Huo Can asked for leave and did not come to the palace the next day for class. So, when Grand Tutor Wang Ancheng ended the lesson early to leave time for Li Zhuang, only Huo Ling and Gong Sunxun remained to lavish praises on Huo Ling - Wang Ancheng did not want too much involvement, so he left early after ending the lesson.
Standing where Wang Ancheng usually stood, Li Zhuang, with extraordinary composure, held up his own poems. Not only was he not the slightest bit embarrassed, but he also read out the praising poems for Huo Ling with an "overwhelmingly enthusiastic" tone.
In an alley's "battle between cats and dogs," is it a trivial matter? No, it's the crown prince caring for the stray animals in the capital, showing his compassion.
Digging the lotus pond at the Royal Temple, is it audacious? No, it's the crown prince communicating with the Buddha in a special way, seeking spiritual connection.
Purchasing a fake painting for two thousand silver, is it his own fault for being cheated? No, it's the crown prince concerned about the people's livelihood, so he generously donates.
...
Line by line, word by word, all were praises for the newly appointed crown prince.
Leaning back in the chair, watching Li Zhuang enthusiastically reciting the poems, Huo Ling, who was praised so much that he almost believed Great Zhou would perish without him, fell into contemplation.
Was the request he made yesterday difficult for Li Zhuang?
It wasn't.
Not only did Huo Ling not make it difficult for Li Zhuang, he even gave Li Zhuang an opportunity to do everything he could to get close to the newly appointed crown prince.
A person who is unpredictable doesn't care about losing face.
Rarely encountering someone even more shameless than himself, Huo Ling could not help but reduce his bias towards Li Zhuang. However...
Huo Ling turned to Gong Sunxun and asked, "What does loving all mean?" Although Li Zhuang's poems were straightforward enough, some words still touched on Huo Ling's areas of ignorance.
Gong Sunxun: ... Turning his head to look at Huo Ling, Gong Sunxun explained, "Emperor Yao abdicated, thinking of the people, practicing love and virtue equally."
Huo Ling was even more bewildered, "Huh?"
Gong Sunxun pursed his lips and, realizing that Huo Ling truly did not know what "loving all" meant and was not just testing him, he concisely explained, "Loving all, is to love all beings." His gaze briefly swept over Li Zhuang who was flattering "enthusiastically," and Gong Sunxun's eyes darkened.
- How will the crown prince react next?
Unable to predict Huo Ling's reaction many times, Gong Sunxun harbored inexplicable expectations. He maintained an appearance of restraint and composure, occasionally giving a simple explanation when Huo Ling tilted his head and asked due to not understanding the terms.
Modest gentlemen are gentle and refined.
The swift wind, after running thousands of miles, leaves only a slight chill when it blows on the face, making it seem like spring is approaching, though the source of the wind is unknown. Just like Gong Sunxun, people could only see the "gentleness and refinement" beneath his skin, but they couldn't peek into his "heart."
Huo Ling had no idea what Gong Sunxun was thinking; whenever his gaze swept over, he felt a chilling sensation at his back. Out of instinct, he moved himself and his chair a little further away from Gong Sunxun. When he heard words he didn’t understand, Huo Ling would rather fumble on his own than ask Gong Sunxun.
Throughout, Gong Sunxun's expression did not change one bit, as if he had not noticed Huo Ling's "disdain."
In these hundreds of poems praising Huo Ling, he was an existence that could be compared to "Yao and Shun," a god that could summon thunder at any moment, and also one who brought "hope" to the earth, generating vibrant vitality... Each poem was more revealing and straightforward than the last.
However, the praise did not make the praiser the slightest bit embarrassed, nor the one being praised the least bit uncomfortable.
After reciting all the poems, Li Zhuang completely disregarded his strained throat. He looked at Huo Ling with eager anticipation, his slightly hoarse voice unable to contain his excitement, "Your Highness, are you satisfied?"
After returning home yesterday, Li Zhuang locked himself in his study, not eating or drinking for a whole day to write all these poems. He believed that with so many poems, there must be one that would satisfy the other party. As long as the crown prince was satisfied, the day when he could cling to the crown prince's thighs was not far away.
At this moment, Li Zhuang's gaze was intense, showing no signs of fatigue, only the dark circles under his eyes and the red threads at the corner of his eye revealing his state.
Huo Ling did not express satisfaction or dissatisfaction, instead, he gestured towards the tea beside Li Zhuang. Upon receiving the signal, Li Zhuang picked up the lukewarm tea and drank it in one gulp.
After relieving the dryness in his throat, Li Zhuang wiped his mouth with his sleeve and grinned at Huo Ling, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Li Zhuang's lack of refinement made Gongsun Xun unconsciously furrow his brows, but in the end, he said nothing. Huo Ling, on the other hand, didn't mind Li Zhuang's lack of refinement. He continued to ask Li Zhuang if he wanted more tea until Li Zhuang had drunk six cups and indicated that it was enough, before allowing the palace maid to withdraw.
Without averting his gaze from Huo Ling, Li Zhuang held the tea and tentatively called out to him, "Your Highness?"
"Oh? Oh." Huo Ling scratched his chin as he realized, "Your poems are quite good." Although there were parts that he didn't quite understand, before Li Zhuang could react and express his loyalty, Huo Ling's tone changed, "But, I think you can do better."
"Since all these poems you wrote were sincerely praising me, then I think that the next time you enter the palace, you should be able to recite these poems fluently." Smirking, Huo Ling emphasized, "Remember, fluently, oh."
Huo Ling: "I believe you can do it."
Li Zhuang's expression stiffened, feeling a bit at a loss, not understanding why it was so difficult to flatter the Crown Prince.
Gongsun Xun, on the side, slowly lowered his eyes and smiled softly.
---Indeed, worthy of being the Crown Prince that so many people don't know how to evaluate.
With these thoughts in mind, when Li Zhuang looked to him for help, Gongsun Xun calmly turned his head away.
Today's lesson, with Li Zhuang holding onto Huo Ling's "hope," and Gongsun Xun's cold observation, ended perfectly once again.
Feeling content from Li Zhuang's flattery, and already rid of the annoyance of being forced to wake up early, Huo Ling, in a rather good mood, didn't rush to leave the palace as he usually did after the lesson. Instead, he strolled through the imperial palace.
Every few steps revealed a new pavilion, and every ten steps brought a new towering building. The meandering corridors and high eaves were nestled in the terrain, capturing various angles and corners.
Perhaps because the person sitting on the Dragon Throne was often trapped within this confined space, the majestic palace, which determined the fate of the entire nation, was always filled with breathtaking scenery, leaving one completely engrossed.
Passing through the red walls and yellow tiles, walking through the pavilions, and wandering past the towers, Huo Ling gradually lost himself in the beauty that was completely absent in the Yan Prince's mansion.
The lake shimmered, and the willows on the shore gracefully swayed their branches, dancing with the wind and occasionally playfully skimming the water, creating beautiful ripples.
Realizing that he had found a perfect spot for an afternoon nap, Huo Ling's eyes lit up, and he quickly walked toward the shore.
Little Anzi, who always struggled to keep up with Huo Ling's strides, said, "Your Highness, please wait for me!"
"Little Anzi, hurry up."
Turning back, Huo Ling's steps did not slow down, as he only wanted to find the best spot to bask in the sun, by the green waters, and with the gentle breeze, hoping to sleep until he naturally woke up.
However, someone blocked his path once again.
It wasn't An Zongguan who blocked Huo Ling's path, but the legitimate son of the Crown Prince, nine-year-old Huo Liang.
After the Emperor's decree, Princess Anyi of Deyang did not separate from Prince Zhao, who was demoted to the King of Zhao after her death. She entrusted her two daughters to the care of her mother, Princess Changping, and remained in the Prince Zhao's mansion as a widow. The princess of King Qi returned home with her daughter, but did not separate from King Qi. However, the princess of King Qin, Zhang, not only willingly separated from King Qin, but also, under the arrangement of the Empress Dowager, remarried and left the capital directly.
Three imperial grandsons were sent for foster care, one legitimate and two illegitimate. Though Huo Liang was demoted to a commoner and was confined in the ancestral temple, on the special orders of the Emperor, no one dared to neglect the three imperial sons sent to the palace. Perhaps because the royal children were all precocious, even though life was no different from before, there was a hint of gloom in Huo Liang's eyes.
Unlike the other two grandsons who lived carefree lives, Huo Liang, holding onto his identity as the legitimate son, always felt that he still had a chance, and he eventually found that opportunity.
The first time Huo Ling saw Huo Liang, who was sent to the palace for upbringing under the Emperor's watchful eyes, he squinted and observed him for a long time before finally recognizing him, "Liang ge'er, do you have something to say?"
Huo Ling thought it was accidental to encounter Huo Liang in the palace, but the imperial palace often abounded with "accidents."
"Uncle, I have something to tell you."
"Oh?" Huo Ling, who had never had contact with Huo Liang, felt that he had been a bit too impulsive, but after a moment of silence, he finally said the words he had rehearsed countless times, "The late Crown Prince's death was not an accident."
Huo Ling's yawn was cut off midway. Satisfied with the surprise on Huo Ling's face, Huo Liang continued, "Uncle, the truth is...”
Through Huo Liang's explanation, Huo Ling learned that while the Crown Prince's death was partly due to the Crown Princess, the person who informed the Crown Princess about the "remedy" was on the surface King Qi, but in reality, it was Prince Zhao.
Furthermore, Prince Zhao had an illegitimate child outside the palace.
Having said so much, what Huo Liang actually wanted to convey to Huo Ling was that no one could be relied upon, so he should quickly let him join his camp.
Huo Liang's detailed message left Little Anzi, who had not had the chance to retreat, deeply regretting why he had caught up with the Crown Prince's steps this time, and made Huo Ling, who was listening, lost in thought.
He didn't know if Huo Liang's words were true or false, or how the other party knew so much. After pondering for a long time, Huo Ling ultimately chose to believe... Concubine Ye.
Even if it seemed somewhat "stupid," his years as a prince had taught him that the Crown Prince's death could only be an accident.
Not wanting to dwell on the truth of Huo Liang's words, he reached out and ruffled his hair, "Thank you for telling me all this, but..." Huo Ling smiled and asked in a kind manner, "Do you have a lot of schoolwork?"
Completely puzzled by Huo Ling's question, Huo Liang said, "...?"
Taking Huo Liang's silence as consent, Huo Ling lightly clapped his hands, "Since you don't have a lot of schoolwork, why don't you help me with mine? So that I don't end up wasting my time."
Huo Liang was completely baffled, "What?!"
---Today's Crown Prince, he still doesn't follow normal logic.
Author's note:
1: From Xunzi: "When Yao abdicated for a worthy man, the benefits of cultivating virtue and loving kindness were spread evenly."
2: From A Fang Palace Ode by Du Mu (Tang Dynasty): Every five steps a building, every ten steps a pavilion; meandering corridors, high eaves, each building hugging the terrain, creating a complex and intricate layout.