"Your Highness! You're back!"
"Um."
The next day, as the sun rose, Shen Yi'an stretched and returned to the Prince's Mansion, where the gatekeepers were already waiting at the main entrance.
Yesterday, Ye Tianze made me drink a lot of alcohol, and today I went to the morning court session. This feeling is exactly the same as going to the morning self-study session the day after staying up all night in high school.
I wanted to stand in a corner and take a nap, but the ministers started arguing again.
Some were arguing, some were complaining about being poor, and some were asking for money. The court assembly was more lively than a vegetable market.
Emperor Wu was like a teacher in class, occasionally calling out "Quiet" to quiet everyone down, but within a few minutes everyone would start making noise again.
Shen Yi'an greatly envied Lao Ba and the others, who were not yet of marriageable age (15) and did not have to attend court and listen to government affairs as required by the old man.
Of course, there is always an exception to everything, and that is Shen Tengfeng, the ultimate king of shirking his responsibilities, who can also avoid attending court.
"Mendu, I'm going to rest for a while. Come and wake me up at noon."
"Your Highness, according to the schedule, you need to go to the academy to study at 9:00 AM today!" Mendu said earnestly, pulling out a slip of paper from his sleeve.
"An academy?" Shen Yi'an was taken aback.
An academy, as the name suggests, is a place for studying.
Tianwu Academy was affiliated with the royal family, and its students were all children of the royal family or ministers.
The current academy teacher was no ordinary person; he was Zhou Xiu, the chief disciple of the Sage of Literature, and even Emperor Wu had to respectfully address him as "Teacher."
After Emperor Wu ascended the throne, a martial spirit swept through the Great Qian Dynasty.
He is capable of governing the country with his civil skills and securing peace with his military prowess.
Emperor Wu also attached great importance to literature. While building academies in various places, he also set up a series of assessment institutions to select talents, similar to the imperial examinations of the previous era.
Secondly, there were strict requirements for these princes and princesses. Regardless of whether you held an official position or a title, you had to graduate from the academy before you could leave.
"I'm not going."
Shen Yi'an answered crisply and concisely.
"Your Highness... what will happen to His Majesty if you don't go..."
The academy has a roster, so it's clear who came and who didn't.
In the evening, after the academy closed, this attendance list was to be sent to the palace by the imperial guards for Emperor Wu to review.
"At worst, I'll just go to the palace tonight," Shen Yi'an said nonchalantly, waving his hand.
What's the point of learning those flowery, literary things? He could probably become a saint on the spot by copying down some famous quotes from the Four Books and Five Classics.
He would rather spend that time visiting the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and holding hands with Liyan.
"Your Highness is truly formidable."
Everyone gave a thumbs up.
"Mendu, prepare some light meals for lunch."
"Yes, Your Highness! I will make the arrangements immediately!"
——————
Tianwu Academy.
Zhou Xiu, dressed in a white long gown, called out again, holding the roll call list: "Shen Yi'an!"
The schoolroom suddenly fell silent.
"Old Six is really something, he even dared not to come to the academy's opening ceremony today."
Shen Tengfeng was filled with admiration; Shen Yi'an skipped class, something he himself wouldn't dare to do.
"Fifth brother, you look so excited today, did you discover something interesting again?"
Sitting to the side, the fourth prince, Prince Song, Shen Jingyu, asked with a smile.
"Fourth Brother, I've discovered a big secret, but I don't know how sincere you are." Shen Tengfeng rubbed his fingers together.
"oh?"
Shen Jingyu took off the gold bracelet from his wrist and chuckled, "I left in a hurry today and didn't bring my silver pouch. Fifth brother, would this be alright?"
Shen Tengfeng took the gold bracelet and, without even bothering to find it dirty, took a bite. After confirming it was real gold, he beamed, "Great! Absolutely great! Fourth Brother!"
"Fourth Brother, come closer."
Shen Tengfeng leaned slightly and whispered in Shen Jingyu's ear.
"Oh? A fairy? A peerless beauty? Interesting." Shen Jingyu smiled with interest upon hearing this.
"Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, what are you talking about?" Seventh Prince Shen Luonian, sitting behind Shen Tengfeng, curiously stretched out his little head, his face still showing traces of childishness.
Shen Tengfeng accepted all offers without hesitation, rubbing his fingers together.
Shen Luonian's face fell: "Fifth Brother, you know me, I'm even poorer than you..."
"Fifth Brother." Shen Jingyu generously took off another gold bracelet from his left wrist.
Shen Tengfeng subconsciously glanced at Shen Jingyu's feet.
He had a feeling that these guys were all getting richer and richer after being granted the title of king.
"Fifth brother, don't look anymore, it's gone."
"Ahem, Seventh Brother, come closer."
Shen Tengfeng calmly accepted the gold bracelet and beckoned it with his finger.
A few seconds later, Shen Luonian had an incredulous expression on his face.
"Is it true, Fifth Brother...?"
"Damn, I saw it with my own eyes yesterday! Would I lie to you?!"
"Quiet."
After closing the roll call, Zhou Xiu summoned a pageboy.
"Go to the Chu Prince's residence and inquire about His Highness's situation."
"Yes, sir!"
——————
The Chu King's Palace.
"I... am a pageboy from the academy, here on behalf of the master to inquire why His Highness Prince Chu did not come to the academy today." The pageboy stood in front of Mendu, speaking nervously, clearly intimidated by Mendu's appearance.
"His Highness is not feeling well today, please inform the doctor."
The doorman bowed and said.
"I will pass on your message to the master. Sorry for the intrusion." The page boy bowed and then trotted away.
Mendu couldn't help but sigh, thankfully he had a quick mind; without him, the Prince's mansion would probably fall apart.
At noon, it was break time at the academy. Shen Tengfeng's eyes were gleaming with greed. He grabbed someone and asked, "I have a big secret. Do you want to know?"
After going around in circles, Shen Tengfeng made a fortune, and the news about Ye Liyan spread far and wide.
"Have you heard? That ominous daughter of the Ye family is even more beautiful than the Four Beauties!"
"What?! The granddaughter of the Duke of Ye looks like a fairy?!"
"I've heard that the woman in the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is absolutely stunning!"
Stories often become more and more fantastical as they are passed down.
There are even rumors that Ye Liyan is a cursed fairy who was forced to descend to the mortal world.
The topic of Ye Liyan quickly shifted from being associated with misfortune and calamity to being discussed about her appearance.
Even the four beauties of Tianwu City were caught in the vortex of public opinion.
The public is curious whether the appearance of this "fairy" will turn the Four Beauties into Five Beauties.
When the wind finally blew in, there were no shortage of reckless busybodies who wanted to catch a glimpse of the "fairy's" beautiful face.
Some reckless individuals actually tried to climb over the wall of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, but were immediately beaten away by the guards inside the mansion.
Ye Tianze sat in the mansion with a gloomy face. How could he not know about the rumors outside? It must have been spread by Shen Tengfeng's big mouth. For a moment, he didn't know whether to be happy or angry.
The good news is that the topics about Liyan are finally no longer those negative words.
What's infuriating is that these reckless fools think they can come and go as they please at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!
Fortunately, thanks to Shen Yi'an's reminder last night, more guards were deployed today, leaving those reckless fools with no opportunity to take advantage.
"Sir, the son of Marquis Lou Cheng has brought a visiting card and requests an audience," Afu reported as he jogged into the hall.
"Tell them all to get out. The Duke's mansion is closed to visitors today!" Ye Tianze said coldly.
"Yes, sir!"
A moment later, Afu jogged back.
"uncle!"
"What's wrong now? Didn't we say we were closing the door to visitors?"
"It's someone from His Highness the King of Chu requesting an audience!" Afu said cautiously.
Ye Tianze raised an eyebrow.
"See."
——————
"Your Excellency, His Highness heard that the Duke's mansion has been harassed by unknown individuals, and has specially dispatched me with 100 Xuanwei to assist you. We are entirely at Your Excellency's command," Cheng Hai said respectfully, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.
Ye Tianze looked at the 100 royal guards, all dressed in identical black armor and with long swords at their waists, and a slight smile appeared on his face: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness Prince Chu."
The Chu King's Palace.
Shen Yi'an asked, "Has Cheng Hai led the people over yet?"
"Your Highness, we have arrived at the Duke's residence," Mendu replied.
"Let's wait and see. I'm curious to see where this whirlpool will end up."
"Yes, Your Highness!"