He stood there for a long while. It was only when someone arrived that he turned and left, returning to the Southern Third Residence.
…
It was just after dawn.
Rongyao and Wu Wanning walked hand in hand toward Wenchang Academy.
The moment they stepped over the academy’s threshold, they saw a tall boy standing stiffly beside the door, motionless as a guard.
Rongyao’s eyes widened as she tilted her head back to stare at him.
“Gu Shen’an?”
The icy look on Gu Shen’an’s face instantly melted away. A smile touched the corners of his lips, and his dark eyes seemed to hold the light of dawn. He took a small step forward, bent at the waist, and respectfully bowed.
“Greetings, Princess.”
Rongyao stared at Gu Shen’an’s lowered head and unconsciously took a step back.
“Princess! Let’s hurry inside!” Wu Wanning exclaimed excitedly, tugging at Rongyao’s hand.
Rongyao nodded. After giving Gu Shen’an one more glance, she followed Wu Wanning into Wenchang Academy.
Only after the two girls had left did Gu Shen’an raise his head. His gaze lingered on their retreating figures, his obsidian eyes fixed intently on their clasped hands as his expression gradually darkened.
He waited until the girls had disappeared completely before finally lifting his feet and following them inside.
Within the lecture hall, new desks and chairs had been added beside each prince and princess. These were the seats for their study companions.
Before long, the Grand Tutor arrived at an unhurried pace.
First, he paid his respects to the princes and princesses. Then all the students rose together to greet him.
The Grand Tutor questioned each of the study companions about their progress.
He began with Wu Wanning, the study companion of the Eldest Princess, Rongyao.
Wu Wanning stood alone, answering the Grand Tutor’s questions.
The Grand Tutor asked, “How old are you?”
“Seven,” Wu Wanning replied.
“What books have you read?”
Wu Wanning clenched her hands into small fists and raised her head.
“I—I only know a few characters.”
The Grand Tutor frowned. He tapped his ruler against his palm and said sternly, “To be chosen by Princess Fuxi as her study companion is your good fortune. From now on, you must study diligently. You must never neglect the Eldest Princess’s studies by wasting your time playing!”
Seeing that the Grand Tutor had neither scolded nor punished her, Wu Wanning happily bowed to him.
“This student will remember your words.”
Seeing that Wu Wanning had a decent attitude, the Grand Tutor said no more, though he could not help grumbling inwardly.
Why had His Majesty not chosen a study companion who was good at learning for Princess Fuxi? Why choose Wu Wanning, a seven-year-old who knew only a few characters? If she held back the Eldest Princess, he would certainly submit a memorial to His Majesty and request that Princess Fuxi be given a different study companion!
Ah, well. He would observe the girl for a few days first. At least she was sturdy.
Next came the study companion of Princess Shengping. Princess Shengping had chosen Li Xiangyu, the niece of the Empress’s maternal family.
The Grand Tutor asked Li Xiangyu the same questions.
Compared with Wu Wanning, Li Xiangyu was indeed far more accomplished. She had read many books, and the Grand Tutor was highly satisfied with her answers. He told her to sit down.
Then it was the Third Prince, Dantai Chang’s, turn. The grandson of the Minister of Personnel, who served as his study companion, was questioned next.
His name was Feng Qinzhi, and he was six years old.
Feng Qinzhi had also read quite a few books. He had even been praised as a child prodigy. The Grand Tutor had heard of his reputation, so he specifically asked him to recite a difficult poem.
Feng Qinzhi recited it with ease.
The Grand Tutor praised him with satisfaction and told him to sit down. He then turned his attention to Gu Shen’an, the study companion beside the Fourth Prince.
The first thing the Grand Tutor had noticed upon arriving that morning was this tallest and oldest boy.
When he had received the roster the previous day, he had been startled.
The Empress had not chosen the fifth son of the Duke of State-Protecting’s household, but the fourth son instead.
Gu Shen’an was already nine years old—the oldest among all of them—and he had been assigned to accompany the three-year-old Fourth Prince. It was truly difficult to understand.
The Fourth Prince had only just begun his studies and knew nothing, while Gu Shen’an was already nine and, according to rumor, quite accomplished in his learning. Was the Empress not afraid that following the Fourth Prince would delay his education?
Then again, having an older study companion in Wenchang Academy might not be a bad thing. Perhaps he could even inspire the Eldest Princess to work harder!
The Grand Tutor coughed and looked at Gu Shen’an, signaling for him to sit down.
After that, he questioned Zhang Xianyu, the young master of the Duke of Loyal Service’s household and the Fifth Prince’s study companion.
Zhang Xianyu answered with his head held high. Compared with the others, he was less fearful and more excited.
“I’m six years old!”
“I’ve read the Thousand Character Classic.”
“Rest assured, Grand Tutor! This student will certainly study hard!”
After saying all this excitedly, Zhang Xianyu secretly turned around to glance toward Princess Fuxi.
The Grand Tutor said, “Do not look around!”
“Yes!” Zhang Xianyu replied.
Grinning from ear to ear, he sat back down.
After checking the foundations of each student, the Grand Tutor had the princes and princesses recite the lessons he had assigned the day before.
He began with the princes, whose assignments were less demanding. The three princes had been given the same task: to memorize an essay.
The Third Prince went first. He had clearly prepared in advance and began reciting at once. Although he stumbled a little toward the end, he managed to recite every word correctly.
Next was the Fourth Prince. He recited the passage even more smoothly than the Third Prince, and the Grand Tutor called him back to his seat with satisfaction.
Finally, it was the Fifth Prince’s turn. He had recited only two or three lines before lowering his head in embarrassment.
The Grand Tutor’s face filled with anger.
“When a prince fails to study diligently, his study companion shall be punished. Zhang Xianyu, stand for one hour!”
Zhang Xianyu looked utterly bewildered. He had no idea what had happened, but when the Grand Tutor told him to stand, he immediately rose.
Oh, right! His grandfather had told him that if the Fifth Prince made a mistake, he was to accept the punishment on the prince’s behalf.
Since the Fifth Prince had failed to memorize his lesson, Zhang Xianyu had to stand in his place.
But after Zhang Xianyu stood up, the Fifth Prince rose as well, his face flushed with shame.
The Grand Tutor pretended not to see. In any case, he had not punished the prince. The Fifth Prince had chosen to stand up on his own.
After the three princes had finished reciting, it was the two princesses’ turn. The Grand Tutor had Princess Shengping go first.
Princess Shengping calmly recited a lengthy passage.
Li Xiangyu, Feng Qinzhi, and the other study companions all looked at Princess Shengping in astonishment. Clearly, they were impressed by her abilities.
Finally, it was Princess Fuxi’s turn.
Rongyao rose and began reciting the volume of Matching Rhymes for Enlightenment that the Grand Tutor had assigned her the previous day.
“First Tone: Heaven pairs with earth, rain pairs with wind. The great land pairs with the vast sky. Mountain flowers pair with sea trees; the blazing sun pairs with the firmament. Thunder rumbles faintly, mist hangs hazy. The setting sun pairs with the sky’s center. High winds and autumn moon shine white; after the rain, evening clouds glow red. The Cowherd and Weaver Girl stars lie on either side of the Milky Way; the Shen and Shang constellations shine in the east and west. In the tenth month, frost sweeps across the frontier, startling the guards stationed there; in the third winter month, endless snow drifts over the river, chilling the old fisherman…”
Her clear, childish voice echoed through the hall.
Princess Fuxi recited for a full half-hour before finishing the first volume of Matching Rhymes for Enlightenment.
The entire hall fell silent.
The study companions stared at Princess Fuxi in shock.
Feng Qinzhi quietly asked the Third Prince, Dantai Chang, “How long did the Eldest Princess recite?”
Dantai Chang answered honestly, “This was the assignment the Grand Tutor gave us after class yesterday.”
Feng Qinzhi’s eyes widened.
“She memorized an entire volume of Matching Rhymes for Enlightenment in just one day?”
Dantai Chang lowered his voice.
“My Eldest Sister has always been the cleverest.”
For the first time, Gu Shen’an’s previously expressionless face stiffened.
His dark eyes fixed directly on the little girl, who stood there calmly, every word clear and precise. His gaze held both scrutiny and confirmation.
She was very clever…
