The Imperial Study was where princes and princesses studied before they came of age. In addition to the princes and princesses, there were also their study companions and children of high-ranking members of the royal family.
Once the princes reached adulthood and were learned, they entered the Imperial Academy, while the princesses and noblewomen were also nearing the age of marriage.
Therefore, the Imperial Study was rarely noticed.
Huo Baichuan's sudden arrival truly surprised the princes and princesses who were coming to class one after another. They couldn't discern his expression, but they felt that he was more dazzling than the rising sun.
He always wore a simple white robe with bamboo motifs, a dry blade of grass stuck in his jade belt, and had no folding fan or extra jade pendants. His entire outfit was shockingly simple.
Her long, glossy black hair hung casually down her back, like an artist's ink wash painting, as she walked with unhurried steps.
It has its own unique style, which is far beyond what others can match.
"It is my great honor to be Lord Huo's opponent." Standing next to Huo Baichuan was Grand Tutor Wen Yan. He was not from a prominent family. Like Luo Hu, he came from an ordinary background, but he was well-known and very learned.
Of course, he cannot be compared to Luo Hu. The reason he was able to come to the palace as a teacher and enlighten the princes and princesses was simply because no virtuous and upright scholar was willing to enter the palace to teach the princes and princesses. Emperor Mingde had no choice but to lower the threshold so that he was qualified.
After all, renowned scholars and Confucian masters select students based on their aptitude, which is why neither Zhao Shu nor the Crown Prince ever went to the Imperial Study.
Many princes and princesses of high status and powerful foreign tribes would not come to the Imperial Study to study; they would only come occasionally as a formality.
Huo Baichuan casually sat on the stone bench, placed his hand on the stone table, and looked at Wen Yan with indifference. He saw that Wen Yan had delicate features, was very thin and frail, and looked as if he could be blown away by a gust of wind. The playfulness in his eyes became more intense.
"You?" He was so casual that Wen Yan felt insulted, and a hint of anger rose on her face.
However, most scholars are thin-skinned by nature, and even if they are looked down upon, they will only pretend to be more aloof.
Seeing his feigned aloofness, Huo Baichuan lost interest. "If you want to be my opponent, you probably won't have the chance in this lifetime. Go back and tell your master's master that even if he loses, he won't be ashamed to be my opponent."
He looked at Wen Yan with a half-smile, as if he were looking at someone else entirely. "Aren't you leaving?"
Wen Yan straightened up, dropped her feigned arrogance, forced a smile, raised her hand to bow to Huo Baichuan, and flicked her wide sleeves. "As expected, nothing can be hidden from Lord Huo. In that case, I shall take my leave."
Huo Baichuan waved his hand, squinting his eyes indifferently, as if the morning sun was too bright for him to open.
However, from Wen Yan's perspective, it was the peak of his contempt for him. He was furious, but there was nothing he could do about it. He cupped his hands, leaped up, stepped on the holly bushes, and went up to the palace eaves. He disappeared from the study in no time.
"Young master, are we just going to let him go like this?" Little Fatty asked anxiously. Just now, Grand Tutor Wen was clearly very skilled, and he wasn't confident that he could defeat him within ten moves.
Huo Baichuan glanced at the princes and princesses hiding behind the palace maids and eunuchs. They were all unfavored, born to mothers of low status, and without outside support. They were precious illegitimate children struggling to make a living in the palace. Their faces were panicked, and they had no royal aura whatsoever.
"He's not my enemy, why would I kill him?" If you're going to be a messenger, you need to find someone capable, otherwise how can this game be played?
Little Fatty knew that his young master had fallen into his old habit again. It was like playing chess; he had to let the opponent completely surround him before making a move, as if he wouldn't appear wise and clever if he didn't create some obstacles for himself.
"Lord Huo, His Majesty requests your presence." Liang Yunsi ran over, his face damp with sweat from the rush. He glanced around and, sure enough, didn't see Wen Yan. Understanding dawned on him, and he quickly stood a few feet away, speaking respectfully.
Huo Baichuan nodded, "Yes." He didn't say anything more, stood up, and left the study.
Liang Yun followed cautiously behind. Although he was Emperor Mingde's trusted eunuch and the chief eunuch of the palace, and even the concubines had to give him some face, he dared not do so in front of Huo Baichuan.
Huo Baichuan, standing before Liang Yunsi, moved at a leisurely pace, his expression serene, as if strolling along a path. He was a chess player, so arrogant that he considered the world as his chessboard, something Liang Yunsi could not comprehend.
Turning past the covered walkway, one could see the Hall of Supreme Harmony standing far ahead, with many court officials waiting in front of it for Emperor Mingde to grant them an audience.
Emperor Mingde was unwell and had cancelled the morning court session. Yang Zhong arrived late today, his expression extremely cold. His followers behind him also looked displeased. Upon seeing Huo Baichuan, Yang Zhong stopped and said coldly, "I hope the Huo family is invincible and all Huo family members are innocent."
Huo Baichuan smiled, pulled a licorice root from his waist, put it in his mouth, and hummed a folk song: Which family doesn't have scoundrels? The Huo family certainly has its share, but so what? Would he care?
They strolled slowly past Yang Zhong, as if he didn't exist.
Yang Zhong was furious, his hand trembling as he pointed at Huo Baichuan, "Huo, you scoundrel, don't be so arrogant! I'm not afraid of you!"
"The gain or loss of a city or a battleground means nothing to me. Whether you are afraid of me or not means nothing to me either. Why does Lord Yang need to compete with me? Your vision is too narrow. To be frank, I, Huo, have never regarded you as an opponent." After he finished speaking, he continued walking forward leisurely.
Yang Zhong was so angry that his veins were bulging. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something but couldn't. He rolled his eyes and fainted.
His disciples and followers hurriedly helped him up, among them Lu Yuan pointed at Huo Baichuan's back and angrily rebuked him: "Disrespectful to elders, and utterly disrespectful to colleagues, today I have finally witnessed the demeanor of the Huo family's son!"
Huo Baichuan turned around and looked at Lu Yuan, the former third-rank Zhongshu Shilang, now the second-rank Zhongshu Ling. He only glanced at him and did not say anything. He just looked at him intently, without much emotion or even anger. He still seemed indifferent.
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