Empress Zhangsun was magnanimous. She pardoned their offense of colliding with the imperial carriage and praised Yun Ye’s exceptional skill in crafting prosthetic limbs. However, she severely criticized both Yun Ye and Cheng Chumo—these two young sprouts of the nation who, despite being nurtured by the abundant grace of His Majesty Li’er, showed no ambition for advancement and idled away their days. They were squandering their potential as future pillars of the state through complete neglect. As the Empress of the Great Tang, she absolutely would not stand by and watch this happen. Therefore, the great and merciful Empress decided to personally educate Yun Ye herself, and incidentally manage the utterly clueless Cheng Chumo as well. This was considered an imperial grace. Since there was no day like the present, they would begin tomorrow morning.
After seeing off the Empress, standing outside the main gate of the Niu residence, Yun Ye’s mood was like the cold wind blowing across the sky above. Farewell, my lazy mornings. Farewell, my freedom. Farewell, my carefree life. He had still harbored one last thread of hope that the Empress might forget about this matter, but now it seemed she had never forgotten—she had been deliberately plotting to reform him all along. The collision with the imperial carriage was merely a catalyst.
Niu Jinda was very pleased, and Madam Niu was equally delighted. They believed that Yun Ye had finally gained the imperial family’s recognition and could step into the highest noble circles of the Great Tang. As for Niu Jianhu, he had already started pummeling Cheng Chumo. The old Niu couple ignored everything before their eyes and returned together to the Niu residence.
Everything at home had changed. The servants and maids were being directed every which way. The old grandmother personally stood in the corridor giving instructions. They had just received the decree from the female official—by the fifth watch tomorrow, they must send the young master to the palace to study. This was an enormous imperial grace, and the Yun Family must treat it seriously. The eldest aunt and aunt-in-law were sewing scholarly robes, while the younger aunt had specially invited a learned Confucian scholar to inquire what books should be brought. They were also tailoring new clothes for Liu Jinbao, who must accompany the Marquis to the imperial palace every day and then wait to escort him back after classes ended. There would be no book boy and no maids—they were not permitted to enter the imperial palace. Liu Jinbao could only wait at the palace gates.
He quietly returned to his bedroom. Yun Ye did not disturb them, not wanting them to worry on his behalf. With a bitter smile, he realized that going to the imperial palace was not about seeking education—it was about receiving organized reformation. He wondered how the Empress would reform him. Thinking about this, Yun Ye felt somewhat excited. Having witnessed pyramid schemes and explored multi-level marketing, he did not know how the Great Tang’s brainwashing education was conducted. Would it surpass the cults of later generations? Curiosity drove him to somewhat hope that tomorrow would arrive sooner.
After the rooster crowed twice, Yun Ye sprang up from the heated bed platform in one motion. The maid attending him had prepared washing water, ground the tooth stick, and placed a pinch of green salt in a small dish. The warm water applied to his face felt indescribably comfortable. Grandmother was quite surprised that today, without being called, Yun Ye had climbed out of bed on his own. Happily preparing her grandson’s clothes, she said, “Young Master Cheng from the Cheng Family has already arrived at the house and is waiting for you in the front hall.”
After putting on his clothes—naturally with Grandmother’s help, since Yun Ye still had not figured out exactly how Tang dynasty clothing was supposed to be worn; it was too complicated. For instance, putting on leg wrappings required bare legs and needed to be tied with string around the thighs. In later generations, aside from seeing his wife put on various messy things, he had never seen men go through such trouble. Moreover, his wife wore various stockings that could simply be pulled on, unlike now when Grandmother spent half a day tying wrappings around Yun Ye’s legs before finishing.
Cheng Chumo, his face full of exhaustion, leaned against the stove drinking tea. After returning home last night, he had received commendation from his mother. At the fourth watch, he was roused from bed and driven to go study without even being given breakfast, while being told that if he did not study well, his legs would be broken. Poor child. The two brothers commiserated with each other for a while, then ate their fill. Each bringing one guard, they hurried toward the imperial palace.
Eight enormous cowhide lanterns hung at the palace gates, illuminating the ground in brilliant white. Palace attendants had already come to receive the two brothers. They did not cross the Golden Water Bridge but passed through a small alley that was frighteningly dark and exhaustingly long. After receiving the two silver ingots that Yun Ye handed over, the palace attendant also opened his chatterbox. It turned out this passage was called a corridor passage, encircling the entire imperial palace—similar to a ring road in later generations, except this one only circled the imperial palace. The place where they would study was called Tingtao Pavilion, where renowned scholars of the realm specifically taught lessons to the imperial princes and princesses. Sometimes His Majesty and the Empress would also go to listen to a few lessons and incidentally instruct their own children. The name was not good—calling it Tingtao Pavilion made it sound somewhat like a restaurant’s name. Although he muttered this in his mouth, his feet dared not slow down. Had they not heard the melodious sound of a golden bell? That was the signal for class to begin.
They were late. Just as they were about to enter the doorway, an old Confucian scholar with a three-strand long beard walked slowly forward with his hands behind his back. Not daring to squeeze in like in later generations, they could only stand respectfully outside, waiting for the old scholar’s reprimand.
The old scholar was actually quite an amusing person. Stroking his long beard, he said, “This old man has heard of those who travel ten li to welcome their teacher, but today I witness those who welcome their teacher from three zhang away. This truly brings great comfort to this old man’s heart. However, henceforth this must not happen again. If there is a repeat offense, ten strikes of the discipline ruler. Enter.” After bowing respectfully to the old scholar, the two brothers quickly entered the classroom.
Li Chengqian had long been seated behind a bright yellow low table in the center, making faces at the two of them. They had just found two empty seats and sat down when the old scholar entered the room. First clearing his throat lightly, he said, “Today you have two new classmates. You must treat each other with friendship. Those of high position must not bully others, those with physical strength must not rely on force, and those with cleverness must not be cunning. Do you all understand?” The room full of boys and girls respectfully responded in acknowledgment.
“The one in blue must be Marquis Lantian, Yun Ye. This old man has long heard that you are the disciple of an expert, especially skilled in mathematics, and that being able to stump Huang Zhi’en in the field of mathematics means you have reached a respectable level. However, I do not know—how much do you know of the classics?”
Yun Ye shook his head blankly. Who the hell knew what the classics were? The study of fortune-telling? Or something women studied?
“Eh? You have actually never been exposed to the classics? Then how far have you progressed in your coursework?”
Yun Ye still shook his head. This lord has never attended school in the Great Tang.
“Sima Xiangru’s ‘Fanjiang Chapter,’ Shi You’s ‘Jiujiu Chapter,’ Li Chang’s ‘Yuanshang Chapter,’ Yang Xiong’s ‘Xunzuan Chapter,’ Jia Fang’s ‘Youxi Chapter,’ Zhang Yi’s ‘Picang,’ Cai Yong’s ‘Quanxue,’ ‘Shenghuang Chapter,’ ‘Huangchu Chapter,’ ‘Nüshi Chapter,’ Ban Gu’s ‘Taijia Chapter’ and ‘Zaixi Chapter,’ Cui Yuan’s ‘Feilong Chapter,’ Zhu Yu’s ‘Youxue,’ Fan Gong’s ‘Guangcang,’ Lu Ji’s ‘Wuzhang,’ Zhou Xingsi’s ‘Thousand Character Classic,’ Shu Xi’s ‘Fameng Record,’ Gu Kaizhi’s ‘Minmeng Record,’ as well as ‘Miscellaneous Character Guide’ and ‘Colloquial Difficult Characters’—have you studied any of these elementary texts?”
A long string of book titles he had never heard of buzzed in his ears. Yun Ye himself felt somewhat embarrassed, but he still firmly shook his head, indicating he did not know them. Li Chengqian’s mouth gaped open. Cheng Chumo’s eyes bulged wide. The other young boys and girls looked at him as if they were looking at a gorilla.
“Can you read and write?” The old scholar stepped forward and continued to ask.
Yun Ye nodded. This lord can certainly read and write.
“Can you tell this old man what you studied?” Having never received elementary education yet being literate—the old scholar’s interest greatly increased.
“This student’s elementary education used ‘Three Character Classic,’ ‘Hundred Family Surnames,’ ‘Disciple Regulations,’ and such.”
“Oh! Then first recite once the ‘Three Character Classic’ you mentioned. This old man hears of it for the first time and would like to experience it.”