Chapter 13
After reciting for more than an hour, Xuan Duofu stumbled a little when he just stood up. But when the tutor took a look, he perked up and continued to recite it smoothly. But he stumbled a little at the end and stopped.
Xuanyuefu said pitifully: "Taifu, can you give me a reminder? Just one word will do."
Obviously, the serious Master Hu would certainly not give any reminder.
Xuan Fu buried his head in thought. He knew that the whole class was looking at him, but it didn't matter. He began to ponder over the sentence, and tried it word by word. If he got it wrong, Master Hu would frown deeply, which was very scary. Finally, when he tried the third sentence, he got it right.
Then recite the entire text.
Memorized. Finished!
Master Hu was very dissatisfied and only gave a "barely" evaluation and asked him to sit down. Many people had already said "thank God", "I am so awesome that I have memorized all this", "hehehe, I have memorized it", and did not care about Master Hu's dissatisfied expression.
If you finish memorizing it, you will pass and get excellent results, which is great.
After that, the whole class was randomly checked. Among the students reciting, many people were very energetic. Maybe they had a full sleep at noon, so they recited the article in their minds with other students. They had learned everything and wanted to consolidate their memory.
The afternoon class ended quickly.
The school bell rang, which Xuanyuefu felt was lighter than the bell for class. He was packing his schoolbag and said hello to Li Ang: "Are you going home? Let's go together?"
"You can go home." Li Ang was carrying a schoolbag. He didn't need to pack papers and inkstones, as they were all available at home. There were only a few books in the schoolbag. He would go back and read them after studying during the day.
The students left the hall one after another.
"Young master, the master is here and is waiting for you outside." Wang Yuanyuan said with a smile as she took the young master's schoolbag.
Xuan Fu was very happy. He thanked Wang Banban, turned around and said to Li Ang, "My father is here to pick me up from school!" He couldn't help showing off, but felt a little embarrassed after he said it, thinking that he was only nine years old and still a child.
So there is nothing to be embarrassed about.
Li Ang was infected by many people's tone and also smiled.
The few of them left the main hall square, and at the bottom of the stairs, the Nine Thousand Year Old Xu Xiaoman was waiting.
"Dad!" Xuanyu Fu ran a few steps and called out to his dad.
Xu Xiaoman was also happy and wanted to touch the baby's head, but when she thought of the many classmates there, she resisted the urge and just smiled and said, "How was school today?"
"That's great, Dad. I also met a new friend, Li Ang." Xuanyunfu introduced his playmates to his father.
Li Ang took a few steps forward but was actually a little nervous. He bowed and greeted Lord Xu politely.
Xu Xiaoman said in a gentle tone, "Hello, no need to be polite. Is this Princess Changping's family?"
"Yes." Li Ang answered.
Xu Xiaoman smiled and said, "Good boy. Has the carriage for the princess's residence arrived?"
"Usually when I get off school, the bicycle frame is waiting for me at the right gate." Li Ang replied.
This was the first playmate that the cub introduced to him. As a father, Lord Xu was a little excited, but he tried his best to control his enthusiasm. "You and Duoduo are playmates. Don't be nervous. You can come to the East Factory to play in the future."
Xu Xiaoman finished: ...
Something seems wrong.
After Tian Ming was arrested, officials in the court became terrified at the mention of the East Factory. Who would dare to go there?
Li Ang was also stunned.
Xuanyun Fu was very happy, "That's great, Li Ang, my father took me out of the palace to play yesterday and bought me a katydid. Next time you come, I will take you to see it."
"Okay." Li Ang agreed immediately.
Yes, he went to Dongchang, which was the home of Xuanfu.
Suddenly, that scary and strange feeling disappeared.
While talking, they went their separate ways. Li Ang was going to leave the palace through the Youye Gate, while Xuanyifu and his father were going to cross the arch bridge to return to Dongchang, which was very close. Xuanyifu waved and said goodbye to Li Ang at the fork in the road, and said see you tomorrow. Li Ang imitated Xuanyifu and waved, saying see you tomorrow.
Before leaving, he looked again and saw the East Factory not far from the arch bridge. He was very envious.
Many of the wealthy families are really close.
What is it like inside the East Factory?
The father and son crossed the bridge. Xuan Fu chattered to his father about what happened today. "Dad, I was so sleepy this morning that I didn't listen carefully. Li Ang helped me review the article at noon."
"He's a very nice guy." Xu Xiaoman commented.
"The master wanted to select people to recite in the afternoon. When I woke up, I saw that the article was the same as the new one."
Xu Xiaoman was also scared, “What should I do? It’s normal to forget after a sleep. It was the same when I first started to learn to read.” He forgot the words he learned as soon as he woke up, and everything he saw seemed new.
"Master, you're the first one to call me!"
Xu Xiaoman was nervous. His teacher—his teacher was Zhong Yun. If he forgot, Zhong Yun would punish him...
"Dad, why is your face red?" Xuanyufu looked up and asked curiously.
Xu Xiaoman casually said, "Dad is worried about you." Of course, he couldn't tell Duoduo what the punishment was.
"Dad, don't be nervous, I can recite it!" Xuan Fu was very proud. Look at his preparation, this is called first suppressing and then praising.
He knew this trick because he didn't do well in exams when he was a kid.
Xu Xiaoman couldn't help but pinch Duoduo's hair, and said with pride, "Our Duoduo is really amazing. He finished memorizing the article in just one afternoon."
"I'm the first one to be checked on my recitation." I'm so proud that my butt is about to pop out.
Nine thousand years old is just short of making a quack.
"That's amazing." As expected of his own child. Same pride.
Wang Yuanyuan, who was carrying a schoolbag behind him:...What luck did Xu Xiaoman have? How come Xiao Duofu looks exactly like Xu Xiaoman? Look at how happy and proud he is.
envious.
In a short journey, many people boasted about their "achievements" today, which were excellent and verifiable. The factory supervisor also showed his support from the bottom of his heart, so the father and son were very happy on the way home from school. They were still reluctant to leave after entering the house, and they had a happy and lively meal.
Xuanfu is a rare diligent person. After eating, he opened the book and read the article again.
He is really excellent.
At sunset, instead of reading, Xuanyifu played with katydids, fed them, and played with his father for a while. When he was exhausted, he washed up and went to bed.
Xu Xiaoman: "Go to bed early."
Xuanxuanfu is a little sleepy, children sleep a lot.
"Dad, if I weren't so smart..." Would Dad still like him?
Mumbling mumbles vaguely.
Xu Xiaoman leaned over but didn't hear the second half clearly, but he understood the meaning. He touched Duoduo's forehead and said, "Just be safe. There are many smart people in this world, but there is only one Duoduo."
Xuan Xuanfu fell asleep after hearing his father's answer.
He was never a smart kid, just an ordinary kid. He never skipped a grade from childhood to adulthood and never got first place in the whole grade or class. He was playful and only had a short-lived interest. He would be attracted by games. Even if he could play games, he was not a top expert, just an ordinary expert.
But he is his father's child.
hey-hey.
So happy.
Xu Xiaoman tucked the quilt for the baby, and seeing that the baby was sleeping soundly, he did not leave. He sat for a long time, then tiptoed out with a happy smile on his face and went straight to Zichen Palace.
The warm room of Zichen Palace.
Emperor Ningwu did not read today. He sat on the couch by the window with a chessboard in front of him, but he did not play. He was playing with the chess pieces in his hands, lost in thought, and no one knew what he was thinking about.
The palace maids and eunuchs who were serving were waiting outside.
His Majesty does not like people to serve him closely.
The room was silent, without any sound. Sometimes it was so quiet that it frightened the servants, who could not guess the power of God and did not know when he would get angry.
Until the sound of footsteps was heard outside.
Emperor Ningwu put the chess piece back with his slender hands, and when he looked up he saw the person coming from outside. His originally calm and majestic expression now looked a little gentler.
"You didn't read today."
"You said it would hurt your eyes." Zhong Yun replied.
Xu Xiaoman was happy. He went straight to the couch and looked around. "No food?"
"I have used up all the snacks during the day." Zhong Yun said, and called Xiao Luzi in, "Prepare the meal."
"I want to eat meat." said Xu Xiaoman.
After listening to what Jiu Qian Sui said, Xiao Luzi looked at the emperor first. Zhong Yun glanced at him coldly and said, "Go down and prepare." Xiao Luzi nodded and left.
Just now the emperor blamed him for being ignorant. Jiu Qiansui had said that meat should be used, but he was still waiting for the emperor to speak. Xiao Luzi knew the relationship between the emperor and Jiu Qiansui, but now the relationship was good and sweet. What if it was not so good in the future?
Xiao Luzi first went to the imperial kitchen to pass on the message, and specifically reminded that the Ninth Prince must have meat.
The shrewd eunuchs in the imperial kitchen immediately understood whose taste the imperial meal sent to the Purple Palace should cater to, and they immediately coaxed Xiao Luzi, and some even called Xiao Luzi "Dad".
"I don't dare to be your father." There is a huge age difference. If the master finds out, he will be punished.
The kitchen eunuch smiled and said, "You are closer to me than my father. Thank you for your advice, eunuch."
The taste of the emperor is different from that of the Ninth Thousand Year Old. The emperor likes light and delicate food, while the Ninth Thousand Year Old likes stronger food, but does not eat large pieces of fat, chicken skin, fish skin, or internal organs. This imperial meal is for the Ninth Thousand Year Old, so let's give him some preference and make him happy.
The imperial chef decided on the dishes and prepared them quickly. His Majesty had dinner, but the Nine Prince had a midnight snack. There were a total of six dishes, one soup, and two staple foods. The Nine Prince liked pasta, and glutinous rice was also prepared. Two of the dishes were light and refreshing, and the other four were the Nine Prince's favorites.
Xiao Luzi felt that these imperial chefs were a little neglectful to the emperor, but everything was ready. He hesitated for a moment and thought it was none of his business. If the emperor got angry after seeing this, he would scold the people in the imperial kitchen.
Until the meal was delivered, His Majesty and the Ninth Prince were quite satisfied.
Xiao Luzi couldn't figure it out, so he later learned from his master. Zhao Erxi: ...
"Your Majesty and Lord Xu, you should pretend not to know."
Xiao Luzi nodded. That’s right, he did all that. Why did the emperor think he was not smart enough?
"I told you to pretend you didn't know, but you did. Now that His Majesty is relying on Lord Xu, and the two of you are in the same room, you should just accept whatever Lord Xu says. Are you waiting for His Majesty to say it a second time? Lord Xu can't order you around anymore?"
"What if something happens in the future and the emperor blames me for not listening to His Majesty's orders and listening to Lord Xu now?" Xiao Luzi was afraid that he would be held accountable later.
Zhao Erxi patted his apprentice's head in silence, "You are nothing, and the emperor will come after you later. Take care of the present first, and do it now that the emperor wants it. It's right if the emperor is happy. You are not as clear-sighted as those people in the imperial kitchen."
…
"You don't want dinner?" Zhong Yun personally served the soup to Xiaoman.
Xu Xiaoman didn't like to drink the soup first. How could he eat meat if he was full? But his wife had to give him face, so he took a sip and said, "Eat it. I promised you to come early today. After eating, I will take Duoduo to run and play with him in the backyard. After playing, he will be tired and want to sleep. Hehe, I am really smart."
Zhong Yun also smiled and nodded and said yes.
Xu Xiaoman looked at Zhong Yun suspiciously, "Are you really praising me for being smart?"
"Even though I praise you for being smart, you still don't trust me." Zhong Yun said seriously.
Xu Xiaoman immediately put away his suspicion, laughed, and continued, "Duoduo is really like me. He is very smart. When I picked him up from school, he told me that he learned an essay this morning..."
He repeated the whole process to Zhong Yun while eating and drinking.
"He was the first one to be checked. Duoduo recited all the answers and didn't get punished. Isn't he smart?"
Zhong Jue:......
He can praise Lengzi because Xiaoman is clever, but he is not academically motivated. However, there is no rule that says those who are good at writing are smart, and those who are good at learning are not good at martial arts and do not know how to plan a war.
His beloved eunuch is naturally the best.
But when it comes to praising his son, Zhong Yun no longer has this filter.
I spent an hour memorizing a book, but forgot it after I slept, even though I finally memorized it all.
Faced with the Nine Thousand Years Old showing off his son, Emperor Ningwu was silent for a moment, "I was enlightened when I was four years old, and I could remember an article after reading it three times when I was six years old--"
"That can't be compared to you, it's more like me."
Emperor Ningwu changed his words: "He is well-behaved, filial, kind-hearted and upright."
“Yes, yes, yes.” Xu Xiaoman actually knew the answer and said seriously: “He is just a child, I hope he grows up healthy and doesn’t do——” He almost let the cat out of the bag.
"I mean, forget it if I can't become a high-ranking official."
Emperor Ningwu nodded. As the only son of him and Xiaoman, it would be natural for him to be the crown prince and hold a high position.
Two years ago, when the palace school was completed, Zhong Yun asked Master Hu about Duofu's homework. Master Hu gave him the answer "average talent but fairly diligent". Not to mention a while ago, Duofu was unable to win the debate with Tian Wenhe and others and would rather run out in the rain.
Zhong Yun knew this son's character.
He is filial, honest, and stubborn like Xiaoman.
That's enough.
He and Xiaoman's son will become emperor not by taking imperial examinations, so if he is not smart, then he is not smart. Anyway, he is still young. The country is in ruins, and there are rats hiding in the dark waiting for an opportunity to strike. He will deal with them all together. By then, the country will be peaceful and prosperous, and with the assistance of loyal and capable ministers who he has personally tested, Duofu can just maintain the status quo.
Happy midnight snack at Jiuqiansui.
Emperor Ningwu immediately rewarded the imperial kitchen.
When Xiao Luzi heard about the reward, he looked at his master. Zhao Erxi raised his eyebrows and said softly, "See, first take care of the holy will in front of you, then there will be a reward, otherwise there will only be a stick."
"Master, I understand. I will definitely listen to you carefully." Xiao Luzi felt that the master's eyes were a little cold when he looked at him, so he said hurriedly.
Zhao Erxi was too lazy to waste any more words. He would teach him if he could. If not, there were others to take Xiao Luzi's place. He was not his biological son.
He thought of his own son again. Maybe he had heard Xu Xiaoman praising Xiao Duofu too much during this period, which made him want to adopt a son to love.
Zhao Erxi just thought about it and then gave up.
Not everyone is as filial and lovely as Xiao Duofu.
Princess Changping's Mansion.
The sun was still low when Li Ang got home from school.
When Taizu bestowed the palace on Princess Changping, there were many empty palaces left over from the previous dynasty. Taizu was concerned about his eldest son's lineage, so he bestowed palaces in good locations close to Taiji Palace.
Li Ang went back to the mansion to pay his respects to his grandmother, A-niang. Princess Changping usually asked about her day.
"Grandma, Xuan Duofu came to class today. During the lunch break, he asked his grandson to help him review his lessons. We reviewed together. During lunch, the eunuch in the main hall took good care of Xuan Duofu. There was a sweet soup that Xuan Duofu had, and he thought it was good for his throat, so he specially asked for a portion for me."
"Grandson didn't ask for anything first."
Princess Changping beckoned her grandson to come over, stroked the wrinkles on his sleeves cheerfully, and said, "Grandma knows that you are not a greedy person. Manyu Fu thanks you for helping him review his studies, and this sweet soup should be used by you."
She said this, trying to protect her grandson's self-esteem. In fact, she felt a little sad. They were classmates, but her grandson was too obedient and sensible, and had learned to read people's expressions and flatter them. Then she thought about it again, she had done the same thing when she was young. Her father died, and her brothers and she had no friendship with each other because they were not from the same mother. The family she married into was just so-so, so she could only rely on her own ability.
This is true for everyone in the palace, except for those who hold the throne.
Li Ang held his grandmother's hand and said with a smile, "Grandma, today I met Duoduofu. He is different from other classmates. He is a very nice person. He is polite and never gives anyone a bad face. He thanked me for helping him review his lessons and even thought of me when he had something delicious."
When Princess Changping heard this, she initially thought that her grandson wanted to comfort her and make her feel better.
"Xuan Xuanfu also said that I could come to his house to play when I am free."
"Grandma, I haven't been to the East Factory yet."
Princess Changping was stunned.
The author has something to say:
Emperor Ningwu also has a father filter.
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