The East Six Palaces.
The Crown Prince had reached the age of sixteen, submitted his examination papers, and was only awaiting the review of his papers to officially graduate from school.
Whether it was Grand Tutor Fang, Master Xi, or other teachers who had taught intermittently, they all finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.
At this time.
Grand Tutor Fang and Master Xi were in the side hall, grading and evaluating the princes’ answer sheets.
The Crown Prince and the Second and Third Princes had one set of examination papers, while Princess Zhiyi and the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Princes had another set.
Although the main focus was on the Crown Prince’s papers, the other princes had also submitted theirs, serving as accompanying examinations.
“The Crown Prince’s paper is barely passable, but acceptable,” Grand Tutor Fang frowned. “But his study companion must have helped him considerably. Whether he’s allowed to leave the palace and establish his own residence depends greatly on our evaluation. Master Xi, what do you think?”
Master Xi: “Does Grand Tutor Fang want to teach him for another year?”
Grand Tutor Fang: “…”
Grand Tutor Fang: “We can’t just tell lies with our eyes wide open. Let’s do this: we’ll write our evaluations, and whether he can leave the palace to establish his residence will be decided by His Majesty.”
Master Xi: “That works.”
After dealing with the Crown Prince’s papers, they didn’t relax when looking at the other princes’ papers either. When they turned to the Seventh Prince’s paper, Grand Tutor Fang looked at it several times.
Master Xi: “Is there something wrong with the Seventh Prince’s paper?”
He glanced at it. The handwriting on the paper was steady but unremarkable, and somewhat childish, showing a lack of regular practice.
But the Seventh Prince fell ill almost every month, and it was already a blessing that he could grow up safely. His handwriting was quite good considering the circumstances.
In the past half year, the Seventh Prince had developed a love for music and dancing, and His Majesty hadn’t criticized him for neglecting his studies.
Grand Tutor Fang: “The Seventh Prince’s accuracy rate in previous examinations has always been average.”
But there were always traces of corrections on his papers.
This time was no exception.
Looking at a question that was answered incorrectly, he saw that the Seventh Prince had dipped his brush in ink and drawn a line to cover his initial answer.
He had then rewritten the answer below, which was incorrect.
Grand Tutor Fang folded the paper back and held it up to the sunlight outside. The warm light made the ink on the paper show distinct layers.
Because these were the examination papers for the Crown Prince’s departure from the palace, all the princes used the same specially made golden-layered paper as the Crown Prince.
When writing on the same spot at different times, the ink would appear in different depths when seen through sunlight, distinguishing up to three layers.
Having managed the Five Armies Command in his younger years, Grand Tutor Fang was very familiar with this type of royal special paper that could be used for messaging.
After looking at it in the sunlight for a moment, Grand Tutor Fang raised his eyebrows slightly.
Master Xi: “What’s wrong?”
Grand Tutor Fang stroked his beard: “Nothing. Let’s continue. There’s an error on the paper. I’ll explain it to him specifically later.”
He folded the Seventh Prince’s paper and put it in his sleeve.
–
Training grounds.
The sunshine was gentle.
Under the dappled shade of trees, a child lay in a hammock with a copy of “The Analects” covering his face, hands behind his head, swinging leisurely.
Qu Dubian closed his eyes, reciting the martial arts novel in his mind: “…This was Han Yue’s first battle since coming down the mountain. With just one palm strike, he sent the White-Haired Zither Player, ranked fifty-eighth on the Heroes’ List, flying.”
“The Zither Player had once declared that whoever defeated him in a single move would become his master. Now that Han Yue had defeated him, he sighed about growing old and was about to honor his oath by serving Han Yue. Unexpectedly, Han Yue said, ‘The world’s storms arise from our generation; once entering the jianghu, time presses on.’ One may grow old, but the heart need not age, nor does the jianghu in one’s heart.”
“The Zither Player looked deeply at Han Yue, and the two drank heartily under the moon. Han Yue didn’t make the Zither Player acknowledge him as master, but he gained his first friend in the jianghu…”
Yi Shi’er sat on the treetop, listening intently while writing.
The little superior in the hammock finished this section and fell silent, seemingly having fallen asleep. Yi Shi’er waited patiently, and after a few seconds was rewarded with: “End of chapter. To find out what happens next, please stay tuned for the next installment.”
Qu Dubian lifted the book from his face and smiled at the black shadow crouching in the tree.
Ever since he discovered Yi Shi’er’s particular enthusiasm for storybooks, he had gradually begun telling him martial arts novels from his mind, which were far more exciting than the existing storybooks in Great Zhou.
With just a few words, he could entice Liuliu to volunteer for overtime.
Through his persistent efforts, Yi Shi’er’s favorability had already risen to 36.
Yi Shi’er jumped down from the tree.
This was the backyard of the training grounds, where basically no one came, making it their secret base for storytelling.
He had even taken the initiative to install a hammock here—identical to the one in Qu Dubian’s sleeping quarters.
Who knows where he found it.
To make his superior more comfortable while telling stories here, he had really gone all out.
He still wore a mask, with no expression on his face, but Qu Dubian could tell he meant “I haven’t heard enough.”
“I need to go to Ci Ning Palace soon. I made an appointment with the elderly imperial consorts. I’ll tell you more next time.”
Yi Shi’er nodded: “Do you need flowers delivered?”
Qu Dubian: “Not this time.”
He had no idea how Liuliu managed it, but he could always get flowers for him at the fastest speed.
He left the training grounds and went to Ci Ning Palace.
After three consecutive years of delivering flowers and visiting, he had become quite familiar with the imperial consorts there.
Without the simulator’s favorability scoring, he had come of his own accord.
At first, he had just associated these old ladies with his grandmother, feeling compassion. Later, he simply regarded this place as a nursing home.
He was just a volunteer who frequently visited the nursing home.
Sincerity begets sincerity. The four imperial consorts in Ci Ning Palace gradually grew fond of this little one who often came to see them.
There was nothing to gain from them. For people with one foot in the grave, deep in the palace, having someone who thought of them was already quite precious.
However—
Imperial Consort Liang was inside the hall, watching more than a dozen musicians from various music troupes outside. The musicians were playing sparsely, in a style completely different from what was commonly heard in Great Zhou.
She and the three elderly sisters around her observed, “What is this all about?”
“I don’t know. The sound is somewhat strange.”
Zhiyi held a music score, standing on the platform in front directing the musicians, “Yes, the high notes there, a little bit lower… that feels right.”
She also often came here with Qu Dubian. Now almost nine years old, having studied for more than three years in school, her shy and timid personality had gradually faded, and her every movement showed the intelligence and liveliness of a young girl.
Imperial Consort Liang called through the window: “Zhiyi, what is the Seventh Prince planning to do?”
Zhiyi turned her head: “I don’t know either. Xiao Qi will be here soon. I’m just helping him with the training.”
Just as she spoke, Qu Dubian leisurely entered the gates of Ci Ning Palace, leading Da Hei, “Sister, how’s the training going?”
Zhiyi jumped down and smiled, patting Da Hei’s head: “I’ve practiced according to the score you gave me, several times already.”
“Good,” Qu Dubian waved toward the hall, “Grandmother Imperial Consorts, come out!”
Imperial Consort Liang, Imperial Consort Zhou, and the other two came out, standing in the courtyard. Matron Su also came out, wanting to see what the Seventh Prince was planning to do with so many musicians.
Ever since the incident three years ago when Princess Zhiyi stopped learning “Admonitions for Women,” the Seventh Prince had become a regular visitor to Ci Ning Palace.
Imperial Consort Liang, who had been bedridden with long illness, saw the fresh flowers brought daily and gradually improved in spirit. After two or three years of care, she could now walk.
Later, Princess Zhiyi also came. One day she would ask an imperial consort to teach her embroidery, the next day she would ask an imperial consort to help look after Concubine Xuan’s flowers, and the day after that, the Seventh Prince would come to tell stories to the imperial consorts, or hide here after angering His Majesty.
The deathly stillness of Ci Ning Palace no longer existed. Sometimes Matron Su even found it noisy.
Qu Dubian stood on the platform himself, hands behind his back, “What’s the secret to living long and healthy? It’s exercise! Moving more helps you sweat, and sweating is detoxifying. Grandmother Imperial Consorts, you neither go out nor exercise, so you’re bound to get sick more often.”
“Today I’m going to teach you a set of dances. If you persist, it will definitely strengthen your constitution.”
The vocabulary he used was advanced, and the imperial consorts listened in confusion. But after interacting for two or three years, they had become accustomed to the strange words that occasionally popped out of the Seventh Prince’s mouth, and could roughly guess their meaning.
Imperial Consort Liang: “Dance?” She couldn’t help but laugh, “At our age, still dancing? Wouldn’t that invite ridicule?”
Imperial Consort Zhou also said: “Yes, that’s for young girls to do. We probably can’t manage it.”
Qu Dubian: “Why don’t you all watch first? Just one time.”
He clapped his hands.
Ye Xiaoyuan and Xin Qing stood together on the platform.
Qu Dubian went to the musicians’ group, “Previously I had you play separately, but now you need to play together. Don’t make mistakes, okay~”
The musicians: “Yes, Your Highness.”
Their skills were refined, and they wouldn’t make mistakes in this regard.
He clapped his hands: “Music, go—”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Not overly passionate, but the music with its strong rhythm immediately invigorated the spirit.
In his previous life, Qu Dubian had performed on stage, and he had the basics of choreography. Considering the current situation, he had tested this dance in Shunning Palace for a month, ensuring that Concubine Xuan, Noble Lady Guo, and others in the palace could perform it before bringing it to Ci Ning Palace.
Qu Dubian: “This dance is called Square Dance.”
The four imperial consorts watched in amazement.
The first time they watched, they thought it was strange.
The second time they watched, they found it somewhat interesting.
By the third time, they had unconsciously begun to move along with it.
After all, they were all old women. If they did some strange movements in their own palace, no one would say anything.
Qu Dubian tossed a peanut and caught it in his mouth, his eyes curving into a smile.
Not bad, not bad.
Moving around was certainly better than always being cooped up indoors. If he could make the elderly imperial consorts in Ci Ning Palace healthier and add more joy to their elderly lives, then all the effort he had spent over these months—finding music troupes to compose music, selecting people, listening to and choosing tunes—would not have been in vain.
–
Meanwhile.
The Princes’ Residence.
Ever since submitting his examination papers, the Crown Prince had been anxious.
He couldn’t help pacing back and forth.
“I wonder what the tutors’ comments are. The Crown Prince’s residence outside the palace has already been renovated. If—if I don’t pass and can’t leave the palace, the Third Brother will laugh me to death.”
His study companion Dou Shun said: “Your Highness, rest assured, under normal circumstances, you won’t fail. I’ve heard the examination papers have already been sent to His Majesty. Just wait for the news calmly.”
The Crown Prince was sixteen years old. Over three years, he had grown tremendously in height. His physique, due to martial arts practice, appeared robust. His face was very handsome with strong features, making him look not like sixteen, but twenty-six.
He worried: “It’s precisely because Father Emperor is reviewing it that I’m concerned. Since childhood, he hasn’t thought much of my academic achievements.”
Study companion Dou Shun thought for a moment, “The Seventh Prince often goes to the Zichen Palace. If you want to know the results in advance, you could ask him to inquire. Or have the Seventh Prince put in a good word for you.”
The Crown Prince fell into deep thought: “Xiao Qi…”
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
