Chapter 99 Master's Tuition Fees This year, the Emperor did not plan to hold the Imperial Festival in the garden...
This year, the Emperor didn't plan to spend the Golden Festival in the garden. At the end of September, he led a large entourage back to the Forbidden City. Cheng Qianyue didn't go with the main group. Because Hongchao and Moyaqi had been vaccinated less than a month ago, she was afraid the wind outside would hurt them, so she stayed in the garden with the children until the tenth day of the tenth month before returning home.
Before long, it was the Golden Festival, and there was another round of busy preparations, including attending banquets.
After finishing all that, Cheng Qianyue had only a few days of peace before she had to busy herself with moving Hongyan's house. This was because Yinreng had said that after Hongyan turned six years old this year (by the traditional Chinese age reckoning), he should go to the Imperial Study and could no longer live in her west front courtyard of Xiefang Palace.
"Will you move to the East Courtyard and live with Princes Hongxi and Hongjin?" Cheng Qianyue asked him at the time.
Yinreng replied, "I have already instructed people to clean up the east rear courtyard this month. That way, if Hongyan has any questions about his studies, it will be convenient for him to ask his two older brothers in the front."
He seemed quite worried that she wouldn't agree to Hongyan moving out, so he spoke gently and reasonably to her: "The child is all grown up now, he can't stay in the inner quarters all the time. Besides, it's not like he doesn't see you. He studies during the day, and he'll come back to pay his respects to you in the evening when he has some free time."
To be honest, Cheng Qianyue wasn't that reluctant to part with the child. After all, the child was going to be independent, and it was just moving out of the west front courtyard; they would still be living in Xiefang Palace. Besides, although the side gates of the two east courtyards were locked, and the eldest and second princes still lived in the front courtyard, making it inconvenient for her to go there, it was still easy to send someone to deliver soup or ask them a question.
So Cheng Qianyue nodded in agreement.
After the east backyard was almost tidied up, Cheng Qianyue got busy with this matter. Moreover, she was thinking that since Hongyan had moved out, she would take the opportunity to move Hongchao to the east wing of the small courtyard. After all, Hongchao and Moyaqi were getting old and could not live together in the west wing.
In fact, Cheng Qianyue had planned to move Hongchao to the east wing to live with Hongyan after the New Year. Now that the two brothers were moving, she decided to do it all at once.
So the west front courtyard has been bustling with activity lately. Hongyan's things need to be moved to the east back courtyard, Hongchao's belongings need to be moved to the east wing, and Moyaqi's west wing also needs to be rearranged. During the day, palace maids and eunuchs come and go, moving things around. After all this fuss, the children's rooms were finally tidied up before December.
Hongyan was overjoyed that he could move to a separate courtyard now that he was older. He couldn't wait to move to the east backyard as soon as it was tidied up, but he slunk back after only two days.
According to him, he felt too lonely living there. When he woke up in the morning, all the houses next door were empty, and his two older brothers in the front yard were nowhere to be seen either. It was all empty and devoid of any warmth.
What a joke! Both Princes Hongxi and Hongjin have to study in the Imperial Study. They leave before dawn every day and don't return until evening. It would be strange if the East Courtyard wasn't deserted.
Cheng Qianyue smiled and said, "Before the New Year, you will still live with your mother and sleep in the east wing with your younger brother. After the New Year, you can move to the east back courtyard, so that you can go to the study with your two older brothers every day."
After a pause, thinking that Hongyan liked lively places but had to live alone in the East Backyard, she added, "If you feel lonely over there, go visit your two older brothers in the front. In a couple of years, when Hongchao grows up, he will move to the East Backyard to live with you."
Although he had two older brothers, Hongyan's feelings for his brothers were different from his feelings for Hongchao, after all, Hongchao was born of the same mother. Thinking this, Hongyan patted Hongchao's head: "You must grow up quickly."
Before the New Year, Cheng Qianyue had another thought on her mind: had Hongyan's teacher been decided yet, and should she send some New Year's gifts to his teachers?
With this question in mind, she asked Yinreng.
Yinreng was stumped by her question as soon as he arrived at the west front courtyard: "Hongyan's teacher?" He wiped his face, put down the warm handkerchief, and thought for a moment: Hey, he'd been busy with things before the New Year and hadn't had time to think about this post-New Year matter. He immediately asked back, "Why are you asking this?"
Cheng Qianyue then said, "I was thinking that since it's almost the end of the year, if Hongyan's teacher has already made a decision, we should give their family some New Year's gifts."
Yinreng slowly smiled, but then suddenly sighed and said, "What you did was right." Then he began to tell Cheng Qianyue about the tutors of the princes and grandsons.
Generally, princes or grandsons of the emperor of similar age attended classes together, and there were several tutors. Those in charge of literature had three teachers: one for Chinese, one for Manchu, and one for Mongolian. Among them, the teacher for Chinese was the most respected and served as the chief tutor. Those in charge of martial arts were called Anda, and there were Buku Anda and Riding and Archery Anda, who taught them wrestling, horseback riding, and archery.
Cheng Qianyue thought to herself, "This is just like the various subject teachers in modern times. The Chinese language teacher is like the homeroom teacher."
Seeing that she was listening with great interest, Yinreng continued, "Literary instructors are selected from the best of the Hanlin Academy, while martial arts instructors are selected from the most skilled generals of the Eight Banners."
"Mmm," Cheng Qianyue nodded again, then asked with concern, "And then?"
Yinreng: ......
No, that's it?
Cheng Qianyue quickly realized what was going on: "Has the teachers not decided yet?" As soon as she finished speaking, she saw Yinreng's eyes crinkle into a smile. Cheng Qianyue immediately looked at him with resentment: What? If they haven't decided yet, they should just say so. You rambled on and on, but didn't get a single important piece of information.
Yinreng was amused by her little expression. No wonder she liked to tease children; it was quite amusing to see someone looking frustrated. After laughing, Yinreng said, "It's not decided yet. I'll mention it to the Emperor tomorrow. But even if I do, the Hanlin Academy and the Eight Banners Commander will still need to recommend candidates, and the Emperor will need to oversee the selection. It will probably be after the New Year before it's finalized."
"Okay," Cheng Qianyue thought, "since the person hasn't been decided yet, there's no rush to send a gift."
After the New Year, on the tenth day of the first lunar month, Yinreng returned and told her that the Emperor had appointed the teachers for this year's imperial grandsons. He rattled off a long list of names, such as who the teachers were for the Han, Manchu, and Mongol people, who the martial arts instructors were, what their backgrounds were, what their current positions were, and what remarkable people their ancestors had produced.
As Cheng Qianyue listened to him talk, she suddenly felt that a certain name sounded familiar, so she interrupted him and asked, "Is the professor of Chinese literature named Zhang Tingyu?"
Yinreng hummed in agreement, picked up his cup, and took a sip of tea. “He is Zhang Ying’s son. Zhang Ying was a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). He served as a compiler and recorder of the emperor’s daily activities in the Hanlin Academy. Later, he served as a scholar in the Imperial Study and the Southern Study. After that, he served as a minister and vice minister in the Six Ministries and concurrently as a Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall. Zhang Ying passed away two years ago, and his son Zhang Tingyu was in mourning. He only returned to the Hanlin Academy this year.”
He then sighed again: "Speaking of Zhang Ying, I must also call him teacher."
Cheng Qianyue was just stunned by the Zhang family's long resume. Look at them, this is truly a family of high status and wealth.
Yinreng suppressed his sigh and continued, "His Majesty's intention is that Hongyan and his cousins will enter the Imperial Study to study in February."
Cheng Qianyue nodded and said, "That's perfect. Since it's not yet the fifteenth, let's send the tuition fee down in the next couple of days as a Lantern Festival gift."
In fact, ever since she learned that Hongyan would have several teachers, Cheng Qianyue had been thinking about what to give them as gifts. For the teachers who taught literature, the Four Treasures of the Study would be a perfect gift. In addition, thinking that scholars would surely appreciate elegance, she also prepared fine tea sets and tea.
As for the martial arts master, to be honest, Cheng Qianyue initially didn't know what would be a suitable gift. Weapons? But she didn't have any. If she sent a eunuch out of the palace to buy them, daggers and the like might not be able to be brought back. Other items, like armor or bows and arrows, were even less of an option.
Later, Cheng Qianyue thought and thought, "Oh, I'll send medicinal herbs!" Lingzhi, deer antler, ginseng—these are all good for strengthening the body and can be combined with martial arts training. Of course, medicinal herbs alone are still too few. To avoid seeming to favor literature over martial arts, Cheng Qianyue decided to send two boxes of furs to each martial arts instructor. Anyway, she had plenty of furs—from her allowance, from what Yinreng gave her—she couldn't even use them all for making clothes for herself and her children.
After listening to her rambling on, Yinreng asked her, "When do you plan to send it, and how do you plan to send it?"
How to send it...hehe...
Cheng Qianyue grabbed Yinreng's sleeve and started swaying him left and right.
Yinreng originally wanted to suggest carrying these things to Yuqing Palace, as he had also prepared calligraphy, paintings, and weapons. However, seeing her coquettish manner, he didn't tell the truth. He enjoyed her coquettishness with a clear conscience and finally tapped her nose with a serious tone: "In my opinion, you're just a lazybones."
Cheng Qianyue chuckled, "It would be too much trouble for me to have the eunuchs deliver it. It's better for you to lend a hand with these kinds of things." Firstly, she doesn't have enough manpower, and secondly, so many things would require a carriage, and she would need to inform Master Hongyan's family in advance. These things are really too tedious.
Yinreng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Actually, I've already thought it through. Take the things you prepared to Yuqing Palace first, and I'll see if there's anything I can add." He paused and then added, "If you have any instructions, please let me know as well."
Cheng Qianyue thought for a moment, "There's not much to say, it's just that Hongyan is a bit unruly, I hope the masters can be patient with him."
Yinreng chuckled lightly: "They are teaching the grandson of the emperor, and Hongyan is a child from the Eastern Palace. They will do their best without you having to tell them." He even joked: "If they don't teach well and the emperor sees it, they might even be punished with a beating."
Cheng Qianyue didn't believe it at all. Even if one's status as a member of the royal family was noble, one still had to respect one's teacher and elders. "You're joking, Master." But looking at Yinreng's expression, Cheng Qianyue became unsure. The corners of her mouth slowly lowered as she said incredulously, "It can't be true, can it?"
Yinreng rubbed his forehead and told her an old story.
There was a man named Xu Yuanmeng who taught at the Imperial Study. At that time, the Emperor led the princes to practice archery at Yingtai. Unexpectedly, Xu Yuanmeng, as the princes' tutor, couldn't even draw the bow, which greatly angered the Emperor. Reprimanded by the Emperor, Xu Yuanmeng immediately defended himself, saying that he valued Han learning and was unfamiliar with martial arts, and was then punished.
"The Emperor was furious at the time, saying that he had disgraced the Eight Banners, and immediately ordered him to be flogged." Yinreng recalled the past with a furrowed brow: "The Emperor was not satisfied with just having him flogged, so he made me personally administer the flogging. After twenty lashes, Xu Yuanmeng had to kneel down to express his gratitude. The next day, I heard that Xu Yuanmeng had been dismissed from his post, and his family was also implicated and exiled to Heilongjiang."
Cheng Qianyue's eyes widened in surprise: "Xu Yuanmeng, that sounds like a Han Chinese name. It shouldn't matter if he doesn't know martial arts, right?"
Yinreng said, "His name is Xu Yuanmeng, but he is actually a Manchu, from the Shumulu clan of the Plain White Banner."
"It can't be that bad," Cheng Qianyue murmured. Just because she didn't know how to draw a bow, she got beaten—in front of all the students, by her own students—and after that, her family was exiled. That's just too tragic!
Yinreng didn't want to continue, as it would seem like he was criticizing the Emperor, so he cut the subject cleanly and decisively, "Alright, it's getting late, go to bed and rest."
Cheng Qianyue wanted to ask about what happened next, but after hearing what he said, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
After the two of them got ready and went to bed, Yinreng hugged her and stroked her back repeatedly. After a long while, he said softly, "Hongyan's study in the Imperial Study this time reminded me of my own childhood. There is a long-standing friendship between teachers and students. I'll take this opportunity to give some gifts to the teachers who taught me back then."
He thought that he was also at fault for what happened back then. Although he had pleaded for mercy at the time, he still chose to listen to the emperor when faced with the emperor and his teacher. Moreover, although he had given his teacher medicine and money afterward, the idea of being unrestrained by ethics and arrogant had taken root in his heart like a seed.
It must be said that in the years before his deposition, he was indeed excessively praised by the emperor, and he became too arrogant, taking everything for granted. But nothing in this world is taken for granted.
Cheng Qianyue looked up and saw Yinreng's calm face. She wondered if he was feeling guilty about the past. Actually, thinking about it, with a father like the Emperor, it was understandable that Yinreng had developed an arrogant personality. Even the most humble child, praised for twenty or thirty years, couldn't remain unchanged in his mindset.
However, it seems that Yinreng has been awakened by the beating. But is it too late for him to reflect now? But as the saying goes, whether or not someone forgives is another's business, whether or not one makes amends is one's own.
Cheng Qianyue sighed softly and replied, "Do whatever you want, Master."
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