Seeing them arrive, Grand Tutor Zhou did not even spare them a glance.
“Wait until the next class to enter. Do not disturb your classmates’ studies.”
Though the winter month was not yet bitterly cold, standing stiffly outside, coupled with shame and humiliation, quickly flushed the siblings’ faces crimson.
Meng Yunwan, who never lost focus during lectures, found her attention drifting involuntarily.
Watching the Meng siblings outside with their lips turning purple from the cold, she recalled her past life when she had knelt and pleaded for Meng Fan’s admission to Bailu Academy.
It was also a shivering winter day like this. Dressed in thin clothing, she had kowtowed step by step from the foot of Bailu Mountain, completing nine hundred and ninety-nine bows before finally earning the pity of the Bailu Mountain master, who allowed Meng Fan to study at Bailu Academy.
Summoning her last ounce of strength, she descended the mountain to deliver the good news to Meng Fan. But when she reached the door, no one answered for a long time. She knocked for half an hour before collapsing from the cold.
Only after waking did she learn that they had all been inside the mansion celebrating Meng Yu Tang’s birthday that day, which was why they hadn’t heard her knocking. Meng Fan apologized to her, but after his apology, he forced her to apologize to Meng Yu Tang as well—because she should have known it was Yu Tang’s birthday and deliberately chosen that day to seek out the Bailu Mountain master, intending to ruin Yu Tang’s birthday celebration.
Later, Meng Fan entered Bailu Academy as he wished, endured decades of hardship to become a great Confucian scholar. While lecturing younger generations, he would stroke his graying beard and say, “For my achievements today, the person I must thank most is my younger self, who braved countless hardships to pursue learning.”
Now, they were truly pursuing learning on their own.
Yet merely standing outside Shangshufang for the time it takes an incense stick to burn was enough to make them dizzy, chests tight, and feel as though they had suffered immense humiliation and disgrace.
When Meng Ruan and the others finally entered, their expressions were grim. As they passed Meng Yunwan, they shot her a fierce glare.
“What are you looking at? Keep staring, and I’ll dig your eyes out to feed to the dogs.”
Ling Qianche, seated behind Meng Yunwan, stretched lazily, his arrogant and unruly demeanor on full display. He stared coldly at the four Meng siblings, making them all tremble with fear.
“Greetings, Crown Prince. Your Highness misunderstands—I just, I just got sand in my eyes…” Meng Fan stammered an explanation.
Outside, they might be slick and polished young masters of the marquis’s mansion, but among a crowd of true nobles, they were nothing.
The group slumped into the back-row seats reserved for auditors.
Grand Tutor Zhou did not look down on them for being auditors. As a teacher, he believed in educating all without discrimination, so he specifically called on Meng Ruan to answer a question:
“Zi Gong asked about governance: sufficient food, sufficient arms, and the people’s trust. If one had to be removed, which should come first and which last?”
Food, arms, or the people’s trust—which should be removed first?
Meng Ruan pondered briefly before answering cautiously, “A state without food will face civil unrest; a state without arms will suffer foreign invasion. As for trust and righteousness—these are intangible concepts. Having them adds glory, but lacking them does no harm. Thus, this student believes the people’s trust should be removed first.”
Grand Tutor Zhou neither affirmed nor denied the answer, merely nodding before asking Meng Fan for his thoughts.
Meng Fan had long been eager to show off. He immediately stood up and declared loudly,
“Of course, remove food first! When the people are hungry, they lack the strength to rebel. With strong soldiers and armies, why fear not being able to collect grain?”
Grand Tutor Zhou still said nothing, but a hint of disappointment flickered in his expression.
Meng Yunwan, who had been listening quietly all along, now raised her hand.
Her voice was clear and gentle, as she calmly expressed her view, “This student believes that the military should be prioritized for reduction, followed by food supplies, but the people’s trust must never be lost.”
“Without soldiers or food, one can still rely on external forces to maneuver, but once the people’s trust is gone and the populace becomes disheartened, the nation’s downfall will be imminent.”
The debate in the Shangshufang soon reached Fengyi Palace.
The Empress was personally serving the Emperor his meal and said with a smile, “Does Your Majesty believe it now? It is not that I favor Yun Guan, but this child has lofty ambitions and extraordinary insight. Not long ago, she quietly accomplished something significant—she passed the xiucai examination.”
“No matter how capable she may be, her background remains what it is. In the end, she cannot be brought into proper circles.”
The Emperor uttered these words indifferently, and the Empress’s smile stiffened for a moment. “Yes.”
The Emperor added, “Moreover, a xiucai is nothing remarkable. Even that incompetent son of yours might have the ability to achieve it. It is merely that the Fourth Miss Meng seeks fame and reputation, insisting on obtaining an official title to prove herself. It truly is nothing noteworthy. I do not take it to heart, and neither should you, Empress. As for the matter of requesting a county princess title for her, it is still too early, and she is not worthy.”
After saying this, he took the handkerchief handed to him by the Empress, wiped the corners of his mouth, and stood up to leave.
As she had done many times before, the Empress gazed at the Emperor’s retreating figure, though this time she quickly averted her eyes.
She said bitterly, “How is Che’er incompetent? Che’er has improved greatly, diligently attending supplementary lessons with Yun Guan every day, working very hard.”
Fang Momo comforted her, “Your Majesty, do not take it to heart. The Emperor dislikes that Meng girl, which is why he casually mentioned the Crown Prince.”
“Does the Emperor dislike the Meng girl, or does he dislike all children except those born to Consort Lin? Enough. I have long known that the Emperor is not someone to rely on. If I can help Che’er rise to prominence, I will be content in this lifetime.”
Though she spoke these words, the Empress could not hide the gloom in her eyes, and she sighed.
After so many years, she had grown accustomed to the Emperor’s favoritism.
If only Che’er could bring her some pride, she would die with peace of mind.
When the morning lessons ended, Meng Yunwan went to Fengyi Palace as usual for lunch.
By the time she arrived, Ling Qianche was already there, but he was not seated at the table. Instead, he was kneeling in the center of the room.
Noticing her surprised gaze, the Empress said calmly, “Your elder brother has been foolish, and I apologize for the embarrassment. Pay him no mind. Let us eat.”
Meng Yunwan felt as if sitting on pins and needles. She wanted to mediate but did not know where to begin. Recently, the Crown Prince had been quite obedient.
“That censor is pedantic and incompetent, only concerned with pleasing His Majesty all day. I was merely pitying Miss Fuyan for her loneliness and hardship, but those old men insisted on impeaching me for moral corruption and unfitness as heir. When I argued a few more points, they pointed at me and said it was Your Majesty who failed to teach me properly. How could I tolerate such an insult? That is why I fought with those old men. If Your Majesty wishes to blame me, I have nothing to say. Next time someone insults Your Majesty like that, I dare not stand up for you again.”