Chapter 12. The person's surname is Su, and their given name is somewhat uncommon. ...

The next day, an imperial edict was issued from the Chuigong Hall.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I believe that the success of education should begin with moral cultivation. The development of talented individuals is inseparable from the benefits of teachers and friends. Zong Shi is intelligent, meticulous, and gentle in demeanor. He is suitable to be Prince Cheng's study companion, enter the Imperial Academy, and study with him day and night to assist Prince Cheng in his great undertaking."

"Considering his young age and separation from his parents, and the difficulty in suppressing his filial piety, he is hereby permitted to return to his home in Pu on the first and fifteenth of each month to comfort his parents. On his journey there and back, the relevant officials shall be ordered to prepare carriages and horses to escort him properly. The King of Pu and his wife shall also be treated well and not cause them any worry."

"King Cheng and his companion Zong Shi should diligently pursue their studies and be virtuous in their speech. The lecturers and attendants should provide careful instruction. All officials and servants are expected to provide thorough protection."

Fusu had no idea what kind of ripples this imperial edict caused among the civil and military officials. However, when he handed it to Zhao Zongshi, he was forced to accept a very grand salute from the latter.

His tiny frame was pinned to the spot by the boy's hands, and he could only watch helplessly as the boy bowed deeply to him at a 120-degree angle. At first, Fusu tried to stop him, but when he found himself unable to move, he gave up and completely surrendered.

But he didn't forget to show off, threatening, "Hmph, when I grow up, I'll pay for everything you did to me today, and I'll make you suffer the wrath of Father."

"If that day ever comes, I would gladly accept it."

Zhao Zongshi smiled and retorted.

He held the imperial edict made of bright yellow silk respectfully in his arms, as if he had been freed from a shackle that had bound him for years, and even his expression became much more vivid and genuine. Unlike before, when Fusu spoke to him, there was always a layer of mist between them.

The Analects states: "If names are not correct, words will not be proper."

For the past decade or so, Zhao Zongshi has been caught in the middle, caught between his status as a member of the imperial clan and a prince, suffering greatly and barely sleeping at night. But that will change. He will become the promising companion of Prince Cheng, the most promising young man among the imperial clan.

Zhao Zongshi was incredibly grateful to Fusu.

However, he didn't express his gratitude verbally after bowing, as that would be too pretentious. He simply made a silent vow: from now on, he would do whatever His Highness Prince Cheng asked him to do.

If Fusu could hear Zhao Zongshi's inner thoughts, he would surely ask him: "Would you like to be the Crown Prince?"

Fortunately, Fusu only carefully examined Zhao Zongshi once, and after confirming that his emotions had stabilized and that he was alright, he urged him to return to the Prince of Pu's residence to visit his family as soon as possible.

"So fast?" Zhao Zongshi was taken aback. The imperial edict was barely warm in his hands.

"Now that the imperial decree has been issued, the sooner the better," Fusu said grandly, then beckoned to Zhao Zongshi with his finger. The latter understood and squatted down, leaning in to listen to the short, bean-like boy say mysteriously, "It's your first time returning home to visit your family, and I begged the Emperor to let me personally escort you."

"oh……"

So it turns out that King Cheng wanted to go outside the palace.

Zhao Zongshi immediately got up to pack his bags, but Fusu grabbed his sleeve and said, "Wait, I haven't finished yet!"

"Don't rush back after you go. Stay at home for a couple more days and get to know your parents better."

Zhao Zongshi immediately bowed gratefully, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Fusu touched his nose, feeling a little guilty.

Sigh, thinking of you was just a side effect. Actually, I had things to do on my way back, and I didn't want to drag you into it, so this was the only solution I could come up with.

-

The following day, the procession that escorted Zhao Zongshi home to visit his family departed from the palace on time and headed straight for the Prince of Pu's residence.

A mere member of the imperial clan serving as a prince's companion would normally require only a few escorts, but the procession of a prince is a different story altogether. At a glance, the procession stretches as far as the eye can see.

"So many people..." Fusu exclaimed, cupping his face in his hands.

Zhao Zongshi: "His Majesty is worried about His Highness's safety, which is why he sent out the Imperial Guards to protect him, right?"

Fusu shook his head deeply: You don't understand. He was thinking, if so many people are crammed into the Xiangguo Temple all at once, can the temple accommodate them all?

"Let's not talk about that for now. Tell me about yourself, Zongshi. Do you still remember what your parents looked like?"

Zhao Zongshi was silent for a while: "I remember one thing: my father had a flowing beard on his cheeks, and my stepmother had a dignified and steady appearance. She was very kind to me."

That means they don't remember. But they can't say it directly because of their reputation for filial piety, so they have to make it up.

Prince Pu must be in his forties or fifties by now; someone that age should be growing a beard. As for the description of Princess Pu, it's just a cliché that would fit any matriarch. She's been in the palace for so long that she's forgotten what her own parents look like. What terrible things must this child have done in the past?

Fusu's gaze toward Zhao Zongshi gradually softened with affection, and he felt more and more that he had done a good deed.

Zhao Zongshi turned his head slowly and asked, "...Why did Your Highness look at me like that?"

"Cough cough cough!"

Fusu immediately looked away.

He'd fallen back into his old habit of forgetting his age, always treating his "peers" as juniors. But Zhao Zongshi was his cousin, ten years his senior. Turning his head, he found his younger brother staring at him with kind eyes—who wouldn't be intimidated?

Zhao Zongshi touched the imperial edict in his hand, which he intended to give to his parents for worship: "However, with His Highness escorting me home, I don't need to worry so much."

Fusu: ? ? ?

I suspect you're implying something, but I have no proof.

Along the way, the cries of ordinary people hawking their wares drifted through the curtains into the sedan chair. The Song Dynasty's imperial palace was built in a very down-to-earth manner; its neighbors were not wealthy families but ordinary people, and every step outside led to a bustling main street. Furthermore, the separation of wards and markets was completely abolished in the Northern Song Dynasty, merging residential areas and commercial centers into one, making everything lively and vibrant.

Several times, Fusu was drawn to the commotion outside the sedan chair and quietly lifted the curtain to look out. There were cat vendors selling cats along the street, as well as animal performances, but the most eye-catching was a stall selling calligraphy and paintings by a seven or eight-year-old child. It attracted many people, but most of them were just looking for fun and nitpicking, and few were willing to spend money to buy anything.

Is Your Highness interested in the common people?

Zhao Zongshi was about to say that every year during the Lantern Festival, the Emperor would celebrate with the people of Bianjing, and His Highness could take the opportunity to go out, but Fusu gestured for him to shut up: "Shh..."

Zhao Zongshi immediately fell silent. Then, the voice of a seven-year-old child talking to someone penetrated the curtain and entered their ears.

"The oriole sings among the green willows."

"The wind stirs the red lotus in dance."

"He made his debut on the Dragon and Tiger List."

"Ten years I spent at Phoenix Pool."

"With a solitary lamp and white hair, one can glimpse the yin and yang."

"Black robes and red mirrors reflect the past and present."

Zhao Zongshi praised, "Excellent!"

The onlookers, being discerning, erupted in a thunderous cheer. The couplets, composed on the spot by those eager to share their talents, were increasingly difficult, yet the boy responded to each one effortlessly, demonstrating his remarkable quick wit. Despite his young age, with his still-childish face, he was nonetheless the very child prodigy most admired in the Song Dynasty.

Seeing the lively atmosphere at the stall, the young man seized the opportunity to promote his calligraphy and paintings: "I am from Sichuan, and I am traveling to Bianjing with my father. We are currently staying at the Xiangguo Temple. During my travels, I wish to hire a cat to take home, but unfortunately, I am short of money. Therefore, I have to sell some of my calligraphy and paintings to raise the funds for our journey. If any kind-hearted person is willing to support my great cause of hiring a cat, I would be very grateful in advance."

Zhao Zongshi: "At such a young age, are his parents really willing to let him go out alone to sell calligraphy and paintings?"

But then Fusu suddenly stood up and eagerly leaned out of the window: "Please hurry, get my cousin to the Prince of Pu's residence as soon as possible! Then come back here!"

Zhao Zongshi: "..."

Watching Fusu lift the curtain and refuse to lower it, glancing back at the child prodigy repeatedly, he felt that something was off.

Why do I inexplicably feel like I've fallen out of favor?

In reality, Fusu wasn't interested in the couplets at all.

He heard the words "Daxiangguo Temple"!

He hurriedly escorted Zhao Zongshi to the Prince of Pu's residence, and after barely exchanging a glance with the Prince and his wife, who were anxiously waiting for his arrival outside the gate, he quickly turned back with his entourage.

The Prince and Princess Pu looked at each other in bewilderment: Had they done something wrong and offended His Highness Prince Cheng? Otherwise, why would His Highness refuse to even come over for a cup of hot tea?

"Father and Mother, there's no need to worry."

Zhao Zongshi comforted his parents, but his expression was even more complicated than theirs: "His Highness Prince Cheng doesn't have any complaints about you two, but he's in a hurry to find his new study companion."

"ah??"

The Prince and Princess Pu were even more puzzled: "Isn't Your Highness's new study companion Zongshi?"

"It is now, but in the future..."

Fusu, who was mistaken for a "womanizer," hurriedly pointed to the procession that was seeing him off and turned back. When he saw that the boy's calligraphy and painting stall was still there, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Taking advantage of the child's agility, he jumped out of the sedan chair: "I want all your calligraphy and paintings!"

The onlookers were startled by the sudden, tender voice. Seeing that the newcomer was a little boy dressed in brocade and riding in a sedan chair, and that the escorting team was so long, they guessed that Fusu was someone of extraordinary status and automatically made way for him.

The young man remained seated, a flicker of surprise in his eyes before he smiled and said, "My paintings and calligraphy are far more than what I've displayed; most of them are kept at home. Are you going to take them all, young master?"

Fusu replied without hesitation, "Yes, I'll take them all."

"Then please wait here for a moment, young man. I'll be right back. Or would you like to come with me to the Great Xiangguo Temple?"

Fusu's eyes lit up: That's exactly what I've been waiting for.

"Of course I'll go with you."

Fusu made his decision on his own, and the leader of the Imperial Guards had no choice but to step forward and say a few words. He dared not stop His Highness Prince Cheng, so he could only say with difficulty, "Your Highness, why don't you wait here?"

Fusu, however, objected vehemently: “Look how long our procession is,” he gestured with his arms outstretched, “If we just stand here on the road, how are we supposed to get through? The road will be congested in no time. And Uncle Chen, could you lend me some of the money for the calligraphy and paintings? I’ll go back and ask my mother for it, and then my father will pay you back.”

Upon hearing this, the boy's lips did not move, but his eyes flickered.

"Daxiangguo Temple is a royal temple. If all else fails, you can just stay by my side. You can rest assured then, right?"

Only then did Steward Chen nod.

Fusu: "Then let's set off."

He looked at the child prodigy and extended a friendly invitation: "Would you like to ride in my sedan chair?"

The boy readily agreed, "Okay."

The boy's bottom had just touched the soft cushion when he sighed comfortably and smiled slyly at Fusu: "I was originally planning to take advantage of you, but after hearing what you just said, I've decided to sell all the paintings and calligraphy to you at the original price."

Fusu: "..."

Fusu: "…………"

Do you have to be so honest? Also, do you mean I look like a sucker?

He counted on his fingers: young age, seemingly of some status, buying things without even asking the price, immediately ordering "all in".

Okay, he really does seem like a rich, foolish, and gullible person.

Fusu was deeply depressed.

But the boy had already confessed honestly, so he couldn't hold it against him. Besides, a child prodigy is bound to have some quirks; he hadn't done anything wrong. Fusu expressed his understanding.

He casually started a conversation: "Where are you from?"

"I am from Meishan."

Meishan, Sichuan?

Fusu turned his head in disbelief. Meishan is famous throughout the world, mainly because of a certain historical figure. Coincidentally, this person happened to be from the Song Dynasty.

Really?

The young man, oblivious to anything amiss, continued to introduce himself: "My surname is Su. As for my given name, the characters are a bit uncommon, so you probably don't recognize them. I won't go into details. You can call me Su Dalang, young man."

No, I recognize him!

Fusu cried out in his heart: "Isn't that just the crossbeam at the front of the carriage? I recognize it, I recognize it all too well!"

A note from the author:

----------------------

The first couplet comes from Emperor Renzong's "Childhood Couplets," the second couplet comes from "Zeng Guang Xian Wen," and the third couplet and the imperial edict were all written randomly by himself.

My column has three pre-orders pinned: "When They Summoned Me to the Palace, They Didn't Say I Could Become Emperor!", "A Deep Affection for the Old Sword CP Fan Transmigrates into Empress Huo Chengjun", and "The Pipa Girl of the Tang Dynasty". If you're interested, please add them to your favorites [crying emoji]. I really need these pre-orders, please! [starry-eyed emojis]