“Your Imperial Highness, please spare my life!” No longer caring for his image, Lu Tanhua wiped the mud off his face as he struggled to climb back up, fearing that if he moved too slowly, the guards would pierce him into a sieve. He wanted to crawl back up to the pavilion from where he had been kicked down, but his slippery footing and lack of strength left him floundering on the edge, flapping his arms like a drowning dog.
A few people nearly laughed out loud, but once they saw the prince still there, they quickly stifled their mirth and coughed instead.
After circling with great difficulty, Lu Tanhua finally managed to crawl into the pavilion and knelt before Sui Tingheng. “This subject greets Your Imperial Highness and implores Your Imperial Highness to preside justice for me.” He then glared fiercely at Fuyi, certain that under the Prince’s presence, these uncouth idlers wouldn’t dare to assault him, a court official!
“Is he an official appointed by the imperial court?” Sui Tingheng did not give Lu Tanhua permission to get up.
“Replying to Your Imperial Highness, this man is the newly appointed Tanhua from the northern province of Lingbei, and is about to take up a position at the Hanlin Academy,” the eunuch by the prince’s side explained, omitting Lu Tanhua’s name, as a person who had lost their prospects did not deserve to have their name heard before His Imperial Highness.
“Having just earned his rank and not yet assumed his position at the Hanlin Academy, he already chases away commoners for his selfish reasons. If he were to become a local official, would he not exploit the people and commit all manner of evil?”
These words struck Lu Tanhua like thunder, leaving his mind buzzing. He no longer had the heart to seek punishment for Fuyi and the others. In a panic, he begged Sui Tingheng for forgiveness: “Your humble subject dares not! Please, Your Imperial Highness, please show mercy!”
“You have talent but no virtue. Such a person becoming an official would be a disaster for the world and people.” Sui Tingheng took half a step forward.
Lu Tanhua, fearing the mud on him might stain the prince, hurriedly shuffled back on his knees. “Your humble subject dares not again. Please, Your Imperial Highness, please show leniency.”
No one dared to intercede for Lu Tanhua; everyone present knew that the Prince had great compassion for the common people and despised corrupt officials who oppressed the weak.
Seeing that the Prince remained silent, the eunuch gestured to the Jinwu guards. “Take him away and await further orders.”
Lu Tanhua tried to beg for mercy again, but the guard quickly covered his mouth, silencing his plea. As he was dragged away, his struggle left messy marks on the ground.
Witnessing this scene, his literati friends lowered their heads, remaining silent. Even Fuyi’s group, who had been gloating silently, closed their grinning mouths.
“The spring is in full bloom, and the scent of apricot blossoms lingers.” Sui Tingheng’s gaze swept across the crowd. “If you do not mind, accompany me in admiring the apricot blossoms on this mountain.”
Who would pass up the opportunity to admire flowers with the emperor’s sole heir? Even the unambitious idlers, who usually sought only fun and pleasure, were eager to curry favor, not to mention those with aspirations of earning a position in the court.
“Yun Junjun, allow this old servant to hold the imperial edict for you. You may join His Imperial Highness in viewing the flowers,” the eunuch respectfully took the edict from Fuyi’s hands and gestured for her to proceed.
“Thank you,” Fuyi signaled her friends, who immediately followed her to the Prince’s side.
The literati who were pushed aside by the idlers: “…”
They lacked the physical ability to fight, and they were also unable to outargue these guys. What other options do they have besides simply enduring it?
They exchanged glances with each other: Stay calm, His Imperial Highness has always valued well-educated people. These idlers, who were never serious about their studies, have nothing to show in terms of scholarly talent, no?
There’s still a chance!
…
“I have heard of a waterfall near the apricot grove is magnificent, like a river of stars cascading down. Where is it?” Sui Tingheng turned to Fuyi.
“Your Imperial Highness, there is indeed a waterfall nearby, but to enjoy this spectacle, one must wait until after the summer rains,” Fuyi explained. “Moreover, the terrain of the back mountain is complex, especially with dense vegetation and the presence of wild beasts. Why not wait until summer comes to plan for an excursion so that the Jinwu Guards can make arrangements?”
Sui Tingheng reached out, stopping an apricot branch above Fuyi’s head. “Have you—… have any of you been there?”
“We’ve been there, but we’re tough-skinned. A mosquito bite or a tumble doesn’t matter to us,” Yang Erlang said with a grin, showing off his bright teeth. “But Your Imperial Highness is precious and can’t be treated as roughly as we are.”
Lin Xiaowu tugged Yang Erlang’s arms and forcefully pulled him aside. “Please forgive him, Your Imperial Highness. What Yang Erlang means is that your noble status makes it unwise to take such risks.”
If anything were to happen to the prince, no one present would escape unscathed.
“I appreciate your goodwill,” Sui Ting released the flower branch and clasped his hands behind his back. “Since it seems we’re not fated to explore the back mountain today, why don’t you all share some interesting stories about it with me?”
The idlers eagerly began sharing their various amusing anecdotes, while the literati standing on the outskirts observed as the prince nodded from time to time, seemingly enjoying the conversation. It was such an unbearable sight that they refused to believe what was unfolding before their eyes!
Impossible, absolutely impossible. It must be that His Imperial Highness, with his noble character and respect for talent, was being gracious to these ignorant guys out of consideration for their family background.
“What about you, Miss Yun?” Sui Tingheng asked Fuyi. “Were you like them when you were younger?”
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