The days in the study would be very interesting if one could make good use of them. There was a library next door, where Yao Niang would read and write during her rest time, and she would not chat with others.
Princess Zhaoping was somewhat arrogant, but overall she understood more than Princess Zhenyang. During lunch, she whispered to her, "You should also be more careful. If you often cause them to get beaten, what will you do if something bad happens to them?"
Princess Zhenyang, who was originally just feeling guilty, also understood that although Luo Yaoniang looked healthy, Tang Huijun was a sickly person. If she was really beaten to death or injured, it would be no joke if the news got out.
She was also a little frightened for a moment.
Princess Zhaoping continued, "Although they are our companions in the palace and should help us share our worries and solve our problems, as the old saying goes, if you are worse than them all the time, they will be respectful to you in the future, but they will inevitably give you advice behind your back, which is not a lack of respect."
"They are not respectful enough to us, so they will definitely fool you in the future."
Princess Zhenyang thanked her and said, "Your Majesty's words are indeed good advice. If you hadn't said it, I would never have thought of that."
Princess Zhaoping laughed and said, "There are people standing behind them. As the saying goes, it's easy to meet Prince Yan but hard to deal with the little devil." When she thought of this, she remembered the empress's adopted daughter, her second sister, who married Jiao Jian, the brother of a famous general. She thought this man would be very good, but she never expected that he was so greedy that he spent money everywhere and even allowed his servants to whip officials. When her second sister was alive, he was able to escape disaster. But when she died just last year, this second brother-in-law was put in shackles and put on display for public display.
The third princess is the biological daughter of Concubine Liao. Although she married a brother-in-law who is both civil and military, this brother-in-law died on the battlefield because he risked his life to protect his father when he led the emperor to war. Although he was finally conferred the title of marquis, the third princess had to become a widow at a young age.
When her two sisters were in the palace, they were all royal ladies, but so what? When they leave the palace and set up their own houses in the future, their current companions can also be used as favors for them to interact with in the future.
Even her third brother, Prince Heng, still wanted to pull this and that. Seeing that her father doted on her, Concubine Liao treated her politely and gave her two best family members to study with. But when she got married, she would be far away from her father, and even live in a separate house from her husband, with countless eunuchs and maids getting in the way.
She went with her two study companions for no reason. The daughter of the prime minister and the daughter of the governor became enemies instead of friends. Isn't that a waste of my father's kindness?
Regardless of whether Princess Zhenyang could understand or not, Princess Zhaoping went back to talking to Li Tianjiao and Wang Yuanshuang, "At the end of this year, my father will hold an ice skating event in the back garden. You can join me then. We'll sit on the ice bed and let them push us around. It'll be fun."
Li Tianjiao and Wang Yuanshuang were both delighted, as they had finally followed the right person, Princess Zhaoping.
Princess Zhaoping continued, "The soldiers will also perform special skills such as the Golden Rooster Standing Alone, Nezha Making Trouble in the Sea, the Twin Flying Swallows, the Thousand-Jin Fall, and the Giant Scorpion. There will also be some acrobatics on the ice. It will be as lively as we want."
"Then we are really blessed by the princess." Li Tianjiao smiled.
When Tang Huijun heard all this, she couldn't help but feel extremely envious. However, Yao Niang felt that Princess Zhaoping was a very good person. No wonder the emperor doted on her so much. Apart from the fact that she was an old girl, she was indeed considerate of others.
In the second half of the afternoon, Tang Huijun played the piano. Today, her hands hurt. Princess Zhenyang was afraid that others would say that she had caused others to get beaten, so she did not prepare any ointment. As a result, Tang Huijun's piano playing was not as good as yesterday.
Yao Niang just reads and doesn't say anything else. Good words are spoken to those who can understand them. To those who can't understand, it's useless to say anything.
After returning from school, they heard that the eldest prince was with Concubine Hong, so the three of them went back to their rooms first.
After a while, a little palace maid brought Tang Huijun some ointment for bruises. Actually, being spanked on the hands was not serious enough to require ointment, but it showed that it was a good thing that Princess Zhenyang thought of this.
For several days in a row, Princess Zhenyang recited the text fluently without missing a single word, which made Yao Niang and Tang Huijun breathe a sigh of relief.
Soon, they found out that it was Hong Shuyi's credit. Princess Zhenyang smiled and said, "Luckily, I have cousin Hong, who always thinks of me. That's why I have been praised by the teacher these days."
Yao Niang was also very grateful: "I really have to thank Miss Hong. The last time I went to the princess's place, she gave me some tofu skin buns to eat."
"Oh, by the way, the ointment I gave you last time was also given by my cousin. How was it? Did you use it?" Princess Zhenyang said to Tang Huijun again.
Unexpectedly, it was all Hong Shuyi's doing. Tang Huijun didn't feel grateful at all. Instead, she felt that she was meddling too much. The princess was studying with her and Luo Yaoniang as companions. What did it have to do with her?
But Tang Huijun still said, "I really have to thank Miss Hong. It's hard for us to see each other so often, and she never said anything."
After hearing this, Princess Zhenyang felt that Hong Shuyi was even better, and she praised her again, "I have always said that my cousin is better than my biological sister. You see, this is the truth. She can think of anything for me that I haven't thought of."
Yao Niang and Tang Huijun both smiled along, but Yao Niang's original intention was to gain a firm foothold first before mentioning anything else.
As for why Princess Zhaoping was able to offer some advantages, it was because she was the daughter of the current emperor, while Princess Zhenyang was only the daughter of the eldest prince. The eldest prince was already in an awkward position, and he himself could not do anything out of the ordinary, let alone Princess Zhenyang.
Some people also said to Concubine Hong: "Originally, our princess was playful, but in fact, she was very smart. Only Miss Hong could persuade her and make her good. Now she recites every word correctly every day and has received many compliments from Mr. Wang in the upper study."
Concubine Hong took a sip of tea and said, "Shu girl is always considerate. I can't find anyone more meticulous and considerate than her."
She didn't care about that, she just asked the palace maids: "Are the small steamed buns with sand filling ready? If they are, please send them to the Third Master as soon as possible. This child is most likely to be hungry after riding and shooting."
It was only given to the Third Master, without mentioning the Second Master at all. The palace maids had long been accustomed to this and did not dare to ask more questions.
After hearing this, Princess Zhenyang couldn't help but complain to Hong Shuyi, "Mother is really partial. Even if my second brother is raised by the first wife, so what? She only loves my third brother."
Yao Niang and Tang Huijun were drinking tea in her room and happened to hear it, but they pretended not to hear it.
In fact, when Yao Niang was in the Zhou Palace, the Zhou King had already been enfeoffed in Anzhou, so she had no way of knowing what happened in the past. After all, she was fat before she got married in her previous life and hardly left the house. She didn't know much about many things, not to mention after she got married. Only one year later, Lin Weinan had an accident, and she went to Anzhou.
I really didn't expect that King Zhou was actually raised by Concubine Lin. Yao Niang only knew that after King Zhou became a vassal, he was a pretentious person who liked reading and studying, and had a good reputation.
Yao Niang remembered King Zhou's younger brother very clearly. He was named King Chen and was very much loved. Unfortunately, he died young.
It was also because of Prince Chen's death that Concubine Hong died of depression and the Emperor was bedridden. Finally, all the civil and military officials requested that a crown prince be appointed, and only then was Concubine Lin's eldest son appointed as the crown prince. After the crown prince's position was secured, Prince Zhou was immediately enfeoffed.
Sometimes Yao Niang thinks that as the ancients said, deep love does not last long, and extreme wisdom will hurt. Isn't it not good for people to be overly pampered?
After hearing what Princess Zhenyang said, Hong Shuyi changed the subject: "You should also spend more time on needlework. On the birthdays of the elders, you can give them some colored silk threads as a token of your thoughtfulness."
"How can I be as dexterous as my cousin?" Princess Zhenyang and Hong Shuyi acted coquettishly.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "Sister Hong, can I ask you for some needlework? I am clumsy and can never do it."
Hong Shuyi nodded: "Just come and ask me. If you can't come, let the girl next to you come and tell me. I will come to you when I am free. We girls should work harder on this."
"Sister Hong is right." Yao Niang looked very much in agreement.
This Hong Shuyi holds Princess Zhenyang tightly in her hands, but she is also a person who knows her limits. It seems that she cares a lot about her reputation as a "virtuous and virtuous" person.
Such people may easily become famous because of their fame, but they may also suffer for their whole life because of their fame.
After school, Yao Niang would do needlework for an hour every day. Especially when the weather got colder, Wen Qizhai didn't have to study so late, and everyone felt much more relaxed.
But Yao Niang never visited anyone anywhere. As soon as it got dark, she would rest and never stay long.
She kept all the needlework she had made. She would give them to her elders when she got home, and also use them for herself to practice. Many things in the world are not difficult. It all depends on practice makes perfect.
In October, when the sweet osmanthus was in full bloom, Yao Niang was already able to embroider osmanthus flowers. She happened to paint a picture of osmanthus. Considering her age, her work was not very bright, but it was passable.
In the autumn, however, Tang Huijun contracted a cough and fell ill. She no longer needed to accompany the emperor in his studies and spent the whole day lying down to rest. The Empress and Consort Hong both sent her gifts.
Therefore, Yao Niang was the only one accompanying Princess Zhenyang to study. Princess Zhenyang said to Yao Niang happily, "Hey, do you think we should let cousin Hong go with me?"
"If the princess thinks it's a good idea, then of course it's fine." Yao Niang dared to conclude that Princess Zhenyang definitely didn't come up with this idea herself, but probably Hong Shuyi wanted to go herself.
Princess Zhenyang said in annoyance, "But I think if I tell her, cousin Hong will definitely not agree, and my mother won't agree either. They both value rules." After saying that, she looked at Yao Niang, hoping that she could give her some advice.
She added: "You are always a person with insights. What do you think?"
Although Yao Niang doesn't like Tang Huijun very much, Hong Shuyi is obviously more scheming than Tang Huijun. If she really comes up with an idea, she might offend Tang Huijun.
How could she possibly do something that would offend everyone?
So Yao Niang said righteously: "Princess, if you want Sister Hong to replace Sister Tang, you have to ask Sister Tang if she is willing. After all, I can't agree on behalf of Sister Tang. If Sister Tang thinks it is feasible, then you can talk to the concubine."
Princess Zhenyang wilted upon hearing this.
It's not for any other reason, it's not that Princess Zhenyang is afraid of her, but that although Tang Huijun is weak in body, she is very sensitive.
Yao Niang also breathed a sigh of relief. In the second half of the afternoon, she was going to learn archery. After two months of training, Yao Niang could already shoot arrows steadily and close to the center of the bull's eye.
Someone was throwing tosses in the pot nearby. After she threw twice, she saw Princess Yongqing and Princess Xing'an from next door suggesting going to visit the garden. It turned out that Princess Yongqing had proposed it to her grandmother, Concubine Liao, today. The Emperor happened to be there and agreed to let them go to appreciate the chrysanthemums.
"Although we are here to appreciate chrysanthemums, there are also chrysanthemums, osmanthus, camellias and hostas in the Yu Garden." Princess Yongqing said to everyone.
Everyone was very happy to hear this. This Yu Garden was indeed a royal garden, with rockeries, running water, and even rare animals. Everyone talked to people they knew in groups of three or four. Yao Niang was also very happy to see Cheng Shaojin. The two of them talked while admiring the flowers.
"Sister Cheng, I didn't say much to you when I saw you before, and I didn't ask you how you were doing?"
Cheng Shao smiled and said, "What else can I do? To be honest, it was hard, but I don't regret it. Concubine Liao was very polite to us, and Princess Yongqing was also a very successful person."
"That's good." Yao Niang talked to Cheng Shaojin while picking up the clean fallen petals with a sachet.
The two of them walked to a stone chair and sat down. Yao Niang used a needle to thread flowers and folded the leaves she had picked up in her hands. Cheng Shaojin also asked her, "How are you? Come to think of it, I always thought you would go to Princess Xing'an?"
Yao Niang nodded: "Princess Zhenyang is innocent and lovely, and I am doing well, but I miss my parents from time to time."
Speaking of his parents, Cheng Shaojin's eyes turned red: "I miss my mom, too. We have to wait until the Chinese New Year before we can go home. Sometimes, I always count the days."
As they were talking, one of them said, "You all want to go home, but I don't want to at all."
Yao Niang looked up and saw that the voice came from Wei Feng. Wei Feng had been in the palace for a few days and everyone else had lost weight except her. Girls of thirteen or fourteen are prone to gaining weight, and she even had double chins.
Cheng Shaojin quickly asked Wei Feng to sit down: "Why is this?"
"My mother gave birth to two older sisters before me. When I was born, they said it would be a boy, but I turned out to be a girl. Unfortunately, because of me, she could no longer have children. At home, they never cared about me and were very picky about me. But in the palace, I had a quiet and comfortable life." Wei Feng said it directly without hiding anything.
Cheng Shaojin and Yao Niang both knew about the situation of Wei Feng's family. Yao Niang also spoke frankly: "My parents are good to me, but my brother is weak and young. My mother is a stepmother and is always very careful at home. I entered the palace just to make others look up to my mother and bring honor to her."
Wei Feng also didn't expect that Yao Niang's biological mother was a stepmother, because she met Lord Luo and his wife at the palace gate that day. They were both very young, talented and beautiful, and seemed to have a good relationship.
Cheng Shaojin knew about the Luo family's situation, so she asked, "Your third sister's mother's family is the Marquis of Yanping's Mansion, right?"
"yes."
"Well, actually she is a very nice person, but it's a pity that her zodiac sign is not compatible with yours. However, I think you are also very good. To be honest, although I have both parents and we are very loving, and my brother treats me very well, but don't be afraid of you laughing at me. Although my brother is a good person, my grandmother has always wanted me to marry her nephew from her mother's side, and my father has always been filial and dared not go against her. That man is good at eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring, and is very good-for-nothing. He just happened to have the opportunity to enter the palace, and my mother wished she could prevent this disaster for me." Cheng Shaojin sighed.
Every family has its own problems. Yao Niang smiled and patted the two on the shoulders and said, "It is fate that we met. I didn't expect that we were both poor children. I won't say much. If you need me in the future, just tell me."
Wei Feng even suggested: "Although the three of us are not as sworn brothers as the Three Brothers in Peach Garden, we can also follow their example in this garden. What do you think?"
"Of course." Yao Niang was the first to agree.
Cheng Shaojin also nodded: "I didn't expect that the three of us were all poor children. Since I am the oldest, it is not easy for me to kneel down in Yu Garden, so we..."
When she saw the wreath in Yao Niang's hand, she couldn't help but smile and said, "Although this was a spur-of-the-moment idea, we have both opened our hearts to each other. Now let the flowers serve as a witness and we will become sworn sisters."
In fact, Yao Niang's agreement was not a whim. She had been secretly observing him over the past two months and found that Cheng Shaojin was indeed a good person. Wei Feng seemed distant on weekdays, but he was warm-hearted inside.
The three of them often get together in the riding class. Although they don't talk much, they have an understanding of each other's personalities.
After this incident, the three of them became closer. Wei Feng revealed, "I was studying with Princess Xing'an. She had a fiery temper. She usually laughed and scolded us, but suddenly she would lose her temper. She was really hard to serve."
"It's good that I'm here with Princess Zhenyang. She's not a bad person, but she just has a casual relationship with us and is only close to her cousin Hong." Yao Niang thought to herself that it was a good thing that she was assigned to Princess Zhenyang. She was not a calculating person, but just a little naive. After all, she was still young.
Wei Feng smiled and said, "I recognize Hong Shuyi. Her father passed away a long time ago. Her two brothers are in charge of the family's timber business, which is getting worse year by year. Her brother relied on the influence of Concubine Hong and was given the title of Jinyiwei Baihu. He was always running around the imperial court and closed down several timber stores in Hebei that were passed down from his ancestors. Don't wonder how I know this. My uncle works in the river government office."
Yao Niang thought that Hong Shuyi was the most serious person on weekdays. She was always nice to everyone, even better than Luo Jingrou. After all, Luo Jingrou was still arrogant at home, while Hong Shuyi was always trying to be perfect in everything.
The servants looked at her as if she were the future imperial grandson's consort.
But her family background is really far inferior.
No wonder she was so demanding, and Cheng Shaojin whispered to Wei Feng, "Let's not talk about others, how do you and Xu Qingrong get along?"
"This person is a hypocrite." Wei Feng hit the nail on the head.
Cheng Shaojin reminded: "I am not worried about Yao Niang. She is still young and cannot be involved in that matter. You and her, it will be difficult for you——"
This should be about choosing a wife for Lin Zhengfei's eldest son. To some extent, these two people said that Wei Feng had a better family background. Wei Feng's grandfather was the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
Yao Niang is indeed young now, which is why she first wants to establish a reputation as a book lover and not get involved in these things.
Wei Feng was nonchalant: "That's fine, I'll be a 15-year-old in two years."
When a woman reaches the age of 15, it means that she can get married, either to this man or that one. At any rate, she no longer has to stay at home and be looked down upon by her own parents.
Sometimes the contempt of those close to us is even more heartbreaking.
It seems that everyone is still fighting for the Emperor Tianlu of the previous life, and now Concubine Lin's son Gao Xuanzhan. No matter how favored Concubine Hong is, according to etiquette, she is only a concubine. Even if the eldest prince ascends the throne, she cannot be named empress.
Things in the world are really unpredictable. Emperor Tianlu did ascend the throne in his previous life, but he was on the throne for only one year before the throne was passed to Concubine Hong's son.
Seeing the crowd coming, the three of them didn't say anything more. Yao Niang strung the flowers together, tied them up with grass, and used silk thread to make a wreath in the middle, and gave it to Princess Zhenyang.
"It's so beautiful. Did you make this butterfly?"
"Yes, a butterfly woven with straw and then strung with flowers. Although it is not a worthless little toy, but it is something that was created naturally and I always find it interesting." Yao Niang said with a smile.
Princess Zhenyang also nodded: "You are right. Just like I usually don't like those that are too elaborately carved, on the contrary, those bamboo utensils have a sense of simplicity and antiquity."
After playing in the Yu Garden, Yao Niang seemed to feel much more cheerful. It was a rare occasion that she went back and did not do needlework, but just sat there reading.
"Sister Luo, why did you come back so early today?" Tang Huijun asked.
Yao Niang smiled and said, "Princess Yongqing mentioned going to Yu Garden today, and it happened that His Majesty and the Imperial Concubine both agreed. We went to visit the garden in the afternoon, so we came back late. Sister Tang, you also have to get better early, so that we can go together."
Tang Huijun nodded, and then seemed stunned for a moment: "Sister Luo, I have never been to Yu Garden. Come to think of it, there should be a lot of flowers."
"There are chrysanthemums in all seasons. The most beautiful ones are chrysanthemums. Today I saw a chrysanthemum called the Ten-foot Pearl Curtain. There is also a kind called the Maple Leaf Reed Flower, which has purple flat petals. Princess Yongqing and her friends are even clamoring to compose poems, but we are young and are just listening."
"very nice."
Tang Huijun accompanied her aunt, but her aunt had long been disliked. She was always living a secluded life, and she was the same. She even felt sick at the sight of pickled vegetables.
In fact, she also longs to be outside, to run around, and even to enjoy the flowers without any worries.
In a moment, she was in war mode.
Because Yao Niang said, "Today, the princess asked me that since you are ill, you want to let Lady Hong accompany you to study for a while, and she was asking for my opinion. I blocked it for you, sister, but after that, I can't do anything about it."
Tang Huijun couldn't believe it: "Is this true?"
She never expected that someone would want to replace her. This was totally unexpected.
Yao Niang nodded: "Why would I use this matter to coax you?" After saying that, she went back to read a book without saying another word.
It's not that Yao Niang is kind-hearted, but she vaguely feels that Tang Huijun's illness is strange. Although she is not as healthy as herself, she is just a little weak and is not at all bedridden.
Unfortunately, she has no evidence. If Tang Huijun really quits, will she become the next target?
Yao Niang stopped there and went to bed at night. The next day, she saw Tang Huijun asked a little maid to deliver the copied Buddhist scriptures to the empress's palace. She looked from afar and knew that Tang Huijun was going to ask the empress for help.
A cold wind blew in late autumn, and Yao Niang shivered.
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