Dòu Zhāo felt that he had been worrying unnecessarily for some time.

  Ji Yong gets up at 4 am every day and rests only at 10 pm. He either reads books or writes, occasionally taking a stroll in the courtyard of Heshou Hall, never even leaving the gate of Heshou Hall, let alone getting into any trouble.

  Or perhaps it was because he took his studies so seriously that he passed the Imperial Examination at such a young age?

  Dong Zhao guessed, from time to time, instructing Su Xin to pay more attention to Ji Yong's diet and daily life, trying to give him a relatively comfortable environment, which was also beneficial to his career.

  Ji Yong soon felt the change in treatment and began to make demands of Su Xin: "I don't like eating chicken skin, from now on when you cook chicken, take all the skin off." Or she would pick a fight: "How can bok choy have a stem?"

  These are all trivial matters, and with a clear conscience, I am satisfied.

  One day, Ji Yong went to Fayuan Temple with a fan in hand.

  Dòu Zhāo shèn shì qí guài.

  Translation: Dow Chow is very strange.

  Su Xin furrowed his brow and said: "Ji Gongzi said that the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, he wants to go find Master Tufang to discuss Buddhist teachings."

  It's good to go out and take a walk!

  Dong Zhao laughed and said: "Does he still have such leisure?"

  The little maid who was sent to serve Ji Yong by Bei Zhaoyi said with a quick mouth: "Young Master Ji studies Buddhist scriptures every day in the house, saying that this time he went to Fayuan Temple, he must make the abbot speechless, and then follow him to return to secular life!"

  Should the monk Tufa return to secular life?

  Dong Zuo was shocked and said: "Hasn't he read the Four Books and Five Classics in these days?"

  The little maid couldn't tell where it came from, only knowing that Ji Yong spent several hours every day with his head bowed: "What's he muttering to himself all the time? Something about being carefree and at ease."

  Dong Zhaoqi turned around and instructed Su Xin: "From now on, whatever we eat, he will eat too. Is there a plucked hen?"

  Su Xin was also very indignant, feeling that he had disappointed everyone's good intentions.

  Ji Yong ended up staying at Fayuan Temple, and it's said that every day he would follow Master Tú Yìn to nearby temples such as Shengshou Temple, Shelisi Temple, Chongyin Temple, Hongji Temple, and even the large temple in Lingbi County next door, attracting all of their senior monks. Fayuan Temple became lively like a temple fair, and whatever dishes or meals the Dù family prepared had no effect on him.

  Could it be that this guy is really Master Yuantong?

  Dòu Zhāo couldn't help but think.

  Before he became a monk, he had to seduce the elder of the family to return to secular life. After he became a monk, he also wanted to seduce the emperor to become a monk, which really fits his character.

  I just don't know who made him leave home in his previous life?

  Or maybe she just didn't know.

  A guy like him who can cause so much trouble, I'm sure the Ji family will also keep his affairs under wraps!

  She received a letter from Chen Qu Shui.

  He wrote in his letter, but he was very clever since childhood, reading books with a glance, and no one in Yixing could match him. At a young age, he was known as a child prodigy. The Ji family had high hopes for him, so everyone from top to bottom spoiled him, and he grew up smoothly until today. If you say what's different about him from others, it's that he's particularly mischievous. Other kids might climb trees to dig out bird nests or go fishing in the river, but after reading "Shan Hai Jing", he wanted to climb Mount Tian Tai, after reading "Chu Shi Biao", he wanted to make wooden oxen and flowing horses, and after hearing the story of Xu Fu taking 500 boys and girls to Penglai to seek immortality, he practiced alchemy at home. Almost blew up the Ji family.

  He was only nine years old at that time.

  Mr. Ji was torn between beating him and not being able to bear it, scolding him but having no effect. He had no choice but to restrain his feet and make a three-point agreement with Ji Yong: as long as he could pass the imperial examination and become a scholar, he could do whatever he wanted afterwards. However, before passing the imperial examination, he had to stay at home reading books, writing characters, and studying, without going anywhere else.

  He readily agreed. After three years of hard work, he passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi. Although he was still arrogant, he had become more stable. Old Master Ji finally felt at ease letting him travel around with his guards and servants. The purpose was to let him experience the joys and sorrows of the mundane world, so that he could develop a compassionate heart...

  Do whatever you want!

  Dong Zhao couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat on his forehead.

  Does Mr. Ji really know what kind of promise he made to Ji Yong?

  ※※※※※

  The news of Song Mo using a miscellaneous five to defeat Dong Qi's double geese spread quickly throughout the capital.

  Jiang walked into Yizhitang when Song Mo was practicing archery.

  His body is like a green pine, his hands are like rocks, pulling out arrows, drawing bows, shooting arrows, with powerful and smooth movements, done in one breath.

  Jiang was taken aback and his eyes fell on the bow and arrow in his son's hand.

  The bow is black and shiny, with a simple and ancient style. It's hard to tell what material it's made of. The bow arm is wrapped with thick cow tendon, while the bowstring is as thin as hair, shining with a dull light. At first glance, you can tell that this bow is no ordinary product.

  "How did you bring out the Sun Shooter that your eldest uncle gave you?" Her gaze swept over the bow, as if she saw the face of her deceased brother, and her voice softened a bit. "You always said this bow was too eye-catching, didn't you?"

  Song Mo drew an arrow from the golden quiver and shot it into the target, hitting the bullseye with a "ding" sound. He then slowly lowered his bow and said softly, "This bow is more to my liking... I must ensure that it's in line with my heart's desire. Using this bow makes me feel more confident!"

  What is called "doing as one pleases"?

  Jiang was taken aback for a moment, just as she was about to ask more questions. She saw Song Mo had handed his bow to Chen Tao, who was standing by, and took a handkerchief from Chen He, wiping the sweat while saying: "How did you come here? Are you feeling better today?" Then he asked: "Where's Tian En? Didn't he say he would accompany you? Why isn't he here?"

  "What's so delicate about me?" said Jiang, "I was just overworked for a while. Now that I've taken Yang Yuyi's medicine and rested for these few days, I'm already better."

  Song Mo supported Jiang Shi and sat down beside the stone table under an old locust tree.

  "Tian En has gone to school." Jiang's family took over the tea handed over by her son, and smiled: "I'm not in any big trouble, I shouldn't delay Tian En's studies because of me, should I?" As she said this, she remembered the purpose of her trip and couldn't help but show a few hints of hesitation.

  Song Mo smiled and looked at her mother, patiently waiting for her mother to speak.

  Chiang pondered for a moment before speaking in a roundabout way: "I heard that when Zhang Zongyao succeeded as the young master, the Zhang family invited Guanglian Ban to perform an opera?"

  Song Mo burst out laughing and said straightforwardly, "Mother, you want to ask me about my gambling with Dong Qi, right? Don't worry, I know what's at stake." As he spoke, his smile gradually faded. "If I were to excel in both literature and martial arts, the world would praise me, but the Emperor would be so anxious that he wouldn't be able to eat or sleep; yet if I didn't take the initiative in anything, the Emperor would think I'm too cowardly. This middle path is indeed the most difficult thing in the world."

  Chiang was lost in thought.

  Song Mo sat beside him quietly drinking tea.

  The wind blows through the treetops, rustling softly.

  Song Mo's thoughts drifted a bit far away.

  He thought of what Chen He had told him a few days ago: "Mr. Chen is investigating Wang Xingyi, the governor of Yunnan."

  Wang Xingyi is the father of Dou Zhaoyi's stepmother. Why did he want to investigate Wang Xingyi?

  Shouldn't you go and investigate Zhao Ze properly?

  The moment the thought occurred to him, it was immediately suppressed by him.

  Friends are precious because of their mutual understanding; if one were to investigate Zuo's integrity, what would become of them then?

  But why is this idea so tempting?

  He drank a mouthful of tea with some unease, but somehow he was choked by the tea and coughed repeatedly.

  "Be careful." Jiang patted his son's back and said with a heavy heart, "You're practicing archery. Is it for the autumn hunt in a few days?"

  The emperor holds a hunting ceremony every autumn, and the aristocratic families will select sons over 15 years old to follow him. The emperor can also take this opportunity to test their riding and shooting skills in order to promote talents.

  Song Moks was born and sealed as a hereditary fourth-rank official just a few days later. He started participating in the spring and autumn hunting seasons before he even learned to walk, but it wasn't until the spring of his ninth year that he truly began participating in hunting and archery on horseback.

  He participated in the autumn hunt for the first time, and he came second in horse riding and fifth in archery. Among the sons of nobles, he ranked first. He was the youngest among all participants and achieved the best result among the sons of nobles in decades.

  The emperor was overjoyed and felt that the family of Marquis Xun had a worthy successor, so he rewarded him with a small estate of fifty mu of land.

  His popularity surpassed the top three.

  For the next two years he got first place.

  Taizong ordered: The emperor's uncle, Yu Wang, had drunk too much and mumbled in front of the emperor: "I think it's not suitable for the British Gong Shizi to participate in the horse shooting competition anymore, lest he undermine the morale of other sons."

  The emperor also drank a bit too much, and after listening to it, he burst out laughing, but took off the jade pendant of He Tianyu from his waist and threw it at Song Mo, saying: "Song Mo, keep them all firmly suppressed behind!" And loudly said to the kings, nobles and ministers present: "Who can surpass Song Mo? I will reward him with a deputy commander of the Golden Armor Guard."

  When his mother asked about it, Song Mo nodded and said in a low voice: "What the emperor really thinks of our family can only be known by trying!"

  Jiang listened and suddenly his eyes became moist: "It's all Mother's fault that you're implicated!" His tone carried a hint of suppressed sobs.

  "Mother, what are you talking about!" Song Mo hastily wrapped his arms around his mother's shoulders. "You only see my current difficulties, why don't you think about the glory that Eldest Uncle brought me when he was alive? Not to mention anything else, just this bow, and Fei Du, and the guards by my side..."

  Chiang felt greatly relieved in his heart.

  "Mother, you can't say such things anymore." Song Mo said softly to Jiang Shi, "With Third Uncle around, in at most ten years, the Jiang family will rise again. We should help our uncle and his family regain their spirit and return to court, not speak such disheartening words."

  Chiang nodded heavily, but tears couldn't help streaming down his face.

  ※※※※※

  After August 15th, the wind blowing on the body starts to feel cool.

  This autumn hunting ground is set in Huailai.

  When Song Mo and his men arrived, the Emperor's personal guards had already set up their camp.

  The crown prince walked over with a sniffle: "Tianci, how are you this year? Do you want me to help you find a better bow?"

  He is twelve years older than Song Mo, tall and thin, with a pair of thick eyebrows like the emperor's and a high nose. Every autumn, he sneezes constantly, and it gets even worse when he arrives at the hunting grounds. Autumn hunting is not fun for him, but rather a suffering.

  In Song Mo's eyes, his personality was a bit soft and gentle, like a teacher rather than a prince.

  Following the crown prince was his cousin, the 16-year-old heir of Huichangbo, Shen Qing.

  He teased Song Mo: "The deputy commander of the Golden Armor Guard is worth 50,000 taels of silver!"

  After the Emperor said "Whoever can defeat Song Mo will be rewarded with a Golden Armor Guard Deputy Commander", these people had joked privately, why not bribe Song Mo and let him lose to himself in the autumn assessment...

  Song Mo laughed and said: "Winning against me is easy, but there's more than one person on this arena!"

  Deep sorrow and disappointment.

  The prince chuckled and said to Song Mo, "Don't mind him, he's been racking his brains for days thinking of how to get a good ranking in the autumn assessment. If that ranking was so easily obtained, why would you guys spread rumors about 50,000 taels being spent on buying off Song Mo...?" Just as he was saying this, someone slowly walked over and respectfully paid homage to the prince: "Your Highness!"

  ※

  Supplementing yesterday's update, continuing today's extra chapter...~~~~~

  PS: Continue to ask for pink votes!

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