Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The New Year passed amidst the glow of ten thousand lanterns.

Inside and outside the imperial court, all seemed well and harmonious.

However, as soon as the festivities ended, news broke that Empress Ji had fallen ill again, and quite severely this time.

But this time, not only did the Emperor fail to visit her, he even ordered Consort Lin to share the Empress’s burdens by managing the inner palace.

I was delighted when I heard the news.

In my previous life, after I entered the palace, Empress Ji kept even the Eastern Palace under a tight grip. As the Crown Princess, I couldn’t get my hands on even a shred of authority.

In this life, her power was being stripped away instead.

It was truly something to celebrate.

However, joy often gives way to sorrow.

When classes resumed after the New Year, I found an extra person in my study: Zhao Pinyan.

“What are you doing here?”

Zhao Pinyan looked up and said slowly, “I’m here for lessons.”

“Why are you coming to my house for lessons?”

“The Imperial Father sent me.”

Me: …

That dog of an Emperor.

Truly insidious.

I managed to drive away one of his sons, and he simply sent another.

The teacher had already begun the lesson, so I could only suppress my mounting questions and focus on my studies.

Soon, however, I discovered the benefit of Zhao Pinyan’s presence.

The teacher stopped hitting my palms with the ruler and started hitting Zhao Pinyan’s instead.

I was moved to tears of gratitude.

So, when my mother asked me if I wanted Zhao Pinyan to stay, I hesitated.

Mother let out a cold laugh. “This is His Majesty’s intent. I also thought you might be lonely studying by yourself and wanted to find you a companion. If you find him suitable, he stays; if not, I have my own ways to refuse. You don’t need to worry about me.”

I carefully considered what His Majesty was playing at.

Seeing that Zhao Jinsheng was a lost cause, was he placing his bets on Zhao Pinyan instead?

Did he really think I had no choice but to marry into the imperial family?

In that moment, a wave of intense loathing for the man in the palace surged within me.

It was the revulsion of having one’s fate decided by another.

However, it would be unwise to flatly refuse the Emperor and provoke him into using his underhanded methods against my parents so soon.

I still hoped to use my rebirth to save my father’s life. As long as my father remained alive, the future for my mother and me remained full of promise.

One Zhao Pinyan was nothing to fuss over.

In fact, I would take this time to teach Zhao Pinyan a lesson and show him what a true genius looked like!

I abandoned my usual classroom caution and pretense of mediocrity, showcasing my extraordinary talent at every turn.

While the three great scholars nodded in frequent approval, they began to look at Zhao Pinyan with the pitying gaze one might reserve for the mentally deficient.

Zhao Pinyan: …

I watched with my own eyes as Zhao Pinyan became incredibly hardworking.

He worked day and night, even reciting texts on his way to the latrine.

It looked like he was determined to outdo me.

But I wasn’t worried at all. He was just a little brat, whereas I had returned from a previous life.

However, I was soon left speechless.

On a crisp autumn morning, Zhao Pinyan successfully captured the teacher’s heart, earning continuous nods of approval from the three great scholars.

He seized the opportunity to make an utterly outrageous request.

“This student has caught up with the curriculum recently. I am ambitious and wish to begin learning the Six Arts-specifically archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. I ask for the teacher’s fulfillment.”

The teacher was delighted and immediately agreed to discuss it with my mother.

I watched with wide eyes, unable to stop him.

I was fuming. This kid was tripping me up on purpose.

Archery, charioteering, and calligraphy-I hadn’t learned these at all in my previous life.

I immediately cornered Zhao Pinyan.

“You’re learning so much just to spite me, aren’t you?”

Zhao Pinyan smiled.

“Cousin, how could that be? You’re so clever and bright, you’ll surely pick it up in no time. I’ll even have to ask you for guidance then. You’re not… scared, are you?”

He held out his hand before me, beaming.

“It’s okay if you’re scared. You’ll just have to take the ruler to the palm, just like the teacher did to me.”

I clenched my fists in rage.

This brat was doing this on purpose.

I turned and went straight to my mother.

Mother picked me up and pinched my cheeks, examining me closely.

“You’ve put on some weight. It’s about time you got some proper exercise.”

I bared my teeth at her.

Is that any way to talk to your daughter? Where are your manners?

And so, the matter was settled.

In the days that followed, I had six teachers and shared the sting of their rulers with Zhao Pinyan.

Once, he sighed softly, “To kill a thousand enemies, one must lose eight hundred of their own.”

I also sighed softly, “Harming others without benefiting yourself-you get what you deserve!”

The days passed in a flash. During that time, Zhao Jinsheng came to see me.

Although I was annoyed to death, I met with him a few times to avoid raising Empress Ji’s suspicions.

Every time, he would indirectly fish for information about Zhao Pinyan’s progress in his studies.

I was nearly moved to laughter by his sneaky behavior.

In my past life, how could I have ever thought he was a refined and upright gentleman?

It was likely because everything went smoothly for him back then, with nothing to worry about. Thus, he could maintain the facade of a man as polished as fine jade.

But in this life, he was on a downward slope. Without Empress Ji arranging everything for him and without the Eldest Princess’s Mansion paving his way, his true nature revealed itself the moment he encountered friction.

As they say, one’s mindset is seen at the peak, but one’s character is seen at the bottom.

Only a person who does not forget kindness at the peak and does not lose their original heart at the bottom is worthy of deep friendship.

Zhao Jinsheng failed to achieve either in both lifetimes.

It was hateful. Back then, I was so ignorant and naive that I couldn’t see anything.

My eyes darted around, and I replied with a beaming smile:

“Cousin Pinyan is a natural genius. The other day, I heard him reciting something like ‘Misfortune does not arrive without cause, nor does fortune come by chance.’ He’s probably studied up to that point.”

Zhao Jinsheng was stunned.

“The Records of the Grand Historian? He’s already reading the Records of the Grand Historian? How… how is that possible?”

“I don’t know. Maybe!”

Zhao Jinsheng left, looking utterly despondent.

I stared at his retreating back and let out a cold sneer.

The Records of the Grand Historian was incredibly difficult; many people only began studying it in their twenties. A little brat wouldn’t be able to understand it at all.

Zhao Jinsheng always loved to compare others unfavorably to himself. Now, how could he possibly compete?

Suddenly, Zhao Pinyan walked up to me. He knit his brows and looked at me as if I were a massive enigma.

I glared at him. “What are you staring at?”

Zhao Pinyan said meaningfully, “You’re making that smile again. It’s quite eerie.”

Me: …

I regretted that I had been reborn so early in the timeline. Otherwise, I would have liked to see how this brat died.

If he could remain magnanimous when facing the enemy who killed him, I would admire him as a true man.

Zhao Pinyan spoke again. “Why did you lie to him? Do you hate him that much?”

I mimicked his tone. “None of your business. I’m not your mother; I don’t need to give you such a clear explanation.”

Zhao Pinyan: …

For the next many days, Zhao Pinyan and I began a competition of “getting hit on the palm less” and “secretly praying the other gets hit on the palm.”

We were neck and neck, and it was truly exhausting.

One day, my mother told me to go into the palace to visit Zhao Jinsheng.

Only then did I find out.

Zhao Jinsheng was sick-he had literally worked himself into an illness.

He woke up every day at the Hour of the Rabbit and went to bed at the Hour of the Pig, sleeping less than three shichen-less than six hours-a day.

The rest of his time was spent either studying or on the way to study. His small frame finally couldn’t take it, and a bout of winter cold brought him down.

Even while sick, he continued to mumble recitations in his sleep.

I sighed inwardly. No wonder he was able to play me like a fiddle in my past life; this kid was ruthless to me, but he was also ruthless to himself.

When the Emperor heard of this, he was greatly gratified.

“To be so diligent at such a young age, the Empress has taught him well.”

Empress Ji wiped her tears, a joyful smile appearing on her face.

Hearing this, I felt things were going south.

I quickly rubbed my eyes and spoke up with a crisp, confused voice:

“Cousin is reciting even while sick; he must still be getting hit on the palm by the tutor in his dreams. Uncle Emperor, the books say that if parents love their child, they must plan for his long-term future. Do you not love Cousin? Why else would you push him so hard? He’s so thin and small, yet he has to wake up so early. Cousin is truly too pitiful, waaaaaah…”

I cried without a shred of shame.

Two streams of pearly tears fell as if they cost nothing.

Empress Ji panicked.

The Emperor’s face darkened.

I wailed for Zhao Jinsheng as if he were on his deathbed.

Zhao Pinyan couldn’t listen any longer. He excused himself to the Emperor and dragged me away.

I left reluctantly.

Zhao Pinyan whispered in my ear, “Any more acting and you’ll overdo it. Be careful, or Imperial Father might make you marry him to bring him luck and cure his illness.”

Hearing that, my tears vanished instantly from the shock.

That was close.

My cheap Uncle Emperor was truly capable of doing something so subhuman.

I obediently let him lead me away.

Zhao Pinyan took me to a secluded spot, let go of my hand, and sneered, “I couldn’t tell before, but you’re quite the actress.”

I slowly and methodically wiped my tears.

“Cousin, what are you saying? If there comes a day when you’re sick and dying, I’ll cry just as hard for you.”

Zhao Pinyan: …