Chapter 446: Want to Go Out and Play
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Madam Qin was also a little surprised to see Qin Huai, but she quickly put away her expression and nodded at him. “You’re here to see your Aunt?”
Qin Huai did not answer.
On the other hand, when the palace maid on duty outside the Empress Hall saw Qin Huai, she hurriedly asked the palace maid behind Qin Huai, wanting to know his identity.
After finding out that he was a child of Duke Yong Manor, she said, “Young Master, wait here for a while. 1’11 go and inform the Empress.”
Qin Huai had never been to the Empress’s palace before, but over the years in Duke Yong Manor, he would receive things from the Empress from time to time.
They had never met.
“Young Master, the Empress invites you in.” The palace maid quickly came out and her attitude towards Qin Huai was very eager.
…..
Madam Qin asked, “Do you want me to accompany you?”
Qin Huai looked at Madam Qin a few times before finally lowering his head. His voice came out of his throat reluctantly. “No need.”
As he spoke, he had already strode in.
After entering, he realized that although the palace looked very luxurious outside, it was extremely cold inside.
In the middle of the palace, there was actually a statue of an Immortal of Daoism. A person wearing a Daoist robe had her back facing him. She sat cross-legged three steps away from the Immortal.
She had the aura of an otherworldly expert.
It was different from the noble aura of the Emperor previously.
“Huai’er, you’re here? Sit.” A slightly hoarse voice came from that person. She did not turn around, but Qin Huai felt that she was looking at him.
“Qin Huai greets Your Highness.” Qin Huai bowed to the Empress.
Outside the Empress Hall, Madam Qin did not leave for a long time. Hua Hong and Liu Lu stepped forward, their eyes filled with worry.
“Madam?”
Madam Qin waved her hand. “It’s fine. Is the carriage ready? Let’s go.”
There was still a lot to do. There was no time to waste on these matters, let alone dwell on them.
Qin Huai was in the palace, and far away in Nanhe Town, Little Ah Yu was also thinking about slacking off after her birthday.
It was mainly because the Big Brothers at home had been thinking about how to make money ever since they borrowed ten taels of silver from Little Ah Yu. They had tried all kinds of methods, but most of them had suffered a loss.
Coincidentally, they met Chen Yuan at Old man Wang’s house. When he mentioned the situation of the Wang Family Steamed Bun Shop doing business in other cities, the boys’ eyes lit up.
They were all thinking about opening a bun shop outside.
“You want to open a steamed bun shop? You look like steamed buns to me!” When Old Madam Wang heard their plan, she ridiculed them bluntly. “You didn’t even get into the county level imperial exam and you want to rely on a big tree to enjoy the shade. Dream on!”
Wang Wulang took the opportunity to ask, “Grandma, if we get into the county level imperial exam next year, can you let us go to school outside like Second Uncle?”
In the past, they had thought that after studying well, they could return to Hu Family Village and eat and play with their friends.
But now, the shopkeeper would talk about the outside world from time to time. When Fourth Uncle returned from his business trip, he would often talk about some interesting things as well.
Hearing this, the boys’ hearts itched uncontrollably. They did not want to stay in the village at all.
They even knew the exact number of ants in this place. The outside world was so big, so of course they had to go out and adventure first!
“As long as you have the ability, not to mention going anywhere else, even if you want to run to the sky and turn into a cloud, I have no objections.” Old Madam Wang simply said, “There’s no need for all of you to pass. Other than your eldest brother, as long as two more people can get pass, I’ll give you half a year off. You can go wherever you want!”
Little Ah Yu’s eyes lit up. “Grandma, Grandma, I want to go too! I want to go out and take a look too. I want to open an Ah Yu steamed bun shop too!”
Old Madam Wang was so angry that she laughed. These children were not even grown up yet, but they were already thinking of leaving the nest and flying away?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She pointed at her grandsons and said, “Alright, if four of you can pass next year, you can go wherever you want!”
“And you.” Old Madam Wang looked at the smiling Little Ah Yu and could not say anything harsh. She could only say, “You’re not allowed to help them. If you help them, even if all of them pass, I won’t accept it.”
Other than Wang Dalang, among the remaining six children, only Wang Erlang and Wang Sanlang were smarter and could be considered outstanding in their studies.
The effect of just one year of studies was even better than other children’s three to four years of studying.
The teacher had already started giving them private lessons.
Wang Wulang was barely qualified. His talent was there, but he did not like to study.
Wang Liulang was in the Yang Family Private School. The Yang Family Private School was basically like a childcare center. Not to mention learning profound knowledge, he could not even compose a complete poem now.
There was no need to talk about taking the county level imperial exam.
“Grandma, four is too many! Just two. If our family has two more county scholars, we can be exempted from taxes for 60 mu of land. We won’t have any conscription duty either. That’s enough!” Little Ah Yu shook Old Madam Wang’s sleeve. “When Big Brothers pass, we’ll go outside together. Grandma will go too, okay?”
Old Madam Wang’s will was originally very firm. When Little Ah Yu said “please” and “please”, she did not know how to refuse.
But before Ah Yu was seven years old, Old Madam Wang was unwilling to let her go out.
At the very least, they had to wait until she was seven years old. No one could calculate Ah Yu’s age by touching her bones then.
That would have to wait until after the 15th of August next year.
This was also decided by Old Madam Wang long ago. At that time, if the child still wanted to go out and broaden her horizons, Old Madam Wang would accompany her.
There were only a few people at home, and none of them were reliable. Old Madam Wang was definitely worried.
There were so many grandsons, so it would not hurt to lose one or two. But there was only one granddaughter, and there were still many people who wanted to snatch her away. Naturally, she was very precious.
“Two is fine, but the time will be decided by me. It has to be after the Mid-Autumn Festival next year. We’ll see when your birthday is over.” Old Madam Wang finally relented.
She did not know how well the few idiots at home had learned from the teachers.
Even many children with a solid foundation had fallen behind, let alone those who had only been studying for more than a year.
It will only be two years next year. It might not be possible for them to take the county level imperial exam.
“I knew Grandma was the best! When the time comes, Grandma will travel together with us!”
The smiles on the Big Brothers’ faces collapsed before they could show.
They just wanted to go out and play by themselves. At the very least, they could follow Fourth Uncle. Who wanted to go out with Grandma?
Wouldn’t they be controlled every day? What was the point of traveling then?
However, they did not dare to say these words at all.
Forget it, I’ll go to school first. If 1 don’t pass the county level imperial exam, everything will be useless talk.
The youths gathered together. Wang Liulang took the initiative to say, “I won’t participate. In any case, what 1 learned is different from what you learned. It also saves me the money to register.”
Wang Erlang asked his brothers to take out all the money they had borrowed previously. It had only been a month, but Wang Erlang was actually the one who spent the most.
“Second Brother, why are you only left with two taels of silver? I didn’t see you buy anything?” Wang Sanlang was shocked when he saw the money Wang Erlang had put out.
“That’s because I used all my money to buy materials. From the first year of Minghua until now, the county level imperial exam papers of our Yongding County cost six taels of silver each!” Wang Erlang was helpless.
Generals did not fight unprepared battles.
Wang Wulang rubbed his fly hands and leaned closer. “Second Brother, my good Second Brother, since you have this treasure, why aren’t you showing it to your younger brothers? The more people that pass, the easier things will be for our family. We still have a chance to go out and play!”
“That’s right, that’s right. We’re all brothers. Brothers have to love each other,” Wang Silang said.
Wang Erlang smiled. “Yes, even brothers have to settle accounts clearly. 1’11 lend it to you to copy. Don’t worry, it’s just one tael of silver for three days.”
The younger brothers could not help but take a step back.
Little All Yu looked at her Big Brothers and imitated them by putting her hands behind her back. She suddenly took a step back.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. The profiteer is actually beside me..