Chapter 105 Shen Cong's request was something she was already prepared to refuse.
Under his persistent gaze, Li Nanke had no choice but to reopen the paper and pretend to read it again.
He mumbled, "Master Huang, I can read. The prince only wrote three sentences. Shall I read them to you?"
Huang Sheng gritted his teeth at the sight of that perfunctory attitude.
He retracted his previous assessment; the little girl was not cute at all.
He took the paper from Li Nanke with a disgruntled expression, unfolded it, and pointed to the first two sentences.
"These two points are fine. They simply tell you to tell the truth when His Majesty asks about how you met the Prince, except for the matter of buying grain."
Also, regarding the torrential rain, you and the Crown Prince's wife should keep the same story as the Prince.
"The most troublesome one is this third one."
His finger landed on the third one.
It's a short sentence, only eight characters long.
She refused to be Zhao Ning's study companion.
Huang Sheng glared at Li Nanke, assuming she was too young to understand the seriousness of the matter, and patiently explained the reasons to her in detail.
"Do you know who Princess Zhaoning is? She is His Majesty and Empress's only legitimate princess, the apple of their eye."
Not only are you of noble birth and showered with affection, but you also come from the Marquis of Anping's mansion, and this time the Crown Prince's wife was credited for issuing a warning about the heavy rain.
His Majesty summoned you to the palace, clearly for the purpose of bestowing rewards. However, giving only material rewards is too meager, especially since you are about the same age as Princess Zhaoning.
Therefore, choosing you as the princess's study companion is the best reward, demonstrating both the imperial favor and enhancing the prestige of the marquis's household.
"If His Majesty were to appoint you as a companion to the princess when you enter the palace, how would you refuse?"
"If you refuse His Majesty's decree, that is defying the imperial edict, and defying the imperial edict is punishable by death."
Song Yi was already very nervous about entering the palace, but when she heard the words "losing her head," her face turned pale and tears immediately fell.
"Ke'er, what should we do? Can't we accept the offer to be your study companion? Why...why does the Prince want you to refuse?"
Li Nanke shook his head.
She didn't know why Shen Cong wanted her to refuse to be Princess Zhaoning's study companion, but even without Shen Cong's letter, she would have refused if His Majesty had personally chosen her when she entered the palace.
In her dream, she first met Princess Zhaoning after she was sent to Chen Xu's side.
At that time, Princess Zhaoning was just fourteen years old. She was arrogant, domineering, and cruel, and she often beat her.
She wouldn't want to be a study companion for someone like that.
"Mother, don't worry. Master Huang, don't worry either. I have my own way. I won't be a princess's study companion."
Li Nanke made a solemn vow.
Huang Sheng saw her patting her chest with her little hands, her dark eyes shining like stars, looking confident and adorable.
Thinking back on all the things he had done in buying and selling grain, he couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle to himself.
We've only known each other for a few days, why am I so worried about this little girl?
She's cunning and shrewd; she shouldn't suffer any losses.
"Alright, as long as you know what's going on. By the way, what about that night of the torrential rain..."
He recounted what happened in the palace that night of the torrential rain.
"...If it weren't for the protection of the Prince, the Duke of Xin's Mansion, the Right Chancellor, and others, I'm afraid Zhao Hong would have pinned the blame on you."
Fortunately, the prince arrived in time, even getting caught in the rain, and his fever persisted for two whole days before it subsided.
Only then did Li Nanke and Song Yi realize that they had been on the verge of death that night of the torrential rain.
Song Yi's face was pale, and she looked terrified.
"Thanks to Your Highness, we must express our gratitude to you in person another day."
Li Nanke nodded, "Mother is right."
Regardless of Shen Cong's motives, the fact remains that he saved their lives.
She called Xiao Shun in to kowtow to Huang Sheng.
“Mother has already prepared the Zhiguan Hall in the front yard near the west corner gate. Master Huang will live there from now on.”
During the day, I can come to the Zhiguan Hall to study with you. If you need anything, just ask Xiaoshun to take care of it. You can also leave through the west corner gate at any time.
Huang Sheng felt a warmth in his heart. When he took Xiaoshun to Zhiguan Hall, he saw that it was clean and tidy.
The bedding was all new and warm, clearly freshly aired out today, which made me feel even more at ease.
After Huang Sheng left, Li Nanke carefully recounted Shen Cong's instructions to Song Yi.
"Mother only remembers one thing: I first saw a group of snakes crossing the path, and then the head of the village deduced that a heavy rain might come..."
Song Yi looked serious.
"Don't worry, I won't say a word about what the fairy granny told me in my dream."
When it comes to her daughter's safety, she would rather die than utter a single word.
Song Yi looked worried as she recalled the time when the princess was her study companion.
"Ke'er, you really have a way of refusing..."
She stopped abruptly when she mentioned His Majesty, pointing upwards with her hand, her eyes filled with undisguised worry.
Li Nanke smiled.
"Of course, Mother, don't you believe me?"
Song Yi wanted to say that you are still a child, but before she could finish speaking, she suddenly remembered what had happened since the house was raided.
In just over twenty days, their lives have undergone a dramatic transformation.
All of this is because of Kerr.
She swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue; she figured she should just listen to Ke'er.
If they were to actually enter the palace and there were any dangers, she would protect Ke'er with her life.
"Of course your mother believes you. I only went to the palace to pay my respects to the emperor during the New Year when I accompanied your grandmother. I have never met the emperor alone."
"I...I'm a little afraid that we don't know the rules of the palace and might offend some noble people."
This is indeed a problem.
Li Nanke has never been to the palace before.
"I heard that my grandmother used to go to the palace often when she was young. Let's go ask her."
The mother and daughter went to the main courtyard hand in hand and told Madam He about the possibility of going to the palace to receive a reward.
"...Since it's uncertain when, please keep this a secret, Grandmother."
He's eyes welled up with tears of joy.
"Don't worry, Grandmother knows what's important. She was able to predict the coming rainstorm from the snakes' passage and helped many people. This is also your blessing."
Once you enter the palace, remember not to be complacent or boastful in front of important people.
The old lady then changed the subject and gave Song Yi special instructions.
"Remember, you must never plead for the boss."
Song Yi paused for a moment, then blurted out.
"Why?"
She had just been thinking about whether she could take this opportunity to plead for her husband and get him released early.
Madam He shook her head, her expression solemn.
“This is absolutely unacceptable. We were merely fulfilling our duties as subjects. If our leader has made a mistake, he should be punished.”
"If you ask His Majesty to pardon the eldest son for a small favor, people will think we're using our merit to seek reward. Even if we get the reward, that merit will be completely erased."
Song Yi listened attentively and pondered the words carefully.
Neither Song Cheng nor Madam Zhang had ever taught her in such detail before.
Lady He then explained the palace rules in detail. After listening to Li Nanke talk about the princess's companionship, she ruffled her hair and expressed her full approval.
"Princess Zhaoning is highly favored, and her position as a companion to the emperor is certainly a coveted one among noble families. Our family has long been out of the running among the noble families."
If you actually get the position of study companion, it'll put you in a very difficult position; countless people will see you as a thorn in their side.
Li Nanke nodded with a smile.
"Grandma is so thoughtful. With Grandma around, my mother and I don't feel anxious at all."
Mrs. He gently pinched her nose, her face beaming with smiles.
"You little rascal, I believe your mother is panicking, but your grandmother doesn't see anything about you panicking."
"Oh dear, they're just flustered inside, but they don't show it on their face."
The two of them had dinner with Madam He in the main courtyard. Madam He was in a very good mood today and drank an extra bowl of porridge.
After dinner, I left the main courtyard and just returned to Fanghua Courtyard.
Tao's mother arrived in a hurry and said to Song Yi, "Madam, it's time. Today is the perfect day to catch them."
Li Nanke: ?
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