In the tenth year of Yongping, the long-silent Eastern Palace welcomed its new owner. The seven-year-old Jiang Cenyun was officially canonized as the Crown Princess and moved out of Laiyi Palace where the current queen lived and moved into the Eastern Palace.
"Xiaoshan, move that bulky jade bonsai out. Don't let it block the window and obstruct my view of the scenery." The young princess sat on the bed, swinging her feet, and directed the palace servants to decorate the new house.
"My Lady, have you ever sat by the window and enjoyed the scenery? This 'jade tree and white flower' needs sunlight to appear crystal clear. My position is perfect." Yuanshan, a first-class palace maid, replied.
Another palace maid said, "Your Highness, why don't you go to the courtyard and enjoy the spring scenery? Our sweeping might stir up dust and stain your nose and mouth."
"Don't treat me like a child. This Shendu Hall is cleaned every day even if no one lives there. If there is any dust left, the palace maids on duty would have been punished and sent to the Yunting long ago. Forget it, if you think I'm in the way, I'll just go out and play." After saying that, Jiang Cenyun jumped off the bed and ran to the yard.
Several palace maids in the hall breathed a sigh of relief.
"The little prince is finally gone. Without Her Majesty the Queen to control him, the little prince is much more lively than before."
"That's right, Your Highness, you couldn't wait to move into the Eastern Palace just to avoid being confined, right? But I'm afraid these days won't last much longer."
"Are you talking about... the princess's tutor entering the palace?"
"You heard about it too? His Majesty pointed at the Yao family. I think it's because of Lord Chunjun."
"The Yao family has always been a family of scholars, and within a hundred years, they have produced two imperial tutors."
"I wonder how this Grand Tutor will discipline our little prince..."
Jiang Cenyun didn't know that the palace people were discussing important matters concerning her future, but even if she knew, she didn't care. In her opinion, the teacher assigned to her by her mother was just an exquisite wooden sculpture. As long as she burned a few incense sticks and worshipped him regularly, she could go her own way at other times without interfering with each other.
As a result, a few days later, this wood sculpture gave her a warning.
"Cenyun, Taifu Yao will be your teacher from now on. From now on, you must study diligently with her and not slack off." The Queen Mother held her white and tender little hand and handed it to another person.
The man said calmly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness and respect. I will definitely fulfill your mission."
"I understand, my daughter. I will love and respect you well in the future." She smiled sweetly.
The Queen Mother nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave. She still had many government affairs to attend to.
When her figure gradually faded away, Jiang Cenyun said, "Taifu, please go to bed early. I won't see you off."
Yao Yi said seriously, "I have no intention of leaving the palace. From today on, I will be responsible for your Majesty's studies. I will do my best."
"Okay, okay, I got it. I'll tell the Queen Mother that you did your best. Don't worry, just do whatever you want. I have things to do too."
"What is the matter, Your Highness?"
"The entertainers at the Yuefu recently staged a new dance. I plan to go and see it and give my comments."
"Your Highness should focus on your studies."
"How can watching dance not be a schoolwork? In the past, in the music of Ge Tianshi, three people held the tail of an ox and sang eight verses by kicking their feet. Poetry and books appeared only after music and dance were first created. This is the basis of literature." Jiang Cenyun said seriously.
"It seems Your Highness has read quite a bit." Yao Yi nodded gently. "Then I will watch the dance with Your Highness."
Jiang Cenyun thought she had tamed this seemingly old-fashioned young tutor, and she walked towards the Yuefu with her head held high. However, after enjoying a beautiful dance, Yao Yi actually asked her to write a poem to describe her feelings.
This style of finding ways to assign homework even when the other person is having fun...why does it feel so familiar? Jiang Cenyun thought bitterly as he stayed up late to write his poem.
She was well-behaved for a few days, then returned to her old ways and indulged herself in appreciating the flowers. This time, Yao Yi didn't ask her to compose a poem, but to paint.
"Why should I, a grown woman, do things that only men do?"
"Calligraphy and painting are a joy to the soul, regardless of gender. Your Highness doesn't dare to paint. Do you think you're inferior to men?"
"Who dares not!" Jiang Cenyun fell for the clumsy provocation and rolled up his sleeves to show off his painting skills.
A crooked peony appeared on the paper, as if a large pool of ink was splashed on it.
The accompanying palace maids couldn't help but laugh. Jiang Cenyun blushed and handed the pen to Yao Yi. "Since the Grand Tutor wants to teach me, how can he not demonstrate it himself?"
Yao Yi actually picked up his brush and painted a graceful and elegant peony. Everyone was amazed. Jiang Cenyun was stunned and said, "Master Yao, you...how come you can do so much at such a young age? Could you be a mountain spirit?"
"Your Highness has the time to read storybooks. If you put more effort into your studies, you can also achieve the same as me."
Jiang Cenyun was usually very kind to the palace maids, but this time they couldn't help but laugh out loud. She didn't get angry, but said awkwardly, "I will study hard with the Grand Tutor from now on."
When the peonies faded and the lotus flowers bloomed, the East Palace welcomed a new guest.
It was a rainy day, and Jiang Cenyun was feeling a little sleepy. Yao Yi played chess with her, and she took a long time to make a move. Seeing that the situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable to her, she was filled with anger but dared not vent it.
Yao Yi twirled the white jade chess piece, lecturing her while he played. "A gentleman's virtue is likened to jade. As the poem 'Qi Ao' says, 'There are those who are not gentlemen, who are like sharpening and polishing, like carving and grinding.'"
At this moment, the young man slowly walked out from the misty smoke, crossed the lotus pond, folded his paper umbrella, and let her see his true appearance.
Dressed in white gauze and purple, she looked radiant. She murmured, "There is a gentleman who is as sharp as a knife, as polished as a stone. Is this the man you are talking about?"
Yao Yi followed her gaze, looking back and putting down the chess piece. "So it's Li's son. He's the one His Majesty chose as your study partner."
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