novelraw Chapter 344 - 312: Do You Usually Like to Stare at People Like This?
Chapter 344 - 312: Do You Usually Like to Stare at People Like This?
Mr. Cui had seen Yuanbao before, so he greeted him with a smile.
Yuanbao returned the smile and asked, "Mr. Cui, is the imperial decree you’re holding really for me?"
"We wouldn’t dare to falsely deliver an imperial decree," Mr. Cui said, "Young Master Song, quickly kneel and receive the decree!"
Upon hearing this, Yuanbao lifted his robe hem and knelt down.
Mr. Cui read out the decree.
The content was not long, and the meaning was simple.
In last year’s end-of-year exam, Yuanbao was among the top three of his class and was fortunate enough to enter the palace as a companion to the Eldest Prince.
After reading, Mr. Cui handed the decree to the young man and gave a kind reminder, "This is a rare opportunity, Young Master Song. You must seize it well."
Holding the decree in his hand, Yuanbao looked bewildered, "Isn’t the companion to the Eldest Prince supposed to be the fourth son of the Su Family? How did it suddenly become me?"
Mr. Cui said, "The fourth son of the Su Family accidentally fell at the horse farm and got injured, he has been sent home to recuperate."
Yuanbao had heard his classmates discuss this matter, but he thought it was merely a minor injury. Who would have thought it was serious enough to change the companion selection?
Regarding the palace, Yuanbao didn’t know much, so he seized the chance to ask, "May I ask, Mr. Cui, when do I enter the palace, at what hour each day, and what should I prepare before entering the palace?"
Mr. Cui was slightly taken aback by his questions and after a while said, "If it’s possible, Young Master Song, you can enter the palace tomorrow. Except for the first day, you will need to wake up at the hour of the tiger daily to accompany the Eldest Prince for early reading. As for the food and drink, you don’t need to worry, it’s all taken care of in the palace."
The hour of the tiger.
Yuanbao rarely woke up at this hour.
Perhaps his father did so back in the days while studying arduously.
He calculated carefully, "Even if we take a carriage, it takes an incense stick’s time to reach the Imperial City from our home. From this calculation, I will need to wake up at the hour of the ox. If it’s a hard requirement, I can certainly do it, but I can’t guarantee that I’ll be energetic to accompany the Eldest Prince for early reading every day, since he wakes up at the hour of the tiger and I at the hour of the ox, there’s an hour difference in our bedtime."
Mr. Cui: "...And then?"
"Then I just wanted to ask, since food is covered in the palace, can’t lodging be covered as well? I’m small and won’t take much space."
Mr. Cui: "..."
——
Mr. Cui returned to the palace to see Emperor Guangxi and relayed Yuanbao’s words verbatim.
After hearing, Emperor Guangxi asked him, "Did Song Hao really say that?"
Mr. Cui quickly said, "I wouldn’t dare to utter a single false word."
Emperor Guangxi suddenly laughed, "This unwillingness to suffer a loss is truly the same as his father’s character."
Mr. Cui: "Then about lodging..."
Emperor Guangxi waved his hand and approved, "Arrange for a side hall in Yutang Palace for him to stay."
Yutang Palace is Zhao Xi’s sleeping quarters, and since Zhao Nuo previously had only one prince, he occupied an entire palace alone.
——
That day, after school, Wen Wan went to the gate of Imperial College as usual to pick up Yuanbao and noticed he was clutching a scroll which showed a hint of imperial yellow.
Wen Wan was surprised, "What are you holding?"
Yuanbao handed her the decree directly, explaining, "It came from the palace."
Wen Wan opened it and, surprisingly, it was an imperial decree.
After reading its contents, she remained silent for quite a while.
Yuanbao was somewhat unsure of Wen Wan’s thoughts, so he called softly, "Mother?"
Wen Wan lightly frowned, Yuanbao’s exam results had been among the top three these past months, and being noticed was understandable, she just couldn’t comprehend, "Wasn’t it already determined that the Eldest Prince’s companion would be Su Yaoqi? Why did it become you?"
"Su Yaoqi accidentally fell off a horse and got injured, so he can’t go in the future," Yuanbao replied.
...
When they got home, Yuanbao didn’t immediately return to his room but followed Wen Wan to Rong’an Hall to see his grandparents.
Seeing Song Wei was also there, he directly talked about going to be the companion for the Eldest Prince.
Song Wei, having heard of this before at the Hanlin Academy, remained calm.
Granny Song, however, was not calm, "Entering the palace?"
Her eldest grandson had never been to the Imperial Palace, if anything went wrong, it could cost him his head.
Yuanbao nodded and added, "I’ve already mentioned it to Mr. Cui, I will be staying in the palace going forward."
"Isn’t it a daytime companionship? Can’t you leave early?" Granny Song asked.
"The Eldest Prince starts reading at the hour of the tiger and our house is far from the Imperial City, even if I leave early, it means getting up at the hour of the ox. Not to mention the city gates aren’t open at that time, and even if I had special permission to enter, I couldn’t get up every day before the rooster crows!"
What? The hour of the tiger starts the reading?
Granny Song was immediately at a loss.
The hardest working years for her Third Son also started when the day was dawning at the earliest.
She had never seen a start that early.
Granny Song really didn’t know whether she should commend the Eldest Prince for his diligence in learning or feel sympathy for him, being so strictly controlled at such a young age.
After Song Yuanbao finished speaking, he looked at Song Wei, "Father, you won’t blame me for acting on my own initiative, will you?"
Song Wei’s expression showed no sign of anger, "I’m glad you can analyze the pros and cons yourself and make decisions, rather than wait for adults to help with everything."
Song Wei’s response undoubtedly encouraged the young boy, whose lips curved and eyes sparkled with the sense of achievement and excitement from being affirmed.
——
Yutang Palace.
Zhao Xi returned from the training ground and noticed several palace attendants and eunuchs tidying up the side hall. He walked over to take a look, "What are you all doing?"
Several little palace maids were startled by the sudden voice, hurriedly kneeling on the ground, "Forgive us, Your Highness. We are here by the Emperor’s decree to tidy up the side hall."
Zhao Xi’s gaze swept over them one by one, seeing that they were from Qianqing Palace, he believed them somewhat and asked again: "Why is the side hall being tidied up?"
The palace maid was about to answer when Mr. Cui’s voice came from not far away, "Your servant was just preparing to find His Highness to explain, but upon reaching the training ground and not seeing you, I had to return. His Highness might not know that the companion you personally selected mentioned that their family lives far from the Imperial City. As the early study hours are at the ’Yin’ hour, they must get up at the ’Chou’ hour each day to ensure their presence at the Study Room by the ’Yin’ hour, but cannot guarantee having the energy to accompany you. Hence, your servant was instructed to tell the Emperor that our palace not only provides meals but must also provide accommodation."
Zhao Xi’s eyebrows twitched, "So if we don’t provide meals and accommodation, he wouldn’t come?"
"This..." Mr. Cui dared not continue the conversation.
He had seen that young master from the Song family, who carried a rebellious air of youth.
The Emperor said Song Hao and his father Song Wei were cut from the same cloth, which was true; just judging by his manner at the Imperial College during the day, if meals and accommodation weren’t offered, he might really refuse outright.
Zhao Xi spoke no more and turned to leave.
The young prince’s eyes were as black as ink, revealing no hint of whether he was pleased or angry.
——
The next day.
Song Yuanbao arrived at the Study Room just before ’Mao’ hour.
The teacher had not started the class, Zhao Xi had just returned from his early study and breakfast and encountered him at the door.
As their four eyes met, the two thirteen-year-old boys had completely different expressions in their eyes.
One indifferent, one enthusiastic.
After a brief gaze, Song Yuanbao first bowed in greeting, "Salutations, Your Highness."
Zhao Xi pulled his gaze back, his voice slightly cold, "You are Song Hao?"
"I am."
"Did you voluntarily request to live in the palace?"
"I did."
"The Song Hanlin who solved the Da Huan Mountain coal mine case last year and assisted the Duke in the bandit eradication this year, is that your father?"
"Yes."
"Can you say anything other than ’yes’?"
"I can."
"..."
During their conversation, the teacher approached, saluting Zhao Xi, then turned his attention to Song Yuanbao.
Zhao Xi introduced: "He is the new companion, Song Hao."
Song Yuanbao quickly paid his respects to the teacher.
The teacher nodded in acknowledgment, signaling the two to enter, as the class was about to begin.
Song Yuanbao consciously stood aside, allowing Zhao Xi and the teacher to walk ahead while he followed behind.
The Study Room was spacious, but as Song Yuanbao was a companion, he couldn’t freely choose a position and could only sit beside Zhao Xi.
Perhaps knowing that he came early today, the books were prepared for him well in advance.
He flipped through them casually; it was a book on arithmetic, and its content was even more profound than the textbooks of the Imperial College.
The teacher’s teaching method was also different from that of the scholar at the Imperial College. A slight distraction equated to listening to heavenly script.
Such books paired with this teaching style truly tested the princes’ concentration.
While attending the lesson, Song Yuanbao glanced out of the corner of his eye and found the Eldest Prince sitting upright and straight, eyes focused on the book, occasionally making notes of important points.
He answered the teacher’s questions with ease.
His attitude towards learning was serious and earnest, without any hint of a dandy.
Song Yuanbao couldn’t help but wonder, with the Eldest Prince’s high level of self-discipline, why does the Emperor still feel the need to find him a companion?
Isn’t he worried the companion might lead him astray?
While distracted, Zhao Xi’s lowered voice came from beside him, "Do you usually enjoy staring at people like this?"
Song Yuanbao recalled his thoughts, realizing the teacher had left at some point, leaving just the two of them in the Study Room. He shifted his gaze to the book, maintaining composure as he said, "My family’s ancestral home is in Ningzhou. I haven’t seen much of the world before. A country bumpkin meeting His Highness for the first time, it’s a bit exciting."
Zhao Xi: "..." He couldn’t quite see where the excitement was coming from.