East Palace, Crown Prince’s Study.
Xiao Heng listened to the report from his shadow guard after the investigation, his expression unreadable, though the vermilion brush in his hand, used for reviewing memorials, slowed noticeably.
Only after hearing everything did Xiao Heng leisurely set down the brush and snort coldly, “So, it was Rong’an who bullied her?”
The shadow guard lowered his head, not daring to comment as bluntly as the Crown Prince on County Princess Rong’an’s actions, and instinctively bowed, replying respectfully, “Your Highness is astute.”
The Crown Prince had not yet reached his capping ceremony. When at leisure at home, he wore only a goose-yellow silk robe with wide sleeves and long lapels, giving him a more youthful and innocent air than usual.
But at this moment, his expression was not good—his brows sharp, his demeanor imposing, like a long sword about to be unsheathed.
Having served the Crown Prince for many years, the shadow guard naturally knew his master was displeased and did not disturb him, waiting silently instead.
After tapping his knuckles on the desk a few times, Xiao Heng had made up his mind and waved the shadow guard away.
“Your Highness, have a cup of light tea to moisten your throat and cool your temper.”
Beside him, Su Lin presented a cup of tea, smiling faintly as he advised.
Xiao Heng glanced at him and said expressionlessly, “Do I look like I have a great temper?”
Even though Su Lin was a longtime attendant, Xiao Heng disliked being scrutinized in such matters.
Even if Su Lin had not misjudged anything.
Su Lin immediately lowered his gaze and bowed, clasping his hands in apology, “This servant was mistaken. Your Highness remains as steady as a mountain.”
With that, Xiao Heng let it go. He took out the White Jade Dragon Jue, turning it over in his hands, rubbing it a few times while murmuring to himself.
“The people from my granduncle’s family indeed need to be disciplined properly.”
After playing with it for a while, Xiao Heng casually tied the jade jue back to his waist and resumed reviewing memorials.
Since he was old enough to understand, his father had personally guided him, keeping him by his side. At fourteen, under his father’s guidance, Xiao Heng began to handle government affairs, and now four years had passed.
He was the undisputed heir apparent, and Xiao Heng had always known this.
…
Time could wash away sorrow, and naturally, it could also dissolve unpleasant matters.
After two days of venting, Liu Yun was no longer as upset about the unpleasantness that occurred on the day of the spring outing.
Only occasionally did her heart feel a little stifled when she remembered it.
County Princess Rong’an had always been domineering and arrogant. Over the years, she had not only targeted Liu Yun—some young ladies had faced even more unbearable words, and some had even been physically disciplined.
Thinking this way, she was still somewhat better off.
Liu Yun was broad-minded, and she had to be.
She had already swallowed most of this humiliation when Zhenzhen came to visit her, bringing good news.
“Shanshan, do you know what great thing happened in the palace yesterday?”
The spring temperature was gradually rising, and Zhenzhen had run in a hurry, a light sweat beading on her forehead. Liu Yun wrung out a damp cloth to wipe her face and said with a smile, “What great thing could happen in the palace? Did they promote our families?”
In Liu Yun’s view, this would already be the best news.
Her father was diligent and benevolent, having served with utmost dedication for many years. If he could be promoted, it would naturally be wonderful.
But Zhenzhen shook her head, snatched the cloth to wipe her face casually, and revealed a mysterious expression.
“No, no~”
Liu Yun had Jin He prepare some chilled drinks and grew curious, smiling as she pressed, “Don’t keep me in suspense, tell me quickly!”
Chen Wei beamed with joy and said gleefully, “It’s County Princess Rong’an. She was reprimanded and placed under house confinement, and it was done by the Crown Prince, haha~”
For Chen Wei, Liu Yun was her best friend. When a friend was humiliated, it was as if she herself had been humiliated, making it hard for her not to harbor resentment toward County Princess Rong’an.
Upon hearing that County Princess Rong’an had been reprimanded—and by the Crown Prince, no less—she was overjoyed. She didn’t even bother sleeping in, rushing eagerly to the Liu residence to share this delightful news with her friend.
Hearing this, Liu Yun was momentarily stunned before a faint smile unconsciously spread across her face.
“How did this happen?”
Chen Wei vividly recounted the entire sequence of events.
Since Chen’s father worked in the Court of Imperial Entertainments, responsible for supplying the palace’s meals, he had access to more timely information.
It all started when a young palace maid, feeling unwell and dizzy, accidentally spilled tea on the dress of County Princess Rong’an, who had come to the palace to curry favor with her grandaunt.
Who was He Xiang, County Princess Rong’an? The most arrogant and domineering young lady in Yanjing, relying on her status as the grandniece of the Empress Dowager’s family. She immediately slapped the young palace maid and began hurling insults.
Her harshness went without saying.
Coincidentally, the Crown Prince passed by and witnessed Rong’an’s cruel and overbearing behavior. Enraged, he reprimanded her on the spot.
He accused her of being unvirtuous, lacking in character, and unworthy of the title of a county princess from the imperial family.
He also placed her under house arrest for three months.
The Crown Prince enjoyed the Emperor’s deep favor, often acting on his behalf in state affairs. His words and actions could be seen as reflecting the Emperor’s will.
Thus, no one dared to question or oppose the Crown Prince, not even Empress Dowager He.
As a result, the excessively arrogant County Princess Rong’an lost all face and temporarily became the talk of Yanjing over tea and idle conversation.
After all, for the young ladies of Yanjing, being reprimanded in such a manner was akin to being branded with an invisible mark. Few families would dare to marry a woman denounced by the imperial family as lacking virtue and propriety.
Even more devastating was that the one who reprimanded County Princess Rong’an was the Crown Prince.
Being chastised by the one she admired was the most heart-wrenching blow of all.
This also meant that County Princess Rong’an had absolutely no chance of marrying into the Eastern Palace.
For the young ladies who had been bullied by County Princess Rong’an, this was truly a cause for celebration.
Liu Yun was no saint, not magnanimous enough to easily forgive those who had bullied and humiliated her.
Hearing that County Princess Rong’an had finally met her match and learned her lesson, her last lingering resentment dissipated, and her mood lightened considerably.
What goes around comes around. County Princess Rong’an had finally been put in her place.
With her spirits lifted, Liu Yun no longer secluded herself in her chambers. She immediately decided to go out shopping with Zhenzhen.
…
After the Spring Festival passed, the next major event was the Ministry of Rites Examination, the Spring Imperial Examination, which scholars across the land eagerly anticipated.
The Liu family wasn’t particularly anxious, as Liu Yun’s younger brother was only fifteen this year, still far from taking the Ministry of Rites Examination.
But the imperial examinations were inevitable sooner or later. To better prepare her brother for them, their father took great care, discussing each examination topic in detail with his son whenever he obtained them.
Although he wasn’t a renowned scholar of the time, having earned a second-class honors degree in his youth, his guidance was still somewhat useful.
At the examination hall, as dawn broke, the entrance bustled with activity.
There were candidates waiting early, as well as supervising officials arriving one after another.
These included the chief examiner, the Vice Minister of Rites, the deputy examiner, a Vice Director from the Bureau of Evaluations in the Ministry of Personnel, and four proofreaders responsible for the initial review of examination papers.
Finally, there was a censor overseeing the fairness and rigor of the Spring Imperial Examination.
The gates of the examination hall opened, and candidates filed in to undergo preliminary inspections.
All of this had little to do with Liu Yun, as she was about to accompany her mother to the Imperial Academy to visit her younger brother.
Unlike Liu Yun’s average academic abilities, her younger brother showed a talent for studying from a young age. Last year, he passed the Xiucai examination, giving the whole family a pleasant surprise.
A fourteen-year-old Xiucai was rare even in Yanjing.
Their parents said he would surely bring glory to the Liu family in the future, and Liu Yun firmly believed this, taking pride in having such a clever younger brother who excelled in his studies.
Likely due to the Spring Imperial Examination, the Imperial College’s usual ten-day break schedule had been altered, and her brother hadn’t returned home for half a month.
With the unpredictable spring weather, their mother worried he might not have suitable clothes to keep warm, so she made two new sets to bring along, as well as some soup and food she had prepared herself.
Since Liu Yun had nothing to do at home and it was a visit to her brother, she decided to go along.
On the way, Liu Yun bought some Cherry Biluo, which both she and her brother loved, and happily accompanied her mother.
The Imperial College was located in Wubenfang, facing the eastern side gate of the palace, a bustling area.
But the Liu family lived in Yong’anfang, in the southern part of the western city, some distance from Wubenfang, so it took nearly half an hour to reach the Imperial College where her brother was studying.
As the Imperial College was exclusively for male students, Liu Yun and her mother couldn’t enter. They parked their carriage under a willow tree at the entrance and sent her brother’s servant, Guanqi, to make arrangements.
Guanqi was no stranger to accompanying the family to visit the young master at the Imperial College. He skillfully spoke with the gatekeeper and went to fetch him.
While waiting, Liu Yun and her mother huddled in the carriage, eyeing the Cherry Biluo and swallowing their saliva.
She really wanted to eat it.
But this was for her brother—she couldn’t.
Yet she still really wanted to eat it.
No, if she ate it, what would her brother have?
After several rounds of internal struggle, Liu Yun finally managed to restrain her craving.
And soon, her brother emerged.
From afar, mother and daughter saw the young man in white robes step out and immediately smiled, stepping down from the carriage.
“Ying’er.”
“Brother!”
From a distance, the two waved at Liu Ying, their faces beaming with joy, which even made the usually serious young Liu Ying smile unconsciously.
“Mother, Sister.”
“Why have you come?”
The young man was slender. Though only fourteen and still growing, he was already half a head taller than Liu Yun.
The siblings shared six or seven similarities in appearance—both fair and delicate-looking. The difference was that Liu Ying, as a boy, carried a more refined and spirited air.
Looking at her brother, who was now slightly taller than her, Liu Yun couldn’t help but feel a bit resentful. “Of course, we missed you and came to see you, and to bring you some things.”
It was hard to believe that the little boy who used to trail behind her like a small radish was now taller than her. She couldn’t help but sigh.
What a pity—she could no longer pat him on the head like she did when they were children.
Unaware of his sister’s thoughts, Liu Ying softened at their caring words, though he replied awkwardly, “I’ll be home in a few days anyway. Was it really necessary to come all this way to see me?”
“And bringing so many things—you’ve gone to so much trouble, Mother and Sister.”
He sighed as he watched the servants unload the pile of items.
Liu Yun cheerfully pulled out the Cherry Biluo, saying brightly, “And look at this!”
The familiar packaging and sweet fragrance immediately gave it away. Liu Ying’s eyes lit up slightly. “Is this the Cherry Biluo from the Xu family in Fenglefang?”
Liu Yun nodded emphatically, her voice crisp and clear as she responded, “That’s right. Your elder sister waited a long time to buy it. I almost ate it on the way, but then I thought of how pitiful you were, not having tasted Xu Family’s Cherry Biluo for half a month. Hmph…”
The young boy suddenly smiled, then generously pushed the Cherry Biluo toward Liu Yun, saying, “If Elder Sister wants it so much, then you can have it. I’m not craving it.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yun grew annoyed and pushed the Cherry Biluo back, raising her voice, “I’m not craving it either! Since it’s for you, just take it. I can always buy another one later!”
Just as the siblings were pushing the treat back and forth, the sound of hoofbeats approached from behind. Liu Yun inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity.
She instinctively turned around and saw the familiar pitch-black steed at the front, along with the sharp and imposing young man astride it.
Crown Prince Xiao Heng.
Today, he was accompanied by only three people: one eunuch and two guards. There was no one else.
His attire was as flamboyant as ever: a red robe edged with gold, a red-tasseled lotus gold crown, a jade belt cinching his waist, and embroidered boots resting in the stirrups. His appearance immediately captured everyone’s attention.
Crown Prince Xiao Heng, true to his status, was impossible to ignore.
Just as Liu Yun silently hoped this imposing figure would pass by quickly without noticing their family of three, it seemed the heavens had not heard her plea.
The hoofbeats grew closer, and Liu Yun could even smell the dust kicked up by the horses.
“Whoa…”
Behind her, the clear command of the young man reining in his horse echoed, making Liu Yun’s heart pound.
Unlike her younger brother, who had been buried in his studies at the Imperial Academy, both mother and daughter had seen the Crown Prince on occasion. Exchanging a glance, their expressions tightened, and they hurriedly bowed their heads in greeting. “Your humble subjects pay respects to Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
As she spoke, Liu Yun subtly tugged at her younger brother’s sleeve.
None of these small gestures escaped Xiao Heng’s notice.
“Your student, Liu Ying, greets Your Highness.”
All scholars under heaven are considered students of the Son of Heaven. Since Liu Ying studied at the official Imperial Academy and the Crown Prince was the future ruler, referring to himself as a student was fitting.
“Mm, all rise.”
Dismounting from his horse, Xiao Heng’s expression was neutral, revealing no emotion.
As he moved, the ornaments hanging from his jade belt jingled softly. Liu Yun kept her eyes lowered, catching sight of the White Jade Dragon Jue fastened at the Crown Prince’s waist.
Seeing this object that had brought her misfortune once again, Liu Yun’s face paled, and her heart skipped a beat.
Xiao Heng’s gaze swept over the family of three, lingering for a moment on the fair-skinned young lady in the middle.
The sudden pallor of the young girl’s face did not escape his notice. Xiao Heng lowered his eyes, using his wide sleeve to conceal the jade jue, his expression slightly awkward.
“Coincidentally, His Majesty has tasked me today with visiting the Imperial Academy to observe the demeanor of Great Yan’s scholars. I require a guide, and I believe Young Master Liu is quite suitable. Let us go.”
He did not ask whether Liu Ying was truly available or willing to guide him.
After all, with his status as Crown Prince, who would dare to refuse?
As both mother and daughter had anticipated, although Liu Ying was somewhat surprised, he respectfully complied.
“Your student obeys.”
After responding, Liu Ying bowed to his mother and sister. “Mother, Elder Sister, I shall return now.”
Liu Yun hid behind her mother without uttering a word, while Zhang Yuhua smiled and said, “Go ahead. Guide His Highness well.”
Guanqi followed with the clothing and food box, their figures soon disappearing from the sight of mother and daughter.
Author’s Note:
Update
Next chapter on Tuesday