Zhang Xianyu cried out in astonishment, “That’s amazing!”
“Silence!” the Grand Tutor said sternly, pretending to be imposing. He cleared his throat, then looked at Rongyao with a face full of satisfaction. “Very good. Tomorrow, you shall memorize the second volume of Li Weng’s Rhyming Anthology.”
Rongyao replied, “Yes, Grand Tutor.”
After testing several of the students on the passages they had memorized the previous day and assigning each of them a task for tomorrow, the Grand Tutor went to the rear hall and left the attendants to teach the young scholars.
The attendant who served as their reader led them through the Four Books three times, followed by three readings of the historical texts.
At the hour of the Snake, the new lecturer began explaining the meaning of the articles.
Afterward, the calligraphy attendant instructed them in brushwork.
During the lesson, the Fourth Prince fell asleep again. The calligraphy attendant caught him and punished Gu Shen’an by making him stand.
The Fourth Prince, Dantai Yi, felt terribly ashamed. His eyes reddened, and he nearly burst into tears.
Rongyao glanced at Gu Shen’an, who was standing in punishment. Seeing that he did not seem bothered, she decided there was nothing wrong with it either.
Qi Shen had stood all day long in the past. There was nothing wrong with standing—it even gave one’s bottom a chance to rest.
After lunch, there were no more lessons.
That was when Rongyao was most free. Wu Wanning had been punished with copying texts and had no time to play with her, so Rongyao slipped away to Wenyuan Pavilion once again to look for her Imperial Father.
Today, at Wenchang Academy, she had heard the lecturer say that once the princes reached five or six years of age, they could begin learning horseback riding, archery, and martial arts. She was also Imperial Father’s child, and she was already six years old. She could learn too.
Imperial Father was probably simply too busy and had forgotten about it. She needed to remind him.
On the way, Rongyao ran into General Guo and his patrol. She greeted him excitedly, and when General Guo and the others saw her, they all stopped and bowed.
“Where is Her Highness the Grand Princess going?”
Rongyao tilted her head back and answered seriously, “I’m going to find Imperial Father!”
“His Majesty is at Wenyuan Pavilion,” General Guo said. “This subject will escort Her Highness the Grand Princess there.”
“Wonderful!”
Along the way, Rongyao asked General Guo when he had begun learning martial arts, whether it had been tiring, and all sorts of other questions.
General Guo wiped the sweat from his brow. Daring not to conceal anything, he answered each question carefully. “This subject was born into a family of martial artists. I began learning martial arts as soon as I was old enough to remember. I can shoot arrows, wield a saber, and…”
Rongyao’s eyes gleamed. “I see! This Princess understands now.”
As they spoke, they arrived at Wenyuan Pavilion. After bidding General Guo farewell, Rongyao marched across the threshold on her short little legs.
Her Imperial Father was reviewing memorials. The moment he heard her voice, he discovered that his daughter had arrived. He immediately set aside the memorials, picked her up, and placed her beside him on the dragon throne. Then he pinched her rosy little cheek.
“Imperial Father thought that now you have a companion, you would no longer have time to come see me.”
“That’s not true!” Rongyao protested. “Yaoyao likes keeping Imperial Father company best!”
Hearing his daughter say that she liked being with him most, Dantai Ji’s heart filled with warmth, and his face broke into a broad smile.
He affectionately asked how her day at the academy had gone and what she had experienced.
Rongyao carefully told her Imperial Father about everything that had happened at Wenchang Academy, including Feng Qinzhì being punished and Gu Shen’an being punished. In short, she recounted everything she had found interesting.
As Dantai Ji listened to his daughter, the smile never left his face. He even found himself recalling his own childhood.
Back then, he too had been the Grand Tutor’s favorite student—and the cleverest one at that.
But his daughter was even more remarkable than he had been. She was even smarter!
“Imperial Father, today the lecturer said that princes can begin learning martial arts once they are five or six years old. They have martial arts instructors, but Yaoyao is five or six years old too. Why don’t I have one?”
Dantai Ji was stunned. Looking at his daughter, he found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
“You are a princess. There is no need for you to work so hard.”
Rongyao’s little face scrunched up in disagreement. “But Yaoyao wants to learn martial arts. The books say that martial arts can strengthen the body and help protect many people. In the future, Yaoyao wants to protect Mother and Imperial Father! Why don’t I need to learn?”
After hearing his daughter say that, Dantai Ji had only one thought:
She would learn! His Yaoyao could learn whatever she wanted! She had to learn!
Why shouldn’t a princess learn martial arts? Whatever the princes could learn, his Yaoyao could learn too!
Besides, Yaoyao was so clever. Surely she could master anything she set her mind to!
“Good! From now on, Imperial Father will find you the best instructor every day to help you strengthen your body and teach you martial arts!”
“Really? Imperial Father has to keep his word.” Rongyao’s eyes shone as she questioned him.
“I am the Son of Heaven. How could I deceive a little child like you?”
“Then can Sister Wanning learn with me?”
“Of course. Any child at Wenchang Academy who wishes to learn may go.”
Rongyao nodded vigorously. “I knew Imperial Father was the best.”
Dantai Ji’s heart warmed. He felt that he had made the right decision. Nothing mattered more than seeing his daughter happy!
…
The next day, Imperial Father kept his word.
He hired her a martial arts instructor.
And it turned out to be General Guo, the commander of the Imperial Guards!
General Guo wore an ordinary robe that day and led them to the training grounds.
He lowered his head to look at the several children before him and felt an overwhelming urge to bury his face in his hands.
He had come to teach the princess.
Why had these three princes, who could barely walk properly, come along too?
What if they tripped or got hurt? Who would be held responsible?
General Guo took a deep breath, cleared his throat, and said, “Third Prince, Fourth Prince, Fifth Prince—you are all too young. I’m afraid you will have to wait a few more years before you can begin learning martial arts.”
The three princes exchanged glances. In truth, they had not wanted to come either. They should have been resting at that hour, but now they had been dragged here to learn martial arts because their mothers had ordered them to come.
“General Guo, although my son is young, he longs to ride horses and shoot arrows. Learning martial arts now will also strengthen his body.”
Upon hearing the voice, General Guo hurriedly dropped to his knees.
“This subject pays his respects to the Empress.”
The Empress smiled. “Rise. I leave the Fourth Prince in your care.”
General Guo clenched his fists. “This subject obeys!”
He then ordered them to line up from shortest to tallest.
At the very front stood the Fifth Prince, Dantai You, followed by the Fourth Prince, Dantai Yi; the Third Prince, Dantai Chang; the Eldest Princess, Dantai Rongyao; and the Second Princess, Tantai Yu.
Their companions stood beside the respective princes and princesses, while the Heir of Prince Guang and the others stood behind them.
The tallest of them all, Gu Shen’an, stood in the second position, blocking the children behind him from view.
General Guo apparently felt this was not a problem and did not ask anyone to change places.
“Since all of you intend to learn martial arts, you must first strengthen your bodies and build up your endurance! Run three laps to start!” General Guo shouted. “Run!”
The Fifth Prince, Dantai You, who was at the head of the line, jumped at the command. Once he recovered, he hurried forward.
Everyone behind him followed.
However, after completing one lap, the Fourth Prince, Dantai Yi, could go no farther. His face flushed bright red, and he pitched forward.
Fortunately, Gu Shen’an caught him. Otherwise, his fall might have taken down the Third Prince behind him as well.
The Empress, who had remained nearby, turned pale with fright and rushed over to check on her son.
When she saw that his face was bright red and his lips had turned purple, the Empress immediately regretted her decision. Yet when she noticed that the Fifth Prince, who was even younger than her son, was still struggling onward, her brows drew tightly together, and her expression darkened.
Even as she faced her weak and exhausted son, she could not bring herself to offer him any words of concern.
