The Crown Prince had already walked up to Tong Aning and Lou Yingyu.
The onlookers wanted to bow, but the crown prince waved his hand, "No need, I'm just here to come and see."
Tong Aning and Lou Yingyu stepped aside, and the Crown Prince's gaze fell on the list behind them.
The prince read ten lines at a glance, not as if he were looking at who was there, but as if he were specifically searching for certain names.
[ Xixi, is he really the Crown Prince!?]
[Yes, host.]
[Then why does he dare to come here so openly? Isn't that just courting death?]
When Tong Aning looked at the Crown Prince again, her expression was very strange.
The Crown Prince noticed.
He wanted Tong Aning to be his crown princess, but he had ruined the last banquet himself, and his mother would definitely not agree.
Never mind, there's plenty of time in the future.
Tong Aning said, "Your Highness, there are too many people around; you should go back as soon as possible."
The Crown Prince's heart stirred. "Thank you for your concern, Miss Tong. Those on the list are all future talents. Seeing them makes me very happy."
[I'm actually quite relieved. What if I get beaten up later?]
Lou Yingyu pulled Tong Aning aside and whispered, " Aning, don't disturb His Highness's enjoyment."
The prince, who defied the rules, learned his lesson after being beaten.
"But..." Tong Aning hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.
"It was him! It was the Crown Prince! The Crown Prince is the mastermind!"
"That's outrageous!"
Enraged, the crowd hurled a hail of vegetable leaves at the Crown Prince. Tong Aning and Lou Yingyu, who were standing close to him, were also caught in the crossfire.
Tong Aning was dumbfounded.
[Does this item refresh randomly?]
"How dare you! This is the Crown Prince!"
The prince's guards surrounded him, their faces filled with hostility, their swords pointed at ordinary people.
Someone looked at the longsword and wailed, "Even the crown prince is like this, what hope do we have of survival?"
Yes, where is our future?
Because of the overwhelming despair, even with the guards present, chaos still broke out at the scene. Lou Yingyu held Tong Aning's hand throughout.
The situation only improved after Xue Lin arrived.
Xue Lin asked, " Miss Tong, are you alright?"
Tong Aning shook her head and whispered, "You'd better take the Crown Prince away quickly."
Xue Lin glanced at Tong Aning, hesitated, and then said, "Okay."
Xue Lin walked up to the Crown Prince, whose face was ashen. " Alin, you've finally arrived! These unruly commoners actually attacked the Crown Prince..."
Xue Lin interrupted the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, you should leave as soon as possible."
The crown prince paused in his complaining. He glanced at the surrounding people, all of whom glared at him angrily. The crown prince felt uneasy, realizing that he could only obey Xue Lin's orders. The crown prince snorted and strode forward, with Xue Lin following behind him.
Tong Aning touched her face and asked, " Yingyu, is there something on my face?"
Lou Yingyu looked at Tong Aning, then chuckled and reached out to remove the vegetable leaves from Tong Aning's head. "I don't even know when I got them on."
Tong Aning stammered, "I don't know either... Oh dear, how rude of me."
She actually met Xue Lin like this.
"What's so rude about this vegetable leaf?" Lou Yingyu paused, then smiled and said, "On your head, it looks like jade."
Tong Aning covered her flushed face and said shyly, "Stop trying to flatter me."
"Who's lying to you? I'm serious."
"Alright, alright," Tong Aning shook Lou Yingyu's arm, "You tell me about this matter..."
Lou Yingyu clicked her tongue. "Anyway, the Crown Prince isn't going to have an easy time."
Even she knew that this was a matter of great importance, yet the Crown Prince didn't understand?
It's hopeless.
*
"Do you know what you've done? You brazenly went to see the results posted, and even ordered your guards to turn their swords against the common people. What are you trying to do?"
The crown prince knelt on the ground, terrified that he had never seen the emperor so angry. He stammered, "Father, I know I was wrong."
The emperor saw that the crown prince didn't realize his mistake; he was afraid!
The emperor pointed at the crown prince and said, "Do you think this is the only mistake you made? I want a thorough investigation into the imperial examinations. This time, everyone was restrained after the results were announced, except for you, only you, who were so ignorant and dared to let your people in. How could I have such a stupid son?"
Perhaps driven mad with anger, the emperor's words became increasingly unforgiving.
The crown prince was pale. "Father, I truly know I was wrong."
The emperor was both angry and disappointed. "Do you think I sent Xue Lin and the others to investigate the imperial examinations just to mess with you? Just for show? You've wasted all your education!"
"Father..."
The emperor rubbed his temples, looking troubled. He closed his eyes and made a decision no one had expected. "If you were to truly inherit the throne, it would be a misfortune for the court."
The crown prince stared at the emperor in disbelief. He crawled to the emperor's side, grabbed the emperor's robe, and pleaded, "Father."
Xue Lin and the others also knelt before the emperor.
Tong Aobai said, "Your Majesty, you must not act rashly against the Crown Prince."
Lou Ming also said, "The Crown Prince has made mistakes, but not to the point of being deposed."
The emperor said sternly, "If I don't deal with him properly, what will the people think of me? What will the scholars think of me?"
The emperor coldly and ruthlessly pulled out the hem of his robe.
Eunuch Wang: "Your Majesty, the Empress has arrived."
The emperor sat back on his dragon throne and sighed, "Let her in."
When the Empress entered, she saw a group of people kneeling in the Imperial Study, with the Crown Prince looking at her eagerly.
The Empress's heart sank.
The emperor said wearily, "Empress, you've come. Is it about the Crown Prince?"
The Empress dared not conceal the truth. "Yes."
"Should we plead for him?"
Unexpectedly, the Empress shook her head. "The Crown Prince has committed a crime; he is subject to the same punishment as commoners. I dare not plead for him."
The Empress knelt before the Emperor, her hands clasped together, and said firmly, "Your Majesty, please handle this matter impartially."
The crown prince was struck dumb, his lips drained of color, "Mother..."
The Empress gave him a sharp look. He shut his mouth, suppressing his chaotic thoughts. His mother must have her reasons for doing this, and he could only trust her.
Can he really trust his mother?
The Emperor favored Xue Lin, but the Empress Dowager had other children besides him...
The crown prince slumped to his knees on the ground, utterly dejected.
The emperor was simply blinded by anger. Once he calmed down, he realized that deposing or reinstating the crown prince was no small matter.
Finally, the crown prince was confined to his quarters for three months, the Minister of Rites who had been manipulating things behind the scenes for many years was arrested and his Ministry of Rites confiscated, and the students who had been impersonated were returned to their rightful places.
The students were deeply grateful to His Majesty, and their enthusiasm for serving the country was at an all-time high—this was exactly what the Emperor wanted to see.
*
After the palace examination, Lou Yingyu came to find Tong Aning.
Upon seeing Tong Aning, she began to sob, "You're making me go to the Court of State Ceremonial! Do you think His Majesty did it on purpose? He knows I'm the worst at etiquette, waaaaaah!"
Lou Yingyu felt utterly miserable.
Tong Aning quickly covered Lou Yingyu's mouth, "You really are something, you dare to say anything."
Lou Yingyu: "Mmm..."
Tong Aning said earnestly, "What if His Majesty thinks you're suitable for the Court of State Ceremonial?"
Lou Yingyu pulled Tong Aning's hand away, and said righteously, "There's absolutely no such possibility."
What kind of person she is, others may not know, but surely she knows herself?
Tong Aning: "..."
"And you, hasn't the imperial decree arrived yet?"
Tong Aning shook her head.
"It'll be here soon, it'll be here soon, it might already be on its way."
Tong Aning stared at Lou Yingyu's face, not feeling that Lou Yingyu was comforting her, but rather feeling that Lou Yingyu wanted her to share her misery.
[hateful.]
Lou Yingyu chuckled and made a face at Tong Aning as she left.
Tong Aning: "..."
The imperial edict was delivered personally by Eunuch Wang.
Principal of the Ministry of Rites, rank 6.
Are officials of the sixth rank exempt from attending court?
With a smile, Eunuch Wang said, "Although Fourth Miss Tong is a sixth-rank official, His Majesty specifically instructed that you must accompany your father and brothers to court every day."
Tong Aning: "Huh?"
How did he know what I was thinking?
Eunuch Wang was startled.
Indeed, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; those who have spent a long time by the emperor's side are masters at understanding people's hearts.
Eunuch Wang: Ah, him?
Although he could tell what His Majesty wanted him to do with just a glance, he probably couldn't be considered a master yet.
Tong Aning replied, "I understand. I will definitely attend court properly."
"Then this servant will take his leave."
Tong Aning saw Eunuch Wang off with a forced smile, but her face fell as soon as Eunuch Wang left.
[8 AM... not 5 AM!!!!]
That evening, Su Zhouyue asked Tong Aning to go to her room.
"Mother, Father, why are you both so serious?"
Su Zhouyue and Tong Aobai, sitting upright, exchanged a glance. "We have something to give you."
What is that?
Su Zhouyue handed a box to Tong Aning. Tong Aning opened the box, her eyes widened, and she stood there dumbfounded, 'This... this is...'
[Our family has a get-out-of-jail-free card... Oh my god!]
Su Zhouyue whispered, "This was specially bestowed upon you by His Majesty."
Tong Aning pointed to herself, confused, "Me?"
Su Zhouyue and Tong Aobai nodded.
"Why did Your Majesty bestow this upon me?"
"Since His Majesty has bestowed it upon you, you should keep it safe. From now on, your mother will continue to safeguard it for you."
"Oh."
Tong Aning handed the box back to Su Zhouyue.
Su Zhouyue put away the box, pulled Tong Aning closer, and patted Tong Aning's hair. "Our Aning is promising. She will definitely achieve great things in the imperial court."
Tong Aning tilted her head back and said, "Of course, Mother, don't worry."
[It's just 5 a. m., it shouldn't be too difficult...]
*
On her first day of court, Tong Aning was dragged out of bed by Yingtao.
Before she knew it, she was dressed in official robes, her hair was styled in a bun, and she was stuffed into a carriage.
Tong Aobai waved his hand in front of her, "Still sleepy?"
Tong Aning yawned, too sleepy to speak, and leaned her head against Tong Yibin, falling asleep again.
Tong Yibin chuckled and draped a cloak over Tong Aning.
Before the three members of the Tong family went in, the court officials were chatting animatedly, but once they entered, everyone fell silent.
Tong Aning looked left and right.
[That's strange, why did we stop chatting? Could it be that His Majesty has arrived?]
It's over, it's all over now.
From now on, everyone will be serving in the same court as this little fairy, Tong Aning, so let's not even think about having any secrets anymore!