At noon that day, Chunming Gugu from the princess’s side arrived at Yu Tang Hall.
Consort Rong was somewhat surprised. The princess had never been close to consorts like them. Chunming had cared for the princess since childhood, and everyone in the palace respectfully addressed her as “Gugu,” showing how highly regarded she was by His Majesty and the princess.
Consort Rong had Chunming invited in: “May I ask what brings you here, Chunming Gugu?”
Chunming maintained proper etiquette with neither humility nor arrogance: “Replying to Xiuyi Niangniang, a few days ago when Her Highness went to play at Fahua Hall, she met Miss Nan Shu. The princess and Miss Nan got along very well. Today the Imperial Study is on break, and the princess would like to invite Miss Nan out to play.”
Consort Rong was genuinely astonished, never expecting the princess to favor Nan Shu so highly.
If one could please the princess, then pleasing His Majesty wouldn’t be far behind.
But that Nan Shu had such capability to make the princess remember her – she was clearly someone with intentions who wouldn’t be easy to control.
In that brief moment, countless thoughts raced through her mind, yet she maintained a smiling expression: “It’s Nan Shu’s honor to gain the princess’s appreciation. Chunlan, go call our cousin out.”
“Yes.”
Nan Shu hadn’t expected Sui An to seek her out. As she followed Chunming along the palace path, her heart held both joy at being able to see Sui An and worry over the look Consort Rong had given her earlier.
Chunming subtly observed the woman beside her. Even she couldn’t help but feel startled.
The resemblance was truly remarkable.
Even if Shen Lan Shu from five years ago were standing before her now, she probably wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.
No wonder the princess had been talking about her constantly since that day.
But Chunming didn’t dare let her guard down. She protected Sui An as if she were her own heart and soul, and she couldn’t allow anyone with ill intentions to approach Sui An.
Chunming brought her to the Sacred Study.
“The princess enjoys reading and often studies and does her homework at the Sacred Study.”
Just as Nan Shu stepped into the courtyard, she saw a small figure running toward her from not far away.
Sui An immediately crashed into her embrace.
Fearful she might fall, Nan Shu quickly held her: “Be careful.”
The child, who stood about half her height, was overjoyed, rubbing her face against Nan Shu’s waist while making happy murmuring sounds.
Chunming had withdrawn when the princess approached.
“Your Highness hasn’t been skipping classes lately, has you?”
Sui An felt somewhat ashamed about the previous incident and mumbled into Nan Shu’s embrace: “No more. The tutor taught that one must be learned and understand etiquette to be likable. Sui Sui won’t skip classes anymore.”
“Then can Mother come often to accompany Sui Sui with homework?” Sui An lifted her small face, her round eyes looking at Nan Shu pleadingly.
Nan Shu moved her lips, but ultimately couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
She knelt down to meet Sui An at eye level: “Alright, as long as Your Highness studies well, this subject will accompany you.”
Overjoyed, Sui An pulled out a booklet from behind her back: “Then let’s go inside the study.”
Nan Shu smiled: “It’s noon now. Shouldn’t Your Highness return to rest for a while?”
Sui An shook her head: “I can only come find Mother at noon. I still have to go to the training grounds in the afternoon to learn riding and archery.”
She tugged at Nan Shu’s sleeve, swinging it back and forth: “Will Mother accompany me to do homework? My classmates can have their parents help them with homework in the evenings, but I’m always alone doing mine.”
Sui An’s fair, tender little face wore a pitiful expression that made Nan Shu’s heart ache unbearably. She rubbed Sui An’s small head and agreed: “Alright, let’s go in and write.”
The second floor of the Sacred Study was furnished with a desk containing the four treasures of the study, all complete and ready for use.
However, a large tree by the second-floor window blocked the light, leaving the room rather dim. Nan Shu lit several candles and placed them on the desk.
“Can Your Highness see clearly? Please don’t strain your eyes.”
Sui An nodded, arranged her books on the desk, climbed onto the chair, and sat upright with her back straight like a little adult before starting to write.
Looking at her neat and square handwriting, Nan Shu had to admit that Yan Pingxiao had taught Sui An well. When she was serious, she even bore some resemblance to Yan Pingxiao in demeanor.
“Mother, I don’t recognize this character.” Sui An suddenly pointed to a character in the book and spoke up. Nan Shu leaned over to look and was embarrassed to find that she didn’t recognize it either.
She furrowed her brows and said, “Perhaps Your Highness has read far more books than I have. How could I possibly recognize a character that even Your Highness doesn’t know? Should I help you search for it? The Sacred Book Studio should have the Thousand Character Classic.”
Sui An nodded and handed her a candle from the desk.
Nan Shu took the candle and began searching through the library. After checking the second floor without success, she went down to the first floor.
The surroundings were rather dark, and Nan Shu held the candle as she moved along the bookshelves.
The studio was so quiet that when footsteps sounded behind her, Nan Shu was startled.
At that moment, she was standing on tiptoe, reaching for a book on the top shelf. Just as her fingertips brushed the edge of the book, she sensed someone approaching from behind. Nan Shu instinctively turned to look, and the candlelight in her hand illuminated the handsome face of the newcomer.
“Your… Your Majesty?” Nan Shu held her breath, staring at him in bewilderment, wondering why he wasn’t taking his midday rest at this hour.
“Be careful.” Yan Pingxiao suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist. The space between the two bookshelves was so narrow that he could only hold her and switch their positions, allowing the book falling from the top shelf to strike his shoulder.
The book was thick with sharp corners, and the man let out a muffled groan.
Nan Shu looked up from his embrace. In the cramped space between the bookshelves, they were almost pressed against each other, their clothes rustling with the movement, and even their breathing became distinctly audible.
“Your Majesty, are you alright?”
The man was very tall, and Nan Shu had to tilt her head back to look at him. She saw his thin lips pressed tightly together, his gaze dark and intense as he looked down at her.
“Mother?”
It was Sui An, who had heard the commotion and run downstairs. The moment she saw Yan Pingxiao, she exclaimed in surprise, “Father?”
Then, noticing their posture, Sui An quickly covered her eyes and turned her back.
Her friends from the Imperial Study had told her that when she saw her parents being affectionate, she should pretend not to see, or they would feel embarrassed.
Nan Shu awkwardly pushed the person in front of her. Yan Pingxiao released her as if nothing had happened and asked, “What are you looking for?”
“The Thousand Character Classic.”
Sui An peeked through her fingers with wide eyes and quickly added over her shoulder, “It’s for me.”
Yan Pingxiao ignored her and called for Tang Shunfu to enter. “It’s getting late. Escort the princess to the training grounds.”
Sui An had no desire to leave. She shot a resentful glare at Yan Pingxiao—why did she have to leave as soon as he arrived? Unfortunately, Nan Shu didn’t dare to keep her, so she reluctantly let Tang Shunfu lead her away.
“You and the princess seem quite close. She calls you mother.”
Nan Shu was terrified upon hearing this. “I wouldn’t dare. It is my honor to receive Her Highness’s affection. I’ve also heard that I bear some resemblance to the late empress. The princess misses her mother dearly, and I truly couldn’t bring myself to refuse her.”
“What did she come to see you for today?”
“Your Highness wanted me to accompany her while she does her homework.”
Homework? Yan Pingxiao remembered how reluctant that little girl had always been when he used to check Sui An’s homework before.
Perhaps because she had heard too many stories about Shen Lan Shu from Chun Ming, Sui An had always maintained a certain distance from him.
Yan Pingxiao said meaningfully: “She seems to be closer to you than to me.”
Nan Shu felt that if Yan Pingxiao wanted her dead, he should just say so directly, rather than saying such things to frighten her.
Before she could kneel down, the man grasped her wrist.
Yan Pingxiao looked at her, his eyes showing no blame, only unfathomable suspicion.
Sui An and Mian Mian being so close to Nan Shu – Sui An could still be explained by seeing someone who looked similar. But what about Mian Mian? Could a cat really remember a person’s appearance?
Night.
Yan Pingxiao emerged from his bath, wearing only sleeping robes as he sat on the edge of the bed.
He touched his left shoulder, which was somewhat painful – the place where he had been hit by those books earlier had swollen.
Tang Shunfu entered with medicinal ointment: “Your Majesty, there’s some redness and swelling on your shoulder. Let this servant apply some medicine for you.”
The man waved him away: “Unnecessary.”
Tang Shunfu made a pained expression: “Your Majesty, if we don’t apply medicine, it might get worse tomorrow…”
“Stop nagging, get out.”
Yan Pingxiao didn’t want to deal with him. Tang Shunfu wrinkled his old face, looking back every few steps, but unfortunately no one paid him any attention.
When the candlelight went out, the bedchamber was plunged into darkness.
Unexpectedly, Yan Pingxiao dreamed of Shen Lan Shu again.