134: Imperial Instructions and Ruler

Chapter 133 Imperial Instructions and Ruler

Changle Palace, Changxin Hall.

This place is located on the east side of Qiankun Hall, covering an area of over a hundred mu, and contains more than ten different grand halls.

This palace also has another alias, the "Crown Prince's Eastern Palace", which is the place where past crown princes lived and studied.

Of course, the current Emperor Zhengyong is nearing thirty years of age yet has not had any princes born, so this "Crown Prince's Eastern Palace" has been left idle.

It wasn't until several princesses began their enlightenment studies that it was restarted and transformed into a royal private school where Your Majesty teaches the princesses.

At this moment, inside Changxin Hall.

"At the beginning of life, human nature is inherently good..."

Five charmingly cute little tots were shaking their heads and chanting the Three Character Classic under the guidance of two girls around twelve years old.

In front of them sat an old man in a green shirt, with his hands held behind his back, listening closely.

These five cute little tots were, of course, Zheng Yi's five little princesses.

Born in the fourth year of zhengyong, they were now around five years old and had long since begun their enlightenment.

Today, they were simply completing the homework assigned by the tutor.

As they chanted, Third Princess Zheng Yuhuan suddenly blinked and quietly pulled Second Princess Zheng Yuxia beside her.

The two little lolis chuckled and quietly slipped down from their seats.

While muttering in their mouths, they quietly crawled toward the door, preparing to sneak away.

"Tutor~!"

At this moment, a charming voice rang out, and Fourth Princess Zheng Yuxuan suddenly raised her hand and said, "Langhuan and Jinxia are trying to sneak out again, please go manage them."

The tutor in the premier seat slowly opened his eyes and said indifferently, "Langhuan and Jinxia, where are the two of you going?"

"Replying to the tutor."

Langhuan immediately stood up obediently and said, "This Palace feels that today the sunlight is bright, and we can completely go outdoors to study."

"Just like what Imperial Father said, what, breath, breathing fresh air helps relax the mind and spirit, and allows for better study."

"Sharp-tongued, stand obediently!"

The tutor shook his head and said, "Studies have just begun today, not even the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and you are reviewing what was learned the day before. What fresh air are you breathing?"

"If jade is not cut, it will not become a vessel; if a person does not learn, they will not know righteousness. I punish you to copy the Three Character Classic three times."

"Hmph~! This Palace won't copy it; this Palace wants to go to Imperial Father's place to study~!"

Having said that, disregarding the tutor's ugly expression, she dragged Princess Jinxia and ran toward the direction of White Jade Capital.

"Audacious! Audacious! What kind of system is this, what kind of system... cough cough..."

"Tutor, are you alright~"

"Tutor, quickly drink some water. Zheng Yuhuan was unintentional, please don't take it to heart..."

The two almost identical girls hurriedly brought tea to the tutor and constantly comforted him.

"Two Little Mistresses~"

At this moment, several figures walked in from outside Changxin Hall, blocking most of the sunlight.

"Imperial Father~"

"Imperial Father!"

"It's Imperial Father!"

Everyone looked over and saw that it was Zheng Yi, surrounded by Liu Chengen and several eunuchs, walking in.

He was also holding two little lolis in his arms, weren't they Langhuan and Jinxia, giggling away.

Upon seeing Zheng Yi, the remaining three little lolis also hurriedly stood up and skipped over.

"Imperial Father, hug me!"

"Imperial Father, Imperial Father, hug me!"

"Hug me, hug me~!"

Even the twin girls hurriedly went up to meet him, staring at Zheng Yi with tender and affectionate eyes, and softly saluted, "This subject's daughter greets Your Majesty!"

The tutor also hurriedly stood up and bowed, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Rise."

Zheng Yi's mood was obviously very good, and he scooped up all five little lolis in one go. Langhuan, this little girl, was the smartest; she actually climbed onto Zheng Yi's head all of a sudden, sitting squarely on his neck just like riding a big horse.

"Alright, alright, come down quickly. Imperial Father came here to test your knowledge, not to play with you!"

Toward his ten daughters, Zheng Yi truly held them in his hands for fear they would drop, and held them in his mouth for fear they would melt, doting on them immensely.

He would agree to almost any request, a proper daughter-slave.

Therefore, this caused the several little princesses to become increasingly lawless, acting just like little tyrants in the palace.

However, there were also several princesses whose conduct was pure and kind, which pleased Zheng Yi even more.

For instance, Eldest Princess Zheng Yuyao pleased Zheng Yi the most.

Having finally put the five little princesses down, Zheng Yi came before the tutor and said, "Tutor, you've worked hard."

The tutor before him was a great Confucian scholar of the current era, named Lu Ziqian.

The third place finisher in the 11th year of Tianqi, he had an indifferent nature and disliked being an official, but he had always traveled around Great Yu lecturing everywhere, promoting his Dao learning.

He ultimately became a great Confucian scholar of the current age, and was also the Junior Brother of the current Cabinet Assistant Minister Zheng Xuanyue, as well as one of the representatives of the Southern literati faction.

"Today Our visit is precisely to test the princesses' studies. To where have they learned?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, the Three Character Classic has been finished, and now they are learning the Mengqiu."

"Oh? So fast?"

Zheng Yi said, "The Three Character Classic has been finished. Can the princesses recite it?"

"We can."

"Then come up one by one. Recite it proficiently and completely, and We naturally have rewards."

"Understood!"

Almost every one of the five princesses was eager to try, only Langhuan and Jinxia had their little faces wrinkled into steamed buns.

"Who goes first?"

"Me!"

Zheng Yuxuan was the first to raise her hand, and then she stood up and recited in a milky voice: "At the beginning of life, human nature is inherently good..."

"Mhm, not bad, not bad."

Zheng Yi nodded and casually took off a milky-white jade pendant from his body: "Xuan'er recited well, this mutton-fat jade pendant is given to you."

"Many thanks, Imperial Father!"

Next was Zheng Yuyang; she recited very quickly and also received Zheng Yi's reward.

Among the five enlightened little princesses, the Fourth Princess and Fifth Princess were closest, entirely because their mothers were Xu Qingluan and Li Changle.

Meanwhile, Second Princess Zheng Yuxia and Third Princess Zheng Yuhuan were close, with their mothers being Consort Bi and the Empress.

Usually, it was just those four who made the most fuss, frequently arguing endlessly over a single matter.

As for Eldest Princess Zheng Yuyao, her temperament was pure and she liked staying alone.

Among the ten princesses, several small factions were also divided according to their different mothers.

Zheng Yuyao also recited very steadily, with clear articulation, unhurried and unforced, not like Yuyang who had to pause a few times.

Zheng Yi nodded and fished out a string of jade beads, handing it to Yuyao.

"Many thanks, Imperial Father."

"What about you two~"

Looking at Langhuan and Jinxia who kept shrinking back, Zheng Yi frowned and said.

The two little lolis ultimately could not hide and began to recite stammeringly.

But it was obvious that, let alone reciting it completely, even the beginning was recited stammeringly.

"What is going on? Yuyao, Yuxuan, and Yuyang can all recite it completely. Did the two of you actually study on ordinary days?"

The two little lolis were timid and submissive, not knowing what to say.

"Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu?"

Zheng Yi looked toward the two maidens.

These two maidens were the daughters of Eastern Cloud Wind, and had always been raised by Noble Lady Zhen in Cuiping Hall.

Zheng Yi went there about once a month, and the two seven- or eight-year-old little lolis from before had now grown into graceful young maidens of twelve years old.

People in the palace all knew the identities of the two girls, so no one made things difficult for them. Privately, they even called them "Little Mistresses", which secretly pleased them.

Zheng Yi even issued an order allowing the two girls to study alongside the princesses and tutors.

Dongyun Jie secretly glanced at Zheng Yuhuan, only to see Zheng Yuhuan sitting upright with a somewhat anxious look in her eyes.

She stammered, "Per-, perhaps the princesses saw Your Majesty, their emotions were excited, and they forgot for a moment."

"Right, right, right!"

Zheng Yuhuan hurriedly said, "What Dongyun Jie said is right! Imperial Father, I haven't seen you for several days, I've missed you all along, so seeing you today made me very excited~"

Zheng Yuxia also hurriedly added, "That's right, Imperial Father, Zheng Yuhuan and I have been talking about you privately~"

Zheng Yi's mouth twitched. Whose example were these two little girls following?

How were they carved from the exact same mold as the Empress and Consort Bi?

However, he couldn't bear to punish them either, and could only put on a straight face and say, "Today We have important matters, so we will let you off for now, but there will be no rewards."

"Yay! Imperial Father is the best!"

The two little lolis immediately leaped onto Zheng Yi's body, jumping up and down with excitement.

Zheng Yi then turned back and said, "Chengen."

"This old slave is here."

He then trotted two steps forward, took an object from the wooden tray held by the young eunuch behind him, and respectfully handed it to Lu Ziqian.

"Tutor, this object is an imperial bestowal from Your Majesty, named the "Imperial Instructions Ruler". If the princes and imperial grandsons are unruly and intolerable, I ask the tutor to properly educate them."

"If the princes and imperial grandsons are unruly, the tutor may hold this object to administer minor corporal punishment; no one is allowed to interfere."

"This, how can this..."

Lu Ziqian was also startled and repeatedly refused.

He had previously served as a companion reader to the crown prince and knew what kind of people princes and imperial grandsons were.

Any tutor was a subject before them. It would be fine if they encountered a diligent and gentle prince who could steadily study and read.

But if they encountered an unruly scoundrel, some would even use their status as princes to pressure him, making him teach on his knees—what kind of system was this!

He couldn't hit them, nor could he scold them. How could this even be played?

And now, Your Majesty actually wanted to bestow upon him a ruler specifically used to discipline princes and imperial grandsons.

This...

At this time, Zheng Yi also said, "Tutor, accept it."

"We are busy with state affairs on ordinary days and may not be able to educate the children comprehensively, so you shall educate them."

"As long as they are My blood descendants, or children studying within Changxin Hall, you have the qualification to educate them with this ruler; no one is allowed to defy it."

"Even if We have a crown prince in the future, you must educate him well."

"When tutors of other subjects are educating students, you also have the qualification to discipline them."

"We trust you, and hope the tutor educates My descendants well."

Toward his ten daughters, Zheng Yi paid extremely close attention.

Aside from the simplest cultural classes, he also additionally hired teachers for other subjects for them.

For example, mathematics, military strategy, dancing, martial arts, etc., chosen freely according to their hobbies and interests.

Of course, cultural classes were the main courses.

The other classes were all elective classes; those who wanted to learn could go learn them on their own.

Lu Ziqian immediately flicked his sleeves and knelt down, bowing deeply to pay respects: "This subject obeys the imperial decree!"

At this time, Zheng Yi also placed the two little lolis on the ground and said solemnly, "What Imperial Father said just now was meant for the tutor to hear, and of course it was also meant for you to hear."

"In the future, you will also have younger brothers and sisters coming here to attend classes. You must properly admonish them that the classroom is for studying, not for playing."

"If there are any more unruly matters happening, We will never let it go lightly, do you understand?"

It was the first time the five little princesses saw Imperial Father with such a solemn expression, and feeling scared in their hearts, they immediately said, "I, I know it, Imperial Father."

"Respectfully obeying Imperial Father's command..."

Among the five little lolis, Zheng Yuhuan and Zheng Yuxia lowered their heads the most, still afraid of making eye contact with Zheng Yi.

Meanwhile, the other three girls were very well-behaved, especially Zheng Yuxuan, who even revealed two little tiger teeth toward Zheng Yi.

"Alright."

Zheng Yi stood up and said, "Coming to Changxin Hall today, besides giving a gift to the tutor, there is another matter: We need to take away a few princesses. Is that alright with the tutor?"

Lu Ziqian immediately said, "Please feel free, Your Majesty."

"We are taking a few princesses out for a trip. Today's studies shall end here, and will continue tomorrow."

"Understood!"

"Oh~ Going out to play, let's go quickly, let's go quickly~!"

Zheng Yuhuan gave a cheerful cry, grabbed Zheng Yi's large hand, and skipped as she pulled him toward the outside.

Her other hand was grabbed by Zheng Yuxia, who was also exerting strength forcefully.

As Zheng Yi walked, he turned his head and instructed, "Princess Yao, Yuxuan, you two follow along as well."

Only then did he discover that Zheng Yuyao was solemnly putting away the string of jade beads he had just bestowed, smiling with pursed lips as she followed along.