Chapter 411 They're all very competitive.
"Will teachers also be transferred from the academies in the capital?"
“That’s how it started. After three years, when the academies in Yangzhou are fully established, we won’t need to send teachers from the capital anymore.”
Daiyu seemed lost in thought.
"Granny, doesn't that mean the academies in Yangzhou will have no connection with the capital after three years?"
“There are many twists and turns in the process, and it won’t happen overnight. You should study hard, and when you are fifteen or sixteen, if you like, you can manage an academy. What do you think?” Yuan Hongqu had great faith in Daiyu’s abilities.
"Me?" Daiyu asked incredulously, then waved her hand.
"No way! I'm too lazy. Managing a girls' academy in the capital like Mr. Mi would age me by more than five years and leave me with endless worries every day. I'd never do that!"
"It's up to you, but I'd also like to ask for your help in next year's imperial examinations. Many officials in the court oppose opening more girls' academies, but if your performance in next year's examinations is outstanding..."
After considering it for a moment, Yuan Hongqu decided to tell Daiyu about what she had discussed with the Empress that day.
Daiyu nodded after hearing this and said,
"Granny, I understand. I never intended to show any mercy to those people from the Imperial Academy. They were too arrogant. They deserved to be taught a lesson and have their arrogance crushed!"
Seeing Daiyu waving her little fists, showing great determination, Yuan Hongqu couldn't help but find it amusing. She thought to herself: If we're talking about arrogance, who in the whole capital can compare to you?
However, this was also a consequence of Yuan Hongqu's own indulgence.
The next day, Yuan Hongqu had just arrived on the boat ahead when she was stopped by the Tenth Prince.
“Lord Yuan, I’ve thought it through. Although Lan Su said I’m not qualified to become her disciple, why don’t I become your disciple instead? I heard that Princess Lin’s martial arts skills were initially taught by you, which is why she has such a good foundation. I will follow you to learn from you and strive to become Lan Su’s disciple as soon as possible.”
Yuan Hongqu was stopped by this guy again this morning, and her mood immediately soured.
"I only know the Eight Pieces of Brocade, which is for strengthening the body and is not considered kung fu."
The Tenth Prince looked incredulous.
"Lord Yuan, yesterday you taught me the secrets to practicing swordsmanship. I feel that after a day of practice, I've grasped a bit of the trick. Yesterday, I drank some water after I got thirsty from practicing, and when my mouth was still watery, I didn't cry when I chopped onions..."
"Then I felt that my breath-holding skills had improved a lot. Is this practicing internal energy? Because I am dull-witted, Master Yuan wants to use this method to train me."
The Tenth Prince's innocent big eyes were full of sincerity and curiosity. Yuan Hongqu originally thought she could just fool him, but seeing that the Tenth Prince's eyes were still a little red even after a night, Yuan Hongqu felt a little guilty.
We still haven't finished eating those onions from yesterday. In this kind of weather, chopped onions left overnight are probably inedible. Today, the imperial kitchen will probably throw them away as kitchen waste.
Then we can't use food to help him practice today.
Yuan Hongqu thought for a moment,
"Here's what we'll do. If you're sure you want to pursue martial arts, go find Lord Li, the commander of the Imperial Guards under your brother's command, today. His skills are quite good, and he's suitable to teach you. Go and learn some external martial arts from him first. Once you have a foundation, then go find Lan Su. Otherwise, it's really not easy for Lan Su to teach you."
This time, they weren't just casually dismissing him. For a member of the royal family like the Tenth Prince, if he wanted to learn martial arts, he would naturally have a dedicated instructor—a proper instructor specifically for princes.
The leader of the Imperial Guards had once been the princes' martial arts instructor, but that was twenty years ago.
"Lord Li is very busy, I'm afraid he doesn't have time to teach me."
Yuan Hongqu almost cursed out loud, "You know Lord Li is busy, but you don't know I'm busy? I don't have time to chat with you here!"
"Go and try it first. If it doesn't work, go and beg your elder brother. Your elder brother will be very pleased to see that you are so eager to learn. He might even grant you a fiefdom and let you establish your own residence." Yuan Hongqu painted a rosy picture for him.
Although the Tenth Prince had considered the possibility of having his own fiefdom and establishing his own government in the future, given his previous experience of being practically invisible in the palace, these were just thoughts.
This was the first time anyone had brought these things up with him, and he couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
"Lord Yuan, do you think my elder brother will grant you a fiefdom in the future and allow me to establish my own residence?"
"Why not? The late emperor didn't only have you as his son. His other sons all had fiefdoms and royal residences. Why wouldn't he give them to you?"
Upon hearing this, the Tenth Prince's bright eyes instantly dimmed.
"Lord Yuan, are you truly unaware, or are you feigning ignorance?"
"What?" Yuan Hongqu barely heard what the Tenth Prince was saying.
"Of the late emperor's sons, only my elder brother and I remain."
The Tenth Prince said in a low voice.
Yuan Hongqu really didn't know this. The Tenth Prince was already ranked tenth, which meant that besides the Emperor, he should have had eight other brothers. How could the Emperor be the only one left?
However, considering the Emperor Emeritus's reckless nature, it's likely that his sons suffered considerable losses when they tried to seize the throne.
No wonder the retired emperor knew that besides the emperor, there was another son, the tenth prince, and he doted on this son to the extreme.
The retired emperor and the emperor had a bad relationship, so having a son was as good as not having one. Now, with such an innocent young son, he was much more interesting than the emperor!
Yuan Hongqu was making wild guesses in her mind, but seeing that the Tenth Prince was really worried about whether she would get a fiefdom, she gave him a suggestion.
"Your relationship with the Emperor is quite good, so why don't you just ask him directly? If it's true, it's true; if it's not, then so be it. Your elder brother won't support you, but the Emperor Emeritus is still alive. Surely he can afford to support you?"
As soon as Yuan Hongqu finished speaking, she felt as if a layer of gray mist had enveloped the Tenth Prince, and the air pressure had dropped even lower.
Yuan Hongqu didn't think there was anything wrong with what she said. Seeing that the Tenth Prince was still in a daze, and that she was in a hurry to see the Empress,
"Tenth Prince, I have other matters to attend to. If you have any further questions, please come find me again at lunchtime."
After saying that, she left first.
After watching Yuan Hongqu walk away, the Tenth Prince let out a long sigh. Just then, a young eunuch came running over beside him.
"Your Highness, you're here! We've been looking for you everywhere. Miss Lan Su came by earlier and said that if you want to learn martial arts, you should start with the basics and persevere. She said you should practice horse stance for an hour every day..."
"Come on, let's go to the stern and practice horse stance. I knew Master Lan Su wouldn't be so heartless!"
The Tenth Prince smiled innocently and ran to the stern of the boat first.
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