ASTRP -Chapter 57 A Few Little Rascals Argue with the Young Emperor

After walking for about half an hour, they arrived at Nanshangfang.

As soon as Feng Jingge stepped inside, she heard children arguing noisily.

Walking a few more steps forward, crying could be heard, followed by the sounds of scuffling and fighting.

The Grand Tutor’s expression changed slightly. He turned to Feng Jingge and said, “Your Highness, this official will go take a look first.”

Before Feng Jingge could stop him, the Grand Tutor had already hurried forward.

Not long after, his furious shout echoed back.

“What are you all doing?!!”

Hearing this, Feng Jingge quickened her pace.

In the pavilion ahead, the Grand Tutor stood with an angry expression. Beside him stood the young emperor, his small face marked with scratches that looked like they had been made by fingernails.

Eight children stood opposite them, all lowering their heads.

Feng Jingge walked over. When the young emperor saw her, he called out in a choked voice, “Imperial Uncle.”

That address made the eight boys secretly lift their eyes to look at Feng Jingge.

The Grand Tutor immediately reprimanded them, “What are you eight standing there for? Hurry and pay respects to the Regent!”

Hearing that this was the legendary Regent who held immense power over the court, all eight of them changed expression.

One tall boy’s face turned especially ugly.

“Chu Ning greets the Regent.”

“Jin Anhao greets the Regent.”

“Xu Shu greets the Regent.”

Seven of them knelt and greeted her—only the tall boy remained standing, showing no intention of kneeling.

The Grand Tutor’s expression darkened. “Li Jie! Seeing the Regent, why are you not kneeling?!”

Li Jie lifted his chin, his expression cold and proud.

“I, Li Jie, am the descendant of loyal ministers. I will never bow to someone who holds the emperor hostage and commands the lords of the realm.”

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone’s expressions changed—except Feng Jingge’s.

“Impudent!” the Grand Tutor roared, raising his teaching ruler as if to strike him.

Feng Jingge said calmly, “Grand Tutor.”

The raised hand froze mid-air. The Grand Tutor turned to her. “Your Highness, this child—”

Feng Jingge raised her hand slightly, and the Grand Tutor fell silent.

“Children speak without restraint.”

Her gaze fell on Li Jie.

At that moment, Li Jie’s body visibly trembled.

Facing her cold and calm gaze, he was still afraid.

Feng Jingge saw all of it clearly. She stepped forward.

“Are you afraid of this King?”

The Grand Tutor tensed.

Li Jie’s voice trembled, though he still forced himself upright. “I… I… I’m not afraid!”

Feng Jingge looked at him deeply, then shifted her gaze to the seven boys kneeling on the ground.

“All of you, stand up.”

Li Jie froze. That was it?

Wasn’t he supposed to be severely punished?

The seven boys replied in unison, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

They stood up together.

Feng Jingge swept a cold gaze over them. “Do you know why you were brought here?”

The children looked at each other in confusion.

Finally, they all shook their heads—none of them knew.

Feng Jingge pressed her lips together slightly.

Two or three saying they didn’t know might be believable. All of them didn’t know?

Did they think she was a three-year-old child to be fooled?

“Imperial Uncle…”

The young emperor’s aggrieved voice came from behind.

Feng Jingge turned around and immediately saw the scratches on his face.

“Put other matters aside for now,” she said coldly. “First tell this King—how did these scratches on his face come about?”

Xu Shu stepped forward. “Replying to Your Highness, I did it.”

The Grand Tutor instantly exploded again, raising his ruler.

“You little brat—!”

Xu Shu dodged quickly. “Grand Tutor, if you have something to say, just say it—why are you hitting people?!”

“Besides! You haven’t even asked me why I hit him!”

Hearing him call the emperor “that kid,” the Grand Tutor became even more furious.

Feng Jingge stood quietly on the side, watching as the Grand Tutor chased Xu Shu around with the ruler.

Xu Shu was like a mischievous monkey, darting everywhere.

The Grand Tutor, being old, quickly became breathless and had to stop.

“Xu Shu, you—”

“Old Tutor, for someone who has studied books all your life, you’re still unable to distinguish right from wrong at your age!”

The Grand Tutor turned pale with anger.

Feng Jingge: “……”

Among these children, only this so-called “Xu Family Little Tyrant” dared to call the Grand Tutor an old man so casually.

“Xu Shu, I will definitely go to your father about this today—”

“Grand Tutor, please calm down. May I say something?”

A gentle voice rang out. Chu Ning stepped forward.

Seeing Chu Ning, the Grand Tutor’s anger eased slightly, though his tone remained stern. “What do you want to say?”

“The injury was indeed caused by Xu Shu, but he was also at fault.”

Chu Ning pointed toward the young emperor.

The Grand Tutor frowned, about to reveal the emperor’s identity.

Feng Jingge spoke first. “Xiao Yu, do you have anything to say? They say you are also at fault.”

“I…”

The young emperor had barely spoken when Li Jie interrupted angrily.

“Stop with the ‘you and me’ nonsense—it’s your fault! You said you would show it to Jin Anhao, but you didn’t, and you even pushed her!”

“Xu Shu went to argue with you, and not only did you refuse, you even said the entire world belongs to you!”

Feng Jingge frowned.

This brat, Xiao Yu!

The Grand Tutor also looked displeased.

The young emperor seemed to realize he shouldn’t have said those words. His face turned red as he lowered his head.

Li Jie sneered. “No wonder you’re so arrogant—with a regent uncle backing you, how could you not be arrogant?”

Feng Jingge: “……”

Sitting at home, trouble falls from the sky.

However, she could now confirm one thing—the children did not actually know they were arguing with the emperor.

Good. She could use this incident as a test for them.

People reveal their true nature under anger.

Even adults struggle to restrain themselves, let alone children.

Feng Jingge stepped aside, observing silently.

The Grand Tutor noticed her intention and also stepped aside.

At that moment, Chu Ning spoke again, displeased with Li Jie.

“Li Jie, that is not right. The mistake is his, not related to Your Highness.”

Li Jie turned to Chu Ning. “Chu Ning, what right do you have to say—”

Xu Shu also jumped in. “Li Jie, shut up! Listening to you is annoying! Just talk about him if you want, why are you dragging everything around?!”

Li Jie did not expect Xu Shu to speak up. He froze slightly, then immediately exploded.

“Xu Shu, as the son of a general, you are uneducated and spend your days hanging out with beggars! What right do you have to talk to me?!”

Xu Shu didn’t care at all.

“I do what I want—what’s it to you?! Unlike someone who keeps shouting ‘descendant of loyal ministers’ all day, but doesn’t even understand basic manners.”

“If your father were here, he’d probably kick you flying and say, ‘I don’t have a son like you!’”

Li Jie’s face turned green and white in turns, alternating back and forth—utterly ugly to behold.