All of a sudden, a horse galloped over quickly. An internal attendant jumped off and took a roll from his sleeve. He pasted this list over the one on the board, changing the list. This time, Du Ning’s name was on it and he actually achieved the highest grade.
Du Ning did not know the examiners had graded his examination slip as the lowest grade, but his teacher, Zhan Xuanzhi, had retrieved it and narrated it personally to the Emperor. The Emperor looked highly upon his boldness in his writing and changed his grade to the highest one, adding it to the Hanlin Imperial Academy. However, to Du Ning, Fu Yin's smile was more exciting than seeing his name on the golden list and getting everyone’s congratulations.
On this day, the Emperor signalled Du Ning, a new talent, out to walk in the Imperial Garden along with the Crown Prince and Prince Han. His spirits were high as he liked Du Ning’s answers. However, he noticed that the Crown Prince kept yawning and frowned.
Prince Han could sense this and tried to draw his attention away. “Imperial Father, managing the country will never be my duty. However, I plan to listen to Imperial Father and cultivate myself.”
The Emperor was curious. “Oh? How do you intend to cultivate yourself?”
“Imperial Father, you know me. With my fat body, I can hardly ride and shoot. I like literature and calligraphy the most. Of course, I will be reading more to cultivate myself and learning from the scholars.”
The Emperor smiled. “It is good that you can think this way.”
“I also want to write a book. Recently, I have read <<Hanshu Geography>> and Gu Yewang’s <<Land Maps>> and I was enlightened. Our Great Tang has three hundred and fifty-eight islands. We are a grand country yet there isn’t a complete book of our land. I hope to create a book depicting the geography of our Great Tang and record every island...no, not every island, but I want to detail and record even the county, their look, names, mountains, cities, historic interest and even the major events that have occurred.”
“No wonder you are my son! When you finally finish the book, you must let me read it.”
“However, with just me alone, I won’t be able to do it. I need a few talented people. I am worried that just using my title as Prince Han to gather talent will cause the Imperial Censor to write and impeach me for privately gathering talent. I will not be able to bear this crime.”
“Since you dare to bring this up in front of me, I can see that you do not harbour ill-intentions and have nothing to hide. Okay, I will free you from worries. Prince Han, heed my decree.”
Prince Han kneeled.
“I permit you to leave your prefecture and set up a literature school to gather students.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Everyone’s expression was delighted. Only the Crown Prince lifted his hand to cover his mouth as he yawned. The Emperor could not stand it anymore and looked annoyed. “Crown Prince, if you are tired, you can return to the Eastern Palace first.”
The Crown Prince was stunned. “Imperial Father, I wish to accompany Imperial Father…”
“I have so many people accompanying me, you won’t make a difference. You can leave.” The Emperor was extremely disappointed in him.
The Crown Prince left dejectedly.
After strolling through the Imperial Garden, the Emperor headed straight to Lizheng Palace, intending to ask the Empress to remind the Crown Prince not to be dispirited. However, the palace was quiet and only Wei Song came out to greet him.
The Emperor was concerned. “Is the Empress feeling better?”
Wei Song replied, “Her Majesty has been sleeping a lot better and her coughing has reduced. She is currently sleeping soundly.”
The Emperor did not want to disrupt the Empress and turned to leave. All of a sudden, he saw the Crown Prince curled up on the couch by the side of the window. He was also asleep, and looked extremely exhausted.
Wei Song explained, “Your Majesty, for the past few days, His Highness has been handling the official matters given to him by Your Majesty. In his spare time, he stayed at Lizheng Palace and put his all into serving Her Majesty. Her Majesty asked him to return but he did not want to. He has hardly slept and ate. Look how skinny he has become.”
Warmth appeared in the Emperor’s eyes and he walked over to help cover the Crown Prince with a blanket. No wonder the Crown Prince kept yawning. He had misunderstood him.
Chapter 30.2: Cock-fighting
In front of the palace, a pair of cocks were cock-fighting, no, bickering.
“Yan Zifang, what are you doing here?” Sheng Chumu became guarded.
“I am waiting for my fiancée.” Yan Zifang’s lips twitched. Sheng Chumu was not the only one that knew that Fu Rou could leave the palace today.
“Hey hey, leader of the pirates, let me remind you again that Fu Rou is not your fiancée. Your childhood betrothal has ended the moment you fell into the river.”
“I fell into the river but I did not die.”
“You should take it as you have died.”
“Then why don’t you take it as you have died after you fell into the ocean after being chased by rebel troops? If I knew, I would not have rescued you and you would have truly died.”
“Not rescue me? If you didn’t rescue me, Yan Zifang, will you...hey! Stay there!”
Yan Zifang did not want to listen to Sheng Chumu any longer because Fu Rou had come out. He retrieved the Pendant of Longevity and handed it over to her quietly.
Fu Rou was stunned. “Yan Zifang…” What should she say?
Sheng Chumu shoved Yan Zifang away and smiled at Fu Rou. “Rou’er, I am here to pick you. He is just taking a stroll.”
Yan Zifang shoved Sheng Chumu away. “Rou’er, now you should know who I am.”
Sheng Chumu protested, “Is Rou’er for you to call?”
Fu Rou looked at Yan Zifang calmly. “Why didn’t you tell me when we met before?”
Yan Zifang opened his mouth, ready to speak.
Sheng Chumu cut him off, “Because he is a shameful pirate. If he acknowledged you, won’t that mean to push you down the fire too?” He patted Yan Zifang’s shoulder and spoke in admiration, “Yan Zifang, you were really like a man when you did that back then. Please continue to be one.”
Yan Zifang kept his gaze on Fu Rou. “After all these years, we finally met. Are you only interested in finding out why I did not tell you my real identity? Aren’t there other things you want to know?”
“No.” Sheng Chumu rushed to answer. Fu Rou, however, did not want others to reply on her behalf. “Yan Zifang, I want to say…”
“Say what?” Yan Zifang and Sheng Chumu asked together.
Fu Rou threw Sheng Chumu a look as she turned to look at Yan Zifang seriously. “I am very thankful to you for saving Sheng Chumu.”
Sheng Chumu burst out a laugh. “Yan Zifang, did you hear that? If you are a man then you should back off generously. There are plenty more fishes in the sea. You are a general, so you won’t need to worry about not having a wife. Rou’er, let’s go. I found a very beautiful lake for us to go to today. We can row a boat and swim and even…”
Yan ZIfang grabbed onto Fu Rou’s hand. Sheng Chumu glared. “If you continue acting like this, I am going to get angry.”
“It is rare for Rou’er to have a day off, let me accompany her.” Yan Zifang was not afraid.
“What gives you the right? Sheng Chumu thought that it was ridiculous.
Yan Zifang took out the Pendant of Longevity. “Based on this betrothal gift.”
“This Pendant of Longevity is like you, it is turning rusty. Can you not use something from ten years ago against someone? Look, this, this and this is all new. Rou’er made all of this for me. This is called feelings. Do you understand?” Sheng Chumu turned around. He showed off all the small trinkets he carried and even took out his fan to boast.
Yan Zifang pulled on the cloak he was wearing. “She also made me this.”
Sheng Chumu sighed, “Rou’er, why did you make him a cloak?”
Yan Zifang proudly smiled. “Because I kissed her.”
Sheng Chumu had a look of disbelief.