Chapter 4

Chapter 4

The very next day, I ran right into Zhao Pinyan in front of a candied hawthorn stall.

We stared at each other, eyes wide.

I made a split-second decision and bought the entire stall’s stock with a silver ingot. Aside from taking one stick for myself, I had the vendor distribute the rest to every child nearby-except for Zhao Pinyan.

Zhao Pinyan’s face darkened.

“I feel like you’re targeting me.”

“How could that be?” I said, munching on a sweet, syrupy hawthorn. “Remove the ‘feel like.'”

“Why? How have I offended you?”

I thought about it carefully.

Growing up, I had always played with Zhao Jinsheng and didn’t know much about Zhao Pinyan.

The reason was simple: he was too cold and never smiled.

He wasn’t like Zhao Jinsheng, who, even when criticizing me, maintained a veneer of elegance that made one believe he truly had my best interests at heart.

But thinking back now, Zhao Jinsheng’s kindness was like a slow-acting poison; you’d be dead before you even realized you’d been tainted.

Zhao Pinyan, on the other hand, was the type of poison that killed you the moment it touched your lips.

I said coldly, “There is no ‘why.’ Zhao Jinsheng offended me, and since you’re his brother, that means you’ve offended me too. From now on, I’m not playing with either of you.”

Being six years old had its perks-you could choose exactly who you wanted to play with and who you didn’t.

Zhao Pinyan was speechless.

I walked away triumphantly with my candied hawthorns. After walking for a good while, I realized that Zhao Pinyan was actually still following me.

I was surprised.

“Why aren’t you in class at this hour?”

By all rights, Zhao Pinyan should have been studying with his tutor at this time. Why was he idling about at street stalls?

Zhao Pinyan walked past me and said coldly, “Why should I tell you? You’re not my mother.”

Me: …

Eventually, I figured out why Zhao Pinyan was running wild outside when he should have been in class.

It turned out his tutor was ill. He had gone to visit him and was just wandering around for a bit afterward.

My mother, the Grand Princess, sneered. “A dignified Empress of the realm, using such petty tricks to bully a nine-year-old child. It’s truly laughable.”

Zhao Pinyan was the legitimate son of the First Empress.

The First Empress had passed away early, and he was raised under the name of the Step Empress.

The great scholar teaching him was indeed a famous master, but that scholar was elderly, frequently ill, and possessed a blunt personality that the Emperor disliked. He had long since withdrawn from the imperial court.

First, he lacked the strength to properly teach Zhao Pinyan.

Second, he couldn’t serve as a source of political support for Zhao Pinyan; he merely held the empty title of Grand Tutor.

As for Zhao Jinsheng, he had a different great scholar for his private lessons.

That scholar was in his prime. Not only could he teach Zhao Jinsheng, but he was also highly valued by the Emperor and was clearly destined to assist Zhao Jinsheng in the future.

So, Empress Ji had started paving the way for Zhao Jinsheng this early.

In my past life, no one ever knew how Zhao Pinyan had made it through those years.

I suddenly felt a flicker of pity for him.

But the moment I thought of his future ‘God of Slaughter’ persona, that pity instantly vanished.

*Pah, pah, pah!*

How many lives did I have that I dared to pity a man?

I looked at my mother.

“Mother, shouldn’t I also have a great scholar to teach me?”

Mother looked at me as if she had seen a ghost.

I thought back to this time in my previous life. I was still throwing tantrums, demanding food and drink, and refusing to get out of bed until the sun was high in the sky. No wonder Mother…

Just as I was trying to think of a way to bluff my way through,

Mother pinched my cheeks with both hands, once again squishing my face into a bun.

“Don’t you regret this.”

After she finished pinching me, she laughed loudly and walked out the door.

The next day, I was presented with three great scholars.

Seeing my shocked expression, Mother introduced them with a straight face.

“From today onward, you will study under these three masters. If that’s not enough, tell me, and I will find more people for you.”

Me: …

Mother, are you a demon?

Three against one? I’ll have to take three times the hits to the palm!

Mother smiled. “Any objections?”

Under the stern gazes of the three scholars, I shook my head tearfully. “No…”

From then on, I studied with the three masters.

And true to form, Zhao Jinsheng and Zhao Pinyan really did stop coming to the Eldest Princess’s Mansion.

I curiously asked my mother about it.

Mother’s lips curled into a mocking smile.

“The Empress probably has other clever plans.”

I gave an “oh” in deep agreement.

In my past life, Empress Ji had successfully used the Eldest Princess’s Mansion as her path. In this life, that path was blocked, so she likely had other designs.

I harbored a deep loathing for Empress Ji.

She was a sickly beauty, always suffering from headaches or fevers every few days. For some reason, the Emperor fell for it every time.

I had been annoyed to death by her in my previous life.

Because she was always sick, I was forced to show my ‘filial piety’ at her bedside. Not going was considered unfilial; once that label was pinned on me, not only would my reputation be ruined, but so would the reputation of the Eldest Princess’s Mansion.

Now that I wasn’t falling into her trap, I wanted to see how else she would stir up trouble.

However, the end of the year was approaching.

Mother and I still had to go to the palace to pay our respects to the Empress.

Empress Ji still looked sickly and frail.

Zhao Jinsheng was by her side, his expression of filial longing and worry so vivid it was as if he were the most devoted son in the world.

To hell with that.

In my last life, this scoundrel made sure I was the one doing all the ‘devoted’ work.

*”Mother is unwell, and I have to deal with the imperial court. If you don’t go, what will people think of me?”*

*”My dear Jiaoluo, you can go out and play anytime, but Mother’s health hasn’t improved. I truly cannot bring myself to smile.”*

Because of him, it was as if I were under house arrest in the palace, smelling medicinal herbs all day until my head throbbed painfully.

Now, I hoped he would be confined to the palace for the rest of his life.

When Zhao Jinsheng saw me, he immediately walked down, a joyful smile appearing on his fair face.

“Jiaoluo, it’s been a long time since I last saw you. How have you been lately?”

Empress Ji nodded with a smile.

“You two grew up together as childhood friends. Not seeing each other for so long must have left you missing one another dearly.

“Ah Sheng, go outside and play with Jiaoluo. You don’t need to stay here and attend to your mother.”

She then turned to my mother with a smile.

“This child is mature beyond his years. At such a young age, he already insists on showing his filial piety by staying by my side.

“I have no real need for him here, but seeing his sincere heart, I let him stay.

“At the end of the day, he was actually waiting for Jiaoluo. You have no idea, he got up early this morning…”

She was trying to praise Zhao Jinsheng while simultaneously trying to tie me to him.

I looked at my mother with concern.

In my previous life, my mother certainly wasn’t so simple-minded that she would believe my casual words just because I had pointed at Zhao Jinsheng.

She surely had her own considerations.

Perhaps it was because Zhao Jinsheng was indeed good enough-there was no one in the world with a more noble status-or perhaps Empress Ji’s honeyed words were simply too effective.

Regardless, I did not want my mother to become close with Empress Ji again.

Zhao Jinsheng reached out to pull me outside.

I thought for a moment, let out a soft whimper, and forced my eyes to turn red.

My mother immediately turned back to look at me. Seeing my reddened eyes and my tearful expression, a flash of suppressed anger crossed her gaze.

“Jiaojiao, what’s wrong?”

“Cousin… Cousin pulled me too hard. It hurts.”

I held up my wrist. My skin was naturally fair, and indeed, two red marks had appeared on my wrist.

Zhao Jinsheng was stunned. He stared blankly at his own hand.

“I didn’t… I didn’t use that much strength.”

My mother said coldly, “I have delayed here with Her Majesty for too long. I should go pay my respects to His Majesty. Empress Ji, I shall take my leave.”

She immediately stepped down, took my hand, and walked toward the exit.

Behind us came Empress Ji’s slightly panicked voice.

“Grand Princess…”

This was followed by her scolding Zhao Jinsheng.

“Why are you bullying your cousin? She only visits the palace a few times a year…”

This was, of course, a performance for our benefit.

I looked up at my mother, but her face remained expressionless as she continued walking out.

Once we were outside, my mother stopped and stared at me with a half-smile.

“You little rascal. I’ll deal with you when we get back. Why have you grown tired of Zhao Jinsheng? Weren’t you always chasing after him before?”

I: …

A hero doesn’t bring up past follies.

Who hasn’t had a period of youthful ignorance?

“I just don’t like him anymore. He’s always lecturing people, as if everyone else is wrong and only he is upright and proper. He’s boring!”

My mother sneered. “If he wants to lecture someone, he’d better see if he has the right. I can’t even bring myself to scold my own daughter; what right does he have to do it?”

My heart instantly flared with warmth.

Exactly, exactly! That’s how it should be.

I took my mother’s hand and showered her with compliments.

My mother teased me with a smile, looking as though she saw right through me, yet she clearly enjoyed my flattery nonetheless.

I went with my mother to the Emperor’s Imperial Study, only to find Zhao Pinyan being scolded.

“You don’t even understand the meaning of ‘For a gentleman, there is nothing greater than helping others to do good.’ What exactly have you been reading?

“I have employed great scholars to teach you for three years. Where has all that learning gone?

“Your younger brother is already reading the Spring and Autumn Annals, yet you aren’t even as good as an eight-year-old child. What kind of elder brother are you?”

‘For a gentleman, there is nothing greater than helping others to do good’ is a line from Mencius.

This is something an eight-year-old should be reading.

If he had truly been studying hard under those great scholars, it would be impossible for him not to know it. However, how could his teacher have the energy to explain these things to him?

Moreover, Zhao Jinsheng was already reading the Spring and Autumn Annals?

He really was pushing himself.

Zhao Pinyan knelt on the ground without saying a word.

His head was bowed, his thin frame kneeling respectfully, yet his entire being radiated a sense of listlessness and dejection.

I couldn’t remember how he had grown up in my previous life.

After all, back then, he was a completely insignificant person in my eyes.

Seeing us enter, the Emperor fell silent in frustration and forced a smile.

He said coldly to Zhao Pinyan, “Why haven’t you left yet?”

Zhao Pinyan bowed and withdrew.

As he passed me, he kept his eyes straight ahead.

I suddenly realized this was a perfect opportunity to trip up Empress Ji and Zhao Jinsheng.

I immediately spoke up. “Your Majesty, I know why he doesn’t know it. His Grand Tutor has been sick for a long time. He spends every day outside buying candied haws and eating snacks.”

The Emperor froze and looked at my mother.

My mother nodded with a smile. “Indeed. I have heard that Grand Tutor Dong has been bedridden for a long time. He likely hasn’t been able to oversee the First Prince’s lessons.”

The Emperor fell silent, his expression turning extremely grim.

My mother signaled for me to go out first.

I gave the Emperor a cheeky bow and ran out to play.

As I reached a corner, a voice suddenly startled me.

“Why did you help me?”

It was Zhao Pinyan.

Help him?

I was clearly snitching on him.

We are both students; why should he get to live such a carefree life while I have to get my palms whacked three times over?

“I couldn’t be bothered to help you. I just couldn’t stand the sight of you eating snacks.”

Zhao Pinyan’s face darkened, his expression unfriendly.

“I’ll remember you.”

He flicked his sleeve and walked past me coldly.

I felt a bit panicked.

This brat is a ruthless one; he even killed his own younger brother in the future.

I hurried to say, “Can’t you remember me for something good?”

Zhao Pinyan looked back at me with cold eyes and sneered.

“Have you ever been good to me?”

I: …