Yan Zigu thought about the Imperial Noble Consort’s intentions.
Why make things difficult for a young girl?
The Yan family hadn’t offended her, had they?
In the Eastern Palace, teachers were all high officials who rotated their lessons. This time, it was Lin Zhongze’s turn.
Yan Zigu was excited to see him at Zichen Hall. She blinked at him and went to the tea room to personally brew tea and bring it in.
While the Crown Prince spoke, Lin Zhongze sipped the tea. It was different from the usual tea, and he immediately looked at the door, seeing Yan Zigu peeking in and smiling.
Lin Zhongze thought: Even in the Eastern Palace, she can’t behave seriously—always playful.
Last time, Lan Siyu had been criticized directly by the Crown Prince and felt uncomfortable. He pretended to be sick for two days and didn’t come to the Eastern Palace, but he and the Crown Prince were cousins and grew up together, so his pride wasn’t that strong.
Now, he was well and came to accompany the Crown Prince to study.
Lin Zhongze suddenly asked the daydreaming Lan Siyu, “To govern with virtue is like the North Star. How do you understand this?”
“The ruler is like the North Star. All ministers and people align with him. This shows order in society. The Book of Documents also says the emperor is like a parent to the people, just as countless small stars orient to the North Star,” Lan Siyu answered.
Lan Siyu was an average student, so the teacher usually asked him easy questions. The Crown Prince’s other two companions were more advanced and could study at home.
“Then if the ruler treats ministers like brothers, should ministers treat the ruler as their heart and soul?” Lin Zhongze asked again.
Lan Siyu shifted uncomfortably. He understood the question. The Crown Prince was close to him, but he had grown spoiled and forgotten the proper ruler-subject relationship.
The hall went silent for a moment.
Lin Zhongze then called Yan Zigu in. “To govern with virtue is like the North Star. How do you understand this?”
Yan Zigu was annoyed. Why was she suddenly being tested?
She answered honestly, “The North Star stays in place while other stars revolve around it. But stars have light and shadow; governance has gains and losses. Even the North Star must follow the path of the twenty-eight constellations. Heaven favors the people; their wishes will be met.”
Lin Zhongze nodded. “Then if the ruler treats ministers like brothers, should ministers treat the ruler as their heart and soul?”
Yan Zigu looked even more puzzled. She hadn’t done anything to the Crown Prince.
“Yan, you entered the palace as a junior supervisor, granted a jade plaque, allowed free access, and were deeply favored by the Emperor. Over time, you may take this for granted and act only according to your own thoughts. How will you manage this?”
Lan Siyu no longer felt awkward. He glanced at Yan Zigu. What had she done? The teacher was speaking so sharply.
Yan Zigu lowered her hands. “I remember my teacher’s lesson: pride brings loss, humility brings benefit. This is the way of Heaven, never to be forgotten.”
“Good. Remember it well,” Lin Zhongze said.
After finishing with two careless students, he returned to the lesson with the Crown Prince.
Yan Zigu stood outside, thinking: Why is he ungrateful? She brewed him good tea, yet he lectured her not to act on her own.
Every day he teaches respect for teachers and the Way, yet when he comes to class, she even serves tea differently—so what if she brought him the Crown Prince’s tea?
Yan Zigu decided: next time she’d go to the Lin family and tell the teacher’s wife her complaints.
When Lin Zhongze left, he passed by Yan Zigu. She lowered her head and didn’t look at him.
“Yan, I’ll see you off,” he said.
Yan Zigu followed, and in just a few steps, they left the others behind.
“Your grandfather wrote that the handover went smoothly. He’ll be back in two months. Stay calm and don’t cause trouble,” Lin Zhongze reminded her.
“What trouble could I cause?” Yan Zigu protested.
“You’ve only been in the Eastern Palace a short time. You change tea when you want, bold as you are. Soon, the palace will act according to your mood.”
“I only gave my teacher good tea out of respect. The Crown Prince just thinks the previous attendants didn’t serve him well,” Yan Zigu said.
“Don’t pretend to be virtuous. Respect your teacher with your own things. The Crown Prince and I only have a teacher-student relationship,” Lin Zhongze said.
“Understood,” Yan Zigu said quietly.
Near the palace gate, Lin Zhongze stopped and turned to her. “Have you seen the Emperor?”
Yan Zigu nodded. “I saw him the second day I entered the palace.”
“Did he say anything?”
“Nothing much. He asked if I got along with my family, and I gave a vague answer.” Yan Zigu looked proud. Though new to the capital, she had met the Emperor and Crown Prince, and performed well.
Lin Zhongze hesitated, then said, “Your path in the palace has been smooth. Everyone here is clever. Be careful, don’t be arrogant or careless.”
“Understood,” Yan Zigu said, now showing some obedience.
Lin Zhongze hadn’t expected Yan Zigu to connect with the Eastern Palace. Her family wasn’t remarkable in the capital. Though she was older than the Crown Prince and cherished at the border, in the eyes of the capital people, she was from a frontier area and poorly educated.
He had originally thought sending her to the palace would polish her image and avoid conflicts at home.
But in the Eastern Palace, it could cause more trouble than benefit.
Compared to ordinary palace maids, Yan Zigu was far superior. Her age was close to the Crown Prince’s. When the Crown Prince reached adolescence, he could develop feelings for her.
This would be a difficult situation.
The imperial family wouldn’t want her as Crown Prince’s consort, but the Yan family wouldn’t want her as a concubine either.
Lin Zhongze hoped he was just worrying too much.
During her daily duty, Zhang Cheng smiled and advised her: When you rise in rank, don’t imitate old ways. The Crown Prince dislikes people who bully others.
Yan Zigu was surprised. “Bullying? Me?”
“You haven’t done night watch for several days. People will talk. If you haven’t done anything wrong, you’re innocent. Avoid night duty, and it could seem like you bully your colleagues or have bad intentions toward the Crown Prince,” Zhang Cheng said.
Yan Zigu cursed in her mind but smiled on the outside. “You’re right. I’ll do night watch today and follow the rules from now on. Act properly, and you have nothing to fear.”
The last duty of a palace maid on night watch was helping the Crown Prince change and enter bed. The actual work was done by the maids; Yan Zigu just watched.
She carefully placed the hair crown.
“Did you know Master Lin before?” the Crown Prince suddenly asked.
Yan Zigu looked around, confirmed he meant her, and answered, “When Master Lin was demoted to Jialan Pass, my grandfather valued him and hired him to tutor at our home. I met him a few times.”
“Only a few times?” the Crown Prince asked, smiling. “Who did he tutor at the Yan household?”
Yan Zigu blushed. “Me, Your Highness.”
“Ah, I see. So you were Master Lin’s private student.”
“Your Highness, please don’t tease me. That was when Master Lin was struggling. It wasn’t a formal teacher-student relationship.”
“On Dragon Boat Festival, you’ll go with me to Jinchi,” the Crown Prince said calmly. “I’ll have the internal staff send you a flower crown.”
“The one the Imperial Noble Consort gave me will stay in my room,” Yan Zigu said.