Chapter 49
In the surface of Taiye Lake.
Liu Qiang and his companions were riding on a two-decker boat, which held more than a dozen students. They all went to the second-floor deck to look out at the lake. Perhaps because the invitation said "making friends through writing," some students were inspired to compose poetry and recited articles they had learned, which really set off the beautiful scenery.
"What are they chattering about upstairs?" Liu Qiang said on the first floor.
Wang Yuansun didn't bother to reply, because Liu Qiang could hear that he was just expressing his dissatisfaction. Li Ze responded in a good-tempered manner, "They are reciting the article "Snow on a Cold River". Although it's not snowing, it's still suitable for the scenery."
"I know they are reading articles, but everyone is out having fun, and it really spoils the fun to see them reading articles." Liu Qiang said.
Wang Yuansun said lazily, "You feel disappointed. Those who study well in the palace feel happy." Then his eyes fell on Li Ze, and he smiled and said, "I'm afraid it will be boring for you to stay on the same floor with the two of us. It will spoil your fun."
Liu Qiang nodded. What Wang Yuansun said made sense. He didn't like to study, but some people did. Anyway, just don't force him to study. After hearing the rest of the words, he looked at Li Ze, who was the newcomer, and said kindly, "Yes, if you like to read books and articles, you can go upstairs and play with them. You don't have to sit here with the two of us."
"No, the view from the first floor is also very good." Li Ze said with a smile, and then said: "In fact, the three of us are all military officers, and we don't like to study literature that much."
Liu Qiang then remembered, "Yes, you look like a good scholar. I always forget that your family is in charge of the military."
"Without horses, the battles against pirates along the coast of Lindonghai Prefecture were fought on boats." Li Ze said this with his eyes curved with a smile, "But I heard that the Liu family army in Sumaguan Pass had brave cavalry."
Liu Qian first said seriously: "It's not the Liu family army, it's the Sumaguan army, they all obey the orders of the emperor."
Wang Yuansun said calmly: "Li Ze may judge others by himself. They are the Li family navy, and I think your Liu family is the same."
"It's my fault. I spoke too quickly and didn't mean anything else. Our three families all serve His Majesty." Li Ze said hurriedly.
Seeing that Li Ze was anxious, Liu Qiang wondered if he had said something too harsh just now. However, his grandfather and father had pulled his ears and told him these things when he was still a child and could read. He could say other things casually but he could not say these things. He had to be loyal to the emperor and serve Dasheng.
The Liu family are just the emperor's soldiers.
But Li Ze didn't mean it. Liu Qiang felt embarrassed to see others anxious, and said cheerfully: "I know, and I don't blame you."
Li Ze breathed a sigh of relief. He vaguely sensed that Wang Yuansun disliked him and tried to trip him up several times. Fortunately, he only spoke wittily. He immediately changed the subject and said, "The classmate above is reading "Snow on a Cold River". Speaking of which, I haven't seen snow yet. I wonder if it snows in Shengdu?"
"Yes, I heard from Your Highness that it snowed in Shengdu as well. But if we talk about heavy snow, it was still heavier in Sumak Pass. It's winter already, but the weather in Shengdu is still warm, even warmer than the autumn over there." Liu Qiang followed up with what he said.
Li Ze couldn't help but sigh: "I wonder when I can go over there to play. I really want to see the heavy snow."
"It's fun when it snows at first, but if it snows too much it's a disaster. It can freeze people to death."
Wang Yuansun: "I heard that Lindonghai is rich, so Li Ze probably doesn't want to see people die in the snow disaster."
Li Ze was now really sure that Wang Yuansun disliked him. He frowned slightly, and carefully recalled how he had offended Wang Yuansun. Could it be that he sat next to Wang Yuansun on the first day he arrived at the hall, and then went to the front row in order to please His Highness?
Is Wang Yuansun angry with him because of this?
Liu Qiang: ...I feel the atmosphere is weird again. I still feel comfortable talking to Duo Xinfu, talking freely and laughing, just like the kids in Sumaguan. Now he doesn't know what's wrong.
"Haha, I'm going to see how to row a boat and ask the fathers-in-law to teach me how to row a boat." Liu Qiang ran to the stern of the boat.
Wang Yuansun looked at Li Ze and raised his voice a little, saying to Liu Qiang in a friendly way: "Be careful, we are all on the same boat, don't let your boat capsize."
"Oh, you still don't trust me, leave it to me! If it flips over, I will save you."
"No need. You can't swim. It's not certain who will save whom."
The two spoke in familiar tones, and it was obvious that they had a very good relationship.
Wang Yuansun stopped talking after he finished speaking. Li Ze wanted to leave, but he was sure that Wang Yuansun didn't like him. He thought about it and decided to stay. They would have to get along for many years in the Shengdu Palace, so it was not appropriate to make enemies.
"It was my first day in the hall, and I didn't mean to avoid sitting with you." Li Ze explained with a kind smile.
Unexpectedly, Wang Yuansun, who had just been wearing a friendly and easygoing smile, suddenly turned cold and looked at Li Ze with cold eyes, "I know who you are, don't pretend in front of me."
"Pretending?" Li Ze's smile disappeared, but he still had a smile on his face. "I don't know what you are talking about. Are you trying to say that I am scheming?"
"Then you are the same."
Wang Yuansun was hit in the sore spot and his face looked gloomy.
Li Ze didn't smile when he saw this. He didn't say he was friendly or malicious. He just said as if he was chatting frankly, "There are many children in our family. Don't mention that we are legitimate children. My family doesn't value these. Except for the eldest son, the others are selected by the most capable. This time, the emperor selected people to study in Chongming Palace. There is an age requirement. In fact, it's not just me. There are several brothers in my family who are close to my age. Why did you choose me for no reason?"
"Brother Wang, I guess our experiences are similar."
Wang Yuansun thought, you and me?
Li Ze thought he had persuaded Wang Yuansun. In the past, he had dealt with children from aristocratic families living near Lindonghai. If they didn't respond to his soft approach and he saw through his intentions, he would have a frank talk with them like this, which would always make things more harmonious, and with good results, they could even open up to each other.
Seeing that Wang Yuansun didn't say anything, he thought that what he said just now hit the nail on the head. He smiled again and continued, "I always try to please people with my sweet words. I don't have any bad intentions. Who in the whole palace doesn't want to please His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?"
"Brother Wang, don't be too malicious and wary of me. We are classmates and we are all from the four major clans. We should always support and help each other."
Wang Yuansun looked at Li Ze coldly as he said these words. He knew exactly what Li Ze was thinking. The other party was really smart, but he still disliked him.
After Li Ze finished speaking, seeing that Wang Yuansun ignored him, he did not intend to continue to stick to him, but just sighed: "Forget it, brother Wang is tired of me, then I will stay away and not get in your eyes."
After saying that, he leisurely went upstairs. Because of his pleasing appearance, he just smiled slightly and in a few words he quickly integrated into the atmosphere upstairs. Soon they were laughing and playing, and they didn't feel unfamiliar at all.
Wang Yuansun sat on the first floor with a gloomy face.
He didn't like Li Ze, and he knew why. It was because Li Ze's smiling face and his attempt to please everyone reminded him of himself.
Li Ze is more likable than him and acts very naturally, but what about him?
In the eyes of those adults, he was like a clown.
"Look at your appearance, everyone in Qianzhong knows you, they just treat you as a joke, just like your lowly dancer mother", "Father takes you out without me? Oh, who cares, I am the eldest son, do I need to hold a noble like you? I can't do it", "Just a toy like your mother", "something to make people laugh"...
Wang Yuansun fell into a trance, his eyes became more and more crazy, and his whole face was distorted.
"Hey, hey, hey, brother, what's wrong with you?" Liu Qiang came in after playing for a while and saw Wang Yuansun sitting there hysterically, so he hurried forward to call for help.
"Are you okay? Wang Yuansun?"
After a long while, Wang Yuansun's vision seemed to be focused again. He saw that it was Liu Qiang standing in front of him. He looked around and saw that there were only two of them on the entire floor. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Just don't let anyone else see it.
Liu Qiang was confused and worried, "What's wrong with you? Just now..." He was frightened by Wang Yuansun's gaze and was unable to say anything.
"Don't bother with me, go row the boat." Wang Yuansun didn't want to flatter Liu Qiang now, and said with extreme restraint.
Liu Qiang: ...
"Okay, I didn't tell anyone else. You're alone here. Call me when you feel better." Liu Qiang was worried, and his legs obediently walked to the stern.
The boatman was surprised to see Young Master Liu coming again.
Liu Qiang: Hehe.
"I'm not tired from playing for a while. I have the strength to row the boat. I'll do it, I'll do it."
What happened to Wang Yuansun? Liu Qiang paddled with the oars, his arms were a little sore from paddling, and when the wind blew, the water in the pool would run onto his face. It was boring to do this all the time...
"Liu Jiaojiao!!!"
Liu Qiang heard someone calling him from a distance. There was no one in front of him. He looked over to the side and saw a small boat coming. The boat was small and there were three people sitting on it. Liu Qiang laughed and waved his arms: "Fat boy! Why are you three sitting on a small boat?"
"The boat is fun and fast." Xuan Fu shouted while standing on the boat.
Liu Qiang: "Yes, I rowed for a long time but it didn't move much." He was eager to find Xu Duofu, so he asked the boatman, "Where is his boat? Can I jump from here and jump onto his boat?"
"No, no, Master Liu, what if you fall into the pond? The water is cold and that's the Crown Prince's boat. If you jump in front, the boat might capsize." The eunuch hurriedly tried to stop him.
Manyu Fu heard it and shouted with a loud speaker: "Don't smash my boat. Let's go, let's go faster and go back to warm ourselves by the fire. It's time for lunch."
"Hey, wait for me, wait for me." Liu Qiang was anxious.
Manyu Fu said, "If you want to eat as soon as possible, don't make things worse. Hurry up and return the oars, or you will just eat the wind and get full on the boat."
When the boatman heard His Highness say "Hurry up", he really increased the speed of the rowing. The boat was as light as a small boat and soon passed the heavy and huge ship and headed towards Hanliang Palace.
Many of the Fu people stood in front and made faces at Liu Qiang.
"Lilililil~"
Liu Qiang was so anxious that he wanted to jump into the water and swim back, "Just wait!"
"I'm waiting." Xu Xuanfu snorted, wanting to say something harsh to him, but when he was far away and couldn't see Liu Qiang's expression, the victorious Crown Prince sat back and said to Yan Jinjin and Xu Lingguan, "Liu Qiang must be very anxious. Let's wait and see when he arrives."
"Okay." Yan Huaijin said with a smile.
Xu Lingguan sat in one place in a restrained manner.
Liu Qiang held on for a long time, but Wang Yuansun didn't call him yet. He couldn't stay any longer. He staggered a little and walked to the cabin with the help of the railing. He didn't get close to Wang Yuansun, but stood at the entrance and said, "Brother, are you okay? I feel like vomiting."
"I'm sorry." Wang Yuansun apologized as usual and said, "I just - don't tell anyone."
When Liu Qiang heard that everything was fine, he strode in, walked unsteadily, finally stopped and sat down, his face a little pale as he said, "Don't talk about you, I feel a little uncomfortable from being shaken."
In fact, the first time he came in, he was rowing the boat and felt a little dizzy because of the tossing of the water. He wanted to come in and take a rest, but was driven out. He rowed for a while again, but now he really can't bear it anymore.
Liu Qiang had an expression as if he was about to vomit, and he said, "Fighting on the water is not easy. The Li family is still very powerful. No, no, I want to vomit." He ran out in three or two steps to vomit.
Naturally, Wang Yuansun also didn't see the displeasure on his face when he heard that the 'Li family' was taking their anger out on Li Ze.
But even if Liu Qiang saw it, he would misunderstand it.
For example, after Liu Qiang vomited, Wang Yuansun handed him some hot tea. Liu Qiang drank two sips and felt much better. He thanked Wang Yuansun and then, seeing that Wang Yuansun looked better, he brought up the topic he had just talked about: "Did Li Ze say something to offend you?"
He is not a fool. As soon as he went out, Wang Yuansun and Li Ze stayed together. After a while, Li Ze disappeared and Wang Yuansun became hysterical.
"We are real men. He looks like a kid, so we won't bother with him."
After Liu Qiang finished speaking, he felt that Wang Yuansun was still unhappy. After thinking for a while, he whispered, "Brother, we have known each other for a long time, and we love to learn from each other. We have similar personalities. If you can't play with him, just don't play with him. There is no need to make enemies. Anyway, he is a good student at first glance, so don't be angry."
Wang Yuansun originally wanted to praise Liu Qiang, but when he heard Liu Qiang say this, he looked at Liu Qiang and asked for some reason, "What if I am very bad?"
"Did you kill anyone and set fire to someone?" Liu Qiang asked.
Wang Yuansun shook his head, but he wanted to do it. He wanted to kill all his good "brothers" in the Qianzhong Palace and burn the palace to ashes...
"Forget it, you don't care about me anymore." Wang Yuansun regretted asking, and felt that he was being hypocritical. What else did he want? Was he really going to be a close friend of Liu Qiang?
Liu Qiang patted Wang Yuansun on the shoulder. The two brothers laughed and changed the subject: "The fat boy's boat is really fast. Our boat must be slow because there are too many people on it. I don't know when we can get there and have a meal. I'm hungry."
"If you don't row the boat, it will run faster." Wang Yuansun said.
"...Why are you saying the same thing as Your Highness? I am a fast learner and I am very strong." Halfway through boasting, Liu Qiang finally became honest, waved his hand and admitted defeat, saying: "But it's too crazy. If I learn to swim, I'm afraid I won't be able to gain an advantage next year." Li Ze comes from a naval family.
Wang Yuansun: "I can swim."
"Really? Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll depend on you next year."
"Yes." Wang Yuansun said, but felt it was not enough, so he added: "Next year when the weather gets hot, I will teach you."
Liu Qiang was immediately happy and agreed immediately.
Tables were set up on the second floor of Hanliang Palace, and fresh dishes had been served. Because it was cold, the steward of Hanliang Palace ordered pots from the imperial kitchen. There were eight people at a round table, and three stoves were set up on the table, with spicy, three-fresh, and hot and sour dishes.
Vegetarian dishes include cabbage, tofu, bean sprouts, bean curd skin, radish and other green leafy vegetables. There are many meat dishes, including mutton, beef and various seafood, fish fillets with bones removed, and shrimps that are as big as the palm of your hand after shelling...
There are eunuchs nearby who are responsible for cooking and serving the food to the young masters, and the food is all hot.
Many Fu boats were close to the shore and arrived at the first floor of the main hall early. They heard the general manager come to report that lunch was ready. They immediately looked at the general manager and praised him, "You are very thoughtful."
"Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness." The chief steward said hurriedly.
"There's no rush. Let's eat after everyone arrives." Xuanyufu said.
They were playing on the first floor. Li Ang and a few others were having a fishing competition and caught several fish. Li Ang caught one more fish, and Zhong Ziming was convinced. Xuan Fu saw that there were quite a lot of fish and wanted to eat grilled fish, so he asked the steward to send it to the imperial kitchen.
"Cut the fish in two, don't cut it in half, deep-fry it first, then grill it with less oil, add more chili and cumin..." Xuanyufu explained one by one, and asked the two if they wanted to eat any flavors. "You are the ones who caught the fish, and I will enjoy the feast with you, so don't be polite."
Zhong Ziming has been very well behaved since he was beaten. He said it was all right, and he would follow Your Highness. He also flattered Your Highness a little, saying that it was because of Your Highness that he was lucky enough to catch so many fish today.
"I want to eat garlic flavored ones," Li Ang said. He was afraid that his cousin would flatter him too much and Duoduofu would lose interest.
Xuanyuefu heard it and said, "Yes, yes, garlic flavor is also delicious, so let's order the Imperial Kitchen with half spicy cumin and half spicy garlic flavor. The spicy garlic flavor should have more roasted garlic and some peppercorns."
The chief steward wrote down everything, waved his hand and asked the eunuch to carry two buckets of fish and run to the imperial kitchen to pass on the message.
Afterwards, Li Ang said to his cousin: "Your Highness is a straightforward person. No matter what you ask, we can speak directly. Your Highness will be much happier."
Zhong Ziming was not stupid. He knew that his cousin was trying to show his goodwill, so he immediately said, "What if the frank words are not pleasant to hear? Or if His Highness does something, you can't just flatter him all the time. Someone has to advise him."
"...Brother Ziming, we are just out for fun today, there is nothing bad or big that requires us to speak out." His cousin used to be a rich and idle man, when did he become so ambitious, looking like he was going to pursue a career in politics and become an official.
Zhong Ziming: ...That makes sense.
The two chatted in private, and they were actually quite close. After all, they had been friends since childhood - they would visit each other during the New Year and other festivals. So Zhong Ziming wiped his sweat and whispered, "My father beat me up, and he kept telling me that the emperor opened the Chongming Palace just to select confidants for His Highness. This made me work so hard now, and I became more and more like the children of civil officials."
"Don't laugh at me. It's not just me. Look, everyone in the palace is like this."
Li Ang said seriously: "I don't laugh. I know, I am the same."
"Huh? I thought you would pretend - ahem, my dear cousin, I didn't mean it. I'm just used to being a bad mouth." Zhong Ziming said hurriedly.
Li Ang smiled when he heard this, not taking it to heart. His cousin was just spoiled. He said, "It's one thing to have lofty ambitions, but we are still young. We haven't reached the day of serving as officials yet. Now we just need to study and play with His Highness."
"That makes sense. You're right." Zhong Ziming and Li Ang became closer after talking. He smiled and said, "Brother, don't take it personally when I acted arrogantly in front of you. I apologize to you."
"No need, cousin, we are a family." Li Ang said hurriedly.
The two of them politely reconciled and then walked into the hall on the first floor.
His Highness was sitting and drinking tea, waiting for someone. On one side sat Yan Huaijin, and on the other side was Xu Lingguan. Li Ang thought of something, pulled his cousin's sleeve and whispered, "You can imagine Xu Lingguan's identity. His Highness treats Xu Lingguan kindly. Talk to your cousin and don't belittle and despise Xu Lingguan with rude words."
"?" Zhong Ziming was surprised and whispered, "If you hadn't told me, I would have thought it was an actor that Liu Qiang brought in to perform for us."
Li Ang knew what kind of drama Xu Lingguan had acted in before. Seeing his cousin's clear and stupid eyes, he obviously only knew that Xu Lingguan was an actor before, and didn't know anything else. So he said solemnly: "Listen to me, look at what Xu Lingguan's last name is now."
"My surname is Xu..." Zhong Ziming suddenly realized and bowed his hands in gratitude: "I understand. I will go find Ziqin now."
The two brothers, Earl Yongcheng and Earl Zhongyi, used to be close to each other. Zhong Ziming and Zhong Ziqin also had a good relationship. Especially after they returned home from the Emperor's birthday celebration and were beaten on the same day, their relationship became even better, as they shared the same suffering.
Zhong Ziqin had just gone for a boat trip on the lake and had not yet returned, so Zhong Ziming ran to the shore to wait for him.
Xuanyu Fu saw Li Ang coming over and asked, "What were you whispering about with Zhong Ziming?"
"Tell him not to spoil your fun." Li Ang replied.
Xuanyu Fu laughed and said, "I'm not a bully. It's okay if he just talks a lot."
Several people sat together drinking tea and waiting for someone. Manyu Fu was hungry and complained that Liu Qiang rowed too slowly and was doing more harm than good. As they were talking, they heard people talking and joking outside. Yan Huaijin said, "They are back. We can eat now."
When Xuanyuefu heard this, he immediately laughed and said, "My little classmate is just as hungry as I am."
In fact, Yan Huaijin was not hungry, but Xuanfu was greedy and hungry, and had been waiting for someone. At this time, Yan Huaijin did not refute that he was not hungry, but just happy.
When the others arrived on the first floor of the hall, they came bustling around with rice paper in their hands, saying with great interest that they had just written poems and painted pictures and asked His Royal Highness to comment on them.
Many blessings: ...
Everyone looked at him eagerly. Xu Xuanfu said, "Then I'll come and see." He invited everyone to play, so he wanted them to have fun.
The students were very excited when they heard this, and some even secretly regretted not doing anything just now.
The eunuch collected the paper and handed it to His Highness.
Xuanyun Fu received the poem and racked his brains to comment: "This poem is well-written and catchy." It should be rhymed.
The student who wrote the poem was very excited and bowed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your praise."
"This painting is also good. With just a few strokes, the reed marsh is very beautiful. The swan is also very lifelike..."
In short, everyone praised him, and Xuanfu was very happy to see that everyone’s faces were red with joy, because he had praised him enough!!!
"Let's go, everyone. Let's go upstairs to eat."
"Your Highness, please."
"Your Highness, please go first."
The elementary school students were the first to act like adults, and Xu Duofu walked in front first, and then everyone else filed up the stairs to the second floor.
The meal had already been prepared in the hall, and the charcoal stove was bubbling with aroma.
There was another round of courtesy - Xuanyu Fu didn't care, he had already asked everyone to sit down, but he still had to be courteous. He sat first and let Yan Jinjin sit next to him. Liu Qiang kept saying he was hungry, so he sat on the other side of Xuanyu Fu like a pig. They all sat at the same table.
Many people were wondering who was missing. "Where is Ling Guan?"
Seeing Xu Lingguan being squeezed to the last seat by the crowd, he stepped forward. Xuanyu Fu said, "Come and sit down, and eat together."
The lively chatter in the hall seemed to have been reduced by half in volume.
Xu Lingguan was of low status, and he knew he shouldn't sit down, but his master had told him to obey, so he bowed and went over. The people around His Highness had already sat down, and he hesitated -
"Come and sit here." Li Ze said with a smile, pointing to the seat next to him.
Xu Lingguan didn't know who this person was. Seeing the other party's kindness, he bowed and thanked him, then took a seat.
Manyu Fu took his seat first at the table. While others were being modest, Li Ze started chatting with Li Ang with a smile, and took the seat at the last seat at the crown prince's table. So the table included the crown prince, Yan Huaijin, Liu Qiang, Wang Yuansun, Li Ang, Zhou Quan, and Li Ze. Now with Xu Lingguan, the table was exactly full.
Zhong Ziming and Zhong Ziqin were talking when they were a step late, so they looked at each other and went to eat at other tables, muttering to each other: The newcomer is not polite and is a nice person. He even helped write poems on the second floor when we were boating on the lake just now, but he didn't take any credit for it.
"Everyone, eat now. Don't go hungry. The food will be almost done soon. Li Ang and Zhong Ziming have been fishing all morning, and we have grilled fish to eat." Xuan Duofu said, "Eat your chopsticks."
He came first!
The eunuch came forward to serve.
Soon the hall was bustling again, with eunuchs serving at every table. Manyu Fu liked to eat spicy hotpot, and he scooped the food himself with a serving chopstick, and gave some to Yan Jinjin after he finished scooping it. For a while, the whole place was filled with the sound of "how delicious it smells".
After eating half full, everyone slowed down their chopsticks and started chatting.
At this age, Duo Xinfu was not allowed to drink wine, but tea. Everyone was having a good time. From time to time, people from the tables next to him would look at the table where the prince was sitting, and offer him tea. Duo Xinfu said, "We are all classmates. There is no need to do this. Just enjoy yourselves and have fun."
So the few students who served tea were persuaded to go back.
Xuanfu doesn't want to socialize like adults. Even if others flatter him, he won't be happy and lets everyone do as they please.
"Just eating and drinking is too boring.", "If we want to drink, we can play drinking games.", "It's OK to use tea instead of wine."
Xuanyu Fu: ...Can't you do something that doesn't require much brainpower?
He looked at everyone at the table and said, "I don't want to play."
"I don't play this either." Liu Qiang followed closely.
The two illiterates left first.
Zhou Quan was eager to try it out, after all, it was fun, but the prince didn't play -
"If you want to play, play with your deskmate." Xuanyufu said with a smile.
Li Ang said, "Then let's play, and Your Highness will help us notarize it."
"Okay, okay, let's see who's being lazy." Xu Duofu was not interested in coming, and it would be boring to just eat. He immediately thought of a way to join in, and said in a naughty way: "My deskmate and I are a pair, how about we play together?"
Yan Huaijin said yes.
When Zhou Quan heard this, he immediately said, "Then Li Ang and I will go."
"Didn't you say you didn't want to play? Why did you start again?" Liu Qiang hesitated.
Xuanyu Fu found a backer in the god of learning, and now he looked at Liu Qiang triumphantly and said, "If you don't want to, just admit defeat and we'll play."
"Who said I give up? Brother--" Liu Qiang looked for Wang Yuansun, and Wang Yuansun nodded in agreement.
Li Ze smiled and said, "Then I will go with this brother Xu Lingguan."
So a tea game was played at the table. In order to cheat, Xu Fanfu simplified the rules and started with a single word. The others took turns to start with a four-character idiom. When Liu Qiang heard this, he straightened his back and felt that he had done it.
After playing a round, it was really easy. Even Xu Lingguan could follow along. In the second round, the difficulty was increased and they started to answer the verses. Xuanyunfu waved his hand and said, "I give up and I don't want to play anymore."
He was just in high spirits when he proposed it, but it became increasingly difficult. Ling Guan only let Li Ze answer, fearing that Ling Guan would feel embarrassed, he simply stopped playing. Anyway, he didn't have much interest and just ate.
Liu Qiang also withdrew upon hearing this.
Xu Lingguan also said that he would not stop playing.
The others at the table continued. When the grilled fish came up, Xuan Fu's eyes lit up. It was right not to play, but to eat. "Let's try all the fish that Li Ang caught."
"It smells so good. I don't want to play anymore." Li Ang swallowed and waved his hand to quit.
Now only Li Ze, Zhou Quan, Yan Huaijin and Wang Yuansun were left. Xuan Fu was eating fish while picking up meat for his little classmate. Seeing the situation, his little classmate was very calm and the difficulty was getting higher and higher. Finally, Zhou Quan waved his hand and left to eat the fish.
Only three people are left to play.
…
After a round, Li Zexian begged for mercy and said he would not play anymore. He was full from drinking tea and had no appetite for grilled fish. He made a joke and left. As soon as Li Ze left, Wang Yuansun also stopped playing.
Yan Huaijin turned his head to look at Duofu, his eyes bright and he said seriously: "We both won."
"?!" Xuanyu Fu burst into laughter. Thinking of what he just said, 'two people in a pair', he immediately raised his hand and high-fived his little classmate, "Hehe."
Yan Huaijin also laughed.
After a lively dinner, they played some games, such as pitching pots and spinning tops. Just when everyone was having fun, a fight broke out in the hall on the first floor - Xuan Fu Nahui and Liu Qiang and a few others were playing spinning tops outside.
Someone shouted, "Fighting has begun!"
When Manyu stopped, his spinning top almost fell into the pond. Liu Qiang subconsciously pulled it back, but just handed the rope to someone else and said, "You didn't even call me to fight, let's go and take a look."
“……”Liu Qiang loves to watch the fun even more than he does.
But now it was his banquet, who would be so brave to fight in a palace banquet? It was a bit unreasonable. Xuan Fu walked back and asked Wang Banban. Wang Yuanyuan had been guarding the prince and didn't know, "Don't worry, your highness, I'll go ask."
He has eyeliner.
Xuanyifu also entered the hall. Everyone stood in line and asked to kneel down and apologize when they saw him. After all, there was a fight at the palace banquet. Xuanyifu waved his hand first, "What's going on?"
Zhong Ziqin's legs were so weak from fear that he knelt there and said, "Your Highness, I didn't mean to do that. I really didn't mean to do that. I didn't do that..."
Li Ze said at this time: "I didn't stand firmly and fell down, it was not Master Zhong who pushed me." He said exactly: "When I just came in, I heard a few people saying that they thought Xu Lingguan was an actor invited by His Highness to perform a play during lunch, and they felt a little sorry that they didn't see it. Master Zhong said that Xu Lingguan was extraordinary and sat next to His Highness. I was originally advising everyone not to argue."
Someone knelt down with a thud.
His face was as white as paper, and his voice was trembling as he said, "Your Highness, I did say that. My words were rude, and I didn't mean that. I meant, I meant that Your Highness treated the actor Xu Lingguan well, and that you even fought with Gao Bin over Xu Lingguan. I felt a little unhappy that an actor was having fun with us, but I didn't mean anything else."
A few more people knelt on the ground and confessed their crimes. They didn't say anything dirty, but these young masters thought highly of themselves. They felt that a foreign actor ate and drank the same as them, and that the prince treated Xu Lingguan differently in every way. They were a little jealous and spoke frivolously.
It's not a big deal.
Xu Lingguan also knelt down.
Originally, this matter had nothing to do with Xu Lingguan. When the quarrel occurred, Xu Lingguan was playing with him outside with a spinning top. However, Xu Xuanfu did not call Xu Lingguan to stand up. Instead, he looked at the other kneeling classmates and said, "Xu Lingguan was born into an actor family. His father was from the Yi tribe, and his mother was from Dasheng. His birth and reincarnation were not something Xu Lingguan could control. You were just born into a good family and were born into a rich family. A good man does not care about his origin. If you have ambition and aspirations, you should study hard and earn a good future for yourself, so as to help Dasheng and your father solve problems. You rely on the protection of your ancestors, not your own ability."
"Okay, you guys get up. I won't pursue this matter today."
"What happened in the palace today," Manyu Fu said with a serious expression, looking at everyone, "is not allowed to be spread outside."
The chief eunuch hurriedly responded, and the other students all said yes.
When the students who confessed the crime heard this, they felt ashamed and moved. They thought that His Highness was magnanimous and understanding of them. If this matter were to be reported back to their families, they would probably be punished by the family rules.
Fighting at a palace banquet is extremely disrespectful.
"Everyone, get up." Xuanyifu said gently, looking at Xu Lingguan, "You come with me."
Xu Lingguan followed.
Xu Xuanfu walked outside the hall and comforted Xu Lingguan, "They are strangers to you. In this world, people are judged by their official rank, rank, and birth. That doesn't mean that one's character is noble."
"What I want to say is that they look down on you. You may meet such people again in the future. You must not believe them seriously. If you believe them, then you will have no future."
"They are them, and you are you. Your path may be more difficult than theirs. Xu Lingguan, don't lose your lofty ambition. You must have ambition."
Xu Lingguan's eyes flushed, "Master, I dare not forget."
"Yeah." Xuanyufu laughed and patted Xu Lingguan on the shoulder.
He turned his head and saw Wang Yuansun standing not far away.
?
Why was this person eavesdropping on their conversation? Never mind, there was nothing I couldn't listen to.
The author has something to say:
Your Highness Duozai: Small dispute, resolved!
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