Chapter 304 The Empress Dowager's Overbearing Favor (First Update)
Princes of marriageable age in the palace were required to study in the Imperial Study every day. In this dynasty, the Imperial Study was located in a side hall of the Golden Palace.
In the Zhao Kingdom, only ministers of the third rank and above are qualified to attend the morning court session in the Golden Palace. Therefore, teaching the princes is the only opportunity for ministers below the third rank to set foot in the Golden Palace.
But you still can't enter through the main entrance.
Led by Eunuch Wei, Xiao Liulang entered the Golden Palace through a small set of steps on the side, and walked through the covered corridor to the outside of the Imperial Study.
“The other princes have finished their lessons. You will now tutor the Crown Prince separately,” Eunuch Wei reminded him.
The princes and the crown prince attended classes together, and their teachers were all highly respected ministers in the court. The difference was that the crown prince's studies were more demanding than those of the other princes; he had to continue his studies after the other princes finished theirs.
The crown prince attended classes with his teachers in the morning and learned how to handle state affairs from the emperor in the afternoon. Occasionally, he was sent out to gain experience.
The only prince who no longer needs to attend classes is the eldest son, Prince Ning.
When Xiao Liulang arrived outside the Imperial Study, the princes were just coming out. The Third Prince, Prince Rui, looked pale and sickly, clearly suffering greatly from the lessons. The Fourth Prince was dashing and nonchalant, seemingly having mastered the material. The Fifth and Sixth Princes looked serious, whether from the difficulty of the lessons or something else was unclear.
Xiao Liulang bowed slightly, his eyes fixed straight ahead, neither humble nor arrogant.
Eunuch Wei bowed to the princes.
Prince Rui stopped and asked, "Eunuch Wei, who is this?"
Eunuch Wei smiled and said, "Your Highness Prince Rui, this is Xiao Xiuzhuan from the Hanlin Academy. He will be giving a lecture to His Highness the Crown Prince today."
“So young…” Prince Rui’s eyes widened.
It didn't say that the official rank was that low.
Compared to that, his low official rank is nothing. This teacher looks only seventeen or eighteen years old, right? And he's already teaching the Crown Prince?
And he looks...so familiar.
Prince Rui stared at Xiao Liulang's face for a while, scrutinizing him.
Xiao Liulang calmly showed it to him.
Prince Rui was not the crown prince after all, and he was not close to the former young marquis of Zhaodu. He couldn't tell that Xiao Liulang resembled him for a while.
"Third Brother, are we coming or not? Didn't you say you'd take Fourth Brother and me to your residence?"
The sixth prince urged.
"They're here! They're here!"
Prince Rui didn't dwell on Xiao Liulang any longer and hurried away.
"Xiao Xiuzhuan, please." Eunuch Wei gestured.
Xiao Liulang stepped inside.
His younger brothers had all finished their lessons, but he was the only one left to continue studying. The Crown Prince was already somewhat unhappy about this, and when he saw that the Hanlin scholar giving the lecture was none other than Xiao Liulang, he was completely displeased.
"It's you?" He almost stood up in surprise!
Xiao Liulang cupped his hands in a light gesture: "Your Majesty has ordered me to come and lecture the Crown Prince."
"You... will teach me?"
What was Father thinking? Why would he send this guy to lecture me? Has I become so insignificant in Father's eyes?
What knowledge could a mere boy with no brains possibly have!
The prince's face turned pale and then red, it was quite a sight.
Meanwhile, Gu Jiao also entered the palace.
She came to visit her great-aunt.
She had the Renshou Palace token given to her by her great-aunt, and entered the palace without any problems.
As she walked past the Golden Palace, she was unaware that Xiao Liulang was inside; she only glanced towards the Golden Palace subconsciously.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony is magnificent. Standing atop a hundred steps, towering majestically under the clear sky, it is grand and imposing, exuding a profound historical aura that inspires awe.
The Golden Palace was the place every official of the Zhao Kingdom dreamed of. Only by standing in the Golden Palace could one truly be called a high-ranking official of the court.
To get to Renshou Palace, you have to pass through the Imperial Garden.
Gu Jiao had just arrived there when a familiar and gentle voice called out to her.
"elder sister!"
It's Gu Jinyu.
Gu Jinyu walked briskly towards Gu Jiao and asked in surprise, "Sister, you've also entered the palace? Are you here to visit Consort Shu?"
Gu Jiao looked at her indifferently.
Gu Jinyu was used to Gu Jiao's indifference, so she smiled and didn't take it to heart. She explained, "Consort Shu is ill. My grandmother was so worried after hearing the news that she couldn't eat or sleep. So she asked me to go to the palace to visit Consort Shu on her behalf."
Gu Jiao hadn't had much contact with Gu Jinyu, but she remembered that Gu Jinyu used to call Old Madam Gu's daughter "Auntie".
Seemingly sensing the change in her attitude, Gu Jinyu lowered her head and smiled bitterly: "Sister probably doesn't know yet, but I not only took credit for the bellows, but I also almost stole your glutinous rice paste. I told Consort Shu that I had an even more amazing invention, but the truth came out, causing Consort Shu to be embarrassed in front of His Majesty, and I heard that it even implicated the Fifth Prince. Now, Consort Shu probably doesn't want to see me at all."
Gu Jiao had no intention of chatting with her casually and didn't respond to her words.
Gu Jinyu said, "Sister is going to see the Empress, why don't you come with me?"
Gu Jiao was about to say that she had not come to see Consort Shu, but before she could speak, she was interrupted by a young man's sharp shout.
"You're that wild country bumpkin!"
Gu Jinyu's expression changed slightly. He turned around and bowed to a young man in brocade robes, saying, "Greetings, Fifth Prince!"
The Fifth Prince is seventeen years old this year, the same age as Gu Chenglin, but two months younger than Gu Chenglin.
He inherited Consort Shu's beauty and was still considered outstanding among the princes who were already very good-looking.
However, Gu Jiao didn't like his arrogant and domineering attitude.
Gu Jiao didn't even lift her eyelids, only glancing at him casually.
The Fifth Prince stopped in front of the two of them, looking at her in surprise: "What kind of attitude is this? Why don't you bow to me, Your Highness?"
Logically, she should kneel in respect, but considering we're relatives, we'll allow her to do a curtsy instead!
Gu Jinyu whispered a reminder to Gu Jiao: "Sister."
Gu Jiao remained unmoved.
The Fifth Prince's anger intensified: "How dare you!"
Gu Jinyu quickly stepped forward and said softly, "Fifth Prince, my sister is new to the palace and not very familiar with the palace rules. I will explain it to her properly later. Please forgive my sister this once, for the sake of my grandfather and elder brother!"
Mentioning the old Marquis and Gu Changqing, the Fifth Prince's expression softened a bit. Even if he was immature, he understood that his maternal grandfather and eldest cousin were his support.
My maternal grandfather has resigned from his official post, but he is secretly working for my father. My eldest cousin must also be making a name for himself in the military.
However, the Fifth Prince still had no intention of letting Gu Jiao go so quickly.
He said coldly to Gu Jiao, "Was it you who caused the trouble last time?"
Gu Jiao looked at him strangely, completely unable to understand what he was saying.
The Fifth Prince sneered, "You've really gone too far! Since you were able to invent those things, why didn't you tell my mother beforehand? It caused so many misunderstandings, and even my studies were questioned and checked by my father. It's all your fault!"
What kind of domineering bandit logic is this?
What does she know and what doesn't she know? Why should she tell Consort Shu, who is completely unrelated to her, in such a grand manner?
Gu Jiao crossed her arms and looked at the Fifth Prince as if he were a fool.
Gu Jinyu quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Fifth Prince, it has nothing to do with my sister. She told me everything. It was my fault for not telling Her Majesty!"
Gu Jiao didn't deliberately tell Gu Jinyu that Gu Jinyu's words were clearly an attempt to take the blame upon himself.
The Fifth Prince, however, was unconvinced: "Don't speak up for her! I've heard all about her! She's returned to the capital but hasn't moved back to her residence, nor has she come to pay her respects to my mother!"
“My sister is married. What kind of married daughter goes back to her parents’ home? As for paying respects to the Empress… isn’t this what we’ve done?” Gu Jinyu continued to wink at Gu Jiao, signaling her to soften her stance.
Gu Jiao remained unmoved.
The Fifth Prince exploded again: "See? See? She has no sincerity at all! She clearly doesn't respect me or my mother!"
The Fifth Prince had been living a very frustrating life lately. First, he was confined to his quarters by the Emperor, and then he was ordered to study diligently and not allow anyone to help him with his homework. His teachers were also much stricter with him, which made him lose all his fun.
Today, everyone had arranged to go to Third Brother's residence, but he had to stay in the palace because he hadn't finished copying the text as punishment from his father.
He was somewhat resentful towards Gu Jiao.
If Gu Jinyu allows it, then we'll give in to him.
But Gu Jiao wouldn't indulge him.
Gu Jiao looked at him and said, "I'm not here to visit Consort Shu, nor am I here to pay my respects to you."
After speaking, she tilted her head slightly, gesturing for the Fifth Prince to step aside.
The Fifth Prince was initially only slightly annoyed with her, but now he was completely enraged.
I treated you like a relative, and I only asked you to perform a curtsy for me, but you didn't appreciate it at all!
The Fifth Prince said coldly, "Kneel down!"
Gu Jinyu's face paled: "Fifth Prince!"
"Get out of my way! Or you'll be punished too!" The Fifth Prince rarely spoke to Gu Jinyu so harshly, which showed that he was truly angry.
Gu Jinyu dared not utter another sound.
Gu Jiao frowned in annoyance: "I'm saying this one last time, move aside."
The Fifth Prince roared, "How dare you speak so arrogantly! Guards, slap this prince in the face!"
Two strong and powerful eunuchs stepped forward and reached out to grab Gu Jiao, but they didn't even touch the hem of her clothes before being thrown onto the grass.
The Fifth Prince was so angry that he jumped up and down: "How dare you commit violence in the palace!" He reached out to grab Gu Jiao.
It's so noisy!
She has such a fiery temper!
Just then, there happened to be a water tank for growing water lilies nearby. Gu Jiao grabbed the Fifth Prince by the collar and threw him into the water tank!
"ah--"
The Fifth Prince screamed.
He fell into the water vat while sitting, getting completely soaked. He quickly grabbed the edge of the vat with both hands and managed to pull himself out of the vat with a large water lily on his head.
The commotion startled Empress Xiao, who was passing by nearby.
The weather was fine and sunny today. Empress Xiao had come to the Imperial Garden with Qin Chuyu, but Qin Chuyu disappeared in no time.
She was leisurely strolling around when she heard the noise and came over. She saw the Fifth Prince sitting in the water vat, looking disheveled and unable to climb out.
Although the Fifth Prince looked somewhat disheveled, he was also quite comical.
The fifth prince was handsome, and with a delicate pink lotus flower on his head, it was truly a sight to behold.
"Ahem!" Empress Xiao cleared her throat, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and ordered the palace servants, "What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and help the Fifth Prince up!"
"Yes!" Eunuch Su personally led his men over and fished the soaking wet Fifth Prince out of the water vat.
In the sweltering summer heat, being soaked in water doesn't feel cold, but it just looks bad.
The Fifth Prince's expression turned even uglier.
The palace servants dared not laugh at him; they held it in tightly.
Empress Xiao strolled over slowly, glanced around, and asked, "What happened?"
"Greetings, Mother Empress." The Fifth Prince bowed with a sense of unease.
Gu Jinyu also bowed and said, "Greetings to the Empress, may the Empress be blessed with ten thousand years of happiness and peace."
Empress Xiao's gaze fell on Gu Jiao, who was standing next to Gu Jinyu: "Which palace does she belong to?"
Gu Jinyu hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, this is my elder sister."
"Your sister?" Although Empress Xiao had never met Gu Jiao, she had heard of her. However, people's brains sometimes short-circuit, and she couldn't immediately recall that Gu Jinyu had a sister.
Moreover, Gu Jiao's appearance is indeed quite unsightly.
Empress Xiao frowned and withdrew her gaze from Gu Jiao.
"What happened?" Empress Xiao asked the Fifth Prince.
The Fifth Prince glanced at Gu Jiao. He didn't intend to complain, but he couldn't stop the eunuchs below from gossiping.
A eunuch scrambled to his feet and knelt before Empress Xiao with a thud: "Your Majesty, this girl has audacity! She actually dared to lay a hand on the Fifth Prince in the palace! If you hadn't arrived in time, the Fifth Prince would have already fallen victim to her poison!"
Empress Xiao's expression turned cold.
Assassinating a prince in the palace? This is outrageous!
"Your Majesty!" Gu Jinyu knelt down, pleading at the risk of her life, "There was only a misunderstanding between the Fifth Prince and my sister. My sister had no intention of killing the Fifth Prince! Please, Your Majesty, see the truth!"
"Wow, the Imperial Garden is so lively today."
At the entrance, came the voice of Consort Zhuang, a voice that seemed to be both smiling and not smiling.
Consort Yu was by her side.
Consort Yu was the birth mother of Prince Rui, and the two had always been close.
This was the first time Consort Zhuang had come out to stroll in the garden since Princess Ning's miscarriage, and unexpectedly, she encountered such a wonderful event.
Consort Zhuang gave the Empress a slight bow.
Consort Yu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I greet you."
The Fifth Prince bowed awkwardly: "Your Highness, Your Highness."
Consort Zhuang seemed to be in a good mood today, a slight smile playing on her lips as she spoke: "What's wrong with Xiao Wu? Did you go swimming because it was too hot? Why are you wearing a flower on your head?"
flower? !
The Fifth Prince's expression changed, and he quickly reached out and removed the water lily from his head.
The thought that he, a prince of a nation, had been publicly shamed in front of so many people filled him with shame and indignation, and he wished he could disappear into the ground!
Empress Xiao glanced at Gu Jiao and sighed, "Xiao Wu and this girl had a little disagreement, and I am currently investigating the matter."
Consort Zhuang smiled and glanced at Gu Jinyu and Gu Jiao beside her: "So, Xiao Wu was pushed into the water by her? With such a big incident, we should call Consort Shu over. After all, Xiao Wu is her own son."
Empress Xiao nodded: "Go and summon Consort Shu."
"Yes!" Eunuch Su went to Changchun Palace to report to Consort Shu.
Upon learning that her son had been pushed into the water, Consort Shu disregarded her illness and went to the Imperial Garden under the scorching sun.
Empress Xiao couldn't remember who Gu Jinyu's sister was, so how could Consort Shu not remember?
With a large red birthmark on her face, she was so ugly she couldn't be seen in public. Who else could she be but that niece raised in the countryside?!
She tenderly held the Fifth Prince's hand, then turned and glared fiercely at Gu Jiao: "Did you push Xiao Wu into the water? I think you've gone too far!"
Empress Xiao said, "Consort Shu, the matter is not yet clear. Miss Gu and this eunuch have different versions of events. Let's hear what Xiao Wu and this maid have to say."
Consort Shu gritted her teeth and said, "I only ask the Empress, did she push Xiao Wu into the water?"
The eunuch beside the Fifth Prince cried out, "Your Majesty! It was her! She beat the servants and pushed the Fifth Prince into the water!"
Consort Shu was trembling with anger. She clenched her fists and, with the last shred of her sanity, said to Empress Xiao, "Your Majesty, this person is my niece. Please hand her over to me."
Empress Xiao asked, "What do you plan to do?"
Consort Shu coldly looked at Gu Jiao and said, "She was born of a mother but raised without one. It is only natural for me to discipline her properly on behalf of my brother and sister-in-law! Guards! Seize her!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Eunuch Qin's voice rang out from afar: "The Empress Dowager has arrived—"
Empress Xiao and the other concubines quickly turned around and respectfully curtsied.
Empress Dowager Zhuang's imperial carriage arrived at the Imperial Garden, its imposing presence instantly stunning the entire audience, much like a golden phoenix spreading its wings.
The Imperial Garden was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Empress Xiao, being the head of the imperial concubines, had no choice but to muster her courage and ask, "Why has Mother come here?"
"If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known you were all so good at causing me trouble. I invited a doctor from outside the palace, and you all blocked his way... shouting and threatening to kill him. What? I've only just returned to the palace, and you're already so eager for me to recover?"
This accusation is so outrageous, it's practically saying they were preventing the Empress Dowager from practicing medicine and plotting to kill her!
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Empress Xiao knelt down with the help of palace maids.
The Empress knelt down, so Consort Zhuang and the others had no choice but to kneel down as well.
"Come here," Empress Dowager Zhuang said indifferently.
These words were spoken to Gu Jiao.
Empress Dowager Zhuang still wanted to maintain a certain air of authority in front of outsiders.
Her real intention was to have Gu Jiao walk to the side of the phoenix carriage, and then she would continue to act as a cold and aloof empress who could bring trembling down the country!
Little did Gu Jiao know that she had misunderstood. She pushed herself up with one hand and got into the phoenix carriage, sitting obediently next to her aunt.
Empress Dowager Zhuang: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Empress Dowager Zhuang: Ugh, I spoiled them myself, I'll keep spoiling them even if they collapse!
(End of this chapter)
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