0p0 Chapter 370 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (8)
Chapter 370 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (8)
Incense wafted through the study of the Eastern Palace. Lin Shen was bent over a sandalwood desk, holding a wolf-hair brush between his fingers, slowly tracing the strategies laid out on the table.
Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, casting dappled shadows on his pale white casual clothes.
"Your Highness——!"
The beaded curtain was suddenly flung open, and Li Mao burst in, panting, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
"His Majesty has chosen a Grand Tutor for you, Zhang Zhengyuan, a Hanlin Academy scholar from the Zhang family of the Qingliu School. He says he will be coming to the Eastern Palace to pay his respects soon!"
Lin Shen paused slightly with his brush, the tip of which spread a small ink dot on the rice paper.
He slowly raised his head, a dark and ambiguous light flashing in his eyes.
Zhang Zhengyuan...
This is the Grand Tutor from the original story who appears virtuous on the surface but secretly has homosexual tendencies, repeatedly molested the original owner, and was ultimately dismembered by the Crown Prince.
Lin Shen gently stroked the pen, his fingertips itching slightly.
That bastard, relying on the reputation of a respectable family, is actually a pedophile.
Now that I've run into him, I'll make sure he suffers first.
"Understood." Lin Shen nodded calmly. "Will Father be coming over later?"
Li Mao wiped his sweat: "This servant doesn't know either."
Lin Shen pursed his lips and waved to Li Mao.
As the old eunuch approached, he lowered his voice and said, "When the Grand Tutor arrives, you should inform Father that I am studying diligently and ask him to come and see my progress. I will then perform well and let Father see me."
Li Mao grinned from ear to ear, his eyes crinkling with wrinkles: "Oh my, Your Highness, this old servant understands, I'll go and prepare right away."
Sure enough, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a young eunuch tiptoed in to announce: "Your Highness, Grand Tutor Zhang has arrived."
Lin Shen winked at Li Mao, and the old eunuch understood, happily retreating.
The young prince smiled knowingly, determined to teach this hypocrite a lesson this time.
"Let him in," Lin Shen said calmly.
A moment later, a man dressed in a blue official robe slowly walked in.
He had an upright posture and indeed possessed the demeanor of a scholar; his appearance was also quite dignified.
Unfortunately, all that glitters is not gold; it's rotten inside.
Zhang Zhengyuan walked into the hall and bowed slightly, saying, "May Your Highness the Crown Prince enjoy boundless blessings and peace."
Lin Shen raised his eyes and glanced at him indifferently, his voice carrying a hint of nonchalance: "Does the Grand Tutor not know the rules? He should bow to me, the Crown Prince. Am I not worthy?"
Zhang Zhengyuan was clearly taken aback, and his face immediately turned somewhat pale.
He looked up at the handsome young prince seated on the throne, feeling both annoyed and excited.
Finally, he slowly knelt down and performed a proper salute. Just as he was about to get up, the boy's voice reached his ears.
Did I tell you to get up?
Zhang Zhengyuan was stunned and had no choice but to kneel back down. Lin Shen watched with interest, then turned to the palace maid Chunyue beside him and said, "Bring me some snacks."
Chunyue smiled and quickly brought over a plate of exquisite pastries.
Lin Shen picked up a piece of hibiscus cake and slowly savored it, as if he had completely forgotten that there was still someone kneeling in the hall.
As the sun gradually slanted westward, it cast a long shadow of Zhang Zhengyuan kneeling on the ground. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Zhang Zhengyuan's forehead, and his knees, beneath his official robes, were beginning to go numb.
Meanwhile, the young prince on the seat continued to leisurely sip his tea and snacks, occasionally turning the pages of his book, completely ignoring him.
The hall was so quiet that the faint sound of sandalwood burning in the incense burner could be heard. Zhang Zhengyuan knelt on the cold gold bricks, his knees going from stinging to numb.
He glanced up discreetly and saw the young prince holding a plum blossom pastry, his cheeks bulging as he ate, a few specks of sugar powder still clinging to his lips. His almond-shaped eyes curved in satisfaction, his long eyelashes casting soft shadows on his porcelain-white skin, making him look as beautiful as a fairy child from a New Year's painting.
"Your Highness," he couldn't help but call softly, his voice slightly hoarse.
Lin Shen seemed to wake up at this moment, put down half a pastry, and slowly wiped his hands with the silk handkerchief handed to him by Chun Yue: "Oh, Grand Tutor is still kneeling? Look at my memory, I actually forgot about you." He tilted his head and showed an innocent smile, "Get up quickly."
Zhang Zhengyuan's face stiffened, and as he slowly stood up, supporting his aching and numb legs, his legs trembled beneath his official robes.
Just as he was about to speak, he heard the little prince say in a childish voice, "Grand Tutor, you've come at the right time. Could you please take a look at this policy essay for me?"
My heart skipped a beat.
Zhang Zhengyuan glanced around. The palace servants all stood with their heads bowed, about three zhang away. His Majesty was discussing matters with his ministers in the Imperial Study.
This distance, this timing...
"It is my great honor." He suppressed his excitement and walked to the desk.
too close.
Lin Shen wrinkled her nose; the person's fragrance was so sweet it was cloying.
"Your Highness, please look here. The 'Memorial on Expelling Foreign Guests' says..." A man's voice rang in his ears, and warm breath brushed against his temples.
Lin Shen stared at the approaching finger, which reminded him of what those hands had done in the original story.
A sweet, cloying aroma mixed with the smell of ink wafted over him, making his stomach churn.
"Grand Tutor," he suddenly interrupted, pressing a red brush heavily on the other's fingertip, "do you think Li Si would stand this close when he advised the King of Qin?"
Zhang Zhengyuan's movements froze in mid-air.
The young prince looked up, his round almond-shaped eyes reflecting his instantly frozen expression.
Those carefully prepared instructions suddenly got stuck in his throat, turning into an awkward cough.