Part 3
The students of the Imperial Academy were all from noble backgrounds—sons and grandsons of third-rank officials, great-grandsons of second-rank officials, children of Duke’s residences. Anyone picked out was better than their declined Marquis residence.
But on second thought, he could even fool Father, and was usually surrounded by a group of classmates. It shouldn’t be difficult to make a few friends there.
“Second Sister.” Zhao Chen looked at the money and silk Zhao Duanduan stuffed into his hand, pursing his lips and saying, “Do you have enough money for yourself?” He knew that Second Sister also had to manage the orphanage. Most of the time the accounts there balanced, but occasionally Second Sister had to fill in personally.
Zhao Duanduan waved her hand and laughed: “What are you thinking blindly? Last time I entered the palace, Sister gave me a lot of things. How could I not have enough to spend?”
Zhao Chen frowned slightly: “But what Big Sister gave you were mostly utensils, many with imperial marks. How can they be easily sold?” Saying this, he took some money and silk out and stuffed them into Zhao Duanduan’s hand. “Don’t give it all to me. Besides, I live in the Imperial Academy; what do I need so much money for?”
If he went to study at the Imperial Academy, he could only come home once every ten days.
His elder brother and sister were much older than him. Compared to those two whom he had to look up to, he was closer to Zhao Duanduan.
It was inevitable to be concerned.
When Yunzhu entered, she saw the scene of the two pushing money and silk back and forth. She couldn’t help but chuckle and said to another female official beside her: “Look, look, it’s not even time yet, and the two of them are getting sentimental first.”
Zhao Duanduan looked a bit embarrassed, covering her lips and coughing lightly a few times to hide the awkwardness.
“Why are Second Miss and Second Young Master anxious?” Yunzhu smiled helplessly. “Her Highness has already prepared the expenses for Second Young Master to go to the Imperial Academy. There is no need to worry about these.”
As they were talking, someone came from the front yard, saying the Marquis invited Second Young Master over to talk.
Zhao Duanduan felt something was inappropriate and stood up to go with him, but was stopped by the attendant: “Second Miss, the Marquis only summoned Second Young Master.”
“What about me?” Yunzhu smiled盈盈 (beamingly), but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “It’s not that I want to go myself; it’s entirely to take a look on behalf of Her Highness.”
The attendant had nothing more to say and could only acquiesce.
In the main hall, seeing his second son coming, Zhao Weimin first asked him warmly a few questions, making Zhao Chen somewhat flattered.
After all, he was still a half-grown boy, somewhat yearning for parental love.
But his father’s next sentence plunged him into an ice cave: “Your schoolwork is good, and you are intelligent. Father has never worried about you, and you have never made Father worry. It’s your third brother who is always a bit mischievous, making Father worry to death about him.”
He said he was worried to death, but there was a three-point smile in his eyes, with no dissatisfaction at all.
“Your schoolwork is so good, even your grandfather praised it repeatedly. You can learn well anywhere. A-Chen, why not let your third brother have this spot at the Imperial Academy?”
Zhao Chen was cold to the extreme. He pinched his palm and replied: “Father, this favor was asked from the late Emperor by Grandfather for his son. How can it be transferred? Moreover, the Imperial Academy requires one to be fourteen years old. Shunian is still more than half a year away.”
“Your grandfather said ‘little grandson’.” Zhao Weimin smiled, saying warmly, “Back then, wasn’t your third brother his little grandson? Being half a year short doesn’t matter; just report him as older.”
So it was planned long ago, waiting here.
Zhao Chen’s face turned cold. No wonder Second Sister wasn’t called. If Second Sister came, with her temper, she would definitely cry and make a scene until the palace knew.
Father was afraid the palace would know too quickly and provoke Big Sister to stand up, so he started with him, wanting to settle this matter quickly.
But Father was wrong.
Although he usually had a good temper, it was because there was no need to fight. Fighting wouldn’t get anything anyway, so he might as well be obedient to win a few points of pity from Father. But when it concerned himself, he couldn’t just hand it over and continue to be magnanimous.
“At that time, Grandfather didn’t know there was a grandson like Shunian.” Zhao Chen bowed and answered, “Grandfather only considered his son as his little grandson, hence this request.”
His words undoubtedly exposed Zhao Shunian’s status as an illegitimate child, an illegitimate child born of illicit intercourse without informing parents.
Zhao Weimin’s expression stiffened, and Madam Xu’s face also flushed red.
Beside them, Yunzhu’s face darkened, and she said in a deep voice: “Marquis Huai’an should think thrice before speaking! Back then, Marquis Huai’an Wenxuan asked for the favor for Young Master A-Chen. How can it be transferred just by saying so? I am still here, yet the Marquis says he wants to change Sanlang’s age. How is this act different from deceiving the monarch? Moreover, this matter was brought up by Her Highness; you should also consider Her Highness’s intentions!”
Zhao Weimin’s expression stiffened, then he said: “Treasurer Yun, Shunian is also Her Highness’s younger brother. Her Highness naturally cherishes him too.”
What younger brother? Yunzhu secretly spat in her heart, her face suddenly sinking: “Ten fingers have different lengths. The Marquis’s own children are treated with different thickness. Naturally, Her Highness also distinguishes between close and distant relations.”
Being squeezed by her, Zhao Weimin looked even more ashamed.
Zhao Weimin said: “Treasurer Yun, in the letter I sent to Libationer Cheng, I already mentioned Shunian’s name. A-Chen’s side, let’s wait for a change. If he can’t enter the Imperial Academy, entering the National University is the same.”
Yunzhu was furious and sneered: “If the Marquis insists on this, I will report this to Her Highness and ask Her Highness to decide!”
After speaking, she turned straight around and left.
In less than two quarters of an hour, she had packed her bags and led the palace servants away in a mighty procession.
When Yunzhu returned to the palace, Zhao Yiyi was about to set off for the Silkworm Ceremony. She wore twelve flower hairpins, the Empress’s ceremonial silkworm robe, and black shoes. Her makeup was tidy, making people subconsciously look up in reverence.
After listening to Yunzhu’s account, she raised her eyebrows and said flatly: “Why doesn’t he just die?”
Yunzhu was shocked and hurriedly looked around.
This, this… No matter how much Her Highness disliked the Marquis of Huai’an before, she had never scolded him so directly. She had only been out of the palace for a few days; how did Her Highness’s temper…
She hurriedly looked around and was relieved to see no one. The Empress cursing her own father wasn’t a good thing if word got out.
Zhao Yiyi drew a flower mark on her forehead and said indifferently: “Don’t worry, there’s no one. I sent them all away.”
Yunzhu breathed a sigh of relief and stood aside, waiting quietly.
When the Empress finished drawing the pear blossom on her forehead and stood up gracefully, she looked up at the window and smiled faintly: “I remember now. The few copies of the Scripture of Purity and Stillness that I asked Miss Zuo to copy last time were not written uprightly. I kept forgetting to ask her to copy them again. Our Zhao family has always been famous for calligraphy. Since she has entered the Zhao family’s door, she naturally cannot disgrace my family’s style. Let her copy them a few more times to practice.”
“Oh, and also, I dreamed of Grandmother yesterday. She said her body wasn’t feeling well. Aunt is far away in Yuzhang, so let Madam Xu go to the temple to stay for a few days and pray for Grandmother.”
“As for the rest.” She rubbed her brow. “Wait until I come back to deal with it.”
She got up and walked out surrounded by everyone. Upon reaching the magnificent ceremonial guard, before boarding the carriage, she saw a familiar figure.
The figure gradually approached her, explaining warmly: “Zhen promised that day to accompany you.”
“This consort happens to be unfamiliar with the process. In that case, many thanks to Your Majesty.” She bowed and curtsied.
She said thanks with her mouth, smiling on her face, but there was no joy in her eyes.
How he was, seemed not to be on her mind at all.
Gu Zhen suddenly felt himself very ridiculous.
He had always thought he would handle the matters of the front court well. Therefore, when dealing with that batch of noble families, he showed no mercy at all.
Therefore, his heart and eyes had always only held government affairs, never containing anything else.
Who knew, the front court matters were not yet finished, but the backyard caught fire first.
Author’s Note:
Yiyi: …
Gu Zhen: I’m accompanying you.
Yiyi: Mm.
Gu Zhen: Can’t you say a few more words? @
Today’s update! Chirp chirp chirp! Still 30 small red envelopes~
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