latelenovela Chapter 97
Chapter 97
Chapter 97
Tang Guan didn’t really want to talk to Li Yuanying but ignoring others is not in line with his usual principles. He made up an excuse saying that he was the head of this dorm and so was tasked with the responsibility of the residents’ discipline. Whatever it is, chatting at night is forbidden. Yuanying saw that he brought back charcoal and nodded his head in a friendly manner: “Brother, you have worked hard!”Fôllôw new stories at novelhall.com
Tang Guan choked hearing the word “senior brother”. Thinking back on the boy’s age, it was really unreasonable for him to pick a fight with a junior. Tang Guan paused, turned around and silently hinted that he didn’t want to continue talking.
Yuanying looked at his back and stretched out his hands to pull his quilt as a sign of care.
“Brother, your back is showing, it’s cold at night!”
Tang Guan turned and stared at him.
Yuanying saw that Tang Guan had returned to his ferocious appearance. With an innocent face, he retracted his hands under the quilt and pulled it up, revealing only a pair of dark eyes.
Yuanying slept well. The next day he followed the Academy’s schedule and attended classes first before going for breakfast.
The academy only provided two meals a day which was foreign for Li Yuanying who eats whenever he likes. Fortunately, he ate well last night and wasn’t hungry. He followed Tang Xuan enthusiastically to experience a full day of activities after washing up.
Kong Yingda has been very strict about assembly time and had set a ritual of someone beating the drums early in the morning to get students to gather. This practice has been in place ever since 2 years ago where a ruckus was almost caused during an important ceremony.
Besides warm up exercises, today morning’s class included archery. Ever since Li Yuanying boldly confessed that he didn’t know how to use a bow when he accompanied the Emperor to a hunting trip, his Majesty had found him a private tutor who was one of the best archers among his guards. The tutor informed the Emperor that Prince Teng is talented and could shoot well since the boy had been playing with a slingshot since he was a child. All he needed now was to personally practice. But with the new year approaching, Yuanying was busy and didn’t have time to practice.
Hearing Tang Xuan mention archery, he excitedly said: “I’ve learned how to do this last year! Let’s have a competition!”
“If you had only learned it last year then it’s not fair to compete.” (Tang Xuan)
Yuanying felt that those with the surname “Tang” were all serious people. He looked left and right and didn’t see his group of friends.
“Why isn’t Zhi Nu and the rest here?”
“The venue is only this big with limited bow and arrows. We have to take turns.”
Yuanying understood. Tang Xuan didn’t want to compete with him, so he excitedly went to ask others. No matter what he does, Yuanying likes it lively. Since the people living under the same roof with him do not want to compete, he went looking for Du He and the others.
Normally Du He and his gang wouldn’t bump into Li Yuanying but they happen to have the same morning class. With a bow in hand Yuanying went asking for a duel. Du He and his gang were more than happy to reciprocate.
As a result, Li Yuanying was quickly defeated.
Li Yuanying didn’t believe in luck and compete with everyone one after another. Only after total defeat did he face reality.
Looks like he needed to practice. Can’t just stop because someone praises you saying you were talented.
After total loss, Yuanying finally stopped provoking others. He sat on the sideline quietly observing others. He observed how others practice, how they aimed, placed their fingers, their postures and how much strength they use to shoot their arrows.
After Tang Xuan as done, he thought his little friend would be upset about being totally defeated. He put down his bow and came over to comfort him: “You’ve just started learning. It is normal to not be as good as others. Just practice more.”
Li Yuanying nodded. “I’ll go practice!”
Yuanying internalized the things he observed and picked up a bow that suited him. He tried a few rounds and felt significant improvements. He internalized what he learned again and ran to ask the tutors to teach him.
“My thoughts exactly. When I was younger, I tend to get bullied dressing up as a girl. After I decided to dress like a boy and shouted louder than others and were fiercer than others, no one dared to come forward. Boys are stronger and I may not win in a physical fight but learning requires brains. If boys can learn it, then I can too! Not only do I want to learn, I want to learn better than others so that I won’t be bullied!” (Wei Shu)
Jin Shengman clapped her hands and applauded: “That’s the reason! Her cousin sister is the Queen of Silla. When she was younger and visited the Queen, she could always see the tiredness between her brows. If a men couldn’t do the same task well no one would say anything but if her cousin didn’t do things well, someone will say “of course women can’t do it right”. Jin Shengman explained her reasoning for studying abroad: “I want to learn more from Tang and return to help my cousin manage Silla. I must not let people look down on us girls.”
Mei Niang had long heard that Silla was a country governed by women and she was fascinated by Jin Shengman’s statement: “If you don’t understand anything, you can always tell us and we can discuss it together.”
Chengyang was the most restrained, she silently raised her hand to straighten the wick and only stopped when everyone looked at her. After being quiet, Cheng Yang finally said: “I also want to be of some use.” In terms of likability, she is not as good as Si Zi and Heng Shan. In terms of smartness, she is not as good as elder sister Chang Le, and in terms of being lively and cute, she is not as good as Gao Yang. She didn’t have as much thoughts when she took the Imperial College entrance exam, she just wanted to make herself smarter and more sensible, so that she wouldn’t be a burden if something happens in the future.
After hearing Cheng Yang’s words, the three girls became silent.
Yeah! After having said so much, all they actually wanted was to make themselves a little bit more useful.
Wei Shu was the first to come back to her senses:”We are much luckier than many.”
Not everyone meets such an opportunity, let alone have the chance to seize such opportunity. This world sets too many obstacles for women. Even those closest and dearest to them might not necessarily support them to do what they wanted to do.
Therefore, they are very lucky.
The four girls looked at each other and stopped talking about such a heavy topic. They started discussing their daytime homework instead. A foot may prove short, an inch may prove long. After discussing, what they have learned became clearer. They chatted until the candle burned out and went to sleep contentedly.
Back in the Palace.
The Emperor sent away his bad brother and his beloved son to the Academy. He initially thought that the stubborn rock would cause big splashes but he hadn’t heard any complaints from Kong Yingda all day and was disappointed. He asked the men serving him as he help the Emperor take off his outer robe: “Has anything happened at the Imperial College?”
“Something did happen.” His servant understood instantly and replied respectfully. “I heard FengThai Restaurant approached the College and asked that students help to try out a hundred dishes. They will prepare different dishes for a hundred days with at least two meat and two vegetables in it. The dishes sounded rich and delicious. I would want to try them too!”
Now Li Er knows why Li Yuanying made no fuss. Turns out he bought a “hundreds of dishes” with his own money and will eat good food without repetition every day!
His Majesty still felt that it is unlike his younger brother to be so obedient so he asked persistently: “Is that all?”
“That’s about it.” “I heard from those who ran errands at the Imperial College that His Highness Prince Teng is very happy there and had many friends. They even sometimes stop the lecturers from leaving by asking lots of questions. He seems very into learning!”
Li Er stopped asking and lay down to sleep.
As a result, the Emperor dreamed that his brother, Li Yuanying set the Imperial College on fire!
Waking up and remembering his dream, Li Er felt that that was more like what his little brother would do.
Now that the Academy was at peace, Li Er stopped asking questions and went to court as usual.
After a few days of peace, when the court official’s holiday was approaching, Li Chengqian came over and said that he needed the Emperor’s opinion.
Notes from the Author:
His Majesty Li Er: My younger brother can’t be so well-behaved!
Little Prince:? ? ? ? ?
Little Prince: What kind of rubbish brother is this! (pointing)