Chapter 32
T-This was this exciting?
Zhao Shangrong’s thoughts wandered wildly. If not for the disguise she was still wearing, she probably would have agreed without a shred of integrity.
She shifted her eyes away. “Cough. I… am not that kind of person.”
Wang Yaoshuang burst into laughter, covering her mouth.
Hearing that relaxed laugh—like a summer breeze brushing past the eaves and gently shaking a wind bell, producing a pleasant and comfortable sound—Zhao Shangrong immediately realized that Wang Yaoshuang had teased her.
To say she was not disappointed would be a lie, but she was not truly that lecherous either.
Zhao Shangrong said somewhat gloomily, “Princess Consort, acting like this makes it very easy for you to be taught a lesson.”
Wang Yaoshuang sensed a trace of annoyance from His Highness and quickly restrained her smile, making herself less unbridled so as not to touch His Highness’s bottom line.
“What does ‘being taught a lesson’ mean?”
Zhao Shangrong leaned closer. “Does the princess consort dislike me saying these sweet words? Then I will not say them anymore in the future.”
His Highness seemed unable to read the atmosphere and asked rather thoughtlessly, “Princess Consort, can I call you by your name from now on?”
Just now, Zhao Shangrong had suddenly thought: With Wang Yaoshuang’s delicate body, sensitive thoughts, inflexible nature, and occasionally bold temperament, how could she survive in that treacherous and dangerous rear palace?
Yet His Highness said to her with a serious face, “I have decided that from now on, I will often say such sweet words to you. That way, in the future, when someone else says them to you, your heart will not be moved so easily, and you will not foolishly be tricked into giving away your sincerity!”
There was no other reason. In her previous life, the Prince of Yingchuan had also laughed so freely before. But compared with the Prince of Yingchuan’s laughter, which could not suppress its mad and chilling undertone, His Highness’s laughter was much purer.
Although while getting along with Wang Yaoshuang, Zhao Shangrong had already stopped treating her as a candidate for the male lead’s harem and instead regarded her as a woman with an independent self and a complete identity, she would still respect Wang Yaoshuang’s choice.
“What?” Zhao Shangrong sensed the princess consort’s anger, but had not yet figured out its source.
His Highness’s domineering and meaningful words stunned Wang Yaoshuang, as if the blood flowing toward her heart had suddenly stopped. In the next instant, it surged in wildly, causing her heartbeat to rise rapidly and her breathing to abruptly quicken.
A long, graceful sigh followed. “The princess consort is so beautiful, well-read and courteous, dignified and elegant, poised and generous. Your words are witty and charming. With you, my heart no longer has four seasons. All twelve months of the year are spring… One cannot help wanting to take such a wonderful you for oneself. So, there will certainly be many people coveting you. How could I not guard against them?”
“…It means teaching you the principles of how to conduct yourself in the world.”
Wang Yaoshuang seemed to understand His Highness’s meaning and also received His Highness’s “goodwill.” But for some reason, for the first time, she felt a towering rage rise within her. She wanted to fiercely slap His Highness.
She felt somewhat at a loss, unsure whether she should continue drowning in this river of love or struggle against it.
Wang Yaoshuang: “…”
Compared to others, Zhao Shangrong had one advantage: Wang Yaoshuang was currently her officially married princess consort. Unless her identity was exposed, even the emperor should not think of taking Wang Yaoshuang from her.
“Is Your Highness perhaps taking revenge on this concubine for teasing you about bathing together?” Wang Yaoshuang endured the enormous gap in her heart and struggled to force back the tears gathering there.
Wang Yaoshuang and the maidservants were both startled by her sudden laughter, their hearts skipping half a beat. Wang Yaoshuang’s hand even trembled.
“Princess Consort, like this, I truly cannot bear to give you to someone else—especially someone who cannot be devoted and wholehearted toward you.”
Immediately after, unease silently pierced into the bottom of Wang Yaoshuang’s heart. Her gaze locked stubbornly onto His Highness as she asked, “What does giving this concubine to someone else mean?”
Between her and the princess consort lay not merely an era, but sixteen hundred years and an internet.
Thinking and thinking, Zhao Shangrong herself was also amused. First came a light chuckle, then an open and hearty laugh.
Suddenly, Zhao Shangrong stopped laughing. Her deep eyes stared at Wang Yaoshuang, and a trace of possessiveness that seemed determined to obtain her suddenly burst from her gaze.
Reason returned, allowing Wang Yaoshuang to calm down. She turned her face away, refusing to let His Highness’s fingertips touch her chin again and avoiding His Highness’s gaze. “Your Highness is right. This concubine has indeed been taught a lesson.”
She said, “Your Highness is still three years younger than this concubine.”
She would not argue with Wang Yaoshuang about this, because once she explained the relationship between age and forms of address, she would easily fall into a passive position. So she directly threw another choice to Wang Yaoshuang. “Yao’er may also call me Shang’er or Rong’er.”
“Ah?”
Like a newly sprouted tender shoot meeting sweet rain, all her anger naturally extinguished under this call.
It felt as if staying with His Highness any longer would shorten her life by several years.
Since her rebirth, Wang Yaoshuang had never had her emotions stirred into such turmoil.
Wang Yaoshuang stared at His Highness coldly. “This concubine can do as she says. Can Your Highness?”
She looked at His Highness in confusion.
Wang Yaoshuang wanted to refuse, but Zhao Shangrong had already called out, “Yao’er.”
It was as if Wang Yaoshuang’s spellcasting had been interrupted. She no longer showed resistance.
Having received education about hierarchy since childhood, she was actually not used to calling His Highness by name, especially such an intimate form of address. Even at home, she had never called her siblings by nicknames. Therefore, before calling His Highness by name, she first called it several times in her heart to let herself adapt.
“Shang… Shangrong.” After Wang Yaoshuang called it aloud, a layer of invisible restraint that had bound her for a long time seemed to loosen. The shackles around her heart’s defenses also gradually fell away, letting her breathe more easily.
Although it was not either “Shang’er” or “Rong’er,” Zhao Shangrong was still very happy.
Actually, according to the customs of this era, ordinary couples in private often called each other by forms such as “so-and-so-lang” and “so-and-so-niang.” She hoped that one day, Wang Yaoshuang would also call her “Shang-niang” or “Rong-niang.”
Perhaps because they had exchanged more intimate forms of address, Zhao Shangrong and Wang Yaoshuang’s relationship grew closer than before.
However, this did not hinder Zhao Shangrong’s plan to lie flat from continuing to advance.
Aside from usually holing up in the East Study to paint, she practiced the pipa in the North Study. Occasionally, she would also call over the maidservants she had previously met through playing the Five Woods game to ponder other forms of entertainment.
Surprisingly, this era had quite a few entertainment options. Besides Five Woods, there were also games like flick chess, hidden hook, playful archery, pitch-pot, Go, elephant chess, Four Corners, and others. In terms of entertainment value, they were no worse than Fight the Landlord or mahjong.
However, as a modern person, what she missed most was still playing mahjong with relatives back home during festivals.
It truly felt like a lifetime ago.
Perhaps because she displayed no ambition to make progress and appeared utterly immersed in pleasure, Chief Clerk Chen became extremely anxious.
After Chief Clerk Chen’s persuasion failed, he had no choice but to start with Wang Yaoshuang, hoping that as the princess consort, she could advise His Highness.
Although separated by a curtain, Wang Yaoshuang still maintained her dignified elegance. “I will. Advising His Highness is one of my duties as princess consort. However, once His Highness makes up her mind to do certain things, how can others stop her?”
Chief Clerk Chen also knew His Highness’s temperament. He suddenly thought that His Highness must be so dispirited because there was no one by her side to offer plans and strategies, causing her to see no hope of leaving for her fief and thus begin indulging in music, women, dogs, and horses. Therefore, he could find more scholars for His Highness, let those scholars advise His Highness, and make His Highness rouse herself again.
Moreover, since the emperor wanted to use literary aides and study attendants to plant the court’s eyes and ears beside His Highness, why could he not also use scholars to counter the court’s eyes and ears?
Aside from subordinate officials recruited by the emperor and the court, imperial princes could also personally recruit scholars to serve as aides. As long as His Highness agreed, he could mobilize the Yingchuan Chen clan to search the realm for scholars on His Highness’s behalf.
Zhao Shangrong: “…”
Do you think I am not doomed quickly enough?
Everything under heaven belonged to the emperor. Naturally, the scholars under heaven also belonged to the emperor. If she made a big show of recruiting scholars and competed with the emperor for talent, wasn’t that purely courting death?
With a heavy expression, she told Chief Clerk Chen, “I appreciate Chief Clerk Chen’s goodwill, but the prince’s manor cannot afford to support so many people.”
Before Chief Clerk Chen could begin persuading her to dismiss some maidservants and servants, she quickly spoke. “During Dragon Boat Festival, His Majesty will personally go to the Qinhuai River to watch the dragon boats. Chief Clerk Chen knows this, yes?”
Chief Clerk Chen nodded. “His Majesty has already begun ordering the Court of Ceremonies, the Palace Guard, and the Court of the Imperial Stud to arrange the outing that day.”
“Then you should also know that I have a part in the dragon boat regatta.”
Chief Clerk Chen continued nodding. However, he had previously always thought His Highness had been led astray by the Prince of Yiyang. How could a competition against noble clans be a good competition? This would only intensify the conflict between imperial relatives and noble clans! As someone from a noble clan, what he least wanted to see was this kind of thing happening.
Zhao Shangrong lowered her voice. “If I can win this regatta, will His Majesty not be happy enough to reward me? Could I request permission from His Majesty to leave for my fief? Also, that day, Mother will leave the palace with His Majesty. Perhaps I can use victory to exchange for the chance to bring Mother to my side and serve her. What does Chief Clerk Chen think?”
Chief Clerk Chen jolted awake. He said excitedly, “That is right. How did this minister not think of that?!”
As expected of His Highness!
His Highness’s recent indulgence and pleasure-seeking must also have been a disguise, meant to lower the emperor’s guard!
Zhao Shangrong patted Chief Clerk Chen’s shoulder and said solemnly, “Therefore, I will rely on Chief Clerk Chen to watch over the dragon boat regatta. After all, among those by my side now, only Chief Clerk Chen can be entrusted with such an important task!”
As for painting cakes and PUA tactics, she had learned quite a lot from her boss before transmigrating into the book!
And now, had they not come in handy?
“This minister will certainly not fail Your Highness’s trust!” When Chief Clerk Chen left, he seemed as if he had been injected with chicken blood. For a long time afterward, he put great effort into building dragon boats, training personnel, and other matters. Aside from occasionally reporting progress, he did not come to offer further advice.
Zhao Shangrong’s ears were finally peaceful.
However, this peace lasted less than two days before news came from the Court of Ceremonies that the instructors for the three imperial princes in the capital had all been chosen.
As everyone had expected, all three “literary aides” came from noble clans. However, the emperor did not wish to entrust important responsibilities to the emigrant noble clans—the Wang, Xie, and other clans who had migrated south—so those he selected were all local Jiangnan noble clans.
This was also one of the forces the emperor had newly supported in order to break apart the power of the emigrant noble clans.
Zhao Shangrong’s literary aide was a descendant of the Jiangnan Lu clan, named Kang, courtesy name Taikang.
The Lu noble clan had once produced the Right Chancellor, Grand Marshal, Grand General, and other high officials during Eastern Wu, and the Lu clan’s prestige had flourished for a time. However, because Eastern Wu had fallen and they had suffered suppression from the emigrant noble clans, the noble clans of Jiangnan had always found it very difficult to rise.
The emperor supported them to contend against the emigrant noble clans, letting both sides consume each other. It would be best if they both suffered losses. This method could be considered an alternative path.
As for the study attendant, due to the recommendation of Liu Su, the former Erudite of the Imperial Academy and current Secretariat Yellow Gate Attendant, one of his disciples named “Wang Zhaoming” was selected.
“Wang Zhaoming? I have never heard of him. I imagine he is not some famous scholar.” Zhao Shangrong could not find this name in her pitifully sparse memories of the original novel, nor could she find this person in the Prince of Yingchuan’s memories.
Chief Clerk Chen said, “I heard he is from a branch of the Langya Wang clan and moved to Jiangling very early. Liu Su has many disciples, and he believes in the teachings of Sage Confucius that ‘education should be offered without discrimination.’ When accepting students, he does not speak of background. For example, he accepted the princess consort’s younger sister from the Wang clan as a disciple. To take a woman as a disciple is simply…”
Suddenly, he remembered that the princess consort was still behind the curtain and hurriedly stopped speaking.
His Highness suddenly took over. “Simply wonderful. If he had not already become His Majesty’s subject, I would definitely personally invite him to serve as my scholar!”
Chief Clerk Chen: “…”
He felt that His Highness had helped him out of a predicament, but also slapped his face.
He left awkwardly. Only then did the maidservant roll up the curtain, revealing Wang Yaoshuang’s figure.
Seeing that the princess consort’s expression was somewhat strange, Zhao Shangrong asked, “What is wrong, Yao’er?”
Wang Yaoshuang’s thoughts were interrupted. Seeing His Highness actually call her so intimately in front of so many maidservants, two rosy clouds immediately floated onto her cheeks.
“This concubine only… only did not expect…” She had not expected that the emperor would truly let Xiaoshuang serve as His Highness’s study attendant!
But did the emperor know that “Wang Zhaoming” was Xiaoshuang?
Perhaps the emperor did not know, but Minister of Ceremonies Fan Ye certainly did.
The first time Wang Yaoshuang heard the name “Wang Zhaoming,” she knew it was her younger sister Xiaoshuang’s alias, because “Zhaozhao” was her younger sister’s courtesy name, and as for the character “ming”…
“Did not expect what?” Zhao Shangrong asked in confusion.
Wang Yaoshuang came back to herself and smiled. “I did not expect Your Highness to approve so much of Doctor Liu’s teaching philosophy.”
“I do not only approve. I also greatly admire that he can defy the world’s disapproval and insist on teaching without discrimination, refusing to shut out talented people because of gender,” Zhao Shangrong said from the bottom of her heart. “If His Majesty had not recognized his talent and taken him under his command, I would want to poach him to be my teacher.”
Wang Yaoshuang had originally wanted to tell His Highness that “Wang Zhaoming” was Xiaoshuang, so His Highness would be mentally prepared. But after hearing His Highness’s words, she suddenly felt she had worried too much. With His Highness’s broad-mindedness in accepting such unconventional matters, and her cheerful nature, even if Xiaoshuang showed her true face, His Highness would probably have no objection.
After the candidates for literary aide and study attendant were chosen, the day soon came for them to pay their respects—ah, no, to meet the imperial princes.
Although Zhao Shangrong did not want to attend classes, she still followed basic social etiquette and received them.
Lu Kang was a middle-aged man in his thirties. He wore a silk headscarf, held a feather fan, dressed in loose robes and wide sashes, wore a jade pendant at his waist, and leather shoes on his feet. He truly had the appearance of a graceful and handsome scholar.
After conversing with him for a while, Zhao Shangrong could be considered to have gained a preliminary understanding of him. Although his appearance was similar to those famous scholars with good reputations who revered Laozi and Zhuangzi, metaphysics, and Buddhist principles, and who only knew how to engage in pure conversation, people truly could not be judged by appearance. Compared with metaphysics and Lao-Zhuang thought, he himself paid more attention to literary discussion, such as the beauty of prose style, distinctions between literary forms, and interpretation of writings.
Whether it was metaphysics or Lao-Zhuang thought, Zhao Shangrong had no interest at all.
After Lu Kang left, the study attendant Wang Zhaoming came to the door.
Seeing “Wang Yaoshuang” appear dressed in black robes, Zhao Shangrong subconsciously asked the person beside her, “Where is the princess consort right now?”
The maidservant looked at “Wang Zhaoming,” a trace of confusion flashing through her eyes. Wasn’t the princess consort right here?
Wang Zhaoming—Wang Xiaoshuang—bowed to Zhao Shangrong. “This lower official, Wang Zhaoming, Study Attendant Erudite and Recorder to the Prince of Yingchuan, greets Your Highness.”
Zhao Shangrong sucked in a breath of cold air.
Good heavens. Truly good heavens!
Author’s Note:
About His Highness saying cheesy sweet words, refusing to admit it, and claiming she was only reciting lines, making the princess consort angry—
His Highness: Princess Consort, you just love me and cannot bear to be angry with me!
Princess Consort: …Your skin is too thick. Even if I slapped your face, you would not feel pain. Why should I hurt my own hand?
—
Noble clan hierarchy of disdain: emigrant noble clans > imperial in-laws = local Jiangnan noble clans > commoner and humble families.
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