“Why is she here?” Prince Qin was curious.
“I asked Court Lady Fu to teach me how to read and Court Lady Fu agreed. Both Your Highness and I are Court Lady Fu’s students.” Seeing how Prince Qin was younger than her, Xiao Lu spoke casually.
Fu Rou corrected her, “Xiao Lu, you cannot speak in such a manner to His Highness.” Following that, she explained to Prince Qin. “Xiao Lu has just been selected to join the twenty-four offices. From today, she will be following me.”
Prince Qin smiled, “I quite like her temperament.” He turned to Xiao Lu. “I am Teacher’s senior disciple whereas you are Teacher’s junior disciple. So am I your senior?”
Xiao Lu was dissatisfied. “But you are younger.”
Prince Qin spoke as a matter of fact, “I am younger than you but I started learning before you. Call me Senior.”
Xiao Lu replied, “Since we are studying, then we should establish seniority based on our knowledge.”
Prince Qin was curious. “Aiya, you are a palace maid. You dare to compare knowledge with me?”
“In the palace, the hierarchy between the noble and lowly are already distinguished. Is there a need to differentiate between social hierarchy when learning as well? Why can’t a palace maid compare knowledge with Your Highness? May I ask Your Highness, do you know the reason for wanting to gain knowledge?”
Xiao Lu’s argument impressed Fu Rou. However, Fu Rou could not praise her. “Xiao Lu, you are behaving so boldly just because His Highness is kind. Hurry and apologise to His Highness.”
Prince Qin waved his hand. “There is no need to apologise. Teacher, your new student is very good. She is much more interesting than the abiding palace maids around me.”
He asked Xiao Lu “Then do you know the reason for seeking knowledge?”
Xiao Lu was confident. “Court Lady Fu has just taught this. Confucius said that there is nothing special about knowledge. It is simply obtaining what has been lost. Learning is just to live in a more relaxed way.”
Prince Qin laughed, “So it's to live in a more relaxed way? Haha, listening to this indeed makes me happier.”
Fu Rou laughed and shook her head. “You listen only to one sentence and think highly of yourself. You are even teaching others. Aren’t you embarrassed? Don’t fool around anymore, let me teach the both of you something.”
Prince Qin pulled on Xiao Lu’s sleeve and pointed to the seat beside him. Xiao Lu still understood the rules. “A palace maid cannot sit in front of a prince.”
Prince Qin laughed, “Didn’t you just say that when learning, there should not be any differentiation between social hierarchy? Are you afraid now?”
Xiao Lu immediately sat down beside Prince Qin and raised her brows at him in a provocative manner.
Looking at these two children bicker, Fu Rou’s eyes were filled with humour. Having a partner would help them learn better.
Chapter 75.2: Court Lady
Sheng Chumu led a hundred troops on one of the mountains in the Restricted Area. They were galloping quickly, like fierce wind. They startled over a hundred birds and chased away another hundred beasts. He had brought a hundred men army to train on Cangshan Mountain previously. They were all capable and it would not be an exaggeration to say that each of them could take on one hundred men. The Emperor was delighted, and allowed them to train in the Restricted Area.
The Restricted Area was near to the palace’s twenty-four offices. Outside stood the Wei River, while the palace was inside. The perimeter was about sixty kilometres. Within the circle, various kinds of plants and animals could be found. There were also all kinds of exercise fields. The two imperial armies, Shence Army and Yulin Army, were also stationed here. Not only was it for the royal couple’s entertainment, they were also there for protection. One had to either be a royalty or a highly recognised general to enter the Restricted Area.
The hundred men were in high-spirits as they shouted repeatedly. They sped along, getting on and off their horses to shoot and train with their swords. They switched over easily and were no longer the weak lads they were before. However, as their instructor, Sheng Chumu did not show a hint of approval at all. The playboy back then, who could not even ride a horse properly, had trained so much that his body was like steel. The sharp edges of his face were distinct as if they had been carved out with a knife.
As they neared the vegetable and fruits garden, Sheng Chumu suddenly caught sight of Fu Rou and subconsciously pulled on his reins.
“General, what is the matter?” Ye Qiulang stopped as well. He looked in the direction Sheng Chumu was looking. “Oh, that female official looks so imposing with the group of palace maids that she is leading. She is like you, General. She is pretty too.”
“Be careful or I will tell your Yan’er that your eyes are not faithful.” Sheng Chumu rolled his eyes at him.
“General, don’t. I am just saying.” Ye Qiulang immediately protested.
Sheng Chumu laughed, “Continue the training, I will catch up soon.”
Following that, Sheng Chumu appeared in front of Fu Rou, looking down from his horse.
The palace maid in charge of the vegetable and fruits garden greeted, “General Sheng, this is the newly appointed Court Lady…”
Sheng Chumu cut her off coldly, “There is no need to introduce us. We know each other.” His tone changed to a snarky one. “Court Lady Fu, congratulations on your promotion.”
Fu Rou instructed the palace maids, “Go to the garden and tell the chief to prepare the records of all the vegetables and fruits that were harvested.”
The palace maids left.
Fu Rou lifted her head to look at Sheng Chumu. Her eyes did not give anything away. “If you are unhappy, there is no need to pretend to congratulate. It sounds so insincere, don’t you feel uncomfortable saying it?”
Sheng Chumu got off his horse and took the chance to look away from her. “Nope.”
Fu Rou sighed, “Sheng Chumu, who are you angry with exactly?”
“You.” Is there a need to ask?
“You have found happiness elsewhere and like Lian Yan’er. How can you be angry with me?” He did not even give her a chance to explain.
“Liking Lian Yan’er and being angry with you are two entirely different things. I just want to like Lian Yan’er and be angry with you. Why? Court Lady of the Six Offices, are you going to punish me?” How could she lift her head so highly in front of him?
“Despicable.” She could not help but scold.
“Yes, I am despicable. I am not as noble as you. You nobly gained the Empress favour and attracted Prince Zhou. Everything is going your way and everyone likes you. You are noble and can watch happily by the side as my sister was forced to death.” As he spoke, his eyes burned with anger. He thought that no matter what, she would not stay out of it when his sister was in trouble.
“You are blaming Consort Han’s death on me?” She was being wronged by him all over. “When the Empress gave the order, I did not stay out of it, I was simply too powerless to do anything.”
“In a blink of an eye, a palace maid in the Lateral Courts became the leader of female officials. You even know how to do such a high level play. When you were by the Empress side, didn’t you have any ideas? Couldn’t you have sent a letter to my brother-in-law or me? Just a little warning and maybe my sister would still be alive.”
To think that he thought she was suffering in the Lateral Courts. He even went to look for Prince Qin and expose her location. Unexpectedly, her ability was beyond his imagination. “No, it is not that you were powerless. You were not willing to help.”