There has been no prince in the palace for a long time, so it is not necessary to give lectures to the prince. Instead, he gave lectures to the Emperor. It can be said that ‘although there is no title as the Emperor's teacher, there is the truth as the Emperor's teacher’.
Recently, when the weather in autumn turned colder, Shen Lang began to feel that his dragon body has gradually become unwell. The three cabinet ministers were even secretly called into the palace several times.
No one knows exactly what was discussed.
But since last month, Shen Lang has sent a decree to summon some of the imperial clansman’s children into the palace to listen to the lectures in the imperial lecture hall with him. This also includes several of his brothers, and Shen Jie is no exception either.
By the time Yan Lin and Shen Jie arrived in front of the Wenhua hall, the daily lectures had been going on for a while.
When Huang De, the chief eunuch who was guarding at the door, saw them coming, he immediately hurried over and bent his body while whispering in a low voice: "His Royal Highness and the Young Marquis came so late today. The lectures had been going for a while and if you two entered at this time, you will definitely be seen by the Young Teacher!"
When they were having a good time last night drinking, how can they still remember that they have to listen to the lecture today?
Shen Jie and Yan Lin looked at each other and felt their head aches.
This teacher, Xie Wei, has always been both lenient and strict. Humanity is ‘the legacy of ancient sage’, but the principle and bottom line is strictly clear and tolerates no mistakes or violations.
Last time, when King Yanping, who was quite loved by the Emperor, was only half a minute late but didn't dare to make any fuss. He just slipped in from the side door of the hall. Who knows that it was directly seen by Xie Wei and he was asked to recite his yesterday's teaching of ‘Faction Discussion[1]’ in the hall.
King Yanping was young and playful, so how can he recite it?
Only stood there, faltered for a long time and made a big blushing face.
Xie Wei did not get angry either and asked him to go back and sit down instead. He said that yesterday it may be that his speech is too complicated to remember, and took the blame on himself.
After King Yanping sat down, he felt really ashamed.
On the same day, he went back to his own house and lit up the lantern to study till night. The next day, he arrived at Wenhua hall not even half a minute late. He not only recited ‘Faction Discussion’, but also recited ‘Ten Recommendations to Emperor Taizong of Tang’, which impressed everyone so much.
From then on, he kept working hard.
No matter how shameful King Yanping was, he was only 14 years old. He could also argue that he was a child and didn't understand it.
But Yan Lin and Shen Jie are not young anymore, so they care about their face[2].
At this moment, looking at the door of the Wenhua hall and listening to the faint lecture sound from inside, they felt their scalp numbed[3] and a little fearful.
In the end, it was still Huang De who was more savvy. He thought about it for a while and gave an idea: "Whenever something happens, Young Teacher would always deal with it on the spot. But once the time has passed, he will not pursue it anymore, and he will never turn the old accounts with anyone. Today, the Shangyi[4] bureau sent a Guqin[5]. The Emperor gave it to Young Teacher. A while later, there will be a tea break between two lectures. Young Teacher loves qin and he will definitely try it. It's better for Your Highness and Young Marquis to wait for a while, wait for Young Teacher to touch the qin before entering. Most probably, he will just let it go. "
Feeling as if they were suddenly saved, Shen Jie and Yan Lin quickly clasped their hands and saluted him: "Many thanks, Gong Gong[6]!"
After speaking, each quietly went to the side hall and waited in silent.
*
Jiang Xuening also didn't know what the situation would be like when Yan Lin and Shen Jie went to the palace to listen to the lectures in the Imperial Lecture Hall.
After the two of them left, she soon embarked on the road to return home.
When she was young, she already went to almost all the streets in the Capital. When she just came out of the inn, she still felt a little unfamiliar and somewhat couldn’t find the right direction. Fortunately, after taking two steps, the old memory gradually revived, and she soon found the way back to the Jiang's Mansion.
[1] Faction Discussion: I don’t even know the correct literal translation. The raw is 朋党论. Any idea/suggestion is welcomed.
[2] Face: in Chinese it usually means honor, respect, prestige.
[3] Scalp numb: idiom for the feeling of extreme fear.
[4] Shangyi: Government office’s name. The literal translation is ‘greatly respected ceremony’.
[5] Guqin (sometimes called qin): a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument.
[6] Gong Gong: the old appellation for eunuch.
Thanks for the update! These guys are so mature cof cof ....
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