Chapter 7 Punishment: If he is so negligent, what use is he to me...?
When they finally arrived at the Imperial Study, they found that the situation there was not good either. The other princes were alright, but the Ninth Prince, who was originally the most arrogant, now had a gloomy face and looked very unhappy.
Fu Mingzi understood after a moment's thought: with the Empress pregnant, the princes were naturally restless, especially the Ninth Prince. As the youngest and most favored prince in the palace, he now had another rival, so it would be strange if he were happy.
Zhou Xiaoyan was much calmer at this point. After greeting his brothers one by one, he returned to his seat. Fu Mingzi, as his tutor, naturally pretended not to see anything unusual and followed him to his seat.
As long as Zhou Xiaoyan isn't implicated, what does it matter to him if these princes fight like madmen?
Strangely enough, Scholar Duan didn't seem to be in high spirits today. He seemed somewhat distracted while lecturing, and after only half a class, he told them to review their lessons on their own. He then left the classroom and disappeared without a trace.
Fu Mingzi was a little curious, but he also knew that now was not the time to satisfy his curiosity. After thinking it over again and again, he decided to take this opportunity to catch up on his sleep. He was too excited about giving the ring last night, which made him not sleep well all night.
However, as soon as he lay down, Zhou Xiaoyan looked over, his brows furrowing slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but then hesitated.
Fu Mingzi felt embarrassed by his gaze and couldn't help but straighten up from her half-lying down position.
"What's wrong?" he asked in a low voice, sounding a little guilty.
Zhou Xiaoyan stared at him intently, his dark eyes brimming with emotions that Fu Mingzi couldn't decipher. After a long while, he finally said gently, "It's nothing."
Although Zhou Xiaoyan said it was nothing, Fu Mingzi felt that there was something hidden in his words, and couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, you can just say what's on your mind, it's alright."
Zhou Xiaoyan was stunned for a moment, not expecting that Fu Mingzi, who seemed so carefree, was actually quite perceptive.
"Although Scholar Duan has a proper character, he is very learned. I know you don't like being restrained, but reading more books will still be beneficial."
Zhou Xiaoyan's words were cryptic, but Fu Mingzi wasn't stupid and naturally understood. Suddenly, her thick skin, which was originally as thick as a city wall, started to feel hot.
Fu Mingzi was only seventeen or eighteen years old. Being exposed in front of the person he cared about made him feel extremely annoyed. He quickly lowered his head, buried his face in his book, and stammered, "This, this, of course I know. I just wanted to lie down and read." After saying that, he dared not look at Zhou Xiaoyan again.
Seeing his expression, Zhou Xiaoyan breathed a slight sigh of relief, and a hint of gentleness appeared in his eyes: "That's good then." After saying that, he continued reading.
Fu Mingzi buried herself in the book for a long time, finally lessening her embarrassment and anger, but she couldn't help but look at Zhou Xiaoyan through the book.
Seeing his eyes half-closed, looking very serious, his long eyelashes fluttering slightly, shattering the light and shadow and scattering it all over his lower eyelids, there was a kind of peaceful tranquility, which calmed Fu Mingzi's racing heart a little.
Just as Fu Mingzi was engrossed in reading, a eunuch suddenly announced from outside: "The Emperor has arrived."
Fu Mingzi was startled and subconsciously stood up to look at the door. The other princes in the study also stood up.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong..." Fu Mingzi couldn't help but look at Zhou Xiaoyan.
Now that Scholar Duan is not here, and the Emperor is coming at this time, Scholar Duan is probably in trouble.
Zhou Xiaoyan appeared quite calm, as if he had expected this, and simply said in a low voice, "Just act according to the situation."
Normally, a scholar might take a break in the front hall halfway through his lecture, which wouldn't be a big deal, and the prince wouldn't be disrespectful to the scholar for it. But now that the emperor is here and Scholar Duan is not here, if things don't go well, he might be scolded for not being diligent enough.
Fu Mingzi knew about this because it had happened before. When the Crown Prince and the other princes were studying, the former lecturer was dismissed in the same way.
The thought had barely crossed Fu Mingzi's mind when the emperor's bright yellow robes arrived at the door. Fu Mingzi, along with the princes and several attendants, respectfully bowed to the emperor.
"Rise, all of you." The emperor's voice was steady and amiable. "Alright, look at your younger brothers, are they quite diligent?"
The Crown Prince is here too? Fu Mingzi's heart skipped a beat. She raised her eyes and, sure enough, saw the Crown Prince's apricot-yellow hem behind the Emperor's bright yellow robe.
"He is indeed diligent, much better than I was back then." The Crown Prince's voice was gentle and soothing, like a spring breeze, but it lacked some of his majesty.
The emperor laughed: "They are far inferior to you."
Hearing this, the Ninth Prince was unwilling and pouted, saying, "Father underestimates me. Scholar Duan said that I have made great progress."
Upon hearing the Ninth Prince's words, the Emperor's tone softened considerably: "Very well, Father was mistaken. Ninth Prince has indeed made great progress. However..." The Emperor looked around, somewhat puzzled: "Where is Scholar Duan?"
Fu Mingzi's heart sank when she heard that the person had arrived.
He had recovered from his initial panic and quickly raised his head to look at the emperor and the crown prince.
The emperor looked to be in his forties or fifties, with a handsome appearance and an extraordinary demeanor. He wore a gentle smile on his face, completely lacking the majesty one would expect from an emperor.
The crown prince, on the other hand, had the appearance of a scholar, and his looks were seven-tenths similar to the emperor's, only more frail. He had a smile on his face, but the crown prince's smile was somewhat distant.
"Scholar Duan has finished today's lesson and left us to review on our own. I'm afraid he has to go out on business." Fourth Prince Zhou Xiaoheng saw that no one dared to respond. As the eldest prince here, he naturally had to answer, but he spoke in a safe and unassuming manner so as not to offend anyone.
Even so, the emperor's face darkened: "What could be so important that you could neglect your duties like this!"
These words silenced the entire study. Even the Ninth Prince, who had just dared to act coquettishly with the Emperor, dared not utter a word.
Fu Mingzi lowered his head, finally experiencing the majesty of the imperial family.
“Zhao Defu.” The emperor said with a stern face.
"Yes," the eunuch who had been standing behind the emperor replied in a low voice.
"Go and bring him back to me." The emperor's tone was extremely unfriendly.
"Yes." Zhao Defu dared not say more and withdrew after accepting the order.
The emperor slowly walked to the throne and sat down, his face grim as he looked at the book on the table. The book was filled with annotations, and only then did the emperor's expression soften.
At this moment, the Crown Prince finally spoke up: "Perhaps Scholar Duan has some urgent matter to attend to. Given Scholar Duan's character, he should not be capable of abandoning his post."
The emperor's expression softened slightly as he glanced at the crown prince: "Your Highness is kind and benevolent, but you must understand that if it were just a moment, it would be fine, but he has been gone for so long, which means he has neglected his duty. I brought him into the palace to instruct the prince, but if he is so derelict in his duties, what use is he to me?"
The prince nodded and dared not speak further.
Seeing that the Crown Prince had been rebuffed, none of the princes dared to speak, and they all shut up and pretended that they were not there.
An awkward silence fell over the room; apart from the emperor lightly tapping the table, there was no other sound.
After an unknown amount of time, the sound of running finally came from outside. Scholar Duan, panting, followed the chief eunuch Zhao Defu into the room. When he saw the emperor sitting in the main seat, Scholar Duan turned pale and immediately knelt down outside the threshold of the study.
"Your Majesty, I am late."
The emperor stared coldly at Scholar Duan, his voice filled with anger: "Where have you been!"
Scholar Duan was pale and said in a low voice, "Your humble servant has gone to the Wenyuan Pavilion."
The so-called Wenyuan Pavilion was the royal library, and as a Grand Secretary, Duan Xueshi was naturally qualified to enter.
The emperor glanced at Zhao Defu, who hurriedly bowed and said, "This servant did indeed find Scholar Duan in the Wenyuan Pavilion."
"Wenyuan Pavilion." The emperor sneered, "What important book is it that requires you to go to Wenyuan Pavilion to read halfway through a lesson for the prince?"
"Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered a story, but I couldn't recall where it came from. So I took it upon myself to go to the Wenyuan Pavilion to inquire about it. I have neglected my duties and beg Your Majesty to punish me."
The emperor glanced at Zhao Defu again. Zhao Defu remained calm and said in a deep voice, "This servant saw Scholar Duan at the very back of the second row of bookshelves on the second floor of Wenyuan Pavilion."
"The second row of bookshelves on the second floor," the emperor murmured. "If I remember correctly, those books are all about the Book of Rites."
"What are you studying now?" the emperor asked Zhou Xiaoheng, who was closest to him, casually.
Zhou Xiaoheng hesitated for a moment, but answered decisively: "I am currently studying Mencius."
The emperor chuckled and looked meaningfully at Scholar Duan: "How interesting. I remember that you are a master of the Spring and Autumn Annals. Now the princes are still studying Mencius. How come you have suddenly become interested in the Book of Rites?"
Duan Xueshi remained silent, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.
The emperor's gaze grew increasingly cold as he looked at him. After a long while, he said, "Duan Yao has neglected his duties. He shall be punished with three months' imprisonment and stripped of his title of Grand Secretary, but shall still be retained in the Imperial Study as a warning for the future."
Duan Xueshi's body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.
"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude." His voice was dry.
The emperor said nothing more, then got up and left.
The crown prince lowered his eyes and followed behind.
It wasn't until the emperor and the crown prince had left that Scholar Duan—no, now we should say Lecturer Duan—finally managed to get up from the ground.
He looked pale and seemed several years older.
Several princes and attendants stood inside the door, staring intently at him. Duan Shijiang probably felt somewhat embarrassed, and his face paled even more.
"You guys go ahead and read your books," he said wearily, waving his hand.
"Yes." The princes didn't say much, but still treated him with great respect.
Fu Mingzi watched as Duan Shijiang sat down, absentmindedly reading his book. His expression changed several times, showing both shame and anger, as well as self-reproach. In his heart, he wondered what the emperor meant by his move today.
The emperor suddenly arrived shortly after Scholar Duan left. Fu Mingzi couldn't believe it was a coincidence. If one believed in coincidences in the palace, one might not even know how one died.
But who could possibly have a grudge against Scholar Duan? A scholar who only knows how to read and do research, who could he possibly have a grudge against?
Furthermore, what exactly was Scholar Duan looking for when he went to the Wenyuan Pavilion to search for books related to the Book of Rites? And for whom was he searching?
Thinking of this, Fu Mingzi couldn't help but glance at Zhou Xiaoyan to see his reaction, but he remained calm and composed. Fu Mingzi frowned slightly. Was he really indifferent, or had he already seen through this farce?
Fu Mingzi felt that she couldn't quite understand this fifth prince either.
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