Duoduo stuck out her tongue.
“I heard a little eunuch say there’s something called the Archive Pavilion.”
“I came to the palace in such a hurry that I didn’t bring any books to pass the time.”
“So I wanted to borrow a couple of books to read.”
“But then I ran into the Grand Tutor there.”
“Great-Grandmother, the Grand Tutor is such a nice man!”
“Look, these are the books he helped me borrow!”
Duoduo motioned for Qingliu to bring the books over.
The Empress Dowager glanced at the three books and sighed inwardly.
The Grand Tutor was the one who taught the princes. Why had he given Changle these books to read?
Poor Changle was so happy now, but once she found out how dry these books were, would she still be able to smile?
A trace of guilt flashed through the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
“What do you usually do at home?”
Duoduo tilted her little head. “I draw, write, and, um… play with the maids!”
A look of heartache appeared in the Empress Dowager’s eyes.
The Prince of Pingyang’s household had only Changle as a child, and she did not even have any brothers or sisters to play with.
Poor child.
“Has your mother taught you embroidery and how to manage household affairs?” the Empress Dowager asked.
Duoduo nodded. “She taught me all of those things!”
“Then…”
A matron suddenly interrupted the Empress Dowager.
“Your Highness, the Grand Tutor is still waiting outside!”
The Empress Dowager was taken aback.
She looked at Duoduo and smiled.
“I really am getting old. I completely forgot about that!”
“Invite the Grand Tutor in!” the Empress Dowager said, straightening her clothes.
Duoduo tilted her head. She wondered what the Empress Dowager had been about to say before the matron interrupted her.
There were strict rules in the palace.
Normally, servants were not allowed to interrupt when their master was speaking.
Yet this matron had done exactly that.
Most importantly, the Empress Dowager had actually listened to her!
It was clear that this personal matron held an extraordinary position in the Empress Dowager’s heart.
Duoduo had not paid much attention to the matron before. But after what had just happened, she began observing her subconsciously.
The palace maid left, and soon afterward, the Grand Tutor entered.
He walked to the middle of the hall with his head lowered and bowed to the Empress Dowager.
“This humble servant heard Princess Changle say that Your Highness was feeling unwell, so I came to see how you were.”
The Empress Dowager gave Duoduo a kindly glance before explaining with a smile, “When one grows old, all sorts of ailments are bound to appear.”
The Grand Tutor swiftly raised his eyes to look at the Empress Dowager, then lowered them again.
“If Your Highness is unwell, you must inform the Fifth Prince.”
“Although all the imperial physicians have left the palace, there are still doctors outside.”
The Empress Dowager smiled and nodded. “The Grand Tutor is quite right. I would never treat my own health so recklessly.”
Duoduo watched the two of them with great curiosity.
Why did she feel as though Great-Grandmother was a little afraid of the Grand Tutor?
The Grand Tutor said only a few words before taking his leave.
Duoduo saw the Empress Dowager let out a long breath.
Duoduo smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
The Empress Dowager happened to see her and pinched her cheek.
“You little girl, what are you smiling about? Why are you so happy?”
Duoduo replied with her eyes still curved into crescents, “Great-Grandmother, just now, you looked exactly like one of my classmates whenever they see the Grand Tutor!”
The Empress Dowager froze for a moment, then burst into delighted laughter.
“Was it really that obvious?” she asked, laughing so hard she could barely close her mouth.
Duoduo nodded happily. “Mm-hmm!”
“You looked just like a classmate being questioned about her lessons, terrified that she wouldn’t know the answer!”
The Empress Dowager covered her mouth with a handkerchief and laughed without stopping.
Seeing how happily the Empress Dowager was laughing, the personal matron explained to Duoduo, “Back then, when Her Highness was raising the Emperor, the late emperor sent the very same teacher who instructed the Emperor—the Grand Tutor.”
“When Her Highness had nothing else to do, she would sit in on the lessons as well.”
Duoduo’s eyes widened.
Heavens!
The Grand Tutor had actually taught Great-Grandmother!
He was amazing!
Great-Grandmother had been so ahead of her time!
She had actually studied alongside Grandfather?
Seeing Duoduo’s wide-eyed expression, the Empress Dowager found her utterly adorable.
She laughed even more heartily.
“Back then, the Grand Tutor would sit there with a stern face just like he does now. Both the Emperor and I were afraid of him!”
“Though he wasn’t all that old at the time.”
As the Empress Dowager recalled the past, her face filled with nostalgia.
“It’s a pity I only studied with him for a month. After that, I had no choice but to stop.”
The Empress Dowager’s face was full of regret.
Duoduo was extremely curious.
“Why did you stop?”
“Since ancient times, people have said that a woman’s virtue lies in having no talent.”
“As a consort of the inner palace, I had set a bad example and was even scolded by the late emperor.”
The matron added, “At the time, the late emperor even confined Her Highness to her quarters for a month!”
Duoduo’s eyes widened. “You were confined too? That’s awful!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Duoduo quickly covered her mouth.
She had said the wrong thing!
The Empress Dowager nodded with a smile. “That was exactly what I thought at the time.”
“But I have never regretted it.”
“After all, I was quite happy during that month.”
Duoduo lowered her hand and nodded in agreement.
“Great-Grandmother, there’s an old saying that goes, ‘Within books lies beauty, and within books lies gold!’”
“Books can teach us all kinds of principles, and they can tell us about worlds we’ve never seen before!”
The Empress Dowager nodded approvingly.
“The Grand Tutor once said that reading makes a person wise.”
Duoduo tilted her little head. “Then do you still want to study, Great-Grandmother?”
“I can teach you!”
The Empress Dowager stared in surprise for a moment before covering her mouth and laughing again.
“I’m already halfway into the grave. How could I still learn those things?”
Duoduo looked completely serious.
“My teacher said that as long as you want to learn, it’s never too late!”
“One may hear the Way in the morning and die content in the evening!”
The Empress Dowager laughed helplessly.
“I’m starting to regret letting you into the palace, Changle.”
Duoduo widened her eyes, completely confused.
“I originally thought I would have you come into the palace to keep me company through the last days of my life.”
“But now that you’re here, you’re making me exercise and study.”
“Why do I feel as though, in Changle’s eyes, I ought to live my life all over again?”
After saying this, the Empress Dowager could not help laughing herself.
Everyone in the room laughed along with her.
Duoduo slapped her little hands together.
“Great-Grandmother, that’s a wonderful idea!”
“You should live for yourself now! That way, you won’t have any regrets!”
The Empress Dowager fell into thought after hearing this.
The matron beside her also advised, “The princess is right! Your Highness, you have worked hard all your life. You should spend the rest of it enjoying a few carefree, comfortable days!”
The Empress Dowager turned toward the matron with a smile.
“You old thing, even you have come to tease me!”
“Changle is only a child. She doesn’t know any better. But surely you, old thing, should know better!”
The matron hurriedly knelt down. “Your Highness, this servant only feels sorry for you!”
“That’s enough. You’re no longer young yourself, so why are you kneeling? Hurry and help her up!”
A palace maid immediately stepped forward and helped the matron to her feet.
The Empress Dowager patted the back of Duoduo’s hand.
“I understand your concern and good intentions.”
“It’s just that I’ve spent more than half my life being cautious in everything I say and do. I’ll simply spend the rest of my days as I have been.”
“Changle, since you enjoy reading, I’ll have the Grand Tutor come and teach you every few days. How does that sound?”
“Your Highness!”
The matron seemed about to stop the Empress Dowager.
