readsfreenovel Chapter 264: Natural Talent
Chapter 264: Natural Talent
The Sixth Prince, Zhou Chengchen, looked at the Emperor Shenwu. The Emperor nodded slightly. The Sixth Prince turned back to his Highness and the ministers, his young face solemn and serious. "Father asks if you have any suggestions for dealing with the locust plague in Huanxin City. The locusts are flying over the capital, blocking out the sun. Lord Lin, you suggested that the victims could catch and feed on the locusts, or that chickens, ducks, and other birds could be used to feed on them. Grand Secretary Fu suggested that the anthelmintic developed by the Imperial Hospital could be used to repel the locusts. My Grand Master recited a folk song: 'Locusts have spread to all the neighbors, flying through the sky like black clouds. They land and eat all the barley, gnaw on the eaves of houses, and bite people alive.'"
The Sixth Prince finally looked at the Blue Tree Man with a childlike liveliness in his eyes. "Lord Lan said that after every locust plague, the people suffer terribly. We need a way to put an end to it once and for all. Lord Lan's method of bonfire trapping and burying the locusts can kill them. Then, we can find the place where the locusts lay their eggs and pour herbal juice on them to kill the eggs, thus preventing the locusts from reappearing!"
Emperor Shenwu continued, "A mouth filled with sharp blades, a raging storm, a poisonous gut filled with suspicion and constant hunger. Locust plagues are more devastating than floods and droughts. Land varies in elevation, and rain falls unevenly. While floods and droughts are disasters, many places can still escape them. However, extreme droughts and locusts can wipe out all vegetation for thousands of miles, even the hair of cattle and horses, even flags. The damage is even more devastating, far worse than floods and droughts! My son, do you think these methods are feasible?"
The Sixth Prince frowned slightly. "Father, I think it's feasible. However, after the locust plague, not a blade of grass grows, crops are damaged, trees die, the land becomes barren, and the population plummets. I believe that after resolving the locust plague, the most important thing is to restore the vitality of Huanxin City!"
There was such silence in the Qianzheng Palace that you could hear a pin drop!
Lan Shuren's expression shifted slightly. This child—he's incredibly talented. Given time, he'll become something great! That man had given birth to a wonderful son. No! He was the perfect heir to the Dasheng Dynasty!
Lan Shuren glanced at the Grand Master from the corner of his eyes. He was afraid that this person would have trouble sleeping day and night. The Sixth Prince had excellent memory, comprehension and problem-solving abilities. He believed that with time and training, he would definitely reach that position!
Fu Ruixuan, the Grand Secretary, looked at the Sixth Prince as if he had seen the great glory of the Great Sheng Dynasty for a hundred years. Even the wrinkles on his face smoothed out. "Your Highness, Sixth Prince, I have noticed that you always look at the person you mention. Do you know us?"
The Sixth Prince nodded and said, "During the state banquet, Father introduced you all one by one. Naturally, this prince recognizes you all."
Grand Secretary Fu was silent for a moment. He had only seen them a few times from a distance, yet he could remember all of them, their surnames and official positions without missing a beat. He then asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, what is heaven and earth? What is the relationship between ruler and subject? What is kinship? What is a teacher?"
"All things in the world are heaven and earth. You and I are king and subject! Mother gives birth to me, father raises me, and brothers and sisters are my relatives! Teach me reason, teach me martial arts, and enable me to gain a foothold in heaven and earth. Be my teacher!"
Emperor Shenwu looked at the reactions of His Highness and his ministers with deep eyes.
Fu Ruixuan's eyes sparkled, and he wished he could personally teach the future crown prince. He looked at the Shenwu Emperor and said, "Your Majesty, I don't know..."
The Emperor Shenwu naturally understood what he meant and interrupted Fu Daxueshi: "The Sixth Prince became a disciple of the great Confucian scholar Yuan Zhiqing when he was five years old. He was the last disciple of Yuan Zhiqing. Wu Zetian was also taught by General Qian and General Leng!"
Grand Master Shi's expression finally showed a moment of astonishment. Yuan Zhiqing! A great scholar of his time, his disciples spread across the land. Throughout dynasties, scholars were highly respected, and Yuan Zhiqing's reputation was unmatched. What bothered Grand Master Shi even more was that Yuan Zhiqing had a slight antagonism with the Shi family.
While the Shi family is scheming within the court, Yuan Zhiqing enjoys widespread fame among the people. Furthermore, Yuan Zhiqing has always shied away from the intrigues of the court, abhorring the scheming and deceitful fighting! His Majesty has surprisingly managed to persuade Yuan Zhiqing to personally teach the Sixth Prince and even accept him as his last disciple!
At this time, the Sixth Prince stood up and bowed solemnly to the Shenwu Emperor: "Father, there is another person who is also my son's master! That is you!"
The corners of Emperor Shenwu's mouth rose slightly, with a hint of pride and pride.
Prince Ding, who had been silent in the palace, was slightly startled. Who could have an emperor as their teacher? And what could an emperor teach? The answer, of course, was—the art of being an emperor! The Sixth Prince, with his extraordinary talent, was simply the chosen heir to the Dasheng Dynasty!
He has contemporary great scholars to enlighten him in literature, two wise and brave generals in military affairs, and the emperor to teach him everything he knows. It seems that the future of the Sixth Prince is clear!
More than a dozen important civil and military officials walked out of the Qianzheng Hall in a daze. Inside the hall, the Shenwu Emperor also led the Sixth Prince towards the bedroom: "Let's go! I think your mother misses you very much!"
The Sixth Prince showed his first relaxed smile of the day and followed Emperor Shenwu into the inner hall.
That day, Lan Qingwu was telling a story to the Sixth and Seventh Princes when he saw Ruhan hurriedly walk into the bedroom. Lan Qingwu couldn't help but frown: "Why are you so flustered?"
Then she ordered, "Take the Sixth and Seventh Princes away!"
The Sixth Prince knew that his mother had something to deal with, so he took the Seventh Prince's hand and bowed to Lan Qingwu to take his leave.
After the two princes left, Ru Han said anxiously, "Your Majesty, um... I heard the news that Young Master Lan Shuren's fiancée, Miss Dai San... died of an acute illness!"
Lan Qingwu was startled: "What's going on? Why is it so sudden?"
Ru Han said, "I only heard that it was an emergency and that Young Master Lan has already rushed to Suning City in Jiangnan to offer condolences."
Lan Qingwu sat there in a daze, not moving. He hadn't expected Lan Shuren's marriage to be so bumpy. Given Lan Shuren's temperament, he would have to mourn for the Dai family girl for six months. Now, he would have to wait at least another year or two before he could find another partner.
Lan Qingwu sighed softly, "Beauty is short-lived, and marriage is bumpy!"
Lan Qingwu could only sigh, but something even more unexpected happened. Ten days later, Lan Shuren brought back the tablet and coffin of the third daughter of the Dai family, and stated that he wanted to bury her in the Lan family tomb with the ceremony of a wife.
Compared to Lan Qingwu's restlessness, Lan Shuren's mother, An, was practically unable to sleep or eat! Unable to accept this, she tried to persuade Lan Shuren day and night, but Lan Shuren seemed determined to marry a tablet. Finally, An's patience gave way, and she and Lan Shuren nearly fell out.
Lan Qingwu didn't understand why Lan Shuren did this at all. At this special time, Lan Qingwu's father, General Lan Youchen, brought his family to the imperial city.
Lan Youchen went directly to the Lan Mansion. After more than ten days of busy work, he finally submitted a memorial to the palace. A few days later, Lan Qingwu's mother was finally granted grace by Emperor Shenwu and summoned into the palace.