A Poor Man's Son-in-Law: He Picks Up the Daughter of a Duke's Mansion at the Start

June 21, 3:45 AM.

Lu Qingyan stood in the courtyard outside the Imperial Study, his brand-new light blue official robe appearing exceptionally simple in the morning light. He had deliberately chosen this lightest-colored robe, made of ordinary Hangzhou silk—this was his little scheme. Since the Third Prince enjoyed teasing his teachers, those teachers who were richly dressed and had an air of importance would likely be easier targets.

The eunuch who led the way was surnamed Liu. He was in his forties, with a fair complexion and no beard. There was always a hint of a smile in the corner of his eyes when he spoke: "Editor Lu, this way please. His Highness the Third Prince is already waiting inside."

Waiting? Lu Qingyan was wary. According to palace rules, a prince should sit upright in his study and greet his tutor when he enters. The words "waiting" probably had a deeper meaning.

The Imperial Study was a three-room open-air building, facing south, with bright windows and clean tables. Two crabapple trees stood in front of the door, but their flowering season had passed, leaving only lush green leaves.

Eunuch Liu stopped at the door, bowed, and said, "Editor Lu, please."

Lu Qingyan didn't push the door open immediately. He stood in front of the door, his gaze sweeping over the lintel, the door, and the threshold, finally settling on the pair of brass door knockers—the rust on the left door knocker was lighter than that on the right, as if it had been touched frequently. But normally, one should open the door with their right hand, so it should be the right door knocker that was touched.

He had a slight thought, took half a step back, and said to Eunuch Liu, "Please trouble you to inform him."

Eunuch Liu was taken aback: "His Highness the Third Prince instructed that Editor Lu should go straight in when he arrives."

"There is a proper relationship between ruler and subject, and between teacher and student." Lu Qingyan said respectfully, "This is my first time meeting Your Highness, and I dare not be impolite."

These words sounded so high-sounding that Eunuch Liu couldn't refute them and could only step forward and knock on the door: "Your Highness, Editor Lu has arrived."

A clear, youthful voice came from inside: "Come in."

Eunuch Liu pushed open the door and stepped aside to let Lu Qingyan go first. Just as Lu Qingyan took a step, he caught a glimpse of something above the lintel out of the corner of his eye—a very faint water mark, winding down the inside of the door frame.

The trap is behind the door.

Lu Qingyan didn't stop walking, but the moment he stepped over the threshold, he slightly shifted his body to the right, subtly touching the door frame with his left hand. Sure enough, a very faint "click" came from above the door, like the sound of a spring being pulled.

But he has already moved on.

Inside the study, the Third Prince, Zhao Jingshuo, sat behind his desk by the window, toying with a white jade paperweight. He was ten years old, dressed in an apricot-yellow robe, with delicate and refined features, but his eyes were too lively, darting around and revealing a mischievous streak.

Seeing Lu Qingyan walk in unharmed, Zhao Jingshuo's eyes flashed with surprise, then he curled his lip and said, "You're the new editor, Lu?"

"Your subject, Lu Qingyan, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, greets Your Highness the Third Prince." Lu Qingyan bowed respectfully.

"No need for formalities." Zhao Jingshuo rested his chin on his hand. "I heard you're a third-place scholar? Very learned?"

"Your Highness flatters me. There are many talented people in the world; I am merely fortunate to have been chosen."

"Just lucky?" Zhao Jingshuo laughed, a slyness beyond his years. "Then let this prince see today whether Master Lu is truly talented or just lucky."

He had barely finished speaking when a startled cry came from outside the door from Eunuch Liu: "Oh dear!"

Just then, Eunuch Liu came in carrying a pot of tea. He must have stepped on something, because he stumbled and spilled the whole pot of hot tea at Lu Qingyan!

In a flash, Lu Qingyan slid half a step to the left—a movement technique he had practiced in his previous life when he was teaching at a university to avoid students' recklessness—at the same time, he rolled up his right sleeve to catch most of the spilled tea, and his left hand was already supporting Eunuch Liu's arm.

"Be careful, sir."

The teapot fell to the ground with a crisp "clang". Eunuch Liu was still in shock, but Lu Qingyan's sleeve was only slightly wet at the cuff—the tea was not hot to begin with, it was obviously lukewarm.

Zhao Jingshuo's eyes widened. He had used this trick three times before, and the first three masters either jumped up and down in pain from the burns or were soaked to the bone and looked utterly disheveled. This Lu Qingyan actually…

"Your Highness," Lu Qingyan released the eunuch Liu, turned to Zhao Jingshuo, and said calmly, "My robes are wet. May I tidy them up a bit?"

He spoke so naturally, as if the thrilling scene just now was merely a common accident. Zhao Jingshuo stared at him for a long while, then suddenly smiled: "Interesting." He waved his hand, "Liu Banban, take Editor Lu to the side hall to change clothes."

In the side hall, Eunuch Liu brought over a clean set of blue casual clothes and whispered, "Editor Lu is quite skilled. The previous masters all fell for his tricks."

Lu Qingyan took the clothes and said calmly, "Your Highness still has a childlike heart."

Eunuch Liu glanced at him, hesitated, and ultimately said nothing more.

After changing his clothes, he returned to the study. This time, Zhao Jingshuo was more obedient, sitting properly behind his desk with a copy of the Thousand Character Classic open in front of him: "Editor Lu, what are we studying today?"

"As Your Highness commands."

"Let's start with the Thousand Character Classic then." Zhao Jingshuo turned the page. "Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless... I've memorized all of that. Editor Lu, do you have any new interpretations?"

Lu Qingyan walked to the desk and glanced at the writing implements on it—the handle of the wolf-hair brush on the brush holder was exceptionally smooth, the ink stick showed signs of being broken and then reattached, and the edge of the inkstone was covered with some colorless powder.

He didn't touch those things, but instead took out a plain sheet of paper from his sleeve and spread it on the table: "Since Your Highness has memorized it, then I will test Your Highness's understanding." He picked up a brush and wrote four characters on the paper: "Does Your Highness know the connection between these four characters 'Heaven and Earth, Black and Yellow' and the Forbidden City where Your Highness resides?"

Zhao Jingshuo was taken aback: "Related?"

"The Temple of Heaven is for offering sacrifices to Heaven, and the Temple of Earth is for offering sacrifices to Earth. The Emperor wears a black robe and a crimson skirt; black represents the color of Heaven, and yellow represents the color of Earth." Lu Qingyan moved his pen, drawing a simple diagram on the paper. "On the central axis of the Forbidden City, the roofs of the three main halls of the Outer Court are all covered with yellow glazed tiles, symbolizing the imperial power's connection to Heaven and Earth. But the roofs of the Six Eastern and Western Palaces are covered with green glazed tiles—why is that?"

Zhao Jingshuo was stumped. He only knew how to recite "Heaven and Earth, Black and Yellow," he had never thought of these things before. He couldn't help but lean closer to take a look.

Lu Qingyan continued, "Green is the color of wood, and wood represents growth. The East and West Six Palaces were the residences of the imperial harem, where princes and princesses grew up, hence the use of green tiles, symbolizing continuous life." He paused, "Your Highness lives in the East Fifth Palace, where the roof is also covered with green tiles. The first line of the Thousand Character Classic is actually right beside Your Highness."

Zhao Jingshuo's eyes lit up. He had never heard such an explanation before—not a dry interpretation, but one that was so relevant to his life.

"What about the 'primordial chaos' of the universe?"

"The roof is called 'Yu' (宇), and the beams are called 'Zhou' (宙). Your Highness, look at this study," Lu Qingyan pointed to the roof beams, "the horizontal beams are called 'Yu' (宇), and the vertical beams are called 'Zhou' (宙). As for the primordial era..." He smiled slightly, "Has Your Highness ever been to the Western Mountains? The huge rocks in those mountains are remnants of the primordial era millions of years ago."

Zhao Jingshuo listened intently, unconsciously sitting up straight. He had prepared many pranks—ink on the chair, dead insects in the pages of a book, live earthworms in the pen holder… but at this moment, those pranks seemed irrelevant.

This editor, Lu, is different.

The midday bell rang, signaling the end of today's classes. Lu Qingyan rose and bowed, saying, "Your subject takes his leave."

"Wait a minute." Zhao Jingshuo called out to him, taking a small wooden box from under his desk. "This is for you."

Lu Qingyan opened the box, inside were several pieces of fine pine soot ink and a purple-haired brush.

"This was a gift from Father yesterday." Zhao Jingshuo turned his face away. "I don't need it, you can have it."

Was this a gesture of goodwill? Lu Qingyan glanced at the boy's slightly reddened ears and understood. He bowed, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."

"Come back at this time tomorrow." Zhao Jingshuo waved his hand. "Go ahead."

Stepping out of the study, Lu Qingyan realized his back was soaked with sweat. When the teapot had been spilled, though he appeared calm, he was inwardly terrified. Fortunately, his years of teaching experience in his previous life had allowed him to deal with far more mischievous students, which had allowed him to barely manage to get through it.

Eunuch Liu escorted him out of the palace, whispering on the way, "Editor Lu is the first to escape unscathed. The previous ones either got their clothes wet or their faces smudged."

"Your Highness is intelligent, but your mind is not yet settled," Lu Qingyan said. "You will need more guidance from the eunuch in the future."

These were polite words, and Eunuch Liu smiled and said, "Of course, of course."

It was already past noon when he returned to Wutong Lane. Yun Shuwei was waiting at the door, and seeing him return safely, she visibly breathed a sigh of relief: "How did you go?"

"It's alright." Lu Qingyan briefly recounted the events in the palace, omitting the dangerous parts.

Yun Shuwei frowned after listening: "Splashing tea on you, setting a trap at the door... this was deliberately meant to embarrass you." She paused, "But it's good that you were able to defuse the situation. Is the Third Prince still obedient?"

"It's been suppressed for now." Lu Qingyan took off his official robe. "But it's only temporary. He's only ten years old, and of noble status. It will take time before he truly listens to teachings."

Yun Shuwei helped him change his clothes and said softly, "I inquired about some things today. The Third Prince's birth mother, Consort De, comes from a military family and has a straightforward personality. The Third Prince's unruly nature is probably somewhat like his mother's."

A descendant of a military family? Lu Qingyan pondered. No wonder Zhou Yannian, the Vice Minister of War, recommended him—descendants of military generals naturally value military affairs more. And for him, a civil official who proposed "using commerce to weaken the military," to teach a prince from a military family was bound to cause conflict.

What a clever tactic of using someone else to do the dirty work.

"I understand." Lu Qingyan changed into his casual clothes and walked to the desk. "Shuwei, grind the ink for me."

"What should I write?"

"Write down what I'll talk about tomorrow." Lu Qingyan spread out the paper. "Since the Third Prince is interested in the things around him, I'll start with the Forbidden City, then move on to the Four Books and Five Classics, and then to the geography of the world. I want him to know that knowledge isn't something you can just memorize, but something that comes alive."

Yun Shuwei looked at his focused profile and suddenly smiled: "Your master is quite different from others."

Lu Qingyan laughed as well: "If we weren't different, how could we subdue that little devil?"

The setting sun cast a warm yellow glow over the study as Lu Qingyan hunched over his desk, sketching out tomorrow's lesson plan—from the layout of the Forbidden City to the state-building system in the *Zhou Li*; from the geology of the Western Hills to the geographical divisions of mountains and rivers in the *Yu Gong*.

He was not only teaching the Third Prince, but also those eyes that were secretly watching.

Now that he's entered this game, he's determined to win beautifully.