Gu Shen’an let out a relieved laugh. “That’s good, then. Fourth Prince, be more careful when you’re walking around in the future.”
Fourth Prince Dantai Yi said, “Oh, oh! Thank you.”
The Empress had already hurried over and pulled Fourth Prince into her arms, asking whether he had been hurt.
Seeing that her son was unharmed, she looked gratefully at Gu Shen’an and asked tentatively, “You are… the son of the Duke of Zhen?”
Gu Shen’an respectfully saluted the Empress. “Yes. My father is Gu Fuzhou.”
The Empress looked Gu Shen’an up and down with satisfaction. “May I ask how old you are?”
Gu Shen’an replied, “Nine.”
The Empress nodded. “Nine. A little older than I expected, but you are respectful and well-mannered, and you possess considerable martial skill. That is quite rare. Would you be willing to become Fourth Prince’s study companion?”
Gu Shen’an answered solemnly, “It would be my honor!”
The Empress smiled at her son, Dantai Yi. “Yi’er, would you like this young gentleman to become your study companion?”
Dantai Yi glanced at Gu Shen’an and obediently nodded. “Yes, I would.”
The Empress smiled and took Dantai Yi’s hand. “Then it is settled.”
Nearby, Duchess Lin Xian watched her son achieve his aim. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her pounding heart.
Why did she feel that Fourth Prince’s near fall just now had something to do with her good-for-nothing son?
No, it was a coincidence. It had to be a coincidence…
Her fourth son had always been upright and honest. He could not possibly have so many schemes in his head. It had all been a coincidence.
Across from them, Rongyao, who had been watching the scene, widened her eyes in disbelief. She looked at Gu Shen’an, then at her fourth younger brother.
Gu Shen’an had become her fourth imperial brother’s study companion. From now on, he would also live in the palace. Would he attend lessons with her under the Grand Tutor?
How strange.
Qi Shen would be studying alongside her…
Now, only Third Prince Dantai Chang had yet to choose his study companion.
The third prince looked somewhat lost, occasionally glancing at Princess Shengping above him.
Clearly, compared with his newly acknowledged mother, Lady Yin, he depended more on Princess Shengping.
However, Princess Shengping showed no expression and had no intention of helping Third Prince Dantai Chang make a decision.
Dantai Chang looked around disappointedly on his own and finally selected a young boy.
He was the son of the Minister of Revenue, named Feng Qinzhi.
All the princes and princesses had chosen their study companions, and the families who had not wanted their children selected finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Even the consorts seated above relaxed somewhat.
Cui Huaiyin also raised a smile and glanced at the woman nearby who had brought her nephew.
Her father was a fifth-rank official now, so naturally he had been able to bring a child from the family along.
The Empress’s prepared list had included her mother, so even if her mother had not wanted to come, she had been required to attend. Today, she could only bring one of the family’s nephews.
A few days ago, she had sent a letter home. None of her several elder brothers wanted their children to enter the palace as study companions. For one thing, they were reluctant to part with them. For another, if a child from the family became the companion of one of the princes, there would likely be entanglements in the future.
Fortunately, no one had been chosen.
With all the princes and princesses having selected their study companions, the main event of the banquet was considered over.
After some more idle conversation, everyone dispersed.
Some of the consorts’ relatives were able to use the opportunity to reunite with their families for a while.
The same was true in the Palace of Eternal Joy.
Noble Consort Cui’s mother and nephew had come. Noble Consort Cui and Princess Fuxi closed the doors and chatted with them for quite some time.
Before leaving, Princess Fuxi clung to the legs of the principal lady of the Cui family, unwilling to let go.
It was only when the palace gates were about to close that Noble Consort Cui finally saw off Madam Cui and her nephew.
…
The Duke of Zhen’s residence.
“What did you say? That good-for-nothing was chosen?” The Duke of Zhen abruptly rose from his chair and stared at Duchess Lin Xian in disbelief.
Lin Xian said, “That’s right. Your son is quite something. The Empress took a liking to him and selected him as Fourth Prince’s study companion.”
The Duke of Zhen looked at the young boy standing nearby and frowned. “What did you do?”
Gu Shen’an lifted his eyes to look at his father. “I did nothing.”
The Duke of Zhen walked up to Gu Shen’an and looked down at the son who did not fear him in the slightest. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Do you know that by becoming Fourth Prince’s study companion, our Duke of Zhen’s residence will have ties to Fourth Prince from now on…”
“The Duke of Zhen’s residence is the Duke of Zhen’s residence. No matter how far into the future it is, it will still be the Duke of Zhen’s residence. It has nothing to do with Fourth Prince.”
The Duke of Zhen stared straight at the boy before him, as though he wanted to see through him. Yet after observing him for a long while, he still could not detect anything unusual on his face.
“It had better be that way. Our entire household was saved by Noble Consort Cui and Grand Princess Fuxi. From now on, even if you are going to help someone, you must know how to repay a debt of gratitude. Help Noble Consort Cui and Grand Princess Fuxi. If you become greedy for wealth and honor and turn against the mother and daughter, then I, Gu Fuzhou, will consider myself to have no son like you!”
Gu Shen’an lowered his head, concealing the thoughts in his eyes. “I swear that in this life, I will never do anything to harm Princess Fuxi or Noble Consort Cui. After entering the palace, I will protect Princess Fuxi in secret.”
The Duke of Zhen, Gu Fuzhou, relaxed when he heard this. He felt that his son had finally said something sensible.
Perhaps going to Fourth Prince’s residence as a study companion was not entirely without benefit. At the very least, it would allow the boy to protect Princess Fuxi.
He could repay at least part of the debt this way.
“Fortunately, you’re not completely useless. Since this matter has already been decided, there is nothing more I can say. This was your choice. Whether you are punished in the palace or suffer grievances, you must endure them!”
Gu Shen’an replied, “I understand.”
The Duke of Zhen waved his hand irritably. “You may leave.”
Gu Shen’an said, “Your son takes his leave.”
After Gu Shen’an departed, the Duke of Zhen still wore a grim expression. He urgently asked his wife, “Quickly, tell me what happened in the palace. How exactly was that boy chosen?”
…
There were still three days before the study companions were to enter the palace.
The study companions could live together with the princes and princesses.
The princesses all lived in their mothers’ palaces.
Great Zhou had a rule: once the princes began their formal education, they had to move out of their birth mothers’ palaces and live together in the Southern Three Residences. The Southern Three Residences were considerably closer to Wenchang Academy.
None of the princes had yet reached the age for formal schooling when they entered Wenchang Academy, so the matter of moving out had never been raised, since they were all still young.
Now that they had study companions, it was no longer convenient for them to continue living beside their mothers, and they had no choice but to move.
That very day, the Empress first moved her own son, Fourth Prince, to the Southern Three Residences.
Afterward, Lady Yin sent Third Prince Dantai Chang to the Southern Three Residences as well.
Consort Liu was clearly reluctant to part with her son. She had even gone specially to ask the Emperor to issue an edict allowing him to remain by her side.
Unfortunately, the Emperor would not make an exception for Consort Liu.
In the end, Consort Liu sent her son, Dantai You, to the Southern Three Residences with tears in her eyes.
Now that all the princes lived in the Southern Three Residences, the place had become considerably livelier.
Even the Empress and Consort Liu often went to visit them. These past few days, neither of them had missed a single day.
Before long, the third day arrived.
The study companions of the princes and princesses entered the palace.
Rongyao looked at Wu Wanning, who was carrying an enormous bundle on her back, her eyes filled with admiration.
Cui Huaiyin was equally shocked. She never would have imagined that the study companion chosen by her daughter could possess such strength at such a young age.
She hurriedly called Daoxiang over to take Wu Wanning’s bundle. Unexpectedly, Daoxiang trembled as she held it, her hands shaking.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, I can’t hold it!”
