Yan Qimeng could accept any other punishment, but she would not allow herself to leave the manor.
“Father, even if you confine me, I will still run away.”
"you……"
Prime Minister Yan was so angry that his chin was trembling. How could he have given birth to such a rebellious daughter?
"You, you're trying to drive me crazy. Looks like I didn't hit you hard enough?"
Aside from using her father's token to threaten the teachers at the Imperial Academy, Yan Qimeng did nothing wrong.
All she wanted was for the Imperial College to add a girls' school. What did she do wrong? Why should boys be allowed to attend school while girls are not?
"Father, the young men of the Imperial Academy are not as talented as me in literature, nor in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting."
Why should they be able to attend such good schools?
What's wrong with me fighting for schools for all the women of the land? If His Majesty truly cared for the women of the land, why would I have made such a scene today?
"You...I'll beat you to death..."
Every time Prime Minister Yan threatened to punish his daughter, he rarely actually laid a hand on her with the ruler, ultimately because he still felt sorry for his youngest daughter.
"You haven't learned even a fraction of your sister's temperament; all you know is disobedience and filial impiety..."
“Sister, sister, Father always talks about you. You’re the Empress of Nanning, you have no freedom at all. I, Yan Qimeng, never want to be like you in this life.”
“If it weren’t for your deceased mother, I would have beaten you to death today. You will kneel here today and reflect on your mistakes.”
Prime Minister Yan couldn't argue with her, nor could he bring himself to hit her. He could only regret that he had spoiled his youngest daughter too much, which had led to her becoming like this.
Before leaving, he said to the servants beside him, "Keep an eye on the young lady, make her kneel for the full hour, and there's no need to send her dinner."
After everyone had left, Yan Qimeng stretched out her hands in front of her, blew on her palms, and muttered something.
"It's just dinner, I won't eat it. Do you think I'd starve myself? It really hurts, that old man hit me too hard."
Yan Qimeng was the son of Prime Minister Yan, born late in life, and lost his mother at a young age.
Prime Minister Yan felt indebted to her, so he spoiled her even more, but who knew she would be so rebellious.
Kneeling until evening, Yan Qimeng's stomach started growling. She rubbed her stomach and looked at the offerings for the ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall.
He reached out and took two plates of fruit and a plate of pastries, then looked up at the ancestral tablets and said...
"Grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, we are all one family. You won't be angry if we eat some of your offerings, right?"
After greeting everyone, Yan Qimeng began to eat heartily.
Prime Minister Yan held a position of supreme authority in the imperial court, second only to the emperor, but at home, he was simply a father.
Seeing that it was almost time, and worried that Yan Qimeng would get hungry, he had a servant bring a food box to accompany her to the ancestral hall.
As long as Yan Qimeng apologizes to him and doesn't repeat what happened today, he will let the matter drop.
Tomorrow he will personally go to the Imperial Academy to find Chancellor Fang, bring some gifts to apologize, and admit that he has failed to properly educate his daughter.
I had already calmed down and my anger had mostly subsided, but when I got to the ancestral hall...
Seeing the offerings on the altar gnawed and scattered all over the ground, the anger that had just subsided surged back up as if oil had been poured on it.
"Yan Qimeng, you...you ate the sacrificial offering, you..."
Prime Minister Yan was so angry that he beat his chest and stamped his feet. What noble families value most is their fortune. How can they eat the offerings for their ancestors so casually?
"Father, Father, don't be angry. I only ate a sacrificial offering. I asked the ancestors, and they gave their permission before I ate it."
Prime Minister Yan was speechless. He leaned on the steward and pointed at Yan Qimeng.
“Father, the ancestor really agreed. Just now I asked them if we could eat it, and the smoke from the incense instantly tilted as if nodding, proving that the ancestor agreed.”
The butler was both worried and helpless about his young mistress, his face contorted in a grimace.
“Miss, what do you mean by tilting your head? It’s clearly because the ancestral hall is drafty and the smoke is being blown out.”
Yan Qimeng scratched her earlobe, pretending not to know.
After a long pause, Prime Minister Yan pointed at Yan Qimeng and roared.
"You, get back to your room!"
Yan Qimeng immediately smiled and bowed.
"Thank you, Father. I'll take my leave now..."
"Prime Minister, please return to your room first. Have the servants clean up the ancestral hall!"
Prime Minister Yan shook his head, looked at the memorial tablet of his first wife in the ancestral hall, and spoke after a long while.
"Qimeng is sixteen now. Do you think I should find her a husband?"
But with her temperament, what family could tolerate her? If her husband's family has three wives and four concubines, she'll definitely suffer.
Over the years, Prime Minister Yan has acted as both father and mother, raising his youngest daughter as if she were a boy. He hired people to teach her to read and write, but she lacks the gentle and virtuous qualities of a lady from a respectable family.
"Prime Minister, although Miss is mischievous, she is not a bad person at heart. Besides, you are the Prime Minister, and she has the Empress protecting her. Who would dare to bully our Miss!"
The steward tried his best to comfort Prime Minister Yan, after all, they all understood the rules of this era.
With Yan Qimeng's status, she could easily marry a prince.
It's hard to say if she marries down, since no family wants to keep a living ancestor.
...
After only two days, Yan Qimeng was really bored at home and looked at herself in the mirror.
Adorned with floral hairpins, dressed in a blue skirt, her figure was graceful, her skin as smooth as jade, and her eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting.
She considered herself to be somewhat attractive, and believed she would be worthy of Chen Yanchuan from that day.
Thinking of this, Yan Qimeng shuddered and patted her face with both hands.
What's going on in my head? I'm thinking about a man.
"Miss, Miss, the Prime Minister was about to leave, but someone came to visit, so he came back."
Yan Qimeng: "You're back again?"
The maid nodded: "Miss, you probably won't be able to sneak out today. You'd better stay home obediently."
Yan Qimeng had her maid dress her up nicely today, as she wanted to visit the Prince Yu's residence. She had heard that the Imperial Academy was closed today, and she might even run into that person by chance.
"Who is it, ruining my plans!"
The maidservant stepped forward and came up behind Yan Qimeng to comb her hair.
“Miss, I heard that the man is an old friend of the Prime Minister. Today, I brought his student to visit the Prime Minister.”
Yan Qimeng: "What old friend? I've never heard my father mention it."
"I think his name is Sun something, Sun... yes, Sun Feizhang. He took on a disciple as his last disciple, and he said this disciple has quite a background!"
"What's their background?"
Yan Qimeng asked casually, but she didn't care who he was. She was only concerned about whether she could go out today, since she was dressed so beautifully.
"The steward said that Master Sun's student is the famous Prince Yu's son, the heir of Prince Yu's mansion."
"Who are you talking about? Ouch..."
Yan Qimeng stood up excitedly. The maid was combing her hair when the comb caught a strand of her hair, causing her a sharp pain, but she felt no anger at all.
"Are you alright, Miss? Does it hurt?"
The maids were terrified. If the head maid saw that they couldn't even comb their mistress's hair properly, they would definitely be punished.
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