The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Song Qianyuan, dressed in a blue robe and gray sheepskin boots, stood with a group of young men from noble families of similar age, all of whom had very refined appearances.

Looking at the children of varying heights, builds, and qualities around him, Cheng Youning felt a surge of anger. He regretted coming to this street today.

Hong Yuncong stepped forward to clear a path for Cheng Youning, and was very rude to the people blocking their way, saying, "Make way, my brother-in-law is here!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Youning turned to run away. Everyone else turned to look at her and asked Hong Yuncong, "Who is your brother-in-law?"

"My brother-in-law is..." Fortunately, before Hong Yuncong could finish speaking, Qiao Rong covered his mouth, and the rest of Hong Yuncong's words turned into "woo woo woo".

At this moment, the crowd that was guessing the riddles had already turned around. The first person Song Qianyuan saw was Qiao Rong, and then Cheng Youning. Song Qianyuan quickly stepped forward, and just as he was about to bow, Cheng Youning used the fan in his hand to lift his arm, saying, "There's no need to be so formal on the street."

Song Qianyuan whispered, "Is the Crown Prince here to solve riddles?"

Cheng Youning, who was always idle, wanted to guess, but he was too flamboyant to be exposed in public any longer. He pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Just wandering around, getting some of the festive spirit of the Lantern Festival."

Cheng Youning would never say that he went to the street to buy lanterns and watch the excitement. Someone of his status should not appear on the street so rashly, and watching the excitement would be beneath his dignity.

Several people followed behind Song Qianyuan. They were with him and looked like they were out together to enjoy the lantern festival. They asked Song Qianyuan, "Qianyuan, who are they? Are they also students from the Imperial Academy? We've never seen them before."

Cheng Youning immediately recognized these people as students of the Imperial Academy. His teacher, Song Tingzhi, had petitioned the Emperor to establish the Academy to cultivate talent for the imperial court, and his great-uncle had readily agreed. The Academy had been open for several months now, and its students were outstanding students from various prefectures and counties. Song Qianyuan was one of them; he had worked hard to pass the county-level imperial examination and was now studying at the Imperial Academy.

Cheng Youning always looked down on Song Qianyuan. A mere scholar couldn't even catch his eye. He'd wait until this guy passed the imperial examination! So Cheng Youning's words were casual, as if he were mocking Song Qianyuan, "Scholar Song, are all these your classmates?!"

Song Qianyuan said modestly, "They are all new scholars who entered the imperial examinations at the same time as me last year, and they are all studying at the Imperial Academy now."

Cheng Youning inwardly scoffed. They were having a good time, always surrounded by a large group of people while he studied, whereas he only faced a few teachers every day, a dull and tedious existence. If he didn't find his own amusement, his life as the Crown Prince would be utterly boring.

For the first time, Cheng Youning didn't say much to Song Qianyuan. He turned around and left with his men, losing half of his interest in visiting the lantern festival.

He disbanded his small team a long time ago and went to the palace.

Looking at Cheng Youning's face, which showed no sign of smiling, Wan Lianxing asked him, "Isn't today the Lantern Festival? Didn't you go out to admire the lanterns, grandson?"

Cheng Youning said listlessly, "Going there was pointless."

The man left with a beaming smile, but returned sullen. Wan Lianxing immediately noticed something was wrong with the child. "Grandson, don't you love visiting lantern displays?" Wan Lianxing then observed that Cheng Youning wasn't carrying a single lantern. "Grandson, didn't you buy any lanterns?"

Given Cheng Youning's personality, he should have bought a whole row of them.

"If no one liked it, my grandson didn't sell it."

Wan Lianxing asked Qiao Rong, "Your Highness seems rather uninterested; has something happened?"

Qiao Rong reported truthfully: "Your Majesty, I didn't encounter any trouble, but I did meet a person, namely Song Qianyuan, the son of the Censor."

"Are you arguing again?"

"No, His Highness the Crown Prince simply finds him annoying."

"Song Qianyuan is currently studying at the Imperial Academy. I've heard that the boy is very diligent and is doing well in his studies." Wan Lianxing's words were full of admiration.

Cheng Youning got excited when he heard this. He was unconvinced. "Does being a mere scholar prove that he is good at studying? I would say that I am good at studying too."

"Why are you comparing your grandchildren to each other? They will all be pillars of society for me in the future, and you should cherish them."

Cheng Youning finally revealed her thoughts, "Grandpa, I also want to study at the Imperial Academy."

"Why do you still want to go to the Imperial Academy?"

Cheng Youning ran to Wan Lianxing's side and started shaking his arm. "Grandpa, I'm going to the Imperial Academy. I want to see who studies better."

Seeing Cheng Youning's stubborn look, Wan Lianxing shook his head inwardly, "There are always people better than you! Even if my grandson goes to the Imperial Academy, he can only be considered average."

Cheng Youning said angrily, "Whenever my grandson goes to school, my great-uncle always says I'm just okay or average. If that's the case, then my grandson won't go to school."

"you dare!"

"Then let me go to the Imperial Academy and compete with those people. I want to deflate their arrogance."

Wan Lianxing thought for a moment and reluctantly agreed, but warned, "It's not impossible for you to enter the Imperial Academy, but you must not act disrespectfully or like a prince inside. If your grandfather finds out that you are forming cliques and fighting in there, you will be severely punished."

Cheng Youning gave Wan Lianxing a quick kiss on the cheek, then cheekily squeezed down next to him and helped his great-uncle examine the lantern in front of him. "Little Yeye, this lantern is for my great-aunt, right?"

Wan Lianxing said with a smile, "My grandson has a good eye; he noticed that."

Cheng Youning laughed with disdain, "If I could see that, my grandson's eyesight must be terrible! Look at this red-eyed rabbit lantern, it's so lifelike. My great-grandmother looked just like this rabbit when she cried, her eyes were also red."

Wan Lianxing glanced at the doorway and threatened Cheng Youning, "If your little grandma hears this, she might punish you!"

Cheng Youning grinned, "My great-grandmother is kind to me, unlike my great-grandfather, who punishes his grandson all the time."

Wan Lianxing asked Cheng Youning, "Grandson, where are your parents? Why didn't they come to the palace with you?"

Cheng Youning complained, "What a coincidence! Cang Man had a son today, and my parents are drinking at Cang Man's house!"

Wan Lianxing stopped fiddling with the lantern. "Cang Man has had another son?"

Cheng Youning looked at her great-uncle and asked, "Is it strange? Don't most people have many sons and daughters? From what I heard Cang Man say, it seems like he won't stop until he has a daughter."

Wan Lianxing reached out and hugged Cheng Youning, rubbing his fingers on Cheng Youning's forearm. "Grandson, you must strive to be successful in the future and give your great-grandfather a few great-grandsons, so that the Wan family can hold its head high!"