Yesterday, it had not been a coincidence. Princess Fuxi really was that clever!
But so what? She was only a princess!
After lessons that day, the Grand Tutor, as usual, assigned homework to several of the students. When it came to Rong Yao, he hesitated for a moment before asking, “Volume Two of The Juvenile’s Treasury of Knowledge. Can you memorize it by tomorrow?”
Rong Yao obediently nodded. “I can, sir.”
The Grand Tutor coughed into his hand. “Then tomorrow, you will recite Volume Two of The Juvenile’s Treasury of Knowledge, and complete ten pages of calligraphy practice as well.”
With that, the Grand Tutor left.
He walked rather briskly, as though he were hurrying off to find someone.
Rong Yao did not leave at once. Instead, she quickly took a drink of the tea Daoxiang handed her.
She had recited far too many books that day and was terribly thirsty. Even the pot of tea she had drunk during the break had not been enough.
Only after she had drunk her fill did Rong Yao rise to her feet and head outside, full of energy.
Princess Shengping had left long ago. She had looked thoroughly unhappy when she departed, while Rong Yao was in excellent spirits.
So she really was cleverer than Princess Shengping once she put her mind to it!
The Heir of Prince Guang and the Heir of Prince Rui had not left yet. The two boys came over and secretly slipped something into her hands. The moment Rong Yao saw what it was, her eyes flew wide.
They were crickets!
Both crickets were still alive and full of vigor.
The Heir of Prince Guang said, “I’ll give you this Cricket General if you tell me your secret for memorizing books.”
The Heir of Prince Rui added, “Mine is even more impressive. I’ll give it to you too. Will you tell me your secret as well?”
Rong Yao: “…”
Rong Yao looked blankly at the crickets, then at the books on the desk.
She lowered her head and pressed her lips together, looking a little dejected. “But I don’t have a secret. I’ve always been quick at memorizing things since I was little. I only need to read something a few times before I can remember it.”
The Heir of Prince Guang hurriedly took back his cricket.
The Heir of Prince Rui likewise hid his cricket away.
Both boys looked rather dejected.
Rong Yao felt that they needed comforting.
She racked her little brain, then raised her head and said sweetly, “But you’re both very good at other things.”
The Heir of Prince Guang and the Heir of Prince Rui looked up at the same time, gazing at Rong Yao expectantly.
Rong Yao pointed at the crickets. “I may be better than you at memorizing books, but if we were competing at playing with crickets, I certainly wouldn’t be able to beat you.”
The Heir of Prince Guang hugged his cricket tightly. “But Father says that’s the pursuit of idleness.”
The Heir of Prince Rui said, “My father has said that too.”
Rong Yao hesitated for a moment. Then she tapped her little head as she suddenly remembered something, and her eyes lit up.
“You’re both taller than I am, and your feet are bigger too. You must walk much more steadily than I do!”
The Heir of Prince Guang looked down at Rong Yao, then at himself. At once, he puffed out his chest.
The Heir of Prince Rui did the same.
Rong Yao continued, “In any case, the books say that everyone has strengths and weaknesses. If you really became me, you would also have to memorize an entire volume of The Juvenile’s Treasury of Knowledge in half a day.”
The Heir of Prince Guang’s eyes widened. He hurriedly shook his head and retreated several steps.
Memorize an entire volume of books? No! Absolutely not! He would die! Just thinking about it filled him with despair.
The Heir of Prince Rui quickly backed away with him and said earnestly, “Sister Fuxi is right! Since we memorize things more slowly, we shouldn’t have to memorize as much.”
The Heir of Prince Guang said, “Exactly! I don’t want to memorize an entire volume!”
As they spoke, the two boys ran off together.
Rong Yao smiled too. After taking another drink of tea to soothe her throat, she skipped out of Wenchang Academy.
Her mother had not come to pick her up today.
Now that Changle Palace had been restored, she and her mother would be moving there. There were still many things in Liangyi Hall that her mother needed to supervise the servants in moving.
“Princess, shall we go to Changle Palace or Liangyi Hall?” Daoxiang asked.
“Changle Palace! Let’s hurry and take a look.”
Daoxiang carried the trunk as she watched the princess run ahead happily. She called out with a smile, “Slow down, Princess!”
Compared with Liangyi Hall, Changle Palace was closer to Wenchang Academy. Before they had even reached it, they could already see palace maids and eunuchs bustling in and out, carrying things inside.
Rong Yao stepped over the threshold of Changle Palace with her short legs and gazed at every flower and blade of grass inside with bright, sparkling eyes.
Flowers had been planted all along the walls—flowers that could climb. Her mother had told her that in spring, purple blossoms would cover the entire palace.
A large tree stood in the middle, with a swing hanging from it.
On the far western side was a long pond, where tiny red fish swam about.
Rong Yao spotted her busy mother at once and ran over.
“Mother!”
Cui Huaiyin heard her daughter’s voice, stopped what she was doing, and turned around. Crouching down, she happily gathered her daughter into her arms.
“Yao Yao, did you enjoy yourself at Wenchang Academy today?”
Rong Yao nodded vigorously and excitedly told her mother all about what had happened at Wenchang Academy. “...The Grand Tutor praised me for making progress in my calligraphy. He also praised me for being clever.”
Cui Huaiyin rubbed her daughter’s chubby little cheeks and could not resist giving her a kiss. “To receive praise from the Grand Tutor—my Yao Yao is truly wonderful.”
Rong Yao’s cheeks flushed faintly. She tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “I want to see our new home!”
“Of course!”
Cui Huaiyin stood up with a smile and took her daughter by the hand, leading her into the main hall first.
The main hall was used to receive guests.
After passing the screen and heading west, they reached the sleeping quarters of the main hall, where Cui Huaiyin usually rested.
Afterward, Cui Huaiyin brought her daughter to the side hall.
The side hall was nearly as large as the main hall. Beside it was a desk and a set of bookshelves specially prepared for Rong Yao.
The bookshelves occupied almost the entire room. The windows faced south, offering a clear view of the wintersweet tree outside. A chaise longue had also been placed beside the window.
If reading made her tired, she could curl up on the chaise longue and ease her fatigue, or sit there and listen to the sound of the wind and rain.
The bedroom had been furnished beautifully as well. The raised bed was exquisitely made, with soft fabric spread beneath it.
Rong Yao’s eyes shone.
She rolled around on the bed.
Then she sat in the chair with its soft cushion. It fit her perfectly.
She liked the chaise longue even more. It was so comfortable to lie on.
And the two long rows of bookshelves were her favorite of all. One day, she would fill them completely!
...
After Grand Tutor Gao finished his duties, he did not leave the palace for home. Instead, he walked with his hands clasped behind his back toward the Wen Yuan Pavilion, where the emperor usually handled state affairs.
Wang Zhong, who was standing guard outside, was startled when he saw the old Grand Tutor.
He wondered why Grand Tutor Gao had come to see His Majesty.
After all, Grand Tutor Gao had once been the emperor’s teacher and had personally instructed him.
The emperor respected him immensely.
However, Grand Tutor Gao was not someone everyone wished to meet—especially the parents whose sons or daughters were studying under him.
Grand Tutor Gao was upright and impartial. He detested laziness and deceit among his students and could not tolerate them behaving improperly.
For instance, the previous year, the Heir of Prince Rui had failed to complete his assignments. Grand Tutor Gao had reprimanded him several times, and the Heir of Prince Rui had been so frightened that he burst into tears in class.
After lessons ended that day, Grand Tutor Gao had personally gone to Prince Rui’s residence and scolded Prince Rui for failing to teach his son properly. He had said that a noble heir who could not withstand even the slightest reprimand was less courageous than a young lady.
He had not only chastised the Heir of Prince Rui; he had reprimanded Prince Rui as well.
The incident quickly spread throughout the capital, and the Prince Rui household was mocked for quite some time.
And that was only one example.
More than a decade earlier, when the late emperor was still alive and Wenchang Academy had many more students, Grand Tutor Gao would often go directly to one family’s home for tea after lessons.
For a long time, the princes and ministers at court had all dreaded hearing the Grand Tutor speak—not even the late emperor had been spared.
Yet today, Grand Tutor Gao had actually come to the Wenyuan Pavilion of his own accord to see His Majesty.
Could it be that one of the two princesses had done something wrong and angered Grand Tutor Gao, prompting him to come and lodge a complaint?
No, it probably wasn’t Princess Shengping. She was diligent in her studies and clever and quick-witted, and Grand Tutor Gao often praised her. That left only Princess Fuxi, who had just entered the Wenchang Academy!
Wang Zhong wiped the sweat from his brow and cautiously stepped forward to ask, “What brings you here, Grand Tutor Gao? Has something happened at the Wenchang Academy?”
