Prince Ling narrowed his eyes.
This painting was one he had seen in his imperial father’s possession and taken a liking to, so he had brought it back and placed it in his study.
“All right. Recently, you and Ning'er don’t need to attend the girls’ school.”
“Stay in your room and learn some embroidery.”
Prince Ling spoke casually, intending to dismiss Song Shuyu.
Song Shuyu obediently replied, “Father, your daughter understands!”
When Prince Ling saw that Song Shuyu remained standing where she was, he glanced at her.
“Is there anything else?”
Song Shuyu rolled her eyes.
“Father, I met Secondary Consort Wei yesterday.”
Song Shuyu noticed that her father’s expression immediately grew impatient.
“Father, Secondary Consort Wei seems to be ill!” Song Shuyu hurriedly finished what she had to say. “When she saw me, she gave me this sinister smile. It made my blood run cold!”
“Father, why don’t you find a physician to examine Secondary Consort Wei?”
Prince Ling stroked the sachet in his hand.
The fragrance wafting from it soothed his mood considerably.
“What benefits did Secondary Consort Wei give you? Why have you come all the way here to speak on her behalf?”
Prince Ling stared at Song Shuyu, his gaze full of scrutiny.
Song Shuyu hurriedly shook her head.
“Father, you’ve misunderstood me!”
“I really haven’t received anything from her!”
“Didn’t you teach your daughter that people should repay those who have shown them kindness?”
“When Secondary Consort Wei was in charge of the household, she took good care of me.”
“Besides, I’m worried that if people see her like that and word gets out, it could damage your reputation, Father!”
Song Shuyu wore an utterly earnest expression.
Every aspect of her demeanor revealed her concern for Prince Ling.
Prince Ling was stunned for a moment.
He had been so busy lately that his mind was in a fog. After hearing Song Shuyu’s words, he had not thought of that possibility at all.
“Guards!”
He called toward the door.
The guard stationed outside pushed the door open and entered.
“Send someone to fetch a physician and have him examine the secondary consort.”
Prince Ling paused.
“Have the princess consort examined as well,” he added.
Princess Consort Ling had been ill for far too long. It would not be appropriate if he did not send someone to check on her.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The guard bowed and withdrew.
Song Shuyu had not expected her father to think of Princess Consort Ling as well.
She felt unhappy.
She did not like Princess Consort Ling!
“Father, may I study with you?”
“I see that you have so many books here!”
Song Shuyu remembered Chunxiao mentioning that the Jinx had been personally taught by Prince Pingyang.
Chunxiao had also once said that affection between people was built through spending time together.
As long as she interacted with her father more, she would surely earn a place in his heart.
Prince Ling’s hand, which was holding the sachet, stopped moving.
He stared at Song Shuyu for a long time—so long that she was almost ready to give up—before finally speaking.
“Gu is busy these days.”
“It’s good that you have a desire to learn.”
“I’ll arrange for someone to tutor you later.”
Disappointment involuntarily surfaced in Song Shuyu’s eyes.
Her plan had fallen through.
“Yes. Thank you, Father!”
Song Shuyu bowed to Prince Ling, though she was deeply unwilling to do so.
Prince Ling waved a hand. “Gu still has matters to attend to. If you need anything, have your maid come and tell me.”
“It’s terribly hot. You might suffer heatstroke on the way back.”
“Where is the maid who serves you? Has she gone somewhere to shirk her duties?”
“It seems I’ll have to ask Nanny Rong to replace her.”
A delighted look immediately appeared in Song Shuyu’s eyes.
Her current maid watched her as if she were a criminal, keeping her under constant surveillance.
Song Shuyu had wanted to replace her for a long time.
“Father, may I choose my own maid?”
It was a minor matter, so Prince Ling nodded at once.
“All right. Nanny Rong will bring several people over shortly.”
“Thank you, Father! I’ll be going back now!”
Having gotten what she wanted, Song Shuyu happily bowed to Prince Ling and left.
Prince Ling watched her retreating figure.
“Guards.”
A guard appeared inside the study.
“Who has the young lady seen recently? Where has she gone?”
“Your Highness, the young lady only encountered Secondary Consort Wei while walking in the gardens.”
“She was so frightened that she turned around and ran.”
“The young lady spends every day in her room. It was only because her maid urged her that she occasionally went out to stroll in the courtyard.”
The guard reported Song Shuyu’s whereabouts in detail.
Prince Ling pondered for a while.
“Have Nanny Rong take several servants to the young lady’s courtyard.”
“There’s no need to keep her former maid.”
“Also, investigate how Secondary Consort Wei happened to come out and encounter the young lady.”
The guard acknowledged the order and quickly withdrew.
It had been a long time since Prince Ling had handled matters with such composure.
He even felt remarkably relaxed.
Prince Ling glanced at the sachet in his hand.
Could it be because of this sachet?
After thinking for a moment, Prince Ling tied the sachet around his waist.
He recalled Song Shuyu’s request and decided to arrange for a tutor to teach her.
But since one child could be taught, why not teach several of the children at the residence together?
Who would be the right person for the task?
Prince Ling thought of his second son, who had become an idiot, and felt a momentary pang of regret.
Among the remaining children, Xiao Yun'an was considered the most outstanding.
Thinking of Xiao Yun'an, Prince Ling decided to go and see him.
The capital had been unsettled recently, and the Imperial Academy had suspended classes.
Xiao Yun'an and Xiao Yunming were both staying at the residence.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Prince Ling slowly made his way along the covered corridor.
The weather was truly hot, and oppressively humid.
It felt as though rain was about to fall.
Prince Ling glanced at the sky, but there was not a single cloud in sight.
He shook his head and continued forward.
When he reached the garden, he heard Xiao Yun'an’s voice.
“Kneel down and kowtow to me!”
Prince Ling stopped in his tracks. The expression of his personal guard behind him changed.
Through the branches, Prince Ling saw Xiao Yun'an holding a stick and threatening Xiao Yunlin, who stood opposite him.
“You actually dare disobey me! Just wait—I’ll teach you a lesson!”
As Xiao Yun'an spoke, he swung the stick toward Xiao Yunlin.
Terrified, Xiao Yunlin covered his head and crouched down.
“Don’t!”
“Hit me!”
Xiao Yun'an immediately broke into a smug smile.
“But you told me to hit you!”
“In that case, of course I’ll satisfy you!”
As he spoke, Xiao Yun'an raised the stick in his hand and brought it down toward Xiao Yunlin.
“Stop!”
Prince Ling’s furious shout rang out.
Xiao Yun'an jumped when he heard his father’s voice.
He had never expected Prince Ling to catch him at a time like this.
He hurriedly dropped to his knees.
“Your son pays his respects to Father!”
Prince Ling strode over and kicked Xiao Yun'an.
Xiao Yun'an was sent sprawling across the ground.
“Father, you’ve misunderstood!”
“Your son was only playing around with his younger brother!”
“If you don’t believe me, you can look for yourself.”
“There isn’t a single injury on my brother!” Xiao Yun'an explained, his face full of grievance.
Prince Ling turned his head. His personal guard hurried forward and examined Xiao Yunlin.
“Your Highness, the second young master indeed has no injuries,” the guard reported.
Prince Ling was stunned for a moment.
“You’re his elder brother. Why did you make your younger brother kneel?”
Xiao Yun'an lowered his head.
