CMWKSD -Chapter 117 A Farming-and-Scholarship Household

The group entered Prince Ling’s residence in an orderly fashion.

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian were juren (provincial graduates), so they did not need to kneel when meeting the prince. Moreover, although Prince Ling held an official title, he had no real power. If juren were to kneel, it might instead arouse the Emperor’s suspicion.

Thus, the two of them did not kneel.

Jiu Yue, however, did kneel. After all, this was a feudal society where imperial authority reigned supreme, and Jiu Yue knew that she would inevitably meet the Emperor in the future. She might as well get used to it in advance.

Fortunately, Prince Ling and the Princess Consort did not make things difficult. As soon as Jiu Yue finished her salute, they told her to rise.

This also showed that Madam Shen’s decision to hire a governess to train Jiu Yue these past few days had not been in vain.

Jiu Yue’s posture was fine to begin with, and she learned quickly.

After that, everyone exchanged the usual pleasantries.

Logically speaking, Jiu Yue should have been received by the Princess Consort as a female guest. But since today’s matter was directly related to Jiu Yue, both Jiu Yue and the Princess Consort stayed in the main hall, listening as the men spoke in official platitudes.

As Prince Ling conversed with General Shen, he discreetly glanced at Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian.

Though they had no background or foundation, the two were respectful without being fawning, humble without being servile.

They possessed the backbone of true scholars.

Prince Ling himself was an average student at best, so he naturally held scholars in higher regard. Seeing Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian now, he unconsciously felt a bit more goodwill toward them.

“What brings you to my residence today, and with a formal invitation at that?” Prince Ling asked.

General Shen laughed heartily. “Speaking of it, this is really a case of the flood washing over the Dragon King’s temple. A few days ago, didn’t word spread about the heir apparent being injured on the street by accident?”

The Princess Consort lifted her silk handkerchief to cover part of her face.

By accident?

That was her son failing to be a dandy, trying for the first time to imitate one by flirting with a young lady—and getting beaten up instead.

Just thinking about it made both Prince Ling and the Princess Consort feel utterly disgraced.

Originally, not many people knew about the incident. Even if common folk talked, they didn’t dare to spread it loudly. A couple of casual comments and the matter should have died down.

But Ling Mo and Ling Yue were both as thick-headed as clubs.

They made a huge fuss, running around looking for the person involved, and among those they questioned were a few who actually knew what had happened.

Back and forth it went, until everyone knew that Ling Mo had flirted with a respectable young woman in the street and been beaten black and blue.

By the time Prince Ling and the Princess Consort learned of it, the entire capital was buzzing with the story.

Once again, the Princess Consort felt as though her days were plunged into darkness.

Out of her two children, not one resembled her—they were exactly like Prince Ling.

Their personalities, temperaments, even the way they handled things, all mirrored him.

Ling Yue was even worse: a proper young lady, yet all she thought about all day was wielding blades and weapons.

Prince Ling himself felt humiliated as well. “Ah, that matter is already over. Besides, it was Mo’er who was at fault to begin with.”

Though he was a prince, every word and deed of his was easily impeached by the censors.

Because of this incident, Prince Ling had indeed been impeached once, accused of indulging and spoiling his son, thus allowing Ling Mo to flirt with a respectable woman in public.

If Ling Mo hadn’t just recovered somewhat, Prince Ling would have dearly loved to beat him again.

General Shen naturally knew about the impeachment, but since he was already here—

And besides, if he didn’t offer an apology today, who knew whether Prince Ling, should he later learn the full truth, might make things difficult for the Ji brothers in the future?

Even if an apology didn’t guarantee there would be no trouble later, if the Ji brothers apologized and were still obstructed, then it would only reflect Prince Ling’s lack of magnanimity.

General Shen glanced at Jiu Yue.

Jiu Yue stood up and slightly bent toward Prince Ling and the Princess Consort.

Then, reciting the words Ji Yiqing had carefully taught her the night before, she offered her apology to the prince and princess.

Ji Yiqing stood beside Jiu Yue, cupped his hands, and bowed to Prince Ling in apology. Ji Chaomian likewise adopted a proper, respectful posture.

The sincerity of the three of them was unmistakable.

Great Qi truly was a dynasty that emphasized shared honor and shared disgrace.

Yet Prince Ling opened his mouth in surprise.

Jiu Yue looked so delicate and soft—just a little girl.

Thinking of his tall, burly son, and seeing that when standing straight Jiu Yue barely reached Ling Mo’s chin—

And yet it was this soft, celestial-looking young girl who had beaten his son until he was bruised and swollen?

Shen Zongnian had also come along this time. Since he and Ling Mo at least knew each other, he was here partly to bolster Ji Yiqing and the others’ courage.

Seeing Prince Ling’s shocked expression, Shen Zongnian could roughly guess what he was astonished by.

They were all northerners, and most men were tall—eight or nine chi was common.

Especially Jiu Yue: at first glance, it was truly hard to imagine her as someone ruthless, someone who killed without blinking and acted with ferocity.

After Jiu Yue and the Ji brothers finished speaking, there was no response from either the Princess Consort or Prince Ling for quite some time.

The three of them were momentarily taken aback.

It was General Shen who coughed lightly twice. “Your Highness…”

Prince Ling felt even more that his son had brought shame upon him.

If Ling Mo had been beaten by a big, burly man, he wouldn’t have thought much of it—being outmatched in skill was nothing unusual.

But to be beaten by such a frail-looking young girl?

And not only beaten—he had even come home crying in his arms!

It was a complete disgrace to the Ling family’s ancestors!

“Enough. Please, take your seats,” Prince Ling said.

Only then did the three lift their heads and return to their seats.

Prince Ling felt a chill in his heart and kept glancing at Jiu Yue from time to time.

Just this soft little girl—she had beaten his son?

And beaten him until he cried?

Had the world truly become like this?

Ji Yiqing frowned slightly. Seeing Prince Ling repeatedly look toward Jiu Yue, he assumed the prince harbored resentment toward her.

He stepped forward again, cupped his hands, and spoke, “Your Highness, we came today to offer an apology. I, Yiqing, have brought some essays I wrote while studying at home, as well as some collected writings and rare editions.”

“My family is poor, and I cannot produce any valuable gifts. Thus, I take the liberty of offering these as apology gifts to Your Highness.”

“These books and essays—if the heir apparent reads them often, studies them often, and memorizes them often, he will surely be filled with literary talent and become the foremost scholar of the capital in one stroke.”

That hat was placed so high that Shen Zongnian, who had been secretly sipping tea at the side, nearly spat it out.

Was Ji Yiqing doing this on purpose?

Prince Ling’s eyes lit up. “Right—just now you said you and your elder brother are…?”

Ji Chaomian also stepped forward to bow. Though he didn’t know why Ji Yiqing was gifting books to the heir apparent, he assumed Yiqing had looked into his preferences.

It seemed to have hit the heir apparent’s soft spot perfectly.

“Our Ji family is poor. My younger brother and I have not achieved much in our studies, but by sheer luck we obtained juren degrees. One younger brother has just come of age and recently became a tongsheng. Another younger brother is less capable, and has only just attained tongsheng as well.”

Prince Ling slammed his hand on the table. “Good! Good! Good! How many brothers are there in your family? How is it that every one of you is so accomplished?”

“Counting our cousins, there are five of us in total. This time, there is also one youngest brother who has just passed the age limit for schooling. Unfortunately, he ranked only two hundred-something in the tongsheng exam and did not make the list.”

Five children in total—and every one of them had taken the civil service exams. Two juren, two tongsheng.

Truly a household devoted to farming and scholarship.

Then their essays and books were certainly worth a good look and careful study.

They had brought three chests in total. Prince Ling had seen all manner of treasures in his life, but—

As for books, if he wanted them, others would go to any lengths to find them for him.

Although Ling Mo would not sit for the imperial examinations, Prince Ling had always forced him to study.

He did not want him to be like himself—only knowing how to wield weapons, lacking the dignity befitting a noble heir.