The ancestors of the Minister of Works had all been court officials, and wealth had accumulated over many generations, so the family was fairly wealthy. The pond in the back garden was also very large.

The group of children divided into three camps. A bundle of chrysanthemums was placed on each boat. Whichever boat’s flowers remained until the end, the people on that boat would win.

Chu Hongyu stood on his boat and said, “Traitors and moles, you two sides go first.”

No one dared disobey His Majesty’s command, even though he was only a young Emperor.

The two forces immediately engaged in battle. The two boats drew close, but the prows could never quite touch, and the people on the boats had no way to board the opposing boat to seize the chrysanthemums.

“Whoever gets the chrysanthemums first, I’ll grant him an official position!”

Chu Hongyu threw out this bait, and several children immediately had motivation, trying every means to rush onto the opposing boat.

“You’re all so stupid, yet you always call me stupid,” Lin Dongdong, who was a loyal subject on the same boat as Chu Hongyu, stood to the side and said. “There are wooden planks on shore. Use the planks to build a bridge and you can cross over. Hurry up!”

Both sides rowed vigorously, competing for the wooden planks.

They finally obtained a plank and placed it as a bridge on the decks of the two boats, but the plank was actually seized by the opposing side…

Chu Hongyu stood at the bow the entire time, chin propped on his hand, his small eyebrows furrowed, thinking hard.

“Splash!”

Someone fell into the water, and a boat also capsized.

At this moment, the Minister of Works also returned home.

“You little brat, what are you causing trouble with now!” Minister Chen of the Ministry of Works saw the back garden in complete disarray and was quite angry. “Every day, not studying properly, specifically creating these messes. Just watch—I won’t beat you to death, you troublemaker! Stand still!”

Chen San was soaked through. While busy dodging his father’s beating, he turned back to signal Chu Hongyu with his eyes.

Chu Hongyu himself felt guilty and hurriedly gathered the remaining people, rapidly fled the Chen Residence, got in the carriage, changed into eunuch clothing, and returned to the palace…

Chen San was whipped twice by the Minister of Works and made to kneel at the ancestral hall entrance.

“Last time, you swore before our ancestors that you would study properly! Now, this is precisely when His Majesty should be studying. Instead of accompanying him in study at the palace, you summoned a gang of dubious friends to the house—what for!”

Chen San clenched his teeth and said nothing.

The Minister of Works raised his long whip. “Keep being stubborn. I might as well beat you to death today—one less disaster!”

“My lord!” Madam Li hurriedly shielded her son. “He’s only eight years old, still young and immature. Give him another chance!”

The Minister of Works roared, “This isn’t about chances or not. He made a solemn oath himself but violated his vow. He should be beaten to death!”

Crack—a whip lashed down.

“Speak up, San’er, speak quickly, or your father really will beat you to death…”

Madam Li cried.

Chen San also started crying. Unable to hold back any longer, he said, “Then I ask Father, which is more important—an oath or an imperial command?”

The Minister of Works’ eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“It was His Majesty!” Chen San felt extremely wronged. “Could I disobey an imperial command?”

“What?” The whip in the Minister of Works’ hand fell to the ground. The entire man was incredulous. “His Majesty…”

Earlier, that group of half-grown children wearing similar clothing—he hadn’t looked carefully. How could he have imagined that among them was actually the current Emperor!

He quickly asked, “What did His Majesty come to do?”

“Didn’t you see already?” Chen San shouted back. “You saw His Majesty but didn’t perform proper courtesies. I’m telling you, you’re finished. Our entire Chen family is finished!”

The Minister of Works couldn’t be bothered with this disappointing son and went to question the household servants.

He learned that His Majesty had brought a group of study companions to the residence purely to row boats and play in the water—they hadn’t done anything else of substance.

He couldn’t help but sigh.

The young Emperor was still too young, ignorant of national affairs. Having just ascended the throne, he was already sneaking out of the palace to fool around. The Great Jin realm was in danger.

But he couldn’t say anything, because once this was discussed openly, people in court would definitely impeach him en masse, claiming his son had corrupted the young Emperor.

Although he was Minister of Works, the Ministry of Works had never been valued by the court and often suffered indignities. The taste of being impeached was not pleasant.

Now he just hoped His Majesty wouldn’t come again, and this matter could be treated as if it never happened.

Who would have thought—

The next day at morning court, the young Emperor publicly rewarded his son with the finest inkstone, saying his son was eager to learn and deserved the reward.

An ominous premonition arose in his heart.

Sure enough, in the afternoon, the group came to the Chen Residence to play in the water again…

For at least seven or eight days in a row, the young Emperor daily brought the eight study companions to play, until the Minister of Works really couldn’t hold it together anymore.

“Empress Dowager, this subject is guilty!”

The Minister of Works’ knees bent, and he knelt before Yun Chu.

Yun Chu hurriedly said, “Minister Chen, please rise quickly. Don’t perform such a great courtesy. What has happened?”

“This subject…” The Minister of Works stood up. “My unworthy son, as His Majesty’s study companion, does not accompany His Majesty in diligent study, but instead… instead…”

“Instead what?”

“Instead daily brings His Majesty to this subject’s home to play in the water…” The Minister of Works steeled his heart and said, “This subject thought His Majesty was just on a whim wanting to row boats. The first time I learned of this, I did not report it. But unexpectedly, His Majesty had people rebuild three boats and move them into this subject’s home. I’m afraid that for the next several months, he will sneak out of the palace to play at this subject’s home… Empress Dowager, please manage His Majesty.”

Yun Chu’s hand paused.

Every afternoon was the time when Yu’er studied in the Imperial Study.

Because Old Master Ouyang had replaced the Imperial Tutor, she was very reassured and hadn’t gone to check again.

How could such an inconceivable thing have happened?

She said, “Minister Chen, don’t worry. His Majesty is young and naturally playful. This dowager won’t blame you. I’m just afraid this has brought you trouble.”

“No trouble, no trouble at all!”

The Minister of Works hurriedly waved his hands.

As long as His Majesty didn’t come again, that would be better than anything. Otherwise, the entire household staff was trembling with fear, afraid something would happen while His Majesty was rowing boats and playing in the water.

Yun Chu had someone go to the Imperial Study to gather information.

Before long, Tingshuang returned to report. “Previously, Grand Tutor Xu’s lessons were two hours. Now Old Master Ouyang only teaches for half an hour each day. For the remaining time, His Majesty leads people in sneaking out of the palace to play.”

Yun Chu didn’t rush to the Chen Residence to find him.

Instead, she had Tingshuang wait at the Imperial Study.

She waited until evening when Chu Hongyu finally returned to the palace.

“This servant greets Your Majesty.” Tingshuang bowed low. “The Empress Dowager has prepared a meal and requests Your Majesty to dine together.”

Chu Hongyu was exhausted at the Chen Residence and called for people to carry him by sedan chair to Kunning Palace.

As soon as Yun Chu saw her son like this, she knew he was very tired.

She had people bring up the food and asked, “How did you get so tired? Are your studies very demanding?”

“Mother, actually, these past days I haven’t been studying properly.” Chu Hongyu looked into Yun Chu’s eyes. “But don’t worry, Mother. Everything the teacher taught, I already know, so I went to do other things.”

Yun Chu’s voice was very gentle. “Other things—what things?”

“Can I not tell Mother for now?” Chu Hongyu blinked. “Once there are results, I’ll give everyone a surprise.”

“Alright.”

Yun Chu agreed.

She trusted that her son wouldn’t act recklessly.

However, she needed to properly mollify the Minister of Works.

The next day, Madam Chen, wife of the Minister of Works, received a reward from the Empress Dowager.

The Minister of Works: “…”

It’s over. His Majesty is willful, the Empress Dowager indulges him. The Great Jin realm is in danger.