Just after Hongchen finished his breakfast, Kangxi sent someone to find him and asked him to come over.
Hongchen guessed what it was; it must be the tutor that Kangxi had found for him.
Hongchen didn't delay. Although he didn't like the teachers that Kangxi had found for him, as they were rigid and inflexible, he still changed his clothes and went over immediately.
Hongchen had just arrived at the door when he heard Kangxi's laughter, and then he went in, saying, "Grandson greets His Majesty!"
"Hongchen, come here!" Kangxi beckoned to Hongchen.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Hongchen came before Kangxi.
"This is the teacher I found for you, Li Guangdi. He is very knowledgeable, so you must study diligently under his tutelage!"
“Yes, grandson understands!” Hongchen replied.
Hongchen turned and bowed to Li Guangdi, "Hongchen greets you, sir!"
"Greetings, Your Highness!" Li Guangdi quickly stood up. Although the Emperor Emeritus had asked him to teach Hongchen, he dared not presume to be a teacher.
He also realized the Emperor Emeritus's high regard for Hongchen. The only prince the Emperor Emeritus could personally teach was the current emperor, and the only grandson the Emperor Emeritus could keep by his side was the one in front of him. If nothing unexpected happened, the Emperor Emeritus was cultivating a crown prince for the Qing Dynasty.
Hongchen then took a closer look at his teacher, and to his surprise, he realized he knew him. "Old sir," he said, "I helped you back then, and now you want me to study? Isn't that repaying kindness with enmity?"
Li Guangdi never expected Hongchen's ideas to be so unconventional. How could someone hate reading so much? This is the crown prince of the Qing Dynasty, can this really work?
Li Guangdi glanced at Kangxi, who was leisurely taking a sip of tea.
"Don't be fooled by his appearance. He just doesn't like studying much, but he won't be perfunctory when it comes to what he should study!" Kangxi said, as Hongchen's words could easily be misunderstood.
"Your subject understands!" Li Guangdi said, also believing that Kangxi's judgment of people was not bad.
"Have you met Hongchen before?" Kangxi asked Hongchen.
"Grandfather, yesterday when I went hunting, I encountered a man whose carriage had broken down, so I helped him out. I never imagined it was this gentleman." Hongchen was quite regretful. [If he had known it was the Grandfather who had hired him, he should have just dismantled the carriage!]
"It seems you two are quite destined to meet!" Kangxi said with a smile.
[It's not fate, it's grudge!] Hongchen muttered to himself, pursing his lips.
"Thank you for what happened yesterday, First Prince!" Li Guangdi said to Hongchen.
"Sir, shouldn't scholars repay even the smallest kindness with the greatest gratitude? Considering I helped you yesterday, could I please not do my homework anymore?" Hongchen asked tentatively. It wasn't that he disliked studying, but rather that he hated doing homework!
"You jest, Your Highness!"
"Hongchen, do you know how many people want to become Li Guangdi's disciples? You are considered his last disciple!"
"Grandfather, I feel that I cannot close this door properly. Why don't you ask the teacher to choose another one and close it again? Make sure the door is closed securely so that it doesn't affect anyone else!"
"I think you're quite suitable, so don't refuse!" Kangxi said directly, giving Hongchen no more chances to argue.
"Grandson knows!" Hongchen said reluctantly.
"Your Majesty, Aunt Rendong has arrived!" Qingdai said to Hexue as she walked in.
"Let her in!" He Xue said.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Empress!" Ren Dong greeted as she entered.
"Aunt, there's no need for such formalities, please have a seat!"
"Your Majesty, this is the list of candidates for the imperial concubine selection that the Imperial Noble Consort has sent to you. Please take a look!" Ren Dong handed the list to Qing Dai.
Qingdai took it and handed it to Hexue.
He Xue opened the roster and saw that everyone there was someone she'd heard of; it seemed this talent show was going to be quite a spectacle.
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