However, she absolutely could not say these words out loud.
"Handling ten thousand matters a day is the Emperor's business." Prime Minister Song took a sip of tea without much concern, his tone so flat that neither joy nor anger could be detected. "Why, are you unhappy that your grandfather is teaching you?"
Song Yi'an's heart skipped a beat. She hurriedly shook her head and squeezed out the most obedient smile: "How could that be? Granddaughter is just worried that Grandfather is too exhausted. After all, Grandfather is the Prime Minister of the current dynasty, and with daily official duties already extremely numerous, how could I dare to disturb Grandfather further and distract your mind?"
Song Mingsi's heart was not calm at this moment either, and the handkerchief under the table was crumpled out of shape.
She had been intelligent and hardworking since she was young, excelling in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She was the most outstanding grandchild of the Song Family's generation, and even the palace had heard of her.
Yet, even so, Grandfather had never offered to teach her personally. Now, Grandfather was actually taking an interest in the newly arrived Song Yi'an and even wanted to take her to the study every day to teach her himself.
Song Mingsi suppressed the subtle discomfort in her heart, remaining calm on the surface, and took over the conversation: "Grandfather, Big Brother and I are looking after Little Sister at the private school, so we certainly won't let her suffer any grievances. Besides, Second Sister is still young and needs to make more friends."
Prime Minister Song put down his teacup. Seeing his eldest granddaughter, he suddenly remembered another matter and asked with a frown: "What is going on between you and the Third Prince?"
The topic shifted abruptly. Song Mingsi's heart tightened, and she hurriedly explained: "Granddaughter just happened to pass by and saved the Third Prince's life."
There was no such thing as an "accidental encounter"; it was nothing more than a meeting she had carefully designed.
In Song Mingsi's memories of her past life, she had heard that when the Third Prince was twelve years old, he had encountered an assassination attempt. At the moment his life was hanging by a thread, he was saved by a farmer passing by a desolate temple.
After reaching adulthood, Fu Xihe, who had become a powerful and prominent prince, tried every possible way to find his benefactor. Disregarding public criticism, he welcomed the farmer's daughter into his mansion and named her Princess Consort. One year after entering the mansion, the Princess Consort passed away due to illness, and for the rest of his life, Fu Xihe never had a second Princess Consort in his mansion.
In the imperial court, Grandfather, Prime Minister Song, always upheld the path of a loyal official and did not stand with any prince, so he did not like the younger generation to have any involvement with the princes.
However, once an arrow is shot, there is no turning back. If the farmer's daughter could do it, why couldn't she, Song Mingsi?
She possessed a family background, upbringing, and appearance that were more than a level higher than that farmer's daughter. She was fully capable of becoming the Third Prince's most beloved Princess Consort.
Prime Minister Song looked at his eldest granddaughter, on whom he had pinned high hopes, his tone unprecedentedly serious: "That boy Fu Xihe, stay away from him. He is deep-thinking and is by no means what he appears on the surface. Some muddy waters are not for you to wade through, nor should the Song Family be tainted by them."
Among the three princes, Fu Xihe was the most scheming. Coupled with the personal grudges between the late Noble Consort and the Empress, he absolutely could not let his eldest granddaughter get involved.
The point was made, but Song Mingsi understood the warning within her grandfather's words clearly.
Song Mingsi replied submissively: "Yes, Granddaughter will keep Grandfather's teachings in mind and will certainly stay away from trouble."
Just as Song Yi'an thought she had escaped a disaster.
Prime Minister Song looked at Song Yi'an: "Yi'an, starting from tomorrow, come to my study in the courtyard at noon every day." It was not a discussion, and there was no room for negotiation.
Song Yi'an's last bit of luck was completely shattered. "Yes, Grandfather."
Old Madam Song looked at her calm husband, then at her little granddaughter who looked like she had lost the will to live, and her eldest granddaughter who was bowing her head in submission.
She sighed softly in her heart; she feared that no one had truly enjoyed this meal.
Mingsi was so outstanding and sensible, yet her husband had never offered to teach her personally, but now he was suddenly taking an interest in this girl, Yi'an.
Never mind, her husband had his own reasons for doing things, and it was not her place to ask too much.
After the meal, Old Madam Song did not keep them long; she just gave a few instructions and let them return to their respective courtyards to rest.
The next day at noon, Song Yi'an arrived at her grandfather's study as promised.
The study door was ajar. She poked her head in to take a look; it was quiet inside, and it was clear that Grandfather had not yet returned from the morning court session.
She pushed the door open and entered. The study was filled with a faint scent of ink, and the bookshelves were filled with scrolls, looking solemn and dignified.
She sat down casually on a round stool by the window, her two dangling legs still a short distance from the floor, swinging restlessly.
Waiting was boring, and she was a little hungry, so she took a flower cake wrapped in oil paper out of her cloth bag and started eating it slowly.
The osmanthus flower cake's crust was so flaky it crumbled, and the rich, refreshing fragrance of osmanthus in the middle was sweet and delicious.
The cloth bag was something Madam Gu had specially sewn for her because she saw her running and jumping around all day; it was the perfect size to hold some small snacks.
As for the flower cakes, she had tinkered with them herself. She saw that the osmanthus trees in the courtyard were blooming beautifully, golden and in perfect condition, so on a whim, she made twenty flower cakes. She didn't waste the remaining petals either, boiling them into osmanthus honey and storing it in her space.
This osmanthus honey, along with some of the flower cakes she made, were all stored in her space. Because time did not pass in the space, things remained exactly as they were when put in, and food would not spoil inside.
She had specially divided the osmanthus honey into small jars, giving one to her mother and one to her grandmother as a sign of filial piety.
There were not many flower cakes, so she had Haitang take half of them for Madam Gu to taste.
When making these snacks, because she didn't want to treat herself poorly, she used some diluted spirit water. For one, it tasted better, and for another, it could nourish the body without arousing suspicion.
Eating the food she made year after year would improve one's physical condition significantly.
She chewed the sweet, fragrant cake in small bites while swinging her legs, her eyes scanning the study, silently praying that Grandfather would be busy with official duties today and return later.
When Prime Minister Song returned to the mansion after the court session, changed out of his official robes, and stepped into the study, this was the lazy appearance of Song Yi'an that he saw.
Comparing this to the proper and respectful way his eldest granddaughter, Song Mingsi, used to come to the study to pay her respects when she was young, his brows immediately locked together. A deep furrow appeared between his brows, and his expression became even more serious.
Prime Minister Song stood at the doorway and gave a calm, light cough: "Ahem."
Well, that was it. The girl didn't even forget to stuff the remaining half of the flower cake in her hand into her mouth all at once. Her cheeks were puffed out, looking just like a little squirrel desperately hoarding food after being startled.
Prime Minister Song watched her look like a starving ghost reincarnated, and the veins on his forehead couldn't help but twitch. Since when was she lacking food in the mansion?
Song Yi'an hurriedly jumped off the round stool, trying hard to swallow the food in her mouth. Her cheeks were still puffed out, her voice was muffled, and her expression was guilty: "Grandfather, you're back."
Prime Minister Song stopped looking at her and walked straight to sit behind the desk. "Do you know how to read?"
Song Yi'an recalled the shop signs on the way to the Capital City; she recognized most of them. She nodded and said vaguely: "I suppose I do."
"If you know, you know; if you don't, you don't. What do you mean by 'suppose'?" Prime Minister Song's brows furrowed even tighter. He waved his hand impatiently: "Forget it. Today, you will start by copying. If there are characters you don't understand, write them down and ask me later."
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