Grand Tutor Fang expended immense effort to finally smooth down the ruffled feathers of the aggrieved emperor.
After a moment's pause, Emperor Chongzhao remembered to ask about Qu Dubian's studies.
He had originally thought the child was too young to have learned much. Unexpectedly, Grand Tutor Fang said:
"His young Highness is naturally gifted and clever. This old servant estimates he has finished the 'Three Character Classic'; the 'Thousand Character Classic' is harder to say. He recognizes quite a few characters, but writing them... ahem, is rather difficult."
To have achieved this without careful instruction, the phrase "naturally gifted and clever" was certainly deserved. As for writing, a toddler of just over two, whose bones aren't even fully formed, managing to scribble something resembling characters was impressive enough; what more could one expect?
Fearing he might reignite the emperor's anger, Grand Tutor Fang glossed over the matter of writing with a few vague words, instead emphasizing the questions he had used to examine Qu Dubian and the child's responses at the time.
The frown between Emperor Chongzhao's brows finally eased somewhat.
"He takes after me, it seems."
Grand Tutor Fang: "..."
So being emperor means you can just discard all shame, does it?
"When this old servant taught Your Majesty, you were not nearly as advanced as His young Highness."
Emperor Chongzhao shot him a sidelong glance.
"Grand Tutor must be misremembering."
Grand Tutor Fang immediately said, "Yes, yes, yes, you're right. This old servant is muddled, I misremembered."
Alright then. Being emperor means you can discard all shame.
He asked, "Then, regarding His young Highness now that..."
Since the matter was already out in the open, Emperor Chongzhao stated, "It's undignified for a prince to study under a table. Since he is willing to learn, I shall issue an edict granting him special permission to begin attending lectures early, without waiting until he is three."
Grand Tutor Fang finally breathed an inward sigh of relief, saying happily, "This old servant is also delighted to gain another intelligent student."
Only Eunuch Yu, standing to the side, quietly pricked up his ears, trying to decipher the emperor's thoughts.
Was His Majesty issuing this command indicative of a certain bias, a desire in his heart not to have His young Highness sent to the detached palace as the Astrological Bureau suggested?
He cautiously shifted his gaze, attempting to find some trace of this, but failed to glimpse the true thoughts in Emperor Chongzhao's heart.
-
Not long after Grand Tutor Fang left, Consort Lan sent someone to invite Emperor Chongzhao.
Having nothing pressing at hand and somewhat intrigued by the learning progress Grand Tutor Fang described, Emperor Chongzhao went to Consort Lan's Fragrant Elegance Palace, intending to examine the Sixth Prince's studies.
The Sixth Prince was closest in age to Qu Dubian and had just begun attending the school, learning basic subjects.
Emperor Chongzhao held and played with the Sixth Prince for a while before setting him down; he never indulged the princes too much.
"Are you adjusting to the school? How are your studies going?"
Consort Lan said with a smiling face, "Tutor Xi and Grand Tutor Fang both praised him for learning quickly."
Emperor Chongzhao's interest grew. "Is that so? Come here, Little Six, let me test you." The weight of imperial authority, even a fraction of it inadvertently revealed, was enough to make one hold their breath.
The Sixth Prince stood there nervously.
Emperor Chongzhao couldn't be bothered to think of new questions, so he simply used the three questions Grand Tutor Fang had confessed to using initially to test Little Seven on the Sixth Prince.
"Which four groups of people are referred to as the 'Pillars of the State'?"
Confusion appeared on the Sixth Prince's little face.
Emperor Chongzhao prompted, "The scholars, the farmers, and what else?"
The Sixth Prince hemmed and hawed. The smile on Consort Lan's face began to strain. "Your Majesty, perhaps a different question..."
"Very well," Emperor Chongzhao said. "Among the six domestic animals, commoners may raise any, but killing which one is against the law?"
The Sixth Prince grew so nervous he started biting his fingers, looking at Consort Lan for help.
Consort Lan: "Your Majesty, perhaps the child is not in good form today. Could you change..."
"Enough."
Emperor Chongzhao had already lost interest. He rarely bothered examining the younger princes anyway, paying more attention to the three elder heirs: the First, Second, and Third Princes.
Today, he had merely been drawn in by the amusing scene Grand Tutor Fang described of questioning the young child.
However, that bit of interest was completely worn away by the Sixth Prince's inability to answer any of the questions.
He still had to visit the First Prince's mother. Before leaving, he remarked offhandedly, "Though he is still young, he has already entered the school. You, Consort, should urge him to study more diligently. Tomorrow, Little Seven will begin studying with them in the school. Though he is the youngest, he is quite clever. Little Six, as his elder brother, must not fall behind."
His permission for Qu Dubian to attend the school did indeed contain some bias. Although the words of the Astrological Bureau still gave him pause, it had been over two years now. Perhaps not sending him to the detached palace wouldn't be a major issue.
Before the child turned three, he simply wouldn't personally interact with him.
Sending him to the school was also a good opportunity to foster fraternal bonds in advance. What the First Prince had said today was truly outrageous.
Consort Lan rose to see him out.
"Yes, your servant understands."
Long after Emperor Chongzhao had left, Consort Lan remained in her bowing posture. The gentle smile at the corner of her mouth gradually flattened, and a hint of hysterical madness surfaced in her eyes. Her impeccably manicured nails dug deeply into her palms.
Lian Zhu helped her up.
"When did..."
Consort Lan whispered, "When did this happen?"
Without her knowledge, that child left behind by that wretched woman had once again captured the emperor's attention.
She took a deep breath. "Why didn't you know!" she said angrily. "Why didn't you know what that little brat knows!"
She was no fool. She could glean some information from the emperor's parting words.
The Sixth Prince feared the emperor but not her. "I just didn't know! Grand Tutor never asks questions like that! Mother, you're scolding me!"
That night, Consort Lan forced the Sixth Prince, who was crying so hard snot bubbles formed, to sit at the desk and recite the answers to those two questions a full eighty-eight times.
The Sixth Prince's voice grew hoarse from reciting. Sitting by his bed with red, swollen eyes, he felt a budding resentment towards the unseen Seventh Prince.
Ahhh, how infuriating! Why did he have to learn so fast!!
-
They didn't have to wait until the next morning.
Late that night, the edict of Emperor Chongzhao's exceptional permission for the Seventh Prince to begin studies at the Eastern Academy's Six Pavilions School was delivered to all corners of the rear palace.
Eunuch Yu even specially dispatched a young eunuch to deliver the message to the remote Peaceful Residence Hall.
Light snowflakes drifted down again that night, but the Peaceful Residence Hall was no longer what it used to be; the hall was now very warm.
At that time, Qu Dubian had just finished his milk not long before. Wrapped in a small quilt, he sat cross-legged on a soft rug on the floor, eating roasted oranges around a small charcoal brazier—yes, they could even afford fruit in the Peaceful Residence Hall now.
While eating, he was teaching Ye Xiaoyuan and Wen Xiaochun to recognize characters.
The knock came just as Qu Dubian was chiding, "No, no, Attendant Ye, you're reading it wrong again..."
"Your Highness, someone is here."
Qu Dubian: "Who could it be so late?"
"This servant will go see."
Wen Xiaochun got up and opened the door a crack. Fine snowflakes swirled in from outside, melting into droplets as they touched the ground.
Qu Dubian caught a glimpse of the old pagoda tree outside, its branches laden with frost flowers, crystalline and translucent. He tightened the small quilt around himself, a sense of happiness welling up spontaneously.
On a cold day like this, sitting around the brazier, roasting tea and oranges—truly the height of comfort. With their improved conditions, life was almost heavenly.
Wen Xiaochun had left with hurried steps but returned practically flying.
He was usually a remarkably steady person, but upon pushing the door open this time, he forgot to stamp his feet to shake off the cold. He entered in great excitement, saying, "A eunuch from the Imperial Presence has come with word! His Majesty has ordered that the young prince may officially begin his studies at the Sixth Hall of the Eastern Garden tomorrow!"
Ye Xiaoyuan asked urgently, "What? Is the news correct?"
Wen Xiaochun: "Absolutely true. By now, probably all twelve eastern and western palaces know about it."
"Blessings from our lady..." Ye Xiaoyuan clasped his hands together and bowed slightly towards the empty air. "Things are going more and more smoothly for His Highness."
Yesterday, he was rewarded with an inkstone, paper, and brushes. Today comes the direct order for him to attend the school.
In the past, this would have been utterly unthinkable!
Perhaps after the incident at the Great Kitchen last time, His Majesty remembered that the young prince is nearly three years old. Although father and son still cannot meet, he can be sent to the Eastern Garden early to foster some camaraderie with his other brothers, which would be beneficial for future fraternal harmony.
He then looked at Qu Dubian: "Your Highness, aren't you happy?"
"......"
Qu Dubian, who had been taking small sips of hot sugared water, paused and flashed a smile with eight teeth showing. "Happy, of course. I'm so happy."
His cheap father agreeing to let him attend school was within expectations. He was just thinking...
Based on his observations under the table these past two times, none of those brothers of his in the schoolhouse were easy characters.
Things are about to get lively.
The news of the Seventh Prince exceptionally being allowed to attend school once again swept through the rear palace.
Qu Dubian's propensity for being a hot topic in his previous life was just beginning to show its edge in this life once or twice, yet it already reminded the concubines in the rear palace with their own schemes of the fear they felt when Consort Yun dominated during her favored days.
When Consort Yun was alive, His Majesty frequently made exceptions for her. Could it be the same for the Seventh Prince? How bizarre. Can such a thing be inherited from mother to son?
The palace guards with swords changed shifts.
Eunuch Yu came out for some air. He stood under the eaves of the corridor outside the Zichen Hall, gazing down at the high steps covered with a thin layer of snow. The entire imperial city was shrouded in a hazy mist of swirling snowflakes.
He watched for a while, then blew warm breath onto his palms.
Whether the landscape among the imperial princes would change depended entirely on whether the Seventh Prince would be sent to the detached palace this time.
-
The next day.
Qu Dubian did not get up as early as usual.
He no longer needed to rush through his preparations to sneak in early. Instead, he leisurely finished his Tai Chi exercises, enjoyed a steaming hot breakfast, and then ambled over to the Sixth Hall of the Eastern Garden.
However, having developed a bit of a habit from his days gnawing on flatbread under the table, he now felt utterly uncomfortable if he didn't have something to munch on during class.
So, he specifically had Ye Xiaoyuan put a handful of shelled dried fruits into the small pouch of his satchel.
The simulator didn't alert him that Yi Shier was nearby. Probably, seeing that his life had stabilized here, there was no further need for observation and surveillance.
Eastern Garden.
Today's instructor, Master Xi, had not yet arrived.
The atmosphere in the schoolroom was more peculiar than usual.
The Sixth Prince's eyes were swollen like fiery red firecrackers, and he was pouting in a sulk.
The Eldest Prince, having been severely punished for his misspoken words, was suffering from a sore wrist from the excessive amount of assigned coursework and was naturally in a foul mood.
"I heard Eldest Brother was made to kneel by Father for half an hour yesterday," the Second Prince said. "I wonder if your knees still hurt?"
The Eldest Prince's knees were swollen, but he stubbornly insisted, "Of course not."
The Third Prince: "Indeed, Second Brother. Eldest Brother is so robust, how could anything be wrong?"
Seeing his fake, affected expression, the Eldest Prince felt thoroughly uncomfortable and snorted coldly. "Putting on an act all day long, as usual."
The Third Prince: "I was merely concerned about Eldest Brother. I don't know which words caused Eldest Brother to misunderstand. I can explain."
This show of weakness didn't please the Eldest Prince; instead, it made him feel even more inexplicably stifled and aggrieved.
Qu Dubian was the last to arrive. He was wearing a light blue lined robe trimmed with a soft band of rabbit fur. His face was fair with a rosy blush, his hair tied into a fluffy little bun on top of his head, and his hands were tucked into his sleeves like a little adult.
His dark, gleaming eyes swept around the room, as if waiting for them to introduce themselves.
The Eldest Prince, having just been disciplined, didn't dare to show a bad attitude again and said stiffly, "Seventh Brother."
The Second Prince: "I am your Second Brother."
The Third Prince coughed weakly a couple of times. "You may call me Third Brother. I fell ill some time ago and was nearly recovered, but upon seeing you, Seventh Brother, it seems to have flared up again. Perhaps I was too excited."
Poor Seventh Brother, neglected for so many years, suddenly arriving here looking like such a thin, pitiful little thing. If he were to develop an inferiority complex, timid, and overly sensitive personality as a result, that would be—just perfect.
Regardless of whether the concern was genuine or not, the formalities had to be observed. The eunuchs attending each of the six princes stepped forward one by one to present the greeting gifts their respective ladies had prepared overnight.
Ye Xiaoyuan naturally accepted them all with a smile.
Qu Dubian also had return gifts, but being the youngest, his didn't need to be particularly precious.
He pulled out dried fruits from his pouch, his adorable features instantly becoming lively, showing not a hint of timidity or social anxiety.
Joke. In his previous life, he fought his way up relying on his acting skills. If he were socially anxious, he wouldn't even get a single camera shot. How could he play the game then?
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, hello, hello!"
He handed out dried fruits to each in turn. Even the Fourth Prince, who was drowsy with half-closed eyes at his seat, was enthusiastically and forcibly given a handful. He widened his eyes slightly, looking at this little brother who was socializing as happily as a fluttering butterfly.
Wow...
This little brother is kind of cute.
The last handful went to the Eldest Prince. Only when standing before the Third Prince did the little butterfly fluttering among the flowers let out an annoyed 'aiya'.
Qu Dubian: "It just so happens there's none left. I didn't do it on purpose. Third Brother, you won't be angry, will you?"
The schoolroom fell silent for a second. The Eldest Prince suddenly chuckled aloud.
