Chapter 40: Meeting
What she didn’t expect was that her son had a high fever, and it took so long for him to go to the study.
In the end, she even forgot about the reading companionship until just now.
Although part of the problem is my own, it doesn’t mean that my son has no problems.
Then……
“Why are you shouting so loudly? If you hadn’t made excuses time and again, would your mother have forgotten?” When Concubine Rong thought of how this little bastard had deceived her for so many years, she couldn’t help but get angry.
He pretended to be so miserable at first, but when his father came, everything was fine, right?
He no longer suffers from insomnia and has not lost weight rapidly. Concubine Rong thinks he is doing well.
“If I had known, I would have asked your father to punish you.”Ye Shuo suddenly didn’t dare to say a word.
He hurriedly left this place of trouble. On the way, Ye Shuo was thinking about his study partner, to put it nicely, he is called a nanny, because he would have the responsibility of accompanying and taking care of the prince. Since he has to take care of him, he must be slightly older than the prince.
For example, if his mother originally planned to send him to school at the age of three, it was normal to find a study partner who was four or five years older than him, because children aged seven or eight gradually begin to understand the limits and know how to take care of others.
If he was five or six years old, then it would be fine. After five years, he would be at most twelve or thirteen years old. Even with the current trend of early marriage and early pregnancy, it shouldn’t be considered as a biological child.
So far so good.
Ye Shuo couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, on the other side——
Xing Yucheng, the son of the Minister of Works, knew from the age of seven that he would be a companion to the second most noble prince of the Zhou Dynasty.
Xing Yucheng still remembered that when the palace delivered the news that year, his mother was ecstatic, and his father seemed a little worried, but still very happy. After all, being a companion to the prince was an honor that no one else could ask for.
The most important thing is that given the little prince’s background, it is almost certain that he will become a prince in the future. Even if the Duke of Zhen arouses the suspicion of the emperor, it is only the Duke of Zhen’s family, and will not implicate the imperial concubine and the little prince.
Think about it, he is the prince’s companion, what a great grace and honor, and most importantly, it is very beneficial to his future.
The one who is close to the water gets the moon first, and this is also the most important reason why the princes’ companions are vying for the position.
Xing Yucheng didn’t quite understand at that time, but seeing that his father and mother were so happy, he obediently prepared for this matter according to his parents’ requirements.
Fearing that his knowledge was too shallow and that the little prince might ask him something he didn’t know, Xing Yucheng consciously doubled the amount of study he did on weekdays.
Afraid that he would be too popular and displease the little prince, Xing Yucheng gradually learned how to keep a low profile and not draw attention to himself.
Xing Yucheng accumulated himself day by day, quietly waiting for the call from the palace.
Then he waited for five years.
During the first two years, although his parents were shocked, they did not say anything. After all, the little prince was still young.
In the third year, my parents gradually began to worry.
By the fourth year, my mother began to sigh repeatedly and my father became silent.
God knows, because the news was too surprising at the time, and the servants were not careful with their mouths, it was spread out in no time.
Now that’s good, everyone knows that he is going to be the prince’s companion.
As a result, after such a long time, the little prince still had not entered school. Year after year, more and more people came to watch him make a fool of himself.
Xing Yucheng could not hold it in any longer and asked his father, “Dad, the little prince is already nine years old this year, why hasn’t he gone to school yet?” If the little prince did not go to school, it would not take long for him to finish all the books at home, and he would be able to go directly to the provincial examination.
The Minister of Works was also helpless when he heard this. It would have been fine if the imperial concubine had suddenly changed her mind, but the other party’s attitude was quite firm and honest. After deciding on their family, they never changed their mind. The only problem was that they were delaying too much.
It’s already the fifth year now, and I don’t know when this kind of days will end.
Why doesn’t Your Majesty care about it?
Just when the Minister of Works and his family were sighing, news finally came from the palace.
Perhaps because they had been disappointed too many times before, the family of the Minister of Works did not hold out much hope this time. They thought that, as in the past, they could just give some silver to the eunuch who delivered the message and send him away.
Nowadays, they would not find it strange even if the Ninth Prince waited until he was fifteen years old before going to the study room.
Who knows–
“I want to convey the Imperial Concubine’s words. Please ask the Third Young Master to make preparations immediately and report to the palace in three days.”
Reporting means… the Ninth Prince is finally going to school???
The Minister of Works and his wife were almost crying with joy, and hurriedly gave the eunuch who delivered the message a double red envelope.
Oh my god, this day has finally arrived.
“Thank God, thank God.”
The Shangshu’s wife clasped her hands together and bowed in all directions.
(Shangshu = Minister of Works/documents)
Xing Yucheng next to him fell into a dream.
Am I…finally going to enter the palace as a study partner?
Five years of hard work were finally coming in handy. Three days passed in a flash. Xing Yucheng was so excited and excited about meeting the Ninth Prince the next day that he suffered from insomnia. He slept for less than two hours. Just after the hour of Yin in the morning, without waiting for the servants to urge him, Xing Yucheng sat up from the bed.
Fearing that he would be delayed, he quickly washed up and took the family carriage to the imperial palace.
The other side.
The Sixth Prince woke up at this time as usual, and after the palace servants helped him wash and dress, at the same time, the Sixth Prince, along with his study partner and attendants, went to the upper study.
As usual, the Sixth Prince was about to step out of Qiuwu Palace when he suddenly thought of something and subconsciously turned back.
The Sixth Prince’s companion Lu Jiang was puzzled: “Sixth Prince, what are you doing…”
“I’ll go see if my little brother is awake.” The Sixth Prince suddenly remembered that today was the day his little brother was to go to the study.
Lu Jiang was shocked when he heard this. What? The Ninth Prince is going to enter school this year???
Ignoring his dazed companion, the Sixth Prince walked straight towards the side hall.
As expected, the side hall was still dark at this time.
Through the window, the Sixth Prince called out several times before he heard a vague response from inside. Reassured, the Sixth Prince said, “Today is the time for you to go to the study. Don’t forget to be there before the morning hour.”
“Yeah, yeah… I understand. You go first…”
The Sixth Prince usually arrived half an hour early, but his younger brother certainly couldn’t do that, so the Sixth Prince did not force him to go with him.
The most important thing is that his father has issued an ultimatum, and no matter what, his little brother cannot be so inappropriate, so after waking him up, the Sixth Prince left with peace of mind.
At this time, inside the room, Xiao Luzi looked at the sleepy Ninth Prince and said carefully, “Ninth Prince, it’s past the hour of Yin. How about I call someone to help you change your clothes?”
What’s the point of changing clothes? It’s not even dawn yet.
After being rejected by the Ninth Prince, Xiao Luzi did not think too much about it. After all, it was still early and half an hour later would not matter.
But Xiao Luzi never expected that he would have to wait so long.
When Xing Yucheng hurriedly arrived at Qiuwu Palace, it was only a quarter of an hour before the hour of Mao.
It’s over, it’s over, it’s too late, too late.
Xing Yucheng couldn’t help but feel sad when he thought that he had been looking forward to it for five whole years, but ended up being late on the first day of taking office.
He never expected that because he was too nervous yesterday, he did not sleep well at night and ended up falling asleep in the carriage. When he opened his eyes again, it was already too late.
In addition, due to the palace rules, one is only allowed to walk and not run, so by the time he arrived, the place had become what it is now.
Xing Yucheng felt a chill in his heart when he saw the silence in the side hall of Qiuwu Palace.
It’s over. At this time, the Ninth Prince was probably gone long ago.
These five years of preparation have been in vain.
Just when Xing Yucheng turned around to see if he could stop the Ninth Prince on the way to the study, he accidentally caught a glimpse of Xiao Luzi who was also in a mess.
Then, he saw the Ninth Prince who was still sleeping soundly.
Xing Yucheng was shocked at that time.
“Ninth, Ninth Prince?”
Hearing the noise around him again, Ye Shuo reluctantly opened his right eye a crack, trying to suppress his sleepiness. He looked the other person up and down, and after quickly confirming his identity, he pointed to the bed next to him and said, “Study companion…right?”
“Look, did you see it? It was specially prepared for me.”
What, what do you mean?
Xing Yucheng was a little puzzled, until Ye Shuo said “Let’s sleep together”, which made Xing Yucheng explode instantly.
“Your Highness the Ninth Prince, you can’t sleep anymore, you’re going to be late!” Xing Yucheng’s facial features were twisted into a ball, and his heart was trembling.
Ye Shuo yawned, not taking it seriously, and didn’t even open his eyes. He said vaguely, “Late… so… late…”
If he really got up at three in the morning every day, he was afraid he would not live to adulthood.
No wonder the infant mortality rate in the palace is so high. How could it not be high if this is the case?
Seven years old is still the age for first or second grade in primary school, but modern primary school students start classes at eight or nine o’clock, which is a difference of several hours.
For the sake of his own life, Ye Shuo must ensure that he gets enough sleep no matter what.
“At most… I’ll just get a few slaps on the wrist…”
After all, the prince is a delicate and precious person, and he can’t be beaten too hard or too harshly.
Ye Shuo had studied it and found out that the Shangshufang had a clear rule that if a prince was late for school, he would be given three slaps on the wrist.
Just three prototypes, no big deal.
Now that Ye Shuo has practiced martial arts, let alone practicing martial arts, even if he hasn’t practiced, three slaps would not be a problem for him.
A beating in exchange for a good night’s sleep is really a great deal.
“Okay… I’ll continue… and go to sleep…”
“You guys… feel free to do whatever you want…zzzzzz”
In front of the two of them, Ye Shuo buried his head, wrapped himself in the quilt, turned over and continued to sleep.
Xing Yucheng and Xiao Luzi were left dumbfounded.