Chapter 3: Can We Watch the Drama Live?

Chapter 3: Can I Watch the Drama Unfold Live Now?

In the early hours of the second day, the sky outside was still pitch black.

Tingxue entered from outside carrying a lantern. She first tiptoed over to light the candelabra placed in the room.

Only after the entire room brightened did she walk slowly to Yunshu's bedside and call out softly

"Princess, Princess, it's time to get up. You still have to go to the Imperial Study today!"

"...Let me sleep a bit more."

Her perfectly good sweet dream disturbed, Yunshu hugged her quilt and rolled over.

In ancient times, there wasn't much exciting nightlife; people generally went to bed early. It was perfectly normal for lights to be out and everyone asleep by seven or eight in the evening.

But Yunshu truly wasn't used to it.

Last night, she had projected her consciousness into the villa and read novels until past eleven before sleeping.

At this hour, she couldn't even open her eyes.

Yet Tingxue persisted in shaking her awake

"Princess, it's already not early. You really can't sleep anymore. The Hour of the Tiger is already half over!"

"..."

Doesn't that mean it's not even 4 AM yet?

Yunshu buried her head in the quilt.

Not listening, not listening—la la la!

"Princess..."

Tingxue was helpless

"If you go late, you'll get your palms caned by the Grand Tutor!"

Yunshu's brain, gradually waking up: "?"

She's a princess, right?

Where's the promised pampered royal darling?

Aaaaaah!

Eyes shut the whole time, letting Tingxue wash and dress her.

Yunshu's inner groundhog screamed continuously until the familiar scent of milk tea drifted into her nose, only then calming down slightly

"Smells so good."

Worthy of her beloved milk tea!

"You said yesterday that milk tea could be drunk cold too, so this servant had people prepare extra for you to take to the Imperial Study."

Seeing her master finally open her eyes, Tingxue smiled and pressed a still-warm cup into Yunshu's hand

"Drinking more tea will help wake you up. Also, your new study companion—if you're willing, you can share some with her."

"New study companion?"

Yunshu took a sip of milk tea and ate a small bite of pastry

"How come I've never heard of this?"

"His Majesty sent someone to mention it yesterday evening, but you had already retired, so this servant didn't disturb you."

Tingxue explained softly

"The Second Miss of the Dingyuan Marquis Estate will reach the age of the hair-pinning ceremony in a few months. Having her continue as your study companion would no longer be appropriate.

His Majesty has newly selected the legitimate daughter of the Wu'an Marquis Estate, Cen Yiyi, as your study companion.

She just turned eight this year. Although she's younger than you..."

But she was originally returning to the Imperial Study anyway, to study alongside the eight-year-old Sixth Prince.

Tingxue, mindful of her master's dignity, didn't say that last sentence directly.

But Yunshu still understood the implied meaning.

However, Yunshu's focus right now wasn't on that issue at all. Instead...

Wu'an Marquis Estate! Cen Yiyi!

Holy cow, isn't that the original novel's female lead, the Sixth Prince's future wife!

In the original novel, the Sixth Prince relied on his maternal family's power to ascend the throne, and not long after, his reputation for tyranny spread. Any family that truly loved their daughter was unwilling to send their girl to a tyrant's side.

But a single imperial decree went out—the palace ordered all ministers of fifth rank and above with unmarried daughters of suitable age to send them into the palace for the selection.

As the female lead, Cen Yiyi naturally couldn't escape.

Although she came from a military family, being the only girl in three generations, she had been spoiled rotten by her grandfather, father, uncles, cousins, and brothers since childhood. She was completely raised into a naive, sweet personality, never having been yelled at.

So after entering the palace, when the tyrant's face darkened, her eyes reddened with fear.

When the tyrant's voice deepened, she cowered like a quail.

When the tyrant pinched her waist with slightly more force, she became like a startled fawn, big eyes welling with tears that threatened to fall but wouldn't.

The tyrant looked: Oh ho, woman, you've successfully caught my attention. Then all sorts of indescribable things happened, finally achieving the "you cry, I'll give you my life" achievement.

Yunshu: "..."

Now, because this little butterfly flapped its wings, the male and female leads have to meet at the Imperial Study at age eight.

Holy cow, a front-row seat to a major drama!

In an instant, she suddenly felt that going to school might not be such a painful thing after all!

Stuffing two more pastries into her mouth haphazardly, Yunshu stood up excitedly

"Let's go, let's go, off to school!"

"Aren't you going to eat a bit more?"

Not knowing why her master suddenly had such high enthusiasm for going to the Imperial Study, Tingxue hurriedly packed the untouched small plate of pastries into the book box as well.

Because the original host hadn't been favored, Yunshu's Fengyang Palace was in a somewhat remote location.

Walking with lanterns for half a shichen, they finally caught sight of the Imperial Study.

When Yunshu arrived, the Sixth Prince and his study companion, the grandson of Left Chancellor Liu Ziming, were already inside chatting about a mynah bird the Sixth Prince had acquired yesterday.

In the seat farthest from those two sat a little girl with two buns, round from eyes to cheeks, looking soft and tender like a plush doll.

The sight of her little chubby hands holding a pastry and nibbling on it—who knew if it attracted the Sixth Prince—

But Yunshu, who had loved collecting plush dolls in her previous modern life, was absolutely struck.

She walked quickly to the little girl with burning eyes and proactively greeted her

"So you're Cen Yiyi?"

"This subject's daughter, Yiyi, greets the Princess."

Yunshu's appearance was rather sudden. Cen Yiyi was startled and hurriedly stood to bow.

Despite her young age, her etiquette was already flawless.

Too bad she didn't seem to realize there were pastry crumbs at the corner of her mouth, looking exactly like a little hamster caught stealing food. It instantly amused Yunshu

"No need for formal bows in the Imperial Study from now on."

She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of Cen Yiyi's mouth.

Realizing what had happened, the little girl's face flushed bright red instantly. She was so embarrassed she didn't know where to put her hands

"This... this subject's daughter..."

"It's fine, it's fine. Don't be nervous. I like you a lot!"

Yunshu smiled and sat down in the seat next to her, turning to take out pastries and milk tea from the book box Tingxue had just placed beside her

"I haven't had breakfast either. Let's eat together."

"Yes."

Perhaps seeing that this Fifth Princess was really easy to get along with,

Cen Yiyi's nervous mood finally eased somewhat.

And with this relaxation, the rich, fragrant aroma of the milk tea immediately occupied her entire mind

"It smells so good!"

A naive, sweet child—how would she know to hide her true feelings?

Cen Yiyi swallowed hard, that longing look making her seem like she hadn't had a drop of water in three days.

(End of Chapter)