Chapter 119 The entire exam paper was basically covered in crosses.
This wasn't Sheng Sheng's first time eating at Jingyuexuan, but it was the first time for Lao Mao and Lao Yu.
Afu nodded and casually asked, in order to prepare enough ingredients: "Hey, are you all eating at Jingyuexuan for lunch?"
The old cat replied, "Yes, we're probably still busy with a big clean-up in the palace, so there's nowhere for us to eat when we get back."
"Thank you for your help, brother. I'll be your assistant."
"It's not a big deal." Afu waved his hand and thought for a moment. "But this does remind me that the New Year is coming soon, and we should tidy up. But Yuqing Palace is starting to tidy up so early, there's still half a month left."
It's normal to do a thorough cleaning before the Lunar New Year to get rid of the old and welcome the new.
Old Cat and Old Fish exchanged a glance, then, remembering the reason for the grand cleaning of each palace, suppressed their laughter and remained silent.
Zijuan figured it wasn't a secret, so she erased the parts related to Shengsheng and only told Afu what had happened in Kunning Palace that morning.
Ah Fu was indeed shocked when he heard this, and immediately said that he would start cleaning the house after dinner.
Zijuan covered her mouth and smiled, promising to send him any extra insect repellent powder that Yuqing Palace had.
Just then, the two young masters that everyone had been eagerly awaiting finally returned to the front yard.
Pei Ji went to wash her hands, and Sheng Sheng came bouncing over. A Fu quickly poured her a cup of tea.
He thanked her repeatedly and took the drink, sipping it slowly.
Afu observed his young master's expression from afar and asked, "Princess, what's wrong with my young master?"
"Um?"
Afu whispered to her, "Princess, you don't know, our young master seems easy to talk to, but when he gets stubborn, no one can persuade him! If it weren't for you coming today, I reckon he could have been working all day in the back."
Sheng Sheng sipped her tea, glanced at Pei Ji who was carefully washing the dust off his fingers, and thought about their conversation earlier.
Pei Ji eventually accepted her kindness.
Although Afu knew some martial arts, he felt that Pei Ji could definitely improve his physique. However, Pei Ji certainly didn't just want to improve his physique; he wanted to learn martial arts. Old Cat and Old Fish had been on the battlefield and were indeed more suitable than Afu.
The main reason was that Pei Ji didn't want to attract attention, and given his special status, he couldn't find anyone else to teach him.
Zhui Feng was her bodyguard. If Xie Yunchuan found out that she had Zhui Feng teach Pei Ji martial arts, Xie Yunchuan's heart would probably break.
Sheng Sheng chuckled, didn't reply to Afu, and turned to discuss the matter with Lao Mao and Lao Yu.
Old Cat and Old Fish were somewhat surprised, but since it was Sheng Sheng's order, they naturally wouldn't disobey.
They were all elite soldiers on the battlefield, and they could teach Pei Ji. Even if they didn't teach him perfectly, they could at least teach him to protect himself in critical moments.
Afu asked in confusion, "Young Master, why do you suddenly want to learn martial arts? We're all safe and sound here; surely no one would want to harm us!"
He sighed, both amused and exasperated.
Pei Ji had always been well aware that the State of Song had treated him as a pawn, and yesterday's events had completely extinguished his expectations of the State of Song.
Pei Ji understood that if he couldn't survive on his own, even if he managed to return home safely seven years later, endless darkness awaited him.
Such a simple truth, yet Afu acts like a naive fool.
Pei Ji glanced at him, too lazy to pay him any attention, and bowed to Old Cat and Old Fish: "Thank you both. I am not very talented and need your guidance in many ways."
Old Cat and Old Fish hurriedly waved their hands: "Princess's friend, we will do our best."
Pei Ji chuckled and bowed again.
Sheng Sheng looked at him quietly, and Pei Ji's smile showed a hint of relief, as well as a firm determination to start over.
The sound inexplicably reminded me of the fish swimming freely in South Lake.
The world in the water is a stage for fish to roam freely.
Little fish, little fish, swim quickly, free in all directions.
*
The old cat and the old fish are Sheng Sheng's protectors, so it's not good that they're not by Sheng Sheng's side.
However, Pei Ji started learning from scratch, and now he needs to build a solid foundation, so he doesn't need two people watching over him anymore.
Sheng Sheng then instructed them to send a different person to Jingyue Pavilion each day.
After having lunch at Jingyue Pavilion and returning to the palace, I found that the palace was still bustling with the work of cleaning.
When Huang Ying saw Sheng Sheng return, she hurriedly told her that while she was away, a palace maid from Xie Yunjia's side came over and said that Consort Xia had agreed to let Xie Yunjia go to Yunshan Farm with them the day after tomorrow.
"Huh?"
Sheng Sheng was not entirely surprised. Consort Xia had always been very strict with Xie Yunjia, so why would she agree to let her go on an outing outside the palace?
Moreover, Xie Yunjia originally said she would reply to her tomorrow, but unexpectedly she sent a message in just one noon.
Although she didn't know how Cai Fu had agreed, she was overjoyed that her elder sister could finally go out and play with them.
My elder sister is here too, along with my second and fifth elder brothers and the Crown Prince. How could my fourth elder brother be missing?
Sheng Sheng immediately made a decision to go to Liuyun Pavilion to find Xie Yunwen and invite him to go on an outing as well.
Xiao Bai wanted to take a nap after lunch, so she didn't go with her and lazily went into Sheng Sheng's room to sleep by herself.
Liuyun Pavilion wasn't too far away. Sheng Sheng strolled over, and by then, her lunch had almost been digested.
This was Sheng Sheng's first time visiting Liuyun Pavilion. When the eunuch guarding the door saw her, he quickly bowed and went inside to announce her arrival.
Sheng Sheng obediently stood at the door and waited, but before she knew it, Xiao Quanzi arrived first.
Xiao Quanzi greeted her warmly and asked repeatedly, "Xiao Quanzi, what are you doing here?"
Xiao Quanzi saw her as if she were his savior and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, our Prince is inside too. I stopped the eunuch who was announcing the arrival and asked him before I found out that it was Your Highness. So I came over to pay my respects to Your Highness."
"Oh, oh." Sheng Sheng nodded, noticing his flustered expression. He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief upon seeing her, and then asked, "What happened? Did Fifth Brother and Fourth Brother get into a fight?"
Xiao Quanzi clapped his hands: "Oh, how could that be? His Highness the Fourth Prince is refined and gentle, how could he possibly hold a grudge against our Prince?"
"What happened?"
Xiao Quanzi covered his face with his hand and whispered, "His Majesty is inside too!"
"Oh? Father is here too?"
No wonder the palace maids sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard were so trembling with fear; it turns out the Emperor has arrived.
That's strange, why are there so many people gathered together today?
Sheng Sheng remembered that among the concubines who came to pay their respects and plead illness at Kunning Palace this morning, Consort Liang was one of them.
It's one thing for Xie Yuxiao to come to Liuyun Pavilion, but why did he bring Xie Yunqi with him?
Just as Sheng Sheng was completely bewildered, the messenger eunuch ran back and announced, "Second Princess, His Majesty requests your presence."
Sheng Sheng followed Xiao Quanzi inside, and Xiao Quanzi quietly explained the situation to her as they walked.
“Your Highness, as you know, after His Majesty finished the morning court session today, Grand Tutor Liu of the Wenhua Hall presented the completed examination papers to His Majesty for review. Excluding the Prince of Yong's Heir, there were a total of twenty-eight people in the Wenhua Hall, and twenty-eight examination papers. Only Your Highness's paper had hardly any circles or checkmarks. The entire paper was basically covered in crosses!”
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