Chapter 20
[The Old Master of Liu Family], was always cautious.
Especially after coming to the capital and his daughter entered the palace harem, giving birth to the Prince, the Old Master of Liu Family became even more low-key. He did not want to make any mistakes that could affect his daughter and grandson's future.
If anyone offered him money as a gift, he would not accept it.
He served diligently as a fifth-rank official at the Imperial Academy, never arriving late or leaving early.
How could such a dutiful upright official be considered foolish!
[Oh Grandpa looks so intelligent, with a broad forehead and an impressive nose like a hanging sphere.]
[Little did I expect that in Father Emperor's evaluation, Grandpa is just branded with the word "fool"!]
The Old Master of Liu Family stared with widened eyes.
Nonsense.
This must be nonsense!
The Old Master of Liu Family even forgot to board the carriage, frozen in his steps.
The Old Madam of Liu Family was already seated inside the carriage, and through the carriage curtains, she saw the Old Master's stunned expression.
At the same time, she also heard the thoughts of her granddaughter, the Little Princess.
The palace carriages and sedan chairs were queued up ahead, blocking the route at the lantern shop.
The Old Madam of Liu Family couldn't help but look in that direction.
Her daughter and the Little Princess must be inside, and being so close, the Little Princess's thoughts came through to her.
Could the Old Master have heard it too?
[Sigh, Father Emperor has tried to give Grandpa opportunities for promotion and to provide a respectable status for Mother and Fifth Brother, but Grandpa always failed to seize them.]
[After several such missed chances, Grandpa has left Father Emperor with the impression that he is clumsy and foolish.]
The Old Master of Liu Family: "???"
This must be The Emperor's problem, not his problem!
When did The Emperor ever give him opportunities for promotion?
After arriving in the capital, he worked for a period at the Hanlin Academy as an editor, then was sent to serve as the Lingcheng County Magistrate. Three years later, he was transferred to the Imperial Academy in the capital, specifically teaching students aspiring to enter the Hanlin Academy.
Could this be considered an opportunity for promotion given by The Emperor?
But he had seized these opportunities!
He worked diligently at the Imperial Academy, assisting the Ritual Master, without any mistakes!
Where was the foolishness? Where was the foolishness?
"Huizhi, how do you think I have performed in my official duties?"
The Old Master of Liu Family could not understand and immediately asked his wife.
The Old Madam of Liu Family had accompanied him to Lingcheng and back to the capital.
On regular days, the Old Master would often discuss with the Old Madam the official matters he encountered.
She was most clear about how he performed!
After all, when they got married, he was just a poor scholar. Over the years of supporting each other, the Old Master had become accustomed to telling his wife everything.
If he encountered difficulties, he would also ask for his wife's opinion.
Of course, he did not necessarily follow her advice.
Several times in private, he felt that she was wrong.
"Huizhi, speak honestly, have I made any mistakes in Lingcheng or at the Imperial Academy?"
The Old Master of Liu Family felt that he had never failed any of the common people throughout his life.
He answered to his ancestors above and descendants below!
It was The Emperor who lacked discernment!
The Old Madam of Liu Family had originally been anxious after hearing the Little Princess say that the Old Master had missed several opportunities, wasting The Emperor's efforts to give their Fifth Prince a respectable maternal family status.
But hearing the Old Master question her like this, she could not help but cover her face and laugh inside the carriage.
Could the old man also hear the Little Princess's thoughts?
The old man was indeed not very bright!
After getting married, he took the imperial examination three times, spending ten years before finally passing as a scholar in the lowest rank.
"Not bad."
But fortunately, he was diligent and wholeheartedly worked for the benefit of the people.
Although his literary skills were average and his comprehension was average, he was hardworking and willing to put in the effort.
The Old Madam of Liu Family did not want to dampen the Old Master's spirit, but considering the Little Princess's warning was no trivial matter, she immediately sat upright in the carriage.
"Old Master, did you perhaps hear some voice?"
"No!"
"Nonsense, this old servant did not hear anything!"
The Old Master of Liu Family flatly denied any nonsensical claims.
But as he spoke, his voice lacked strength, and his gaze could not help but drift towards the Emperor and Empress's carriages that had already passed far ahead.
Then, it shifted to the nearest dark purple palace sedan chair.
The Old Master of Liu Family's gaze became slightly absent.
That ethereal voice called him "Grandpa", so adorable and endearing.
Could it be his daughter's newborn Little Princess?
In an instant, the vexation on the Old Master of Liu Family's face dissipated, as he gazed longingly at that dark purple palace sedan chair with affectionate eyes.
He had not yet seen the Little Princess.
During the bathing and full moon ceremonies, his wife could enter the palace to see their daughter and granddaughter, but he, as an outside male, could not go into the harem.
The voice he just heard was so childlike and cute, his precious granddaughter must be an adorable beauty.
What nonsense and balderdash? There was none.
His granddaughter was just being sweet.
Thinking this, the Old Master of Liu Family could not help but gaze towards the Emperor's entourage at the very front.
It must all be The Emperor's fault!
"Old Master, honest words may offend the ear. What you should listen to, you still need to heed."
The Old Madam of Liu Family spoke gravely.
With just one look at him, she knew his flaw had resurfaced.
Besides being overly cautious, he was also stubborn.
Most scholarly men had this flaw, not shedding tears until they saw the coffin, refusing to admit their own mistakes, thinking they were the best in the world!
The Old Master of Liu Family stared, "You... you heard it too?"
The Old Madam of Liu Family nervously lifted the carriage curtain, "Get in the carriage to talk."
They had to wait for the palace carriages to pass before they could depart.
The carriages of all the officials were currently stopped on the small road, waiting.
The Old Master of Liu Family nodded reluctantly.
"In any case, Huizhi, I am not foolish."
"Those words cannot be trusted."
He did not even consider the possibility of his granddaughter being reincarnated with some spiritual powers. Instead, he was fixated on The Emperor considering him foolish.
Truly, not even eight oxen could pull him back, no wonder The Emperor disliked him!
The Old Madam of Liu Family was so exasperated she wanted to laugh.
Just as she was about to refute him, the Little Princess's soft, sweet voice came through again.
[Today we go to Qiu Mountain for the ritual sacrifice, and Father Emperor is particularly mindful of the ceremony due to the Earth Dragon's unrest.]
[Whoever makes a mistake today will leave a deep, indelible impression on him.]
[Yet strangely, not long after Father Emperor's carriages had passed, Grandpa fell flat on level ground.]
[Ah, falling from a horse or being knocked down is no big deal. But for Grandpa to trip and fall on flat ground, his lack of coordination and resulting loss of dignity, missing the Winter Sacrifice, has left Father Emperor with yet another deep negative impression!]
The Old Master of Liu Family: "?"
The Old Madam of Liu Family immediately became very anxious and poked her head out of the carriage curtain, "Zhang San, support the Old Master."
Zhang San was their family servant.
The Old Master of Liu Family was enraged. How could he fall on level ground?
As he was thinking this, the Ritual Master Xu from the Imperial Academy leaned out of his nearby carriage and called out to him, "Scholar Wen Chang, come to my carriage, we can discuss matters as we walk."
The Old Master of Liu Family immediately put aside his indignation, bowed to Ritual Master Xu, and headed towards his carriage.
"Madam, I will go over there..."
As he walked, he turned his head to instruct the Old Madam of Liu Family.
But before he could finish, he felt his feet slip from under him!
His whole body lost balance, and the world spun upside down before his eyes!
"Old Master - be careful!" The Old Madam of Liu Family was so anxious she almost screamed out loud.
But no sooner said than done, the servant Zhang San, who had just been instructed to support the Old Master, grabbed and held up the falling Old Master!
The Old Master of Liu Family barely managed to steady himself, avoiding a disgraceful fall.
[Woo, Grandpa really fell...]
The Old Master of Liu Family: "!"
[Phew, thankfully he was supported. Grandpa is wise, bringing the attentive Grandma along today... Phew, saved.]
The Old Master of Liu Family's face rapidly flushed red and then pale white.
The Little Princess had predicted it accurately!
The Old Master of Liu Family looked towards the palace carriages in disbelief.
But just as he was steadying himself with Zhang San's help, he saw Emperor Xiao Yunzhou, who had been leading the procession by half a street, suddenly turn his head back from the main carriages!
He looked directly at the spot where the Old Master had nearly fallen disgracefully!
Cold sweat instantly soaked the Old Master of Liu Family's back.
"Old Master, are you alright?"
The Old Madam of Liu Family was also extremely anxious.
Emperor Xiao Yunzhou scanned the commoners and seeing no unusual reactions, realizing they did not blame him as the Emperor for the Earth Dragon's unrest, he finally felt relieved and shifted his roving gaze away.
The Old Master of Liu Family saw the Emperor turn his head, and color returned to his face.
"You see, I told you to listen!" the Old Madam of Liu Family chided.
Especially to his great-granddaughter!
The Old Master of Liu Family took a breath, "Madam, a child's nonsensical babble should not be taken too seriously, perhaps it was merely a coincidence."
The Old Madam of Liu Family glared at him, this stubborn mule!
But soon the couple pricked up their ears together.
[Today Grandfather averted a crisis, but two days later at the palace Q&A, he must be more careful.]
[The Father Emperor will ask Grandfather 'How should Pan Zhishui be dealt with?', if Grandfather answers wrongly, he will soon be demoted!]
The Old Master of Liu Family's expression changed.