WK Chapter 15

“What did you say??”

 

Emperor Chongzhao could hardly believe his ears.

 

“He crawled through a dog hole and hid under a desk in the study hall to eavesdrop on lessons??”

 

Yi Shi’er: “Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “…”

 

Yi Shi’er: “This subordinate didn’t enter the study hall, so I don’t know exactly what happened inside. I only approached when classes ended. By then, the young prince had already been caught by Master Fang.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao sighed: “As expected of someone who once served in the Five Armies Command, his alertness is indeed different. But why didn’t he come to tell me?”

 

Yi Shi’er: “Master Fang decided to conceal it.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “…”

 

Yi Shi’er: “They made a bet. As long as the young prince could answer three questions he posed, he wouldn’t reveal that His Highness had been eavesdropping—he thought His Highness was a child born from a secret affair between a palace maid and a guard.

 

They swore by their ancestors that whoever lost and broke the promise, their ancestors in the underworld would become poor ghosts without companions.”

 

“Nonsense,” Emperor Chongzhao’s voice suddenly rose, his image of an emperor with indiscernible emotions completely gone: “That little rascal! How dare he bet on the ancestors!”

 

He angrily stood up and paced a few steps, then suddenly turned his head: “Who won?!”

 

Yi Shi’er: “His Highness won.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “Hmph! That old fool, can’t even win against a child, implicating the ancestors.”

 

Yi Shi’er: “…”

 

Emperor Chongzhao’s anger somewhat subsided. He calmed down and thought for a moment, then sneered.

 

“That old fellow clearly recognized my son but pretended not to. Let’s put this matter aside for now. When Xiao Qi goes again in a few days, you follow for another day. I want to see what that old man is up to.”

 

Yi Shi’er acknowledged and withdrew.

 

After a while, Gongong Yu entered.

 

Emperor Chongzhao was looking through papers and brushes on the table, as well as the Four Books placed on the bookshelf.

 

“Your Majesty, what are you looking for? Let this old servant help.”

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “Take this new set of books to Ju’an Hall, and send some paper and brushes too.” He paused, then picked up the inkstone he often used, “Take this as well.”

 

Gongong Yu’s eyes widened; this was His Majesty’s favorite Qingshan inkstone.

 

Emperor Chongzhao: “Send them early tomorrow morning.”

 

Using old books and torn paper, how could he learn anything good?

 

–

 

The next day.

 

Although Yi Shi’er wasn’t around, when Qu Dubian received the writing materials from Emperor Chongzhao, he knew he had won the bet.

 

He told Ye Xiaoyuan to put everything away properly. They were good things, but it would be a waste for him to use them now.

 

However, only learning materials were given, with no other message. Was he allowed to openly go to the study hall or not?

 

Qu Dubian couldn’t quite figure out Emperor Chongzhao’s thoughts for the moment.

 

When Master Fang’s class came the next day, he sneaked into the East Six Palaces just like last time.

 

This time only Wen Xiaochun sent him. Although Wen Xiaochun had a managerial title in the Imperial Kitchen, it was just nominal, and he only went there occasionally.

 

He usually stayed in Ju’an Hall and was very familiar with the East Six Palaces, so he was responsible for taking Qu Dubian back and forth.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan stayed in Ju’an Hall to deal with the palace people coming to deliver breakfast. The two had a clear division of labor.

 

After all, they still needed to conceal the young prince’s secret trips to the study hall.

 

–

 

Familiar study hall, familiar route.

 

This time, Yi Shi’er hid on the rafters of the study hall in advance, watching the skilled yet stealthy actions of the master and servant.

 

He saw Eunuch Xiaochun, just like yesterday, once again place the young prince through the window, lower his gaze to look left and right, softly give a few reminders, and after the young prince agreed to everything, close the window again and quickly leave.

 

The young prince, meanwhile, laboriously dragged his satchel—

 

And crawled under the tutor’s desk again.

 

[Yi Shi’er is 7 meters away from the host.]

 

No wonder there was no sign of Yi Shi’er near Ju’an Hall; he was waiting here.

 

Qu Dubian ate a few snacks to fill his stomach.

 

He even had a small bamboo cup filled with honey water.

 

The cup was wrapped in a thick layer of cloth, barely able to keep warm in this cold winter weather.

 

Yi Shi’er pricked up his ears, faintly hearing small sounds of eating from under the desk, the sound of pages turning, and soft breathing due to the cold.

 

Soon, palace maids came in chatting, placing coal basins at the princes’ seats. They came and went hurriedly, not noticing at all that someone was hiding under the tutor’s desk.

 

After he had eaten his fill, the princes gradually arrived. The Fourth, and Sixth Princes, being young, came and lay on their seats to catch up on sleep. Only the Fifth Prince sat upright, flipping through books and silently reciting.

 

Today, the Crown Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince didn’t bicker like the day before last, but instead talked about another matter.

 

Crown Prince: “Servants need to be disciplined regularly, otherwise no matter how submissive they seem, who knows what thoughts they might have in private. Ju’an Hall, after all, houses Father Emperor’s bloodline. Even if he’s a mother-killer and disliked by Father Emperor, he shouldn’t be bullied to this extent.”

 

Yi Shi’er heard the barely audible chewing sound under the tutor’s desk stop.

 

“Elder Brother is right,” the Third Prince unusually agreed, “Seventh Brother’s life is truly too miserable, not even able to eat his fill. If it hadn’t been exposed recently, we brothers wouldn’t have known. But now his luck seems to have turned, even Father Emperor sent him his frequently used inkstone, it’s really enviable.”

 

The Second Prince smiled and said: “Why don’t you go visit him after class then? It would show brotherly care and concern.”

 

At these words, both the Crown Prince and Second Prince fell silent.

 

After all, they weren’t truly concerned now, as no one wanted Father Emperor’s attention to be divided again.

 

Moreover, when Consort Yun was favored back then, the three of them were old enough to remember. Everyone knew how much Father Emperor cared about Consort Yun and their unborn child at that time.

 

Fortunately, Xiao Qith Brother was a reincarnated sinner, otherwise, what status would they, as sons, have in Father Emperor’s eyes now?

 

Although they now understood that Seventh Brother was neither the eldest nor legitimate, had lost his mother’s protection, and his maternal family had no successors, so he couldn’t possibly compete for that position and posed no threat.

 

But no one wanted Father Emperor’s attention to be divided again.

 

The Crown Prince snorted lightly: “Who would want to go to such a filthy place? Let’s wait until after three years when the ill luck on him is gone, then…”

 

The Second Prince frowned: “Elder Brother.”

 

“Crown Prince, mind your words!”

 

Master Fang entered from the doorway, immediately interrupting his words.

 

The old man’s face lacked its usual smile, looking completely serious.

 

The six princes in the study hall immediately stood up to greet him.

 

Master Fang told them to sit down, only calling the Crown Prince to stand. He held his hands behind his back, weighing the ruler in his hand. The Crown Prince’s heart began to pound.

 

“Your Highness, in what you just said, was there any compassion for your lonely and suffering brother? This is being an unrighteous elder brother. Your Highness has studied for several years in the study hall, where have you learned the words of the sages? Do you still remember what was said in the ‘Governance’ chapter of the Analects?”

 

The old tutor’s unhurried questioning brought immense pressure.

 

What, which line? The Crown Prince’s scalp tingled, his gaze constantly flicking towards his study companion beside him.

 

The study companion quietly mouthed a few words.

 

The Crown Prince said: “To be filial, only to be filial, to be friendly with one’s brothers, to apply this in government.”

 

Master Fang snorted, his gaze sweeping across the study hall.

 

“Your Highness is thirteen this year. In our dynasty, princes usually discuss marriage at fourteen, establish their own household at sixteen, and take up official duties at court. In your words today, can you speak of any brotherly love? How can you apply filial piety and brotherly respect to state affairs?”

 

These words were spoken quite severely.

 

If the emperor doesn’t come, then the classroom tests and the tutor’s evaluations become important factors for the emperor to assess the princes’ qualities. If the evaluation is too poor, the time for a prince to leave the palace and establish his own household might be delayed.

 

The Crown Prince understood the importance of this.

 

He quickly said: “Student knows his mistake, please don’t be angry, Master. After class, I will send some food and clothes to Seventh Brother to show my apology.”

 

Master Fang was concise: “Apology is in actions, but more so in the heart. Hold out your hand.”

 

The Crown Prince had no choice but to extend his hand and received three strikes from the ruler. The crisp sound accompanied the stinging pain. Having been hit last time and again this time, the Crown Prince was extremely frustrated.

 

“Sit down, let’s start the class.”

 

The sound of lecturing filled the study hall.

 

Qu Dubian found this earful about himself quite interesting.

 

How was this different from the fake brotherly love in boy bands from his previous life? One was acting for the emperor and teachers, the other for fans.

 

Master Fang didn’t ask questions today, perhaps because he was in a bad mood, and started teaching directly. He first dealt with the three older princes’ homework, then in the latter half began teaching the younger princes.

 

After reviewing the previous content, he started from where they left off last time.

 

Qu Dubian felt that Master Fang’s teaching pace had slowed a bit this time, and he was more careful in explaining meanings. He wondered if this was to accommodate the student under the desk.

 

He pondered for a moment.

 

It seemed that Master Fang hadn’t revealed his presence. And his nominal father clearly knew about Master Fang’s concealment but hadn’t taken any measures.

 

Who knows what they were all thinking.

 

Qu Dubian didn’t use the new books, still quietly flipping through his small tattered book, following along and taking notes three times.

 

His learning for the day only ended when the young princes started reciting and practicing writing on their own.

 

The simulator showed it was now 11:30 AM, still half an hour before class ended. Qu Dubian tidied up under the desk, bundled his package into a pillow, rested his head on it, crossed his legs, and nibbled on the pastry he had brought in the morning.

 

Hmm… his bottom was a bit cold from squatting for so long.

 

Next time he could bring a cushion for his bottom.

 

He wondered if there would be a third chance to squat under the desk.

 

As class was about to end, while he had the leisure to think about various things, Master Fang seemed a bit distracted.

 

He wanted to see if the young prince had come today. If he hadn’t come and hadn’t heard what the Crown Prince said, that would be good. But if he had come…

 

Master Fang didn’t believe that a child just over two years old who could know to come here to learn and could restrain himself to quietly listen under the desk wouldn’t understand what the Crown Prince meant.

 

It was really too hurtful.

 

Those words would sting even for adults to hear, let alone a small child.

 

He wouldn’t be crying secretly, would he?

 

Finally, when it was time to end class, Master Fang hurried the princes in the study hall to leave. When no one was around, he peeked outside before quietly closing the door.

 

Master Fang lifted the tablecloth and reached out to the little child under the desk.

 

“Are you in there? Come out and get some fresh air.”

 

“Don’t rush, don’t rush.”

 

Qu Dubian climbed out holding his hand, then poked his head back in to pull out all his things and pack them up.

 

Master Fang held up his hand to protect the child’s head, afraid he might bump it on the table leg.

 

“Didn’t you say to tell others about you being here? I thought you wouldn’t come back today. Didn’t expect you to be such a brave little one.”

 

Qu Dubian hopped once, patting off the pastry crumbs on his body, not answering his words.

 

Master Fang: “And it’s very cold too.” He looked carefully but didn’t see any signs of the child crying. “About what the Crown Prince said this morning… don’t think too much about it.”

 

Qu Dubian gave him a strange look. This guy, he couldn’t have known his identity all along and been pretending, could he?

 

“He was talking about the Seventh Prince.”

 

Master Fang stumbled, stroking his beard and trying to cover up without changing his expression, “What I mean is, what the Crown Prince said was wrong. You haven’t learned the sages’ teachings yet, so don’t think too much about it for now.”

 

He earnestly told the child before him not to overthink, those filthy words were dirty even just entering the ears.

 

“Oh, oh, don’t worry, I understand.”

 

From the perspective of a child born from a palace maid and guard’s affair, this was probably the tutor hinting that he shouldn’t talk about royal matters everywhere, and even if he understood, he should pretend not to.

 

He patted Master Fang’s shoulder, giving him a confident look.

 

“Don’t worry.”

 

Master Fang: “…”

 

He felt something odd about the child’s gaze but couldn’t pinpoint what. He looked Qu Dubian up and down, finding that he indeed hadn’t been clouded by others’ words, and felt somewhat relieved.

 

“Did you understand everything taught today?”

 

“It was okay,” Qu Dubian thought for a moment: “Master, how much longer will we study the Three Character Classic? I want to…”

 

He seemed to realize something and suddenly closed his mouth.

 

Master Fang raised an eyebrow: “You think this old man teaches too slowly and want to move on?” He snorted, not surprised at all.

 

“Don’t hide it, child. I could tell last time that you’ve learned more than just that bit. Since you don’t want to say, this old man won’t force you. Knowledge should be built up step by step. Learning too fast is like building a castle in the air; as you grow older, it collapses faster.”

 

He gently squeezed Qu Dubian’s overly thin wrist.

 

“Have you practiced writing?”

 

Qu Dubian held up his pinky, “A little bit.”

 

“Come write here.”

 

Although it wasn’t time for writing practice yet, occasional practice wouldn’t hurt and would be beneficial for the future.

 

Master Fang led him to the Crown Prince’s desk and put a fine brush in his hand. Qu Dubian asked, “What should I write?”

 

Master Fang pondered.

 

“Write the character for ‘father’.”

 

Qu Dubian made an “oh” sound, gripped the brush with his right hand, and wrote a big character for “dog”.

 

Master Fang: “…”

 

Yi Shi’er fell silent.

 

The oath last time was fine, but if he reported this accurately, wouldn’t the young prince be beaten to a pulp by His Majesty?

 

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter