Chapter 102
The study lasted for five days, starting at the beginning of the morning hour every day and ending when the sun was at its highest. After all, it was the height of summer, and no one dared to risk the prince getting heatstroke if he were to be exposed to the scorching sun.
Xuan Fanfu had a 'cheat strategy' given to him by his boyfriend, and for any questions that had been discussed before, he would say the answers himself if he had memorized them, and if there were any questions that he had not memorized, he would answer them carefully.
Sometimes Wen Erdan would answer.
Wen Erdan was also a graduate of the imperial examination system. Although he did not rank among the top three, he was a second-class Jinshi and ranked slightly lower. However, he was lucky enough to be the last one to enter the Hanlin Academy that year, and was then selected to enter the Eastern Palace.
This kind of experience is a bit like the experience of choosing college majors after taking the college entrance examination.
The scholars still like to listen to it very much.
When the hottest day came to an end, Xuanfu did not leave and had lunch at the official school. On the first day, he said, "It's getting late, and I'm hungry, so I'll have lunch with you."
He found that the teachers in the school were very surprised, and then some of them were in a hurry to prepare.
Xuanyu Fu said, "I eat the same food as everyone else. Let's go. There's no need to bother."
Students in government schools all received a meal allowance, which was basically one meal, one dish and one soup, all vegetarian. The soup might have some meat, like seafood soup. This part was free, but if you thought the food was too bland and too vegetarian and wanted to eat meat, you had to pay for the meat.
Generally speaking, official schools are very caring towards children from poor families and farming families.
For lunch that day, there was a dish of braised tofu with green onions, a portion of mixed grain rice, and a bowl of kelp and clam soup. The taste was very ordinary, not very good. The teachers from the school were trembling with fear and wanted to explain something several times, but they didn't know how to say it.
His Highness did not blame them.
Manyu Fu said, "Yes, eat it."
The school officials were relieved to see that His Highness did not blame them and looked normal. One of them explained, "In fact, we have chicken and duck eggs every Friday. The students are not picky about food. They want to save money and buy more ink sticks."
The winter in Huaiping Prefecture is not cold, so students save a lot of money on charcoal heating.
Xuanyunfu nodded and said with a smile, "Then I will give everyone some extra food these days." He turned to his companion and said, "Take one thousand taels and let them eat well these days."
Wang Yuanyuan agreed.
After lunch, Duo Xinfu set out to go home. Sitting in the carriage, he drank water and mumbled, "The clams were not cleaned well and there was some sand inside. They scratched my teeth."
"Why didn't you spit it out?" Yan Huaijin said distressedly, "Let me see."
"It's okay, I swallowed it all in one gulp." Xuanyuefu said, "I'm not that squeamish. Okay, I am a little squeamish."
Yan Huaijin said, "You were raised by Uncle Xu, the emperor. Even if you are a little spoiled, it has nothing to do with others. The clams were not cleaned and contain sand. If you eat them, you will feel uncomfortable in your stomach."
"Then I'll drink more water to dilute it." Duo Xinfu gulped down another bowl of wine. "You should drink more too. Although we are in the shade, you have been talking all morning in the hot summer, so you must be dehydrated."
Yan Huaijin nodded and looked at Duofu's mouth.
Xuanyu Fu: ...Yan Jinjin really has a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder!
So he opened his mouth and said in a vague voice, "Look, the sand has already gone into my mouth."
Yan Huaijin took a look and saw that Xuanyufu's teeth were very white, his tongue was red, and his mouth was very moist and healthy after drinking water. Before he could say anything, Xuanyufu rushed over and gave Yan Huaijin a big kiss, laughing like a pervert.
"Don't worry, it's okay, it's just a little bit." Xuanyufu said with a smile.
Yan Huaijin also laughed.
After returning home, Xuanyuefu had another meal. The food in the school cafeteria was not delicious at all. He ate it all, but he was not satisfied. He took a nap. When he woke up in the evening, Yan Jinjin was not there.
"Master Yan is out." Shunde said.
Xuanyu Fu nodded and said, "Then I guess he will be back soon. I'll go to the lake to cool off for a while."
Sure enough, Yan Huaijin came back soon with some books and a box of snacks. He said, "This snack is very different. It's made of soft hawthorn. Try it."
"Let me try." Xu Duofu was very supportive. He opened it and saw that the hawthorn dessert looked a bit like jelly, soft and chewy, and his mouth was watering. He couldn't help but look at Yan Huaijin, "Are you afraid that I will pee sand?"
Yan Huaijin: …
"Hahaha, thank you Yan Jinjin, this hawthorn will definitely help me digest the sand." Xuanyufu said happily and fed Yan Huaijin a bite as well.
Over the next four days, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince studied in the official school, and some new faces gradually joined him - they must have just arrived, the students had dusty faces, and their clothes were not clean, and they chose a corner to sit on the floor.
Then I started to ask questions.
Xuanyi Fu couldn't answer the other party's questions, so Yan Huaijin answered them. The two of them went back and forth, and finally the other party stood up and asked some more questions. Xuanyi Fu's head was empty and he felt a little sleepy, but judging from the expressions on the students' faces, he could tell that this new student was quite knowledgeable.
Finally, the student bowed and said, "I admire you. May I ask your name?"
Yan Huaijin stood up and bowed back, "I haven't passed the imperial examination yet, now I'm just a student, my name is Yan Huaijin."
Everyone was shocked. They didn't expect that Yan Huaijin was just a student, but he could ask them questions that left them speechless.
The other party was also shocked. After being shocked, he bowed again and said, "Mr. Yan is a talented man. If he passes the imperial examination, he will surely pass. My name is Zhao Mu. I admire Mr. Yan's knowledge and would like to learn from him again in the future."
Yan Huaijin said: "Mr. Zhao, if I have time, I'm welcome to come."
There were chicken legs for lunch today. Xuan Duofu hadn't eaten a big pot of rice for a long time, so it tasted quite delicious. He chatted with Yan Jinjin about Zhao Mu, "Is his knowledge very impressive?"
"The power of knowledge is like being comprehensive." Yan Huaijin also gave an example to Xuanfu.
Manyu Fu immediately understood, "I see he is dressed in ordinary clothes, but he has such knowledge. He will definitely be a great man in the future."
“Many blessings.”
"?" Xu Duofu, with a chicken leg in her mouth, looked up at her boyfriend curiously.
Then I heard my boyfriend say, "I'm better than Zhao Mu."
Xuanyuefu: ...Hehehehe, he swallowed the chicken leg, chewed it, and said, "Yan Jinjin is the best scholar in the world."
“There is no best in literature.”
Xuanyifu's mouth was almost broken by laughter. Xiaoyang was still pretending to be nice to him. It was obvious that he just wanted to hear compliments. So Xuanyifu came over and said, "You are number one in my heart!"
"Xu Xuanfu, in my heart you are the best in both civil and military affairs." Yan Huaijin said seriously.
If Liu Qiang said so, Xu Duofu would have given two fists, but when Yan Jinjin said so, Xu Duofu, who was blinded by love, said proudly, "Of course, my skills and boxing are all praised by my master."
He fought with all his might!
The master’s original words: Your Highness’ boxing skills are like a mighty tiger, good.
He's not bragging!
Xuanyuefu finished lunch and took Yan Huaijin back. He wanted to show Yan Huaijin some boxing skills. As soon as they left, Zhao Mu came and found nothing. The teacher followed behind him and said, "Student Zhao, His Highness said that you are a good student. You are allowed to stay in the official school dormitory for a few days to study."
"Your Highness said that?" Zhao Mu was slightly startled. He had not heard His Highness talk about the article today.
The master nodded and said, "Come with me. You have behaved very well today. Which prefecture or county are you from?"
…
On the third day, this classmate Zhao Mu washed his face, changed into new clothes, and moved his seat slightly forward. Perhaps because Xuan Fu and Yan Huaijin had mentioned Zhao Mu yesterday, the official school teacher made such an arrangement out of his appreciation for his talent.
Zhao Mu asked His Royal Highness the Crown Prince early in the morning.
Many blessings: ...
Thank you so much.
But Zhao Mu looked very young, only in his early twenties. When Xuanfu asked, Zhao Mu said, "I am seventeen years old."
"..." Damn, you are too young. Xuanyufu said, "You are the same age as Yan Huaijin. You two can chat. I am listening."
Yan Huaijin took over the conversation and started arguing with Zhao Mu.
This morning, the Crown Prince played Tai Chi for the whole morning. At noon, he didn't even stay in the official school for lunch, but left immediately. Yan Huaijin laughed and said, "Zhao Mu is just more eager to learn. I heard from the official school teacher that Zhao Mu was born into a farming family."
"That's really amazing." Xuanyufu said.
For farmers, books and materials were inherently scarce, and he was considered a child prodigy for being able to pass the imperial examination at the age of seventeen.
Yan Huaijin said: "I want to give him some books."
"You guys chat, I won't participate." Xuanyu Fu lay down.
The fifth day of study ended, and the students thanked His Majesty with snot running down their cheeks. Manyu Fu also cried - it was finally over! They cried with joy!
Then he encouraged the students to study hard and remain firm in their original aspirations to become officials, and then ran away immediately.
Yan Huaijin was entangled by Zhao Mu, who was a farmer from a village on the outskirts of other prefectures and counties. After passing the imperial examination, he studied in a private school in the town and lived there, while doing odd jobs from time to time to make a living. This time, he heard that His Highness was studying in Huaiping Prefecture, and it was unexpected that he came here after a long journey.
In August, Zhao Mu still had to go back to his local prefecture and county to take the exam.
After Yan Huaijin learned about this, he invited Zhao Mu to the front yard of Pang's house. He lent Zhao Mu the books he had sorted out before to copy them as handwritten copies, which he could take back and share with other classmates.
Of course, the pens, ink, paper and inkstone are all free, so Zhao Mu doesn't need to pay for it.
Zhao Mu was so grateful that he couldn't say just thank you.
The two of them were copying books and answering questions in the front yard. Although Zhao Mu came from a poor family, he was neither humble nor arrogant, and was very grateful to Yan Huaijin and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
"I just did the Q&A before, but I haven't reviewed any articles with Your Highness. Is it because my level is not good enough?" Zhao Mu asked.
Yan Huaijin: ... He was not good at telling lies, but at this moment he had to give face to Fu Yuan in front of outsiders, so he could not help but say vaguely: "Your Highness and I entered Chongming Hall together. Your Highness and I both sat in the first row, but Your Highness is a very modest person."
When Zhao Mu heard this, he immediately understood and admired His Highness even more.
Your Highness is as knowledgeable as Mr. Yan, but he is so humble and never shows off in front of his students. This shows that he has good intentions.
Invisibly, the image of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince became more majestic once again.
After taking a bath, Xuanman Fu heard that Zhengshi's son Huaping had been here for five days. He came to pay a visit every day with food, but he came at different times. Therefore, after the big event of the day was over, Xuanman Fu felt refreshed and called Huaping.
Huaping is a round, white little fat boy, and his whole temperament reveals two words: foodie!
Hua Ping brought a box of dried fish today. He was afraid that His Highness would not like it, so he took the initiative to explain: "Your Highness, this dried fish is very clean. It is raised in freshwater areas and is cleaned for three days before being dried in the sun. It is guaranteed to be very clean..."
Xuan Fu has already tasted it. The dried fish was dried in the sun and covered with a layer of salt grains. It tasted salty at first, but then became more and more delicious. It had a fishy fragrance and a bit of chewiness. Most importantly, the bones of the dried fish were very soft and could be chewed and eaten.
Therefore, Xuanyifu and Huaping hit it off right away. They talked a lot about food, with Huaping talking most of the time. Xuanyifu nodded repeatedly. He knew what a foodie was. He was not one. Huaping even knew the cooking methods and had a very sensitive tongue. He could tell the taste of dozens of seasonings after just one taste.
"I've been in Huaiping Prefecture for almost half a month, and I've eaten at a few of these restaurants before." Xuanyifu reported the names of the restaurants.
Hua Ping's face was filled with the expression "this is also called food", but of course he restrained himself respectfully when he saw His Highness, and said: "If Your Highness likes, you can go with me to eat. I know a few places..."
So Xuanyufu and Huaping went to explore the restaurant and eat there.
The soaked rice that Yan Jinjin mentioned before was also on the list Hua Ping mentioned.
"Your Highness, don't underestimate the mixed rice soup because it is simple and cheap. But it has been opened in Huaping Prefecture for many years, and the customers are all local people. Even the poorest scholars sometimes buy a portion when they want to have a bite. The mixed grain rice soaked in the broth is so delicious."
He swallowed his saliva as he spoke, and thought of the mutton offal soup that Liu Qiang had mentioned before. It was the same, but one was from the north and the other was from the south, both were ways of eating that were popular among the common people.
"We'll leave soon. I'll call my friends." Manyu Fu rushed to find Liu Qiang. After talking to him, Liu Qiang said, "Okay!"
"I haven't had the mutton soup from Sumaguan for a long time. It would be nice to have some rice."
After that, it was the security team. Wang Yuan and Sun Lin were in charge, and they didn't mind the trouble. This was what they did. They couldn't just restrain His Highness and not let him go out to play.
Besides, His Highness has been very well behaved. He just wants to have a meal and doesn't go to a place full of people...
On that day, Duoxuanfu ate seafood rice porridge. He ordered a family deluxe version. After eating half of it, he wanted to change to the ordinary taste. Yan Huaijin ate the deluxe version that Duoxuanfu had left. The two of them had a tacit understanding. Other people at the table, such as Huaping and Chao Hong, were a little surprised. His Highness and Young Master Yan were too close relatives. Seeing that others were used to it, the two did not dare to look at it any more.
Xuanyunfu tasted the ordinary version and his eyes lit up immediately. He said, "This one is even better than the one with a lot of ingredients. Yan Jinjin, you should try it."
Hua Ping said: "If you add too many ingredients, the taste will be mixed. It's better to just have a bowl of rice."
"Indeed, indeed." Xuanyu Fu nodded repeatedly.
Even Liu Qiang, who didn't like rice, thought it was delicious - because Wang Yuansun liked it particularly. Liu Qiang originally thought it tasted quite good. After Wang Yuansun ate two servings, Liu Qiang felt that this rice was comparable to the mutton soup in Sumakan.
That's how supportive it is.
After eating their fill, it was night. There was no curfew in Huaiping Mansion, so Huaping took His Highness to watch a shadow play, which turned out to be a play of the Monkey King. It was late at night before His Highness's group returned to Pang Mansion.
In the following days, Hua Ping took His Highness to restaurants every day. Xuanyuefu went with Yan Jinjin, and sometimes they met Zhao Mu, who was still staying in the front yard of Pang Mansion.
Zhao Mu saw that His Highness' eyes were shining, and he walked forward with the book in his hand.
"I have met your Highness, but I have some questions——"
"Do you want to eat? Yan Jinjin, let's take Zhao Mu with us to eat today. If you have any questions, Zhao Mu, you can ask Yan Jinjin." Xuanyufu said and quickly slipped away.
After more than ten days, Xuan Fu's face had become a little rounder. Wang Yuanyuan began to pack the luggage. The food and drinks for His Highness should be packed and shipped to the ship. It would take three days, and Wang Yuanyuan was busy with this.
Many blessings are leaving.
When Hua Ping heard this, he realized that he and His Highness had been so close to each other these days that they were almost close friends. At this moment, he frowned, sighed, and hesitated. Naturally, when he arrived in front of His Highness, Hua Ping still restrained himself.
But Xuan Fu was particularly smart - mainly because Hua Ping was obsessed with food. After a few days of getting along with him, he found that this man had become simpler and more optimistic, which was more to his liking. He also asked Hua Ping about some of his situations at home.
Hua Ping replied that everything was fine, as long as there was food. His father sometimes scolded him for only knowing how to eat, but it would be fine in a few days. It was not a big deal. His father was also thinking about him. I was too dull, and now the court could not recommend me to be an official. I would never be able to be an official in the future. However, with my personality, it would be a bad thing for me to be an official.
That's how I coaxed myself into submission.
Lord Hua has wives and concubines and many children. Hua Ping also feels that he is very much valued by his father, for example, his father chose him to serve His Highness.
Manyu Fu could not refute this and said, "You have a good character. When I asked you to study before, you went to Pang's house every day, but you came back empty-handed without getting discouraged and kept waiting. I guess Lord Hua knew your character and knew that you would not be able to do anything big, so he let you come."
Indeed, if someone is clever and wants to seek benefits from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, he can never get close to Duo Yifu. Now Hua Ping can still talk to His Royal Highness.
"You look so sad today. What's wrong? Are you reluctant to let me go?" Xuan Fu joked.
Hua Ping cupped his hands and said, "That's the reason, and also - ah."
"Just say it, what are you talking about?"
Hua Ping stammered, "Your Highness has eaten for so many days, but there is still one place you haven't eaten yet—"
Xuanyu Fu thought it was something else, and it turned out to be this. He immediately said, "I still have one or two days before I leave. Just tell me which restaurant I haven't eaten yet, and I'll go today."
Hua Ping dared not say anything more.
"You say!" Xuanyufu became even more curious and tried to scare Huaping.
Hua Ping shuddered and all his thoughts came out, "Your Highness, these are dim sum from Zui Xiang Lou. This restaurant only has dim sum at night, and they are best when freshly baked, especially when paired with Zui Xiang Lou's tea. You can't drink alcohol because it contains aphrodisiacs."
Xuan Fu understood more and more as he listened, "Zui Xiang Lou is a brothel?"
Hua Ping knelt on the ground and begged for mercy: "I really just want Your Highness to have a taste of the snacks. I have no other intentions. I am not trying to lure Your Highness to a filthy place."
"How about inviting the chef from Zui Xiang Lou over?" Xuanyunfu asked.
Hua Ping shook his head. "Even if we invite them out, they can't taste as good as those baked in the original oven. There is a red bean paste filling in it, which is particularly delicious..."
He started talking about it again with relish.
Xuanyu Fu swallowed and said, "You've been there so many times, and you've never been beaten by your father?"
"Your Highness, I was beaten at first. I told him I was going to get some snacks, but my father didn't believe me. Later...it got better." Hua Ping confessed the truth with sweat on his forehead.
Xuanyu Fu raised an eyebrow, "Is it really that delicious?"
"Your Highness, I dare to guarantee that I am the best in Huaiping Prefecture." Hua Ping almost swore.
Xuan Fu touched his chin, feeling a little excited, mainly because 'he was already here', and he was about to leave. He had been doing serious business in Huaiping Mansion, which consumed too much of his energy, and he needed delicious food to replenish it.
"Ask Brother Lin Zheng and Wang Yuansun to come in."
Hua Ping heard this and moved his fat body to the side and knelt. Xuanyufu called him to get up. Hua Ping did not dare to get up, "I am afraid that Lord Lin and General Wang will stab me."
"..." Hearing this, Xuanfu did not dare to guarantee to Huaping that the two would not attack him. "I am going to eat, it is none of your business. You go wait outside."
Hua Ping hurriedly fled in a hurry. When he got outside, under the scorching sun, Hua Ping still thought: Your Highness is really loyal.
Lin Zheng and Wang Yuansun arrived in the hall soon.
Xuanyu Fu originally wanted to take his time and explain that he was going to have some dim sum, but he couldn't bear the gazes of the two, so he spread his hands and said directly: "I heard that the dim sum at Zui Xiang Lou is delicious. We are leaving soon, why don't I treat everyone to some dim sum?"
Look at people eagerly.
Lin Zheng: "Zui Xiang Lou? The largest brothel in the city?"
"The biggest?" Xuanyi Fu asked happily.
Wang Yuansun said coldly: "Alright, clear the area at night, I will lead the troops to search around——"
"No, no, we're making too much of a fuss. If the prince visits a brothel, my reputation will be ruined. If I explain that I'm going to have a snack, who would believe me?"
Wang Yuansun and Lin Zheng: "I believe it." They answered at the same time.
Manyufu: ...Thank you.
"What did that fat guy Huaping tell Your Highness?" Lin Zheng asked.
Xuan Fu looked up at the sky and didn't dare to answer. "Actually, I want to eat it too. In the past few days, we have eaten in restaurants without any problems. Otherwise, I would use Liu Qiang's reputation to eat dim sum in Zui Xiang Lou."
Wang Yuansun looked over.
"...Liu Qiang won't work, then Xu Lingguan, oh Xu Lingguan's eyes are quite special, so let's just randomly make one - I get it, Zhao Mu!" Xuan Xuanfu's eyes lit up again and again.
Zhao Mu was also a new face. He had recently been staying at Pang Mansion and was highly valued by His Highness. This had long been circulated in Huaiping Mansion. Many princes of great wealth were watched for their every move, although outsiders could not reach into Pang Mansion and could only get a general idea.
A scholar from a peasant family came to visit His Highness at his residence.
The air outside was blown into pieces.
"Your Highness, you may go for some snacks, but you cannot stay overnight or for long. The limit is one hour," Lin Zheng said.
Xuanyu Fu thought: I can bake a large basket of snacks in an hour, which must be enough. So he nodded, very straightforwardly. In order to show that he really knew he was safe and did not cause trouble to everyone, Xuanyu Fu also said: "Don't worry, I am very experienced. You can't drink the wine in Zui Xiang Lou. If there is aphrodisiac, I will just drink tea."
"Your Highness is smart." After Lin Zheng finished praising, he rushed out. He had to teach the little fat guy a lesson first. Why did he have to go to a brothel to eat snacks when he couldn't eat them at any other place?
Wang Yuansun also left.
They could go for dim sum either tonight or tomorrow. Xuanyuefu was so happy that he went to the front yard to look for Yan Jinjin and Zhao Mu. Before he got close, Zhao Mu and Yan Jinjin were discussing an article. Xuanyuefu knocked on the door and said, "Zhao Mu, I have something to talk to you about."
Yan Huaijin raised his eyebrows, feeling surprised that Xuanyifu actually took the initiative to find Zhao Mu.
Xuanyuefu looked at Yan Huaijin first and said, "Huaping said that the snacks baked in the largest brothel in this prefecture are delicious. I want to go and try some."
"Master Lin and General Wang agreed?"
Xuanyuefu smiled. Yan Huaijin also smiled, "I don't know how delicious it is. I'll go with you."
"Of course. I'll think of you when there's something good." After Xuanyu Fu finished speaking, he looked at Zhao Mu. Zhao Mu stood nervously aside, as if he would be silenced by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at any time.
Many blessings: ...
"Zhao Mu, my status doesn't allow me to go to a brothel in a big way. If I say I want to have some snacks, the people outside will definitely not believe me, so I can only borrow your status. Don't worry, I will just have some snacks and stay for an hour, and I will definitely not tarnish your reputation."
Zhao Mu heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that he was not being silenced. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness's character is something I respect and admire. It is a blessing for me that Your Highness is lending me his reputation today."
Good brother!
The author has something to say:
Zhao Mu, it’s too early for you to relax.
Your Highness Duozai: I know I can’t drink wine with added ingredients, so I’ll just eat some snacks!
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