The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Chapter 1750 Hong Jiutong's Pear Soup

She had long since severed ties with Liu Dalan, and she would not forgive him for the harm he had done to her just because he was dead.

……

On the soft couch in the Crown Prince's residence, Cheng Youning lay back with her legs crossed, looking extremely comfortable and relaxed. A little monkey sat on the couch, holding a fan and meticulously fanning Cheng Youning. Outside the couch sat Qiao Rong, holding a plate of grapes, occasionally feeding Cheng Youning a grape. Although the little monkey was fanning Cheng Youning, its round, mischievous eyes were always fixed on the plate of grapes. If it fanned well, Cheng Youning would reward it with a grape, and for the sake of its appetite, the little monkey fanned with extra effort.

Cheng Youning swung his legs and chatted with Qiao Rong beside him, "Qiao Rong, the autumn imperial examination is just around the corner. If I, the Crown Prince, were to participate, what do you think the result would be?" After saying this, Cheng Youning raised the corner of his eye slightly and glanced at the stern-faced Qiao Rong.

Qiao Rong's lips twitched. "Your Highness, I think you'd better stop making trouble. Your participation in the Autumn Examination doesn't count."

Qiao Rong actually wanted to say, "Your Highness, stop making trouble for no reason. What does the autumn examination have to do with you, the current crown prince?"

“How can it not count? If I, the Crown Prince, come out on top, I will be the top scholar. At that time, let’s see who dares to be arrogant with me.” Cheng Youning was unconvinced. Since he had chosen to take the exam, he had already decided to compete with those scholars.

"Your Highness, there's only one top spot on the list, it's not easy to get, you need to have real talent."

"Hey, you, Qiao Rong, how could you boost others' morale and diminish your master's prestige? If I, the Crown Prince, go to participate in the Autumn Examination, how could the top scorer possibly escape?"

Qiao Rong really didn't know where this person got his confidence from. He didn't want to expose Cheng Youning's secrets because he didn't want to be punished. "Your Highness, the Imperial Academy is full of talented people. Take Song Qianyuan, for example. The old teacher has praised him so many times, saying that he is the one who will be at the top of the list this time."

"That old man, the Master, has no vision at all. Looking across the entire Imperial Academy, who can read better than me, the Crown Prince? The other day, I showed my essay on governing the country to my great-uncle, and he praised it repeatedly and rewarded me with a bunch of good things. Doesn't that say it all?"

Qiao Rong said truthfully, "Your Highness, it's because the Emperor didn't see the other students' essays. If he had, the reward might not have fallen to you. So, I advise Your Highness not to participate in the autumn examination; going would only be asking for trouble."

"Hey! Qiao Rong, you're getting bolder and bolder, daring to belittle your own master."

“Your Highness, I’m not trying to belittle you. I’m just being honest and don’t want you to suffer. If you top the list, all the better. But if you only get the title of Juren, I think we should just let it go. We can’t give that Song Qianyuan the chance to get ahead.”

"How can you be so sure that the top spot must belong to Song Qianyuan? It can't be mine. I'll follow his path and then leave him with nowhere to go."

“Your Highness, that Sun Qianyuan is indeed not very pleasing to the eye, but that doesn’t mean he’s left with no way out! He puts in a lot of effort in his studies. While you were sitting here eating grapes, Song Qianyuan was studying. Although Your Highness is more intelligent and wise than anyone else, Your Highness has put in less effort in your studies than others. If the autumn examination proves who is better, Your Highness will be at a disadvantage.”

“That makes sense! Go and bring the book, I, the Crown Prince, will read it now.”

"Now?"

"Yes, I want to show you my determination to participate in the autumn imperial examination."

Qiao Rong glanced at the doorway and said softly, "Your Highness, Consort Hong has arrived!"

Hong Jiutong walked in slowly with his maid. "Your Highness, I've made some pear soup. Please try it."

Cheng Youning, showing some respect to Hong Jiutong, sat up and said, "Bring it up so I can try it!"

Qiao Rong put down the plate in her hand and brought Cheng Youning a bowl of pear soup.

Cheng Youning took a sip and then threw the spoon into the bowl, her eyes filled with disgust for the pear soup. "Haven't you ever had the pear soup that Sister Wu makes?"

Hong Jiutong's gaze fell on Cheng Youning with a more cautious look. She had already put in a lot of effort, and the pear soup was taught to her by Sister Wu; she had even tasted it herself. If it didn't taste good, she wouldn't have served it to the Crown Prince. "Your Highness, is the pear soup I made really that bad?"

Cheng Youning casually handed the bowl to the little monkey beside her. The little monkey's eyes lit up, and it threw aside the fan in its hand, picked up the bowl, and drank it down in big gulps.

"It's not that bad to drink, at least this little bastard can still drink it."

For a moment, Hong Jiutong was overwhelmed with shame and lowered her head: "Your Majesty, I will definitely do my best to make pear soup in the future."

"Don't bring this kind of thing to me again. Get out of here. I have state affairs to attend to." Cheng Youning was practically telling him not to appear in front of him again.

Hong Jiutong said awkwardly, "Yes, this concubine takes her leave!"

As soon as they stepped outside, Qiao Rong asked, "Was that pear soup really that bad?"

"You think the Crown Prince deliberately belittled her cooking skills? You don't believe me? Try it yourself!"

Qiao Rong didn't have a chance to taste it; the little monkey ate the whole bowl of pear soup, and is now licking the bowl clean with its little tongue!

After Hong Jiutong and her maid had walked away, Jingjing said indignantly, "Your Majesty, this Crown Prince is too arrogant. He was clearly humiliating Your Majesty just now."

Doesn't Hong Jiutong know? "Maybe my cooking skills are just too bad."

"In my opinion, he's just prejudiced against you, Your Highness. You've been in the palace for several months, and the Crown Prince has never taken the initiative to visit you in the courtyard. When you come to see him, he doesn't treat you well. He's not that old, why is he so difficult to deal with!"

"How could I not be prejudiced? I married into the family to bring good luck to the Prince Pang's household. Prince Pang passed away on our wedding day. The fact that the Prince's household didn't blame me for being a jinx is already a sign of leniency. It's not unreasonable for the Crown Prince to treat me this way."

"You can't blame yourself, Your Highness. It's just that Prince Pang's lifespan has come to an end. You can't blame anyone else!"

"That may be true, but people don't see it that way. I'm losing face in the Crown Prince's residence now, and all my father's efforts to secure this marriage opportunity for me before the Emperor have been in vain."

"Your Majesty, don't take everything upon yourself. It's that the Crown Prince who is ignorant and can't see how good Your Majesty is. Once he realizes how good Your Majesty is, he will definitely regret neglecting you like this."

“Jingjing, don’t try to comfort me. In the Crown Prince’s eyes, I’m not even as good as that little monkey. That little monkey can run around in front of the Crown Prince, and when the Crown Prince is happy, he even lets it play on the soft couch. I’ve gone to see the Crown Prince a few times, and he won’t even let me sit on a chair. He’ll kick me out as soon as we meet. What hope can I see in him?”

"Your Majesty, please do not despair. One day, Your Majesty will achieve your wish."