Chapter 74: Blind Date
After Ye Shuo finally finished memorizing the two articles after a long time, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief almost at the same time. They felt like they had survived a calamity, and suddenly they had the urge to cry for joy.
After trying various methods, I finally saw some results today.
In fact, when Emperor Jingwen first heard that Ye Shuo had recited incorrectly, he was about to curse, saying what crap he was reciting, how he was forgetful and nonsense. But when he met Ye Shuo’s eyes, Emperor Jingwen calmed down instantly.
You have to know that the person in front of you is Xiaojiu, not any other son, so you can’t generalize.
It’s quite good that he can achieve this level, we can’t expect too much.
Therefore, Emperor Jingwen changed his mind almost immediately before he could say anything, and turned the words that were meant to scold him into words that praised him.
Xing Yucheng felt that the emperor might be like this, but the two teachers certainly would not, because they were both contemporary masters.
Ye Shuo also felt that he had done well. He smacked his lips, feeling extremely satisfied. He then looked at the two teachers beside him and said, “Master Zhen, Master Cen, what do you think?”He looked so proud, as if he had accomplished something great, and was asking the adults for some candy.
The old faces of the Grand Tutor and Lord Cen trembled almost at the same time.
Finally, they closed their eyes, made up their minds, and said, “…very, very good.”
Xing Yucheng: “…”
The crown prince who had been silent beside him: “…”
The crown prince couldn’t help but look at his teacher with an extremely strange look.
In the past ten years, where had the crown prince seen his teacher like this? Not to mention the “Great Learning” with more than 2,000 words, when he recited all the Four Books, he never saw the teacher praise him so obviously. Just two “OK”s were already the best.
As for Xing Yucheng, his heart was completely dead.
Xing Yucheng and the crown prince didn’t understand that the better they performed, the more their parents and teachers would take their excellence for granted.
If a person already has 95 points, how much further can he improve?
It’s different for players like Ye Shuo who scored zero or even negative points. Any little progress is worth celebrating with firecrackers.
It is a fact that if you do one wrong thing to a good person, you become a bad person, but if a bad person only needs to do one good thing, this good thing will be infinitely magnified.
Of the three articles, Ye Shuo could only recite two, and those were the two with the fewest words. Logically, he should not be allowed to go to the palace, but Emperor Jingwen was afraid of dampening his enthusiasm. If he was not accepted this time, what if he would not take the bait next time?
After considering for a long time, Emperor Jingwen finally nodded reluctantly and added Ye Shuo’s name to the list of accompanying persons.
This matter has both advantages and disadvantages. Although his son did not meet his own requirements this time, it at least gave Emperor Jingwen hope and let Emperor Jingwen know that the path of bribery is feasible.
Ye Shuo was very satisfied with this.
However, Xing Yucheng felt dizzy and didn’t even know how he walked out of the Qinzheng Hall in the end. He had a lot of questions in his mind and wanted to know why.
For not fulfilling His Majesty’s request, His Majesty should scold the Ninth Prince!
Ye Shuo shook his head when he saw this, thinking that it would be difficult for him to understand given his situation as a study partner.
After all, this guy looks like an honest child. He does whatever his parents expect him to do. He has been excellent since he was young, and it is too late for him to give up now.
The two people’s situations are different. Ye Shuo has been bad since he was a child, so Emperor Jingwen got used to it and thought it was nothing. If his study companion started to be bad, then in the eyes of the Minister of Works and his wife, he would be considered decadent.
So, alas, there is no hope in this life, he will try to understand it in the next life.
And the situations of the two are also different. His cheap father wanted to kill him before, but Ye Shuo did these things without any scruples. What is this called? This is called retribution, just debt collection.
As for the Minister of Works and his wife… I can only say that their crimes are not serious enough!
Just like that, under Xing Yucheng’s doubtful gaze, Ye Shuo boarded the last carriage to the palace in a dignified manner.
This made all the ladies in the harem so angry that they almost died. Why, why is the Emperor so good to the Ninth Prince when he is such a waste!
Puzzlement, confusion, jealousy…all kinds of emotions permeated the entire harem.
Ye Shuo pretended not to see it and began to arrange his departure from the palace.
Firstly, there is the ice in my share this year. Ice has to be replaced every year. Fresh water has to be fetched from the river every winter. That is to say, if I don’t use it this summer, I will end up throwing it away.
Ye Shuo thought about it, and then called the Ministry of Internal Affairs, asking them to distribute the ice in their own share equally to Empress Zhao and the others.
Zhao Chongrong, Xu Chongyi and Li Chongyuan were of low rank and not favored, so naturally they were not in the entourage. Ye Shuo did not have the ability to ask his stepfather to add them all into the team. If so, the other concubines would have objections. But if Ye Shuo could make them live a little more comfortably this summer, he could still do it.
Although Concubine Rong didn’t know why her son was always thinking about those three people, she didn’t object, and even gave most of the ice in her share to them.
In this way, even if Zhao Chongrong and the others did not go to the palace, they could still keep cool throughout the summer.
When they received the news from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zhao Chongrong and her friends were filled with mixed emotions.
Although the three of them are not favored, they are not stupid. They naturally know who is sincere to them and who is fake.
If the intention is to exploit them, then what value do people like them have?
“Madam, it’s a good thing we opened the palace gates.”
Yes, fortunately the palace gate was opened, but the crown prince forced her to open it with a token, not her own will. Thinking about it now, Zhao Chongrong couldn’t help but feel a little regretful.
Almost at the same time, Zhao Chongrong thought of the red pill again…
The other side.
Almost early in the morning, Ye Shuo crawled out of the bed. His positive look made Emperor Jingwen deeply doubt whether he was pretending to be sleepy when he went to the study room before.
Hearing that everything at the palace was ready, Ye Shuo didn’t pack much and simply traveled light.
The emperor had a sedan chair, the empress had a sedan chair, each concubine and above had a sedan chair, and each concubine below the rank of concubine had a sedan chair for two or three people. In addition, they were accompanied by ministers, guards, palace maids, eunuchs, and all in all, there were thousands of people in total. They left from the Zhengtian Gate in the middle of the palace and the palace gates on both sides in a grand procession.
Thanks to his step-father, Ye Shuo finally got to see what the ancient emperors looked like when they traveled. The scene did look spectacular.
Ancient horse-drawn carriages are not quite the same as we imagine. In fact, they also have shock-absorbing systems, which rely on things called “Fu Tu” and “Dang Tu”. They are located between the floor of the carriage and the axle, especially the “Dang Tu”, which can not only increase stability but also further reduce shock.
The wheels will also be covered with a thick layer of leather, which is equivalent to modern rubber tires.
Overall, it is definitely not as good as the modern shock absorption system, but it is barely adequate, especially since there are thick cushions in the carriage. Overall, it is okay.
After all, we are on an official road, which is paved with blue stone and the road condition is better than ordinary dirt roads.
As if he disdained to associate with women, or perhaps to show off his own strength, no one, including the crown prince, stayed in the carriage. Instead, they all rode horses on both sides of the carriages.
As for the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince…because they performed too well, their stepfather left them in Shangjing City to handle the remaining trivial government affairs.
See? This is the result of their hard work. The whole family goes out to play without taking them. Although the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince think that this is a sign that their father trusts and values them, and an honor, it is just empty talk in Ye Shuo’s opinion.
The important officials in the court were all taken away by my cheap father. They didn’t come to them for help when there was something going on. Aren’t they just left behind to do hard labor?
Everybody was outside, even the little grandson of the emperor was being taken outside by the guards to see the scenery. Only Ye Shuo was there, resting his head on his mother’s legs, looking extremely leisurely.
What’s fun about riding a horse? It’s not as comfortable as lying down. He can also chat with his mother and Su Yue and Su Xin while lying down.
Suddenly, Ye Shuo thought of something.
“By the way, you guys, don’t you have someone you like yet?” The “you” here refers to none other than Su Yue, Su Xin and the others.
Su Yue and Su Xin were brought into the palace by his mother from the Duke Zhen’s Mansion. Now the youngest is 25 years old and the oldest is 27 or 28 years old, which is considered old maids in ancient times. If they have no plans to get married, it would be fine. But if they do, they still have to make plans early.
Concubine Rong was stunned for a moment when she heard this, and then looked at her maids.
Concubine Rong remembered that she had asked this question a few years ago, but was rejected by the three of them. The three of them did not want to leave the palace either. She didn’t know whether they would change their minds after a few years.
Seeing the Imperial Concubine looking over, Su Yue and the other two all smiled bitterly and shook their heads: “Your Highness, Madam, there really is none.”
Ye Shuo asked again: “Don’t you want to or haven’t met the right person yet?”
They stayed in the palace all year round and hardly saw any men from other places, so naturally they seldom had this opportunity.
Su Yue and the other two were stunned.
Ye Shuo understood.
“You just can’t find the right one, right?”
It’s not that they don’t want to get married and have children.
In this case, it is better to make plans early…
Fortunately, I suddenly thought of this and asked a question.
“That’s great. Take this opportunity to have a good look. If you find someone suitable, just tell me, and I’ll try to help you find one.”
This opportunity is rare. If you miss it, you will never have it again.
People like Su Yue and the others don’t have much contact with people, so every time they miss an opportunity like this, it’s one less chance.
As for getting married, they are not afraid either, because with his mother and him, and even the Duke of Zhen’s Mansion backing them up, they will definitely not be wronged.
Su Yue and Su Xin felt a little embarrassed when they heard this and shook their heads subconsciously.
The Ninth Prince is such a fool. Why would he suddenly ask such a question?
Ye Shuo raised his eyebrows upon seeing this, then opened the curtain a tiny bit and pointed at the team of nearly a thousand people outside.
The team was composed entirely of guards, all of whom had been carefully selected, with neither being too fat nor too thin. They were all trained warriors, with well-proportioned bodies, strong and muscular, and their looks were at least above the passing line. After all, to be qualified to accompany the emperor, their appearance had to pass the test.
As for body shape, they exercise every day, so I guess it won’t be too bad.
Based on the principle of keeping good things for one’s own people, Ye Shuo thought of reminding them.
“You can choose any of these 1,000 guards. Are you sure… you don’t want to consider it?”
“Don’t worry, I will personally help you check it when the time comes.” Ye Shuo’s eyes are not vegetarian.
As the Ninth Prince’s seductive voice rang out, and looking at the cold-faced guards outside, even Su Yue, who was usually the most resolute, couldn’t help but waver.