frightfiction Chapter 1801 The Imperial Academy's Pan Pool
Chapter 1801 The Imperial Academy's Pan Pool
"That's not fair! How can the rewards for first place, second place, and third place be the same? My leopard was the first place winner!" Hong Yuncong insisted.
Cheng Youning continued to smile, a warm smile, "Then I'll reward your hunting dog with another box of dried fish."
Before Hong Yunrang could shout, Cheng Youning turned and walked towards his carriage. After turning his head, Qiao Rong saw Cheng Youning's downturned lips. However, in the carriage, Cheng Youning was still affectionately stroking Da Huang's head and said something that Qiao Rong did not understand: "The shortcomings of the wise are not as good as the strengths of the foolish."
"Your Highness, what do you mean?"
“Look at the dozens of people who participated in the hunt today. They are all better at studying than Hong Yuncong, and they are all smarter than him. Look at the hunting grounds. His trained hunting dogs are the fastest and the fiercest in chasing rabbits.”
Qiao Rong nodded: "His hunting dogs are strong, and he rewards them with lots of treats, so it's natural that they are obedient."
Cheng Youning nodded, put her arm around Dahuang's neck, and rubbed her head against the dog's. "Plum blossoms may be less white than snow, but snow lacks the fragrance of plum blossoms. My mother was right. There is no absolute perfection in the world, nor is there absolute advantage or disadvantage. My mother always taught me not to underestimate my opponents. I should not be too arrogant in the future, lest I end up like today."
“Your Highness is absolutely right. However, this hunting dog was a tribute from the Southern Yan Kingdom and was not trained by Your Highness from a young age. This hunting dog may not understand Your Highness’s commands, or it may have its own commands that we are unaware of.”
Cheng Youning nodded, agreeing with Qiao Rong's point of view, "This dog looks to be of very noble lineage. It has been traveling for more than two months and must not have rested well. Tonight, have the servants give Dahuang an extra meal!"
The next day.
As soon as the copper bell under the corridor of the Imperial College rang, a group of students filed out of the school, leaving only two or three students holding books and surrounding the teacher to ask questions.
Cheng Youning was among those filing out. Because the court officials had been deliberating for so long, he was carrying the food box given to him by the old steward. Upon seeing the contents of the box in the carriage, Cheng Youning shook his head and sighed, unable to eat a single bite. Did the imperial kitchen, which he had requested, have nothing else to offer besides jujube cakes? Why was the old steward so insistent? It was the Emperor, not the Crown Prince, who liked jujube cakes; their tastes were completely different, worlds apart!
After enduring a class, Cheng Youning's stomach started rumbling uncontrollably. Even though she didn't like jujube cakes, she had to eat something to fill her stomach!
Cheng Youning walked ahead, with Qiao Rong following behind carrying a small snack box. Cheng Youning stopped only when they reached the Pan Pond of the Imperial Academy.
Qiao Rong opened the food box, not wanting to eat, but he couldn't show it. Not only that, he also had to persuade Cheng Youning to eat the jujube cakes. "Your Highness, please eat a little! Studying on an empty stomach will distract you."
Cheng Youning nodded, and while eating, she crushed some jujube cakes to feed the red carp in the pond.
Several younger students, unable to contain their excitement, tugged at their classmates' sleeves and ran over to tease the fish. Compared to Cheng Youning, they were older. Upon seeing the Crown Prince, they had to bow respectfully, then looked at him, wanting to speak but not daring to, and could only keep a distance from Cheng Youning.
Cheng Youning was feeding the fish dry food, while several students were teasing them with grass leaves, startling the fish into scattering, only to gather again a short distance away, eliciting low laughter from the students. Because the Crown Prince was present, they dared not laugh loudly, no matter how much they enjoyed it.
Student A asked, "Who was that wailing and howling in your class just now?"
Student B said, "Who else could it be but Hong Yuncong from my class! The day before yesterday, the teacher made him recite the Book of Rites, but he couldn't. So the teacher punished him by making him copy the Book of Rites. As a result, yesterday the Crown Prince organized a hunting dog competition in the south of the city! Hong Yuncong was so focused on the competition that he forgot about copying the Book of Rites. In class, the teacher asked him for the copy of the Book of Rites, but he couldn't produce it. So the teacher hit his hand with a ruler. Don't you all know how strong the teacher's ruler is? It makes your hand swell after just three hits. Just now, the teacher hit him with the ruler thirty times. No wonder he's wailing!"
Student C lowered his voice: "Isn't Hong Yuncong the Crown Prince's brother-in-law? Why doesn't the teacher show him any mercy?"
Student B said, "Have you ever seen a teacher show any leniency to anyone? Last time I was hit with ten strokes of the ruler, and my hand trembled for three whole days! In the entire Imperial Academy, apart from the Crown Prince, how many other teachers have escaped their punishment? These old teachers are very strict!"
As they were talking, Hong Yuncong ran over and whispered to everyone, "I'll pay two taels of silver if anyone can help me copy the Book of Rites."
Student B quickly shook his head, "I won't earn this money. Last time I copied books for you for two taels of silver, but the teacher found out and beat me even harder than he beat you."
The people around him shook their heads. They were all students in the beginner class, still young, and very afraid of the teacher. Once they were beaten, they dared not cause any more trouble.
Hong Yuncong asked, "Can you help me ask around and see if there are any scholars who are short of money but are willing to write?"
These few people were unwilling to earn the money, but there were plenty of others who were. And there were quite a few like Hong Yuncong who paid others to copy books. However, the teacher had sharp eyes and often saw through their schemes. But these unmotivated students never learned their lesson and continued to slack off on the money!
Qiao Rong was Cheng Youning's page and follower. He was not as talented as Cheng Youning in reading, and he did not need to copy books. He only needed to accompany Cheng Youning. However, he despised those who cheated in reading.
Qiao Rong had a jujube cake in her mouth, then slammed the lid of the food box shut with a click.
The nearby students all looked in their direction and fell silent. Even Cheng Youning glanced at Qiao Rong and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I look down on these rich kids who cheat and take shortcuts."
Cheng Youning shook her head slightly, then looked down at the carp in the pond. A group of fish heads were swarming around, their mouths wide open, waiting for Cheng Youning to feed them. The jujube cakes were small; even if they were crushed whole, they wouldn't be enough for these fish to have a treat.
Suddenly, Hong Yuncong's voice rang out from behind: "Brother-in-law, what delicious food are you eating?"
Cheng Youning didn't even look at him, and only said two words: "Date cake!"
"Two jujube cakes from the Imperial Kitchen, please!"
Cheng Youning's lips twitched. Qiao Rong wouldn't even give him one piece, yet he was still hoping to get two. Just as Cheng Youning was having this internal debate, Qiao Rong spoke up calmly, "There are no more breakfast pancakes!"
Hong Yuncong said domineeringly, "I don't believe you. Open the food box and let me see!"
Qiao Rong was a man of the Crown Prince's stature, and even the court officials had to show him respect. No one dared to speak to him like that. His face instantly turned cold. "How dare you! You dare to look at the Crown Prince's food box!"