[Oh, my dashing brother, hurry back and study your books!]
Even though the room was warmed by burning charcoal, Lower Concubine Liu and Fifth Prince Cheng Qian still felt a chill in the air.
Xiao Chuchu, however, was reminiscing about the contents of a book.
The more she recalled, the graver the matter seemed, leading to a series of tragic events in the future.
[My brother was beaten by his tutor, publicly humiliated, and had to call for a court physician due to his injuries, which was recorded in official records. Three days later, at the grand winter ceremony, our father the Emperor didn't allow my brother to make an appearance!]
[This incident caused palace maids, eunuchs, and even ministers from the previous dynasty to think that my brother had lost the Emperor's favor!]
[Afterwards, my brother was looked down upon for a long time, so much so that when the time came to recommend a Crown Prince, not a single minister considered him!]
Xiao Chuchu's recollections came flooding back.
Fifth Prince froze for a moment, but quickly regained his emotionless demeanor.
He gratefully reached out and caressed his sister's little face.
What his sister had foretold the previous night had now become a reality.
Then this incident in the study room would also likely occur.
Last night, he had been worried and unable to sleep, feeling drained. This morning, upon learning of the eunuch's affair, he was utterly distraught.
He pondered back and forth, wondering how to prevent his mother from being buried alive, and how to avoid the tragedy of him being unable to protect his grandfather's family due to the new Emperor's suspicion.
In his current state, he would undoubtedly be unable to concentrate during today's study session.
Even though he could normally recite the texts after reading them a few times, today he would most likely fail his tutor's questioning.
He would certainly be punished by the tutor!
And then, as recorded by the official, due to his mistake, he would be unable to attend the ceremonial rites as a prince, which his sister had predicted could very well happen.
Fifth Prince looked at his sister with gratitude, deeply relieved.
If not for her, he would have fallen into this calamity.
With this thought, he glanced at Lower Concubine Liu.
His mother couldn't hear his sister's thoughts, could she?
Lower Concubine Liu was also anxious, but after last night's experience, she had become much braver.
After all, the facts proved that her daughter's thoughts could alter reality.
So Lower Concubine Liu remained composed and gave Fifth Prince a smile.
"It's the depths of winter, and Cheng Qian rushed here without even wearing a cloak. Aren't you freezing?"
Indeed, his mother couldn't hear his sister's thoughts.
Fifth Prince breathed a sigh of relief, as he now had an excuse to return.
"Your son hurried to see you and your daughter, and didn't feel the cold earlier. But now I do feel a chill."
Lower Concubine Liu promptly handed him a hand warmer, "Your sister and I are fine, so you can rest assured. The sun isn't shining today, and it might rain later."
"Cheng Qian, you should return to the Qianxi No.5 Residence while the weather is still good."
"If it rains, stay inside and study diligently. The new year is approaching, and in the past, when I was at home, your grandfather would often test your uncles' studies around this time."
"If they didn't do well, their new year's red envelopes would be confiscated."
Fifth Prince's expression turned grave.
His grandfather was indeed wise.
He promptly stood up, "Yes, Mother. After seeing my sister, I am at ease. I will certainly study hard in the coming days."
Lower Concubine Liu smiled and nodded.
[It seems today's lesson is from the Xian Wen chapter of the Analects, verse fourteen...]
Fifth Prince paused.
The fourteenth verse of the Xian Wen chapter of the Analects?
That was precisely the content he was supposed to study today!
He swiftly strode out.
*
After noon, the princes had an hour of rest, during which a torrential downpour began.
The scheduled archery lessons were temporarily canceled.
All the princes had to stay in the study room to review their academic lessons.
However, without the tutor present, the study room was quite noisy.
"Fifth Brother, is it true that your sister was almost harmed yesterday?" Sixth Prince walked up to Fifth Prince's desk.
Consort Min was his birth mother, and today her palace maid sent him a message, asking him to look after Fifth Brother in the study room.
He shouldn't let Fifth Brother worry, and certainly shouldn't let him be bullied.
Sixth Prince was three months younger than Fifth Prince, but he disliked physical activity and loved eating, so his build was broader and more stout than Fifth Prince's.
"Fifth Brother, don't worry. With my mother protecting your mother and sister!" Sixth Prince pounded his chest.
Fifth Prince looked up from the Analects, and the usual cold indifference in his eyes had softened somewhat, "Thank you, Sixth Younger Brother."
"So, what's the truth about this matter?"
"Fifth Brother, is it true or false?"
The other princes also looked over curiously.
"Thank you, brothers, for your concern. My sister is fine." Fifth Prince stood up and bowed to his Eldest Brother, Fourth Brother, and the others.
He didn't know which prince his sister had referred to as the new Emperor.
For fearing his popularity among the people, the new Emperor had his entire maternal clan killed.
The new Emperor was truly cruel!
Fifth Prince suppressed the ominous feeling in his eyes and quickly sat down, picking up his pen to copy the book again.
Third Prince found it rather dull. He had thought something significant had happened, but Fifth Prince ended it with just a sentence.
He glanced out at the heavy rain and sighed.
"Such a nice day for archery lessons, and it's ruined."
Saying that, he took out a fiction book hidden between his textbooks and began reading.
"Fifth Brother, you shouldn't work so hard either. The rest of us have no choice, but you can take advantage of your sister's illness and request a day off to visit her. Enjoy a leisurely day!"
Fourth Prince looked at Fifth Prince enviously.
He found it uncomfortable sitting in the study room.
"Fourth Brother, how can you say such a thing? It's not a good thing that Fifth Brother's beloved sister almost fell ill. How could Fifth Brother take advantage of this to slack off?"
Sixth Prince muttered softly.
He had a vague feeling that Fourth Brother's words were inappropriate.
If something happened to his own mother, he would be so worried that he would eat less even during meals, let alone enjoy a leisurely day.
However, sitting at his desk, he couldn't help but fidget and let his mind wander, thinking about where he would dine for the evening meal.
Today was the fifteenth, so he should probably go to Mom Qi's residence, as his own mother would surely be chanting sutras and eating vegetarian again.
He disliked vegetarian food!
He wanted to eat meat, perhaps some fried beef balls would be nice.
"Ahem."
Cheng Qian watched Sixth Prince holding a book, yet his mind was wandering, and he felt exasperated.
In this room were all the princes, with the youngest being Seventh Youngest Brother, who had just turned five years old.
Then there was Sixth Prince, who was only three months younger than him.
However, despite their similar ages, they rarely played together.
Their foster mothers, Consort Qi and Concubine Li, were at odds with each other.
Although his own birth mother, Lower Concubine Liu, lived with Sixth Prince's birth mother, Consort Min, from his observations, Lower Concubine Liu and Consort Min didn't have a close relationship either.
So, apart from encountering each other in the study room, they seldom interacted privately.
Moreover, they didn't have much in common to discuss.
Sixth Younger Brother liked to eat and laze around.
He himself didn't share those interests.
Cheng Qian felt pensive, but when he recalled that Sixth Younger Brother had stood up for him earlier, almost offending Fourth Brother, he couldn't help but feel touched.
"Sixth Younger Brother."
Cheng Qian noticed that the Analects was tucked at the very bottom of Sixth Prince's desk, and he couldn't help but frown.
"This morning when I went to see my sister, my mother told me that in the past, my grandfather would often test his grandchildren's studies around the new year."
Sixth Prince was startled.
They were of similar ages and sat closest to each other. Normally, when they spoke, their voices would be drowned out by the other princes' conversations in the study room.
The others didn't hear him.
Cheng Qian glanced at Sixth Prince, "Have you mastered today's lesson from the tutor?"
"If you haven't, I can go over it with you again."
...
Less than half an hour later, footsteps could be heard outside the study room.
The head tutor of the study room, Chancellor Lu Zhen of the Hanlin Academy, entered with two other scholars.
"Princes, due to the heavy rain today, we will take this opportunity to evaluate your recent studies."
The previously rowdy Third Prince and Fourth Prince instantly froze.
Sixth Prince's mouth fell open.
He resisted the urge to turn around and look at Fifth Brother!
"Confucius said: 'He who possesses virtue must have something to say, but he who has something to say may not necessarily possess virtue. The benevolent man must have the courage to face adversity, but the courageous man may not necessarily be benevolent.' Explain this statement."
Sixth Prince's mouth gaped wider.
Wasn't this one of the three chapters that Fifth Brother had just helped him review?
—The fourteenth verse of the Xian Wen chapter!
"You have the time it takes for one incense stick to burn. Write down your answers, which will then be presented to the Emperor for review."
