Zhao Xiaoxiong believed it and went back to study by burning the midnight oil.
He copied Lin Zhiya's couplet and posted it on his desk. He opened a thick book and carefully read the tiny words on it.
Zhao Xiaoxiong's eyes ached from reading so much, so he copied down some sentences from the book.
He let out a long breath, and looked at the half-understood sentence above, wondering why his tutor had not come back yet.
Lin Zhiya came in holding a blanket and stepped over the threshold. "The weather is getting cold. Little Bear should put on more clothes when he goes to bed."
"Check in the prince twice across the courtyard, Zhao Xiaoxiong's force value +5."
Zhao Xiaoxiong rubbed his eyes and stood up in surprise, "Mom, why are you here?"
Lin Zhiya was busy checking Zhao Xiaoxiong's bed, and said to him: "Mom, come and see if your quilt is thick. Go on with your studies."
Zhao Xiaoxiong felt a little awkward. He was already five years old, and he always felt weird asking his mother to turn over the bed.
...
...
Watching Lin Zhiya's gentle hand smoothing out the wrinkles on the bedding, Zhao Xiaoxiong was stunned for a while, then sat down and started reading again.
The next day, Lin Zhiya came again with red date soup. As soon as she entered the door, she said, "Mom, I heard that red date soup can nourish the eyes and promote blood circulation."
"Check in the Prince's Cross-Courtyard Check-in three times, Zhao Xiaoxiong's Literature Points +5."
Zhao Xiaoxiong was forced to drink a large bowl of red date soup, and he felt as if what his mother said was true.
Otherwise, how come he can read books more clearly and even guess the meaning of unfamiliar words?
…
Day 3.
"Check in the prince and cross the courtyard four times, Zhao Xiaoxiong's strategy value +5."
Zhao Xiaoxiong, who was doing his homework, turned his head and saw his mother standing outside directing his maids to decorate the yard.
Mother's flowery embroidered skirt looked like a blooming flower, and she wore a ring on her fair hand. She was talking in the yard, and Zhao Xiaoxiong surprisingly didn't find it noisy.
Zhao Xiaoxiong felt a long-lost peace of mind. As he looked at the book, his mother's figure flashed through his mind from time to time.
…
Day 4.
Zhao Xiaoxiong and the Fourth Prince were talking in the room.
The fourth prince surreptitiously handed him a piece of paper and said, "Take these. Father will probably test you on these tomorrow. My mother asked the eunuch to get them with great difficulty."
Zhao Xiaoxiong hesitated: "But isn't this cheating? If my father knew about this, he would definitely be disappointed."
The branches outside were blown by the wind, making a rustling sound, which made the two of them look outside at the same time.
The fourth prince suppressed his anxiety and said angrily, "Have you thought it through? The other brothers have everything. If you don't have it, you will definitely be the last one!"
Zhao Xiaoxiong remained silent.
The fourth prince rolled up his sleeves and stuffed the note away. "This is the test paper that Father wrote for tomorrow. The little eunuch stole it. Don't spread it around."
Zhao Xiaoxiong nodded, and the Fourth Prince asked him again before leaving with the note.
As soon as he left, Zhao Xiaoxiong became a little discouraged. He didn't want to cheat, but he also didn't want to embarrass his mother.
The other royal brothers already know the test questions, can he still do well in the exam?
Zhao Xiaoxiong shook off his messy thoughts and went back to reading.
"Checking in the prince's cross-courtyard for the fifth time, Zhao Xiaoxiong's literature value +5."
Lin Zhiya passed by his window, and her graceful figure was cast on the window.
…
By the evening of the fifth day, the family dinner was ready.
Lin Zhiya walked into Zhao Xiaoxiong's yard holding two freshly picked lotus flowers.
"This is the sixth time that the prince has checked in across the academy. Zhao Xiaoxiong's literature score is +5."
Zhao Xiaoxiong was pondering over the two books left by Master Sun, when he suddenly felt as if an idea had been opened to him, as if all the knowledge had been poured into his brain.
Look at this sentence, then look at that sentence, and you will understand.
At this time, he heard his mother calling him outside. Zhao Xiaoxiong closed the book and hurriedly followed his mother to the family dinner.
It's called a family dinner, but it's impossible to invite all the concubines in the harem. If they were, ten tables wouldn't be enough to seat them.
So the only ones who came were five princes and their mother, and the only princess was biting her fingers and drooling.
Lin Zhiya remembered that Princess Hengning, who was the same age as Zhao Xiaoxiong, was not very intelligent. She was about to take Zhao Xiaoxiong around when a dirty little hand grabbed the corner of Lin Zhiya's clothes.
Hengning yelled, holding onto Lin Zhiya's clothes, drooling from the corners of his mouth: "Beautiful! Beautiful lady, come and play with me!"
Seeing this, Zhao Xiaoxiong only had one sentence flashing through his mind: a child without a mother... is so miserable...
Fortunately, he has a mother. Zhao Xiaoxiong hid behind Lin Zhiya nervously.
Lin Zhiya gave Hengning a lotus flower and tricked her into letting go of her hand, then she hid aside and started playing happily.
When Lin Zhiya walked in, before she could even stand firmly, the concubines came to greet her, with a mysterious look in their smiles.
"Madam Wanpin is so beautiful today. No wonder Silly Hengning is trying to get close to you. The Emperor will have to praise you when he sees you later."
"I heard that Concubine Wan and Lord Yuan have opened a school. This will benefit the people. I have a nephew who is also a teacher. If Concubine Wan is short of people..."
The four princes lined up to pay their respects to Lin Zhiya, and shouted in unison: "Empress Wan."
Lin Zhiya: "Why are you standing outside? Sit down first."
Everyone sat down in a circle. Since Zhao Chen hadn't arrived yet, everyone just drank tea and chatted.
Lin Zhiya and Zhao Xiaoxiong sat next to each other. Their similar faces made the concubines feel jealous, but what’s the use? They are the ones who are in the spotlight today!
The Fourth Prince received his mother's gaze and patted his chest, saying, "Don't worry, I have studied the test questions in advance."
Lin Zhiya saw their little movements and thought that there was an undercurrent.
The eldest prince's mother was Concubine Xuan, who already had wrinkles on her face. She said in a veiled way, "Don't worry, Concubine Wan. The fifth prince is still young, and his days of being in the spotlight are still to come."
Lin Zhiya raised her eyebrows and looked at her calmly, "Oh, you know it again?"
You know that Zhao Xiaoxiong can't beat you today? You also know that Zhao Xiaoxiong's days of being in the limelight are in the future, what about yin and yang?
Are you referring to Zhao Chen wanting to make Zhao Xiaoxiong the crown prince? You are amazing.
Concubine Xuan didn't expect Lin Zhiya to be so disrespectful and was stunned for a moment.
At some point, Princess Hengning ran over and tried to grab the orchid hanging from Concubine Xuan's clothes.
Lin Zhiya: "Hey, Hengning, let go."
Concubine Xuan was frightened by Hengning's heavy claws and stood up, knocking over the cup on the table and almost getting soaked.
After calming down, Concubine Xuan angrily ordered people to take Hengning away, and Hengning burst into tears.
"Who brought this silly girl here? It would be better if she stayed in the palace!"
Lin Zhiya was speechless: "I ordered that the emperor wants to hold a family banquet, so of course he wants everyone to come."
Xuan Jieyu reluctantly sat down and squeezed out the words from between her teeth: "Yes, whatever Concubine Wan says is what it is."
Lin Zhiya almost got angry, but then she thought it wasn't worth it, so she sat there calmly.
While no one was looking, the Fourth Prince tugged at Zhao Xiaoxiong's arm and said, "You still have time to ask for the note now, or you will be embarrassed today."
The Fourth Prince directed Zhao Xiaoxiong to look at the First Prince and the Second Prince, who looked like they had already won, and said anxiously, "If we weren't on the same front, I wouldn't care about you."
Zhao Xiaoxiong lowered his head stubbornly, "But this is not good."
Zhao Xiaoxiong looked at his mother worriedly. If he was scolded by his father in front of his mother, his mother would be very disappointed, right?
Zhao Xiaoxiong racked his brains, "Fourth brother, please don't cheat, we just need to answer the questions carefully."
The fourth prince choked and said, "I won't talk to you anymore. If you don't know how to do it, just say what my elder brother said in a different way, and you won't get scolded."
At this moment, the maid's voice was suddenly heard: "Your Highness, what did you drop? I will help you pick it up."
The slip of paper was placed on the table. When Lin Zhiya took a look, she found that it was a slip of paper filled with answers. Not only her, but everyone else had the word "cheating" in their mind.
Lin Zhiya coughed dryly, "Whoever puts away their things quickly, it won't be so simple when the emperor comes."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Third Prince jumped up in anger, slapped the small note and demanded, "Brother! Why is yours different from the one you gave me?"
The eldest prince panicked and stuffed the note back into his sleeve, "What are you talking about? Stop talking, there are so many people watching."
This sentence was like stirring up a hornet's nest. The Third Prince could no longer control himself. "You said you got Father's test papers from Fourth Brother. Give me a copy. Why are mine different from yours?"
Several concubines looked at each other, and Concubine Xuan looked particularly unhappy. She took the lead in persuading, "Brothers, let's talk about it in private."
The Third Prince was unwilling and pressed on: "I trusted you so much, and you deceived your brothers like this? You like to cheat and show off, right? I'll tell Father right now!"
The eldest prince held him back with a tearful face, "Third brother, tell father that none of us will have a good ending."
Lin Zhiya also understood what was going on and thought that this time she had made a big fuss and was asking for trouble.
The eldest prince got Zhao Chen's test questions from the fourth prince. He told the third prince, but he didn't want the third prince to answer them, so he gave him other test questions.
The third prince was overjoyed for nothing and found out that he had been plotted against. No wonder he was so angry.
Lin Zhiya smiled secretly, it seems that the princes have no less drama than the concubines.
Where is Xiao Xiong? Lin Zhiya turned around to look for Zhao Xiaoxiong, who was sitting in the shadows with his back straight, his face very serious.
She felt more relieved that the little bear would not get involved in these matters.
The Third Prince saw everything clearly and said, "Who told you to drop the note? The palace maids and eunuchs all knew that we cheated. It's really embarrassing to have a brother like you."
Concubine Xuan came out to smooth things over again, "It's normal for brothers to fight and quarrel. Don't get angry, Third Prince. I'll ask him to apologize to you later."
Although she said this, she was already furious and could not show off in front of the emperor.
Everyone sat in a circle again. Only the night wind blew on the table. The atmosphere was very cold and no one spoke.
The lanterns in the distance were swaying, and Lin Zhiya's hair was blown up. She tidied it up leisurely.
Zhao Chen arrived at this time, and saw at a glance that Lin Zhiya was calm and composed, unlike everyone else who had strange thoughts written all over their faces.
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