sjar Chapter 1891 Spring Hunt
Chapter 1891 Spring Hunt
Hong Yuncong scratched his head. "I don't know where they got here either. Brother-in-law, you should know more about hatching ducks than I do! Don't you Prince Pang's mansion raise thousands of ducks in your paddy fields?"
“That’s a bit different from these wild ducks. The ducks raised in the paddy fields are artificially hatched, but these are obviously wild ducks that hatched themselves!” Cheng Youning found it amazing.
By this time, a group of people had arrived at the Pan Pond, but not to see the wild ducks. They had come to pay their respects to the Crown Prince. Seeing the Crown Prince, who had not appeared at the Imperial Academy for several days, was more novel to them than seeing the ducks in the Pan Pond.
The first to speak was Su Changjing. This man usually liked to curry favor with the Crown Prince. However, there were quite a few people like him. Everyone understood the principle that it was better to befriend the Crown Prince than anyone else. They all planned to enter the court as officials in the future, and being on good terms with the Crown Prince would be of great benefit to their future careers.
Su Changjing immediately adopted a sycophantic manner, "Your Highness, it's been several days since we last met. Where have you been? We all miss you!"
Just as Cheng Youning was about to lie to the group of people in front of her with a smile, the brainless Hong Yuncong spoke up loudly, "Hey? Didn't you ask me about it? Didn't I tell you? The Crown Prince got into trouble and was punished by the Emperor with confinement for the past few days, and he has to copy the 'Crown Prince's Instructions' ten times. Hey? By the way, brother-in-law, wasn't he supposed to be confined for ten days? How did you get out early? How did you get out of confinement? I heard that the Emperor never goes easy on you when he punishes you."
Cheng Youning's smiling face instantly froze, his small mouth pursed into a straight line in anger. The group of people in front of him who had been smiling broadly just moments before were now all hanging their heads and remaining silent as if they were in great agony.
Leaving is clearly not the right time, but staying would make the Crown Prince lose face.
Especially Su Changjing, who had been trying to make conversation, was so embarrassed that he wanted to disappear into the ground. He had only wanted to ask the Crown Prince about his well-being, but how could he have forgotten that there was a brainless Hong Yuncong standing there!
They've all said flattering things to the Crown Prince, but everyone goes along with it; few would dare to undermine him like Hong Yuncong does. Making things difficult for the Crown Prince is tantamount to inviting trouble for oneself.
The Crown Prince was embarrassed, and Qiao Rong naturally couldn't stand by and watch. He stepped forward, his gaze turning slightly cold as he looked at Hong Yuncong and rebuked him, "Hong Yuncong, you can't talk nonsense if you don't know. When has the Crown Prince ever been confined to his quarters? He hasn't come to the Imperial Academy these past few days because he's busy with state affairs. The Crown Prince has to attend court in the morning and study hard at night. How could you students understand the Crown Prince's busy schedule! What's so strange about him not coming to the Imperial Academy for a few days!"
Hearing Qiao Rong's words, Cheng Youning nodded slightly in satisfaction. As expected of the person he had trained, she knew to step in and smooth things over for him at a crucial moment.
The others, however, wisely pretended to heed Qiao Rong's words, acting as if they were aware of the situation.
Only Hong Yuncong remained unconvinced and continued to argue, "My sister said it, how could it be..."
Before Hong Yuncong could finish speaking, Su Changjing ruthlessly covered his mouth. Su Changjing smiled obsequiously at the Crown Prince and Qiao Rong, saying sycophantic things, "Yes, yes, Your Highness is busy with state affairs and paperwork. Even if you don't come to our Imperial Academy for a few days, you will still be overwhelmed with tedious work and be on high alert day and night."
Hong Yuncong's mouth was covered, his face turned red, and he desperately tried to pry the hand covering his mouth with his chubby little hands.
To save face for the Crown Prince, Su Changjing would not easily let go even if Hong Yuncong broke his finger. Fortunately, someone with good judgment helped Su Changjing move Hong Yuncong aside.
Thanks to Cheng Youning's thick skin, as long as no one exposed him, he didn't feel ashamed of being confined. He coughed lightly to cover up his embarrassment, put on his usual smile, and then announced to everyone: "In a few days, His Majesty will hold a spring hunting competition. I told His Majesty that students from our Imperial Academy should also participate. However, this is not mandatory. Those who want to participate can register at that time. Many hunting experts will sign up to participate. On that day, His Majesty will bring his ministers to watch the hunt, and the rewards will be very generous."
Everyone became interested upon hearing this, and they all eagerly raised their hands, vying to participate. Even Hong Yuncong, who had just been dragged away, ran back, saying, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, sign me up too, I want to participate as well."
Upon hearing about hunting, Hong Yuncong forgot all about why he had been gagged and dragged away earlier, his mind filled with thoughts of going hunting at the hunting grounds.
Cheng Youning smiled and said to everyone, "Anyone who wants to go can go, but there will be a lot of people that day, and there is a possibility of bumping into someone or getting injured, especially for those in the advanced class. The provincial examination is coming soon, so you must be careful when participating. If you break your arm or leg and miss the opportunity to take the provincial examination, it will be a great loss. After all, the provincial examination is only held once a year and is extremely precious. If you miss it this year, you will have to wait until next year to take the exam, so everyone should be careful."
After hearing Cheng Youning's analysis, some of his classmates withdrew their raised hands, some froze in mid-air, and some were still thinking.
At this moment, Wei Wenchen, the third son of the Minister of Rites, hesitated. He looked at his friend Song Qianyuan and asked, "Qianyuan, are you going to participate?"
Song Qianyuan didn't raise her hand or clamor to participate, so it seemed she had no intention of participating.
Cheng Youning's chin was slightly raised. On the hunting ground, he didn't consider Song Qianyuan a match at all. None of the people in front of him were his match. This was not an exaggeration. Cheng Youning's ranking in riding and archery was always among the top.
Song Qianyuan was, after all, a top student of the teacher, and his achievements were always something everyone looked up to. When Wei Wenchen discussed it with him, everyone wanted to hear what Song Qianyuan, who was about to take the imperial examination, had to say. For a moment, the focus shifted from Cheng Youning to Song Qianyuan.
Qiao Rong chuckled. He disliked Song Qianyuan and had always been at odds with him. To Song Qianyuan, his laughter was mockery, which also ignited his competitive spirit. Both were seventeen or eighteen-year-old teenagers, at an age when they were eager to compete, and the composed Song Qianyuan was no exception.
Song Qianyuan looked at the arrogant master and servant in front of him and said to his friend Wei Wenchen, "I'll participate!"
Wei Wenchen was somewhat surprised, "You're participating? Won't that affect our participation in the imperial examination?"
Qiao Rong chuckled again, "I've never heard of anyone missing the imperial examination by hunting for a day. What the Crown Prince said earlier is absolutely right. Those who are timid, lack skill, or are overly cautious should be careful! If you get injured or maimed in the hunting grounds, you will have to bear the consequences yourself."
What Qiao Rong said are the rules of hunting: unless you are deliberately injured, you have to bear the consequences of your own injury, disability, or even death.