kvmb Chapter 413 The Ruler
Chapter 413 The Ruler
Luo An held Xu Chengyou in his arms and sat in Ciming Palace until Xu Chengyou was completely asleep and could not be woken up. Only then did he bend down and put her on the bed.
Even when Xu Chengyou was asleep, his arms were still wrapped around Luo An's neck.
Luo An gently pried her hands apart, not daring to use too much force for fear of waking her. Unexpectedly, the soft and sweet little girl clung to him quite tightly.
Just then, a clap of thunder startled Xu Chengyou, and Luo An immediately picked her up again and gently patted her shoulder.
Xu Chengyou opened his eyes slightly, saw the blurry figure in front of him, and then fell asleep peacefully again.
Luo An kicked off his shoes and lay down on the bed with Xu Chengyou. He had intended to wait until Xu Chengyou was completely asleep before getting up to examine the box, but he ended up falling asleep just like that.
The wet nurse was worried about Luo An, a grown man, taking care of Xu Chengyou, so she came over just as dawn was breaking. Xu Chengyou was fast asleep, her arms wrapped around Luo An's neck.
When Xu Chengyou cried, even her wet nurse, who took care of her every day, couldn't soothe her. She and Luo An were so close even though they had only just met; they were indeed connected by blood.
The wet nurse watched for a while, then gently lowered the curtain and left. Luo An didn't open his eyes until the wet nurse had left the room. Xu Chengyou's tender little face was so close, even his breath smelled of milk.
Luo An tried to pry Xu Chengyou's hands off, but stopped when he touched her arm: What if he made the little girl cry? Since it was still early, he might as well sleep some more, and Xu Chengyou should wake up naturally by then.
He slept soundly until dawn, when Xu Chengyao came running over to call him: "Your Highness, what time is it and you're still sleeping?"
Hearing Xu Chengyao's voice, Xu Chengyou sat up in bed, rubbed his eyes, and groggily crawled to the bedside, peeking his head out of the bed curtains: "Big brother, I'm hungry!"
Xu Chengyao was stunned: "What are you doing here? Where is he?"
The wet nurse quickly picked up Xu Chengyou and whispered, "Your Highness, His Highness must not have slept well last night, so please don't disturb him."
Xu Chengyao had never slept in late except when he was feeling unwell, so he couldn't understand how such a grown man could ignore important matters and sleep so comfortably during the day.
Xu Chengyao flung open the tent flap: "The six ministers have been waiting for you in the Taiji Hall for a long time. If you continue to sleep, the historians will record your laziness and incompetence."
Luo Anben was about to get up when he heard the words "lazy and unruly," so he immediately turned his face away and said coldly, "Let them remember."
Xu Chengyao tugged at the tent flap, unsure how to offer advice. He had been careless; Luo An had helped him earn money yesterday, but that didn't mean Luo An was easy to talk to, or that Luo An could take a joke.
Xu Chengyao was caught in a dilemma when he heard Fan Tong say at the door, "Your Highness, the ministers of the Six Ministries have been waiting in the Taiji Hall for a long time. Should we summon them to Ciming Palace?"
Luo An had no choice but to sit up: "No need."
Fan Tong said, "Then we will continue to wait in the Taiji Hall."
Xu Chengyao immediately said, "I'm going to class first, you can get up slowly."
Grand Tutor Xiang Ru, holding a book, lingered at the entrance of the Taiji Hall. When he saw Luo An in the distance, he ran up to him with trembling steps to complain: "Your Highness, the First Prince... he is not attending class."
Skipping class? Didn't Xu Chengyao say he was going to class first? How dare you lie to him so openly? Are you tired of living?
Luo An strode into the Taiji Hall, which had been rearranged. At the head of the table were a grand master's chair and a table with dragon patterns.
Six tables were placed facing each other in the middle, each table neatly arranged with categorized memorials and writing implements. The six ministers stood waiting in front of their respective tables.
Below the Taiji Hall was a desk. Xu Chengyao sat upright in front of the desk. Three steps away from the desk stood a middle-aged man holding a book, looking like a scholar. He looked somewhat familiar.
Luo An nodded to himself; the arrangement and efficiency were to his liking.
Upon seeing Luo An in the Taiji Hall, the ministers all knelt down and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Luo An ignored the minister and turned to look at Ru: Didn't they say that the eldest prince doesn't attend classes?
Xiang Ru pointed to the kneeling scholar and said, "Your Highness, he is the imperial physician Li Shuheng."
Li Shuheng? Luo An remembered. Back then, when the late emperor sent people to Heaven and Earth, there was a young imperial physician named Li Shuheng among the entourage.
Xu Chengyao argued confidently: "As a prince, if I learn medicine, I can save myself if I encounter danger or get injured in the future."
They're truly incorrigible! Yesterday they failed to become my apprentice, and today they've even brought in the imperial physician.
Luo An stepped forward slowly, picked up the carved mahogany ruler on the table, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Xu Chengyao was terrified. Just as he was about to argue his case, he saw the ruler swing towards him. Xu Chengyao didn't even have time to think; he instantly slid off the chair and hid under the table.
The ruler struck the edge of the table and broke in two; the other piece flew to the rafters and then landed on the desk. Everyone was secretly alarmed; if Xu Chengyao had reacted even a fraction of a second slower, it would have hit him.
Xu Chengyao huddled under the table, staring at Li Shuheng, who was kneeling on the ground. Both of them were trembling with fear. If that ruler were to hit them, they would be seriously injured, if not killed.
Xiang Ru was also startled; he was merely disappointed in Luo An. But Luo An clearly had no intention of showing any mercy, beating him to a pulp.
The Taiji Hall was completely silent. The ministers were even careful with their breathing, and even the highly respected Xiang Ru dared not utter a sound.
Luo An threw the broken half of the ruler in his hand in front of Li Shuheng and said rudely, "Get out!"
Li Shuheng lowered his head and hunched over, then ran away as fast as he could, as if a ghost were behind him.
Xiang Ru immediately went over, bent down, and pulled Xu Chengyao out. Xu Chengyao hid tightly behind Xiang Ru, not daring to show his face.
Luo An then walked to the head of the table and sat down: "Rise, all of you."
Fan Tong stood up and walked to Luo An's side: "Your Highness, thanks to Chief Scholar Meng Zhao, the memorials have all been categorized. Would you like to take a look?"
Luo Andao said, "Have Meng Zhao select six Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) to serve as assistants to the ministers of the six ministries. The memorials from each ministry will be reviewed by the ministers, then examined by the Jinshi, and after the review is completed, the Jinshi will affix the seal of the respective ministry."
If there are any doubts regarding the review of the Jinshi degree, the matter shall be referred to Dean Meng and the First Prince for discussion and resolution. If Dean Meng and the First Prince are still unable to reach a decision, then the matter shall be discussed and decided jointly with the Ministers of the Six Ministries.
Fan Tong nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will go immediately."
Luo An said, "Call Su Wuming and Zhang Mingzhi."
Xu Chengyao only reacted after Fan Tong left, and poked his head out, asking, "Any questions should be handled by me and Dean Meng? Why me?"
Luo An said, "You are the eldest prince."
Xu Chengyao straightened his back instantly, walked from behind Xiang Ru to the front of the Six Ministries, and said righteously: "You are the Crown Prince."
Luo An glanced at the ministers standing in front of him: "Minister of Justice?"
Sima Zhengyi stepped forward: "Your subject is here."
Luo An tossed him something, which Sima Zhengyi caught and glanced at; it was a will appointing the Crown Prince. Sima Zhengyi's hand trembled, and the will fell to the ground as if it were a hot potato.
Wu Buqu reached out and took the imperial edict, placing it in Sima Zhengyi's hand and pressing it down to signal Sima Zhengyi to hold it firmly.