Chapter 167.2: Jin Wang Dotes On His Concubine Ch. 167 Part 2

Translated by gingercat

Edited by gingercat

This Hong Yu was very dedicated to his job and he knew that the matter of the imperial grandsons’ studies wasn’t something he could afford to be negligent about. He asked Xiaobao and the others what they had already learned, one by one. When he learned that no one other than Xiaobao had been enlightened, he could only smile bitterly.

Hong Yu started teaching from the Three Character Classic. As for Xiaobao, he taught him separately, starting with Qian Jia Shi.

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Studying at this age was an extremely boring and tedious task since it was all memorization. The teacher would recite it once, then the little imperial grandsons would repeat it after him. Gradually, after repeating the verses enough times, the imperial grandsons would try to recite them on their own. Once they could memorize them and be familiar with them, the teacher would move on.

After studying for nearly an hour, seeing that some of the imperial grandsons could no longer sit still, Hong Yu announced it was time for a break.

The eunuchs and palace maids accompanying them came in one after another. Those who wanted to eat snacks ate snacks. Those who wanted to drink water drank water. After resting for around a quarter of an hour, they resumed studying again.

However, compared to their previous efforts, it was evident that the young princes’ patience was running out. They sat like there were nails under their butts, and would shift around from time to time. Their gaze also kept wandering out the window.

Most children at their age would be more interested in playing. The main reasons why they had endured it earlier were because one, their father had just warned them, and two, they were curious.

Now that their initial interest was gone, they naturally wouldn’t be able to sit still.

Hong Yu stood at the front of the room and looked around. Only the little grandson from Jin Wang Manor and the little girl who accompanied him here were still focused on their studies. After thinking about what the headmaster had said to him earlier, Hong Yu felt relieved. The only one he really need to teach seriously was the little grandson from Jin Wang Manor. The others were only there to accompany him to study.

After learning for a while, someone started making a fuss, wanting to go out to play. If they didn’t let him go out, he’d only continue to make trouble. None of the palace maids and eunuchs could coax him, so they could only let him go out to play. Now that one of them had left, there would naturally be a second. Some even called their friends to leave with them. Of the original seven children, eight if including Yueyue, only Xiaobao, Yueyue, Shan Ge’er from Yong Wang’s family, and Han Ge’er from Dai Wang’s family remained.

They studied for another hour then rested for a quarter of an hour. Like this, they continued until it was noon. Only then did Hong Yu announce they were done.

However, the little grandsons couldn’t go home yet. After eating lunch and resting for an hour, they had to come back for the afternoon.

In the afternoon, besides Xiaobao and Shan Ge’er from Yong Wang’s family, the others all ran out to play. Yueyue didn’t go either, but Yueyue remaining behind was more out of obedience than a willingness to learn

Halfway through shen-shi1, it was finally time to go home. Since today was Xiaobao’s first day studying in the palace, Yaoniang arrived at the palace gates to pick him up in person.

“How was it? Did anyone bully you? If someone bullies you, tell your mother, and your mother will tell your father.”

Xiaobao thought to himself that would be too troublesome. He might as well go tell his Grandfather Emperor instead.

But he wouldn’t say something like that in front of others. Instead, he answered obediently that no one bullied him, the teacher was very good, he had a good lunch, he wasn’t tired and they even provided snacks.

At this time, it was also when Jin Wang finished his work. Yaoniang simply had the carriage bring them to the Ministry of Works, intending to pick up Jin Wang and go back home together.

After so many days, it was the first time Jin Wang experienced what it is like to be picked up from work.

On the way back, Xiaobao brought up Yan Ge’er as if nothing had happened, and asked why he wasn’t there today.

This topic was a bit heavy. Was Jin Wang supposed to tell Xiaobao that Yan Ge’er’s father wasn’t there to fight for this opportunity for him? Emperor Hongjing didn’t care enough to say anything about Yan Ge’er beginning his studies even though Yan Ge’er was already over four years old.

Jin Wang glanced at Yaoniang. Yaoniang nodded in understanding, planning to go to Qing Wang Manor the next day.

Meanwhile, the various princes soon received news of how well their children performed in the imperial study that day.

The older children need not be mentioned. They were already sensible and knew to be self-disciplined. As for the young ones, those who didn’t study hard and had kicked up a fuss about going out to play were punished without exception.

Out of everyone, Xuan Ge’er was punished the heaviest, because he was the one who called for his friends, who were studying, to go out and play together.

Despite his temper, Lu Wang had never raised a hand on Xuan Ge’er. However, today he made a move and heavily spanked Xuan Ge’er twice on the butt. If Consort Lu hadn’t stopped him by saying that he wouldn’t be able to study tomorrow if he was injured, it was likely that Xuan Ge’er would have suffered a bit more.

The next day, the fathers didn’t come, but the elder brothers arrived at the palace with their younger brothers in tow.

Today was different from yesterday. Yesterday was their first day. From today onwards, these little imperial grandsons would have to arrive at the imperial study before chen-shi2.

This was because the princes didn’t live in the palace, so it was inevitable that there would be delays on the way. Back when Jin Wang and the rest of the princes had to study, they all got up at yin-shi3 and arrived at the imperial study by mao-shi.

Xuan Ge’er was in an especially bad mood today. Xiaobao could see it on his face, and the others were also surprised.

He was curious about what was wrong with Xuan Ge’er, so he asked him.

Xuan Ge’er couldn’t help but expose his sadness as he let out a sob and rub his eyes. However, his words were stubborn, “Why do you care about what’s wrong with this young master? This young master was beaten, does this young master need to report to you?!”