Li Lanzhen has been in Beijing for over a month.
With a group of children, they first traveled by boat, and then by horse-drawn carriage, taking eight or nine days to finally reach the capital.
After Xue Bao arrived, he immediately took Han Yuemei, Wu Shi, a maid, and an old woman to live in the house that the emperor had bestowed upon him.
Li Lanzhen took Han Mingxiang, Han Yinan and the other children to the three-courtyard house that Han Minghai had bought.
Gou Dan'er, Zheng Sanwang, Er Niu, and Han Youliang's family of three all lived in the front yard.
In the second courtyard, the main house in the east wing was given to Li Lanzhen, while Han Mingxiang and his wife lived in the west wing.
Han Yinan lived in the east wing.
Lu Boyan and his family of four also came with them.
The family of four went to their own courtyard.
This courtyard was purchased by Manager Hua at Lu Boyan's request.
The courtyard is small, but it's more than enough for a family of four.
After lunch that day, the whole family slept for half a day, and then ate breakfast the next morning.
The Crown Prince then brought Su Beisheng to the courtyard.
Li Lanzhen noticed that the Crown Prince was not wearing the Crown Prince's robes.
When he met Li Lanzhen, he smiled gently, bowed to her, and greeted her.
"Aunt Lanzhen, I've been waiting for you to come."
Li Lanzhen quickly invited him to sit down in the seat of honor.
The crown prince also invited her to sit on the chair next to him.
"Auntie, you don't need to be so reserved. Just act like you do in Peach Blossom Spring."
Li Lanzhen thought to herself, "This is the capital city. I don't want anyone to have any leverage against me. Han Mingxiang and Han Yinan still have to take the imperial examination route."
After exchanging greetings for a while, the Crown Prince gestured for Su Beisheng to produce several certificates.
The Crown Prince said to Han Mingxiang, "Third Brother, this is your letter of introduction to Zhaohua Academy, and there is also a letter from Master Lu. You two will both go to Luhua Bookstore to study."
Han Mingxiang's body trembled upon hearing "Zhaohua Academy".
He stood up and gave the Crown Prince a deep bow.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
It's no wonder Han Mingxiang was so excited; of the four famous academies in the Li Dynasty, Zhaohua Academy in the capital was the best.
Those who could enter this academy were either rich or noble, or they were outstanding students from poor families.
This academy is difficult to get into because, regardless of your status, if you want to enter Zhaohua Academy, you first need someone to introduce you, and then you will be assessed.
And this introducer is not someone whose status is high.
Instead, one must possess genuine talent and learning, or have a letter of introduction personally written by one of the top ten candidates in previous imperial examinations.
The Crown Prince was also pleased to see Han Mingxiang so happy.
He felt he could finally do something that fulfilled Li Lanzhen's wish.
Li Lanzhen looked at the Crown Prince and asked him.
"Your Highness, where will Han Yinan and the other children go to study with you?"
Li Lanzhen's understanding of the so-called "prince's companion" comes entirely from modern television and movies.
It seems she should have been studying in the palace alongside the crown prince.
On their way to the capital, Xuan Shen told her privately.
Originally, only Han Yinan was required to be the Crown Prince's study companion.
However, the Crown Prince was worried that Han Yinan would be lonely coming here alone, so he wanted him to choose some companions to come with him.
With so many people, it's impossible for them all to follow the Crown Prince to the Wenhua Hall in the palace to study.
Xuan Shen didn't know the specific arrangements either. He said that the Crown Prince would make arrangements once they arrived in the capital, which is why Li Lanzhen asked that question.
The crown prince turned his head and smiled slightly.
"Aunt Lanzhen, this year, Yinan and I were studying at Zhaohua Academy."
"Next year, based on everyone's assessment, we will be going to study at the Imperial Academy."
Upon hearing this, Li Lanzhen exclaimed, "These are all top-tier academies!"
"Alright, Your Highness, I will encourage these children and help them study hard so they won't hold you back."
After hearing this, Han Yinan and the others secretly made up their minds.
Having arrived here, we are not in a school in a paradise; we must work hard.
They had read the Crown Prince's letter and were invited to come to the capital to be his study companions.
The adults in the family first asked for their opinions.
And they were told very seriously that they didn't have to come if they didn't want to.
If you choose to become the prince's tutor, you must work even harder and be more diligent than if you were studying at the Peach Blossom Spring Academy.
The adults repeatedly told them to think carefully before answering.
Han Yinan and the others talked about it privately every day, and later they encouraged each other to come to the capital to serve as tutors to the crown prince.
Because, for generations before their fathers, they were all farmers, toiling in the fields.
They wanted to change their family's situation through their own efforts and become outstanding children from a family that valued both farming and scholarship.
The Crown Prince looked around and said, "We will all study at Zhaohua Academy for a year."
However, I have to set aside two hours each day to study in the palace. The rest of the time, whether it's practicing martial arts or studying literature, I can study with Han Yinan and the others.
Han Yinan and the others were delighted to hear this. Not only could they learn literature, but they could also continue learning martial arts, and the martial arts instructors here should be of even higher skill.
The children were eager to learn kung fu that afternoon.
The Crown Prince then explained in detail some things they should pay attention to while at Zhaohua Academy.
Then he gestured for Su Beisheng to bring in three large boxes and one small box.
He first handed the small box to Li Lanzhen.
"Aunt Lanzhen, this is a gift for you. Please accept it."
I thank you for your care in Peach Blossom Spring.
Li Lanzhen did not refuse the Crown Prince's kindness, and accepted the small box with both hands, laughing heartily.
"Your Highness is too kind. It is only right."
Seeing that Li Lanzhen did not refuse the gift he had given, the Crown Prince was also very pleased. He then pointed to the three large boxes on the ground and said...
"These three boxes are for my third brother and Han Yinan, along with their writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, and school uniforms."
"Take a rest tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, a carriage will come to pick you up so we can go to Zhaohua Academy to complete your enrollment."
Han Mingxiang and the children quickly stood up and bowed in thanks.
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
The prince had lunch here and left happily.
Han Yinan and the other children couldn't wait to open the box, eager to see what the Crown Prince had brought.
The box contained two sets of student uniforms for Han Mingxiang and Lu Boyan: one cotton-padded and one spring uniform.
In addition, there were cotton-padded coats for the four children, spring clothes, summer clothes, a set of black martial arts uniforms, and four pairs of small black boots.
Li Lanzhen took out all the items, organized them, and handed them to the four children. They excitedly hugged their things and went back to their room to try on clothes.
The room quieted down, and Li Lanzhen opened the small box the Crown Prince had given her.
There was a stack of silver notes inside, each with a face value of one hundred taels, and there were ten notes in total.
There was also a ruby headdress, a green jade hairpin, a white jade hairpin, and a pair of jadeite bracelets.
Li Lanzhen clicked her tongue as she looked at Han Mingxiang.
"Mingxiang, do you think the Crown Prince is giving us too much?"
Look at this, a thousand taels of silver notes, and this set of jewelry, jade hairpins and bracelets.
"And I've given you so much again."
Han Minxiang smiled slightly, "Mother, since it was given to you by His Highness the Crown Prince, you should accept it."
He probably gave you these two hairpins because he remembered you didn't like gold or silver hairpins.
"Oh, when did I ever tell His Highness that I don't like gold or silver hairpins?"
Han Mingxiang chuckled, "Mother, you forgot, among the gifts Her Majesty the Empress brought back last time, there were so many gold jewelry pieces."
Your sisters-in-law always wear gold hairpins, but you've never worn one.
They asked you why you weren't wearing it, and you told them it was too shiny and dazzling, and you were afraid of losing it.
Li Lanzhen suddenly realized, "Oh, so His Highness the Crown Prince found out. This child is very thoughtful. Thank you."
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