Farewell Flower Festival

The next day was the Spring Festival. Just after breakfast, Mu Tianling assigned Chaoyan another task. Chaoyan said that she could not sweep the floor on the first day of the New Year, otherwise all the good luck would be swept away. Mu Tianling did not care and changed her job to grinding ink.

"Your Highness, can you write a couplet for me?"

"Write what?"

"Just write your highness' name."

"what?"

"Walking away evil spirits."

"..."

......

Someone walked in from outside the door. When Eunuch Wu saw the person, he looked a little surprised, but then he returned to his usual amiable self and greeted him, saying, "Eunuch An is here. What a rare guest."

"Eunuch De asked me to come and convey His Highness his oral instructions." Eunuch An was brought up by Eunuch De, the most respectable eunuch in the palace. He has served Emperor Mu for more than 20 years and knows the Emperor's likes and dislikes very well. It can be said that he is the person in the palace who can best understand the Emperor's intentions.

When Eunuch Wu brought Eunuch An over, Mu Tianling was practicing calligraphy in the room without even raising his head. Eunuch An was a little embarrassed to be left out. Eunuch Wu introduced Eunuch An's identity to Mu Tianling, and then explained the other party's purpose. When he heard the word "oral order", Mu Tianling was slightly stunned and a little surprised. He was neither excited nor happy in his heart, but more strange and vigilant. He had ignored him for ten years and now suddenly remembered him. No matter how he thought about it, it seemed suspicious and he had to be careful of a trap.

When Chao Yan brought the tea over, she happened to hear the oral instruction and was delighted. Could it be that this unfortunate child's luck was about to change?

Eunuch An thought that the tea Chao Yan brought was for him, and was about to thank her, but when he saw her put the tea in front of Mu Tianling, he felt a little embarrassed, cleared his throat to hide his embarrassment, and smiled, "Your servant congratulates His Highness."

Mu Tianling asked: "What good news can I have?"

Eunuch An said, "I'm here to deliver the emperor's order." Mu Tianling still sat on the chair, and Eunuch An was a little embarrassed. Eunuch Wu tried to smooth things over, "Your Highness accidentally sprained his ankle a few days ago." Eunuch An then directly read out the order, "The Emperor has ordered Your Highness to study in the Hanlin Garden after school starts." Mu Tianling did not stand up to thank him, and Eunuch An was a little embarrassed again. Eunuch Wu tried to smooth things over, "Your Highness is so happy that he doesn't know what to say." He thanked him on his behalf and then sent Eunuch An away.

Mu Tianling glanced at Chao Yan and saw that her eyes were shining and she looked self-absorbed. He didn't know what she was thinking about. "Why are you so happy?" His tone was a little cold, as if it had nothing to do with him.

Chao Yan chuckled and said, "I said it would bring good luck to His Highness, right~"

Mu Tianling said: "Don't be too happy too soon. It's still uncertain whether it's a blessing or a curse. It might be a trap."

Chao Yan complained in her heart, does this guy have to be so dark?

"The emperor is still concerned about your highness." Eunuch Wu walked in and said.

Mu Tianling's expression darkened and his aura became extremely gloomy.

Eunuch Wu asked Chao Yan to leave first and let him be alone.

After coming out, Chaoyan asked curiously, "Why did the emperor suddenly think of letting the prince go to school?" Eunuch Wu said, "Anyway, it's a good thing. Let's make dumplings to celebrate." Chaoyan raised both hands in agreement.

When Eunuch An came back to report to Eunuch De, he asked a little more out of curiosity, the same question as Chao Yan, but Eunuch De shut him up with a stern look, reminding him not to ask what he shouldn't ask and not to say what he shouldn't say. After Eunuch An withdrew, Eunuch De recalled what happened at the New Year's Eve dinner last night.

In the middle of the banquet, Emperor Mu left the table alone and went out for a walk. Eunuch De followed behind with his men. When they reached a waterside pavilion, Emperor Mu turned into the pavilion and stared at the moonlight on the water. After a while, he called out to Eunuch De.

After Eunuch De came over, Emperor Mu casually asked, "How old is the Fourth Prince this year?" Eunuch De replied that he was sixteen. Emperor Mu pondered for a moment and said, "The princes in the palace have been going to school at the age of seven. If he cannot read a single word, he will lose face for me in the future." Eunuch De agreed, and the next day he asked Eunuch An to go to Xueyin Palace to convey the oral order.

Ten years had passed in the blink of an eye. Eunuch De sighed and then went into the imperial study to report.

……

In a blink of an eye, it was the day for school to start. Before leaving, Eunuch Wu reminded him to get along well with the people in the school. Chao Yan encouraged him, "Your Highness, you are the hope of our entire village. You must work hard~"

Mu Tianling: “…” What the hell is the hope of the whole village?

......

"Didn't I tell you not to follow me?" Mu Tianling glanced at Chao Yan who was jumping behind him and felt a little headache.

Eunuch Wu smiled and said, "Xiao Lian is so pretty, bringing her out will give Your Highness face. Besides, Xiao Lian will have to come out to meet people eventually, we can't keep her hidden for the rest of her life."

Chao Yan nodded in agreement with the first two sentences, but the last two sentences sounded a bit like a beautiful woman hidden in a golden house. But to be honest, my appearance is worthy of the word "beautiful"~

Glancing at Chaoyan's smug look, Mu Tianling got an even bigger headache.

When they were almost at the gate of Hanlin Garden, the three of them were stopped by someone. The person who stopped them was none other than Eunuch Gao.

"Not just anyone can enter the Hanlin Garden. Your Highness should go back to avoid making a fool of yourself." Eunuch Gao looked contemptuous and arrogant, deliberately looking for trouble.

Eunuch Wu said, "A few days ago, Eunuch De asked Eunuch An to convey the emperor's order to allow His Highness to study in the school of Hanlin Garden. If you have any questions, you may ask Eunuch De."

Eunuch Gao said, "I am doing this for your Highness's own good. I'm afraid you won't be able to keep up with the school if you start attending school so late. Rather than making a fool of yourself later, you should go back and learn all the characters first."

Eunuch Wu said, "Don't worry about that. After all, His Highness is smarter than us servants. He won't be so ignorant and make a fool of himself."

Eunuch Gao snorted coldly, seemingly having exhausted his eloquence.

Chaoyan cheered in her heart: It has to be Uncle, you are the best debater in the capital!

People gathered around to watch the fun, and all kinds of eyes were focused on the Fourth Prince Mu Tianling. There was curiosity, surprise, disdain, contempt, disgust, fear... but no sympathy. The label of "son of the guilty concubine" was engraved on him like a brand, and just this alone made his existence a sin.

Although he suppressed his emotions with indifference, being surrounded by so many gazes still made him feel uncomfortable. The feeling of hatred climbed up from the bottom of his heart like a vine, and he was in danger of losing control. At this time, a figure stood out and blocked him.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you learned in books that you shouldn't look at what is inappropriate? You are scholars, but you don't understand such a simple principle!"

The people around focused their eyes on Chao Yan. At first they were stunned by her sharp tongue, but then they were a little surprised when they saw her face. They didn't expect that there was such a pretty girl in the cold palace.

Mu Tianling pulled her behind him and said, "My maid is timid, please don't scare her."

Chao Yan: “…”

Everyone: “…” That’s the opposite.