Chapter 33: The Princess's Majesty

On the morning the study companions were to be selected, the princesses emerged from the palace in light chariots, later transferring to traveling carriages outside the Imperial City gates.

Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong arrived together; after only three sentences, they began to bicker. Following them was the eight-year-old Princess Shengping, who, due to waking up too early, was throwing a tantrum. She was being overly picky about the carriage she was to ride in and refused to board, leaving the palace maids and eunuchs in a state of frantic chaos as they attempted to soothe her, apologize, and swap out the interior furnishings.

This continued until Princess Pingcheng’s carriage arrived.

"What is all this noise!"

Princess Pingcheng stepped down from her chariot and shouted, instantly silencing the rowdy princesses.

Princess Pingcheng was the daughter of the Emperor and Empress, born in the year the Emperor ascended the throne, and was thus deeply favored. At fifteen, she embodied the best traits of both her parents: she was tall and slender, with fair skin and exquisite features.

Princess Wuyang and Princess Nangong bowed their heads reluctantly to pay their respects, while Princess Shengping hunched her shoulders and hid beside her maid.

Princess Pingcheng said coldly, "We are going to study and meet our teachers, not to the inner palace to see your mothers. Even if you wish to act spoiled, you must know the proper occasion. Since you know you rely on Father Imperial's favor, you should also know not to bring shame upon his face."

Princess Nangong gave a timid reply, "Sister is right to admonish us."

Princess Wuyang clenched her hands tightly, her eyes filled with defiance, though she did not dare speak.

Princess Shengping’s eyes welled with tears.

Princess Pingcheng said no more: "Get in the carriages. Do you intend to make our teachers and classmates wait for us?"

Reluctantly, the princesses turned and boarded their respective carriages.

Seeing her sisters seated, Princess Pingcheng walked toward the lead carriage to board, but the sound of clapping hands came from the side.

Princess Pingcheng frowned and looked over to see a line of men in black approaching. Her gaze instantly fell upon Wei Jiao among them; her brow smoothed, and she pressed her lips together.

Wei Jiao approached, saying, "Such majesty, Eldest Princess."

Princess Pingcheng shot him a sidelong glance. "Stop mocking me."

Wei Jiao raised his hands. "How would I dare mock you? I am merely glad the Princess does not mock me."

Princess Pingcheng smiled. "Stop messing around, Wei Jiao. You must have been scolded again on this trip, haven't you?"

Wei Jiao replied, "If there were a day I wasn't being scolded, I would be dead."

Princess Pingcheng made a dismissive sound. "Nonsense." She looked at him again. "Do not fear being scolded. Just do your job well. Those who scold you are merely acting out of a guilty conscience."

Wei Jiao smiled and said in a low voice, "Keep your voice down. If they hear those words, you'll be scolded right along with me."

Looking at the young man whose eyes brightened with a smile like a blooming flower, Princess Pingcheng gave a soft huff. "Why should I fear being scolded by others?"

In the carriage behind, Princess Wuyang gripped the curtain, watching the two people ahead who were standing so close while laughing. Her eyes burned with fury.

"They never stop!" she hissed through gritted teeth. "Are they not afraid of making the teachers and classmates wait?"

Looking back, she saw Princess Nangong leaning nearly halfway out of her window.

Princess Wuyang signaled with her eyes, hoping Princess Nangong would speak up to interrupt them, but Princess Nangong was merely staring dotingly at Wei Jiao’s smiling face.

Eventually, Wei Jiao took a step back and gestured politely, "Princess, please proceed to your studies."

Princess Pingcheng smiled and nodded, stepping into her carriage with the assistance of a maid.

The Imperial Guards led the way, and the royal carriages moved forward.

Princess Wuyang urged, "Faster!" as she watched Wei Jiao, who was getting closer and closer. But before she could even call out a greeting, Wei Jiao turned and walked away, leaving her to strike the window in frustration.

They were all princesses; was it so hard to spare them a glance?

"Princesses are not all the same, after all," Princess Nangong said as her carriage caught up, leaning against the window with a grievance. "There is only one legitimate eldest princess."

She looked at Princess Wuyang as she spoke. "Sister, we are all born of concubines..."

Princess Wuyang sneered. "Do not lecture me with those external rules. Our father is the Emperor. And stop trying to drag me into your business; my mother is the Noble Consort." With that, she snapped the curtain shut and sat back.

Princess Nangong was no longer as aggrieved as before. She pursed her lips and silently mouthed, "Noble Consort, a Noble Consort is still just a consort..." before also settling into her carriage.

Wei Jiao paid no mind to how this unfair treatment disturbed the princesses' moods. If anyone in Longxi were to ask, they would know how much unrest Wei Jiao caused in his own household. A peaceful home with everyone in harmony and joy—to Wei Jiao, that was quite boring.

"Commander."

An official in embroidered robes stepped forward, holding a ledger.

"The list of students taught by Professor Jiang Wangchun of Zhao County has been compiled, but it only covers Zhao County."

Wei Jiao wiped away his smile, took the ledger, and listened as the official continued.

"Jiang Wangchun traveled extensively for his studies. At that time, the world was in chaos, so his movements have not yet been fully traced."

"He returned to Zhao County five years ago and has since focused on teaching and writing; his social connections are simple."

Wei Jiao sneered. "To dare wander about while the world is in chaos... calling himself a scholar, he certainly has guts. It wouldn't be surprising if he were linked to the treasures of the previous dynasty, but why would the previous dynasty's treasures be linked to him? For studying?"

After saying this, he laughed at himself.

"Are the treasures of the previous dynasty really that idle?"

...

On the road to the Imperial Academy, other carriages could only proceed once the princesses' procession had passed.

However, the journey was not particularly smooth.

Although there were far fewer people than during the actual Imperial Academy examinations, and although attendants were not permitted to enter the academy, there was no rule against seeing them off. Thus, the road was filled with the clatter of many carriages and a bustling atmosphere.

The Imperial Academy was located at the foot of Biyun Mountain outside the city. It had originally been a royal villa of the previous dynasty. The Emperor, unable to prioritize the repair of the war-torn palace, had first ordered this villa to be restored to serve as a place for Confucian scholars to teach.

Mo Zheng reined in her horse and looked toward the magnificent buildings ahead.

"Miss, we have arrived," she whispered, turning back.

Yang Luo lifted the carriage curtain and looked toward the Imperial Academy with a complex expression.

"So this is the Imperial Academy," she murmured.

She had only heard of it in her past life; now, she was finally seeing it.

At this thought, she reached up to touch her face and asked with a hint of nervousness, "Is the concealing powder still on my face?"

...

Early this morning, upon waking, Yang Luo had rushed to the kitchen to look for ash before she could even eat. She said that since the young lady of the Duke of Ding's household was also attending—and though she had never met her, she feared being recognized—she wanted to disguise her appearance.

Mo Zheng found it somewhat amusing. "You certainly won't be recognized. You won't even make it through the gates; you'll be dragged away by the Imperial Guards immediately."

What kind of young lady would show up to such an occasion covered in soot? Such a place was not like pretending to be a beggar in Baima Town.

Yang Luo knew that soot would look ridiculous. She touched her face; she looked very much like her mother. Although she knew few people knew what her mother looked like, if by some chance...

"If you want to disguise your appearance, I have a type of ash powder," a young hunter had suddenly said, bringing her a small box.

Yang Luo had opened it to find it similar to common fragrant powder, emitting a faint, unidentifiable scent. She had applied it to her face with skepticism, and indeed, it covered her original skin tone without looking unnatural. By applying different amounts to her cheeks and eyelids, her face and eyes appeared slimmer and smaller.

She had effectively transformed into someone else. It was miraculous.

"A-Sheng, where did you get this?" she had asked in surprise.

Wasn't A-Sheng a boy? How did he have makeup powder?

"It isn't makeup powder; it is camouflage powder," the hunter boy had corrected. "When we hunt, we need to camouflage ourselves. It is a necessity."

*Is hunting really that complicated? What kind of prey requires one to hide their face?* She had never been a hunter, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. To her, nothing was too strange as long as it was useful.

...

Mo Zheng took a small mirror from the basket in front of the carriage and held it up to Yang Luo.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Yang Luo saw a face that felt somewhat foreign even to her own eyes. She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, I'll head in then," she said.

Yang Luo stepped out of the carriage, carrying the small basket, and headed inward. First, the Imperial Guards checked her identity and invitation, then the academy instructors and palace matrons guided her way.

As she passed through the academy's towering archway, Yang Luo couldn't help but look back. Outside, the world was a chaotic blur of people, carriages, and gazes.

The hunter boy stood up from the front of the carriage and waved to her.

Yang Luo felt an inexplicable sense of relief, then gave a self-deprecating smile.

Since her rebirth, this was the first time she had gone to do something without this young boy guarding her side.

She felt a little nervous.