Chapter 330: 178 Pure Sky (Second Watch)_2

“Alright, stop beating around the bush, just tell me!”

His classmates indeed never let Xiao Liulang down, they quickly chatted away, explaining the ins and outs of the situation.

Apparently, word had already spread from the imperial palace that the Emperor was going to confer the title of Ning Wang on the eldest prince and appoint Zheng Siye as the Libationer of the Guozijian.

Zheng Siye even had a proper ceremonial attire tailored and arranged for a banquet. He had even prepared the invitations, all ready to be distributed after the morning court session.

But who would have thought that halfway through, the previous Libationer wrote a letter to the Emperor saying he had returned to the capital.

The Emperor got restless on hearing this. If the old Libationer is back, what is the need for a new one? The Emperor just dropped the matter there and then, turning Zheng Siye green with anger.

Before the court session, Zheng Siye was strutting around, but after the session, he could hardly hold his head high.

His dignity was completely lost, and he became the laughing stock of the entire court.

This significant news reached Guozijian in just half an hour.

“Zheng Siye is not coming today, even though he said he would give us a lecture,” one classmate said.

“He’s not here to lecture us; rather, he’s here to hear us calling him Libationer, isn’t he?” another classmate said.

After the scandal involving Xiao Liulang’s exam paper and corrupt account books, Zheng Siye tried hard to clear his name for a long time, but many students still harbored grudges against him. Among the six classes, the students from Shuaixin Hall were the least easily swayed and showed the least support for Zheng Siye.

When Xiao Liulang entered the classroom, everyone became silent.

In Shuaixin Hall, Xiao Liulang was always an individualistic figure—always keeping a straight face and keeping others at a distance. He was clearly a poor scholar from a small town, yet he always came first in exams.

He also suffered from a leg ailment.

In the previous dynasty, he would not have been able to participate in the imperial examination at all.

Zheng Siye had once targeted him.

Everyone thought he would be forced to drop out, but instead, he stayed, and it was Zheng Siye’s career that took a hit.

It’s hard to say whether Zheng Siye was unlucky or this kid was just too tenacious.

The students didn’t discuss Zheng Siye’s matter for too long; after all, their studies and the upcoming spring examination were more critical to them.

Everyone quickly got back to studying.

Among the six Halls of Guozijian, the first-year students in Guangye Hall, Chongzhi Hall, and Justice Hall were the loudest; the second-year students in Cultivation Hall and Chengxin Hall were quieter. By the time students reach the third year in Shuaixin Hall, nearly no one reads out loud.

Shuaixin Hall was very quiet, and of course, the exam atmosphere was the most intense there.

Not only this year’s successful candidates, but also the unsuccessful ones from last year and the year before would return to the exam site for the spring examination.

So the competition was fierce.

After the morning classes, the students went to the canteen with a gloomy expression.

Xiao Liulang went to fetch Xiaojiu from school for lunch at home. He had to wait outside school for quite a while before Xiaojiu came.

“Did the mentor detain you today?” he asked.

“No, I just had some things to do,” Xiaojiu replied pulling up his small chin.

Him, having things to do? He’s really acting like an adult now.

Xiao Liulang found it both annoying and amusing. He walked back home with Xiaojiu to Bishui Alley.

Their home was really close to Guozijian; Xiao Liulang seriously suspected that Xiaojiu’s mentor had chosen this mansion for the convenience of him going to Guozijian.

The lunch was cooked by the old Libationer and was absolutely delicious.

Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun had no dietary restrictions, so they ate in the Academy’s canteen.

After eating, the old lady went back to her room for a nap, and Xiaojiu went to clean his little bowl by himself.

Only the master and disciple were left at the dining table.

“Why did you do that?” Xiao Liulang asked the old Libationer.

The old Libationer was not foolish; he knew exactly what his disciple was asking. Not wanting Xiao Liulang to have any burdens, he said, “To make money, to make ends meet.”

Xiao Liulang: “…”

Some understandings are kept in their hearts, no need to express them explicitly.

Xiao Liulang’s path ahead was dark; he couldn’t see the way out. Gu Jiao and the old Libationer were each illuminating his path in their own way.

Usually Xiaojiu would take a nap after lunch, but he didn’t today.

Xiao Liulang went out of the room and saw him skulking around in the backyard.

“What are you doing?” Xiao Liulang asked.

“Nothing!” Xiaojiu replied nonchalantly.

He neither took a nap nor transformed into a little trumpet monster, clanging away — his behavior was very suspicious.

As the saying goes, when a child is quiet, mischief is afoot.

Sure enough, Xiao Liulang had only attended one afternoon class when he was called in by the little monk’s teacher for a parent-teacher meeting.

The cause of the incident was the little monk coming to school in the morning and being ridiculed by his classmates for being short, with Qin Chuyu being the worst offender.

Little Monk wasn’t willing to back down, so after class, he called Qin Chuyu aside to challenge him to a size comparison.

Qin Chuyu nearly burst out laughing: “Haha, what could you possibly have that’s bigger than mine?”

Little Monk pondered for a moment: “Do you have a bird?”

Qin Chuyu choked on his words.

He blushed, becoming angry out of embarrassment: “How dare you talk like that? Of course, I do! Don’t you?”

“I do!” Little Monk exclaimed with wide eyes, “Then let’s compare our birds! To see whose is bigger! I’ll come find you after lunch! We’ll go somewhere private!”@@novelbin@@

Qin Chuyu looked at Little Monk doubtfully.

After eating his lunch, Little Monk did indeed return from the Academy to find Qin Chuyu.

Qin Chuyu awkwardly stammered, “You… You… You really want to compare… that?”

He was a prince, with laws and proprieties to adhere to – this was too inappropriate.

Besides, how could a three- or four-year-old toddler possibly be bigger in that area?

As Qin Chuyu walked, he couldn’t help but wonder, “Could he really be bigger?”

“Alright, right here!” Little Monk halted under a large tree.

This was a small grassland used for elementary studies, usually deserted.

Little Monk circled around to the back of the large tree and told Qin Chuyu, “Come on over! Have you brought yours?”

Qin Chuyu: What kind of question is that? Do I need to bring it?

With a dark little face, Qin Chuyu also circled around to the back of the large tree.

He hesitated, still feeling it was somewhat inappropriate, “Do we…really need to compare?”

Little Monk looked at him: “Are you scared?”

Cannot stand to be baited, Qin Chuyu stomped his foot, “What kind of joke is this? How could I possibly be scared? Let’s do it! I’ll count one, two, three, and we’ll whip them out!”

Little Monk generously said: “Alright, you count.”

Qin Chuyu gritted his teeth, “One, two, three!”

Off with the trousers!

But then, from his bulging bag, Little Monk brought out the largest bird in his house – a baby hawk.

Little Monk: “…”

Baby Hawk: “…”

Qin Chuyu: “…”

When Xiao Liulang heard this, he broke out in a cold sweat: “Then… then what happened?”

The master, new to his position and encountering this situation, had a bigger headache than Xiao Liulang. He said fearfully, “Then the hawk lunged towards Chu Yu—”

Xiao Liulang’s body jolted: “Lunged towards… it couldn’t be—”

Master Sun hurriedly waved, “No, no, no! It was subdued! Little Monk subdued it!”

However, Qin Chuyu truly believed he was a goner, scared onto his bottom, wetting his pants.

The dignified crown prince, wetting his pants in the Imperial Palace Exam Site, was beyond embarrassing.

But this incident was indeed Little Monk’s fault—bringing such a terrifying bird of prey to the Academy was prone to accidents.

Xiao Liulang rubbed his temples: Thinking you wouldn’t cause trouble anymore since you’ve grown a year older was too naive of me!

Qin Chuyu’s parent hadn’t arrived yet.

Xiao Liulang was waiting with the Little Monk in a separate classroom.

With his head drooping, Little Monk’s entire demeanor was listless: “Don’t tell Jiaojiao.” He glanced at the baby hawk in his arms, “And don’t send away Xiaojiu.”

Xiao Liulang looked at him sternly: “You wish!”

Little Monk thought for a moment, then cocked his head and looked at him: “Waive a month’s rent for you?”

Xiao Liulang: “…”