615: Chapter 604: Unexpected?
615: Chapter 604: Unexpected?
Although it might be a bit vulgar for a scholar to talk about money, the two reminded him anyway.
Mr.
Lan turned and went back to find Mr.
Zhuang.
He thought that letting Senior Brother Zhuang give a lecture was a good idea, not because of the salary, but mainly because it could repair his relationship with the Huang Family, right?
But what he hadn’t expected was that the salary was indeed quite important to Mr.
Zhuang.
It wasn’t particularly hard work, it wouldn’t interfere with the learning of his three students, there was money to be earned, and it could even expand his social network—the benefits seed nurous.
Mr.
Zhuang hesitated for a mont, but upon seeing the three little heads peering through the window, he nodded his agreent.
Well, if he was going to go, he might as well get on with it.
The three novices, new to their environnt, spent their days either playing or studying.
Although they were still naughty, they weren’t as lively as before.
It would be good for him to teach at Dazhi Academy, as it would allow them to et more friends.
Thinking this, Mr.
Zhuang agreed and said, “If it’s just giving lectures, I guess it’s possible.”
After so thought, he added, “You know I’m most familiar with Zhuangzi’s teachings.
The lectures I give can focus primarily on that.”
Lan Cheng was pleased, “I’ll go and tell Uncle Master Huang.”
He didn’t stay for dinner, departing cheerfully.
The three little heads continued watching him leave until they snuck into the study in unison, lined up, and Manbao asked, “Master, are we on bad terms with Uncle Master Huang and the others?”
Mr.
Zhuang tapped her head with his hand and said, “You’ve only t them twice, how could the relationship be bad?”
Bai Shanbao said, “Master, you’re feigning ignorance—after all, we’re on your side.”
Bai Erlang kept nodding in agreent.
Mr.
Zhuang then laughed and said, “Children should stay out of adult affairs.
Just focus on what you should be doing.”
He paused for a mont, thinking that with his students’ mischievous nature, they really might end up causing so trouble, so he said, “That’s an old grudge from decades ago—I’ve already forgotten it, so you don’t need to dwell on it either.
Do whatever you need to do.”
The three understood, “Then shall we continue playing with Qi Jue and the others tomorrow?”
Mr.
Zhuang smiled, “Go ahead, go ahead; it’s good to make more friends.”
But in the end, they didn’t set out to find Qi Jue and the others specifically.
The next day was the Dragon Boat Festival.
Zhou SiLang and Zhou Lijun stopped trying to make money just for the day and went out to play with Manbao, carting around together.
Mr.
Zhuang also joined them, and together with Wei Chen, they headed towards the main street as a large group convivially.
They mainly went to see the dragon boat race that would take place after the grand Nuoxi performance, which, in turn, would be after the speech by the Prince of Yizhou.
Manbao also wanted to see what the Prince of Yizhou looked like, but she didn’t want to squeeze into the crowd on the street, mainly because she was too short to see over the heads of the throng, and even with the Prince standing on the high platform, she wouldn’t be able to see him.
Bai Shanbao, about the sa height as her, naturally didn’t enjoy the crush of the crowd either, so after a brief discussion, they decided to find a spot in the teahouses and restaurants to sit and watch, or to stand if necessary.
Unfortunately, the second floors of the shops on both sides were already occupied.
Unable to resist, Manbao looked toward the rooftops of the shops, Bai Shanbao followed her gaze, and then couldn’t help stealing glances at Daji.
Daji, without a sideways glance, protected them as they retreated under the eaves of a shop, and Zhou SiLang sohow produced a long bench from sowhere.
Wei Chen gave him an approving thumbs-up before climbing onto the bench with Manbao and the rest.
With that climb, their view widened.
Although the spot where they stood was rather marginal, they could see the high platform clearly; most importantly, they were able to take cover from the sun under the eaves and not be scorched by the harsh rays.
Zhou SiLang, disdaining the fact that the four of them occupied a whole bench, patted their behinds and said, “Stand sideways, do you understand?
Stand sideways and make space for and for…
Lijun.”
Wei Chen carefully turned his body on the bench to stand sideways as instructed.
Zhou SiLang and his niece also got on, and the six peered ahead together.
Mr.
Zhuang, concerned about his image and reluctant to stand on the bench: …
And Daji, who, it was thought, didn’t need a bench: …
As the six settled in, the Prince of Yizhou appeared on stage just as they had all taken their spots, accompanied by all the major officials from Yizhou City.
This included important figures like the Envoy of Yizhou, the Governor of Yizhou, and the County Magistrate of Tang from Huayang County.
They lined up behind the Prince of Yizhou in a single file.
As soon as the Prince of Yizhou mounted the stage, the gong and drums struck with a clang, and the onlookers on the street kneeled down and shouted in unison, “Greetings, Prince of Yizhou—”
The scholars bowed and paid their respects, and so did those standing in the second floors of shops.
The six on the bench: …
While they were hesitating whether to jump down to pay their respects, the Prince of Yizhou gestured for everyone to rise, and the crowd got to their feet or straightened their backs in response.
The six on the bench simultaneously let out a sigh of relief and continued watching ahead.
Mr.
Zhuang straightened up and tiptoed to see towards the platform.
No one noticed that Daji, standing behind them, remained still as a statue.
He neither kneeled nor bowed, not even so much as bending his waist.
The Prince of Yizhou looked upon the dense crowd on the street with satisfaction.
After three years of rest and recuperation, Yizhou City had finally regained its forr prosperity.
He delivered a speech, encouraging the people and emphasizing hope for the future.
He then wished everyone well for the Dragon Boat Festival, announcing that in addition to the dragon boat race, the Prince of Yizhou’s mansion had also arranged for a Nuoxi performance to chase away evil spirits and illnesses and pray for peace and health.
The sound of the gong indicated the beginning of the festivities.
So twenty individuals at the front began dancing, their movents giving life to the masks on their faces.
They spread out in ti with the drumbeat, pushed close to the crowd, prompting screams before people dispersed, making space for them to perform.
In addition to the Nuoxi, the Prince’s mansion had prepared many small zongzi and had servants distribute them along the way, one for each person.
The zongzi were quite small, served rely for good luck.
When it ca ti for Manbao and the others to receive their zongzi, adhering to the principle that a benefit not taken is a loss, they eagerly reached out to the servants distributing them.
The servant, seeing that Manbao and the others were handso and elegant, generously gave them an extra one and winked, saying, “It’s better in pairs, right?”
Because of the distribution of the zongzi, everyone’s attention was diverted.
The Prince of Yizhou kept hearing thanks being shouted from the street, and he turned to Envoy Zhang with a smile, “This thod of sharing joy with the people is really not bad; we might do it again next year following the sa rule.”
Envoy Zhang smiled slightly, bowing as he said, “Your Highness is benevolent; this is a blessing for the people of Yizhou.”
The County Magistrate of Tang, standing behind, lowered his eyes, his face wearing a warm smile.
Governor Ming, because he was standing beside him, caught a glimpse of the chill in his eyes and couldn’t help but nudging him and warning in a whisper, “Tone it down.”
County Magistrate Tang glanced at his superior and thought to himself: Isn’t this toned down enough?
No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than a blinding light shone upon him, making his eyes squint reflexively.
A chill ran down County Magistrate Tang’s spine, and instinctively, he pulled his superior back.
Looking up, he saw soone with a divine mask lunging straight at them.
Reacting instantly, he yelled, “Assassin—”
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