Chapter 51: The Princess's Timely Action

It was the first time Princess Pingcheng had felt a headache in her entire life.

First, she was astonished by this study companion's audacity to compete and push others aside; then, she was shocked when Yang Hui shouted out "Mother" and "Maternal Grandfather's House."

She did not yet know the true intentions of this study companion, but Yang Hui was truly foolish!

She had proposed adding a student attendant; as a young princess, the worst she would be accused of was being spoiled by favor. This would prevent her Father the Emperor from being accused of going back on his word, and more importantly, it would avoid involving her Mother and her maternal grandfather's family.

They could not afford such scrutiny.

Yet Yang Hui, in her brilliance, had immediately dragged her Mother and the House of Marquis Yichun into the fray.

And this was only the first day!

If there hadn't been so many people surrounding her, she would have slapped Yang Hui's mouth herself.

It was also her own fault for having no understanding of this Yang Hui; who could have imagined her to be so dim-witted?

If a child is raised this way, one can only imagine the quality of the parents.

She truly did not know how such a family could cause conflict between her Father, her Mother, and her maternal grandfather's house!

But since things had reached this point, she could not remain indifferent.

Princess Pingcheng's gaze swept over the crowd.

"Yes, it was I who requested a study companion from Mother," she said with a slight smile, extending her hand toward Yang Hui.

Yang Hui, who had been feeling anxious after realizing her slip of the tongue, was suddenly overjoyed. She hurried forward to grasp the Princess's hand, her expression full of grievance.

Princess Pingcheng gave her a smile.

"Yang Hui is acquainted with my cousins, so I am familiar with her temperament. Therefore, Mother asked Grandmother to convey my request to Duke Ding'an to invite her to serve as my student attendant."

She then looked at the others in the room.

"Everyone says you are here to accompany me in my studies, but the priority is the studying itself. We must all study diligently and cherish this opportunity to enter the Imperial Academy. So, focus on your own lessons; do not let your minds wander because of me."

Only then did Princess Pingcheng look toward the study companion whose name she had not yet memorized...

"Her name is Liu Chan'er, from some academy in Fuzhou," Yang Hui said with great perceptiveness this time, her expression smug. *See? Even the Princess doesn't know who you are.*

Princess Pingcheng endured the urge to shake off Yang Hui's hand.

"Miss Liu, thank you," she said with a smile. "You do not need to take notes for me. Focus on your own studies. If you excel, I will be even happier."

To be publicly slapped in the face by the Princess—she deserved it, Yang Hui thought gloatingly. However, she saw that this Miss Liu merely nodded with a calm expression.

"Thank you, Princess. I will study hard," she said. "I will not fail this opportunity to study alongside Your Highness."

Having said that, she looked at Princess Pingcheng with sincere eyes.

"Today is the first day of class, so Your Highness does not know me yet. Once you do, I am certain you will come to like my temperament as well."

Yang Hui's eyes widened, and the surrounding young ladies, who had been watching the spectacle with various expressions, were once again incredulous.

Not only was she not ashamed, but she was actually... ingratiating herself to the Princess.

This Miss Liu Chan'er was truly "tenacious."

Princess Pingcheng's expression was somewhat complicated. This young lady's temperament seemed both reckless and direct; for a moment, the Princess found she couldn't even be angry with her, finding it somewhat amusing.

Forget it.

"Alright, everyone, stop crowding. It is time for a break. Have some tea and snacks; class will resume shortly," she said with a smile. As she spoke, she stood up and simultaneously shook off Yang Hui's hand.

She wouldn't stay here to rest.

The crowd hurriedly rose to follow, but before they could speak, a voice rang out in their ears.

"Respectfully seeing off the Princess!"

Yang Luo bowed deeply.

The others were stunned, then hurriedly followed, saying, "Respectfully seeing off the Princess."

For the first time, Princess Pingcheng felt that hearing "Respectfully seeing off the Princess" felt strange. Maintaining the smile on her face, she walked toward the exit, with Yang Hui hurrying to follow...

"You should rest as well," Princess Pingcheng said.

Yang Hui hurriedly replied, "I am the Princess's student attendant..."

"You are a student attendant, not a maidservant," Princess Pingcheng said, turning her head slightly to look at her.

The Princess had a smile on her face.

But Yang Hui felt an inexplicable chill. She shrank her neck and whispered an affirmation, watching Princess Pingcheng walk toward the door.

Standing at the entrance were Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong. One had eyebrows raised in excitement, the other had eyes brimming with smiles; neither could hide their exhilaration.

Clearly, they had thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.

"Respectfully seeing off the Princess," Princess Wuyang said to Princess Pingcheng with a drawn-out tone, then winked and smiled. "In the past, these ladies in the palace were always so pretentious. I didn't expect that outside the palace, they would fight and scramble just to curry favor with the Eldest Princess, no different from those profligate youths."

What did those profligate youths scramble for? The top courtesans of the brothels?

Princess Nangong whispered from the side, "Don't say that. It's only natural that everyone likes the Eldest Princess."

Princess Pingcheng looked at them coldly. "Everyone likes me; do you two not?"

They certainly didn't like Princess Pingcheng, but such things could not be said aloud. Princess Nangong shrank her neck and said timidly, "Sister, I didn't..."

Princess Pingcheng glanced at her. "Only an eight-year-old can play the victim. You are already fourteen."

Princess Nangong lowered her head even further, not daring to say another word.

Princess Wuyang snorted. "How dare she act so high and mighty toward us. Go complain to Father the Emperor." She then glanced at Yang Luo and Yang Hui over there. "Those two were arguing and even mentioned the Empress and Marquis Yichun, yet you didn't say a single word."

Princess Pingcheng said coldly, "I am the Sovereign, and they are the subjects. There is etiquette between sovereign and subject. You two are my sisters, and I am the eldest sister. An eldest sister is like a mother; it is only natural that I instruct you."

Princess Wuyang's eyes widened as if to say something, but the palace matrons nearby quickly interrupted.

"Princesses, please rest."

"You have to practice calligraphy in a moment."

Princess Wuyang grew even angrier. These people were bullies who picked on the weak and feared the strong; they wouldn't interrupt Princess Pingcheng, but they would interrupt her.

Suddenly, she saw a palace matron approach Princess Pingcheng and whisper something. Princess Pingcheng's cold expression instantly broke into a smile.

"Really?" she asked. "When I saw him yesterday, he didn't say he was coming."

The matron smiled and said, "He surely wanted to come see the Princess, but he didn't want to disturb your studies."

"Him?" Princess Pingcheng laughed. "He isn't afraid of disturbing me at all."

Princess Nangong, listening intently and forgetting to play the victim, asked curiously, "Who came?"

The matron glanced at her. "Wei Jiao."

"Wei Jiao!" Princess Wuyang exclaimed, immediately looking around outside. "Where is he?"

Because this was the area where the princesses studied, students were not allowed to approach.

While the princesses spoke by the door, the young ladies inside avoided listening, but since they were quite close, everyone heard Princess Wuyang call out "Wei Jiao."

"Wei Jiao?"

"Which Wei Jiao?"

"The Wei Jiao of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, of course."

"Why is he here?"

"Wei Jiao is very fond of Princess Pingcheng; he must have come for her."

The young ladies couldn't help but gossip. Their expressions weren't filled with the fear people outside showed toward Wei Jiao, but rather with excitement and agitation.

Ever since Wei Jiao entered the capital at thirteen, he had been known to everyone for his extraordinary beauty.

Although Wei Jiao was currently intimidating due to his status as a Commandant of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to young women, he was still a beautiful man worth seeing.

Yang Hui looked outside excitedly. Thinking of something, she turned her head and saw that the girl surnamed Liu had sat down to read at some unknown point.

*What is she pretending for?* She cursed under her breath and walked over. "Do you know Wei Jiao?"

Yang Luo glanced at her but said nothing.

"Don't you dare try to get close to the Princess when Wei Jiao arrives," Yang Hui huffed. "He doesn't have a temperament as good as the Princess's."

After saying that, she felt a bit of regret.

*Why did I even remind you!*

Wouldn't it be better if she tried to get close and got beaten by Wei Jiao?

Yang Hui flicked her sleeves and walked away.

Yang Luo withdrew her gaze. Did she know Wei Jiao? More than just know him—she had already dealt with him.

Her hand gripping the brush tightened. In her previous life, Yang Hui had said that Wei Jiao was close to Princess Pingcheng, and wherever the Princess was, Wei Jiao would surely appear.

She just hadn't expected him to appear so early.

On the very first day of school.

...

...

Accompanied by the bells of the Imperial Academy, Yang Luo walked out and looked toward where the carriage was parked. She saw the young guard sitting on the carriage, swinging a horsewhip.

Mo Zheng saw her instantly and urged the horse to pull the carriage over.

"Miss is the first one out," she said, looking behind Yang Luo. "Is class over? Or did you skip?"

Yang Luo was amused.

It was much better facing A-Sheng; she couldn't help but smile.

"Class is over. They are all waiting for the Princess," Yang Luo said.

Wei Jiao had not come over, and Princess Pingcheng had not returned after leaving. When Princess Wuyang questioned it, the instructor said the Princess was practicing calligraphy elsewhere and would submit her work on time.

Princess Wuyang indignantly claimed she was definitely with Wei Jiao.

Thus, while class was over, everyone else was waiting for the Princess, also for the purpose of catching a glimpse of Wei Jiao.

She, of course, would not wait; leaving quickly was the most important thing.

"How was your first day of school, Miss?"

The young guard's inquiry reached her ears.

Yang Luo said with a smile, "Not bad."

She had provoked Yang Hui and flattered the Princess; she had surely become famous in one stroke.

Of course, there was no need to tell the young guard about such things.

"And you?" she asked. "Is it tiring waiting here?"

Mo Zheng gave an "oh" sound. "It's alright."

She had eaten snacks, read books, and even revealed her female identity; it was a good balance of work and rest.

(End of Chapter)