Chapter 30: The Electronic Acupuncture Device
There was a huge difference between Chen Bai’s title as Grand Scholar Zhaoxue and his position as a tongzhi lang in Qi Zheng’s fief.
Tongzhi lang was a local official post. Basically, it was recommended, appointed, and managed by the local authorities, and only needed to be reported to the imperial court.
But Grand Scholar Zhaoxue was different. It was registered under the Hongwen Pavilion, an official post right under the king’s nose, with actual duties attached. Although those duties were only things like compiling ancient texts and writing essays, it was not like being a tongzhi lang, where as long as Qi Zheng said nothing, one could fish for three days and dry nets for two without any problem.
As Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, there were performance assessments, and he had to report for duty every day.
Speaking of which, now that he had been officially appointed by the imperial court, it also meant that he had graduated from Shangjing Academy.
This was how graduation worked at Shangjing Academy: either one studied for the required number of years, or the court granted an official post.
However, Shangjing Academy had already been closed, so whether he went or not made no difference.
Chen Bai was currently on his way to Qi Zheng’s residence. After a month of recuperation, the “injuries” from his punishment for clearing an injustice should have healed by now.
Since he had already received an official appointment from the court, he definitely could no longer continue serving as tongzhi lang under Qi Zheng. He had to go to Hongwen Pavilion, did he not?
Chen Bai was a little smug. Back then, in order to punish him by making him stand, Qi Zheng had specifically assigned him the position of tongzhi lang and even refused to let him resign.
Now let Qi Zheng try to continue if he had the ability. How could an official formally appointed by the imperial court still serve as a subordinate official under a prince? That would be forming factions. Hmph.
Qi Zheng looked at Chen Bai, who had come to explain the situation. No matter how he looked at him, he seemed a little like he had come to provoke him.
Qi Zheng frowned and said, “There will still be many days for us to meet in the future.”
Do not get too pleased too early.
Chen Bai froze. What did that mean?
“The king has just ordered me to go to Hongwen Pavilion to compile the history of Great Qian.”
Chen Bai looked at Qi Zheng with a strange expression. This was a little too miserable. A dignified prince, instead of going to court to handle government affairs, had actually been arranged to compile historical records.
Sure enough, his father did not dote on him and his grandmother did not love him.
Truly miserable.
Originally, Chen Bai had prepared some words to get one over on Qi Zheng, but now he could not bring himself to say them. If he was going to rub salt into someone’s wounds, he should do it to Crown Prince Jiao instead.
He opened his mouth. If he said “congratulations” now, would he be pressed to the ground and beaten?
Qi Zheng, however, showed no other expression. Right now, many people at court were blocking him from participating in government affairs, but once the time came, would they be able to stop him?
Of course, there was no need to say such things to Chen Zixiu.
But what was with Chen Zixiu’s expression? Did he really think that just because he had been granted the title of Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, he could sympathize with Qi Zheng’s situation?
Chen Bai was currently grabbing a handful of melon seeds from his pocket and stuffing them into Qi Zheng’s hand.
Too miserable, too miserable. He practically wiped away tears for Qi Zheng. “Here, have some melon seeds. Five-spice flavor.”
The corners of Qi Zheng’s mouth twitched. Was this sympathy not a little too excessive?
Then again, someone who could risk his life to appeal a grievance for people he did not know was also a rare fool in this world.
Qi Zheng looked at the melon seeds stuffed into his hand. “Did Mountain Lord give you these? Right, where has Mountain Lord gone recently? The Emperor’s reward for him has already been held back.”
Without household registration, the reward could not be issued.
Chen Bai sighed. That reward probably could not be claimed. It could only keep being held back.
Qi Zheng continued, “Speaking of which, you are Mountain Lord’s student, and I am Mountain Lord’s friend.”
Chen Bai: “…”
What did Qi Zheng mean? Was he implying that Chen Bai was a generation younger than him?
“Mountain Lord is somewhat carefree and does not understand much about worldly etiquette, but you are someone who understands matters. There are some taboos that cannot be violated.” After speaking, Qi Zheng looked at Chen Bai. “If he does anything that might cause misunderstandings, you need to know how to refuse.”
Chen Bai blinked for a long time before he finally reacted. He swallowed and looked toward Qi Zheng. Was Qi Zheng trying to say that something like a master-student romance was unacceptable?
What the hell? What did Qi Zheng think about all day?
A filthy straight man with a head full of dirty thoughts.
How could he possibly top himself and bottom himself!
He coughed. “Give me back the melon seeds.”
“And Mountain Lord said that he and you only have a transactional relationship. On what basis am I supposed to be a generation below you for nothing?”
Before he finished speaking, he heard Qi Zheng say in a low voice, scolding him, “Take your document and go do what you should be doing!”
It was the document relieving him of his post as tongzhi lang.
Chen Bai thought to himself that this was Qi Zheng sending him away. Fine, he would leave. There was no reason to slander him by saying he was topping and bottoming himself.
When he reached the doorway, he even howled, “As long as the feelings are real, forget master and student—even human and demon is fine!”
“And Prince Zheng, you’re meddling too much.”
After saying that, he turned and ran, because Qi Zheng’s face had already turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Qi Zheng lowered his brows. He had said those things because he treated that demon as a friend. If something happened, would the demon not be tied to a pyre and burned to death?
Chen Bai left the Second Prince’s residence. In any case, he had now explained everything clearly. He only needed to go to Hongwen Pavilion tomorrow with peace of mind.
Only, well, Qi Zheng was actually going to Hongwen Pavilion to compile historical records too. After Chen Bai had mocked him like that today, he wondered whether this guy would cause trouble for him.
…
The next day, Chen Bai followed the rules and went early to Hongwen Pavilion to report for duty.
In Chen Bai’s eyes, Hongwen Pavilion was a rather large library, with some desks and stools placed inside for office work.
“It’s quite a suitable place for scholars to stay,” Chen Bai muttered as he smelled the fragrance of books and looked at row after row of volumes.
This place was extremely quiet and secluded. People who could calm down and devote themselves to scholarship would probably like it.
Some grand scholars were already holding books and quietly sitting in their seats reading.
Sure enough, it was an idle post.
No one urged them, and no one disturbed them.
Chen Bai went to show his face before Sun Fengchang, one of the Nine Ministers. That counted as officially starting his post and reporting for duty. Then Sun Fengchang had someone bring him here and arrange a seat for him.
The palace attendant said cautiously, “On ordinary days, there are no especially important matters in Hongwen Pavilion. The grand scholars only need to pass the time according to their own preferences.”
Chen Bai: “…”
He liked this official post.
After the palace attendant left, Chen Bai also pretended to pick up a book.
Today, he was also a proper scholar. Watch him enjoy a little spiritual peace.
But just as his backside touched the seat, the sound of hurried footsteps came rushing over.
There were many people…
Chen Bai: “…”
What happened to “there are no especially important matters in the pavilion,” and he only needed to enjoy a leisurely life of drinking tea and reading?
And once he saw who was coming, Chen Bai could not help trembling.
He saw the Three Dukes at the front, the Nine Ministers lined up on either side, and various officials accompanying them…
With such a grand formation, Chen Bai swallowed. This should have nothing to do with him, right? He had only just arrived. His seat had not even warmed beneath him.
Thinking more carefully, he did not seem to have committed any offenses recently either. It should have nothing to do with him.
Besides, he was only a small figure. Even if he poked a hole in the sky, it should not attract such a huge lineup.
But why did it look like they were walking toward him?
Chen Bai kept sending signals with his eyes to Chief Judicial Officer Chen in the group. What exactly was going on? Give him a hint?
In the end, Chief Judicial Officer Chen acted as if he had not seen anything, staring straight ahead without looking sideways.
Chen Bai: “…”
Why did he suddenly feel a little panicked?
The one who stepped forward was Gan Xun. “Today is the final contest between Crown Prince Sudan of Zhao and Hongwen Pavilion.”
Chen Bai froze. So that was it.
“Therefore, Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, the Emperor has ordered that you are only allowed to win and not allowed to lose.”
Chen Bai had originally been about to breathe a sigh of relief, but when he heard this, he froze again. What was going on?
Duke Gan had called him Grand Scholar Zhaoxue just now, right?
But Hongwen Pavilion had so many grand scholars. Why was he calling his name?
It was like being among a crowd of PhDs and postdocs, only for someone to suddenly call on a junior college student.
Chen Bai looked toward Chen Shouye. This time, Chen Shouye did make a gesture telling him to relax.
Every time, did the Emperor not order that they were only allowed to win and not allowed to lose? But had they not all lost anyway?
It was fine. The Emperor could not possibly behead everyone who lost. There was already a whole group of grand scholars lying in defeat before him. No matter what, it was impossible for them to make an optional and dispensable Grand Scholar Zhaoxue bear responsibility.
Chen Bai came back to his senses and quickly said to Gan Xun, “Duke Gan, did you call the wrong name just now?”
Gan Xun’s face was serious. “I did not call the wrong name. Now, among the grand scholars of Great Qian’s Hongwen Pavilion, only one grand scholar has not yet competed with that Crown Prince Zhao. Therefore, you are only allowed to win and not allowed to lose. Whether Great Qian can defend its border city now depends on you.”
Although he said this, he did not seem to have much confidence no matter how one looked at him. In any case, he had said the same thing to every grand scholar.
Chen Bai: “…”
He had only been appointed Grand Scholar Zhaoxue yesterday and had only reported for duty today.
Truly, he swore on his child—yet now they had come with such a grand formation to tell him that the border city depended on him.
He really wanted to complain about these old officials. They were too unreliable.
But they did not give him any chance at all, because Chen Bai saw that Crown Prince Sudan had already arrived with his retainers and envoys.
The expression on Sudan’s face was also rather strange. He even blinked at Chen Bai.
They had once been fellow dog-loving friends, but now they had to decide the ownership of an entire city.
The Zhao envoys behind Sudan also looked at Chen Bai with strange expressions. “This must be the newly appointed Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, yes?”
Who did not know that this Grand Scholar Zhaoxue had only just been appointed? And it was a reward for merit, not based on scholarship. It seemed that Great Qian truly had no one left.
In that case, the border city was practically already in their grasp. Joy inevitably appeared on their faces.
Gan Xun said, “Since both sides have arrived, let the contest begin.”
The sooner it was done, the sooner it would end, although the result might be somewhat impossible for them to accept.
In the end, Sudan suddenly spoke. “Wait.”
Then he looked toward Chen Bai. “How about we add a private wager? If you lose, give me one strange beast.”
He said it so smoothly.
Ever since he found out that his opponent in this contest would be the newly appointed Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, his heart had been bubbling like he had drunk sweet water all the way here.
Chen Bai: “…”
This was a contest deciding the ownership of a whole city, yet Crown Prince Sudan was really…
The Zhao retainers and envoys behind him also instantly had a flash of unnaturalness on their faces. Image, image! Ever since their crown prince came to Great Qian, what had become of his image? But there was no helping it. No one could control him.
Sudan added, “If you win, you can also make one request of me. You can say what you want now.”
The Zhao retainers and envoys behind him had already gone numb and simply pretended they had heard nothing.
Chen Bai smiled. A condition from a foreign crown prince?
That seemed rather good. He said, “All right. As for this condition, I have not thought of it yet. I will tell you once I have.”
A condition with no specific content was worth even more.
He said it so seriously that everyone around them froze for a moment, as if he really had a chance of winning. He probably still did not know just what level of monster this Crown Prince Zhao was.
The fearless ignorance of the uninformed—no one knew what to say.
Sudan was also stunned for a moment, then nodded. Each side having a wager was only fair.
This was only a small interlude, merely adding some content that, in everyone’s eyes, was more or less insignificant.
The contest officially began.
The retainer behind Sudan deliberately raised his voice. “The subject of today’s contest may be chosen by Great Qian’s side.”
His tone was as confident as could be.
There was no helping it. That was simply the reality.
Chen Bai had originally been somewhat worried. If they truly competed in the Four Books and Five Classics, he might genuinely not be able to defeat this Crown Prince Zhao, who had managed to crush all of Great Qian’s grand scholars.
But if he could choose the subject himself…
Chen Bai quickly spoke first. He was afraid the others would snatch away the right to set the topic. “Zixiu has recently heard much about Sudan’s talent. If we compete in poems, lyrics, songs, or rhapsodies, different people will have different standards of judgment, and inevitably some will be unconvinced. How about this? Let us compete in… understanding the classics.”
The so-called “understanding the classics” meant being widely learned, having a strong memory, and being thoroughly familiar with the classical texts. What it tested was memory. To put it simply, it was reciting passages.
It looked like the most ordinary and most basic contest, but it was also the most difficult. The body of literature was vast, as numerous as the stars. Who dared say they could remember all of it by heart?
But as soon as Chen Bai said this, Great Qian’s side fell into disorder.
“No!”
They looked utterly heartbroken.
“Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, this Crown Prince Sudan of Zhao has never taken more than half an hour to win when competing with others in understanding the classics. He… he has the ability to remember everything he sees.”
But after speaking, they sighed again. In truth, was it not the same no matter what they competed in? So many grand scholars had already lost. How could there still be any chance now?
This Crown Prince Sudan of Zhao was simply a monster.
But the words had already been spoken. It was too late to change the topic now, and there was no such principle as changing the topic after choosing it.
Great Qian’s side looked utterly dejected. Before the contest had even begun, they had already lost.
On Zhao’s side, however, there was not much reaction.
“As if they could win if they competed in something else.”
It nearly made people vomit blood from anger.
Sudan smiled so happily that two dimples appeared on his face. “Remember to give me a prettier strange beast. One like that bulldog—no, a corgi would be good…”
He fell into his own world.
Chen Bai also looked strangely at the opposite side. “…”
If they competed in the Four Books and Five Classics, he really was not confident. But if they competed in memorizing the classics…
Chen Bai said, “However, I have a small habit. When I compete with others, I cannot look directly at them, otherwise I forget everything. Please arrange a hanging curtain and let me stay behind it.”
Everyone: “…”
What kind of strange habit was this?
The Zhao envoy thought for a moment and replied, “That is acceptable, but we must inspect the area behind the curtain first.”
They were worried that after avoiding everyone’s line of sight, he would secretly look through books.
Chen Bai smiled. “Of course.”
A contest began—more precisely, the contest of the final grand scholar from Great Qian’s Hongwen Pavilion who was able to take the stage.
Chen Bai walked behind the hanging curtain, blocking everyone’s view.
The space there was not large, and the Zhao envoys had also inspected it.
“…”
Both countries had people who prepared the recitation questions. The topics to be recited were placed inside a box, and someone would draw from it. It all depended on fate. Whichever question was drawn would be the question.
“The first piece begins with Zi Jin from The Book of Poetry: Airs of Zheng [1]. Each person will recite one line. Whoever cannot continue loses.”
The contest officially began. This could be considered a simple opening move.
“…”
The lines of The Book of Poetry were famously tricky and difficult to read.
One line per person, without any pause.
They had originally thought the winner and loser would be decided very quickly, but from the very beginning, it never stopped again.
The recited content also changed from the Four Books and Five Classics to biographies, local county gazetteers…
Slowly, the expressions on the faces of both the Great Qian and Zhao people began to change.
The people of Great Qian were shocked because he had actually managed to compete. They had thought it would be over as soon as it began.
The people of Zhao frowned slightly. Was this Grand Scholar Zhaoxue not appointed as a reward for merit? How was he also this formidable in memorizing the classics? However, they were not particularly worried.
Until…
The voices of the two of them, one line each, continued without pause from sunrise to sunset.
Until outside Hongwen Pavilion, circles upon circles of people had gathered.
Until the Emperor sent down a message: “There will be no curfew in Shangjing tonight.”
In everyone’s ears, there remained only those two clear voices. For some reason, the figures that appeared in their minds were two scholars who had spent their entire lives studying, exhausting the classics until their hair turned white.
In truth, the most shocked person was not anyone else, but Chen Bai.
In his eyes, Crown Prince Sudan had only been a gentle-natured young man who was very easy to get along with, someone who could not move his feet whenever he saw a dog.
But now… that voice was smooth and mellow, like sunlight entering one’s arms, like a stream flowing by, without the slightest pause. That unrestrained young man was like a divine being descending to the world, like a sage reborn.
No wonder the people of Shangjing called him a shocking monster and an unparalleled talent. He truly was peerless, without equal in the world.
Torches were lit inside Hongwen Pavilion, and no one left.
There would be no curfew in Shangjing tonight, and patrols on the streets of Shangjing had also been increased severalfold. But whether it was the patrolling guards or the commoners who opened their windows, all eyes were turned toward the brightly lit Hongwen Pavilion.
Not only there—the same was true in the imperial palace.
Every quarter of an hour, the Emperor would ask, “Is it over?”
No one could tell from his tone whether he hoped it would end, or hoped it would continue.
After receiving the answer, he did not know whether he should feel relieved or something else…
Everyone knew that this was not merely a contest between scholars. Its result would determine the ownership of a city. A war without bloodshed was still a war. Everyone knew that this Grand Scholar Zhaoxue was the final grand scholar who could compete with Crown Prince Sudan of Zhao.
The moon hung full over the western tower. It was a sleepless night.
The torches and lanterns were changed several times. The palace attendants who replaced the lanterns had their hearts in their throats, afraid that if they made even the slightest sound, they would interrupt those unbelievable voices continuing line after line.
Aside from the voices of the two of them, perhaps only the crackling of burning flames could be heard. No one knew when it had begun, but everyone even tried to lower the sound of their breathing.
Those two voices continued at an unhurried pace.
Until their voices became low and hoarse…
Until the horizon began to show the pale light of dawn.
Inside the imperial palace, the attendants had said countless times, “Your Majesty, you should rest.”
But someone ultimately refused to sleep, and could not sleep either.
When everyone finally reacted, they could not help sucking in a cold breath.
These two people had actually recited for an entire day and night without stopping, and neither had missed even half a word.
The body of literature was as vast as the sea, so numerous it could not be counted. The sheer quantity alone was enough to make one’s head spin. But now, there truly were people who had committed all of it to memory.
Unbelievable. Without equal in this moment.
The sky brightened.
The voices of the two also slowed down. It was not that they could no longer recite, but that their mouths had already lost strength. Even opening their mouths had become difficult.
A voice also came from the palace.
“This round is a draw!”
Silence.
Only then did the voices of the two stop.
Sudan looked at the hanging curtain in some surprise. “So I am not the only person in this world with the ability to remember everything I see.”
Then he was supported away by the Zhao envoys.
An entire day and night of nonstop recitation was not something a normal person could endure.
Only then did excited voices ring out inside Hongwen Pavilion.
“It’s a draw.”
“They actually fought to a draw.”
Ever since Crown Prince Sudan had come to Shangjing on the first day, they had been pressed into the ground and ground into the mud. No scholar in Shangjing had dared speak loudly, because Crown Prince Sudan had defeated them so thoroughly that they accepted it wholeheartedly.
But now, they had drawn.
Chen Bai walked out from behind the hanging curtain, but there was not much happiness on his face.
He had originally thought that using a phone to survive in this era would not bring him any psychological burden.
But now, this victory truly was not very honorable. That was a truly peerless person.
Chen Bai said bitterly, “Actually, I lost.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, someone covered his mouth. The Three Dukes shouted at the same time, “Do not let these words reach anyone else’s ears.”
This was not merely a sentence. This was an entire city. No one could afford to lose.
Chen Bai sighed. He could not explain it.
When he had time, he would give Sudan a dog. This was their wager, and also what Sudan deserved.
Chen Bai was sent back by people arranged by Chief Judicial Officer Chen. The expression on Chief Judicial Officer Chen’s face was simply brilliant.
He had always worried about Chen Bai’s future. He had thought Chen Bai’s future was already ruined, but he had not expected things to take such a turn. How could he not be happy?
If Chen Bai could preserve a city for Great Qian, then that previous unclear stain on his reputation could be offset no matter what. It would no longer become an obstacle on his career path. The king would naturally make a judgment.
Chen Bai’s body really could not hold out any longer. After drinking the tea that was brought to him, he returned home and fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow.
Chen Xiaobu excitedly came to find his brother, but he was stopped by others.
And as the news spread, the whole of Shangjing also boiled over.
But there was still worry.
“This round was a draw, but what about the next round? Sudan is not only a peerless genius in memorizing the classics. He is proficient in everything.”
“That’s right. Although Grand Scholar Zhaoxue unexpectedly revealed this ability, when it comes to other things…”
The city was filled with heated discussion, both happy and worried. It tugged at everyone’s heart.
When Chen Bai woke up, it was already afternoon. He was so hungry his stomach hurt.
When Chen Xiaobu brought people in with food, he hugged Chen Bai’s thigh and chirped loudly, shaking his little head nonstop. “Brother, you’re too amazing! Now the people of Shangjing are all saying that you’re some pearl lost in the vast sea, some hidden treasure or something.”
The corners of Chen Bai’s mouth twitched. As he ate, he listened to Chen Xiaobu, this shrieking little chicken, bragging.
“Brother, you have no idea how famous you are now. It’s a good reputation, not that bad one from before. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Grand Scholar Zhaoxue, famous throughout Shangjing.”
Chen Bai: “…”
At most, it was only a draw. But that made sense too. They had been suppressed for too long. Even a draw was enough to make people excited.
Chen Bai thought for a moment and said, “Later, have someone come over. I want to send something to Sudan.”
Chen Xiaobu scratched his head and made an “oh” sound. Since when had his brother become so close with that Sudan who was always stealing his dogs to play with?
“Brother, I’m really stylish when I go out now. Everyone calls me Grand Scholar Zhaoxue’s younger brother.”
Chen Bai smiled. This child had been an optimist since he was little.
After eating, Chen Bai had more or less recovered his energy.
Only then did he suddenly realize that today counted as his second day of work, right? He had not gone to report for duty. He wondered whether it would leave a bad impression.
He found a servant from the Court of Judicial Review and had him go to Hongwen Pavilion to request leave.
In the end, an inner attendant from the palace made a special trip to the Court of Judicial Review, bringing an oral decree telling him that he only needed to rest, and that he did not need to worry about anything else.
This treatment…
Tsk, tsk. This was the first time he had enjoyed it since coming to this world.
Then he would rest properly. To be honest, even his mouth felt weak now.
As for Crown Prince Sudan, he also received the gift Chen Bai had sent.
Sudan was in about the same condition as Chen Bai right now. Even opening his mouth hurt. It was estimated that there would be no way to compete in the next round for the near future.
Hearing that someone had sent him a gift, he looked puzzled. “Chen Zixiu sent it?”
“The person who delivered the gift said so.”
Sudan was puzzled for a moment. “Strange. Why would Chen Zixiu suddenly send me a gift?”
Puzzled, he walked over to take a look. It was a cage. He lifted the cloth…
Then, “Ah!”
The hoarse scream startled the guards watching the posthouse so badly that they thought some major incident affecting relations between the two countries had happened.
In the end, when they ran over to take a look…
Sudan was hugging a fluffy thing and rolling around with it.
It was painful to the eyes.
There was also a gift note on the cage. On the note, it was written:
“Your Highness is truly the bright moon among the stars. Zixiu is inferior. Thus, I specially present this strange beast, a Samoyed.”
The smiling angel Samoyed, pure white from head to toe. Such a smiling little prince rather suited Sudan.
Sudan looked at the strange beast that seemed to come with its own smile. His entire heart fell into it. How could he still have the time to analyze what Chen Bai’s gift note actually meant?
He muttered to himself, “How do I raise it again? How do I raise it again? That group of children seemed to say there are many things to pay attention to.”
“Tsk, tsk, Chen Zixiu really is a good person.”
The envoys: “…”
Their crown prince seemed to be beyond saving. Just now, he had said his mouth hurt and that he did not want to speak. Now he was endlessly talking to himself.
However, this strange beast really was beautiful. It was actually even prettier than that holy white fox. The key point was that white foxes were cold by nature and would hurt people, but look at this strange beast. It was far too close to humans, and was constantly trying to please their crown prince.
After Sudan played with it for a while, he leashed the dog and walked outside.
“Your Highness, you should rest properly.”
If the wounds in his mouth did not heal, when could they hold the next contest? They had already been in Great Qian for quite some time. When could they finish their business and return to Zhao?
Sudan did not even stop walking. What contest? What returning to Zhao? What were those things? Right now, he needed to go ask how to raise his Samoyed.
If these Zhao envoys knew what their crown prince was thinking at this moment, they would probably take knives and go looking for Chen Bai.
Chen Bai had thought he could enjoy some peace and quiet. In the end, Sudan came to his door.
“It’s fine. I didn’t only come to your Court of Judicial Review. Just now, I also went to Duke Shang’s residence, Duke Gan’s residence, and even the imperial palace…” Sudan said.
Chen Bai glanced at Shang Jujiu, Shang Zhizhou, Gan Xin, and Prince Ning behind Sudan, all holding dog leashes.
Well, he had gathered everyone.
The children were gathered around Sudan’s Samoyed.
“Crown Prince Sudan, why does your dog have a smiling face? It’s too cute.”
The dimples on Sudan’s face appeared. Not only that, his Samoyed’s fur was also so wonderful to rub.
Chen Bai did not want to speak because his mouth hurt. Since he was not speaking, he simply watched them play with the dog.
He brought them to his courtyard and had people send over tea and pastries.
“Brother Bai, why is your courtyard so desolate? It looks like a cold palace.”
Chen Bai took a look. It was indeed a little desolate. This was because in the past, when he had climbed trees to sneak out, Chief Judicial Officer Chen had been furious and had ordered all the flowers and plants in his courtyard pulled out by the roots.
After thinking about it, Qi Zheng had planted quite a lot of sunflowers. He wondered whether he could ask for some to plant here.
With dogs around, the laughter of the group never stopped.
After receiving the news, Chen Xiaobu also came over with his Dalmatian to join the fun.
Sudan actually listened patiently as the children explained their dog-raising experiences in a proper manner, occasionally discussing a few points with great excitement.
Chen Bai thought to himself that Sudan’s mouth probably would not recover anytime soon.
However, there really were many things to pay attention to when raising a Samoyed.
Chen Bai simply wrote them down for him and even gave him a steel pin brush. A Samoyed’s coat was very thick. Without a steel pin brush, it could not be combed through properly.
But once it was brushed until it was fluffy and springy, the Samoyed raised from it would be breathtakingly beautiful.
When Sudan left, he was especially satisfied.
Chen Bai now had the king’s oral decree telling him to recover at ease and not worry about anything else.
Then he would rest properly.
Only, he had never expected that his rest would actually last more than a month.
There was no helping it. Sudan talked endlessly to his dog every single day. In the end, his mouth stubbornly dragged on for a month before it healed. During this period, it was impossible to hold the next contest.
At the time, Chen Bai had even been somewhat worried. What if Sudan’s voice remained hoarse forever? What would they do? A puppy-like face paired with a smoky voice—terrifying.
Chen Bai’s mouth recovered quite quickly. After resting for a few days, he was basically fine.
While they waited for Sudan to recover, the weather grew hotter and hotter, and a major event happened in Shangjing.
Outside Shangjing City, a road of little suns appeared.
They really were little suns, so beautiful that people could not look away.
On both sides of the road, all the sunflowers had bloomed. They were large and beautiful, and they grew toward the sun, which also gave them a good meaning.
At a glance, they stretched into the distance.
Now, countless people of Shangjing had been attracted to go watch them.
Chen Bai’s students were even happier. These were the flowers they had planted. Every day, they dragged their families over to admire them.
“We told you we were planting little suns, but you all refused to believe us. Do you believe us now?”
The parents: “…”
There really were flowers that bloomed facing the sun, and they were far too beautiful.
After Chen Bai’s mouth recovered, he did not neglect these students’ lessons either.
Chen Bai himself was not sure what kind of people the students he taught would become in the future. In any case, he was not a professional master. He taught whatever came to mind, in a messy and disorganized way—biology, physics, chemistry, a little bit of everything.
Now these students all knew how to catch frogs and do knee-jerk reflex experiments. They could make tin-can telephones out of two sheets of paper and play with them in great delight. They could also use the principle that starch turned blue when it met iodine to scare people into gasping…
Sometimes, when these students suddenly tossed out a few academic terms, Chen Bai would also feel a little dazed. He almost could not tell whether this was the modern era or ancient times.
This group of students… in other people’s eyes, was also becoming stranger and stranger. The key was that they themselves did not know it. They even felt that others were ignorant for not understanding such ordinary knowledge.
Bit by bit, what Chen Bai taught them was slowly beginning to reveal its sense of abruptness.
For example, in the imperial palace, there was the current Emperor’s mother, a very strict old lady. Even when she quietly sat in her wheelchair, she gave off a feeling that made people unable to approach her.
As it turned out, Prince Ning accidentally told someone that the old lady could actually still stand up from her wheelchair.
Prince Ning was still young. How could he know how sinister people’s hearts were? In the end, those words reached the empress dowager’s ears.
The empress dowager had always been extremely taboo about people mentioning that her legs and feet were inconvenient. She summoned Prince Ning and questioned him. In the end, Prince Ning insisted that something called an electronic acupuncture device could treat rheumatism and let people stand up.
How could anyone else understand that?
And so, Prince Ning was punished by kneeling.
When Chen Bai took attendance, one student was missing from class. After asking, he learned that the boy had caused trouble.
Chen Bai frowned slightly. It was probably because last time, he had demonstrated to these students an electronic acupuncture device that could automatically locate acupoints, a common tool for treating rheumatism. In the end, these students had listened seriously and taken it to heart.
Although Chen Bai did not know whether the electronic acupuncture device could cure the empress dowager, it could definitely relieve her pain. Rheumatic pain was extremely unbearable, both itchy and painful. But with an electronic acupuncture device, things would be different. It could unblock meridians, invigorate blood circulation, and feel very comfortable.
There was no helping it. Chen Bai had to enter the palace once. Otherwise, who knew how long his student would have to kneel? He would fall behind in lessons too.
For an outside official to see the empress dowager, the procedures were complicated, so he had to ask Qi Zheng for help.
Recently, Qi Zheng had actually been seriously compiling the history of Great Qian in Hongwen Pavilion. To be honest, Chen Bai had been surprised for a long time.
The king ordering him to compile the history of Great Qian should have only been an excuse, right? Why had he taken it seriously? Was he actually going to finish compiling it and hand it in?
Was this person stupid, or honest? If he really submitted it to the Emperor, the Emperor would probably be depressed for quite a while too.
When Chen Bai found Qi Zheng, Qi Zheng was still holding a brush and writing.
“You want to enter the palace to see the empress dowager, for Prince Ning?”
Sometimes, Qi Zheng really did not know how to describe Chen Zixiu. If one said he was a foolishly good person, he certainly was not soft-mouthed when he attacked people. Last time, he had attacked Qi Zheng quite a bit.
Chen Bai also felt a little awkward. After insulting Qi Zheng last time, he had not seen him again. Who knew that now, he had something to ask Qi Zheng for help with? Sure enough, as the saying went, leave a line in everything you do, so you can meet again in the future.
Qi Zheng continued, “The king told you to recover at home. He even said you do not need to come to Hongwen Pavilion. You do not really think he meant for you to do nothing, do you? The king wants you to read more at home so you can respond to Crown Prince Sudan’s next contest. If the king finds out you are still running around everywhere, it may not be a good thing.”
Chen Bai: “…”
Qi Zheng could not possibly think that he could defeat Crown Prince Sudan just by reading a few books, right?
Last time, if the Zhao envoys had not been careless and allowed him to set the topic, the result could never have been a draw.
He already knew how monstrous Sudan was now. No ordinary person could defeat him.
After Qi Zheng finished speaking, he stood up. “Come with me into the palace.”
Chen Bai froze. That was it?
Since when was Qi Zheng so easy to talk to?
Qi Zheng sighed. That old lady in the palace was not easy to get along with. Prince Ning was probably going to suffer quite a bit.
Prince Zheng brought Chen Bai to see the empress dowager in the name of being her imperial grandson, so the procedures were much simpler.
The old lady sitting in the wheelchair above them had no emotion on her face. She glanced at Qi Zheng, then her gaze turned to Chen Bai. She probably knew Qi Zheng would not bring someone here for no reason.
“You are that Grand Scholar Zhaoxue who struck the Grievance Drum, endured the punishment for clearing an injustice, saved countless people in Shangjing, and later fought Crown Prince Sudan of Zhao to a draw?”
Chen Bai quickly answered properly, “Yes.”
This old lady was indeed difficult to get along with. Below, Prince Ning was such a small child, kneeling there with tears in his eyes, but the old lady did not even blink.
“Why do you not understand the Emperor’s painstaking intentions and think about how to protect a city for my Great Qian, but instead run to my place?” Her voice carried no discernible joy or anger.
Chen Bai did not waste words. With a person of this character, beating around the bush was useless. “I came for Prince Ning.”
“Oh.” The old lady made a soft sound. “So you are… appealing a grievance all the way to me?”
She glanced at Prince Ning. “What grievance could there be for a fool who was used as someone’s spear?”
Chen Bai froze for a moment. This old lady clearly understood everything in her heart, yet she had still punished Prince Ning. That was rather interesting.
It seemed that the reason Prince Ning had angered the old lady was not what he had thought. If it really were so, then the one being punished would definitely not only be Prince Ning.
After speaking, the old lady frowned slightly and rubbed her knee. There was clearly pain on her face, but it flashed by so quickly that it was as if nothing had happened.
Chen Bai’s pupils shrank. Rheumatic pain was both itchy and unbearable, yet this old lady could actually endure it without changing her expression…
Chen Bai only said one sentence. “Prince Ning did not lie.”
The old lady was clearly stunned. “How so?”
Chen Bai smiled. He did not answer, but instead looked at Prince Ning. “Tell the empress dowager who your master is.”
Prince Ning lifted his head pitifully and rubbed his tears. “My master is Mountain Lord. I did not lie. We were taught in class that rheumatism can be treated.”
“…”
Chen Bai also spoke. “I did not come this time entirely for Prince Ning, but also to defend my master, Mountain Lord’s, name.”
His words were firm and resounding. This could also explain very well why he had come here, and could help him avoid the king’s blame.
If someone did not believe what his master had taught, how could a disciple sit still?
After speaking, Chen Bai took out the electronic acupuncture device and directly handed it to Prince Ning. “How to use it was already taught very clearly in class. There are only a few acupoints for treating rheumatism.”
As Mountain Lord’s final eldest disciple, it was not strange that he could take out an electronic acupuncture device.
Prince Ning blinked and pitifully accepted it.
The old lady did not refuse either.
Then the entire palace hall was left with only the sound of the electronic device.
The old lady was clearly somewhat surprised. A little prince could actually perform acupuncture on someone?
Moreover, the tingling sensation coming from her leg replaced the pain, making her feel much more comfortable.
When Chen Bai and Prince Ning left, the old lady even praised him and said, “Not bad.”
Chen Bai frowned slightly. Was it not said that this old lady was extremely difficult to get along with?
A truly difficult person would absolutely not offer praise over such a small matter.
After Chen Bai left, only the old lady and Qi Zheng remained in the hall.
Silence.
After a long while, the old lady finally said, “I did not expect that merely meeting once would require borrowing another person’s hand.”
Qi Zheng still did not speak.
The old lady waved her hand. “Go. Lu Qingqi will fully assist you this time. From now on, the sky is high and the fish may leap as they please.”
She was speaking of Duke Lu, one of the Three Dukes who controlled Great Qian’s finances.
After a long while, Qi Zheng finally asked, “Why did you not take this chance to deal with Crown Prince Jiao?”
The old lady smiled. “Is it not better to leave a fool in that position?”
After saying that, she added, “You should go check on the person you brought here just now. I’m afraid he will not be able to leave this palace.”
Footnotes:
[1] This poem depicts a lyrical protagonist longing for their beloved. They had arranged to meet at the city tower, but after a long wait with no sign of the beloved, their eyes grew weary from watching. The speaker complains that the beloved did not come to the rendezvous and even more so, did not send any word.
