Chapter 121: Just A Child
“She came to the capital to find family, yet avoided meeting them.”
“Upon learning that the young lady encountered on the road was to take the exam for Princess companion reader at the National Academy, she boldly impersonated her.”
“She deceived Miss Liu and instructed the maidservant to impersonate her.”
“Mister Wang, this is also Our fault. After the incident, We worried it would affect Princess Pingcheng’s reading, and also that such a blunder so soon after organizing the matter would bring shame, so We concealed it from you, Mister.”
“We came up with a plan: at month’s end, have you arrange an exam, set a punishment, then expel these three from the National Academy.”
The Emperor selectively recounted the sequence of events.
At this point, his expression was complex.
“Unexpectedly…”
His gaze fell on the answer sheet Wang Zaitian had brought over.
Unexpectedly, this Yang Luo had ranked first.
“That fake Liu Chan, the real Liu Chan’s exam was also good…” Wang Zaitian said, reaching out to flip through the answer sheets to show the Emperor.
The Emperor was stunned for a moment, his expression somewhat helpless: “That’s not what We meant.”
He had said so much, yet Wang Zaitian listened without interrupting to ask questions, his expression showing not the slightest surprise.
Had this old man listened or not.
He had seen this old man argue with others before, pretending to be deaf and asleep when encountering things he didn’t want to hear or answer.
The Emperor’s face darkened again.
“What We mean is that they committed a wrong.” He looked at Wang Zaitian. “Not questioning your judgment; this matter has nothing to do with reading.”
Wang Zaitian set down the answer sheet and sat up straight: “Your Majesty, the cause of this matter is the exam for Princess companion reader to enter the National Academy; it cannot be said to have nothing to do with reading.”
At this point, his tone was earnest.
“Your Majesty says their conduct is poor, but this poor conduct of theirs was not used on other matters, but on reading, showing they are wholeheartedly devoted to learning.”
“Moreover, their results prove they have indeed been seriously reading after entering the National Academy.”
“Your Majesty, the purpose of punishment is not punishment, but to know one’s wrongs and correct them.”
“One cannot simply drive people away.”
Sigh, as expected, this old man would lecture at length; the Emperor pressed his forehead.
He of course understood these principles.
But the true cause of this matter was not reading, and the decision to punish was not because of the wrongdoing.
It was because of this girl’s background.
And that could not be told to Wang Zaitian.
Anyway, all that could be said had been said, so just be direct; after all, he was the Emperor, and his word was law.
The Emperor waved his hand, interrupting Wang Zaitian: “In short, driving them out of the National Academy is Our decision; you need not object.”
Wang Zaitian paused, then assented.
“Your Majesty’s decree, this subject naturally has no objection; I shall take her away from the National Academy at once.”
With that, he bowed and turned to leave.
The Emperor was stunned for a moment; having heard the assent, he had just relaxed when realization struck.
What? Take her away? Meaning he would leave too?
The Emperor flew into a rage.
“Insolent! You dare hold Us hostage!”
……
…….
A clattering sound rose inside the carriage.
The desk had been overturned.
The eunuch guarding outside shivered.
This Wang Zaitian had angered the Emperor.
He signaled to the guards around, preparing to drag this old man away at His Majesty’s command.
In the cramped carriage, the overturned small tea table pinned down Wang Zaitian’s robe, and the teacup on it had rolled off.
Fortunately, there was no tea, or the inside of the carriage would be a mess.
Wang Zaitian shook the teacup off the answer sheet, then bowed again.
“Your Majesty, calm your anger.”
“This subject is not holding you hostage.”
He lifted his head, his expression helpless.
“This subject has no choice; after all, she is this subject’s disciple. When a disciple errs, the master must teach her. Your Majesty wants to drive her away, so this subject must follow; otherwise, how to teach her?”
The Emperor sneered coldly: “What disciple of yours is she!”
Wang Zaitian picked up the first answer sheet and pushed it toward the Emperor.
“This subject told Your Majesty before the exam that this time’s first place would become my disciple.” He said, “This subject is not holding Your Majesty hostage; this subject is merely keeping his word.”
With that, he bowed again.
“Your Majesty, rest assured; this subject will settle everything at the National Academy before leaving.”
The Emperor’s figure stiffened; Wang Zaitian had indeed mentioned this to him then, when he thought it would fall to Princess Pingcheng, and secretly rejoiced that Wang Zaitian had finally come around, fulfilling the Princess’s wish without his request…
So he hadn’t objected at the time.
The result…
The Emperor’s gaze fell on the pushed-over answer sheet.
Top Grade A, Yang Luo.
Who could have thought she would rank first!
“This disciple is so learned?” The Emperor looked at Wang Zaitian and asked gravely. “You would take her despite ignoring her conduct?”
Wang Zaitian smiled faintly: “Your Majesty, if you say she is unparalleled in the world, that she is not, but at this moment, she ranked first, so this disciple should be hers.”
At this point, he paused, looking at the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, they are still young.”
“Their minds are not fully mature, their virtues not yet set; even if wrong, there is still a chance to correct it.”
At this point, he looked at the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, they are just children.”
The Emperor’s hand on his knee clenched; just children…
Yes, just children; the previous generation’s grievances had nothing to do with her.
“Their virtues are lacking, and the National Academy is instead the most suitable place.”
“Here, I will teach them the way of virtue.”
“Let them understand to dwell in goodness, associate with the benevolent, and no longer act recklessly.”
……
…….
Dwell in goodness, associate with the benevolent.
Hearing this, the Emperor raised his eyes.
Yes, confined to the National Academy and taught by Wang Zaitian would indeed be better than being managed by that Yang Family couple.
The Emperor was silent for a moment.
“But their wrongdoing must be announced to everyone; it cannot be glossed over.” He said slowly. “You cannot indulge and cover for them just because they are your disciples.”
Wang Zaitian bowed in respect: “This subject obeys the decree.”
Complying as he wished, the Emperor glared at him irritably: “Go on, go on.”
Wang Zaitian took leave, then thought of something: “Your Majesty, since you have come, please go in; you personally admonish them.”
The Emperor lowered his eyes.
“We shall not go.” He said. “You handle the admonition in Our stead.”
……
…….
The carriage quietly departed from the National Academy.
As the Emperor swayed lightly with the carriage and horses, his gaze fell on the righted tea table; besides the original teacup, there were now two more answer sheets.
Wang Zaitian had still left two when he left.
“This subject knows Your Majesty came for the Princess.”
“Your Majesty, please look; Grade A has upper and lower distinctions. Knowing the Princess’s disadvantages will help better understand her strengths, to encourage her more effectively.”
Sigh, his poor daughter.
The Emperor extended his hand; the answer sheet had a clear name. He reached for the one with Princess Pingcheng’s name, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to the one beside it.
Yang Luo.
Just as his hand was about to touch Princess Pingcheng’s answer sheet, he suddenly pulled it back.
The Emperor closed his eyes.
No need to look.
She had been clever since childhood, steeped in poetry and books.
Her daughter was naturally exceptionally intelligent.
Getting first place was no surprise.
……
…….
Too strange!
Liu Chan was not Liu Chan.
Yang Sheng was not Yang Sheng.
Yang Luo was still Yang Luo.
The companion reader ladies in the classroom looked incredulous, stunned by this sudden news.
Yang Hui, who had known early, was also shocked.
Because the Emperor had pardoned the three of them for the impersonation crime!
How could this be! How could this happen!
Thinking the Emperor was coming, they had all waited in the classroom.
After waiting half a day with no Emperor, the Libationer returned and suddenly called Yang Luo, Liu Chan, and Yang Sheng up on stage, telling a story.
One young lady brought her maidservant to the capital to find family; one young lady brought her maidservant to the capital for the exam; they got acquainted on the road. One young lady fell ill, unwilling to miss the exam, so the other had her maidservant take it in her place; unexpectedly, she passed. Then family came looking, and it was exposed.
To let the Princess read steadily, the Emperor decided to let the wrong stand, and let the other two young ladies enter the National Academy too; at month’s end big exam, verify their learning, then decide.
“Now the exam results are out.” Wang Zaitian said. “They ranked Grade A upper, Grade B lower, Grade C upper respectively, verifying the three indeed have a desire to learn. His Majesty orders the three to submit apology letters, then continue reading at the National Academy to cultivate virtue.”
The Libationer finished speaking and gestured to the three standing on stage.
“Come, introduce yourselves to everyone again.”
Everyone below the stage was dumbfounded; those on stage were dazed too.
Mo Zheng stepped forward first, paying respects to everyone below the stage.
“I am Yang Luo; greetings to all. My apologies; it was all my idea.”
She bowed with clasped hands toward the direction of the Imperial City.
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your magnanimity.”
Yang Luo and Liu Chan came back to their senses and followed her actions.
Mo Zheng straightened and turned to Wang Zaitian, bowing solemnly.
“Thank you, Mister.”
She knew that convincing the Emperor must have been Wang Zaitian.
Thank you, Mister, for daring to take her, a remnant of the previous dynasty, as disciple.
Thank you, Mister, for not abandoning her.
