Chapter 91 This is her only hobby
"What else can I do? Just go back and eat and sleep!" Cui Lang said confidently, "My grandfather has already punished me to go to the Imperial College, so my father's punishment of making me kneel in the ancestral hall is naturally invalid. If I kneel again, I will be stupid!"
Cui Tang: “…”
You may say he has no ambition, but he is quite smart.
"Atang, why don't you talk to my grandfather for me and ask him to let me wait a few days before going?" Cui Lang, who had accepted the reality, began to bargain. He looked at his sister, pointed at his forehead and said, "I was hit on the forehead. If I just go there, wouldn't it be a disgrace to the Cui family?"
Cui Tang wanted to roll his eyes: "Brother, were you injured by someone? I heard that when you were punching someone, you missed and you didn't stand firmly and hit yourself."
Upon hearing this, Cui Lang kicked the servant in the butt: "Didn't I tell you not to tell anyone?"
The servant felt very aggrieved: "I didn't tell anyone, I only told myself..."
"How dare you, you idiot, teach me the difference between inside and outside?" Cui Lang kicked him again.
The servant pursed his lips, rubbed his butt and dared not say anything.
"Anyway, I can't go to the Imperial College until my injury is healed." Cui Lang started to act arrogantly, saying confidently: "Tell the kitchen to make some of my favorite food and nourish me well!"
Cui Tang looked at him in confusion: "Brother, can't you tell the difference between a criminal and a hero?"
"Didn't you just say that grandfather's actions must have deep meaning? Since grandfather specifically asked me to go to the Imperial College, it is obvious that I must have something extraordinary." Cui Lang looked as if he had already seen through the secrets of heaven: "Who knows, one day I may really become a meritorious official."
Cui Tang twitched the corner of his mouth.
People can be confident, but not too much.
Cui Lang was confident, yet he could not help feeling disappointed and melancholy: "But once I go, I'm afraid I'll really be in a deep sea once I enter the school..."
"Last time I invited my eldest brother to come back to celebrate my father's birthday, but it ended like that. I still owe him an apology, but I haven't been able to say it yet."
Cui Tang: "That's easy. You can go to Xuan Ce Mansion to meet your elder brother tomorrow."
Cui Lang hesitated for a moment, then said carefully: "Let's write a letter."
He saw his elder brother was terrified, and he was also terrified when he heard about Xuan Ce Mansion. If these two things were combined, wouldn't that really be the end of his life? "I will write a letter after I return. Yihu, you will deliver the letter to Xuan Ce Mansion tomorrow morning."
Then he continued, "On the way back from Xuan Ce Mansion, you should stop by Xiangyun Tower and explain the reason to the ladies Shaohua, Qingju, and tell them not to worry about me. I will come back to see them as soon as I am free--"
"And tell the zither lady in the Wen Pavilion that I can't go and listen to her playing the zither any more these days."
"Please inform Liu Qi and the others that the appointment for shooting the willow in five days is cancelled... But you must make it clear to them that I am too busy to handle everything, and it is not because I am afraid of them!"
"And that guy named Xue from last night, tell him to clean himself up and wait. I will definitely fight him again when I find a chance!"
Cui Tang: “…”
He doesn't have anything serious to do.
She finally understood that her second brother's outstanding quality was that he had no outstanding qualities at all - sending him to the Imperial College meant not expecting him to do anything. The mere fact that he could be out of sight and out of mind was already a great good deed for the Cui family.
But... does this count as diverting trouble to someone else? Cui Tang was inexplicably worried about the Imperial College.
On the day of enrollment, Cui Lang's demeanor was even more serious than when he went to the Cui family's ancestral tomb to pay homage on Qingming Festival.
A few days later, I made some friends who shared the same ideals as me, which comforted me a little and made me feel fortunate that I was not alone.
After a few more days, he gradually realized that this was not a place where people were forced to study at knifepoint. Even the classes on etiquette, music, archery and charioteering were very interesting. There were many young men of the same age as him, all full of vigor and vitality.
Although he was a playboy and did not look like a son of a noble family, he was still subject to many restrictions since childhood due to his status.
Now he was walking together with everyone else, dressed in a scholar's robe. Around him were the elegant and ambitious sons of the rich and powerful, as well as the common people's children who came from humble backgrounds but were full of vitality. There were all kinds of people, but they all wore the same clothes and were taught by the same teacher. This unprecedented experience made Cui Lang slowly feel the pleasure that he had never experienced before.
Of course, those scriptures, books, and math classes were indeed boring, but that was not a big problem. He would often doze off and miss half the class. If necessary, he could even use the abdominal pain method to avoid it.
This made Cui Lang feel for a moment that he had entered a new world, just like a fish entering the sea, and he suddenly realized - no wonder he always felt that there were only a few people coming and going in the capital, and there were hardly any fun ones at all, it turned out that they were all hidden here without telling him!
Such a great place, and he just came!
Didn’t he say what his grandfather did a long time ago?
Considering that he had gotten into a lot of trouble in the past, his grandfather should have punished him by sending him here a long time ago!
When Cui Lang first came to the Imperial College, he felt that he had met him too late, and the professors and doctors in the Imperial College felt as if they were seeing the sins of their past lives come to life when they saw him - but Cui Lang thought that he had met him too late and did not care about their lives.
On this day, Cui Tang received a letter sent back home by his second brother.
"What did you write?" asked Mrs. Lu casually, who was sitting in a chair with a lion cat in her arms.
Cui Tang read it twice before saying, "Second brother actually said that he will not be back tomorrow during the ten-day holiday."
Is this still the second brother who cried the day he left home? "He is so happy that he doesn't miss Shu." Mrs. Lu nodded with satisfaction: "It is just that Shu doesn't miss him either. This is great. Everyone is happy."
Cui Tang also agreed.
"But my second brother invited my father and mother to go to the Imperial College to watch the Juju competition in five days..." Cui Tang said as he read the letter, "My second brother will also participate. The reason why he is not returning during this ten-day holiday is to prepare for the Dragon Boat Festival Juju competition."
Playing polo is extremely popular among the current elite, and its popularity is roughly similar to eating dumplings during festivals in the north. The capital city would hold polo competitions during every festive season. Even after the imperial examinations, the court would set up a polo club in the Yuedeng Pavilion to celebrate the success of the new candidates.
When the late emperor was alive, he was also obsessed with playing cuckoo, and the royal family members were no exception. There is still a cuckoo team of 100 people in the palace, and all of them are the best cuckoo players.
Every year before the Dragon Boat Festival, a cuju competition would be held in the Imperial College. Cuju competitions were already lively, and due to the special nature of the Imperial College's connection with the imperial examinations and officialdom, this competition was taken very seriously by the court.
On that day, many court officials would come to watch the game, and some of the officials' wives would also come to join in the fun.
"Although my second brother's polo playing skills cannot be said to bring honor to the family, I don't think it will embarrass mother. Do you want to go and take a look?"
Mrs. Lu nodded casually: "Since we have nothing to do, let's go over and take a look."
Cui Tang hesitated: "Should I go and ask my father if he wants to go with me?"
Mrs. Lu did not answer but asked, "Do you think he will go?"
Cui Tang shook his head.
Lu asked again: "Do you really want to go?"
Cui Tang nodded.
Mrs. Lu: "Then what kind of bad luck are you looking for?"
He couldn't help but sigh and asked, "The biggest difference between your father and ordinary people is that if ordinary people encounter a dish they don't like, they just don't take it, but when he sees a dish he doesn't like...what do you think he will do?"
Cui Tang thought for a moment and said, "Maybe he's going to overturn the table."
Mrs. Lu nodded: "Isn't it? Otherwise, if he saw anyone eating a bite, he would be so uncomfortable that he couldn't live."
This is her husband, an unlucky man who is seriously ill.
Mrs. Lu raised her chin slightly and looked at the letter paper in her daughter's hand. "What else is written in the letter?"
"These are just some trivial matters in the Imperial College..." Cui Tang said, and he glanced at his brother's mumbling. His eyes were fixed on the last line of words, but he said "yeah": "Second brother actually said that if possible, he would like to invite eldest brother to watch the game."
Mrs. Lu was surprised: "It's different now that he's in the Imperial College... He really dares to think like that."
Cui Tang also felt that his second brother's idea was rather fanciful: "Then should we send someone to pass the message to our eldest brother?"
Mrs. Lu thought for a while and said, "The message still needs to be passed on. What if your eldest brother is too busy with official duties in Yu Xuance's mansion and wants to watch monkey shows to relax?"
Cui Tang: “…That’s right.”
…
In May in the capital, even the wind carries a hint of warmth.
"Ningning, the weather is so hot now that even the Lady White Snake in The Legend of the White Snake has to escape the heat. You should also take a break." It was still early in the morning. Qiao Yumian was sitting under the corridor, being fanned by a maid with a cattail leaf fan, and she gently persuaded Chang Suining, who had gotten up early in the morning to practice sword in the courtyard.
Xier couldn't help but laugh when she heard this and said, "Lady White Snake is avoiding the summer heat because she is afraid of revealing her true form. My girl will never reveal her true form."
Qiao Yumian smiled and joked, "I'm just afraid she'll melt from the heat."
Chang Suining had just finished practicing a set of sword techniques. He put the sword at his side and let out a breath.
She did have an original form, but this little heat alone was not enough to make her reveal her true form.
She handed the sword to Xier who was walking over, but did not take the cotton towel from Xier's hand to wipe the sweat off her face.
I was soaked through, my clothes were stuck to my body, and there was nowhere to wipe them. I had to take a shower and change clothes anyway.
Listening to Qiao Yumian's kind advice to wait until the weather is cooler before practicing martial arts, Chang Suining explained: "Although practicing martial arts in the summer is hard, it is also a good time to exercise endurance."
Endurance is connected to willpower, and some extreme environments are often suitable for forging willpower.
But even at the extreme limit, one must act within one's ability, otherwise one's will will not be forged and one will be dead.
"You, why do you have to suffer like this for no reason..." Qiao Yumian was somewhat puzzled and distressed.
At first, she thought Chang Suining was just practicing martial arts on a whim, but after watching her for some time, she realized that her Ningning really worked hard to practice martial arts.
Practicing martial arts is difficult in itself, let alone this kind of practice.
She felt the cool breeze brought by the girl as she passed by her side, and heard her relaxed yet energetic voice: "Sister Mianmian, if you like me, I won't feel bitter anymore."
Chang Suining sat down on the porch beside Qiao Yumian to rest, with his hands on his sides and his feet in the air.
The morning breeze brushed across her sweaty brows, and she looked up at the vaguely visible academies outside the courtyard wall.
When she was Li Shang, she was indeed always used by those so-called close relatives.
But she knew very well that she was not completely forced. She wanted to protect Ah Xiao, and even wanted to protect her mother at first, all from the bottom of her heart. She never thought of asking for anything in return, nor did she regard this as a sacrifice - she was born with a desire to have the ability to protect others.
Wearing armor and killing enemies, defending the territory, and protecting the land and people under her feet are also what she wants in her heart.
Everyone has their own preferences. Some people like flowers, some like the smell of fireworks, and some like to travel around mountains and rivers.
She likes these too.
But her preferences are a little different from most people's.
"That's right, as long as you really like it, you can enjoy it if you like it." Qiao Yumian, who was sitting on a round stool, smiled and said, "Everyone has to have some hobbies in life."
Chang Suining shook his legs lightly and nodded in approval: "Yes, when you are alive, you must have some hobbies."
Her hobby is to make all the mountains, rivers, lakes and everything in this world her own.
Speaking of this hobby would probably scare Sister Mianmian——
Even if she told Lao Chang about it, he would probably tell her tactfully - this hobby is good, change to a better one.
After all, it's too much effort.
But she is a rather boring person, and if she is picked up and shaken all over, that is all her hobby is left.
How do you know it won’t work if you don’t try?
After resting for a while, Chang Suining, who had a simple hobby, jumped off the corridor and walked towards the bathroom.
Qiao Yumian pointed to her back and reminded her, "Ningning, you need to change your clothes and comb your hair quickly. The football match is about to start. If you go too late, you may not be able to get a good seat."
Chang Suining replied without even turning his head: "Got it, it will be quick."
Qiao Yumian smiled and told the maid, "Go and ask Mother to come back. Remember to bring some of Ningning's favorite fruits, some iced fruit drinks, and a few more hand towels. Maybe Brother can use them."
The Imperial College's annual Juju competition is held today.
Because Qiao Yubai would also be participating, Qiao Yumian and Chang Suining made an appointment early on to go watch the game, and the chief priest's wife, Mrs. Wang, would also go.
After Chang Suining finished washing, Xier dried her hair and tied it into a bun. She changed into a refreshing and simple light blue skirt and walked out of the room.
Wang and Qiao Yumian, mother and daughter, were already waiting outside, and they, along with their maid, went to the place where the football match was being held.
As they passed by many academies, Wang explained the functions of each academy to Chang Suining along the way.
Little did she know that the girl beside her, who seemed to be nodding obediently, already knew everything.
Although Chang Suining now lives in the Imperial College, as a girl, she should not move around without permission unless it is necessary - but this does not bother her. She has secretly changed into the clothes of a student many times, and let Xier dress up as a book boy to accompany her, and she has strolled around openly in various places.
It was almost time for the game to start, and the area around the football field was already crowded with people.
Those seats with excellent views were reserved early for the scholars and court officials in the Imperial College. There were ice basins in the pergola, which was very spacious and cool.
There was also a shed for the female members of the family, which was only available to the officials' families. As Wang was the wife of the chief priest, she was naturally invited to go under the shed. Chang Suining followed and sat down, looking at the field. The view here was a little limited, but at least they didn't have to endure the torment of being crowded with people and being burned by the scorching sun.
At this moment, there was a sudden commotion and noise among the crowd.
Chang Suining looked in the direction of the sound, and saw the crowd on the opposite side moving away to the sides, and the officials sitting in the tent also stood up one after another.
Who is here? Thank you for your monthly tickets, and thank you for the rewards from Qiongru, Yueyue dmm, Fans Opaque, Juanjuan Xingyan, Pumpkin Seedlings, Xueding Bingwu, Book Friends 160930215402026, Xiaomanman, Yunshui 98, Yanzhihu 1 and other book friends~(づ￣3￣)づ╭Good night everyone!
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
