The two princes' curiosity about Wu Qing was not out of thin air.

The reason was actually a "careless" remark made by Princess Xiyan.

According to royal rules, the princes had to get up early every morning.

After getting up, I would read for an hour. After having breakfast, I would go to the study to listen to the teacher's teachings.

The relationship between the eldest prince and the second prince had long been as stiff as an icy ridge in winter.

There seemed to be an invisible wall between the brothers, and their friendship disappeared completely in the increasingly fierce party struggles.

Even though they live under the same roof, they can turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to each other, and are reluctant to even exchange a simple word.

Days like this, day after day, are like drops of water in a dry well, monotonous and boring.

But after leaving the study this morning, the two met someone unexpected.

Princess Xiyan was seen walking towards me lightly, holding a box of exquisite chess pieces in her hand.

She has a high nose bridge and lips as red as cherries. When she smiles, she reveals two playful little canine teeth, making her look particularly cute and charming.

"Big brother, second brother, I'm here to play games with you!"

Recalling the time when the three of them lived in the same palace, the eldest prince and the second prince often played chess against each other, each displaying their wisdom.

Princess Xiyan held her little head in her hands and secretly disrupted the chess game.

The princes always turned a blind eye to their sister's naughty behavior. Not only did they not put the moved chess pieces back in place, they also continued to play chess with the chess pieces in the wrong positions.

But now, the relationship between the eldest prince and the second prince is already precarious and in danger.

Their hearts were filled with worries and confusion, so they had no extra thoughts to care about anything else.

Xiyan didn't wait for a response and the corners of her mouth immediately drooped.

She said with a hint of tears in her voice: "I knew you disliked me."

The second prince immediately became panicked.

"How is that possible? Xiyan, you misunderstood. How could we dislike you?"

He has always hated to see women cry, let alone that this woman is his own sister.

The eldest prince also became nervous, "Xiyan, don't cry. You are our sister, we will always love you."

Princess Xiyan is usually well-behaved and sensible, and rarely feels depressed.

But at this moment, her tears kept falling like beads from a broken string, making people feel pity for her.

Xiyan looked at the door of the study.

It seemed like a natural chasm.

Xi Yan said sadly: "Actually, I understand it all in my heart. Because I can't read and write like my brothers, we have fewer and fewer common topics."

The eldest prince and the second prince immediately felt distressed.

Brothers are enemies who will fight for the throne.

But as soon as she was born, Princess Xiyan lost the right to compete for the throne.

So, my sister is not a threat at all.

Seeing her sad eyes at this moment, my heart seemed to be tightly grasped by something and it was in unbearable pain.

The two of them tried their best to persuade Xiyan and took her to have lunch together. During the meal, they kept trying to make her happy, and only then did Xiyan's expression return to normal.

The eldest prince suggested to her, "Xi Yan, if you want to study, why don't you ask your father to find a female teacher to teach you?"

Xiyan's eyes lit up and she said excitedly, "I want to study with my brothers. That will definitely be fun!"

The second prince was slightly stunned when he heard this.

This request...

The second prince thought for a moment and said softly, "This is a bit difficult. I'm afraid my father will not agree."

Princess Xiyan's head drooped quickly.

The second prince smiled and said, "How about this, I will teach you myself? My academic performance is much better than that of my elder brother."

The eldest prince gritted his teeth and said, "...Although my second brother is good at studying, I'm afraid he is still far from being good enough to teach."

The second prince smiled nonchalantly and said, "Teaching and educating people is a win-win situation. Only through practice can we better improve our abilities."

The two of them started to compete with each other again.

Xiyan suddenly said: "Actually, I want Lady Ji to teach me."

The eldest prince and the second prince were both stunned when they heard this.

Auspicious nobleman?

Sounds a little familiar.

Some fragments flashed through the Second Prince's mind, and he muttered to himself: This Noble Lady Ji is now in the limelight in the palace. Not only was she canonized across levels, but she was also given the title when she was still a Noble Lady. She is truly unparalleled at the moment.

The eldest prince fell into memories.

The Queen once specifically told him to spend more time with this noble lady Ji, as if she had some special charm or value.

Xiyan held a spoon in her hand, stirring the porridge in the bowl nonchalantly, and said casually: "Brothers, you don't know, she is very powerful. It is said that she has a photographic memory."

The eldest prince frowned: "I have never heard that she is so talented in writing."

In this palace, if we talk about literary talent, the best one is Concubine De.

Unfortunately, she became a Buddhist since she was the Empress Dowager and was unable to take care of her own daughter Xiyan personally.

Otherwise, it would be best if Concubine De took care of her.

The Second Prince already knew Wu Qing's family background very well. Upon hearing this, he refuted without hesitation: "Her father is only a seventh-rank official. I don't think she herself has much knowledge."

Xiyan retorted: "But my mother said that Concubine Ji is very powerful."

She put her hand to her mouth and whispered, "Even the selection process is in her hands. It shows that the Queen Mother thinks highly of her."

The eldest prince's brows became increasingly furrowed.

What is the Queen Mother's intention behind this action?

Matters like palace affairs should be firmly under one's control. How can one easily delegate power to others?

My mother the Queen Mother and the Imperial Concubine have been fighting for so many years, how could they not know the importance of taking charge of palace affairs?

At this time, Xiyan broke another piece of news.

"Yesterday, I saw Concubine Ji follow the Empress to the upper study."

Xi Yan raised her head, looked at her brothers in confusion, and asked, "When Lady Ji goes to the study room, does she have to study with her brothers?"

The two princes could no longer laugh.

Xiyan may not understand, but how could they not understand?

The upper study room was not a place for idle people to enter, it was where the princes studied.

Of course, Concubine Ji was not going there to study, but the Queen must have had other intentions in taking her there.

Xiyan said she has a photographic memory.

Could it be that...

This is too ridiculous!

The second prince was the first one who couldn't sit still.

He stood up and excused himself: "I feel a little unwell, so I'll go ask for leave from the teachers first."

The eldest prince also found a reason to leave.

Only Princess Xiyan was left sitting there.

She silently picked up the chicken leg that was forgotten by her brothers and chewed it slowly.

You said you loved her, but when something happened, didn't you just forget about her?

Princess Xiyan smiled coldly.