The two scholars walked and looked around, slowing down their pace at each house they passed.
The scholar at the very front was practically sticking his head out of the window.
"Young master, mind your image. People who don't know us might think we're here to steal something."
These two were none other than Princess Chang Le, disguised as a man, and her maid Jing'er.
Chang Le was pulled back by Jing'er, and she stumbled and stepped on Jing'er's instep.
"Ouch! Young...Young master, it hurts...my foot hurts."
Jing'er sat down on the ground in pain, clutching her foot that had been stepped on and wincing.
Chang Le quickly squatted down. "Silly girl, who told you to pull so hard? Did you hurt yourself? Take off your socks and see if you're hurt."
Hearing the exclamation, a scholar who looked to be about fourteen years old came out.
"What's wrong with your feet, sir? The ground is cold. Shall I help you inside to sit down?"
Chang Le quickly shielded Jing'er behind her, smiling and waving her hands repeatedly, "No need, it's just a leg cramp, it'll be fine in a bit."
Jing'er didn't care about the pain anymore and scrambled to her feet. "Thank you, young master. I'll feel better after walking a few steps."
"Are you sure there's no problem? It's the same if you sit inside and relax."
"It's okay, it's really okay."
The scholar watched Jing'er limp forward with his clear eyes, shook his head helplessly, and thought to himself that the two of them were really stubborn.
After walking a short distance, Chang Le helped Jing'er sit on the railing under a corridor.
Chang Le looked around and saw groups of three or five scholars passing by.
Once everyone had passed by, she eagerly grabbed Jing'er's leg, "Quickly take off your shoes and socks and take a look."
"It's alright, really it's alright, Master isn't that heavy, it's nothing serious." Jing'er looked around nervously.
Jing'er was very cautious. If she was discovered by the steward of the Imperial Academy this time, it would be impossible for her to sneak in again in the future.
She couldn't ruin the princess's important plans.
"Stop arguing. If you're hurt, we won't bother you today. You can come back tomorrow. There's plenty of time. It's alright."
Chang Le disregarded the difference between master and servant and grabbed Jing'er's shoes to take them off.
Jing'er glanced around and, thankfully, no one was passing by. She quickly took off her socks.
Seeing that Jing'er's foot was indeed uninjured, Chang Le breathed a sigh of relief.
"Put on your socks and rub it. We'll go when it doesn't hurt anymore."
Jing'er put on her socks and gently rubbed them, her eyes taking in her surroundings.
“Princess, this place is too big. If the young master has already gone home, then all our searching will have been for nothing.”
Chang Le said firmly, "Impossible. I asked the teacher, and we will be divided into shifts tomorrow. Everyone has to stay today."
Chang Le's "everyone" didn't include herself. She would find Sui Sui later, exchange contact information, and then return to Chang Le Palace.
Once the pain subsided, Jing'er quickly put on her shoes.
The two continued walking forward, and Jing'er muttered to herself in puzzlement, "We've already searched all the younger children living in the front courtyard, where else could the young master have gone?"
"Don't think too much about it. Maybe Su Nan took Sui Sui out for a walk to get familiar with the surroundings. In a little while, you can see the courtyard and the pedestrians. I'll walk closer to the window."
After giving her instructions, Chang Le walked forward calmly.
Every time she passed by a window, the people inside felt their eyes light up.
What a handsome scholar!
Unaware of her own ignorance, she continued walking toward the next window.
“Princess, there’s only one room left. If not, we’ll look in the dining room.”
"It's not mealtime yet, so they can't possibly go to the dining hall. Also, remember to call me 'Young Master' every time you come here, so no one notices anything amiss."
Chang Le was so confident because she had only been in the capital for a short time and had not yet gotten to know the daughters of officials. Apart from Du Yutong, no one else knew her, let alone the young masters of the officials' families.
After walking a few steps, Chang Le suddenly stopped.
A glint flashed in his narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes. "Shh! Don't speak, I think I heard Sui Sui laughing."
"real?"
Jing'er was overjoyed and quickened her pace.
"Second Uncle, this bed is so soft, but it's a pity it doesn't smell nice enough. Shall we go back and ask Mother for some incense to bring and relax?"
"No, we can't use incense here, and we should keep it away from candlelight at night."
"Young Master, we can bring the clothes and pillowcases that Aunt Qiuju made after they've been scented. They'll smell just like home." Yaozu knew this all too well; the scent of his mother's clothes made him sleep more peacefully.
Chang Le heard three people talking inside the room.
She quickened her pace excitedly.
"Sui Sui! I've finally found you."
Su Nan stared in astonishment, "You are...a princess?"
Why are you dressed like this?
Sui Sui recognized Chang Le just by her voice. She opened her arms and said, "Auntie, come and hug me! I haven't seen you in so long. I've missed you so much!"
Chang Le rushed to Sui Sui's bedside in three quick steps and hugged Sui Sui, who was standing on the quilt.
"Auntie misses you too. Today, Auntie came here especially to tell you that a corner of a wall in the back garden of the academy has collapsed. I can go around from there to see you in the future."
As Chang Le spoke, she gave Sui Sui a quick kiss on her little face.
Yaozu had never met the princess before, and he didn't know whether he should kneel down in obeisance.
He tugged at the hem of his clothes, glancing at Su Nan and then at Jing'er.
Jing'er had been by Chang Le's side since she was a child, and she understood the child's nervousness.
"Don't be nervous, there are no outsiders here, and there's no need for formalities. What's your name?"
Yaozu timidly replied, "I am the young master's page, my surname is Zhang, and my given name is Yaozu."
"Hmm, a good name. It means bringing honor to one's ancestors. If you can get into the Imperial Academy, you will definitely bring honor to your ancestors."
"I am Princess Chang Le's maid, you can just call me Sister Jing'er." Jing'er's gentle tone made Yao Zu less nervous.
He gave Jing'er a warm smile and greeted her, "Hello, Sister Jing'er."
Su Nan quickly closed the door and said with a serious expression, "Your Highness, if this is discovered, we will be the ones in trouble."
The Imperial Academy has more than twenty rules, one of which is that anyone who trespasses into the girls' classroom will be expelled from the academy.
Chang Le rubbed Sui Sui's little face and glanced at Su Nan: "Su Er, are you blind? The school rules say that you are not allowed to enter the girls' school without permission. Those rules are for men, what does it have to do with me?"
Su Nan: "..."
"Princess, you're just pretending to be ignorant. What do the rules of the academy mean...?"
"Stop, stop, stop whining like a girl. I'll be more careful next time, okay?"
Seeing that Su Nan was so anxious that his face turned red, Chang Le felt a little guilty and said...
Su Nan glanced out the window and said, "Please, little ancestor, don't say 'later.' This isn't your palace where you can come and go as you please. Do you know that men and women are different?"
"Yes, of course I know! I didn't go to any other rooms, and there's no one else here. My nephew lives here, so of course I came here," Chang Le said matter-of-factly.
Su Nan almost laughed out of anger at her.
Suddenly, someone knocked softly on the door.
"who!"
Chang Le and Su Nan stopped arguing, and the atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.
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