Prince had never succeeded in becoming Prime Minister Yuan’s disciple.
The Analects were notoriously difficult, filled with archaic and complex language, challenging for any child to grasp.
At this point, Chao Chao began to doze off, her little head nodded off, struggling to stay awake.
A smirk curled on the First Prince’s lips, his eyebrows lifting in anticipated victory.
After half a minute.
“Princess Sunshine, it’s your turn,” he said, turning to look at Prime Minister Yuan, who appeared unfazed, his confidence in Chao Chao unwavering.
Chao Chao rubbed her eyes, sleepy. “Did you finish?”
The First Prince looked down at her disdainfully. “Of course, I finished. I bet your big brother haven’t taught you this yet. Princess Sunshine, don’t cry when you lose…”
Chao Chao looked up in surprise. “Teach? My big brother never teaches me. He said teaching me is too frustrating.”
“And why would I cry? Do I need to learn this?” Her innocence was palpable, her surprise genuine.
“Twenty chapters, sixteen thousand words, that’s all.”
She yawned and stood, still groggy.
“The Master said, ‘Is it not a pleasure, having learned something, to try it out at due intervals?'” As she began, her childish voice echoed through the hall, and the once amused faces of the audience slowly turned to astonishment.
Her innocent recitation continued, filling the room with a profound silence.
When she finished, the hall plunged into a deeper silence.
The First Prince pointed at her, his fingers trembling.
“You! You…”
She was only two years old. Two!!
The room was filled with incredulity. Someone exclaimed, “I’ve studied for ten years and still can’t recite the whole thing!!”
“Me neither.”
“Me… neither.” The gathered scholars were dazed, as if struck by a profound revelation.
“I can’t teach Chao Chao. What little I know isn’t enough for her,” Lu Yuan Shu admitted earnestly.
This novel is translated and hosted on BCatranslation
In the world of academia, he was lauded as a genius, but in front of Chao Chao, he felt ordinary.
For those less determined, her talent could be demoralizing. Their years of hard work and perseverance seemed insignificant in her shadow.
Her photographic memory was just the beginning.
She could deduce connections swiftly, mastering subjects with ease. It seemed the Creator had endowed her with the finest of gifts.
The First Prince’s lips were pressed tightly, his gaze sharp and now tinged with fear.
His thoughts racing, he suddenly asked, “Sister Sunshine, have you learned the Analects before?”
Chao Chao nodded simply.
“Yes.”
“I just learned it from you.”