After Prime Minister Wan Nian announced that Li Ting was Hu Changshi, all the students in the capital wanted to visit Li Ting.
Li Ting declined.
However, he pointed out a clear path: Tingquan Villa regularly holds literary gatherings, and he will be present to exchange ideas and have discussions with the students!
Although Tingquan Manor was jointly funded and operated by the Li and Xu families, it always obeyed the orders of each successive manor lord.
The reason why Li Ting was able to arrange the literary gathering so perfectly this time is because he helped Luo Nanchuan solve his urgent problem.
Luo Nanchuan's son, Luo Bingqian, has now become the Crown Prince's study companion.
On the day that Li Ruizhang brought the Crown Prince to Tingquan Villa for a lesson, the two children, who were about the same age, met together.
At the time, neither of them knew the other's identity. Luo Bingqian only felt that the little boy had a unique temperament, neither arrogant nor timid, and also possessed a compassionate heart.
His speech revealed his thirst for knowledge.
Luo Bingqian likes this kind of playmate.
Xiao Sheng had no idea that the boy sitting next to him, listening to the lecture and slightly older than him, was Luo Bingqian, whom he had asked his father for but failed to get.
The development of friendship also depends on the right time, place, and people.
On the very day they met, the seed of friendship was planted. As they talked, the seed sprouted.
During recess, the two little boys chatted together.
"I have something troubling me lately and I'd like to ask my peers for their opinions," Luo Bingqian said, resting his head on his hand and sighing on the stone table.
"Tell me about it." Xiao Sheng was immediately captivated by Luo Bingqian's aura upon first meeting him.
Luo Bingqian possesses a very comfortable temperament, which requires the accumulation of several generations; otherwise, it would be impossible to cultivate such a clear and scholarly air.
“There’s a high-ranking official who wants me to be his son’s study companion, but my father is unwilling, and so am I. But my father says that official has too much power, and although our family has been scholars for generations, we have never pursued an official career. So, we can’t resist those high-ranking officials. If you were in that situation, what would you do?” Luo Bingqian knew that the emperor had taken a liking to him and wanted him to be the second prince’s study companion.
But he didn't tell Xiao Shengming.
Xiao Sheng pondered for a moment and replied, "What is the character of that high-ranking official? If he is a good official who serves the country and its people, then there's nothing wrong with him being his son's study companion, right? If he is a bad official, then we must definitely refuse. For scholars, integrity is the most important thing!"
"Hmm, your analysis based on the merits and demerits of officials is quite novel. Continue, do you have any other opinions?"
"You also need to consider yourself. Will doing this help you and your family?" Xiao Sheng thought for a moment and then replied.
"It won't help me at all. In fact, if I become a study companion, you won't see my name anywhere in Nanchen Kingdom anymore. I don't want that. I want to be like General Li, able to lead troops into battle and devise strategies!" Luo Bingqian's eyes shone brightly as he said the last sentence, and he even gestured with his hands and feet.
Xiao Sheng was inspired when he saw the vibrant Luo Bingqian!
"Yes, we should all do what we love, and not do things that make us feel restricted or miserable. Making the right choices is very important, right?"
"Yes! I really liked what you said today. I'd like to be friends with you, is that alright?"
"Sure, I don't have many friends anyway."
“Aren’t those brothers from the Li family your friends? I see you came with them today.”
"Not yet, but I believe it will be in the future."
"Let's pinky swear and become best friends!"
After saying that, she hooked her little fingers together.
Luo Bingqian hummed a nursery rhyme: "Pinky promise, a hundred years of vows, never to be broken, whoever breaks it is a little bastard!"
After they finished, the two looked at each other and smiled.
Luo Bingqian stood up straight and formally announced his name to Xiao Sheng.
"I'm Luo Bingqian, and from now on we're good friends! What's your name?"
When Xiao Sheng heard this name, he was at a loss for words for a few seconds.
This was a study companion I had begged my father for, but to no avail. Yet today, I earned this friendship through my sincerity.
So Xiao Sheng also stood up, dusted himself off, and answered solemnly:
"I am Xiao Sheng. From now on, we will share both hardships and joys!"
"Xiao Sheng, are you the Crown Prince? So the rumors really weren't true. You're not some good-for-nothing Crown Prince at all, you are clearly, just like Father always said, a dragon among men!"
At this moment, Luo Bingqian became even more determined to become friends with Xiao Sheng.
Luo Nanchuan and Li Ting watched the friendship between the two boys from a short distance away, and thought of their own childhood.
The two men, both in their late thirties and late forties, created an opportunity for Xiao Sheng and made Luo Bingqian sweat with worry.
Fortunately, Xiao Sheng made it so that Luo Bingqian chose to become his friend.
This word "friend" signifies a lifetime of shared joys and sorrows, weathering storms together.
Luo Nanchuan was extremely grateful.
"Brother Li, thank you very much for today." Luo Nanchuan bowed to Li Ting in thanks.
“Why are we being so polite? I don’t understand why you disagree with Bingqian becoming the Second Prince’s study companion. Your family hasn’t had an official for generations, so what’s one more generation?” Li Ting looked at Luo Nanchuan seriously.
"Wei Xuanji cast a divination for Bingqian."
"Didn't you say you didn't believe in mystical secrets? Why are you resorting to divination?"
"That was...that was..."
"You're so stubborn! What divination did you do?" Li Ting retorted.
"It is said that Bingqian has two paths to take in his life, but the choice is not in Bingqian's hands, but in the hands of the benefactor. Whichever comes first will determine Bingqian's fate."
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