Even the Empress Dowager had heard about it.
The prayer beads in the Empress Dowager’s hand paused for a moment, then quickly began to move again.
“Amitabha!”
Consort Li, all smiles, pulled Song Shuyu’s hand warmly. “I heard His Majesty gave the Princess of Changle a jade pendant!”
“You two are about the same age. His Majesty is truly biased—why give it to her and not to you?”
Before Song Shuyu could answer, Xiao Yunming let out a “hmph.”
“Grandmother, what’s so special about it? Just a jade pendant!”
“Father said the Pingyang Prince’s household is so poor they can’t even afford jewelry for that Changle.”
“Grandfather must have felt sorry for her and gave her the pendant for that reason!”
“Besides, what’s so great about a jade pendant?”
“You can’t eat it, you can’t turn it into silver, and if you lose it, it’s a crime worthy of beheading!”
Consort Li cast a glance at Xiao Yunming.
Her original intention had been to stir up Song Shuyu’s jealousy and make her snatch the jade pendant from Changle. Since the two are sisters, any conflict could be dismissed as childish squabbling.
But now that Xiao Yunming had pointed this out, Song Shuyu surely wouldn’t dare to think about it.
Consort Li let go of Song Shuyu’s hand and tapped Xiao Yunming on the forehead.
“Oh, you clever one! Don’t you know that having that jade pendant is like seeing your grandfather himself?”
“Think about it—what if that pendant ended up in your father’s hands?”
Xiao Yunming suddenly understood.
“Grandmother, you mean you want us to steal it?”
Consort Li covered her lips slightly.
“Nonsense. Grandmother means you should work hard to perform well, and maybe earn such a pendant too!”
“That would be a great pride for your father!”
After saying this, Consort Li noticed that Song Shuyu seemed lost in thought.
“Alright, it’s getting late. You should head to the Imperial Academy now.”
Having achieved her goal, Consort Li dismissed them.
Xiao Yun’an and Xiao Yunming bowed to Consort Li and left; Song Shuyu followed them out.
Xiao Yunming whispered to Xiao Yun’an.
“Brother, if I give my pouch to Grandfather, do you think he’ll give me a jade pendant?”
Xiao Yun’an thought for a moment, then shook his head.
“Brother doesn’t know.”
“But I heard that Changle got it because Imperial Consort Shu bullied her, and Grandfather got angry and rewarded her.”
Xiao Yunming’s eyes darted around.
“So that means if someone bullies me, Grandfather might give me one too?”
Xiao Yun’an nodded reluctantly. “Theoretically, there’s a chance.”
“Let’s hurry; if we’re late, the Grand Tutor will be angry again!”
Xiao Yun’an didn’t want to continue this topic and quickened his pace.
Xiao Yunming hurried after him.
Song Shuyu only caught bits and pieces of their conversation.
Imperial Consort Shu?
Who was that?
“Chunxiao, go find out what really happened today,” Song Shuyu ordered.
Chunxiao looked terrified.
“Your Highness, this is the palace! One wrong move and you could lose your head!”
Song Shuyu shot an impatient look at Chunxiao. “Forget it; I’m better off relying on myself!”
Chunxiao stammered, not knowing how to reply.
She had heard that one must never pry in the palace; you never knew when you’d lose your head.
Song Shuyu was a princess; if something happened, the Prince would handle it.
But she was just a maid, as insignificant as a blade of grass.
Song Shuyu stormed into the Imperial Academy, while Chunxiao went to the corridor where servants waited.
Inside the academy, the students were also whispering among themselves.
As soon as Song Shuyu sat down, Danyang beside her let out a smug “hmph.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be a lucky star? How come you didn’t get a jade pendant?”
“Could it be that your lucky-star reputation is fake?”
Danyang covered her mouth and giggled.
Song Shuyu’s face burned with shame; she clenched her fists.
“You’re the fake one! You don’t have one either!”
Danyang, stung by the truth, pouted.
“If I had the name ‘lucky star,’ I’d definitely have one!”
“Unlike some people, wasting a good title!”
Song Shuyu turned away, not wanting to deal with Danyang.
Just then, Duoduo walked into the room.
“Oh! If it isn’t the Princess of Changle! Everyone, let’s give her a round of applause!”
Xiao Yunshi, who had been fooling around with classmates at the door, stood up and started riling up the others.
Duoduo walked straight to her seat without looking sideways.
Xiao Yunshi suddenly dashed in front of her and blocked her path.
“Changle, take out your jade pendant and let us have a look!”
“We’ve never seen a life-sparing jade pendant before!”
Others chimed in, joining the commotion.
“Yeah, Changle, don’t be stingy! Let us take a peek!”
“Changle, don’t be so tight-fisted!”
“Changle, how about I trade you my family heirloom—a top-grade emerald pendant?” someone suggested slyly.
Duoduo glanced at the speaker—Xiao Yunchuan.
“Pfft!” the others jeered in unison.
“What? My pendant is worth several thousand taels of silver.”
“Hers can’t turn into money—I’m doing her a favor!” Xiao Yunchuan said smugly.
Duoduo pressed her lips together. “Let me pass,” she said to Xiao Yunshi.
Seeing Duoduo’s tight, unhappy little face, Xiao Yunshi said, “Come on, I just want to see it!”
“I’m not like those sneaky people.”
“Xiao Yunshi, who are you calling sneaky?” Xiao Yunchuan was offended.
“Whoever answers, that’s who I’m talking about!” Xiao Yunshi shot back without hesitation.
Xiao Yunchuan, unwilling to back down, charged forward.
Xiao Yunshi didn’t flinch; he clenched his fists and met him head-on.
Their friends quickly grabbed them.
“Don’t fight! Have you forgotten the school rules?”
“Yeah, fighting means expulsion from the academy!”
“If you have a problem, settle it after school.”
“Right, talk after class.”
“Go back to your seats; the Grand Tutor is coming!”
The two groups, pulling and coaxing, separated the boys.
Duoduo calmly walked to her seat and sat down.
The bell for class rang.
The Grand Tutor entered the room, his stern gaze sweeping over everyone.
All fell silent, mouse-like.
Duoduo suddenly noticed that her right-hand classmate wasn’t asleep.
He was propping his chin on his hand, sideways, staring at her without moving.
Duoduo felt a small-beast sense of alertness—the instinctive wariness of being stalked by a predator.
She whirled her head to look at him.
Her right-hand classmate was pulling a book from his desk.
The oppressive feeling vanished, as if it had been an illusion.
But Duoduo knew she couldn’t have been mistaken.
Suddenly, golden characters began rolling before Duoduo’s eyes.
