Chapter 9 Is it fun to tease kids?
Song Qi currently holds the official rank of Vice Minister of Rites, a third-rank official, and receiving and exchanging greetings with foreign envoys falls within his purview. The emperor and his minister were originally exchanging pleasantries and encouragement, but little did they know that Fusu, who was lurking in the corner, had overheard everything.
Despite having heard of this famous historical official and recognized that literary giant, seemingly possessing a thorough understanding of the Northern Song Dynasty, Fusu had actually spent three years in the palace as a child. He knew absolutely nothing about who held official positions in the court or the relationship between the Song Dynasty and the Liao and Xia dynasties.
There's nothing he can do. The Emperor and Empress won't tell him, and if he tries to find out on his own, he can't explain where his information came from, and it will leave the impression that he's too ambitious.
The only reliable information we have is that this year's reign title is the fourth year of the Qingli era—Teng Zijing has already been demoted to the governorship of Baling County! In other words, the Qingli Reforms have probably indeed failed.
Therefore, after listening to the conversation between Song Qi and the Emperor, Fusu felt as if he had discovered a new continent. Song Qi was not only his teacher with whom he had performed the apprenticeship ceremony, but also a powerful third-rank official in the court. Asking him about matters of the previous dynasty could not be wrong.
Moreover, Fusu stroked his chin. Judging from Xiao Song's historical reputation, he shouldn't be a pedantic person. He wouldn't dismiss him with a simple "This is not something His Highness Prince Cheng should know."
So, after Song Qigong saw Emperor Renzong off from Zishan Hall, he turned around and saw the three-year-old Prince Cheng staring intently at him, as if he were about to pounce on him and grab his sleeve, his little mouth obediently calling out, "Sir."
Song Qi chuckled at the sight; he was all too familiar with this gesture. Wasn't this the same coquettish prelude he used when his children and grandchildren wanted something from him? He slightly bowed: "Does Your Highness have something to say?"
"Yes! Yes!" Fusu nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice: "What is the Western Xia that Your Majesty and the teacher just mentioned? Could you tell me about it, teacher?"
Song Qi was taken aback, not expecting that this was what King Cheng wanted to ask. His children and grandchildren asked him for money and sweets the most.
He pondered for a moment, then looked at the two companions behind Fusu: "Is any one of you able to answer King Cheng's questions?"
Li Qiu was the first to speak: "I know that! I've heard my father say that the Western Xia are barbarians from the northwest who harbor ill intentions towards the Song Dynasty. When I grow up, I will definitely kill them all to repay the Emperor and the Song Dynasty!"
Yan Jidao hesitated for a moment: "I heard that the Western Xia is going to send envoys to the Song Dynasty to negotiate peace."
The two completely different answers perfectly illustrate the difference in their family backgrounds.
Li Qiu spoke only of politically correct content, which shows that he must have received a lot of education in loyalty to the emperor and patriotism at home. However, Yan Jidao knew the latest news, which must have been told to him by his father, Yan Shu.
After listening, Fusu turned away and continued to look intently at Song Qi: "Mr. Song, I know everything they said, I just want to hear what you have to say. And also, what was that peace negotiation that Xiao Yan mentioned earlier? Why does the Great Song want to negotiate peace with the enemy?"
Song Qi: "Your Highness Prince Cheng wants to know?"
Fusu: "Mmm."
With his hands behind his back, Song Qi leisurely said, "It's fine. As long as Your Highness can recite the first ten pages of the Analects in their entirety, I will tell Your Highness the whole story of the peace talks between Song and Xia in detail."
Fusu: "???"
He pouted, accusing Song Qi of making an exorbitant demand: "Today is only my first day of class, why do I need to memorize ten pages of material? Teacher, you can't force me to learn too much!"
Wow. They even know about pulling up seedlings to help them grow.
Song Qi chuckled inwardly, but his face remained unchanged, displaying an arrogant and demanding attitude: "Indeed, indeed. Normally, the first lesson would only involve a brief introduction to the Classic of Filial Piety or the Analects before concluding. But His Highness Prince Cheng has a favor to ask of me, so naturally he must offer something in exchange."
"How about this, I won't require you to memorize it right away. I'll tell you when you've finished memorizing it, okay?"
Fusu: "..."
If he memorized it too late, the Western Xia envoys might have already finished their negotiations and gone home. Then he would have missed a great opportunity.
I know you're easygoing and not pedantic, but you can't just openly extort a three-year-old like this, can you? Unfortunately, Song Qi's offer was to recite a text, which has taken the matter to the Emperor. Maybe the Emperor will even praise him for being good at educating people.
Moreover, Fusu always felt that, given Song Qi's personality, he wasn't deliberately trying to get him to learn more; he just found it fun to make things difficult for the child.
After Fusu figured it out, he became even more depressed.
Helpless, he had been caught in the trap of his curiosity and was about to reluctantly sign the terms of cession. But when Zhanzhan glanced at the two little ones behind him, he changed his mind: "One should take responsibility for one's own actions. I was the one who asked about the Western Xia matter. Please don't make things difficult for them, sir."
Song Qi raised an eyebrow: "Then ask them if they are willing to share the burden with Your Highness."
Yan Jidao was just about to back down when he said, "Since I'm not interested in peace talks, then I won't..."
Li Qiu: "Your Highness, you need not worry about me!"
He righteously and firmly refused Fusu's offer: "My father instructed me that I must learn everything His Highness Prince Cheng wants to learn, otherwise how can I be qualified to be a study companion!"
Fusu: "..."
Okay, okay, I know you and your dad are very loyal. But didn't you notice your classmates are glaring at you?
Song Qi, who had a clear view of everything, exclaimed, "Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Having watched enough of today's spectacle, he strolled off work with his hands behind his back, intending to go home and share what he had seen and heard at Zishantang with his older brother, leaving the three little ones looking at each other in bewilderment.
For a moment, neither Fusu nor Yan Jidao spoke.
Li Qiu looked left and then right: "Master Song asked us to memorize ten pages of the Analects."
"Hmm." *2
Have you memorized it?
No. *2
"Then what should we do?"
Fusu was about to suggest that they memorize it if necessary. Then, he realized a serious problem: "Do you have the Analects?"
"No."
"I don't have any either."
Fusu wanted to pinch himself in frustration. What teacher forgets to distribute textbooks to their students? Was it too late to bring Song Qi back? Had he already left the palace?
Then, he heard Yan Jidao hesitate for a moment: "Father said that in addition to the school, there is also a library on the south side of Zishan Hall. Shall we go there and look for it?"
Fusu said without hesitation, "Let's go."
The three little ones followed the palace servant's directions and ran quickly toward the library. There was a man who looked like a librarian at the entrance of the library. After they introduced themselves, he naturally did not dare to neglect them, opened the door, and led them into the library.
What book is Your Highness looking for?
Just as Li Qiu was about to tell the truth, Fu Su grabbed his arm and stopped him. The latter raised his chubby little face and said, "Today, Master Song just taught us the Classic of Filial Piety. He said we will also learn the Analects later, so I wanted to borrow it to take a look in advance."
It's Mr. Song's first day as a teacher, so let's keep his elementary mistake of not distributing textbooks a secret. It would be too embarrassing to tell anyone.
"So, what Your Highness needs are three copies of the Analects?"
"right."
Logically, the books in the library were only for reading and not for lending out. However, the entire Zishan Hall was built for the princes to study, so naturally the princes' words carried the most weight. In addition, the Analects was not a rare or unique copy, so the librarian readily went to find the book for them.
The librarian had a few toddlers wait at the entrance of the library while he went off to browse the bookshelves alone. Fusu nodded readily in agreement. At his current height, he not only couldn't reach the books on the top shelf, but he probably couldn't even see them clearly.
However, he couldn't help but be curious about the interior of the library, peeking inside several times. Between the pear wood shelves, books were neatly stacked, and a wonderful aroma of Xuan paper mixed with a faint dampness wafted over him.
"Huh?"
What is that?
Fusu suddenly noticed a pair of soap boots moving rapidly through a gap at the bottom of the shelf. They weren't the same pair the caretaker wore; they looked to be of better craftsmanship.
Fusu noticed that the pair of black boots, or rather, the person, was moving in the exact opposite direction from the entrance to the library. In other words, this person had slipped deeper inside, most likely to avoid making any noise that would be noticed by those at the entrance.
He was hiding from them.
The words that Song Qi had once let slip resurfaced in Fusu's mind.
—Someone studied at Zishantang before him.
Perhaps driven by curiosity, or perhaps to verify his conjecture, Fusu gestured for the two little ones to be quiet, then stealthily slipped into the library and headed straight for the direction the black boots had moved.
The owner of the soap boots had no idea what he was about to face.
A few breaths later, Fusu appeared silently and stealthily beside the owner of the black boots, tugging at his sleeve. The man instinctively turned around, revealing a slightly mature-looking young man.
Young man...
"Who are you?" Fusu took the initiative and asked first.
"Ahhh!"
Unexpectedly, the seemingly mature young man, upon seeing Fusu's figure, reacted as if he had seen a ghost, unable to suppress a strange cry. He lost his footing and was about to slip and fall to the ground.
Fusu, who was also pulling on his sleeve, was forced to lose his balance and was about to fall.
"Oh dear!" Fusu was also startled.
At the critical moment, Fusu forcefully pushed the boy's waist with his head and arms, trying to create a center of gravity and help the boy stabilize his body balance.
However, he overlooked the fact that his three-year-old body was too small, and no matter how hard he tried, it was to no avail. He could only watch helplessly as he and the boy lost their balance and fell down.
"Bang bang."
The two of them fell flat on their faces in a truly embarrassing and utterly pathetic manner.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Guess who this boy is? A red envelope will be given to the correct answer!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
