Capítulo 1624: Chapter 1599: You Are Blessed

Zhou Man’s teacher is Assistant Lecturer Zhuang,” the Crown Prince raised an eyebrow slightly, “What did your teacher say?”

Manbao replied, “The teacher said that currently, our family is like a boat in the vast sea, yet in shallow waters. When the sea is calm, everything is naturally peaceful and smooth, the sky high and the ocean wide; but if waves arise, although it is a small boat, in shallow waters, it still has some power to fight; yet when in deep seas, though the horizon is even wider and the ocean more majestic, even a slightly stronger wind could overturn our small boat, let alone the waves. Besides, our family has many members but lacks deep roots; instead of thinking about sailing widely, it is better to focus on internal cultivation. The nouveau riche may be envied, but looking at the histories of the past, those who survive the long river of history are those with their feet firmly rooted in the ground.”

The Crown Prince was somewhat shaken inside, staring blankly at Manbao.

Unaware, Manbao continued babbling, “Bai Shan also said that we are still young and can fight slowly. We can strive to accomplish many things, but we shouldn’t think of achieving a decade’s worth of accomplishments in one day, as that would ruin us. I think what they said is right, so, Your Highness, this matter should be temporarily set aside.”

Actually, Bai Shan also mentioned at the time, “What sense is there in making the Crown Prince win you over? It should be the Emperor winning you over.”

He said, “Honor titles were established by the Emperor and the court to win over ministers. Now it’s the Crown Prince offering you the title. In the future, when you’ve grown older and achieved significant merit, then it would be more fitting for the Emperor to win you over. Isn’t the Emperor more prestigious than the Crown Prince?”

Manbao thinks the Emperor is rather stingy, and he may not be willing to win her over, but she was still somewhat tempted. Coupled with her teacher’s guidance, she purposely came to wait for the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince was silent for too long, and Manbao found it a bit odd and couldn’t help but look up at him, “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

The Crown Prince came to his senses and looked at her, saying, “Lord Wei just told me that managing a family is like managing a country.”

Manbao nodded, bewildered, “Yes, isn’t there a problem? Country, family, haven’t they always been linked together?”

The Crown Prince studied Manbao for a long time, making her uneasy, then finally chuckled, “I once heard a rumor that you are always lucky, a person of great fortune. I wasn’t too sure before, but now I believe it. You are indeed favored by destiny.”

After he said this, he clasped his hands behind his back and walked away.

Manbao, bewildered, watched him leave, then grabbed Eunuch Wu passing in front of her and quietly asked, “What does His Highness mean by this?”

Eunuch Wu exclaimed softly, glanced at the Crown Prince’s departing figure, then whispered, “Lord Zhou Junior, haven’t you figured it out? His Highness says you are blessed, so you truly are blessed.”

With that, he hurriedly pulled away from Manbao’s grip and ran to catch up with the Crown Prince.

Of course, Manbao knew she was blessed, but she couldn’t understand how the Crown Prince suddenly came to this conclusion.

After pondering for a long time without understanding, Manbao went to find Bai Shan, relaying the Crown Prince’s words verbatim and asking, “What do you think the Crown Prince means?”

Bai Shan furrowed his brow, thinking for a moment uncertainly, “Because His Highness feels that Lord Wei and the teacher are both protective of you?”

Meanwhile, news that Lord Wei objected to granting an honorary title to Zhou Jin’s parents had spread to the Eastern Palace. Although someone hovered around Bai Shan suggesting that Wei Zhi was suppressing Manbao or something, Bai Shan Bai Erlang, having heard the teacher’s lesson, knew that Wei Zhi was actually protecting Manbao in a different way and didn’t take it to heart.

This now was likely the only matter that led the Crown Prince to say Manbao was blessed.

Manbao thought for a while, also uncertain, “Perhaps?”

The two of them, still somewhat bewildered, didn’t know that after the Crown Prince returned to his quarters, he asked Eunuch Wu to bring a pot of wine.

Eunuch Wu hesitated for a moment and only brought a small amount, not an entire pot.

Ever since they learned that the Crown Prince shouldn’t drink too much alcohol as it might affect his descendants, both the Crown Prince himself and those around him have been intentionally abstaining from drinking.

Although sometimes it was unavoidable to drink at banquets, the Crown Prince drank very little and hadn’t been drunk even once over the past six months.

Eunuch Wu poured a cup of wine for the Crown Prince, who took a sip and sighed, “Some people seem born smart, which is truly peculiar. I am the Crown Prince, yet how am I not as good at studying as they are?”

Eunuch Wu immediately said, “Your Highness, you are the Crown Prince, you don’t need to be exceptionally skilled in studies. Like Lord Zhou Junior and Young Master Bai, they study and learn skills now, but will serve you in the future.”

The Crown Prince thought about it and said, “That is indeed true.”

His lips curled into a smile, “Then let’s start now, bring Su Jian over, Chongwen Pavilion is my study companion, such a small place shouldn’t be so mixed and disorderly, should it?”

Bai Shan and the others didn’t know that there would be upheaval at Chongwen Pavilion, as they were due to be on leave and return home the next day.

And the upheaval wasn’t related to Bai Shan and the others, so the next day they happily, unaware, took their things and left the palace.

Yin Huo, still walking with them, said to Bai Shan, “I might get sick in a few days, but don’t worry, I’ll be fine in no more than ten days.”

The three of them: …

Bai Shan quickly grasped his meaning and asked, “Mid-Autumn is coming, can we spend it together?”

Yin Huo smiled, “We should be able to, the Crown Prince is not one to be trifled with, and with the busyness in the court, this is just a small matter, even if someone makes a fuss, half a month should be enough for them to quarrel.”

Only then did the three of them relax, and Manbao said, “Then let’s go out to see the lanterns together during Mid-Autumn Festival.”

Yin Huo nodded, “My health has improved considerably this year, I should be able to go out, and my sisters might make a lantern shed, at which time I’ll invite you all to come sit under it.”

In previous years, Yin Huo couldn’t go out due to the cold night air, there was always the danger of falling ill by catching a cold and passing away from an illness.

However, he’s much better this year and should be able to go.

Manbao looked at him sympathetically and said, “I originally wanted to make pills for you, pills aren’t that hard to take, but after some research I found that pills aren’t as effective as decoctions, so you should continue drinking the decoctions.”

Yin Huo took medicine more routinely than drinking water, and upon hearing this he laughed, “It’s fine, decoctions taste alright too.

Chatting and laughing, they reached the palace gates. Liu Huan, who had arrived earlier with several fellow students, saw them from a distance and waved, “Why are you walking so slowly today? Where are we going to play, Zhao Liulang said he would host a banquet at the Primus Pavilion to celebrate our victory.”

Manbao said, “His father got his head swollen from a beating, where’s the victory in that?”

“That’s still better than Lord Wang,” Liu Huan looked around and lowered his voice, “I heard Wang Ji was reprimanded for not managing his household well and allowing his nephew to trample on farming crops, now he’s been ordered by His Majesty to reflect behind closed doors.”