Chapter 17 The Daily Life of the Eldest Princess
During this time, Chen Yanqing stayed by Li Yuanzhao's side and finally figured out some things.
The princess's mansion, which His Majesty specially built outside the palace for the eldest princess, was comparable in scale to a prince's residence and was incredibly luxurious, yet this prince rarely set foot there.
Most of the time, she stayed at the Xihe Palace within the palace grounds, instead using the mansion outside the palace as a place to keep idle people.
I heard that there are many staff members inside, but she rarely goes to see them, even once every ten days or half a month.
The only thing she probably liked was that androgynous little bell.
He occasionally saw people leaving her bedchamber, unaware of what illicit affair the two had just committed.
Li Yuanzhao seemed to prefer quiet and disliked noise from others.
Once, he spoke up without being asked, and she punished him by making him kneel at the door for two hours.
Therefore, although there were hundreds of palace maids and guards in Xihe Palace, they all kept quiet and did their own job, never approaching the princess.
On ordinary days, the only person who can serve him closely is Ru Mo.
This woman was also an extraordinary person; she could serve tea and water and attend to the emperor's writing and writing, and she could also carry a sword to protect him.
I heard that he even took on the duties of managing all the affairs of the princess's residence outside the palace, as well as the job of the guard commander.
She just seemed to dislike him a lot, and never gave him a kind look.
He tried to be friendly a few times, but was simply ignored. After hitting a wall a few times, he gave up on the idea of starting a conversation.
What's even stranger is that the palace maids were very enthusiastic towards him when he first arrived. They greeted him with smiles and even whispered to him what the princess liked to eat and what she should avoid.
Unexpectedly, a few days later, everyone started avoiding him like the plague.
When they saw him again, they all acted as if they had seen a snake or scorpion, either lowering their heads and walking quickly or taking a detour to avoid him.
His eyes were evasive and fearful, as if he were tainted by some kind of lingering bad luck.
This made his already stifling life even more stifling.
Only after becoming Li Yuanzhao's personal bodyguard did he realize that the princess was completely different from what he had imagined.
He had heard about this pampered princess's manners from storytellers in the streets and taverns.
She was nothing more than a domineering woman who, relying on her royal bloodline, acted arrogantly, indulged in extravagance and debauchery, and was lawless.
Every day, besides having palace maids serve him with his makeup and dressing up, he would sit high on a red-wheeled carriage, parading through the city with his entourage.
They would abduct handsome men from the street, take them to their mansions, and indulge in nightly revelry and pleasure.
Or she might just punish a few disobedient ministers in court to show off her imperial power.
Unexpectedly, what he saw with his own eyes was a completely different scene.
The Great Qi Dynasty held a grand court session every five days and a smaller court session every two days.
On days when court assemblies were held, this eldest princess would get up before dawn to practice riding, archery, and swordsmanship.
When the clock struck Chen (7-9 AM), he went to court.
After noon, he would either have lunch with the emperor or eat alone in a side hall.
Starting at Shenshi (3-5 PM), he began to meet with court officials and handle government affairs.
It wasn't until the hour of You (5-7 PM) that he went to the Wenhua Hall to study under the Grand Tutor, researching classics, history, and policy essays, and discussing the way to govern the country.
After bathing and changing clothes at Hai Shi (9-11 PM), the candlelight in the bedroom would always stay on until the middle of the night.
When he was on night duty, he often saw her silhouette reading through the window paper.
If she didn't attend court, after practicing martial arts, she would go directly to the Hall of State Affairs to discuss and handle government affairs until lunchtime, after which she would go to study.
This recurring schedule filled every minute with martial arts training, court attendance, governance, and further studies.
Chen Yanqing was secretly amazed. Not to mention that there was no one else in the imperial family who worked so hard, there were probably very few civil and military officials in the entire court who could cultivate both civil and military skills to this level.
Perhaps he is only now beginning to believe that the princess's current power is not solely due to her father's favor.
Even so, the urge to escape never died out.
Ever since he realized that Li Yuanzhao seemed to have no intention of killing him anymore, his mind began to stir.
He was an ambitious man who wanted to make a name for himself in the capital.
A high-ranking monk once touched his forehead and predicted that he had the appearance of "a rhinoceros horn penetrating the crown of his head," and that one day, when the winds of change came, he would surely "ascend to the throne and reach the pinnacle of the world."
Unexpectedly, when he arrived in the capital full of ambition, he encountered this incident and inexplicably became a bodyguard under the Princess.
Moreover, he originally thought that Li Yuanzhao had taken a fancy to him, which was why he had snatched him back.
All the torment was just to make him submit and willingly become her devoted subject.
To everyone's surprise, Li Yuanzhao really only regarded him as a dispensable guard.
They made him pay his respects morning and evening and attend to him every day, but apart from giving him orders, they almost never looked at him properly.
A true man lives between heaven and earth; how can he remain subservient to others for long!
It is widely rumored that the second prince, being the only prince, will inevitably inherit the throne.
The powerful officials in the court had long been wary of this princess who held immense influence.
If the second prince were to ascend the throne in the future, what good would come of him following this "infamous" eldest princess?
So he hoped every day that he could get close enough to Li Yuanzhao to say a few words and find an opportunity to ask her to let him leave.
Or perhaps she could introduce him to the court officials; that would be a good use of her abilities.
But she treated him even colder than she treated the pair of bronze cranes in front of the palace.
Even Ru Mo could exchange a few words with her on a daily basis, but he couldn't even get a single extra word from her.
That day, he deliberately knocked over a teacup as she passed by, shards of porcelain scattering all over the floor. He thought she would at least glance at it, or at least scold him a few times.
But she didn't even lift her eyelids, and simply ordered, "Clean it up."
He stared at her receding figure, clenching his fists.
He recalled his high spirits when he first arrived in the capital, and looking at himself in the bronze mirror now, dressed in soft armor and black clothes, he felt like a huge joke.
He had great ambitions, but ended up having to be subservient to women. How could he accept that?
On this day, Li Yuanzhao went to the Wenhua Hall to study as usual.
Chen Yanqing stood outside the hall, feeling utterly bored.
Ru Mo stood properly on the other side, like a wooden stake, without moving.
He just couldn't calm down, his gaze kept drifting towards the inside of the hall.
Inside the hall, Li Yuanzhao, dressed in a red palace gown, sat upright at his desk, intently annotating something.
Standing beside her was the Grand Tutor, dressed in a blue Taoist robe.
He was pointing at the book with his eyes lowered, his deep gaze fixed on her.
The long hair, tied up with an ebony hairpin, reached down to her waist and would always brush against Li Yuanzhao's shoulder unintentionally.
The two acted familiarly and intimately, clearly having known each other for a long time.
Chen Yanqing frowned. Wasn't he supposed to be the Grand Tutor?
How can you be so young?
Liu Jinzhang met the man's gaze several times before suddenly asking, "Is that your newly recruited guard?"
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanzhao raised his head and followed his gaze to the outside of the hall, where he met Chen Yanqing's gaze, which he hadn't had time to look away from.
The latter hurriedly turned his face away, revealing a somewhat guilty look.
She responded with a faint "Mm".
Liu Jinzhang paused, his fingers twirling the book. "Haven't you always disliked having men around you?"
Li Yuanzhao remained focused on the article in his hand, casually remarking without looking up, "He's different."
"no the same?"
Li Yuanzhao then raised his head and said seriously, "This person is exceptionally talented. Keeping him by our side will surely be of great use."
Exceptionally gifted?
Liu Jinzhang was slightly taken aback.
This student of mine has been studying with me since he was twelve years old.
Over the years, rumors have circulated widely that she was licentious and unchaste.
But those were all tricks commonly used by court officials.
They exaggerated her mistakes, downplayed her achievements, and even smeared her with rumors.
They thought that this would appease their pride in being "outshone by women."
But only he knew that although she was arrogant, she was also diligent, and her mind was entirely on the court and the world, not on matters of love and sex.
This was the first time in six years that he had heard her describe a man in this way.
His gaze involuntarily fell once again towards the outside of the hall.
That tall, imposing figure was certainly unlike any ordinary guard; there was an undeniable sharpness between his brows, though he looked a little too effeminate…
"If this plan is implemented, the transport of grain and supplies along the Jizhou defense line can be saved for more than a month. What does the Grand Tutor think?"
Li Yuanzhao's voice pulled him back to reality.
Liu Jinzhang then withdrew his gaze, his tone regaining its usual indifference, "It's acceptable."
When it was time to leave school, Li Yuanzhao suddenly remembered something and asked, "Does the Grand Tutor seem to be paying special attention to him?"
The tone sounded casual, but it actually contained a subtle probing.
During this time, she finally saw things clearly.
This chosen one, besides being "immortal," also possesses a mysterious charm.
Some people whose faith is not firm are easily attracted to him.
Those who already have a good impression of him will amplify that good impression many times over, even to the point of being mindless.
The palace maids in her palace inexplicably fell in love with him, and some guards even surrounded him, calling him brother.
Even the cook added an extra piece of osmanthus cake to his food box...
Such power is truly terrifying.
Only those with an iron will and strong willpower can remain unaffected.
What about the Grand Tutor? He must be a man of unwavering resolve, so why would he be interested in Chen Yanqing?
“Your Highness is joking,” Liu Jinzhang said, turning his gaze away. “I just feel that this person… Your Highness should be careful in keeping him by your side.”
His voice carried a hint of seriousness, clearly indicating that he was genuinely offering advice.
Li Yuanzhao glanced meaningfully at the outside of the hall, then suddenly chuckled.
"really."
She suddenly looked up, "Grand Tutor."
The call was very soft, yet it made Liu Jinzhang pause slightly.
"You'll always be on my side, right?"
Ever since the Grand Tutor learned of her ambition, he has always stood behind her, offering advice and strategies, and has never shown any intention of betraying her.
But the words of that "time traveler" were like a thorn, deeply embedded in her heart.
Because Chen Yanqing is the "chosen one," even the Grand Tutor secretly helps him, ultimately helping him ascend to the supreme position.
If the Grand Tutor truly has this intention, then he must not remain here any longer.
Liu Jinzhang's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
"Of course. You are my only... student, and I will always be with you."
Li Yuanzhao's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. "Then Grand Tutor must remember what I said today."
Without waiting for the Grand Tutor's reply, she cupped her hands in farewell and said, "This student will take her leave now."
As I stepped outside the hall, dusk was already falling.
When Chen Yanqing saw her come out, he subconsciously straightened his back.
Li Yuanzhao didn't even glance at them, simply tossing out, "I'm leaving."
These two simple words filled Chen Yanqing with joy, and he quickly followed.
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