Chapter 15

As the moon sank and the dawn was broken by the rising sun, the sunlight streamed through the window, and the sisters Mochun and Musnow, dressed in thin clothes, attended to Zhao Yougong. With his long hair tied up and wearing a brocade robe, the copper mirror reflected a graceful young man.

At sixteen, Zhao Yougong should have undergone the capping ceremony, but with no parents, his grandmother deceased, and his aunt gone, there was no elder to perform the ceremony for him. Could Zhao Ji do it? Zhao Yougong smiled lightly, his smile filled with ridicule. He would rather never undergo the ceremony than have Zhao Ji do it for him. Besides, Zhao Ji had never thought about such things; in his world, there were only poems, beauties, peculiar stones, and that laughable Daoist faith.

At some point, the sisters Mochun and Musnow had become the de facto mistresses of the mansion. They ordered the servants to do many things, gradually surpassing the status of Su Ying. Zhao Yougong saw all this but said nothing. One day, all the humiliation would be repaid. His suffering, Su Ying's suffering, and so much more...

The morning streets were already bustling. Zhao Yougong walked confidently down the middle of the road, leading a fierce little mastiff, with two lackeys following behind. Most of the street vendors recognized the young prince, known for his ferocity like a wild dog. Seeing Zhao Yougong walk by with his usual air, the pedestrians automatically made way, knowing that if they didn't, the young prince might extort them.

Seeing the vendors standing by the side, giving him the eye, Zhao Yougong felt a bit bored. It seemed he wouldn't be able to take advantage of anyone today. He was hungry, having eaten nothing in the morning. Noticing the steaming buns at a nearby shop, he walked over, opened the steamer, and took two buns. Most people were used to the young prince's domineering behavior; it would be strange if he didn't act this way.

Biting into a hot bun, it tasted delicious. Zhao Yougong smiled and shook the dog leash, "Xiao San, what are you standing there for? Pay for the buns!"

Xiao San was clearly taken aback. When did the young prince start paying for two buns? But since the young prince said it, he had to follow. Taking out four coins, he hadn't even handed them over when the bun shop owner waved his hand and smiled bitterly, "No need, no need. It's an honor for me that the young prince eats my buns. How could I ask for money?"

Hearing the owner's words, Xiao San grinned. In a moment, Zhao Yougong had already eaten one bun. He blinked and looked at the owner, marveling, "Good, very good. You're called Niu... Niu what again?"

"Your Highness, I am Niu Shuigen."

"Ah, Niu Shuigen, that's a good name. With 'Niu' and 'water,' if anyone dares to bully you, just mention my name. If they don't give you face, they won't be giving me face either!" Throwing the other bun to Xiao San, Zhao Yougong patted the owner's shoulder with a smile.

Niu Shuigen was a bit taken aback by the young prince's friendliness. It didn't feel like a good thing.

Sure enough, after a few words, Zhao Yougong changed his tone and glanced inside, "I remember you have a daughter, beautiful like a flower..."

Before the young prince finished, Niu Shuigen's face turned green. Whenever the young prince showed interest, it was never a good sign. But he didn't expect this? Sweat dripped from his forehead, and he forced a smile, "Your Highness, you don't know, Yunniang got married last year..."

"Oh," Zhao Yougong's face showed disappointment. He smacked his lips and said regretfully, "Married? But you know, married women have more charm..."

Niu Shuigen felt his head was about to explode. What had he done to deserve this early morning trouble? More charm? Even a fool could tell what the young prince meant. Niu Shuigen almost fell to his knees, his voice trembling, "Your Highness, please, spare me. Yunniang is pregnant now!"

"Why are you crying? Really, you're so boring. I was just joking!" Pushing Niu Shuigen, Zhao Yougong turned and shook the dog leash. The mastiff eagerly moved forward. Of course, as he left, Zhao Yougong didn't forget to take two more buns.

Only when Zhao Yougong was far away did a heavy sigh rise from the crowd. Joking? The young prince's nature didn't seem like he was joking.

There were countless legends about the young prince, including his midnight visits to women's chambers and his despicable acts. So when the young prince, with lustful eyes, said married women had more charm, no one thought he was joking. With the young prince's character, what despicable act couldn't he do?

Walking down the road, Zhao Yougong felt his years of effort had finally paid off. Vendors feared him like a tiger, and pedestrians dodged him. A complete villain, more terrifying than a gangster, Zhao Yougong even admired himself. Was it his excellent performance, or was he truly a spoiled brat?

At the end of the West Market, Xiao San bowed and asked, "Young Master, are we going to Xiefang Tower or Deget Tower?"

"Slap!" Zhao Yougong slapped Xiao San on the back of the head, "Idiot, going to a brothel now? Are you going to eat or do something else? Clear the way, we're going to the Imperial Academy."

"Ah? Where?" Xiao San and another lackey, Xiao Cheng, thought they had heard wrong. Yes, they must have heard wrong. Why would the young prince go to the Imperial Academy? It was full of pedantic scholars, with no money and no women.

"Deaf? It's the Imperial Academy. You heard right, clear the way!" Zhao Yougong didn't bother with the lackeys. They didn't understand his grand plan. The mastiff, however, was excited and ran toward the Imperial Academy in the south.

The Imperial Academy, also known as the Imperial College, was located south of the New Gate, with the Cai River to the north and the Kanzheng Pavilion to the south. It was early April, a warm spring, and the grass was long and the birds were singing. In the morning, several orioles perched on the willows by the river, their songs beautiful and adding charm to the slowly flowing Cai River.

Entering the Imperial College, a rockery stood opposite the main gate, with a few lines of red-painted text: "To establish the mind of heaven and earth, to secure the destiny of the people, to continue the interrupted learning of the sages of the past, to open up peace for all future generations."

The words were good, the calligraphy strong and meaningful. These twenty-four characters almost encompassed the heart of scholars. From Zhang Zai's words, it was clear that scholars should have lofty aspirations and a broad vision. Unfortunately, only a few years after Zhang Zai's death, his descendants had forgotten the essence of these words. Lofty aspirations had turned into romanticism and pretentious elegance.

Such was the sorrow of the Song Dynasty court, but it had nothing to do with Zhao Yougong. Standing before the rockery, he pretended to look at it for a while, then revealed his true nature, "Xiao San, go get a table for me."

"Master, what do you need a table for?"

"Too many questions? Go quickly, and don't forget to bring some paper and ink!" Zhao Yougong glared, ready to let the dog loose if they disobeyed. Xiao San didn't dare to dawdle and ran off to get the things.

Just after the hour of the Snake, a low table appeared in front of the rockery at the Imperial Academy, with the Four Treasures of the Study on it. A young man in a brocade robe held a folding fan, with a robust mastiff squatting beside him. Behind him, two servants each held a banner, which read, "High price for poems, ten guan per poem."

This trio and the dog stood at the entrance, drawing much attention. Everyone entering the gate would see them, whether they wanted to or not.

In the Song Dynasty, the literary style was flourishing. Although scholars indulged in romanticism, it didn't mean they lacked integrity. "High price for poems, ten guan per poem" was a blatant insult to the Imperial Academy. Could learning be measured by price? It was priceless. Even more insulting, ten guan for a poem? When had the Imperial Academy become so worthless?

The scholars were furious. They didn't go to class but gathered in dozens, their cheeks puffed and eyes glaring, yet no one dared to overturn the stand that disgraced the Imperial Academy, because the one setting up the stand was the notorious Yongning Prince Zhao Yougong.

If it were anyone else, the scholars wouldn't be afraid. They would even dare to take the matter to the imperial court. But this was Zhao Yougong. It was well-known that this young prince was uneducated and vengeful. Worse, no matter what you accused him of, it was useless. He didn't understand what it meant to be a scholar or the dignity of the Imperial Academy.

"Prince, this is the Imperial Academy. Don't taint this sacred place with your copper stench. If you want poems, please hold a poetry gathering. This..."

A bold scholar spoke righteously but was silenced by Zhao Yougong's fierce glare, "What's this? Do you think the price is too low? Twenty guan per poem then. Don't worry, I wouldn't cheat you scholars."

"Prince, you..."

"What do you mean? Can you write a poem? If not, stand aside!"

"You..." The scholar's face turned red and his neck swelled. Taking a deep breath, he pointed at Zhao Yougong and shouted, "You are insulting the Imperial Academy. This place cannot be tainted by the copper stench of merchants."

"Your stinking dog fart," Zhao Yougong glared and shook the dog leash. The mastiff, hearing the call, barked, "Woof... woof... woof... huff... huff..."

Zhao Yougong was deep in thought, staring at the scholar for a long time. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "It's you! Didn't you go to the Hongcuige brothel a few days ago? Don't hide, I'm talking to you. You say I'm insulting the Imperial Academy, but you're the disgrace of the Imperial Academy!"

Zhao Yougong might not be familiar with other places, but he knew the brothels well. In just a moment, he had exposed one unlucky soul. If he continued, who knew how many more he would expose. Of course, unless you had never been to a brothel, but in the Imperial Academy, who hadn't indulged in such pleasures?

Zhao Yougong's first battle at the Imperial Academy was a success, but the success was met with heavy, hostile breaths, not applause.

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