NFBE Chapter 197 How Would You Answer?
Chapter 197 How Would You Answer?
However, the Emperor suddenly showed a look of surprise and said, "Oh? Cheng'er can actually write! This is truly unexpected!" Clearly, the Emperor was quite surprised and delighted by the new skill that Canglan Jingcheng had demonstrated.
Su Nuannuan didn't say anything, just sat there quietly with a smile and watched.
Seeing this, Canglan Jingyao hesitated for a long time before deciding to gently remind her father. So, she said softly, "Father, my brother can indeed write, but... but his handwriting might be a little bit not very neat."
However, the Emperor didn't seem to take it too seriously. He waved his hand dismissively and laughed, "It's alright, it's alright. If it doesn't look good, you can practice slowly. As long as you practice diligently, you'll always get better and better." With that, he immediately ordered his attendants to bring him brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, preparing to have Canglan Jingcheng write a thousand-character essay from memory on the spot to test his true level.
Soon, everything was ready. Cang Lan Jingcheng took a deep breath, then picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began to write earnestly. When he wrote the eight characters "天地玄黄，宇宙洪荒" (Heaven and Earth are dark and yellow, the universe is vast and desolate), the emperor's expectant expression instantly froze. The handwriting before him was simply too ugly to bear.
The emperor stared wide-eyed at the crooked, worm-like handwriting on the paper, thinking to himself, "This isn't just a little ugly! It's downright appalling!"
Even if you dip a spider in ink, the words it crawls out will be better than his own handwriting.
"Cheng'er, your father knows your vast knowledge, and this dictation is naturally no problem for you. However, it is getting late, and if you were to write it down now, it would take a lot of time and effort. How about this, you recite it to your father?" The emperor said to Canglan Jingcheng with a smile and a gentle tone.
The emperor quickly found an excuse to stop his son from reciting the text, fearing that he would be tempted to beat him if he saw it later.
Upon hearing this, Canglan Jingcheng was secretly delighted. He had been worried that making a mistake in his dictation would displease his father. So, he quickly put down the brush he was holding, his movements swift and light, afraid of the slightest delay. Then, like a well-trained soldier, he stood up straight, his eyes fixed straight ahead, his expression focused and serious.
Taking a deep breath, Cang Lan Jingcheng cleared his throat and began reciting the Thousand Character Classic, which he already knew by heart: "Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless..." His voice was clear and resonant, with distinct intonation, and each word was pronounced clearly and accurately, as if the words were not spoken by him but flowed directly into the ears of everyone present. As he recited, the surrounding air seemed to quiet down, and everyone listened attentively to the remarkable performance of this young prince.
"Father, I have finished memorizing it." Canglan Jingcheng smiled, straightened his back, and bowed deeply to the emperor, who sat upright on the small couch with a dignified expression. His voice was clear and childlike.
The Emperor nodded slightly in approval, a faint smile appearing on his lips, and softly praised, "Hmm, not bad, my Jingcheng is truly exceptionally intelligent."
Receiving his father's praise, Canglan Jingcheng was secretly delighted, but he did not show it. Instead, he pressed his advantage, his eyes darting around as he cautiously asked, "Father, may I not go to the Imperial Academy tomorrow?"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor frowned slightly, his deep, unfathomable eyes fixed on the seemingly obedient but actually incredibly clever little fellow before him. His voice was low and powerful as he asked, "Oh? Then tell your father why you are unwilling to go to the Imperial Academy?"
Cang Lan Jingcheng immediately dropped his playful expression and became respectful, answering earnestly, "Father, as I just stated, I have already mastered all the knowledge taught by the teachers at the Imperial Academy; and I have also learned the knowledge that the teachers have not taught under the tutelage of my mother. Therefore, I truly feel that attending classes at the Imperial Academy is not of much benefit."
After hearing this, the Emperor remained silent for a moment, then slowly shifted his gaze to Canglan Jingyao, who had been standing silently to the side, and asked in a low voice, "Yao'er, do you also not want to go to the Imperial Academy like your brother?"
Seeing this, Canglan Jingyao knew it was a golden opportunity. She quickly stepped forward, curtsied, and said in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty, the teachers at the Imperial Academy are truly rigid. Sometimes I have novel and unique insights into certain issues and want to discuss them with the teachers, but they not only ignore me but also scold me for neglecting my studies and even threaten to punish me. As a result, I naturally lose interest in going to the Imperial Academy." After speaking, she didn't forget to give the Emperor a pitiful look, trying to gain more sympathy.
Don't let the fact that Canglan Jingyao is only six years old fool you; her little head is full of clever ideas! Sometimes even adults have to marvel at how such a young child can be so shrewd.
As for Su Nuannuan, her requirements for Canglan Jingyao were not high. As long as this little girl could grow up healthy and happy, not go astray, and use her petty grievances in the right way, then even if she was a little petty, she would choose to turn a blind eye.
After all, Su Nuannuan knew very well that if a girl wasn't sensitive enough or shrewd enough, how could she protect herself in this complicated world?
"Oh? Tell Father Emperor, what exactly did the tutor say about our little princess neglecting her studies?"
When this topic came up, Canglan Jingyao's eyes lit up, and she became very excited. She quickly walked to the table where the writing implements were placed, picked up a delicate brush without hesitation, and then gently dipped it in ink.
Immediately afterwards, she took the brush and began to move it around, writing quickly and rapidly on the rice paper.
Not long after, Canglan Jingyao stopped what she was doing and nodded in satisfaction. Then, she carefully picked up the Xuan paper she had just finished writing on, carefully checked it for any oversights, and then walked towards the Emperor with a smile.
When she approached the Emperor, she first curtsied slightly, then respectfully presented the sheet of paper with writing on it to him with both hands. She raised her head and stared intently at the Emperor with her large, curious, and expectant eyes, and softly asked, "Father, how will you answer this question?"