The eight-year-old boy was being led by a noblewoman. The woman was none other than Consort Guang, whom they had met at the banquet last time.
Prince Guang was the Emperor’s younger brother by the same mother, and the Emperor was exceedingly fond of him.
Clearly, Consort Guang had heard the exchange between the two girls just now. Her expression was tinged with displeasure.
Consort Guang first greeted Cui Huaiyin and the others before speaking.
“Princess Shengping, even if you are well-read, you should not speak ill of others behind their backs. My son may not be as gifted at his studies as you are, but he has understood propriety and observed proper conduct since childhood. He has never bullied others by relying on his status.”
Princess Shengping stiffened, her eyes reddening slightly as she looked at Consort Guang. “Did Imperial Aunt truly hear me speaking ill of someone? In the past, Imperial Aunt would smile whenever she saw me. When you asked me to teach my cousin to read, I held nothing back. Now that my mother has been reduced to a commoner, does Imperial Aunt look down on Shengping as well?”
Consort Guang was left speechless. A trace of guilt flickered in her eyes. “I... I do not.”
Princess Shengping did not look at Consort Guang again. She merely wiped away her tears, then turned stubbornly toward Cui Huaiyin and Fuxi.
“Consort Cui, Shengping only wanted to help my elder sister. She used to live outside the palace and likely has not had much schooling. The Grand Tutor will surely reprimand her. I only wished to help her, but I never expected Consort Cui to misunderstand me. It is all Shengping’s fault.”
Cui Huaiyin clenched her hands. Princess Shengping was truly no simple child—far cleverer than Chen Yunxiang! To think that a six-year-old could say such things.
No wonder everyone in the palace said Princess Shengping was intelligent.
“Have you read a great many books?” Princess Fuxi, standing beside Consort Cui, suddenly asked in a childish voice.
Princess Shengping paused, staring at Princess Fuxi, whom she had never considered worth her notice. “I... I am still young. I have only read a few books—not very many.”
Fuxi lowered her head and counted on her fingers. Then she looked up at Princess Shengping with a puzzled expression.
“Only a few books? Then surely the books you have read are fewer than those the Grand Tutor has read. Why should I ask you for help instead of seeking the Grand Tutor’s guidance? Besides, you have only read a few books...”
Princess Shengping’s eyes widened. Her entire body went rigid as she stared at Fuxi. After a long while, she lowered her head and said, “Elder Sister, are you humiliating me? I do not know...”
“Princess Shengping, you misheard. How could Fuxi possibly humiliate you? Do not overthink it.” Seeing that Shengping was about to continue, Cui Huaiyin smiled and cut her off. Taking her daughter’s hand, she stepped through the gates of the Wenchang Academy and said casually, “It is time. Hurry inside.”
Ignoring Princess Shengping’s unpleasant expression, Cui Huaiyin personally escorted her daughter into the Wenchang Academy. Even after Fuxi had found her seat, Cui Huaiyin remained uneasy. She even wanted to stay and watch over her daughter until classes ended.
Consort Guang spoke up. “Consort Cui, we should leave quickly. If the Grand Tutor arrives and sees us here, he may reprimand us for indulging the children—and the children inside may be punished as well.”
Cui Huaiyin’s heart gave a jolt, and she quickly stepped back several paces.
After taking one last look at her daughter, she left together with Consort Guang.
On the way, Consort Guang asked, “Your Highness, may I ask whether Princess Fuxi has read any books?”
Cui Huaiyin answered truthfully, “She has read a few. My daughter is doing fairly well in her studies.”
Consort Guang merely smiled. “Even if she is exceptionally bright, I’m afraid she’ll still be overshadowed by Princess Shengping. Princess Shengping is no ordinary child; no other young student can compare with her. She became intelligent at an unusually young age and excels at everything. The Academy’s instructors—whether they are reading tutors, lecturers, or calligraphy tutors—hold these children to very high standards. They assign so much schoolwork every day that it can never all be completed. My daughter cries every day after she comes home.”
“You’d better be careful. I’m afraid Princess Fuxi will be crying her eyes out after class today.”
Concern flickered through Cui Huaiyin’s eyes.
After hearing Consort Guang’s account, she truly felt uncertain.
Rong Yao had been exceptionally gifted since childhood. She had learned to read and write earlier than other children and was remarkably clever for her age, never having lost to anyone before.
But if she truly lost to Princess Shengping this time and was humiliated in front of everyone, Cui Huaiyin feared that her daughter would be heartbroken.
After all, she was still only a child. She had never lost before; if she suddenly did so, how could she possibly take it well?
Cui Huaiyin glanced back anxiously at Wenchang Academy. When she saw the Grand Tutor arriving in his official robes, she hurried away.
Meanwhile, inside Wenchang Academy…
When the appointed hour arrived, the elderly Grand Tutor entered the classroom at an unhurried pace.
He stood at the front and swept his gaze over the several children in the room. First, he saluted the two princesses seated at the front, then gave Rong Yao a particularly thorough look before returning to the lectern and letting out a soft, pointed snort.
Everyone in the classroom, including the two princesses, rose to their feet. With their hands folded before them, they greeted the Grand Tutor.
“Sit,” said the Grand Tutor.
The students promptly sat down.
Rong Yao was among them, sitting properly and making no mistake.
After they had exchanged greetings, the Grand Tutor once again turned his gaze to Rong Yao and asked, “Are you Princess Fuxi?”
Rong Yao rose to her feet and looked up at the Grand Tutor curiously. “This student is Fuxi.”
“Princess Fuxi, today is your first day at Wenchang Academy. Since I must teach according to each student’s aptitude, I need to know what books you have studied before so that I may properly instruct you. Can you read?”
“Grand Tutor, Fuxi can read,” Rong Yao replied honestly.
The Grand Tutor nodded in satisfaction and asked in a somewhat gentler tone, “For children outside the capital, beginning their studies at seven or eight is already considered early. It is very good that you can read. However, in the imperial family, merely knowing a few characters is not enough. Have you finished reading the *Thousand Character Classic*?”
The corners of Rong Yao’s lips lifted. “This student has read it.”
“Oh? What about the *Primer for Young Learners*?”
“This student has read that as well.”
The Grand Tutor seemed surprised. He immediately followed up with another question. “What about the *Three Thousand Poems* and the *Hundred Family Surnames*?”
Rong Yao nodded. “I’ve read them.”
The Grand Tutor was utterly astonished. He gazed at Princess Fuxi, who appeared much shorter than Princess Shengping.
A few days earlier, he had heard that His Majesty had found the Eldest Princess, who had been lost among the common people, and bestowed upon her the title of Princess Fuxi. Since Princess Fuxi was at the age when children ordinarily began their studies, she would certainly come to Wenchang Academy to attend his lessons.
Although he was curious about Princess Fuxi, he knew that a princess found among the common people would likely have received no formal education. So today, he had deliberately brought along some introductory books, intending to begin her education himself.
Who would have thought that, when he asked, Princess Fuxi had already received an education and had even read many books?
He had yet to teach *The Three Thousand Poems* to the ever-brilliant Princess Shengping, yet Princess Fuxi had already read it!
“Elder Sister, the Grand Tutor is asking you a question. You must answer truthfully and not deceive him. If Father finds out, he will surely punish you,” Princess Shengping called out from the side.
