frightfiction Chapter 1803 Daphne
Chapter 1803 Daphne
Wan Lianxing ate two pieces of rabbit meat and put down his chopsticks. Just then, the old steward came in. He looked like he had something to say. Looking at the way the old steward looked at Cheng Youning, Wan Lianxing knew it was about Cheng Youning!
"But it doesn't matter!"
The old steward glanced at Cheng Youning, who was enjoying his meal, and then organized his thoughts. "Your Majesty, the head of the Imperial Academy has just arrived!"
Upon hearing that it was about the Imperial Academy, Cheng Youning withdrew her outstretched chopsticks and turned to look at the old steward, wondering if what the old steward was about to say was related to her.
Wan Lianxing had a general idea of what was going on. The steward of the Imperial Academy entering the palace at this time would only be to file a complaint. "Continue!"
"The supervisor of the Imperial Academy mentioned a few things, all of which are on this memorial!"
Cheng Youning then noticed the memorial in the old steward's hand, which was handed to Wan Lianxing right under his nose.
Wan Lianxing didn't read quickly, but he looked at it very carefully, which made Cheng Youning's heart jump.
After reading it, the folded document was closed and placed beside him. "You Ning, did you skip class this afternoon?"
Cheng Youning shook his head and denied it, saying, "I have informed the Master and others."
Wan Lianxing said, "Master said your people said you were unwell? If you were unwell, why didn't you call the imperial physician? If you were unwell, why did you bring back a bunch of rabbits?"
Cheng Youning was speechless. Wan Lianxing asked again, "Did you take your dog to the Imperial Academy to study?"
Cheng Youning held up two fingers, "Only take them twice!"
Wan Lianxing thought to himself, "This dog has only been here for a few days!" But Wan Lianxing didn't argue with him and asked again, "On the 26th of last month, did you take the monkey to school?"
Cheng Youning shook her head: "I can't remember which day it was!"
"So you're admitting that you brought the monkey to school!"
Cheng Youning said, "I also wanted to let that monkey get a taste of culture, so it wouldn't be baring its teeth and scratching its ears all day long!"
"What was the story behind you putting ducks into the Pan Pond of the Imperial College on the 20th of last month?"
"The pond was lifeless except for a pool of red carp and a field of lotus flowers. I put two ducks in to liven it up."
"What's with that cat popping out of the classroom? Is it trying to liven up the class, disrupt the order, or anger the teacher?"
Cheng Youning pouted, "This old scholar remembers everything so clearly! It makes me unhappy!"
Wan Lianxing never lacked ways to deal with Cheng Youning. “If you disrupt the order of the Imperial Academy, you can study in Ningxin Hall from now on, and let the two Grand Tutors teach you!”
"Grandson, you should go to the Imperial Academy. If you don't understand something, you can ask the Grand Tutor!" Cheng Youning liked to sit with students of all kinds and study together. It was more interesting than listening to the teacher's lectures alone. It was neither lonely nor boring. Sometimes, when the teacher scolded the students, there was even some excitement to watch.
"If you go to study at the Imperial Academy, don't put on airs. You should act like a student there. And none of your cats and dogs are allowed at the Imperial Academy, or they'll all be confiscated!"
Upon hearing that his pets were to be confiscated, Cheng Youning panicked. "Grandpa, please don't confiscate my pets! I won't bring them to school anymore! Grandpa, please calm down. I won't do it again!"
"Remember this well, I will only say this once! If you repeat this offense, you will be severely punished!"
Cheng Youning nodded obediently, but when he picked up his chopsticks again, he had lost his appetite.
After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Cheng Youning greeted Qiao Rong, who was waiting outside, "Is everything ready?"
Qiao Rong pointed to a vermilion food box being carried by a palace servant behind her: "Four dishes and one soup, all here!"
Cheng Youning said dejectedly, "Then let's go!"
"Your Highness, it's quite a distance from here to Chenqing Palace. Please make a sedan chair!"
"No need, I'll just walk there to digest my food!"
"What's wrong, Your Highness? You look so gloomy! His Majesty scolded you!"
"We were having a perfectly good meal when that old scholar from the Imperial Academy sent a memorial to the palace, accusing me, the Crown Prince, of a terrible indictment. The memorial was a foot long, dredging up old grievances from this month, last month, and the month before last!" Cheng Youning grabbed a handful from a low flowering tree and threw it hard on the ground. "Old rotten old man! A tattletale!"
Qiao Rong glanced at the handful of leaves and flowers that Cheng Youning had thrown on the ground and said to a palace servant behind her, "Clean this up quickly!"
This flowering tree was recently presented as tribute by neighboring countries. It is called Daphne odora, and its fragrance is faint, sweet, and long-lasting. The emperor even liked it, so he ordered it to be placed at the foot of the steps, where he could see it every day when he entered and exited the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
There are two of these flowers, one on the left and one on the right, placed on either side of the stone steps. They are carefully cared for by the palace servants, for fear that they might not adapt well to the local environment.
The next day, Wan Lianxing discovered after court that one of the trees was missing. The one on the east side, which was in the best bloom, was gone. He asked the palace staff and learned that the Crown Prince had secretly taken it away.
Presumably because the Crown Prince liked it, Wan Lianxing didn't ask about the whereabouts of those words again.
Qiao Rong was afraid that Cheng Youning might cause trouble, so she whispered to him all the way, telling him not to cause trouble for the tutor or go against the emperor. She also reminded Cheng Youning that he hadn't been punished for several months and that he shouldn't get a spanking over such a small matter.
Although Cheng Youning was furious, he listened to Qiao Rong's words. No good person wants to be punished!
Chenqing Palace.
A cold wind blew by, and the copper bell under the eaves rang twice before falling silent. A servant prepared dinner and went into the courtyard. He walked up to Zhuoyang and said softly, "Miss, dinner is ready. Let me help you inside to eat!"
Princess Zhuoyang stood in front of a flowering tree in the courtyard, wearing a thick cloak. Several clusters of small white flowers were blooming on the tree, emitting a sweet fragrance that filled the entire courtyard!
Zhuoyang stared intently at the flowers, "Let's eat them when it gets dark!"
The servant sighed inwardly. For two days now, this man hadn't eaten or drunk anything, just staring at the flowering tree endlessly from morning till night.
Suddenly there was a noise at the door. The servant ran over and exclaimed with delight, "Miss, look who's come to see you!"
Zhuoyang turned her head, "Is it the Crown Prince who's here!" Apart from Cheng Youning, no one paid any attention to her courtyard. Apart from Cheng Youning, it was as if everyone treated her as if she didn't exist.
Cheng Youning took small, square steps and grinned, "Zhuoyang, guess what delicious treat I brought you?"
Zhuoyang glanced behind Cheng Youning and saw Qiao Rong following behind her, with two servants carrying a vermilion food box.
Zhuoyang went to meet him, "How could you have guessed that!"
"Rabbit meat! I went hunting today and caught a lot of rabbits. I brought them to you so you can have a taste!"
The servant beside Zhuoyang said with a smile, "That's wonderful! I was just worried that Miss wouldn't come inside for dinner!"
Cheng Youning asked, "Are you sick because you're not eating?"
"The young lady was so fond of the daphne tree that the Emperor had bestowed upon her that she lost her appetite and stared at the tree endlessly all day long."