The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang immediately forgot what she had just been saying and hurriedly instructed Lu Youning, "Yes, the second young master is two years older than you. If we can't afford to offend him, we can at least avoid him."

The incident that Lu Qi'an caused back then left a considerable psychological scar on everyone in Songtao Academy.

Lu Youning remained noncommittal about Zhang Shi and Sun Mama's concerns. Ever since that incident, they and the eldest son's family had never been on good terms. Although they lived in the same mansion, he and the two brothers from the eldest son's family had hardly ever met.

Once he enters the palace, if his cheap second brother behaves himself, that's fine. But if he's still thinking about avenging his eldest brother, he wasn't afraid when he was only one year old, so why would he be afraid now?

Tinglan Courtyard

Madam Cui was beaming with joy. While watching the servants pack her youngest son's luggage, she instructed Lu Qichen, "Qichen, entering the palace is not like being at home. You must not be naughty or cause trouble, and you must not get close to that girl from Songtao Courtyard."

Lu Qichen was raised by Cui Shi from a young age. Compared to his older brother Lu Qi'an, he was relatively well-behaved and obedient when he was young, but he was also like a mischievous monkey, causing trouble every day.

Seeing his mother nagging, he grinned and hugged Cui's arm, saying, "Mother, don't worry, I'll definitely be obedient."

Compared to the adults' worries, the palace was more like a novel and unexplored playground for the children. When their families sent them off in carriages, they were always more happy than sad.

Lu Youning was already sitting in the carriage with her small bundle, leaning against the side of the carriage with her eyes closed, pretending to doze off. Lu Qichen sat on the other side, and when he saw Lu Youning's appearance, he pouted and opened the carriage window to look at the scenery outside.

The carriage traveled along Zhuque Avenue, entered Chengtian Gate, and followed the palace road with its red walls and yellow tiles all the way to the inner court. Once you saw the plaque for the inner court, you had to get out of the carriage and walk.

Looking back at the palace road the carriage had traveled, Lu Youning felt a little sad. It was fortunate that there was a carriage; otherwise, walking on two legs alone would have made several children faint.

An official stepped forward: "Young masters, you will stay in Fu Ning Palace for the time being. Tomorrow morning, someone will come to take you to pay your respects to Her Majesty the Empress and Her Highness the Imperial Concubine."

Although he had some guesses about why he had been summoned to the palace, seeing that the eunuchs did not give him any special treatment, Lu Youning did not move closer. Anyway, there was a second young master who was two years older than him here, so he could leave the social interaction to him.

Lu Qichen did not disappoint Lu Youning. He had obviously been taught some palace etiquette and thanked the court official very politely.

Apart from the palace servants, there were already people in Funing Palace, who were obviously summoned to the palace to participate in the selection of companions for the Eighth Prince.

Looking at the pile of little radish heads on the ground, Lu Youning found it somewhat amusing. In this feudal dynasty, daughters raised by officials had to enter the palace to participate in the imperial concubine selection, and men raised by officials also had to enter the palace. Regardless of gender, no one could escape the fate of being chosen.

Although they were said to be around the same age as the Eighth Prince, the children sent to the palace varied in age. For example, Lu Youning was only four years old this year, while the eldest son of General Wuwei was already eight years old.

He was the same age as Lu Qi'an.

As soon as Lu Youning and Lu Qichen stepped into the main hall of Funing Palace, pairs of curious eyes looked over. Lu Youning remained calm and composed, but Lu Qichen hesitated slightly in his forward steps.

Among the group of children, one of the older ones stepped forward and bowed to the two of them, saying, "My name is Cao Li, and my father is Cao Linzhou, the Vice Minister of Revenue. Whose young masters are you?"

Lu Qichen also cupped his hands in a proper manner: "My name is Lu Qichen, and I am the second son in my family. My grandfather was the Earl of Chengen, and my father was the heir apparent of the Earl of Chengen."

A year ago, Lu Chong finally submitted a memorial requesting that Lu Jingyan be granted the title of heir apparent.

The capital was a gathering place for nobles and dignitaries; not to mention the Earl's Mansion, even the mansions of princes and marquises were commonplace. Lu Qichen's family background was hardly outstanding here. After he finished his introduction, several gazes in the hall, seemingly trying to be subtle, fell upon Lu Youning.

Lu Youning seemed oblivious, smiling as she greeted everyone: "My name is Lu Youning, I'm four years old, and my father is Lu Shiyan."

Suddenly, even more eyes turned to look at him.

Lu Youning's smile widened; he knew he was so handsome that everyone loved him and flowers would adore him.

On their first day in the palace, everyone got along peacefully.

Although the palace does not allow children to bring their own servants, those who are chosen to be the princes' study companions come from very distinguished families. The palace will naturally take good care of them, and these young masters will not have to do any of the daily chores themselves.

After Lu Youning took a bath, a young eunuch dried his hair. Just as he was about to fall asleep, a palace maid announced that Zhuo, the eunuch from the Imperial Concubine's palace, had arrived.

Lu Youning was speechless. She got up again and put on her outer robe. She had so much time to spare during the day, but she waited until almost 9 PM to come. She didn't know what the Imperial Concubine was thinking.

Seeing that his hair was still loose, the young eunuch serving him whispered a reminder: "Young master, the Imperial Concubine values ​​etiquette the most. Let me help you tie your hair up."

Lu Youning waved her hand without hesitation and refused: "If I'm late because of my hair being tied up, it will only make people wait longer."

Actually, he was just lazy. In ancient times, people started growing their hair from birth and never cut it. By the time they were a few years old, their hair was thick and long. It was fine in winter, but in summer, those three thousand strands of hair were really annoying.

He was too lazy to bother with the thought of spending time tying his hair up, only to have to untangle it again when he got back.

Hearing him say that, the young eunuch stopped insisting. To put it bluntly, those of them who served in the Funing Palace had to wait until His Majesty selected concubines to have a chance to advance. If they were lucky enough to be chosen by a fortunate master, that would be a real blessing.

As for these young masters, having become the princes' study companions, they naturally had servants attending to them, just like the Eighth Prince.

Lu Youning went to the front hall with his hair down. Everyone else had already arrived; he was the last. He felt a gaze filled with dissatisfaction and criticism sweep over him from head to toe. Lu Youning squinted and couldn't help but let out a small yawn.

Eunuch Zhuo silently gave the young master of the Lu family a grade B in his heart before speaking: "This is the first time that all of you young masters have stayed overnight in the palace. Her Highness the Consort has instructed that if you need anything, you can simply tell the palace servants."

The older ones naturally took the lead in answering: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. The palace is very nice, and we are quite used to living here."

With someone taking the lead, the children present also chimed in, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."

Lu Youning: Wait a minute, why are you all so well-organized? When did you rehearse?

The Imperial Concubine's summons of her eunuchs wasn't merely out of concern for their comfort here. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Eunuch Zhuo waved his hand, and a group of palace servants entered, carrying trays.

Eunuch Zhuo pointed to the trays and said with a smile, "Our Imperial Concubine is devoted to Buddhism and offers her handwritten scriptures before the Buddha every day. Today, there are many matters in the palace, and the Imperial Concubine has not yet had time to..."