There must be something wrong with me-Chapter 57 - 51 "Unstable Finger

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The surrounding palace maids saw the Emperor arriving, yet there was no call of ’His Majesty is coming’ or anything like that.

Instead, they preemptively made way, and if they couldn’t clear the path in time, they stepped to the sides, bowing to show respect.

Coincidentally, today in Changxiang Hall were only Zhang Feng and his mother, with no palace maids to report in advance.

Everyone stood at the bottom of the steps.

Inside the hall, Zhang Feng and the Empress were chatting about family matters, unaware that the Emperor had arrived.

Then, the Emperor strode into the hall and laughingly called out loudly, "Wan Shu!"

Wan Shu was the Empress’s nickname.

It’s typically what the Emperor calls her in private, an affectionate name between the couple.

The stairs outside are a bit distant, and those outside wouldn’t hear it.

It was only after the Emperor called out once and saw the familiar little chubby figure beside the Empress that his joyous expression turned calm,

"Oh, Feng’Er is here too."

"Father." Zhang Feng got up to pay his respects, looking at his casual father.

In his forties, sturdy build, decent features, neither handsome nor ugly, just like that.

At this moment, Zhang Feng looked at the Emperor.

The Emperor looked at Zhang Feng’s physique, and the more he looked, the more he got a headache.

Completely devoid of the joy of announcing ’Let the world rejoice in celebration’.

Without waiting for the Empress to smooth things over, the Emperor first spoke:

"Tomorrow you’re attending school at the Eastern Palace, are you prepared for the lessons?"

The Emperor approached Zhang Feng with full majesty,

"Nine years ago, Ning’Er was prepared, and Master Zheng praised him, ’Worthy of being the Eldest Prince, thorough in his affairs with the demeanor of Zhang Zu who once pacified the realm’.

Five years ago, Peng’Er was also prepared, and Master Zheng praised him, ’Elegant and knowledgeable, worthy of being the descendant of a talented beauty’.

So Feng’Er, are you prepared?"

Ning’Er was the Eldest Prince.

Peng’Er was the Fourth Prince.

They were both the Empress’s children.

Also Zhang Feng’s older brothers.

"No." Zhang Feng replied honestly.

Anyway, his casual father was already indifferent to him, so Zhang Feng didn’t bother to hide it.

"Feng’Er!" The Empress gently pinched Zhang Feng’s arm.

"Expected this of you!" The Emperor huffed in frustration and coldly said, "Return to the side hall, your mother and I have matters to discuss."

Matters meant adult matters.

Zhang Feng understood, so he didn’t interrupt, and got up to leave.

But before he reached the door.

Though the Emperor was looking at the Empress, he loudly said with his back to Zhang Feng, "Remember, don’t disgrace yourself before Master Zheng tomorrow."

The Emperor valued Master Zheng’s evaluation highly.

Because every Prince, Princess, and even children of high officials attending school at the Eastern Palace for a year would receive an evaluation from Master Zheng.

This had become a tradition of the Lin Dynasty.

Everyone was accustomed, so it was taken seriously.

...

The next day.

Early morning.

Under the arrangement of Eunuch Zhao, Zhang Feng was carried in a sedan chair to the Eastern Palace.

Along the way, Zhang Feng fell asleep.

Upon waking, he had already arrived at the academy.

Exiting the sedan chair.

Walking into the grand courtyard-style school.

Zhang Feng saw that it was a private school-like place.

The classroom was located in a large pavilion at the center of the courtyard, open on all sides, nearby were fake mountains and small lakes.

The scenery was particularly nice, making people feel refreshed sitting there.

At the moment, some young Princes and Princesses were running around playing. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Besides them, there were children of the Grand General and some high official descendants.

"Greetings Seventh Prince."

Upon seeing Zhang Feng entering the courtyard with the support of Eunuch Zhao, they also paid respects, showing proper etiquette.

"Old Seventh!"

"Seventh Brother!"

A few Princes and Princesses saw Zhang Feng, yet greeted him rather disinterestedly.

This wasn’t because Zhang Feng was too chubby and they disliked playing with him.

Instead, it was because Zhang Feng was focused on martial arts, never joining in play with them.

"Do you not see, the yellow river’s water coming down from heaven..." One Prince didn’t greet but recited poetry by the creek.

After all, it was the post-Tang Dynasty world, equipped with Li Bai’s verses.

’Rare sight, Xiaoqi left the hall?’ The older Princes, upon seeing Zhang Feng arrive, were evidently reluctant to greet him.

They felt Zhang Feng’s physique lost the royal dignity.

Zhang Feng didn’t mind, but instead strolled over to the classroom in the grand hall by himself.

Scanning it, he saw a wooden desk with the character ’Feng’ carved flamboyantly.

Zhang Feng knew it was his seat, then laid down to continue sleeping.

For future studies, Zhang Feng specially adjusted his schedule.

Now he’d practice late at night, then sleep more during the day.

Because classes took up most of the day.

As for Master Zheng, let the evaluation be poor in a year.

For an outsider’s evaluation and wasting a year of martial arts practice, it wasn’t worth it.

Perhaps once the Emperor was thoroughly disappointed, he could remain in Changxiang Palace in retreat, never needing to attend school again.

Meanwhile.

Master Zheng arrived from the backyard.

"Greetings, sir!" The other students hurriedly paid respects.

"Good." Master Zheng smiled and nodded.

He was in his early forties, gentle and refined.

But upon seeing Zhang Feng sleeping, Master Zheng was slightly displeased.

’Is he the Seventh Prince? Indeed, among the Princes, only he has such a build.’

He thought to himself as he quickly approached Zhang Feng.

"Seventh Prince." He called out.

Zhang Feng, hoping to be quickly ’encouraged to retire from studies’, feigned groggy and responded, "Good sir, just teach well, don’t mind me."

Having said that, Zhang Feng went back to sleep.

’This little prince?’ Master Zheng, seeing Zhang Feng’s round-faced sleepy appearance, lost a bit of anger and instead found it cute and amusing.

Thus.

He devised a plan from his heart, starting to lead the others in reading, intending to wake Zhang Feng.

But Zhang Feng folded his chunky arms over his head, sleeping even more soundly.

Seeing this, Master Zheng went from amused to slightly displeased again.

Thus.

He led reading while walking, and upon passing Zhang Feng, intended to push Zhang Feng’s arm down with slight force.

But as he pushed Zhang Feng’s arm, his hand seemed to slip and went astray.

Zhang Feng’s power was ever-changing, and he had long mastered the art of ’borrowing and redirecting force.’

Of course, this was also Zhang Feng’s instinctive reaction when he felt someone pushing him while he was asleep.

When Master Zheng gave a push, and noticed his hand slipping off, he suddenly paused for a moment.

Then, after a moment of thought, he stopped trying to wake Zhang Feng.

"Today, we’ll be studying the poetry of the Southern and Northern Dynasties." He began teaching, paying no further attention to Zhang Feng.

This indifference lasted for a year.

A year later.

Master Zheng still gave no evaluation of Zhang Feng.

When the news spread out.

Many people thought Zhang Feng was beyond hope, that even Master Zheng couldn’t describe him.

Some believed that Master Zheng dared not use harsh words to describe the Empress’s most doted son.

As for the Emperor, he was indifferent; he thought if there’s no evaluation, so be it—it avoids embarrassment.

The Empress, however, still loved Zhang Feng dearly.

...

Spring passed and autumn came.

In the blink of an eye.

Zhang Feng turned sixteen.

He remained as chubby as ever.

And he still went to the academy every day.

Then fell asleep as soon as he arrived.

"If a child doesn’t learn..."

Master Zheng continued teaching, completely ignoring Zhang Feng who lay asleep like a small mountain across the desk.

In ten years, Master Zheng hadn’t spoken a word to Zhang Feng.

And now.

The once young princes and princesses were almost as old as Zhang Feng.

But when they saw Zhang Feng like this, they either quietly laughed or snorted and shook their heads.

’The Seventh Imperial Brother clearly doesn’t want the position of Crown Prince.’

’Ha, this Zhang Feng is quite interesting.’

’The Eldest Prince and Fourth Prince both hold positions in the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites and have made achievements. But though they are all children of the Empress, why is the Seventh Imperial Brother like this?’

’Xiaoqi can’t be helped, even Master Zheng gave up on him, didn’t even bother to give him an assessment.’

Some despised Zhang Feng, while others thought it was better this way; at least there was one less competitor for the position of Crown Prince.

Zhang Feng was only thinking that once today’s last class was over, he would graduate.

Moreover, upon turning sixteen, a prince could move out of the palace.

Zhang Feng thought about it and felt quite pleased.

’Finally, I’ve endured through my youth, and now I have the ability to protect myself.

Afterward, the sky’s the limit.’

As Zhang Feng contemplated, he reflected on his past enhancements.

Last year, Zhang Feng acquired the enhancement he desired most, ’Broad Mind, Fat Constitution.’

[Broad Mind, Fat Constitution: Each pound of weight adds 0.02 to Constitution]

Currently weighing 350 pounds, ’Broad Mind, Fat Constitution’ gave Zhang Feng 7 points in Constitution.

Zhang Feng looked at his own attributes.

[Constitution: 49 (+7)]

Zhang Feng now had a Constitution of 56, surpassing the physical limits of the culinary world at the age of sixteen.

...

After pondering for a while, he would have lunch in the afternoon, then go back to the academy to sleep.

Unknowingly, it was already afternoon when classes dismissed.

"Teacher, I’ll be leaving now."

The princes, princesses, and officials’ children all bid farewell to Master Zheng.

Zhang Feng also stood up, just like them.

Except for the first day, Zhang Feng never missed the formalities of attending and leaving school.

But when everyone had gradually left.

Master Zheng called out, "Seventh Prince, please stay."

’Does the teacher have something for him?’ Those who had reached the door paused their steps, looked over, and whispered among themselves with schadenfreude:

"Master Zheng is a significant figure in the Lin Dynasty, being detained by him holds no good outcome. I think the Seventh Prince will surely suffer a reprimand."

"Indeed, indeed, the Seventh Prince muddled through ten years of schooling, and though Master Zheng seemed indifferent every day, he was inwardly holding a grudge, waiting to vent his complaint today."

"Yes, since the teacher-student relationship would end after the Seventh Prince graduates, if there’s anger in the heart, why not express it now."

"The Seventh Prince is in for it."

They chatted quietly, not daring to linger long, soon leaving to avoid being detained and reprimanded by Master Zheng themselves.

"Teacher." Zhang Feng approached with a calm demeanor, paid his respects, and glanced at Master Zheng.

Compared to ten years ago, Master Zheng’s temples had more gray hair.

"Seventh Prince." Master Zheng returned the courtesy, then gave Zhang Feng a rare smile, "Prince is sixteen this year, your stature has matured."

While speaking, Master Zheng took out a scroll of manuscript labeled ’Unstable Finger’ from his robe.

’A cultivation technique?’ Zhang Feng, puzzled, asked, "Teacher teaches literature, why take out martial arts techniques from the Jianghu?"

"Haha!" Master Zheng laughed and shook his head, retorted, "You came to study literature, yet why are you practicing martial arts?"

"Has Teacher noticed?" Zhang Feng was genuinely surprised and scrutinized Master Zheng, finding him loose and unpracticed in martial arts.

"Don’t look, I’m just a humble scholar." Master Zheng pushed the cultivation technique towards Zhang Feng, "But seeing the Seventh Prince has a mind for martial arts, and this technique suits you.

The Seventh Prince’s body has matured, try practicing ’Qi Blood Strength.’

Zhang Feng, having spent sixteen years in this world, understood there was a mystical form of training known as ’Qi Blood Strength.’

It’s actually similar to Inner Strength, both involve ’Qi.’

But Qi Blood Strength produces ’Powerful Qi’ through the body.

The stronger the body, the greater the strength.

Zhang Feng hadn’t seen these, because such outlawed cultivation techniques had long been forbidden.

They weren’t in the National Treasury either.

At least not openly.

Zhang Feng had always been unable to locate them.

So Zhang Feng planned to leave the palace and look for them in the Jianghu.

But unexpectedly, Master Zheng had them.

"Private possession of prohibited books?" Zhang Feng looked at the book, then at Master Zheng, "Teacher is knowingly breaking the law, aren’t you afraid I’ll report you?"

"Compared to being imprisoned..." Master Zheng’s smile remained as he pointed to the manual, "I fear more that this fine steed might not meet its true connoisseur—now that would be my lifelong regret."

As he spoke, he stood up and glanced around the surroundings,

"In fact, ten years ago, upon first meeting the Seventh Prince, I had already written an evaluation.

Even astonished at the Seventh Prince’s tender age, to hone power to such perfection?

Such a prodigy is hard to find in any era.

And to this day, the evaluation suits the Seventh Prince even more.

Yet I’m at a loss whether this evaluation should be spoken to the outside world.

Or should it be left for the Seventh Prince to decide?"

"What kind of evaluation?" Zhang Feng curiously asked Master Zheng.

Master Zheng then let out a hearty laugh as he walked out of the courtyard,

"The evaluation I gave the Seventh Prince is..."

He chanted:

"On a day the Great Roc rises with the wind, soaring up to ninety thousand miles."