Chapter 16

Wang Yuanyuan was a little anxious, and Niu Dahai asked what was wrong. Wang Yuanyuan looked at the little Duofu standing at the front of the hall, and she wanted to stand for Duofu. She said distressedly: "Duofu has done his homework - let me talk for a moment."

The two of them moved a little further away from the hall.

After all, 'family disgrace should not be made public'. Wang Yuanyuan did not directly reveal the fact that the East Factory Master climbed over the wall to steal his son's homework in the middle of the night. She whispered, "Eunuch Dahai, please run an errand to Xuanzheng Hall to find Chief Steward Zhao and ask him if he could send the young master's homework over after the emperor reviewed it yesterday."

When Niu Dahai heard this, his eyes widened for a moment and then returned to normal.

Zhao Erxi had reminded him to take good care of Xuanfu, but he never expected that His Majesty would personally check Xuanfu's homework at night. It was really extraordinary. He immediately became more earnest, "What are you talking about, brother Wang? It's not a big deal. The young master's affairs are my business. I'll go now, pitiful."

"Thank you very much." Wang Yuanyuan bowed.

Niu Dahai didn't bother to be polite and modest. He felt that it would waste time, so he just said, "Brother Wang, take good care of the young master. I'm leaving now."

Wang Yuanyuan stared at Niu Dahai's quick steps, good brother.

Going to Xuanzheng Hall to deliver a message, especially to find Zhao Erxi, was not something that ordinary eunuchs in the hall could do. They were too timid to go. On the one hand, Wang Yuanyuan was also afraid that the eunuchs there would not take it seriously - so little Duofu would have to stand there for a long time.

Only Niu Dahai can make this trip.

As for him - Wang Yuanyuan approached the main hall, and saw from a distance that some students in the back row of the hall were making fun of Xiao Duofu, so he turned into a 'sinister and miserable eunuch' look and stared at those people.

Zhong Zikai: It suddenly felt chilly.

Niu Dahai was a little fat, and he walked quickly all the way. Palace rules did not allow eunuchs and palace maids to run, but they were still allowed to run when no one was watching. By the time he arrived at the Xuan Zheng Hall, he was out of breath, and his breath was still not fully recovered. Xiao Luzi had been very sharp-eyed and clever recently, and he recognized him as the eunuch Niu from the Chongming Hall, and hurried to report to his master.

Zhao Erxi's heart skipped a beat. Niu Dahai is here? Maybe something happened to Xiao Duofu.

So the two eunuchs met, both with worried and anxious looks on their faces.

"But what happened to little Duofu?"

"Young Master..." Niu Dahai panted and didn't dare to ask Zhao Erxi, although Zhao Erxi looked anxious. He said, "Young Master is fine. He was punished by Master Hu to stand. Eunuch Wang sent me here to ask Steward Zhao if he can be sent over after His Majesty has reviewed the young master's homework."

Zhao Erxi was originally mumbling about his homework, when he suddenly remembered that the emperor was in a good mood last night and asked him to lead the dog. He immediately said:

"It's my fault too. I forgot about this." Zhao Erxi took the blame on himself. "Wait a moment. I'll go in and report to His Majesty."

Emperor Ningwu, who was reviewing memorials in the imperial study in the main hall, heard this and said:

Also silent.

Zhao Erxi lowered his head and took the blame: "It's all my fault for forgetting."

"The Duofu homework is in the Zichen Palace. You can go and get it, and then send it to the Chongming Hall." Zhong Yun said.

“Yes.”

Zhong Yun: "Wait a minute, are you saying that Master Hu punished Duofu to stand?"

"Yes, that's what Niu Dahai, the chief eunuch of Chongming Palace, said."

Zhong Yun: ...We can't just take it and call it a day. If Xiaoman knew that Duofu had suffered a great injustice, although he doesn't think that a small punishment of standing is a great injustice, Xiaoman will definitely be unhappy and blame himself, and maybe even beat him.

So Emperor Ningwu picked up his red brush and took another piece of paper to correct many of Fu's homework.

"Take it, and give it to Master Hu along with this and the Duofu homework."

"Yes." Zhao Erxi took the red seal with both hands and quickly retreated.

After all this back and forth, when Zhao Erxi took Xiao Duofu's homework and the red comments to Master Hu in Chongming Hall, the class was almost over. Master Hu still respected the emperor's red comments, and after hearing the reason, he saw the red comments first.

The emperor wrote in red: Duofu’s handwriting is neat and his studies are very good.

Tutor Hu knew that the emperor had been gifted since childhood. Since he was praised by the emperor, Duo Xuanfu's homework must have improved this time. With some expectations, he unpacked Duo Xuanfu's stacked homework.

After reading it, Master Hu's expression became complicated for a moment.

But the emperor had made up his mind, so he could not say much, and only said: "Xuan Duofu, your homework has been sent to the emperor for correction, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Many blessed cheeks puffed up.

Taifu, if I say that I just found out that my homework went to the emperor, do you believe it? But it's strange, how could his homework go to the emperor?

Really, what was the point of him standing there for the whole morning!

Let him use it to help digest his morning food.

I'm hungry.

It was time for lunch break, and Tutor Hu left with his tutor.

Zhao Erxi glanced at Xiao Duofu and said, "Young Master has been wronged today."

"Yeah." Xuanyu Fu nodded, admitting that he felt wronged, and then asked: "Eunuch Zhao, Your Majesty is correcting my homework, so can I go over to ask Your Majesty about my homework this afternoon?"

Zhao Erxi wiped his sweat. "Little Duofu, your expression doesn't look like you're asking His Majesty about homework. It looks like you're being wronged and looking for trouble." He didn't dare to refuse, and said vaguely, "That depends on whether His Majesty is free."

"I understand, Eunuch Zhao. I'll go there after school." Xuanyufu smiled.

Zhao Erxi hurried away.

As soon as Manager Zhao left, the students who had been quietly listening and peeking remained quiet. No one was the first to speak. It was still Duofu who slapped his leg and shouted, "Li Ang, you don't have to help me review the lessons today. I listened to everything this morning."

cry.

Not sleepy at all, the fourth one is useful.

Li Ang agreed and walked over, "Are you tired?"

"Tired." He had been standing for two hours. When he secretly changed his legs to stand for a while, Master Hu would catch him as if he had eyes behind him, and he would be scared into standing straight.

Li Ang: "Then I'll help you, you sit down and take a rest first."

"It's okay. I can go."

"Duofu, can I take a look at your homework yesterday?" Li Ang was very diligent. "The emperor praised your homework, I want to learn from you."

Xuanyu Fu's young face showed embarrassment for the first time, "Look, don't laugh at me."

"How could that be? His Majesty praised you, and even Master Hu——"

"Master Hu didn't say that." Xuanyi Fu interrupted shyly.

Li Ang thought about it. Master Hu didn't comment on Duofu's homework just now.

The two of them talked and chatted. The other young masters of the civil service group were all ambitious and diligent students - their families would send the best and most diligent children to the palace. If they were playboys and fools, they would rather miss the place in the palace school than send troublemakers into the palace.

It’s not like I think my career prospects are too smooth.

So several classmates came over and politely asked Li Ang if they could watch it together. Li Ang said, "This is Duofu's homework, you should ask him."

Everyone felt a little embarrassed when seeing so many blessings.

Many blessings don’t matter, they are very generous: “Look.”

"Thank you for your many blessings."

Everyone gathered around, and Li Ang carefully spread Duofu's homework on the table.

Xuanyun Fu sat down and rubbed his legs. After a while, he heard everyone start to praise his article, saying that it was well written, his handwriting was good, and it was copied cleanly, etc. Xuanyun Fu was sweating profusely. Although he was extremely confident and never boasted about himself, he was not completely helpless and did not want his classmates to accuse him of something.

"Actually, my handwriting is average." Xuanyu Fu said honestly.

But no one believed it, because the emperor wrote in red that Duofu's studies were very good.

Xuanyu Fu: ...It’s the daddy filter.

There was a lot of excitement at the beginning, with a lot of praise for Fu Gong. But after a moment of silence in the small group of Zhong Zikai, someone said sourly, "Those people are actually praising the eunuch's son's stinky feet."

"We used to claim that we were honest civil servants who would not associate with corrupt officials, but we are not as good as Tian Wenhe and his gang."

"That's right, but why does His Majesty only focus on the many blessings?"

None of the students in Chongming Hall has such an honor.

Speaking of which, Zhong Zikai wanted to call the current emperor his second grandfather. His biological grandfather was the current emperor's eldest brother. Although they were not born of the same mother, he also had the blood of the late emperor.

Among all the students in the hall, Zhong Zikai is the most distinguished one in terms of royal blood.

However, Zhong Zikai is inferior to the eunuch's son Xuan Duofu in every way. Xuan Duofu used to be obedient and honest, never vying for attention and always keeping quiet. But now he uses all kinds of tricks to win people's hearts. Soon, the whole Chongming Hall will listen to Xuan Duofu.

Zhong Zikai was jealous and angry.

Xuanyuefu took a break and went to the backyard with everyone to have lunch and then sleep.

"Are you going to pay a visit to His Majesty this afternoon?" someone asked enviously.

Manyu Fu was actually "asking for punishment". He wanted to use his young and weak face to arouse the emperor's father's guilt and self-blame! Why did he steal his homework? Now he opened his mouth and said something high-sounding and formal: "The emperor recognized my father's hard work and just marked my homework yesterday. I want to thank him today."

"Duofu, you are so sensible."

No wonder the emperor attaches great importance to the Ninth Thousand Years Old.

Xuanfu is quite ambitious and polite.

Xuan Duofu had a delicious lunch and a good sleep. He also attended class attentively in the afternoon. This time, Master Hu did not ask him any questions. Finally, it was time to go home. Xuan Duofu packed his schoolbag and shouted, "Li Ang, I'm not leaving with you today. I'm going to thank you."

"good."

Manyufu was carrying a small schoolbag, riding on a wind-hot wheel, and heading towards the left hall with a murderous look on his face. Wang Yuanyuan had a gratified smile on her face. Little Duofu was not made of dough, he had a good temper. If he angered the emperor, Xu Xiaoman would fill the hole.

So Wang Yuanyuan beckoned a young eunuch and asked him to take my badge and go to the East Depot outside and tell Governor Xu that the young master went to Xuanzheng Hall to have fun. Ask him to come quickly.

Young Eunuch: Huh? Do you really say that?

"Just go if I tell you to go, and tell me straight." Wang Yuanyuan said. There were too many details to say, and he didn't know how to say them at the moment, so it would be better to trick Xu Xiaoman into coming and then talk about other things.

The young eunuch rushed out to pass on the message. After all, Eunuch Wang said that the young master went to Xuanzheng Hall to have fun, which felt very serious. After seeing Governor Xu, he said the original words.

Xu Xiaoman was indeed very busy today, and he didn't care when he heard it, "Duoduo went to Xuanzheng Hall? That's fine, he's having dinner with His Majesty, so I can pick him up later."

Just spread it out, how much more can Zhong Yun beat you?

He doesn't believe it.

Last night, Zhong Yun praised Duofu for being well behaved. Duoduo was already very well behaved. What did Wang Yuanyuan say? Have fun! Duoduo is not a puppy. It's okay for him to have a tantrum... It's not okay for him to have a tantrum either. Duoduo is very polite.

Xu Xiaoman is open-minded and trusts Zhong Yun unconditionally.

Outside the Xuanzheng Hall.

Zhao Erxi was waiting outside in the afternoon and asked Xiao Luzi three times what time it was. When it was almost time for school to be over at Chongming Hall, Zhao Erxi ran down the steps in front of the hall and asked Xiao Luzi to go in and serve while he waited outside.

Xiao Luzi didn't understand which adult was coming, and the master went down to meet him personally.

Then a small figure appeared.

Xuanyun Fu: "Hello, Mr. Zhao, I am here to pay my respects to His Majesty. Is His Majesty free to see me?"

"I'll go and tell the young master that he must have had trouble coming all the way here." Zhao Erxi thought to himself: Oh my God, he got here so soon after school, did little Duofu run away?

Xuanyifu bowed obediently: "Okay, thank you for your help, Zhao Banban."

"I dare not."

Emperor Ningwu was very diligent in his work. He usually reviewed memorials in the morning and met with officials in the afternoon. But now, when Emperor Ningwu heard Zhao Erxi say that many blessings had come, he was at fault for what happened in the morning, so he said, "Call him in."

“Yes.”

Xuan Duofu walked into the hall carrying his small schoolbag. It was his first time there and he was quite curious. When he saw the emperor, he tried to pay his respects first. The emperor said no need, so he just stood there politely.

The hall was quiet.

Zhong Yun didn't know what to say. After thinking for a while, he realized that the mistake this morning was indeed caused by him and Xiaoman not thinking it through - they completely forgot about the child.

"Uncle, I stood for an hour this morning." Xuan Fu was just looking for trouble, puffing up his cheeks and saying angrily, "I didn't dare to move. I stood so straight that my legs were sore."

Zhong Yun: ...this familiar stunned look.

"Zhao Erxi, stool."

Xuanyu Fu heard this and became even more demanding: "Uncle, the stool is hard. I usually have to eat snacks when I get home from school."

Zhao Erxi, who had just moved a stool, heard the emperor's will: "Let's have some snacks."

Zhong Yun looked at Duo Fu and thought that this child was very spoiled. A boy——

"There is a soft couch in the warm room in the side hall."

"Thank you, uncle." Xuanyuefu was happy.

Emperor Ningwu: He is just a child, so he can be spoiled as he pleases.

So he gained many blessings here: Zhao Banban carried his small schoolbag for him, Xiao Luzi led him to the warm room and gave him a hot towel to wipe his hands, and after he sat on the couch for a while, snacks were brought to him.

There are three plates in total!!!

The pastry has round osmanthus-shaped mouth, square and soft red bean and hawthorn filling, and plum blossom-shaped sesame and peanut thousand-layer pastry.

Zhao Banban also served him milk, longan and red date tea.

This is milk tea! It’s a pity that it’s not brewed with tea, otherwise it would be more authentic.

Xuan Xuanfu was delighted and started eating, taking bites of dessert and sips of tea. The food made by the imperial chef was better than that made by his own small kitchen. Although they were roughly the same, the taste was more delicate and the sugar content was very much to his liking.

Emperor Ningwu wanted to summon the ministers, but when he saw Zhao Erxi going back and forth to the side hall, he stopped him and called out, "What are you doing, Duofu?"

"Your Majesty, the young master is enjoying some snacks. He said that the snacks are just the right amount of sweet. The milk, longan and red dates are also delicious. It's autumn now, so if you add some black tea to it, otherwise both will be too sweet..."

Emperor Ningwu: You are still stirring up trouble on my territory.

"As he said, as for tea leaves, use the ones I've been drinking these days to make tea."

"Yes." Zhao Erxi was surprised. The emperor was too pampering to Xiao Duofu, even though he did it for Xu Xiaoman's sake - the factory owner had a big face. From the emperor's actions now, it seemed that it was not an exaggeration to pamper Xiao Duofu as his own son.

I couldn't help but feel shocked. Could it be that...

Not to mention the worldly-wise Zhao Erxi, who was surprised, even the eunuchs and palace maids serving in the entire Xuan Zheng Hall had never seen such a scene before. Many people came to pay their respects, and it was as if they were at home in the emperor's territory.

So they waited for the eunuch Wang Yuanyuan sent out to deliver the message to come back and convey the governor's words.

At this time, Wang Yuanyuan and Zhao Erxi were standing side by side. They looked at each other in silence, not knowing what to say or who should speak first. The eunuch said, "Lord Xu said it's okay, he will come to pick up the young master later."

"Then...it's okay." Wang Yuanyuan waved her hand.

Zhao Erxi was a good person and asked Xiao Luzi to take him downstairs to have some tea and rest.

The two eunuchs stood at the door as punishment again. After a while, Wang Yuanyuan frowned and became suspicious. Zhao Erxi also murmured in his heart but didn't know how to say it. The two looked at each other again.

"You said--" Zhao Erxi wanted to test.

"I won't tell you." Wang Yuanyuan ended her attempt.

Inside the main hall, Emperor Ningwu was sitting in the main hall and summoned several officials. No one knew what was said inside, but the emperor got angry and threw the memorials. The officials immediately knelt down and begged him to calm down.

In the side hall, Xuanyuefu also heard the noise.

The emperor father got angry.

So he took out his textbooks and homework, took off his shoes, and lay on the soft couch to do his homework.

Be good.

Xuan Fu was still young, and he couldn't write too small with a brush when copying texts - he didn't have enough skills, and if he wrote too small the characters would become moldy lumps. Therefore, when he copied a text, the size of it would be like a hand-written newspaper, and he had to let the characters dry and then fold them up before handing in the homework.

He concentrated on doing his homework, writing for a while and then taking a break. The hall was quiet and there was still some fragrance. He had just eaten and felt a little sleepy, so he put the pen aside and fell on the couch: I will take a nap first, and then write after I wake up, it's still early.

Zzzzz~

Emperor Ningwu had a gloomy expression on his face. He wanted to investigate further into the person behind this matter... When he entered the warm room in the side hall, he saw a child sleeping sprawled out on his back. He was stunned for a moment before he remembered that it was Duofu.

This sleeping position is exactly the same as Xiaoman's.

Xiao Luzi stepped forward fearfully, "Your Majesty, do you want me to wake you up——"

Emperor Ningwu had already stepped forward, and when he saw that Duofu was not covered with anything, he could not help but say in a deep voice, "Blanket."

"I'll get it right away." Xiao Luzi quickly changed his tone.

Zhong Yun took the blanket. He was not very good at taking care of children, so he covered Duofu with it gently. Duofu was half asleep and a little conscious. He hummed, thinking it was his father, and said coquettishly, "Dad, I'll sleep a little longer. I'm almost done with my writing."

The child's sleep talk was vague.

Zhong Yun was close by and only heard the word "Dad", then he froze in place.

Duofu has never called him dad. When they are close to each other, he calls him uncle. The child is a little afraid of him.

Now I call him dad.

Although he knew that Duofu was his and Xiaoman’s biological son, he still called him dad.

The author has something to say:

Many blessings: If anyone steals my homework, even if he is your biological father, I will eat and drink your food!