Chapter 55: Stories of Old Friends

But Wang Zaitian was different from Jiang Wangchun.

Jiang Wangchun had originally been a retainer of the Qi clan and was assigned to provide her with basic education, so she knew her identity from the very beginning; through their time together, they had become true teacher and student.

Later, when the Qi clan was destroyed by others, they went their separate ways to start new lives, but they never lost contact, always maintaining the relationship of teacher and student.

Her background deprived her of freedom, but within that lack of liberty, she had one hobby: reading.

And Eunuch Zhang indulged this hobby of hers.

Back then, they had just escaped the control of others. On the journey back to Eunuch Zhang's hometown, they learned that Wang Zaitian was running a school nearby.

"Oh my, oh my, this man is quite famous! Back then, Zhao Tan sent people everywhere to capture him, hoping to use him to build his own prestige, but he escaped every time," Eunuch Zhang said, pulling her along. "Come, come, come, we mustn't miss this. Studying with him for even a few days would be worth a lifetime."

And so, she followed Eunuch Zhang to where Wang Zaitian was located.

Of course, she did not pay tuition to study at the school.

She could not leave any traces.

Instead, she would squat outside the schoolhouse to eavesdrop.

Then, she became acquainted with Ling Yu, who followed Wang Zaitian. Ling Yu would transcribe the words and essays she wrote on the ground and show them to Wang Zaitian...

To her surprise, Wang Zaitian actually wanted to take her on as a disciple, saying she had a talent for reading.

He sought her out repeatedly. Trusting his character and feeling a bit mischievous, Eunuch Zhang told him Mo Zheng's true identity—though, of course, only that she was a prince.

Her secret identity as a woman was kept by Eunuch Zhang; no more than five people around her knew the truth.

"She can listen to the teacher's lectures, but she cannot study under you. Even if she has talent, it won't matter, because she is not destined for formal studies."

She could only hide in the world; she could not be seen, let alone become the disciple of a famous scholar. Otherwise, her life would be forfeit, and the lives of those connected to her would be lost as well.

Wang Zaitian was shocked at the time; he had not expected the late Emperor to have an heir, and he understood what this identity implied.

He did not insist on taking her as a disciple, nor did he report her.

Thus, Mo Zheng continued to eavesdrop outside the school, writing words and essays on her own, until Wang Zaitian finished his teaching term here and left with Ling Yu.

She had not seen Wang Zaitian again after that, until now.

Well, actually, she still hadn't seen him; she had only seen Ling Yu.

She had no intention of meeting Wang Zaitian.

With Jiang Wangchun's death, she did not want to, nor would she ever again, call someone a master or a teacher.

She was dangerous; she brought death and misfortune.

Mo Zheng lifted her hand and tossed a piece of firewood into the stove, the crackling sound filling her ears.

"That Wei Jiao is also going to the Imperial Academy; Young Master, you are being too reckless," Zhang Shengyou said. "Why not find an excuse, like twisting an ankle or something? I can escort Miss Yang instead."

Mo Zheng shook her head. "No, the more dangerous it is, the more I cannot leave Miss Yang." She smiled. "Don't worry, Miss Yang is very capable. Look, she likely knows Wei Jiao is coming to the Academy, yet she hasn't mentioned it once, nor has she said she won't attend classes. It's clear she isn't taking it to heart and has a way to handle it."

Taohua curled her lip. "I think she's intentionally keeping you in the dark, fearing she'll scare off a guard like you. This Miss Yang looks cheerful, but she is actually deep and calculating, keeping things hidden. She isn't being transparent with you at all, Young Master."

Mo Zheng laughed. "If the eldest brother doesn't criticize the second, why should I? Am I not also keeping things hidden?"

Taohua snorted. "Keeping secrets is one thing, but I'm just afraid of when she might lose her mind again."

And indeed, stealing someone else's identity to take exams, and then picking a fight with the daughter of the Duke of Ding'an on the very first day of classes, and publicly flattering the Princess—the actions of this Miss Yang were certainly not those of a normal person.

Mo Zheng watched the burning fire in the stove and said softly, "She must be suffering immensely in her heart, which is why she acts out."

If it weren't for necessity, if there were no other way, who would want to lose their mind?

Having said that, she looked at Zhang Shengyou and Taohua.

"We cannot interfere with or control others. Let us just do what we can, to be prepared for any eventuality."

Zhang Shengyou and Taohua stopped talking and complied.

...

...

During the next three days of classes at the Imperial Academy, Wei Jiao did not return. Mo Zheng spent three days reading peacefully in Ling Yu's dormitory, while Yang Luo, perhaps to avoid annoying the Princess, did not compete with Yang Hui to deliver notes to her.

However, when Yang Hui acted provocatively, Yang Luo would not back down, retorting, "I intend to study hard. The teacher's lectures are becoming increasingly profound; I wouldn't want to be unable to even transcribe the notes for the Princess."

This made Yang Hui both angry and forced to brace herself to listen to the instructors. Although the Princess did not need her notes, she had come under that title and could not afford to be seen as idle.

Aside from the first day, the remaining three days of the four-day course concluded smoothly.

After seeing the Princesses off, the tense nerves of the young ladies finally relaxed.

As usual, Yang Luo intended to leave first by herself, but this time, someone called out to her.

"Miss Liu."

Yang Luo turned her head. Although she hadn't socialized or made friends with the others, over the four days, she had learned the names of these companion ladies.

The one calling her was Shen Xue.

Aside from dealing with Yang Hui, Yang Luo had no desire to provoke the others.

"Miss Shen," she nodded.

Shen Xue handed her an invitation. "Tomorrow, Qin Ying is inviting everyone for tea at the Dengyun Tower. She doesn't know your residence and couldn't find you, so she asked me to bring this to you."

Qin Ying, huh? Yang Luo took the invitation.

"She only invited us companions," a lady's voice drifted over. "The Princess isn't coming."

That was a bit...

Yang Luo looked up and saw several ladies wearing disdainful expressions.

It seemed everyone assumed she was there to curry favor with the Princess and looked down on the rest.

Yang Luo smiled but did not argue or reply. She thanked Shen Xue, took the invitation, and walked away, hearing the whispers behind her.

"Why give it to her? She certainly won't go."

"She looks down on us, doesn't she?"

"Eh, Qin Ying gave it. Anyway, I've passed it on; whether she goes or not is up to her."

...

...

"So, are you going?"

Mo Zheng asked, lightly flicking her whip.

She knew Yang Luo wasn't just avoiding making friends with the Princess; it was because her identity was fake, and she dared not associate too closely with others for fear of exposing her tracks.

"The less you socialize, the more unique you become. The more people notice you, the less safe it is."

"Besides, there is no wall that doesn't leak. No matter how careful you are, you can't truly study at the Imperial Academy forever."

Yang Luo, sitting in the carriage reading the invitation, looked up upon hearing this.

"I know. I don't intend to stay forever," she said. "As long as I can hold out until the end of the month."

When the month's curriculum ended, the Emperor would personally visit the Imperial Academy to visit the studying Princesses and commend the companion ladies.

This was one of the things Yang Hui often boasted about in her previous life.

At that time, Yang Hui had mentioned one specific sentence, but after saying it, she was scolded by her aunt and taken away for a lecture, and she never spoke of it again.

But because she had been curious and envious of everything about Yang Hui back then, she had memorized that sentence.

Yang Hui had said

"His Majesty personally praised me! He said that with such intelligence, I bear the likeness of an old friend of his."

Yang Luo placed one hand in front of her, clutching the jade pendant through her clothes.

In the past, she had only cared about the Emperor's praise that Yang Hui mentioned, feeling great envy and awe.

She hadn't paid any attention to the final part of the sentence.

*The likeness of an old friend.*

Yang Luo's hand moved up to touch her own face.

When the Emperor arrives at the end of the month...

When she wipes away her makeup and reveals her true face, when the Emperor sees her face, will he also think she bears the likeness of an old friend?

(End of Chapter)