The Grand Secretary's Child-Raising Diary

Those who went out to deliver the imperial decree were all people close to His Majesty, so Eunuch Zhuo naturally couldn't know the specific reasons, but how could this not be a good thing for the Empress and the Eighth Prince?

Eunuch Zhuo stepped forward: "Your Majesty, His Majesty doesn't favor the young master of the Lu family. Anyway, both of them are from the Lu family, so it doesn't matter who he chooses."

Lu Qichen is, after all, a direct descendant, and his background is much better than Lu Youning's.

The Imperial Concubine understood Eunuch Zhuo's meaning, and a smile immediately appeared on her face. She stroked the jeweled nail guard on her little finger and instructed, "Then do as you say. In any case, my son absolutely cannot choose a little mute as his study companion."

Eunuch Zhuo smiled and agreed, saying that this matter was not difficult to handle. Even if it was later discovered that the wrong person had been chosen, given His Majesty's favor towards the Empress, he would probably not blame her.

After a simple breakfast in Fu Ning Palace, the young princes were led by palace servants to the palaces of the imperial concubines. According to the eunuch from yesterday, they were to pay their respects to the Empress first, and then go to the palace of the Imperial Concubine.

Kunning Palace

The head maid placed a phoenix hairpin in the Empress's hair, looked her over from side to side, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty's complexion has been getting better and better lately. It seems that the prescription given by Physician Qi is effective."

The Empress reached out and touched the fine lines at the corner of her eyes, sighing, "I'm getting old after all. No matter how good my complexion is, it can't compare to when I was in my teens or twenties."

The head maid couldn't stand her mistress's behavior and disagreed, saying, "Your Majesty, the palace is full of young and beautiful women. As the Empress, you really don't need to take those who are arrogant and ignorant just because they have gained some favor seriously."

As the two were talking, a palace maid came in to announce, "Your Majesty the Empress, the young gentlemen who entered the palace yesterday have come to pay their respects."

"Let them in."

The Empress's palace was clearly governed by strict rules; apart from the sounds of kowtowing and shouting, Lu Youning heard almost no other noises.

Although I could not see the Empress's face directly, I could tell from her voice that she truly had the demeanor of a mother of the nation.

These people were chosen by the Eighth Prince as his study companions. Their audience was simply in accordance with palace rules. The Empress did not talk to them much, only offering a few general compliments before instructing an eunuch to take them to Consort Zhao's Longevity Palace.

As Lu Youning emerged from Kunning Palace, she clearly heard several relaxed breaths.

The Longevity Palace is not far from the Kunning Palace, but that's on the condition that Lu Youning is only four years old this year. Cao Li turned around very considerately and said, "Little brother Aning, if you can't walk, I can carry you on my back."

Lu Youning: They haven't exchanged a single word since they entered the palace yesterday. How did he become Aning's brother?

He didn't speak, but coldly shook his head.

Meng Yue, who was walking ahead like Cao Li, snorted: "Pretending to be something they're not interested in."

Cao Li seemed not to hear Meng Yue's sarcasm. Seeing that Lu Youning really didn't want him to carry her, he turned around and walked away.

Just as Lu Youning thought it was over and was about to continue to clear her mind, another voice came from beside her: "Can't you have some manners? This is the palace. You'd better not make enemies."

Seeing Lu Qichen squeeze next to her without her noticing, Lu Youning silently took a few steps back and distanced herself from him.

Seeing his actions, Lu Qichen glared at him, then turned and walked back to the front.

The eunuch leading the way seemed completely oblivious to their commotion, keeping his head down and continuing to walk.

They entered the Longevity Palace.

The atmosphere here was completely different from that of Kunning Palace. Before even entering the main hall, Lu Youning heard a woman's clear laughter.

The eunuch Zhuo, who had visited Funing Palace yesterday, came out to greet them and whispered, "His Majesty is also here."

This was a reminder for them to pay their respects to His Majesty. Lu Youning pondered to himself that His Majesty must have just finished the morning court session and entered the inner palace, but instead of going to the Empress's Kunning Palace, he came to the Consort's Changshou Palace. It seemed that this Consort was quite favored.

"Greetings to Your Majesty, long live the Emperor! Greetings to the Imperial Concubine, may she enjoy good health and longevity! Greetings to the Eighth Prince."

They were as synchronized as if they had rehearsed beforehand.

A young woman's voice came from the head of the table: "Your Majesty, look, they are all handsome young men."

Emperor Chenghe: "Come closer, all of you, and let the Imperial Concubine take a look. You are all precious children of your families. Once you enter the palace, Shizhen must not take advantage of your status to bully others."

Xiao Shizhen stood up: "Father, rest assured, I will definitely get along well with them."

Although it was a warning, his tone was that of a loving father.

Since the purpose was to select study companions for the princes, the formalities had to be followed. The Emperor and the Consort would ask questions, and the children would answer. Occasionally, the Eighth Prince's opinion would also be sought.

Cao Li is seven years old this year, but he has already finished learning the Three Character Classic, the Thousand Character Classic and the Standards for Being a Good Student and Child. Now he is reading the Analects. The Imperial Concubine already favored him, and now she is even more pleased.

Meng Yue was not to be outdone. As the son of the Marquis of Wuwei, he was allowed to perform a set of boxing techniques in front of His Majesty. Despite his young age, his boxing style was already impressive, and his fists moved with great power, earning him a lot of praise from His Majesty.

As for the young master of the family of Huang, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, his answer was conventional and unremarkable.

When it came to Lu Qichen, he was always pressured by his mother, Cui, to study. He was somewhat inferior to the son of the Minister of Revenue, but he was not bad among this group.

Lu Youning was the last one. When it was his turn, the hall suddenly fell silent for some reason. Consort Zhao, who had been in high spirits, seemed tired and leaned against the couch to drink tea.

But she muttered to herself, "He really is handsome. I wonder how that Imperial Censor Lu raised him; such a fine boy, yet he's treated like a pampered young lady."

Fortunately, His Majesty seemed to be in good spirits, and his voice was still relatively gentle: "How old are you this year? What books have you been reading?"

Lu Youning told the truth: "Your Majesty, I am four years old this year and have not yet started studying properly. I have only read the Three Character Classic."

His Majesty frowned: "Why haven't you started studying yet? When Shizhen was your age, he was already reciting the 'Standards for Being a Good Student and Child'."

Lu Youning replied with great confidence: "Your Majesty, because I always fall asleep when I read, my father allowed me to formally begin my studies later."

He was a petty person, and when he talked about how his father allowed him to study later, he was very arrogant. The Imperial Concubine found it an eyesore, but His Majesty laughed.

"Your father went to Jiangnan. Do you miss him?"

Lu Youning thought to himself: He just wanted to get his father to come back.

"Your Majesty, my father said he will be back soon and told me to wait for him at home."

His Majesty laughed again, but Lu Youning didn't find his words funny at all.

......

Lu Shiyan, dressed in coarse linen clothes and huddled at the bottom of the cargo hold, couldn't help but sneeze. Shouyan, who was also dressed in linen clothes and leaning against him, whispered, "It's probably because the young master misses you."

Lu Shiyan: That heartless little brat is probably cursing him in his heart right now. He didn't tell him before he left that His Majesty was going to choose a study companion for the Eighth Prince. He hopes the little guy won't be angry with him when he gets back.