What could the Emperor do besides laugh? He must never anger this young lady again, or he would lose several more treasures from his private treasury.
"What brings Uncle Emperor here?" She was here to pick up Yongqi; the Emperor wouldn't be here without a reason. In the TV series, the Emperor seemed to frequently come to watch Xiaoyanzi and the others attend class. Could he be here to watch their class again?
Hearing An Ke's question, the Emperor finally remembered why he had come. "I just finished the morning court session and wanted to check on their studies."
"Oh, I see!" Anke suddenly realized.
"If your younger cousins were as diligent as you were in your youth, I would be much more at ease," the Emperor said, stroking his beard and daydreaming with a smile.
Anke didn't say anything, just stood aside with a faint smile.
If you want your son to study hard, you should force him to study! Just wishing won't work; that's just wishful thinking.
Not hearing An Ke's reply, the Emperor wasn't embarrassed and continued, "You haven't been to the school in a long time, have you? Come, follow your uncle inside. Qing'er, come along too." It was alright, at least Qing'er wasn't left behind.
Sure enough, the Emperor was the center of attention wherever he went. Master Ji, who had been diligently teaching them, immediately stood up upon seeing the Emperor. As for the princesses and princes, needless to say, they too had to bow upon seeing their father, the Emperor. After all, filial piety came first.
"Your Majesty, Princess Yong'an, and Princess Qing, may Your Majesty be blessed, Princess Yong'an be blessed, and Princess Qing be blessed!" Master Ji greeted each of the people who came without missing a single one.
Anke expressed some sympathy for Master Ji. Ancient etiquette was so complicated; you had to say such long, drawn-out sentences when you met someone.
"Haha, Xiaolan! I ran into An'an and Qing'er outside and listened to you talk for a long time. Why don't you come in and listen?" The Emperor greeted his minister with polite words. "Go on, tell me. Today, An'an, Qing'er, and I are here to listen in."
Master Ji's eyes lit up the moment he saw An Ke step into the classroom, like a wolf that had been starving for a long time seeing a sheep. "Yes, Your Majesty, please take a seat! Princess and Consort..." There were no extra seats in the classroom.
An Ke didn't want to make things difficult for Master Ji, who was teaching her. Although the old man always made things difficult for her, he was a good person and his intention to help her learn was so-so, I guess it was a good thing!
"No need to trouble Master Ji. There are two empty tables over there for Qing'er, let's sit there." After all, An Ke had studied at this school and could tell at a glance that there were two empty seats.
Qing'er, of course, had no objections. She nodded cheerfully and walked towards the seat.
Because Yongqi was relatively young, he was seated near the front. He had just seen Sister An'an and Sister Qing'er and wanted to greet them, but since his father was watching them, he didn't dare to make any move. He could only wink at them as they passed by his seat.
Anke found it amusing that such a tiny little kid still remembered her. So, as she passed by, she casually patted him on the shoulder.
Qing'er smiled slightly at Yongqi. She didn't have a particularly deep friendship with the 12th Prince. However, she always ran into him whenever he visited the Cining Palace. Qing'er had a good impression of this young prince. He was always respectful and polite whenever he came, and not at all annoying.
Besides Yongqi's sparkling expression when he saw Anke, there was another person whose eyes also lit up when he saw Anke. That person was Fuertai, who sat behind the Fifth Prince.
"We just practiced couplets, now let's practice a few poems," Master Ji said, stroking his mustache, his words sure to be surprising.
Since the emperor was there to listen in, the one who would be the first to speak out would inevitably be Little Swallow.
"How about we start with Princess Huanzhu?" Master Ji looked at the scenery outside. "Let's make spring the theme, Princess, please." Master Ji looked at Xiao Yanzi seriously and gestured with his right hand in her direction.
"Ah? It's me again, Master Ji!" Little Swallow looked utterly miserable. She must have just been thoroughly tormented by Master Ji. "I just learned how to compose couplets, and now you're making me write poetry."
"Please do it, Princess. It doesn't matter if you don't do it well." Master Ji still had that cunning and shrewd look on his face. He was meticulous in his actions and even more so in his words.
There was nothing she could do but look at the Emperor and say with a slight complaint, "Father, as soon as you came over, Master Ji's attention turned entirely to me."
"Oh, Master Ji is so learned and talented. Listen to Master Ji, you should write one first. If you don't do it well, you can improve it! No one will laugh at you." The Emperor originally wanted to say something, but when he saw An Ke sitting upright behind him, he swallowed all his words. After all, his niece started learning literature at the age of four, could write poetry at the age of six, and was forced by Ji Xiaolan to become his apprentice at the age of seven.
After realizing that it wouldn't work with the Emperor, they turned to Yongqi, Ertai, and Benjamin for help.
Anke found it very interesting, so she followed her gaze to the three people.
Yongqi didn't seem to notice anything amiss and even smiled at Anke. Ertai, however, stiffened slightly, as if holding his breath. Anke couldn't help but wonder if she was really that terrifying.
(Ertai: Princess, look at me! Princess, look at me! I want to make a good impression on you. Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!)
As for Benjamin, Little Swallow was at her wits' end, because he himself was scratching his head in frustration. He only had a superficial understanding of Chinese, let alone being asked to compose poetry.
At this point, we must mention Yongqi, the protector of the flower. He truly went all out, immediately standing up to defend Xiaoyanzi. "Master Ji, why don't I set an example for Princess Huanzhu first!"
Since even a prince had said so, what could Ji Xiaolan do? He could only nod helplessly. After all, the prince was a descendant of the Aisin Gioro clan. "Fifth Prince, please speak freely."
The Emperor looked over with a gratified expression. He felt that Yongqi was the most outstanding of his sons. His gaze was filled with satisfaction. In his eyes, Yongqi was probably just a good older brother who loved his younger sister dearly! Sibling affection?
"I cherish the lonely grass growing by the stream, above which orioles sing in the deep woods. The spring tide, carrying rain, rushes in late, and at the deserted ferry, the boat lies adrift." Yongqi, pen in hand, gazed at the spring scenery outside and recited a poem in a flowing, elegant style.
The author is truly lacking in talent. Every poem or phrase appearing in the novel is copied from the internet.
Anke: Just write poetry, it's not like you're supposed to hold a pen and write it.
"Princess Huanzhu, please take your seat!" Master Ji looked at Xiao Yanzi again.
Seeing that she couldn't get help, Xiao Yanzi had no choice but to find some herself. So, she turned her attention to An Ke and Qing'er. "Master Ji, I haven't quite mastered poetry writing yet. Why don't you and An Ke write one too, so I can take a look?"
Encore: Me? →_→
Qing'er: (??w??)??
Master Ji's eyes lit up upon hearing this. Although An Ke hadn't become his apprentice, he still wanted to see more of her literary talent. He'd heard that Princess Qing was also a talented woman and was eager to hear their opinions. However, the Emperor was still there, and he needed to obtain his permission as well.
Master Ji coughed and stealthily glanced at the Emperor. The Emperor stroked his chin, observing his minister's expression. Seeing Xiao Yanzi's pleading look, he could only acquiesce.
Having received the Emperor's approval, Master Ji felt he was ready. "Then please, Princess Yong'an and Princess Qing, each compose a poem."
Master Ji: So happy, so happy (≧?≦)\/
Anke and Qing'er exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.
“Then I’ll go first!” An Ke stood up abruptly, searching her mind for poems about spring. “The world’s flavors have grown thin as gauze over the years, who sent me, a horseman, to the capital? I listened to the spring rain all night in my small room, and tomorrow morning, apricot blossoms will be sold in the deep alley. I idly write cursive script on short paper, and playfully divide the tea by the sunny window. Do not sigh about the dust and wind in your plain clothes, for you can still get home by Qingming Festival.”
"Good, good, good!" Master Ji immediately clapped his hands upon hearing this.
Next, it was Qing'er's turn. Qing'er also stood up calmly, thinking about spring.
"Then I'll give it a try," Qing'er said modestly.
Master Ji's eyes, however, gleamed with shrewdness.
"Before the rain, the flower buds are first seen among the leaves; after the rain, no flowers remain beneath the leaves. Bees and butterflies flit over the wall, making one wonder if spring's beauty resides in the neighbor's garden."
"Good, good," Master Ji said, as if he had discovered another promising talent. He was full of energy.
When it was Little Swallow's turn, it was almost time, so Master Ji had to let her off the hook for now. "Princess Huanzhu, next time you're in class, you'll start by composing a poem about spring."
"Huh? Do we have to do it again next time?" Little Swallow was woken up again, still half asleep. She thought she had dodged a bullet, but she didn't expect that she would have to start again next time.
"Yes, we must do it, we must do it!" Master Ji stroked his mustache and stood up.
Anke said that this is the right way to talk about Chef Ji. In short, he will mention everyone without discrimination, and he will always remember you.
"Hahaha, Xiaolan, Little Swallow will have to trouble you to take care of her a lot." As always, the Emperor couldn't help but laugh whenever he saw Ji Xiaolan get the short end of the stick.
"The princess is intelligent; I believe she will do well next time." Master Ji could only weep inwardly while offering verbal praise. To speak ill of the emperor's children in front of him—was he trying to prolong his life?
"We can't expect you to always have a brilliant apprentice, can we?" The Emperor glanced at An Ke and said meaningfully.
"Yes, yes!" What else could Ji Xiaolan say? He could only force a smile and agree. What else could he do but agree? Could he possibly contradict the Emperor?
"An'an, you should take Yongqi back first. Later, I will go to Cining Palace to visit the Empress Dowager." The Emperor couldn't help but want to see his outstanding niece more often.
“Yes, I’m sure Grandmother will be able to eat more at dinner after seeing Grand Uncle.” An Ke did not spoil the Emperor’s mood.
Unexpectedly, they ran into Ziwei and Jinsuo as soon as they stepped out of the school.
Ziwei's eyes lit up the moment she saw her father, completely oblivious to the stares of those around her.
"This servant greets Your Majesty! May Your Majesty be blessed! This servant greets Princess Yong'an and Princess Qing. May Princess Yong'an be blessed and Princess Qing be blessed." Ziwei and Jinsuo quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.
"Little Swallow, so many people come to see you off and pick you up just to go to school!" the Emperor said casually.
"That's because Ziwei is smart! I have the Fifth Prince to help me at school, and Ziwei to help me at Shufangzhai!" Xiaoyanzi spared no effort to get the Emperor to notice Ziwei.
But the Emperor only said it casually and didn't take it to heart. He simply nodded and said nothing more. He then walked directly to the Imperial Study with Ji Xiaolan.
When Ziwei saw the Emperor leave, the light in her eyes seemed to be suddenly extinguished.
With the Emperor gone, An Ke naturally saw no need to stay and talk to them. She took Yong Qi's hand and headed towards Kun Ning Palace.
Little Swallow originally wanted to say something to An Ke, but seeing that An Ke had left, she didn't chase after her.
Anke: Thanks! It's best if none of you get involved! →_→
"Twelve, are you doing well at school?" Anke has no brothers or sisters, so she naturally remembers the cousins who are kind to her, and the chubby Twelve is one of them.
"I wasn't used to it on the first day. My mother wouldn't let me sleep in. She would wake me up early every day, saying that I should make a good impression on my teacher when I first met him." Thinking of his first experience at school, Yongqi's little body shivered.
Anke touched Xiao 12's bald head with heartache.
"Was Sister An'an like that back then?" Little 12 looked up at An Ke. If Sister An'an was like him, then he wouldn't have anything to complain about.
How could An Ke not see through his little scheme? He just wanted some psychological comfort from his friend! She went along with what he was saying. "Yes, when Sister An An went to school, she also got up early to pay her respects to her teacher. She had a lot of homework, just like Little Twelve!"
Qing'er watched silently as An Ke fabricated lies to deceive the Twelfth Prince. She didn't interrupt, however. After all, if An Ke could see through it, Qing'er certainly could too.
And so, the three of them returned to Kunning Palace together. After bidding farewell to the Empress, they returned to Cining Palace.
——
A few days passed peacefully like that.
The much-anticipated large-scale balloon competition has quietly begun.
But what Ling Anke didn't expect was that the main characters would actually set their sights on her. Was she really that close to them? What gave them this misconception? Or was it the courage Liang Jingru gave them that made them think they were friends?
Fish Leong: This is the worst I've ever been attacked online!
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