Chapter 67

Qu Watanabe is not someone who would easily admit to compromise.

He said, "It turns out that the answer I crossed out is the correct answer. I didn't know that. What a pity."

Master Fang seemed to have expected him to say this.

He took out another stack of answer sheets.

There is also a practice session on the questions handed in at school on weekdays.

"Here are all the papers you submitted in the past three years. I took a close look at the first large characters. Some of the handwriting is not yours. Perhaps someone close to you did the homework for you. I just turned a blind eye to it."

"But the last part is indeed your handwriting. I learned it bit by bit while watching you practice."

It is very stable, without any distinctive features, and has some superficial brushstrokes.

Master Fang flipped through the pages one by one, "Do you know how many layers of gold are in here? Once was a coincidence, every time is a coincidence? I believe it, do you think others believe it?"

Qu Watanabe: “…”

Oh my god.

Is that so?!

This old man didn’t throw away any of the papers he had written on for three years?

When I first started doing the questions, I wasn’t sure how many points I would get, so I would write down the correct answer and then cross it out. Later, when I saw interesting questions, I would write down a few answers, then correct them, and then write down the wrong answers again.

Unexpectedly, such a small habit would reveal his flaws.

The smile on Master Fang's face was a bit cunning, as if an old fox had finally caught the tail of a younger fox who was not very good at hiding.

Qu Duanbian still didn't admit it, and held his chin with his hand: "Master, what do you want to say?"

Master Fang: "Do you remember that when we first met, I made a bet with you?"

A little while had passed, and after thinking about it, Qu Dubian finally remembered it.

At that time, he sneaked into the school and was caught by Master Fang. Master Fang said that as long as he could answer his three questions, he would not tell his father that he was secretly studying under the table.

The three questions were asked and he answered them, and then he stepped into the pit of using fireflies to reflect the light of the snow.

Master Fang: "It's the same this time. Let's make a bet. If you beat me in chess, I'll keep it a secret for you. If you lose, you have to agree to one of my requests."

Qu Dubian glanced at the chessboard.

"I won't."

Master Fang said with a smile, "You can do it. Let's play Gobang."

Things have changed. Three years later, the Go game that Qu Watanabe used to bully his brothers turned into a hole he dug for himself.

Qu Duanbian didn't move, his fingers stealthily reached for the paper on the table. As long as he took it away, it wouldn't be evidence.

Bang!

Master Fang held it down with his hand, raised his eyebrows and said, "Young prince, please don't play tricks on me."

Qu Watanabe: "Oh, I just saw a bug on it."

As he spoke, he moved his hand away and pinched a chess piece.

Two people guess first.

Black goes first.

Qu Watanabe: "If you want to play chess, just tell me earlier. You keep talking so much that I can't understand you."

"Your Highness, that's it," said Grand Tutor Fang. "Young Prince, the eldest and third princes stopped you just now. Do you know why?"

Qu Watanabe: "I don't know, it's just to invite me to play."

"The eldest prince has left the palace to build a mansion, and all the officials in the court are waiting for news," said Fang Taifu softly, "The first prince of the Great Zhou dynasty to attend the court, the eldest son, is always different."

Qu Watanabe: "They all have two eyes and one mouth, what's the difference? Master, it's your turn."

The little fox confused and blocked all the old fox's words.

Master Fang stopped talking and focused on playing chess.

He found that if he was not serious, he might really lose the game.

An old man and a young boy were playing Go, and a tense atmosphere was created.

After a stick of incense, Qu Dubian threw the chess piece away.

"No more."

Master Fang raised his eyes with a smile: "The game has not yet been decided, and if you abandon a piece, you lose."

Qu Dubian came to his senses halfway through the game. If he lost the game, he would have to agree to one of Master Fang's conditions. If he won the game, it would prove that his observation skills and sharpness were not that of an ordinary six-year-old child.

Aren't both sides exposed? Winning will expose more.

If that's the case, why bother trying to win this game of chess? Besides, he may not win.

Qu Duanbian lay back, with his arms and legs spread out, "If you lie to a kid, be careful or your beard will fall off."

He didn't admit it openly, but both of them knew it tacitly.

Master Fang laughed.

"Can I ask you a question first? You are obviously capable, why don't you show it openly? His Majesty will definitely value you."

Qu Watanabe: "I don't have any pursuits. It's good enough to be alive. Even if I'm mediocre, my father treats me very well."

Or he is more like an ordinary father. If he is really regarded as a candidate to succeed the throne, he will have a hard time.

What's the point of fighting with each other under the eyes of our father, the emperor, over a matter of leaving the palace and building a mansion, like my eldest and third brothers did?

Master Fang: "My Lord, in many cases, it is better to do things according to your heart."

Qu Dubian couldn't help laughing and got up quickly, "Master, do you think it's wrong to say that?"

Although he feels uncomfortable hiding, he is safe and the people around him are also safe, which is good.

But the one who cheated him twice was this old man in front of him.

Master Fang: "You hiding yourself may not be in accordance with your true heart, but I am pulling your tail, which is indeed in accordance with my true heart."

Some things cannot be avoided just by wanting to avoid them, just like today, when the eldest prince and the third prince were arguing with each other, and they both wanted to drag him into it.

"My condition is that you become my disciple."

"Aren't you my tutor?"

"That's different. I'm talking about a serious teacher."

There was silence in the side hall for a moment.

Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents and Teachers. In ancient times, recognizing a master was no joke.

Master Fang smiled and said, "You don't want to get involved in the fight between your brothers, and neither do I. We have similar interests, so why not be a pair of teacher and student?"

"Besides, this matter is known only to heaven, earth, you and me, and no one else will know about it."

Qu Duanbian wondered: "If you don't tell anyone, what's the point of raising this condition?" He can regret it the moment he turns around.

Master Fang said as a matter of course: "This way I can help you conceal it. No matter what you do in the future, I will have an excuse to convince myself to be partial and conceal it from you. Oh, if you want to do the questions seriously in the future, you can still come to me. It's so uncomfortable to hold it back all the time, don't you think?"

“…”

It makes a lot of sense, and I can't find any reason to refute it for the time being.

After a while, Qu Dubian's mind had turned a hundred and eighty corners. His intuition told him that the man in front of him had no ill intentions, but he was very unhappy that his tail had been caught.

Master Fang continued, "If you don't want to be caught in the center of the storm, there are only two possibilities. First, you are already in the storm. Second, you have the ability to avoid the storm or remain motionless in the storm."

Otherwise, you will be exploited to death.

Qu Watanabe: "I don't understand."

Master Fang: "Then just ignore it. Your Highness, will you agree to my request?"

Now that the conversation had come to this, the old man was determined to fight him here. Qu Duanbian took a deep breath and his expression changed. "Okay, I agree."

【Character: Fang Hechuan

Favorability: 28]

Simulator: [The fate has been sealed, and the favorability is automatically added and calculated.]

Qu Watanabe: “?”

Is there still a chance of fate?

You should have said it earlier! If you had said it earlier so that he could have more disciples, he would have definitely already worshipped 108 disciples!

Qu Dubian raised his head and stared at Master Fang with burning eyes.

The latter paused with a smile on his face: "?"

Master Fang touched his face and asked, "Is there something on my face?"

Qu Watanabe asked earnestly, "Do you have other colleagues who want to recruit students?"

Master Fang raised his beard and said, "You wish."

"Okay, wait a minute, the apprenticeship tea will be here soon," Qu Dubian swept away his boredom and ran to the table next to him to pour a cup of tea.

Master Fang didn't drink it, but raised his hand to stop me: "I said I want to be your teacher, but not now."

Qu Watanabe: “Hmm?”

"When was that?"

Master Fang: "It depends on you."

He gathered up all the papers on the table, took out the gold-layered paper, and burned it in front of Qu Dubian.

Qu Dubian put down the teacup: "There are still some left."

Master Fang raised his hand and shook the stack of papers, smiling: "These are for framing you. The only real gold-layered Xuan paper is the one I burned."

Qu Watanabe was shocked: "So you weren't so sure at the beginning? You were just lying to me!" He put his hands on the table, "You were sure only when I was playing chess with you."

Master Fang spread his hands and said, "The facts prove that this old man is still as perceptive as he was back then."

...It's really abominable.

Old fox.

Qu Dubian snorted: "If you burn the paper, you won't have any evidence."

Master Fang: "Your Highness is not the kind of person who promises others and then breaks the promise easily."

He rummaged in his pocket again and pulled out a square piece of paper. "Don't worry, give it to me. You can spend three years, five years, or ten years writing this paper. It doesn't matter."

Qu Dubian took it and wanted to open it and take a look.

Master Fang said, "Go back and have a look."

Qu Watanabe stuffed the test paper into his sleeve and said, "If I answer the questions, will you be my teacher?"

Judging from the current situation, the score on the test paper is related to the favorability, so he has to answer well.

It’s just a test paper, how difficult can it be?

Master Fang: “Yes.”

Qu Watanabe: "Then you gave me too much time." He could answer the questions he usually did even if they were a higher level of difficulty. If doing questions could increase his favorability, he would have no problem doing ten papers a day.

Master Fang: "You're not pretending anymore?"

“…”

The child in front of him smiled at him, trying to fool him. Master Fang shook his head helplessly, "Don't be too anxious, Your Highness. Go back and take a closer look."

"If you have any questions, you can come to me after school."

"Mysterious."

Qu Dubian muttered something, and after he left, Master Fang's smile faded.

Originally, it was thought that the Seventh Prince's intelligence and brilliance were just a flash in the pan when he was a child. Due to illness, he had been delayed in his studies for the past few years and he gradually became mediocre. He felt very sorry for him.

Unexpectedly, it’s not that I’m mediocre, but that I learned to be restrained at some point.

There are many people with natural talents in the world, but how many of them can grow up to be successful?

Now that I think about it, the Seventh Prince has been ill frequently in recent years. Who knows if it’s because he thinks too much at such a young age?

Master Fang sighed softly, looking vaguely worried.

"Old Xu's grandson may be too smart and may get hurt..."

-

Outside the Sixth Palace of East Garden.

"Your Highness, what did Master Fang say to you?" Ye Xiaoyuan walked beside him and returned to Shunning Palace with him.

"I was tricked. Master Fang asked me to recognize him as my teacher," Qu Dubian said, "He also stuffed a test paper into my hand and asked me to answer it and give it to him."

Ye Xiaoyuan: "Your Highness doesn't want to do it?"

Qu Dubian picked a crabapple flower, opened the flower and sucked the nectar, "Well... I'll go back and take a look first."

What happened today taught him a lesson: unless necessary, never leave any unnecessary marks on paper.

Fortunately, it was Master Fang who discovered it.

However, Master Fang probably only knew that he was hiding his knowledge, but didn't know what his true level was, nor did he know that he was good at writing with his left hand.

Exposed, but not completely exposed.

Qu Watanabe sighed: "If Xiaochun had been here, he would have been able to complete my homework for me all the time, and I wouldn't have had to be deceived by Master Fang today."

"By the way, how's Koharu doing lately?"

Ye Xiaoyuan: "I was promoted to deputy of the Inspection and Transportation Department. I'm busy these days inspecting the tributes transported to the palace gate."

"You got promoted pretty fast."

The two chatted along the way. When they passed by the Zichen Palace, Qu Dubian greeted them as usual and returned to Shunning Palace.

Dahei is old, so Qu Dubian didn't ask it to pull a cart this year. He just took it for a walk every day when going to and from school, and took good care of it.

He poured new water in front of the big black nest.

After finishing his meal, Qu Dubian went straight into the small study in his bedroom.

He opened the paper given to him by Master Fang from his sleeve.

There were only four questions on it. Qu Watanabe read them word by word, "No wonder the deadline was so long... They really think highly of me."

Yi Twelve appeared in the room and deliberately made some noise to let Qu Watanabe know that he was coming.

Qu Duanbian was still looking at the test paper. Without even looking up, he pointed at the table and said, "Are you hungry? There's something to eat here."

Yi Twelve did not move. "In the East Garden, I also heard what Grand Tutor Fang said."

Qu Watanabe: "I heard it, so I heard it."

Yi Twelve was a little confused.

"Aren't you worried that I might tell on you?"

Qu Dubian stopped what he was doing, raised his head and narrowed his eyes.

"Liu Liu, I believe you."

Yi Twelve's lips moved.

"Why trust me?"

Qu Watanabe: "You said you were mine, and you were very good to me."

Although I used to be a secret guard, but secret guards are also human beings, and as human beings, they have their own thoughts.

When Yi Twelve was still a secret guard, he risked his life to pull him out of the small garden when he had a fever. Later, he followed him, and his hidden preferences and emotions gradually emerged from under this indifferent skin.

He would be moved by the stories in the Jianghu novels and would use his own salary to buy milk tea for his junior boss, implicitly urging him to update his work.

The flowers that occasionally appeared in his room and at the head of his bed were not found in Shunning Palace. They were sent by Liuliu at some unknown time.

If there was anything unusual about him, Yi Twelve would definitely be the first one to notice it.

Moreover, three years ago, when he was reading the 'Book of Sages', Liu Liu already knew that he knew a lot of characters, but it was only three years later that Grand Tutor Fang officially exposed the truth.

Sincerity for sincerity, how can you expect others to be sincere to you if you don't give your own feelings? But this guy always keeps a certain distance from him. He can only increase his favorability by giving money and telling stories, and there has never been any other opportunity for contact.

Qu Duanbian waved his hand, "Come here, Liuliu."

Yi Twelve hesitated for a second: "His Highness said that I am not allowed to get close to this desk when you are practicing calligraphy or thinking."

This is a rule that everyone in Shunning Palace knows. No one except the seventh prince is allowed to touch or clean the desk in the small study in his bedroom.

"It's okay this time. Come here and take a look at the test paper." Qu Duanbian made room.

Yi Twelve pursed his lips and walked over, stretched out his hand, and pressed his fingertips on the corner of the paper. Four questions on it came into view:

"What is a lord?"

"What is a minister?"

"What is the people?"

“What is the world, who will save it, who will rule it?”

He frowned.

Although he didn't know much about teaching, he knew that at the young prince's current age, it would be too difficult to ask him these four questions.

Qu Watanabe held his chin up and said, "This is the last question on the test paper that my eldest brother took last time."

It is also a question that every prince must answer before leaving the palace to build his own residence.

No wonder he had to be given a few years to think.

B12: "How do you plan to answer, Your Highness?"

Qu Watanabe: "Don't answer, leave it alone for now."

There was a voice outside calling someone to eat.

Qu Duanbian burned the paper directly, "Eating is the most important thing in the world."

-

It was getting close to evening.

An uninvited guest came to Shunning Palace.

Concubine De came to visit.

At this time, Qu Dubian was practicing horse stance in the martial arts field set up in the backyard of Shunning Palace, while Zhiyi was practicing Eight-Section Brocade.

"You came so suddenly, I'm afraid Concubine De is coming for you," Concubine Xuan wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Qu Dubian did not move, his Qi circulated in his body, his lower body was steady, "Big brother didn't stop me this morning, so it's normal for Concubine De to come."

Zhiyi took a breath, raised her hand, and slowly lowered it, complaining, "I went to the Cining Palace this afternoon, and the concubines said that Empress Defei and Empress Wenfei went to visit them yesterday. They usually don't have the time to spare."

"There are a few unfamiliar palace servants around Shunning Palace," Ye Xiaoyuan said. "I've observed that they are probably the spies of Concubine De and Concubine Wen. I'm afraid they came to the door because they saw that the young prince hadn't left."

Concubine Xuan knew that her two children did not like to deal with such occasions, "You two stay here, I will deal with Concubine De."

She let down her tied sleeves and wiped the sweat from her forehead, transforming herself into the elegant and simple Concubine Xuan.

About a quarter of an hour later, Concubine Xuan still hadn't returned.

Qu Dubian changed his steps slightly, lowered his body, and pushed his palm horizontally, with his small palm making a sound of breaking through the air. Then he retracted his hand, stood up slowly, pressed his hands down, and slowly exhaled.

Still doesn't work.

I've only been practicing for three years, but my true Qi is completely unable to break through my Dantian, and the best I can do is to produce this kind of inch power.

Ye Xiaoyuan wiped his sweat with concern, "Your Highness, take a rest if you are tired."

"Banban, I'm not tired. I have to go to the front hall to see how Empress Xuan is doing."

Zhiyi: “Together.”

The two of them slipped into the front hall.

As soon as he arrived here, someone came to the Zichen Palace and asked the Seventh Prince to visit the Palace.

Concubine Xuan: "Can you tell me what it is about?"

The eunuch who delivered the message shook his head and said, "No, the eldest prince, the second prince, and the third prince are also in the Purple Palace at this time."

Defei's heart immediately began to tighten.

Behind the screen, Qu Watanabe and Zhiyi looked at each other.

-

Purple Palace.

The eldest prince and the third prince knelt side by side, and the second prince stood next to them.

Emperor Chongzhao sat on a reclining chair.

When Qu Dubian came in, he felt the atmosphere was almost stagnant.

He leaned against the door frame, poked his head out, and whispered, "I'm coming."

Emperor Chongzhao raised his head and said, "Come here." His tone was gentle.

"Father, eldest brother, second brother, third brother, and Eunuch Yu, hello." Qu Dubian greeted them one by one, "Father, is there something you want me to do for you?"

Emperor Chongzhao grabbed his hand and said, "Today, your eldest brother and third brother blocked you together, didn't they?"

Qu Watanabe: "That's my eldest brother and third brother coming to play with me."

"Well, then your third brother broke his hand."

Qu Dubian glanced at the kneeling Third Prince.

The gauze on the third prince's hand was untied, revealing a frightening abrasion that was red and swollen due to the application of medicine.

Qu Dubian hissed in his heart. Why did he remember that his third brother didn't fall so hard at that time?

He said worriedly: "Third brother, don't touch water recently."

"Xiao Qi still cares about you," Emperor Chong Zhao said calmly, "His concern for you is genuine. Are your feelings for him pure? You know why I stopped you from going to school today, and I know it too."

"Concubine Wen, Concubine De, your mother has been busy yesterday and today. She even went to the Cining Palace and disturbed the peace of the old concubines."

"The eldest brother hasn't even left the palace to build his own residence, but he's already in such a mess, dragging in his ill brother," Emperor Chongzhao kicked him, "He doesn't act like a brother at all, and he disappoints me!"

That’s right.

He really didn't want to get involved.

Qu Watanabe nodded vigorously in his heart.

Emperor Chongzhao: "Boss, didn't you prepare something? Take it out."

The eldest prince took out the small wooden box from his arms without saying a word, and held it in both hands, "Father, please calm down."

Emperor Chongzhao: "For you."

Qu Watanabe: "Me?"

Eunuch Yu took the wooden box, bent down and opened it, "Your Highness."

Inside was a thick stack of silver bills.

Emperor Chongzhao snorted coldly: "The bribe note your elder brother gave you was to ask you to say a few more good words in front of me."

Qu Dubian took a quick look and saw some 100 taels, some 1,000 taels, and some small change. It was obvious that all the money that could be collected was collected for him. His elder brother was really... as honest as ever.

Emperor Chongzhao: "I called you here to ask you if you want it."

Qu Dubian put the small wooden box in his arms, then patted the eldest prince on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, big brother. I'll take the money first, and I'll find a chance to say something nice to you."

He bowed to the second and third princes again, "Second brother, third brother, if you need to take bribes or make money in the future, please ask me for help. I will go through fire and water to fulfill my duty!"

Eunuch Yu couldn't help but curl his lips in laughter.

Emperor Chongzhao: "I knew it."

Glancing at the eldest prince, he said, "This is a lesson for you."

The eldest prince said: "I have already realized my mistake. I was just too impatient and wanted to leave the palace and build a residence smoothly to help father solve his problems."

Emperor Chongzhao: "Brothers fight together to fight tigers, fathers and sons fight together in battle. You are the only one. Even if you can help me solve problems, it will be limited."

He pulled Qu Dubian to the couch and stuffed an orange into his hand.

This child could never gain weight. After three years, he grew taller, but not much. He was sick from time to time, and every year he worried that his youngest son would not live long enough to leave the palace and build his own house.

Qu Watanabe was still wearing martial arts clothes. The cuffs were tight, making his wrists look even thinner. Of course, he only looked thin, but his strength was hidden in his muscles and bones.

He watched the show while peeling oranges.

He was just a guest tonight.

The Third Prince: "What do you mean, Father?"

Emperor Chongzhao: "It is inevitable that the eldest brother will leave the palace and build a mansion. I have read the answer sheet and it is barely acceptable."

The eldest prince breathed a sigh of relief.

"But from this incident, I can see that you are not calm enough. The three of you are next to each other. You were together when you were in the academy. It is normal for you to be anxious when your eldest son leaves the palace to build a mansion."

"I allow the two of you to accompany the eldest prince to attend court every day."

As soon as these words were spoken, the eldest prince and the third prince looked up suddenly, one in shock and the other in surprise.

The second prince was stunned for a moment, then he lifted his clothes and knelt down, "Father, this doesn't seem right..."

Emperor Chongzhao waved his hand.

"Okay. The age difference between you two is small, so it will only take a year or two."

The second prince was to leave the palace one year short of leaving the palace, and the third prince was to leave the palace two years short of leaving the palace.

But just one or two years is enough to familiarize yourself with the court and build up your network of contacts.

The second prince knew clearly that his father did this simply because he did not want a single prince to gain the upper hand in the court.

Emperor Chongzhao looked at his youngest son and said, "It was not in vain. I got more than two thousand taels of silver."

He glanced at the three people kneeling below and said, "Alright, the four of you, go now."

The three princes bowed, "Yes."

Qu Dubian jumped off the couch, holding half an orange, and waved at him, "Let's go."

The four of them walked out together, and it was already dark outside.

The warm night breeze blows away the day's dryness.

The eldest prince bent down and touched Qu Duanbian's head. "Take the money and play with it. If it's not enough, ask big brother for more."

"good."

The second prince also said: "Xiao Qi is weak, go back quickly and don't be blown by the wind."

"Thank you, second brother."

The Third Prince: "My eldest brother gave me one copy, and I will give it to you some other day as an apology for stopping you."

"All is well."

The undercurrents have nothing to do with Qu Dubian. He was pulled out of the vortex of the fight between the eldest prince and the third prince by Emperor Chongzhao. As long as they are a little more careful, they will not provoke him again in the near future.

After bidding farewell to their seventh brother, the three grown-up princes left.

After walking a little further, the smile on the eldest prince's face immediately flattened, "Third brother, what a pleasant surprise."

The Third Prince: "Thanks to my elder brother."

The two looked at each other and parted ways at the corner.

The second prince shook his head slightly and left.

Qu Dubian walked down the stairs a few steps and found someone waiting in front of him. He walked over quickly and said, "Sister? Why are you here?"

Zhiyi held Dahei's hand, her eyes curved, "Sister is here to take you home for dinner."

She handed Dahei's rope over, "Dahei insisted on coming to pick you up, and today he walked more than the distance you allowed him to walk."

Dahei rubbed Qu Watanabe's legs affectionately.

Qu Duanbian rubbed its head hard and said, "If you don't listen, you have to be a long-lived dog, understand?"

Dahei stuck out his tongue, his eyes full of gentleness.

The biped cub has grown a lot with its company, and it is very proud of it.

"Let's go, sister. Let's go home and comb Dahei's hair."

Zhiyi: “Yeah!”

After walking a few steps, Qu Dubian looked up as if he sensed something.

Emperor Chongzhao came out at some point and stood in front of the door of the Purple Palace with his hands behind his back, watching the three princes walk away and his daughter come to take her youngest son home - he heard the words "home".

"I am getting old. They are all old enough to build a mansion."

The light and shadow from the hall reflected on him, and he had a barely noticeable trace of white hair on his temples.

Eunuch Yu: "No, the princes are so young, they cannot do without your Majesty's guidance."

Emperor Chongzhao: "The only thing I can do is teach you."

He himself had been through this stage, and he knew well that as an emperor, he had to maintain a proper distance with the princes.

After all, it is impossible for the father and son in the royal family to be as affectionate and loving as those in ordinary families.

"Father! Dad—!"

The long shout stunned Emperor Chongzhao.

At the bottom of the stairs, Qu Dubian waved at him: "Do you want to come home with me and my sister for dinner?"

The younger son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, his eyes shining.

"Let's go."