When they came out of the prince's residence, it was still dark. It is said that they would rush to Wenqizhai at Yinshi (3 to 5 am) every day to start reviewing the previous day's homework. At Maoshi (5 to 7 am), the teacher would start to check the students' homework, mark the next section that needed to be memorized, and continue reciting.

Then at Chenshi (7 to 9 am), the teacher began to teach, and at Sishi (9 to 11 am), they began to practice calligraphy. Wushi (11 am to 1 pm) was lunch time, the teacher ate first, and the princesses ate elsewhere. From Weishi to Youshi (1 to 7 pm), they learned the six arts of etiquette, music, archery, defense, calligraphy, and mathematics.

In other words, it takes time to study from morning to night. Yao Niang was quite surprised, but also very happy. No matter what, studying from morning to night would reduce many problems.

This is much more than what I learned at home. Normally, I just read most of the day at home and would not start until the morning.

"Second Princess, how many students are there in Wenqizhai?" Yao Niang asked.

Princess Zhenyang thought for a moment and said, "There are my seventh aunt Princess Zhaoping, my sixth uncle's Princess Baohua, and my third uncle's Rong'an."

That means there are four princesses in total. She knows that Princess Zhaoping is the most beloved princess of the current emperor. As for Princess Rong'an, she should be the one who was Shi Yu's study companion in the previous life. It seems that she passed away only a year ago. As for Princess Baohua, she doesn't know.

The area around Wenqizhai is flat and spacious, without any flowers, bamboos, rocks or small pavilions. Near Shuzhai is the teahouse. Princess Zhenyang is a lively person. She pointed to that place and said, "We usually eat in the teahouse."

To the west of Wenqizhai is the library, which is shaded by a large tree and looks quite cool.

It looks like a courtyard from the outside, but it is actually a large horse ranch. This is where you will learn horse riding and archery in the future.

Tang Huijun's face turned slightly pale: "Do you want to ride a horse in the future?"

Princess Zhenyang smiled and said, "Of course, this is nothing. I heard that we will have to practice outside in the future. My brothers are the same, there is no difference."

In fact, the princesses and granddaughters in the palace are educated the same as the men, and there are many talented and outstanding ones, but inheriting the throne is the job of men. It seems a bit unfair.

But throughout the dynasties, only Wu Zetian could become emperor.

Yao Niang thought so and followed them into Wenqizhai. Wenqizhai was brightly lit with lights and candles everywhere. They came not too early. There was already a young girl with a slender neck sitting inside. Her eyebrows and eyes were full of spirits. When she saw Princess Zhenyang, she started to tease her.

"You lazy girl, why did you come so late? Please don't get any leftovers, okay?" She smiled heartily, quite heroically.

Princess Zhenyang was also a darling of heaven, but she was very respectful to this person. She bowed and then stepped forward with a smile: "Aunt Zhaoping, if the master punishes me, you must cover up for me."

Yao Niang thought to herself, this is Princess Zhaoping, the emperor's favorite princess. She looked up and saw her study companions Li Tianjiao and Wang Yuanshuang standing beside her with smiles on their faces, not saying much.

Here, Princess Zhenyang and Princess Zhaoping were talking when a slender girl came in. She had a pale face and seemed to be suffering from a deficiency. This girl was Princess Rong'an.

Compared to the shortcomings of Princess Rong'an, the other Princess Baohua is gentle, calm, and beautiful.

Princess Zhenyang asked Yao Niang and Tang Huijun to pay her respects, "This is my sixth uncle's eldest daughter, and her title is Baohua."

After everyone had greeted each other for a while, they sat down to recite. Only then did Yao Niang discover that Tang Huijun was actually quite clever. Her handwriting was very good, but she felt dizzy and unwell on the day of the exam, so she had not finished most of it.

Tang Huijun also discovered that Yao Niang was in good spirits and had great endurance. She could read ten lines at a glance, had an excellent memory, and was very intelligent. This set off a warning bell in her heart.

In fact, Princess Zhenyang was also a very smart girl. Seeing that Yao Niang and Tang Huijun were both serious people, she did not dare to be distracted. After all, as the master, she was worse than her companion. Wouldn't it be very embarrassing?

For a while, the sound of Wen Qi reading could be heard everywhere. Yao Niang had originally wanted to be known as a "good reader", and now she really felt that the environment here was excellent.

Suddenly, Princess Zhaoping turned to Yao Niang and asked, "Have you pierced your ears? How is it? Does it hurt?"

I thought the princess would ask some profound questions, but she didn't expect it to be this. Yao Niang touched her earlobe and smiled softly, "It didn't hurt much, my mother kept rubbing my ear, and after it softened, she let the maids pierce it. I couldn't get it wet for the first few days after getting it pierced, but it didn't hurt at all afterwards."

Princess Zhenyang was a restless person. Seeing the two of them chatting, she also touched her ears and said, "I'm afraid of pain, so I've never dared to pierce my ears."

Yao Niang touched Princess Zhenyang's ears and couldn't help but smile: "The earlobes are thick. The princess is a blessed person. There is no need to be afraid."

Li Tianjiao couldn't help but feel a little jealous when she saw Yao Niang talking to the princesses and the other princesses. However, when she entered the palace, her family told her to be very careful in front of the nobles, as a single mistake could bring trouble to the entire family. Therefore, she couldn't say much.

Wen Qizhai's husband was named Wang, a famous talented woman in Jiangnan, and she had a very strict temperament.

As soon as she came over, she started to slap me on the back, and hit my hand if I said a word wrong.

Yao Niang thought that everyone should be able to recite it, and even saw Princess Zhaoping talking about it fluently, so she thought she was quite good. However, she never expected that she recited ten words wrong at once.

The princess got it wrong and was punished by being beaten by her study companion.

Mr. Wang came over with a slap in his hand in a stern voice. Li Tianjiao had never thought that no matter how cautious he was in his words and actions, he would have to slap the princess on the first day.

Even Yao Niang trembled when she saw it.

"Pa pa pa..." Mr. Wang hit him hard several times.

Princess Zhaoping showed guilt on her face, but no matter how guilty she was, it couldn't stop the humiliation that Li Tianjiao felt.

Although they were not from wealthy families, they were also daughters of government officials and were usually high and mighty. They had never suffered such suffering and punishment, and it was not because of their own fault.

When it was Princess Zhenyang's turn to recite, Yao Niang and Tang Huijun, her two companions, were nervous, because if she recited wrong, they would be the ones to suffer.

This princess looks carefree, but she rarely makes mistakes.

Mr. Wang pondered and said, "Well, there are three mistakes in total."

Then who will slap Princess Zhenyang's palm? Just now, Li Tianjiao was the one who took the responsibility. Yao Niang glanced at Tang Huijun, but Tang Huijun lowered her head and didn't want to stand up.

In this case, Yao Niang stood up and stretched out her hand.

This was almost the first time she tasted fried bamboo shoots with meat. It was spicy and everyone was looking at her, as if she was the one who had memorized it wrong.

“Pah, pah, pah.”

These three hits really hit people's hearts.

Tang Huijun didn't dare to look over. She lowered her head and said nothing. In her heart, she was glad that she didn't stand up, otherwise she would be the one being beaten.

Princess Zhenyang also felt extremely guilty, so she took the opportunity when Mr. Wang was beating someone to death to blow her own hand.

"It's none of your business. Princess, just focus on studying." Yao Niang comforted her instead.

Princess Rong'an was frail, but she was able to recite all of it. Princess Baohua, on the other hand, was trembling with fear and seemed to be shaking with every word. She made mistakes in six words, which were also borne by her reading companion.

When it was Shuzhai's turn to read with them, almost everyone knew it by heart without missing a single word.

Although Mr. Wang was strict, he was not stupid. This was not in line with the royal family, but rather like a girl from a commoner family. She started to explain directly, and Yao Niang took notes while listening. Especially for the parts she did not understand, she marked them down, not daring to make any mistakes.

Unlike studying at home, there was only one teacher at home, and Mr. Wang, the teacher of Wen Qizhai's writing, was the one who taught him essays, and Mr. Le, a famous calligrapher, was the one who taught him calligraphy.

Fortunately, I just typed with my left hand, and my right hand can still write normally.

Yao Niang didn't take the spanking on her palm to heart at all. She believed that what she learned was hers, and she concentrated on writing.

At lunchtime, everyone went to the tea room and waited for the eunuch to bring them the meal.

As soon as Princess Zhenyang sat down, she said anxiously, "I have sent someone to the headquarters to ask my mother to get the ointment. Are you still in pain?"

It was obvious that the princess was not a bad person. Yao Niang certainly could not say that she was fine, otherwise, it would be a waste of time. She said, "It was hot at first, but it was fine after a while. But I advise the princess that when we come here in the future, we should recite the book first, so that the princess will be proud and we will also look good."

"Yes, yes." Tang Huijun hoped that Princess Zhenyang would be good from now on, so that she would not have the chance to be beaten.

Yao Niang saw through her thoughts at a glance and couldn't help but laugh: "Sister Tang, you should also worry more, otherwise it will be your turn next time."

Tang Huijun smiled awkwardly: "Sister Luo, I'm not in good health and can't stand it."

Princess Zhenyang glanced at Yao Niang and Tang Huijun and saw that Yao Niang indeed had a rosy complexion. Although she was younger than Tang Huijun, she was taller. Tang Huijun looked slimmer and was out of breath after taking a few steps.

"Since we have become the princess's study partners, we must share her worries." Yao Niang would not pay any attention to Tang Huijun. She and Tang Huijun were the same study partners. So what if you are the queen's niece? If the queen really had a way, she would have arranged a marriage for you long ago. Why would she resort to this trick?

Besides, if many things are not explained clearly, and she always speaks out, then the first time she is beaten, maybe Princess Zhenyang feels uncomfortable, but after many times, she will get used to it. Yao Niang is not that mean. Also, it is not an easy thing to persuade a noble girl to study. You, Tang Huijun, can't just sit back and enjoy the success.

If a person has no backbone, he will be looked down upon by others. No matter how big the affairs in the world are, they are no bigger than a principle.

Logically, if the gentleman wanted to punish someone, he should have punished these wealthy families themselves, but he punished the tutor. However, since she asked for the tutor, she was willing to endure the pain, but she couldn't accept it as unfair.

It is true that you are the queen's niece, but you are not the queen's daughter.

Seeing that Yao Niang was so awkward to talk to, Tang Huijun didn't know what to say, because she had never met such a straightforward person. Usually, people in the palace smiled on the surface, but stabbed each other in the back in secret.

The lunch dishes were very good. I once heard from Old Madam Dou that at banquets in the palace, the food was often warm in the mouth. It was rare that the dishes and cakes were all hot when the eunuchs brought them to us.

Tang Huijun was usually picky about food. When she was raised in her uncle's house, her uncle was already the emperor's uncle, and the food at home was no worse than that in the palace. She usually ate Wuxi dishes cooked by the chef in the queen's small kitchen, and rarely ate this kind of big pot rice.

When I saw Yao Niang again, she was eating happily. She had been hungry all morning. To be energetic, one must eat. Nothing else could make her smell like rice.

But she would not eat like a wolf, as the maids in the palace had taught her how to eat.

They will be hungry until night. Yao Niang is not the kind of person who pretends to be gentle. She acts like a fairy drinking dew.

After dinner, someone from Princess Zhenyang sent some ointment to Yao Niang, who took it and applied it, and then started to learn the zither in the afternoon. The person who could be invited into the palace to teach the princess must be the best zither player.

Unfortunately, Yao Niang had only studied at home for a short time, and unlike Tang Huijun who was already very proficient, she was extremely clumsy.

Tang Huijun was irritated by Yao Niang before, but now she feels proud again when she sees that Yao Niang is not as good as her in piano skills. Yao Niang secretly observes everyone's fingering and tries to figure it out by herself. She always thinks that many things are just a matter of practice.

But after learning the qin, one starts to learn the five rituals, which include auspicious rituals, fierce rituals, military rituals, guest rituals, and auspicious rituals. Even after learning the five rituals, one has to learn arithmetic and archery.

Although Yao Niang is inferior to Tang Huijun in the art of playing the zither, she is very talented in archery.

Maybe it was because she was active, so she could run very fast and shoot arrows with great strength.

Princess Zhenyang clapped her hands and smiled: "Great, I didn't expect you to be really good at archery. Even though it's not as good as mine, if you work hard in the future, you may be able to succeed."

"That's because I'm with the princess. If I were at home, I wouldn't have this opportunity. If my father and mother knew that I had learned this, they would definitely be very happy."

Anyway, just put Princess Zhenyang in front whenever and wherever possible.

At the end, Princess Zhaoping had already begun to doze off, while Li Tianjiao and Wang Yuanshuang were still waiting, not daring to speak. When Yao Niang and Princess Zhenyang finally returned, the three of them were too tired to speak, especially Tang Huijun, who no longer wanted to talk.

Princess Zhenyang was very interested in everything outside the palace. She heard that Yao Niang had taken a boat ride and so on, and asked her, "What do you usually do at home?"

"At home, I just do needlework. Occasionally, I take my younger brother to the garden to play skipping rope and shuttlecock. My younger brother likes to make things made of grass, so I will occasionally make one or two as well." Yao Niang said with a smile.

Princess Zhenyang was immediately delighted: "You can do those things now? Do them for me sometime."

Yao Niang shook her head and said, "Sometimes I don't do it because I'm always afraid that I won't do it well."

The two of them walked to the end of the house whispering to each other, and the three of them went to see Concubine Hong together. Concubine Hong's house was filled with orchids, which reminded Yao Niang of the Luo residence in her hometown of Gaoping. She remembered that there were also many pots of orchids there.

The windows here of Concubine Hong were all inlaid with glass, which looked particularly translucent. The interior was decorated ornately. She herself was wearing a red gold armor inlaid with jade beads, and was looking at them with a smile.

Princess Zhenyang bowed casually and then hurriedly went forward to sit next to Concubine Hong, "Mother."

"How was your day?" Concubine Hong looked at Princess Zhenyang with a smile.

Princess Zhenyang naturally would not mention the fact that she made a mistake and Yao Niang was beaten. She would not expose her shortcomings herself, and at most she might talk about it in private.

Yao Niang also remained motionless, not revealing anything. Tang Huijun breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time thought sadly, if she was slapped on the hand, would she also ignore it like this?

After hearing what Princess Zhenyang had said, Concubine Hong laughed and said, "I was so excited talking that I forgot about you." Then she asked the maids to bring an embroidered stool for Yao Niang and Tang Huijun to sit on.

"We only met briefly yesterday, and I don't know how your family is doing, Miss Luo. You are so young, your family must be worried, right?"

Yao Niang smiled and said, "My family is only worried that I am stupid and a burden to the princess. My mother asked me to study hard and learn more about the ups and downs of my appearance, so that I don't have to be like this all the time in the future."

Concubine Hong held her hand and said, "I see your parents taught you very well. I heard that your sister also married into the royal family?"

"Yes, it's my uncle's eldest sister who married Prince Fenyang's second son, Duke Cheng." Yao Niang would of course also talk about her family's advantages. She was not stupid. Living in the palace, there were the most snobbish people. If you really make yourself sound pitiful, people would not sympathize with you, but instead think you were easy to bully.

Concubine Hong looked Yao Niang up and down again and couldn't help saying, "You suffered a lot today. I also told your princess to let her study hard so that you won't have to suffer." She saw that the child was particularly beautiful, shining like a pearl in the dark night. But when she sat there, she looked radiant.

Just now she deliberately ignored the child, and there was no resentment or grievance on her face, and even her words were clear. An eight-year-old girl had reached such a state, and Concubine Hong had to look up to her and felt that she was sensible and clever.

Yao Niang immediately looked terrified: "It is my duty to share the princess's worries. It is not a burden. Master Hong is really embarrassed to say that. Besides, in my opinion, the princess is already very good."

Concubine Hong smiled and said, "My dear child, it's hard for you to make it right for her. I love you so much. I have a pair of sandalwood bracelets from Annan. You can play with them. Oh, yes, there is also a spotted stone inkstone."

"How can I deserve such a reward?" Yao Niang declined quickly. She glanced at Tang Huijun again and didn't want it.

In all matters, the problem is not the lack of wealth but the inequality. Unless Concubine Hong gave it to me privately, giving it to her in public like this would create unfairness.

Concubine Hong then said that she had another gift for Tang Huijun, and Yao Niang accepted it.

But at this time, Concubine Hong really treated Yao Niang differently. When a person was praised, she did not change her expression at all, nor was she proud. She was just worried whether this behavior would cause bad consequences. This was indeed very smart.

For a moment, after receiving the reward, Yao Niang also felt that it was no wonder that Concubine Hong could become the eldest prince's favorite concubine. She was indeed very good at using both kindness and power, and clearly distinguishing rewards and punishments. She first deliberately left her alone, and then showed concern and favoritism to her. If she were an ordinary girl, she would have been overjoyed.

Finally, after she looked at Tang Huijun, she immediately gave her a gift, as if everything was because of her. In fact, she had already prepared two gifts.

He is indeed very skillful and can win people's hearts.

Xiulin and Xiujuan were very happy to receive the gift on the first day. Yao Niang smiled and said, "Please keep it and put it in the box and lock it for me. Then ask someone to bring hot water. I need to wash up."

Having said that, he yawned again.

Xiulin felt that this master was very easy to serve. For example, after washing up, lighting a lamp and reading for a while, he went straight to sleep. He also took the initiative to let them sleep on the footstool and the beauty couch respectively.

Because there was no ice in the wing rooms where the palace maids lived, only Miss Luo and Miss Tang's rooms had ice.

In the past, Yao Niang also loved to think a lot, but later she figured it out. Nothing is more important than sleeping. Only when you sleep well can you be energetic!

Yao Niang was sleeping soundly, but Tang Huijun was very worried. She wanted to just say she was sick the next day. But if she pretended to be sick after just one day, the Queen's aunt and Concubine Hong would think she was too weak to be of any use.

Before daybreak, Xiulin pushed Yao Niang to get up. Yao Niang quickly got up and dressed neatly. Fortunately, she had packed her school bag yesterday, so she only had to go to Princess Zhenyang's place.

But she said that when she and Tang Huijun went to Princess Zhenyang's place, she heard a gentle female voice coming from inside, "You, you insisted on talking to me in the middle of the night yesterday, and I couldn't sleep. Look, you're going to stay in bed today."

Princess Zhenyang hasn't gotten up yet. Yao Niang is speechless. She is a very punctual person. She can stay in bed when she has nothing to do on weekdays. It's okay for her to play at Yu's place for a whole day. But as long as there is a schedule, she will arrive early.

But she didn't know what to say at this moment. Tang Huijun also had a sallow face and white lips. She was already suffering enough, and now she was the one who was lazy in bed.

When they entered the inner room, they saw a woman, about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a slightly plump figure, an oval face, watery almond eyes, and gentle and amiable manners.

When she saw Yao Niang and Tang Huijun, she hurried forward and said with a smile, "It's all my fault. I let her sleep with me yesterday, but I didn't expect it would be late today. You two should sit down first. I just happened to have two baskets of tofu skin buns stored here. How about you try them first?"

Now there was nothing to do but to do so. Seeing that this girl was very familiar with Princess Zhenyang in every way, Yao Niang thought that she must be Miss Hong Shuyi, the cousin of Concubine Hong.

I heard that her family is a famous wealthy businessman, but seeing that she is dressed simply, she doesn't look like a merchant girl at all, but more like a girl from a scholarly family.

This girl is well-mannered and polite, and the tofu skin buns in her home are indeed delicious. Yao Niang enjoyed the meal and praised Hong Shuyi very much.

However, Tang Huijun snorted in her heart. This Hong Shuyi really treated Princess Zhenyang as her own. It was clearly she who came to find Princess Zhenyang and caused her to be late. Now she was asked to take the blame and be a good person.

But then they will be the ones who suffer the consequences?

Yao Niang only ate tofu skin buns, drank a cup of butter tea after eating, and went to the toilet. Finally, she and Princess Zhenyang and others came in breathlessly at the last moment.

As soon as she sat down, she started to recite the lesson. Princess Zhenyang fell asleep as soon as she came because she didn't sleep much the previous day. Tang Huijun was very worried. What if Princess Zhenyang made a mistake again today? She was immediately anxious.

Seeing her like this, Yao Niang sneered in her heart. If you had discussed with me yesterday and we had been fair, perhaps we could have persuaded Princess Zhenyang together. But you treated me like a fool yesterday and wanted me to take the beating for you every day. Humph, you should try this first.

Only when one suffers can one understand what it means that unity brings mutual benefit while separation brings mutual loss.

Sure enough, Princess Zhenyang made ten mistakes when she was reciting today. Yao Niang naturally did not do anything, so Tang Huijun had to stretch out her hand in the end and was scolded and spanked ten times in total.

Tsk, that hurts.

"Princess, Sister Tang and I are both flesh and blood. Although being spanked on the hands won't hurt any of our bones, after a long time, think about it, who isn't born by our parents?" Yao Niang said this without any distinction of superiors and inferiors.

But at the same time, if you, as a princess, cause your fellow students to pretend to be sick and go home, how will your own reputation be affected?

Princess Zhenyang was not a bad person. Seeing that Yao Niang had lost her smile and Tang Huijun was aggrieved, she scratched her head and said, "I will never be like this again in the future."

At this time, Tang Huijun was a good person: "Princess, please stop blaming yourself. It's not that serious. I believe you didn't mean it."

After hearing this, Yao Niang knew what kind of person Tang Huijun was. She immediately gave up the idea of ​​​​cooperating with her. She smiled and said, "Sister Tang, I am doing this for your and the princess's sake. No matter what, the three of us must study hard to avoid being punished. Princess, what do you think?"

"Of course." Princess Zhenyang felt a little guilty. After all, Princess Zhaoping made ten mistakes yesterday, but not one today. She was still chatting and laughing with Li Tianjiao and the others, but she had caused others to be beaten for two consecutive days. It would be fine if she was a servant, but Tang Huijun was the niece of the queen, and Luo Yaoniang was also the daughter of a minister in the court.

Tang Huijun was furious. Luo Yaoniang was only hit three times yesterday, but she had to endure ten. If Princess Zhenyang got angry, wouldn't Luo Yaoniang not have to endure any beatings at all?

What is going on here?

"Princess, come, let me read with you." Yao Niang didn't care about her. Since she was not a partner, she just took care of herself.