When they came out of the prince's residence, it was still dark. It is said that they would rush to Wenqizhai at Yinshi (3 to 5 a.m.) every day to start reviewing the previous day's homework. At Maoshi (5 to 7 a.m.), the teacher would start to check the students' homework, mark the next section that needed to be memorized, and continue reciting.
Then at Chenshi (7 to 9 a.m.), the teacher began to teach, and at Sishi (9 to 11 a.m.), they began to practice calligraphy. Wushi (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) was lunch time, the teacher ate first, and the princesses ate elsewhere. From Weishi to Youshi (1 to 7 p.m.), they learned the six arts of etiquette, music, archery, defense, calligraphy, and mathematics.
In other words, it takes time to study from morning to night. Yao Niang was quite surprised, but also very happy. No matter what, studying from morning to night would reduce many problems.
This is much more than what I learned at home. Normally, I just read most of the day at home and would not start until the morning.
"Second Princess, how many students are there in Wenqizhai?" Yao Niang asked.
Princess Zhenyang thought for a moment and said, "There are my seventh aunt Princess Zhaoping, my sixth uncle's Princess Baohua, and my third uncle's Rong'an."
That means there are four princesses in total. She knows that Princess Zhaoping is the most beloved princess of the current emperor. As for Princess Rong'an, she should be the one who was Shi Yu's study companion in the previous life. It seems that she passed away only a year ago. As for Princess Baohua, she doesn't know.
The area around Wenqizhai is flat and spacious, without any flowers, bamboos, rocks or small pavilions. Near Shuzhai is the teahouse. Princess Zhenyang is a lively person. She pointed to that place and said, "We usually eat in the teahouse."
To the west of Wenqizhai is the library, which is shaded by a large tree and looks quite cool.
It looks like a courtyard from the outside, but it is actually a large horse ranch. This is where you will learn horse riding and archery in the future.
Tang Huijun's face turned slightly pale: "Do you want to ride a horse in the future?"
Princess Zhenyang smiled and said, "Of course, this is nothing. I heard that we will have to practice outside in the future. My brothers are the same, there is no difference."
In fact, the princesses and granddaughters in the palace are educated the same as the men, and there are many talented and outstanding ones, but inheriting the throne is the job of men. It seems a bit unfair.
But throughout the dynasties, only Wu Zetian could become emperor.
Yao Niang thought so and followed them into Wenqizhai. Wenqizhai was brightly lit with lights and candles everywhere. They came not too early. There was already a young girl with a slender neck sitting inside. Her eyebrows and eyes were full of spirits. When she saw Princess Zhenyang, she started to tease her.
"You lazy girl, why did you come so late? Please don't get any leftovers, okay?" She smiled heartily, quite heroically.
Princess Zhenyang was also a darling of heaven, but she was very respectful to this person. She bowed and then stepped forward with a smile: "Aunt Zhaoping, if the master punishes me, you must cover up for me."
Yao Niang thought to herself, this is Princess Zhaoping, the emperor's favorite princess. She looked up and saw her study companions Li Tianjiao and Wang Yuanshuang standing beside her with smiles on their faces, not saying much.
Here, Princess Zhenyang and Princess Zhaoping were talking when a slender girl came in. She had a pale face and seemed to be suffering from a deficiency. This girl was Princess Rong'an.
Compared to the shortcomings of Princess Rong'an, the other Princess Baohua is gentle, calm, and beautiful.
Princess Zhenyang asked Yao Niang and Tang Huijun to pay her respects, "This is my sixth uncle's eldest daughter, and her title is Baohua."
After everyone had greeted each other for a while, they sat down to recite. Only then did Yao Niang discover that Tang Huijun was actually quite clever. Her handwriting was very good, but she felt dizzy and unwell on the day of the exam, so she had not finished most of it.
Tang Huijun also discovered that Yao Niang was in good spirits and had great endurance. She could read ten lines at a glance, had an excellent memory, and was very intelligent. This set off a warning bell in her heart.
In fact, Princess Zhenyang was also a very smart girl. Seeing that Yao Niang and Tang Huijun were both serious people, she did not dare to be distracted. After all, as the master, she was worse than her companion. Wouldn't it be very embarrassing?
For a while, the sound of Wen Qi reading could be heard everywhere. Yao Niang had originally wanted to be known as a "good reader", and now she really felt that the environment here was excellent.
Suddenly, Princess Zhaoping turned to Yao Niang and asked, "Have you pierced your ears? How is it? Does it hurt?"
I thought the princess would ask some profound questions, but she didn't expect it to be this. Yao Niang touched her earlobe and smiled softly, "It didn't hurt much, my mother kept rubbing my ear, and after it softened, she let the maids pierce it. I couldn't get it wet for the first few days after getting it pierced, but it didn't hurt at all afterwards."
Princess Zhenyang was a restless person. Seeing the two of them chatting, she also touched her ears and said, "I'm afraid of pain, so I've never dared to pierce my ears."
Yao Niang touched Princess Zhenyang's ears and couldn't help but smile: "The earlobes are thick. The princess is a blessed person. There is no need to be afraid."
Li Tianjiao couldn't help but feel a little jealous when she saw Yao Niang talking to the princesses and the other princesses. However, when she entered the palace, her family told her to be very careful in front of the nobles, as a single mistake could bring trouble to the entire family. Therefore, she couldn't say much.
Wen Qizhai's husband was named Wang, a famous talented woman in Jiangnan, and she had a very strict temperament.
As soon as she came over, she started to slap me on the back, and hit my hand if I said a word wrong.
Yao Niang thought that everyone should be able to recite it, and even saw Princess Zhaoping talking about it fluently, so she thought she was quite good. However, she never expected that she recited ten words wrong at once.
The princess got it wrong and was punished by being beaten by her study companion.
Mr. Wang came over with a slap in his hand in a stern voice. Li Tianjiao had never thought that no matter how cautious he was in his words and actions, he would have to slap the princess on the first day.
Even Yao Niang trembled when she saw it.
"Pa pa pa..." Mr. Wang hit him hard several times.
Princess Zhaoping showed guilt on her face, but no matter how guilty she was, it couldn't stop the humiliation that Li Tianjiao felt.
Although they were not from wealthy families, they were also daughters of government officials and were usually high and mighty. They had never suffered such suffering and punishment, and it was not because of their own fault.
When it was Princess Zhenyang's turn to recite, Yao Niang and Tang Huijun, her two companions, were nervous, because if she recited wrong, they would be the ones to suffer.
This princess looks carefree, but she rarely makes mistakes.
Mr. Wang pondered and said, "Well, there are three mistakes in total."
Then who will slap Princess Zhenyang's palm? Just now, Li Tianjiao was the one who took the responsibility. Yao Niang glanced at Tang Huijun, but Tang Huijun lowered her head and didn't want to stand up.
In this case, Yao Niang stood up and stretched out her hand.
This was almost the first time she tasted fried bamboo shoots with meat. It was spicy and everyone was looking at her, as if she was the one who had memorized it wrong.
“Pah, pah, pah.”
These three hits really hit people's heart.
Tang Huijun didn't dare to look over. She lowered her head and said nothing. In her heart, she was glad that she didn't stand up, otherwise she would be the one being beaten.
Princess Zhenyang also felt extremely guilty, so she took the opportunity when Mr. Wang was beating someone to death to blow her own hand.
"It's none of your business. Princess, just focus on studying." Yao Niang comforted her instead.
Princess Rong'an was frail, but she was able to recite all of it. Princess Baohua, on the other hand, was trembling with fear and seemed to be shaking with every word. She made mistakes in six words, which were also borne by her reading companion.
When it was Shuzhai's turn to read with them, almost everyone knew it by heart without missing a single word.
Although Mr. Wang was strict, he was not stupid. This was not in line with the royal family, but rather like a girl from a commoner family. She started to explain directly, and Yao Niang took notes while listening. Especially for the parts she did not understand, she marked them down, not daring to make any mistakes.
Unlike studying at home, there was only one teacher at home, and Mr. Wang, the teacher of Wen Qizhai's writing, was the one who taught him essays, and Mr. Le, a famous calligrapher, was the one who taught him calligraphy.
Fortunately, I just typed with my left hand, and my right hand can still write normally.
Yao Niang didn't take the spanking on her palm to heart at all. She believed that what she learned was hers, and she concentrated on writing.
At lunchtime, everyone went to the tea room and waited for the eunuch to bring them the meal.
As soon as Princess Zhenyang sat down, she said anxiously, "I have sent someone to the headquarter to ask my mother to get the ointment. Are you still in pain?"
It was obvious that the princess was not a bad person. Yao Niang certainly could not say that she was fine, otherwise, it would be a waste of time. She said, "It was hot at first, but it was fine after a while. But I advise the princess that when we come here in the future, we should recite the book first, so that the princess will be proud and we will also look good."
"Yes, yes." Tang Huijun hoped that Princess Zhenyang would be good from now on, so that she would not have the chance to be beaten.
Yao Niang saw through her thoughts at a glance and couldn't help but laugh: "Sister Tang, you should also worry more, otherwise it will be your turn next time."
Tang Huijun smiled awkwardly: "Sister Luo, I'm not in good health and can't stand it."
Princess Zhenyang glanced at Yao Niang and Tang Huijun and saw that Yao Niang indeed had a rosy complexion. Although she was younger than Tang Huijun, she was taller. Tang Huijun looked slimmer and was out of breath after taking a few steps.
"Since we have become the princess's study partners, we must share her worries." Yao Niang would not pay any attention to Tang Huijun. She and Tang Huijun were the same study partners. So what if you are the queen's niece? If the queen really had a way, she would have arranged a marriage for you long ago. Why would she resort to this trick?
Besides, if many things are not explained clearly, and she always speaks out, then the first time she is beaten, maybe Princess Zhenyang feels uncomfortable, but after many times, she will get used to it. Yao Niang is not that mean. Also, it is not an easy thing to persuade a noble girl to study. You, Tang Huijun, can't just sit back and enjoy the success.
If a person has no backbone, he will be looked down upon by others. No matter how big the affairs in the world are, they are no bigger than a principle.
按照道理，這先生自己要罰就該罰這些金枝玉葉本人，卻罰伴讀，可這伴讀既然是自己求來的，苦她願意受，但不能不公平。
你是皇後姨侄女不假，可你又不是皇後的女兒。
湯慧君見瑤娘這般不好說話，她也不好再多說什麽，因為她還沒有遇見過這麽直白的人，一般在宮裏的人，都是面上笑嘻嘻，暗地裏互相捅刀子。
午膳的菜色很不錯，曾經聽窦老太君說宮中吃筵席，經常能吃到嘴裏都是溫熱的，難得小太監們送來的時候幾樣菜色還有糕點都是熱乎的。
湯慧君平日就吃飯挑剔，她養在舅家時，舅父已經是國舅爺了，家中吃的不比宮中差。平日她吃的也是皇後小廚房的廚子燒的無錫菜，很少吃這種大鍋飯。
再見瑤娘卻吃的很開心，她本來就餓了一早上，人啊，要有精神，就一定得吃飯，什麽都沒有飯香。
但她也不會狼吞虎咽，之前宮中嬷嬷們就特意教過她們吃飯。
這是要餓到晚上去的，瑤娘可不會裝斯文，就跟喝露水的仙女兒似的。
用完飯，真陽郡主那裏有人送了膏子來，瑤娘收下塗好之後，等到下半晌開始學琴。能請進宮裏教公主的，當然是首屈一指的琴師。
偏偏瑤娘在家裏學的時日短，不如湯慧君已經是很娴熟了，她卻極為笨拙。
湯慧君之前被瑤娘氣着了，現在見瑤娘在琴藝上不如她，此時又心中得意起來。瑤娘暗中觀察大家的指法，一個人揣摩着，她總覺得許多東西也不過是熟能生巧罷了。
但學了琴之後，就開始學五禮，這包含了吉禮、兇禮、軍禮、賓禮、嘉禮，甚至學了五禮之後，又要學術算和射箭。
固然在琴藝上瑤娘輸湯慧君一籌，但是她在射箭上卻很有天賦。
大抵是她常常活動，跑的也很快，射箭也非常有力氣。
真陽郡主撫掌而笑：“好啊，沒想到你射箭還真是不錯，雖說比我還差點，但若日後勤力學，未必不成。”
“那還不是跟在郡主身邊，若是在家裏，怕是沒有這樣的機會。我爹爹娘親若是知曉我學會這個了，肯定十分高興。”
反正何時何地把真陽郡主放在前面就好。
熬到最後，昭平公主已經開始打起瞌睡來了，李天驕和王元霜還熬着，俱不敢說話。瑤娘最後和真陽郡主回去的時候，三人已經累的說不出話來了，尤其是湯慧君，已經不想說話了。
真陽郡主對宮外的一切都很感興趣，她聽說瑤娘還坐過船雲雲，又問她：“你平日在家中玩什麽？”
“在家也不過做針線，偶爾帶我弟弟去園子裏跳跳百索，踢毽子，我那弟弟偏生歡喜用草做的物件兒，我偶爾也會做上一兩件。”瑤娘笑道。
真陽郡主立馬就喜了：“你還會做那些了？何時也替我做一下。”
瑤娘卻搖頭道：“有些時候不做了，總怕做的不好。”
兩人嘀嘀咕咕的走到頭所，三人一并去見洪側妃，洪側妃此處擺滿了蘭花，這讓瑤娘一時想起了高平老家的羅宅，記得那裏也是有許多盆蘭花。
洪側妃這裏的窗戶都是鑲嵌的玻璃，顯得格外的透亮，內裏陳設富麗，她本人手上戴着的赤金嵌翡翠滴珠護甲，正含笑看着她們。
只見真陽郡主随意行禮後，連忙上前挨着洪側妃坐着，“母妃。”
“今日如何呀？”洪側妃含笑看着真陽郡主。
真陽郡主自然不會提及自己背錯連帶瑤娘被打手的事情，她不可能自爆其短，最多就是私下可能說說。
瑤娘也是巋然不動，不露任何分毫，湯慧君也是松了一口氣，但同時又悲哀的想，若是自己被打手板了，是不是也如此忽視呢？
聽得真陽郡主話說完，洪側妃才笑道：“倒是我說的起勁，竟然忘了你們。”說罷又讓丫頭們搬了繡凳來讓瑤娘和湯慧君坐下。
“昨兒見面匆匆，也不知道羅姑娘你家中情況，你年紀這般小，家裏人怕是會擔心吧？”
瑤娘笑道：“家裏人只擔心我蠢笨，拖累了郡主。我母親讓我好生讀書，多學些眉眼高低，日後不總是這般。”
洪側妃握着她的手道：“我看你爹娘就把你教的極好，聽說你有位姐姐也是嫁到宗室了？”
“是，是我伯父家的大姐嫁給了汾陽王的次子成國公。”瑤娘當然也要說一下自家的優勢，她也不傻，在宮裏生活，宮裏勢利眼最多，你若真把你說的可憐兮兮的，人家才不會同情你，反而覺得你好欺負。
洪側妃又上下打量了瑤娘一眼，不禁道：“你今日受苦了，我也和你們郡主說了，讓她好生讀書，如此方不讓你們受累。”她見這孩子生的尤其美麗，如明珠在暗夜發光，唯獨她往那裏一坐，就有光彩照人的意思。
剛才她故意冷落這孩子，她臉上也完全沒有任何憤懑委屈，甚至說話也清楚明白，八歲的小姑娘就到了如此地步，洪側妃不得不高看她一臉，又覺得她懂事靈巧。
瑤娘立馬一臉惶恐：“為郡主分憂原本就是應該的，算不得受累，洪主子這般說起，真是折煞我了。況且，依我看，郡主已經很不錯了。”
洪側妃笑道：“好孩子，難為你還要為她圓，你這孩子，我不知道如何喜歡到心裏去了。正好我這裏有一對安南國進貢的沉香手串，你拿去玩兒，哦，是了，還有一方斑石硯。”
“哪裏擔得如此賞賜。”瑤娘連忙辭謝，她又趕緊看了湯慧君一眼，并不想要。
所有的事情都是不患寡而患不均，除非洪側妃私下給自己，否則這樣當衆給她，豈不是制造不公平。
洪側妃又說另有禮物給湯慧君，瑤娘這才收下。
但此時，洪側妃對瑤娘的确另眼相待了，人能夠被誇獎時，還完全不改其色，也并不得意，只擔心這個行為會不會引起不好，的确是非常聰明了。
一時，得了賞賜，瑤娘也覺得洪側妃難怪能成為皇長子的寵妾，的确是很會恩威并施，賞罰分明，先故意晾了自己一下，後來又噓寒問暖，偏愛自己，若是一般的小姑娘，怕是早就樂不可支了。
最後，在自己看了湯慧君一眼後，她又立馬給了賞賜給湯慧君。仿佛一切都是因為自己，實際上，她早就準備好了兩份禮物。
的确很有手腕，會拉攏人心。
頭一日就得了賞賜，秀林秀娟都高興的很，瑤娘則笑道：“你們且收好，替我放箱子裏鎖好。再讓人送了熱水來，我要梳洗。”
說罷，又打了個哈欠。
秀林覺得這位主子好伺候極了，就比如現下人家梳洗完，點燈看了會書，就徑直睡了。還主動讓她們倆一個睡腳榻，一個睡美人榻上。
因為她們宮女住的庑房沒有冰，只有羅姑娘和湯姑娘的房裏才有冰。
以前的瑤娘也愛多思多想，可後來她就想通了，什麽時候有睡覺大，只有睡好了，人才有精神的嘛！
瑤娘這邊呼呼大睡，湯慧君卻擔心的不行，她想幹脆次日說自己病了算了。可剛來了一天就裝病，恐怕皇後姨母和洪側妃她們都會覺得她身體太弱了，不堪大用。
天沒亮，秀林就推瑤娘起床來，瑤娘趕緊起身穿戴整齊，好在昨兒把書袋整理好了，只消去真陽郡主那兒去才行。
卻說她和湯慧君一起去真陽郡主處時，就聽裏邊一道溫柔的女聲傳來，“你呀，昨兒非拉着我說了半夜的話，吵的我是沒法子睡了，看看，今兒就賴床了吧。”
這真陽郡主居然還未起床，瑤娘也真是無語了，她是一個非常守時的人，平日無事時可以賴床，在郁氏那裏玩一天都沒什麽，但是只要有時辰安排，她就會提前到。
只是這個時候她也不好說什麽，湯慧君也是蠟黃的臉蛋兒，白白的嘴唇，本來就夠受苦了，還碰到她賴床。
她們進來內室時，只見一女子，約莫十三四歲的模樣，她身材微豐，鵝蛋臉兒，水杏眸子，舉止溫柔可親。
只說她見到瑤娘和湯慧君，忙上前笑道：“都是我的不是，昨兒讓她和我一起睡下，不曾想今兒弄遲了。你們二位先坐下，正好我那裏存了兩籠豆腐皮包子，你們先嘗嘗，如何？”
如今也只好如此了，瑤娘見這姑娘處處和真陽郡主熟稔，心想這必定是洪淑怡洪姑娘，洪側妃的堂侄女。
聽說她家是有名的大富商，可見她身上衣着素淡，渾然不似商戶女，倒像是書香人家的姑娘。
這位姑娘舉止溫文知禮，家裏的豆腐皮包子也的确不錯，瑤娘吃的高興，對洪淑怡很是贊揚。
湯慧君卻在心中冷哼一聲，這個洪淑怡真把真陽郡主當成她的人了，分明是她來找真陽郡主，害的真陽郡主要遲到，現在還搞的她擔下罪責做好人。
But then they will be the ones who suffer the consequences?
Yao Niang only ate tofu skin buns, drank a cup of butter tea after eating, and went to the toilet. Finally, she and Princess Zhenyang and others came in breathlessly at the last moment.
As soon as she sat down, she started to recite the lesson. Princess Zhenyang fell asleep as soon as she came because she didn't sleep much the previous day. Tang Huijun was very worried. What if Princess Zhenyang made a mistake again today? She was immediately anxious.
Seeing her like this, Yao Niang sneered in her heart. If you had discussed with me yesterday and we had been fair, perhaps we could have persuaded Princess Zhenyang together. But you treated me like a fool yesterday and wanted me to take the beating for you every day. Humph, you should try this first.
Only when one suffers can one understand what it means that unity brings mutual benefit while separation brings mutual loss.
Sure enough, Princess Zhenyang made ten mistakes when she was reciting today. Yao Niang naturally did not do anything, so Tang Huijun had to stretch out her hand in the end and was scolded and spanked ten times in total.
Tsk, that hurts.
"Princess, Sister Tang and I are both flesh and blood. Although being spanked on the hands won't hurt any of our bones, after a long time, think about it, who isn't born by our parents?" Yao Niang said this without any distinction of superiors and inferiors.
But at the same time, if you, as a princess, cause your fellow students to pretend to be sick and go home, how will your own reputation be affected?
Princess Zhenyang was not a bad person. Seeing that Yao Niang had lost her smile and Tang Huijun was aggrieved, she scratched her head and said, "I will never be like this again in the future."
At this time, Tang Huijun was a good person: "Princess, please stop blaming yourself. It's not that serious. I believe you didn't mean it."
After hearing this, Yao Niang knew what kind of person Tang Huijun was. She immediately gave up the idea of cooperating with her. She smiled and said, "Sister Tang, I am doing this for your and the princess's sake. No matter what, the three of us must study hard to avoid being punished. Princess, what do you think?"
"Of course." Princess Zhenyang felt a little guilty. After all, Princess Zhaoping made ten mistakes yesterday, but not one today. She was still chatting and laughing with Li Tianjiao and the others, but she had caused others to be beaten for two consecutive days. It would be fine if she was a servant, but Tang Huijun was the niece of the queen, and Luo Yaoniang was also the daughter of a minister in the court.
Tang Huijun was furious. Luo Yaoniang was only hit three times yesterday, but she had to endure ten. If Princess Zhenyang got angry, wouldn't Luo Yaoniang not have to endure any beatings at all?
What is going on here?
"Princess, come, let me read with you." Yao Niang didn't care about her. Since she was not a partner, she just took care of herself.