Princess Consort Li cautiously glanced at Situ Che, a faint blush creeping onto her face.
Situ Che was growing curious about this little girl’s teacher. What kind of great talent could have composed such breathtakingly brilliant poetry?
The Emperor grew more and more pleased with Tang Rui. He had initially thought the girl’s claim of being well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, poetry, and song was mere jest—he never expected it to be true.
The Emperor looked at Situ Qiang: “Can you still continue?”
“Granddaughter… Granddaughter…” Situ Qiang clenched her fists tightly, tears welling up in her eyes.
The Emperor frowned: “If you can’t match it, then you can’t. A bet is a bet—what are you crying for?”
Situ Qiang was so frightened she forced her tears back, her face turning pale: “Granddaughter isn’t crying…”
“…” A concubine’s daughter was a concubine’s daughter after all—unfit for the grand stage.
The Emperor shook his head, no longer looking at her. Instead, he cast an appreciative gaze upon Tang Rui: “Princess Zhaohua, well-deserved indeed.”
Tang Rui: “Did I win? Then can I collect my treasures now?”
The Emperor laughed: “Naturally!”
“Yay! Thank you, Imperial Grandfather! Thank you for yielding, Cousin!”
Tang Rui happily scurried over and pocketed the jade pendant and silver notes, then immediately turned and handed them to Princess Consort Li: “Mother, these are for you.”
Princess Consort Li was taken aback, deeply moved: “Mother doesn’t need them. These are all yours—keep them for yourself.”
“But I can’t spend them all! The jade pendant goes to Father, and for the silver notes, I’ll keep six for myself and give you four. Father and Mother work hard to earn money—this is your allowance!”
And those concubine mothers in the household who had given her gifts—when the imperial edict came down, Imperial Grandfather would surely bestow rewards too, right?
When that happened, she’d pick something nice for each of the concubine mothers as a return gift.
Having distributed her spoils, Tang Rui even gave Princess Consort Li a loving kiss!
Princess Consort Li’s eyes grew warm. She turned her head away to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, then picked up Tang Rui: “Zhaohua is such a good girl. So young, and already you know to care for your mother and father.”
Situ Che looked at the pile of jade pendants in his arms, his feelings complicated.
This child… was too sensible.
They say sensible children are that way because they’ve endured much hardship.
Had she… endured much hardship?
For the first time, Situ Che reflected—perhaps… he shouldn’t have visited the grudges of the previous generation upon a child.
The child’s mother had drugged him, which was detestable, but the child was innocent.
Shouldn’t he be kinder to the child?
Just as he was thinking this, Tang Rui trotted over to the Emperor and handed him a silver note: “Imperial Grandfather, everyone present gets a share!”
The Emperor was stunned: “I get one too?”
“Mm-hmm!” Tang Rui nodded: “Imperial Grandfather works hard managing state affairs. Here’s some money to buy bird’s nest for nourishment.”
“Zhaohua is truly filial!” The Emperor was delighted.
Though he didn’t lack for bird’s nest, a child’s filial devotion was precious indeed.
Very well—when the edict was proclaimed, he’d select even more fine gifts to bestow upon this child!
Tang Rui had said everyone present would get a share, and so everyone did.
Next, she distributed the remaining five silver notes—one to each of the princes, not even leaving out the Crown Prince.
“Every uncle gets one! My love for all of you is equal!”
Everyone was utterly charmed. Wasn’t this little girl just the most endearing thing?
Even the Crown Prince, upon receiving his silver note, found it hard to make things difficult for Tang Rui. For the first time, he forced a hint of affectionate smile toward her and said: “Zhaohua is such a good girl.”
At the same time, he felt a twinge of jealousy toward Seventh Brother.
He had two concubine-born daughters and one concubine-born son, and not one of them was as sensible as Tang Rui.
What kind of dumb luck had Seventh Brother stumbled upon?
The only dissatisfied person present was probably Situ Qiang.
But no one cared about her feelings.
The Emperor was in high spirits and waved his hand grandly: “From now on, Zhaohua shall attend the Guoxuejian and study together with the imperial grandsons!”
Tang Rui felt as if struck by lightning!
Situ Che frowned: “Father, this is too early…”
The Emperor: “Not early at all. Zhaohua is exceptionally bright—don’t hold her back!”
“…” Fine, you’re the boss!
“Oh, right!” The Emperor suddenly remembered: “Which month is Zhaohua’s birthday?”
Situ Che: “The tenth day of the twelfth month!”
That crumpled letter had contained Tang Rui’s birth date.
The Emperor nodded and looked at Chen Defu: “Remember this date. Every year on Zhaohua’s birthday, select gifts and send them to Li Wangfu.”
“Yes!”
“If there’s nothing else, we’re dismissed!”
The Emperor departed, and the various princes returned to their own residences.
But as they passed Situ Che, each of them shot him a glare of displeasure.
After all, whose daughter was so adorable and clever?
…
Li Wangfu!
When Princess Consort Li returned to her courtyard, Concubine Zhu was already there waiting with Concubine Zhang and Concubine Li.
Their purpose was simple—since it was Tang Rui’s first time entering the palace, they were worried she might be bullied.
Princess Consort Li took a sip of water and began vividly recounting Tang Rui’s glorious exploits.
The three women listened with great relish, their raised hearts finally settling down.
Concubine Zhu: “It’s good that she’s going to the Guoxuejian. The masters there are all great scholars of statecraft, and she’ll learn music, chess, calligraphy, and painting as well.”
“It’s not just about her studies—there’s also the matter of her dowry. We should start saving up for Ruirui now.” With that, Concubine Li pulled out a stack of silver notes and slapped them on the table—each one in the denomination of a thousand taels.
Princess Consort Li, who had been so happy just moments ago: “…”
Concubine Zhang scratched her head: “I don’t have much money, but the dowry my father left me is quite substantial. I’ll go dig through it in a bit.”
Princess Consort Li grew increasingly embarrassed with each word spoken.
As a princess consort, she seemed to be the poorest among all the women present.
Having managed the household affairs for years, she had been wholeheartedly devoted, never embezzling a single thing belonging to the prince.
Which left her now unable to even give her child a decent gift.
Princess Consort Li gritted her teeth, once again strengthening her resolve to reclaim her dowry.
Donggong!
Situ Qiang knelt on the ground while the Crown Prince sat at the head, his expression dark and gloomy: “Do you know your mistake?”
“Your son knows…” Situ Qiang bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes: “Your son should not have lost to Tang Rui.”
“It’s not just that. Your mistake lies in acting impulsively when the enemy’s strength was still unknown, bringing shame upon me.”
The Crown Prince waved his hand coldly: “Go kneel in the Buddhist hall for three days.”
“Yes!” Situ Qiang wiped away her tears, and as she turned around, a ruthlessness far beyond her years surfaced in her eyes.
Tang Rui, just you wait!
The Crown Princess glanced at her with disdain, then gracefully carried a bowl of lotus seed soup to the Crown Prince, her voice so soft and seductive it seemed ready to drip with honey: “Your Highness, if Qiang’er has made mistakes, you can teach her slowly. Don’t ruin your own health over anger.”
A flicker of irritation passed through the Crown Prince’s eyes: “When it comes down to it, this is all your fault. I stay in your chambers every fifteenth of the month—why haven’t you given me a legitimate son or daughter?”
The Crown Princess’s face stiffened, a trace of humiliation crossing her features.
“Forget it, drink it yourself!” The Crown Prince rose and left with a flick of his sleeves.
…
Prince Chen’s Mansion!
The moment Prince Chen returned, he was informed by a servant that his only legitimate son had caught a chill and was once again in critical condition.
Prince Chen’s heart immediately leaped into his throat as he hurried to Situ Tan’s courtyard.
Princess Consort Chen sat by the bedside, her eyes red, staring unblinkingly at the person lying in bed.
Seeing Prince Chen arrive, Princess Consort Chen could no longer hold back her quiet sobbing: “My lord, you’ve finally returned.”