Chapter 178: The Emperor’s Personal Visit
Outside the door of Wang Zaitian’s room on the highest floor of the Library, Ling Yu stood quietly.
Through the open door, one could see Wang Zaitian, the Emperor wrapped in a gray and inconspicuous cloak, and the maidservant who was bowing in respect.
Having come here, even disciples could not enter, only this maidservant.
“…Mister, please forgive me. I just learned of this matter myself.”
“…Yang Luo deceived Mister once again.”
“…Sigh, sit down and talk. Everyone, sit down.”
Ling Yu stepped back to the railing and saw Mo Zheng supporting herself on the railing while gazing up at the top of the tower, her eyes sparkling. He lowered his voice: “See, there’s another level of the Library behind these stairs. It must be hiding good books, right?”
At this moment, what interested her most was the books at the top of the tower. Ling Yu smiled faintly and lowered his voice like her: “The fine selections chosen by Mister are all stored here.”
Mo Zheng raised her eyebrows: “Next time, I’ll sneak one out to read.”
“Just take it directly, no need to sneak. You are Mister’s disciple; Mister’s things are ours.” Ling Yu said, looking at Mo Zheng with a soft sigh.
A Sheng’s hard-earned life was truly extraordinarily difficult.
Mo Zheng was not the real Yang Luo; Ling Yu had known that for a long time.
But only at this moment did he realize that this real Miss Yang was actually the Emperor’s daughter.
Mo Zheng understood what he was thinking and bumped his arm with hers, saying softly: “This hard-earned life is also unprecedentedly majestic and imposing.”
Ling Yu smiled. Whether it was previously begging for a living in the street market with Grandfather and his cousin, or now begging for a living under the identity of the Son of Heaven’s daughter, A Sheng was always calm and composed, unruffled by honor or disgrace.
He said no more and picked up the book scroll in his hand: “Let’s read for a while.”
Mo Zheng smiled and took out a scroll from her sleeve as well.
Ling Yu’s smile deepened. The two stood side by side at the railing, each lowering their head to read the scroll in hand.
……
…….
“His Majesty is here!”
“Oh my god, why has His Majesty come!”
After the instructor finished one lesson, the absent-minded young ladies had not yet stood up to begin discussing when they were ordered by the entering palace maids to be quiet, saying that the Emperor and the Libationer had arrived.
Princess Pingcheng was also very surprised; Father Emperor had not told her.
But she immediately understood that because of that rumor, Father Emperor had come personally to explain to the Libationer and reassure everyone.
Father Emperor did not want her to worry, so he had not told her.
Everyone in the hall kowtowed to welcome the Emperor and also saw Miss Yang and her maidservant following behind the Emperor and the Libationer. The Emperor and the Libationer went forward on their own, while Yang Luo and the maidservant sat in their own seats.
“You have been reading for so long; today I have come to see everyone’s homework.”
The Emperor sat down and said with a smile.
The instructors fetched the companion reader young ladies’ homework and presented it. The Emperor examined it carefully and called the corresponding companion reader young lady forward.
“Miss of the Chen family, your handwriting is so much better than your father’s.”
“Miss Wang of Jinzhou, when I passed by back then, I once drank the wine brewed by your grandfather. The essay you wrote has more charm than your grandfather’s wine back then.”
The companion reader young ladies standing before the Emperor were all very excited. Although they had become princess companion readers, they had never been able to see the Emperor.
Previously, they had received the princess’s invitation to the hunting banquet but had always been kept on the periphery. If not for Miss Yang’s startled horse, they would not have seen the Emperor even until the banquet ended…
Today was different; not only was their homework personally reviewed by the Emperor, but he also praised them verbally.
Yang Luo sat in the last row, watching this scene somewhat dazedly. This was just like the scene Yang Hui had described from that life.
The Emperor had come to the National Academy to personally review the companion reader young ladies’ homework and even praised Yang Hui for having the demeanor of an old acquaintance.
In this life, because she had entered the National Academy, the trajectory had changed, so the Emperor had not come.
Now, this scene had still appeared.
However, this time, the Emperor would not call Yang Hui forward again and say that line about the demeanor of an old acquaintance.
Because the child of the old acquaintance was already standing before him.
Yang Hui, who had originally been looking around curiously from the side, saw the detestable maidservant A Sheng giving her a strange smile and could not help but shiver.
“What are you doing?” she asked fiercely with her eyes.
But before she got a response, Wang Zaitian called her name, and Yang Hui hurried forward in a panic.
The Emperor did not praise her amiably like the previous companion reader young ladies but frowned as he looked at the essay, then at her.
“You really are just like your father.” He frowned and said, “Always lazy and slippery in everything you do.”
Yang Hui’s face paled as she stood frozen in place, not knowing what to say and not daring to speak.
“Since you have come to read, then study diligently.” The Emperor continued to reprimand, “If I see no improvement next time, then do not come to read anymore.”
The Libationer smiled cheerfully beside him and comforted: “Your Majesty, do not be so strict. As long as she is willing to read, it is good.”
This time, Yang Hui did not find this old man annoyingly only saying good things at all.
“Alright, go back.” The Emperor glanced at Yang Hui.
Yang Hui hurried back as if granted a great pardon.
Soon, the maidservants A Sheng and Liu Chan sitting in this row were also called forward.
The Emperor did not reprimand the two like he did Yang Hui, but he also did not say words of praise, only telling them to study diligently.
The companion reader young ladies present thought that the Emperor still minded the matter of the two impersonating others’ identities and disapproved of their character.
Liu Chan did not mind the Emperor’s indifference; for her, as long as she could continue reading here, it was fine.
The last one called was Miss Yang.
The hall quieted for a moment as the companion reader young ladies watched Miss Yang step forward, but the Emperor did not look at Miss Yang; instead, he looked at the Libationer.
“It was my failure to discipline earlier that left Miss Chai and Miss Yang with unresolved resentment, causing the startled horse. During the time Miss Yang was recovering from injury, her studies were delayed.” He said, raising his hand in a salute, “This has delayed the Libationer’s lineage, and I feel very uneasy about it.”
The Libationer laughed heartily: “Good, good, good. Your Majesty, rest assured.”
Then he looked at Miss Yang again.
“Did you hear that? Even while recovering from injury, your homework must not be neglected!”
Miss Yang respectfully paid respects: “This student will certainly strive hard.”
The Emperor looked at her: “Study well, and do not waste your opportunity.”
Miss Yang acknowledged again and withdrew.
The Emperor’s gaze turned to the three princesses, a smile appearing on his face.
“Pingcheng, Wuyang, Nangong, you three have all made progress, and Father Emperor is very pleased.” He said.
The three princesses hurriedly stood, saying in unison: “Thank you, Father Emperor, for the praise.”
Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong looked excited and agitated, while Princess Pingcheng was smiling too, but her eyes were calm, even somewhat stagnant.
Father Emperor had actually mentioned her in the same breath as these two.
“Please everyone focus on reading, reading without distraction. This will be greatly beneficial for yourselves and your futures.”
Accompanied by the Emperor’s imperial instruction, everyone in the hall paid respects together: “Your subjects obey the command.”
They had all understood.
His Majesty did not favor Miss Yang at all. Leaving her in the temporary palace and allowing her to use the imperial carriage were all because of the Libationer—out of respect for the disciple selected by the Libationer, and to express apology on behalf of the Chai Clan.
After all, Marquis Yichun’s family was imperial kin. Chai Wan’er had already had two conflicts with Miss Yang, and since the Emperor had not punished Miss Chai out of consideration for the Empress’s face, he could only compensate Miss Yang more.
More crucially, they had seen with their own eyes that the Emperor had no affection for this Miss Yang, not even glancing at her much, and was even less warm than he had been to Yang Hui.
But this was not enough.
Watching the Emperor and the Libationer leave, Princess Pingcheng followed.
……
……
“Father Emperor, Libationer, I have something to say.”
Seeing Princess Pingcheng follow, the Emperor and the Libationer both stopped.
The Emperor smiled kindly: “What is it, Pingcheng?”
The Libationer smiled beside him and asked: “Princess, shall I step away first?”
Princess Pingcheng looked at the Libationer and shook her head: “No need. This matter also needs to be said to the Libationer.” Then she spoke directly, “Please have the Libationer let Yang Luo study with you and not with me anymore.”
The Emperor and the Libationer were slightly stunned.
This was to drive away Yang Luo?
This was not driving away; this was how it should be. Yang Luo was the Libationer’s disciple, and Father Emperor had also praised her talent and learning. For someone with such talent to study with them would only be a delay, right?
So, it was still best for the Libationer to teach her personally; this would be good for both Yang Luo and them.
She was a princess who spoke reason.
Princess Pingcheng had already thought about how to say it, but just as she was about to speak, she saw the Emperor nod.
“Good.” He said, his face breaking into a smile, “Pingcheng is right.”
Then he looked at the Libationer.
“Libationer, this is how it should be.”
The Libationer looked at the Emperor, frowned slightly, then looked at Princess Pingcheng and nodded: “This subject obeys the command.”
Father Emperor had agreed just like that. Princess Pingcheng was somewhat dazed, then smiled, this time the smile reaching her eyes.
Nothing needed to be said; as long as she made the request, Father Emperor agreed without hesitation.
She was still the same in Father Emperor’s heart as before.
The Emperor looked at the nodding Libationer, his smile deepening.
Miss Yang would go study with the Libationer, and Miss Yang’s maidservant would naturally go too.
This was how it should be; his Luo Ying princess should be personally taught by the Libationer.
