Chapter 630: 304 The Empress Dowager’s Favoritism (First Update) Chapter 630: 304 The Empress Dowager’s Favoritism (First Update) Princes of the appropriate age in the Imperial Palace had to go to the study room daily for lessons. The study room of the current dynasty is set up in a side hall of Jinluan Hall.
In the Zhan Country, only ministers of third rank and above had the qualification to attend the morning court at Jinluan Hall. Therefore, teaching the princes is the only opportunity for ministers below the third rank to step foot in Jinluan Hall.
However, they still cannot enter through the main entrance.
Xiao Liulang was led by Eunuch Wei through a side entrance and up a small flight of stairs into Jinluan Hall, and through the cloister to the outside of the Imperial Study Room.
“The lessons for the other princes have already finished, you are to lecture the Crown Prince alone,” reminded Eunuch Wei.
The princes and the Crown Prince attended lessons together; their tutors were respected ministers from the court. What was different was that the Crown Prince’s curriculum was more extensive than that of the common princes; even when the princes were done for the day, he continued on.
The Crown Prince followed his teachers in the morning, and in the afternoon, he studied state affairs with the Emperor and occasionally received assignments to gain experience.
The only prince among them who no longer needed to attend classes was the eldest son, Prince Ning.
When Xiao Liulang arrived outside the study room, the princes were just coming out – the third prince, Prince Rui, looked green from distress, obviously struggling in class. The fourth prince looked relaxed and elegant, as if he understood everything. The expression on the faces of the fifth and sixth princes were solemn, who knew if the lessons were too difficult or something else entirely.
Xiao Liulang bowed slightly and gestured, maintaining eye contact without being humble or arrogant.
Eunuch Wei paid his respects to the princes.
Prince Rui stopped and asked, “Eunuch Wei, who is this?”
Eunuch Wei replied with a smile, “In response to Prince Rui, this is Xiao Xiuzhuan from Hanlin Academy, who has come today to lecture the Crown Prince.”
“So young…” Prince Rui’s eyes grew wide.
He didn’t mention the low official rank.
In comparison, having a low official rank was nothing. The tutor looked to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. He was already lecturing the Crown Prince?
Moreover, he looked…so familiar.
Prince Rui carefully examined Xiao Liulang’s face.
Xiao Liulang calmly allowed him to look.
After all, Prince Rui was not the Crown Prince, and he did not have a close relationship with the once-young Marquis of Zhaodu. For a while, he could not see any similarity between him and Xiao Liulang.
“Third Brother, are we going or not? Weren’t you supposed to take me and Fourth Brother to your house to play?”
The sixth prince urged.
Prince Rui didn’t ponder further on Xiao Liulang and hurriedly left.
“Xiao Xiuzhuan, please,” Eunuch Wei gestured.
Xiao Liulang stepped inside.
Only he had to stay and continue studying when his brothers had finished, which the Crown Prince was already displeased with. Upon seeing that the scholar from Hanlin Academy coming to lecture him was Xiao Liulang, he felt even worse.
“Why is it you?” he nearly stood up in surprise!
Xiao Liulang lightly bowed, “This humble official was commanded by His Majesty to come to lecturing the Crown Prince.”
What was his father thinking? How could he have sent this fellow to lecture him? Had he really fallen so low in his father’s eyes?
This wet behind the ears boy, what could he possibly know!
The Crown Prince’s face turned pale and then red, it was most entertaining.
Meanwhile, Gu Jiao also entered the palace.
She came to visit her great-aunt.
She had the token of Renshou Palace her great-aunt had given her, so she entered the palace easily.
As she passed by Jinluan Hall, she had no idea Xiao Liulang was inside, she only instinctively glanced in the direction of Jinluan Hall.
Jinluan Hall was magnificent, looming above the hundred step long stairs, soaring under the vast expanse of the world. It was grand, imposing, and exuded a strong sense of history that hit one in the face. It was solemn and awe-inspiring, making one involuntarily feel reverence.
Jinluan Hall was the dream of every official in Zhan Country. Only by gaining a position in Jinluan Hall, could one truly be considered a high-ranking court official.
To get to Renshou Palace, one needed to pass through the Imperial Garden.
Just as Gu Jiao arrived, she was called by a familiar and gentle voice.
Gu Jinyu walked towards Gu Jiao with light steps, surprised, she asked, “Sister, you’ve come to the palace too? Have you come to visit Noble Consort?”
Gu Jiao looked at her indifferently.
Gu Jinyu was accustomed to Gu Jiao’s coldness, she smiled and didn’t take it to heart, she explained, “Noble Consort fell ill. Upon hearing the news, grandmother was worried sick, so she sent me to visit Noble Consort on her behalf.”
Gu Jiao didn’t have much interaction with Gu Jinyu, but she remembered that Gu Jinyu used to call the old lady’s daughter ‘aunt’.
Seeming to detect a change in her own attitude, Gu Jinyu lowered her head and gave a bitter smile, “Sister probably doesn’t know yet, I not only took credit for the bellows, but I almost took your glutinous rice mortar as well. I told Noble Consort that I had a better invention, but it got exposed, and Noble Consort ended up losing face before His Majesty. I heard it also implicated the fifth prince. By now, Noble Consort probably doesn’t want to see me in the slightest.”