Chapter 108
In the practice field, Cheng Qian squatted in a horseback archery stance while listening to Xiao Luzi recite from a book.
He occasionally corrected him, "A gentleman does not crave fullness in eating nor settled comfort in dwelling, but is quick to act and cautious in speech."
"A gentleman has no excessive demands for food and drink, as long as he is full..." Cheng Qian taught Xiao Luzi sentence by sentence.
He did not want Xiao Luzi to become a second Wei Zheng in the future.
Wei Zheng had no ill intentions, but lacked sufficient learning to correct the flaws and mistakes of the Imperial Father.
Cheng Qian hoped that Xiao Luzi could become his assistant.
Moreover, when his Younger Sister, the precious Chu Chu, grew older, he would personally teach her to read as her brother.
Xiao Luzi was just being used for practice first.
"If you don't understand something, just ask me anytime, don't be too shy to speak out," Cheng Qian said to Xiao Luzi.
"Do you know how to write the word 'prudent'?"
After completing half a session of horseback archery, Cheng Qian took a knife and drew the complex character on the ground to show Xiao Luzi.
"Remember it. Prudent, cautious in speech and action. If one's words and deeds are rash, one will pay the price. Whether it's the imperial family or common people, one must think thrice before acting."
Xiao Luzi looked miserable, but he had no choice but to learn.
"Today, you'll copy it three times, and I'll test you tomorrow."
Xiao Luzi was struck by a bolt from the blue.
But as he followed Cheng Qian away from the practice field, he did not know that someone was enviously watching him.
Only when they were out of sight did the spying figure jump down from the beam and stand in front of the character 'prudent'.
"Think thrice... before acting..."
"Prudent..."
The figure's lips moved, producing a hoarse sound to repeat the words.
Squatting in front of the 'prudent' character, this agile figure clumsily traced it with the right hand three times before reluctantly leaving.
"Your Highness, will you wake up half an hour earlier tomorrow too?" Xiao Luzi asked tentatively.
Cheng Qian nodded, "Yes."
"But the Emperor said the princes should get enough sleep for better health..."
Cheng Qian paused. "If the children in the common households of Jing Country cannot grow up safely, intelligent and healthy, with national peace and prosperity, then what's the use of me growing tall?"
The figure following behind them froze.
Cheng Qian frowned. He knew that his Younger Sister was said to be as lovely as a celestial maiden reincarnated, and what she said about the benefits of sufficient sleep for health was probably true.
If he were an ordinary child from a commoner's family, he should naturally follow that principle.
But if he were to ascend to that position one day, a single word from him would affect all the common people under heaven.
How could he be negligent?
If he did not work hard today, he might wrongly trust the ministers' advice tomorrow, fail to discern right from wrong, and make mistaken policy decisions.
If there were no generals capable of leading troops into battle at that time, then the imperial clan would be the last line of defense for the common people of Jing Country!
Cheng Qian clenched his fists.
"Xiao Luzi, I don't want that when tragic events happen to the common people in the future, I want to rescue them but lack the ability to do so. Do you understand?"
After saying this, Cheng Qian saw Xiao Luzi's bewildered expression and was struck by a sense of despair!
Fortunately, his precious Younger Sister Chu Chu was intelligent.
If she were like Xiao Luzi, that would truly be... like casting pearls before swine.
Forget it, since Xiao Luzi did not know his Younger Sister's premonitions about the coming tragedy, he would just slowly teach him.
Cheng Qian took a deep breath, stabilized his emotions, and soon patted Xiao Luzi's shoulder.
"You studied well this morning, and I won't go back on my word. At noon, the chicken soup noodles Mother prepared for me, I'll share half with you."
Xiao Luzi immediately beamed, "Thank you, Your Highness..."
As he spoke, he looked surprised and felt the back of his neck.
Cheng Qian raised an eyebrow, "What is it?"
"Nothing, I just felt like someone was watching me just now."
Xiao Luzi looked around but didn't see anything, so he happily dismissed it.
Soon, he followed Cheng Qian back to Qianxi No. 5 Residence in high spirits.
At noon, Xiao Luzi looked reverently as the Fifth Prince shared half of his large bowl of noodles with him.
"Amazing, Fifth Prince! Just adding hot water makes it instantly edible. The Imperial Kitchen is incredible."
Cheng Qian smiled faintly. Everyone said it was the Imperial Kitchen's invention after the Imperial Father's guidance.
But he knew it was his Younger Sister's idea.
"Go ahead and eat."
The hot water quickly softened the dry noodle bricks, and a small square solid chicken broth cube, wrapped in oiled paper, Cheng Qian also broke in half and tossed into Xiao Luzi's small bowl.
"Cover it for a while with a plate."
Yesterday, his Younger Sister told Mother that she preferred soft, well-soaked noodles over the crunchy texture of half-cooked ones.
Cheng Qian thought she made sense, so he taught Xiao Luzi the same.
"Okay, I'll clean the courtyard and come back to eat!" Xiao Luzi carefully carried the bowl of noodles the Prince shared with him back to the servant's quarters.
He didn't forget to boast to the Sixth Prince's attending eunuch who shared the room, "My Prince rewarded me with this, the newest dish from the Imperial Kitchen. They say it will be directly supplied to the border troops in the future!"
The Sixth Prince's attending eunuch heard this and drooled, "How nice, Brother Lu, I'm so envious. The Grand General's rations, and you get to eat them too."
Xiao Luzi puffed out his chest, "Heh heh, it's because I'm a good student! If you study diligently like me every day, your Prince might reward you too."
"Alright, I'm going to eat soon, so don't steal my noodles!"
"I wouldn't dare," the Sixth Prince's honest attendant waved his hands.
Xiao Luzi nodded and left.
But in just a short while, before Cheng Qian had finished his own lunch, he heard a wail coming from the servant's quarters.
"Ow— Where are my noodles?"
"Ah— The noodles the Fifth Prince rewarded me are gone! Who's the little thief?"
"Damn it, who would steal even noodles?"
Cheng Qian was taken aback.
And at the corner of the dried well in Qianxi No. 5 Residence, an agile figure clutching a bowl darted past at lightning speed.
Only after jumping onto a beam did this figure tentatively lower its head and bring the half-bowl of noodle soup to its mouth.
In an instant, this nimble figure froze on the beam.
...
[Huh, the progress of the Enlightenment Mission has increased by another 1.5%!]
When Xiao Chuchu woke up from her afternoon nap and saw the update, she grimaced.
Concubine Liu, who was doing needlework, pricked up her ears in bewilderment and soon tucked the corners of the small rocking bed for her daughter.
"My Lady, I've heard a strange story," the palace maid Qiu Li entered and looked at Concubine Liu mysteriously.
"What is it?"
Qiu Li immediately lowered her voice and leaned closer to Concubine Liu.
"I just went to the kitchen and heard that the Emperor..."
"After the noon meal, the Emperor nearly fell asleep, but soon ordered Lord Fucha of the Imperial Cabinet to tie his hair to a suspended beam, and Lord Jiang of the Ministry of Revenue to prick him with needles."
"!" Concubine Liu was shocked and forgot her actions.
Not long after, she heard her daughter's astonished and startled inner voice.
[Ah? Is this how the Imperial Father reforms assassins?]
[Oh my, do assassins have such strange tastes?]
With a clatter, Concubine Liu couldn't hold the cup steady, and it fell to the ground.