Chapter 424 Lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot

Yuan Hongqu did not hesitate.

Lan Su has a simple personality and doesn't like anything complicated, so what unreasonable demands could she possibly have?

Her biggest worry every day is that she has taken on a student with only average abilities.

This was the first time she had encountered such a student on her path of learning and teaching martial arts. She found it extremely difficult, which was understandable.

After all, she had only ever taught one student, Lin Daiyu.

Although this student's talent in martial arts was not as great as hers, his intelligence was still beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Moreover, this student possesses exceptional talent in other areas.

This can also compensate for a lack of talent in martial arts.

Yuan Hongqu was already prepared. Lan Su suggested that she would no longer teach the Tenth Prince how to deal with that troublesome prince.

"Mr. Yuan, you have always advocated education for all..."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hongqu immediately had a bad feeling.

"I have a bad temper and no patience for educating people, so I can't teach that prince. From now on, please ask Mr. Yuan to teach him. Mr. Yuan has students all over the world, so one more won't make a difference!"

After Lan Su finished speaking, she felt a great weight lifted off her shoulders.

Yuan Hongqu felt as if she had shot herself in the foot.

Lan Su stared intently at Yuan Hongqu, while Daiyu also looked on with anticipation.

Under the gaze of the two, Yuan Hongqu nodded with difficulty.

Lan Su and Daiyu cheered together.

"You asked Lan Su for help, and in the end you used me to do her a favor?" Yuan Hongqu finally realized.

"Granny, you've already promised me, you can't go back on your word!"

"Mr. Yuan, you once taught me that a person cannot stand without integrity!" Lan Su chimed in. "I don't need to prepare any more food. There's plenty of delicious food along the way. I won't go hungry!"

As if afraid that Yuan Hongqu would change her mind, Lan Su spoke as she retreated, and by the time she uttered the last word, she had already reached the stern of the boat.

The ship was about to dock, but she couldn't wait. In a few leaps, she was already on the shore.

As someone who roams the martial world, Lan Su is always ready to return, alone with her sword. This time, she didn't even ride a horse.

Daiyu waved to her, then turned and disappeared into the crowd.

"Lan Su is gone, you should be relieved. We only have a few days left in our journey. Do you want to make some preparations?" Yuan Hongqu said softly, gazing at the calm water.

According to the original plan, we should actually be in Suzhou now.

However, the journey became increasingly slow, and the Emperor's daily plans became more and more unpredictable.

Officials on both sides of the strait thought that the Emperor's journey had been peaceful so far, and that it would continue in the same way.

Heaven knows how they suddenly became so stern once they arrived in their territory.

Those officials deserved to die, but is it really right to kill so many officials just because the emperor went out for a trip?

After all, this is not the capital city. Even if there are imperial guards accompanying and protecting it, how can it compare to the impregnable walls of the palace?

Is Your Majesty really not afraid of never returning?

Although Yuan Hongqu had guessed some of the Emperor's thoughts, the waters of the two rivers were too deep, and the officialdom was too entangled. This time, he dealt with the "rooted" figures who were deeply entrenched. Of course, those people themselves might not even know that they were "rooted." However, after Lin Ruhai's investigation from the salt administration to the governor-general, he basically knew everything.

Reforming the officialdom in Liangjiang was something the emperor had wanted to do since the beginning of his reign, and it has only now been put into practice.

Daiyu's concerns were not unfounded; Lin Ruhai's situation was indeed not good.

However, it hadn't reached the point where she needed to send Lan Su over for protection.

But after Lan Su left, Lin Daiyu did feel that her previously uneasy heart had become much more at peace.

"Granny, I've been ready for a long time." Daiyu also looked at the distant mountain peaks.

The mountains in Jiangnan are also beautiful, looking like a traditional Chinese ink painting. If it were any other time, she might take out her paintbrush and depict it in detail, and then compare whether her painting has more spirit or the mountains and rivers have more spirit.

But now she has no mood for such literary pursuits.

"Granny, will my father be able to be transferred back to the capital this time?"

"He has only served as the Governor-General of Liangjiang for two years. How can he be transferred again so soon? The Emperor won't always order your father around. He needs to rest! After this bloody storm in Jiangnan, it will probably be peaceful for a few years. Your father should be able to serve as a peaceful official for a few years."

"My father was the Salt Commissioner before, and he almost lost his life in office. If it weren't for you, he probably wouldn't have made it back..." Daiyu said sadly.

"My father's health hasn't fully recovered yet, and he's already taken on this assignment. He hasn't had a moment's peace these past few years. I tried to subtly ask the Emperor about it before, but he said, 'The capable should be given more responsibility.' I can't say my father is incompetent, can I?"

At that time, Daiyu, relying on the Empress's senior sister's influence, acted quite disrespectfully and asked the Emperor, half-jokingly, if he could let her father return to the capital, even if it was just to make him a Hanlin scholar, to compile books and write calligraphy.

The Emperor replied with two words.

"dream."

Then he said, "Those who are capable should do more work."

Okay, she didn't dare ask again after that.

Fearing that her efforts might backfire and she might end up killing both father and daughter instead of exonerating her father, she was afraid of making things worse.

Yuan Hongqu naturally knew about this matter as well. She didn't know how to comfort Daiyu. Talking to her about the greater good of the country, about sacrificing one's own family for the greater good, or about the responsibility of every citizen for the fate of the nation seemed too vague.

After all, she was just a little girl who longed to be reunited with her father.

Which child doesn't want to be reunited with their family?

Moreover, Lin Daiyu was a child from a single-parent family.

Her only blood relative in the world was Lin Ruhai.

No matter how much Yuan Hongqu gave her, presenting Daiyu with all the most beautiful things in the world, it still couldn't replace the missing fatherly love.

"You'll be seeing your dad soon, so why don't we prepare some new snacks or dishes, and you can cook them for him yourself? He's always been proud of your academic achievements, and if he also thinks you're amazing in other aspects, wouldn't that be great!"

Yuan Hongqu could only distract Daiyu in other ways. Over the years, Daiyu's cooking skills had become increasingly good, simply because this was also a great way for her to calm her bad mood.

But even when Yuan Hongqu brought it up, Daiyu still couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

"Granny, although I felt a little relieved after Lan Su left, you know I'm always worried, I'm afraid..."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hongqu knew what she was worried about and felt extremely regretful. She shouldn't have been so careless back then and shown her the original work!