Phoenix Cries Return to Court

Before the old woman could say anything, she saw the woman pause, turn around and smile, saying, "Old woman, please wait."

Speaking of this Granny Zhou, she was an old acquaintance of Lin Xi from the time of the Empress Dowager.

Lin Xihe had no intention of being nostalgic, but seeing this scene and the old woman's serious wariness and disdain, she instantly understood.

This old woman probably felt that I was trying to curry favor with her, so she wanted to use the detour as a way to show her displeasure.

As dawn broke, Lin Xi frowned slightly. It was getting late, and it wouldn't be good if the people from the Ministry of War's residence found out that she wasn't in the courtyard that morning. Besides, considering that this nanny was loyal to her mistress, she decided to give up on her.

Lin Xihe took a deep breath and said seriously.

"Although I am in the Ministry of Rites, I have no connection with it. The poems and books I have read and the teachings I have received since childhood have all come from my own heart. It is rare that His Highness the Crown Prince does not disdain my meager talents. I can only do my best to teach him everything I know to repay his kindness."

When the old woman in front of her appeared frank and sincere, and when she recalled what she had heard recently, the old woman's aversion to her lessened somewhat.

"I have arranged to meet His Highness the Crown Prince at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM). Please, Granny, lead me there quickly so as not to be late."

Granny Zhou nodded and bowed, gesturing for him to enter.

The two said no more and walked one after the other along the winding corridor toward the East Palace.

……

Upon seeing the visitor, the servant bowed respectfully and pushed open the carved wooden door of the East Palace study.

Lin Xihe walked slowly into the room, glanced around, and saw a large sandalwood table in the center, with writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone all on it.

Incense smoke curled from the gold-inlaid jeweled incense burner, but in the vast room, there wasn't a soul in sight except for her.

Lin Xihe's heart sank, and she looked at the servant at the door.

"Where is the Crown Prince?" Her voice was not loud, but it carried an innate authority.

"Reporting to Madam, His Highness the Crown Prince has not yet risen... Please wait a moment longer," the servant said respectfully.

Lin Xi frowned, her gaze falling on the small blue note on the table.

When Emperor Sheng was young, she used similar notes to set questions for him and test his knowledge.

Thinking back on the past, I couldn't help but feel a lump in my throat.

She slowly stepped forward and unfolded the small note.

Then one sees that the regular script is dignified like a formation of cranes in the clouds, with exquisite strokes, rigorous structure, and free and unrestrained horizontal and vertical lines.

She was very familiar with the handwriting; she had taught Emperor Sheng to write in this style.

She sniffed, her nose stinging slightly, and parted her thin lips to read aloud:

Throughout history, governing a country has involved various approaches: upholding the law to maintain order, promoting benevolence to bring peace to the people, strengthening the military to defend against foreign aggression, or prioritizing agriculture to solidify the nation's foundation. Now, with initial peace established across the borders and the people finding some respite, some officials are corrupt and lazy, some powerful figures are seizing territory, droughts and floods are unpredictable, and border conflicts continue.

What should be prioritized? How to ensure the people's well-being? How to discipline officials? How to secure the nation?

After reading it, Lin Xihe smiled slightly.

This test question was set by her when Emperor Sheng was still the Crown Prince.

Now, he's using this question exactly as it was to test his own son.

It must have been this very question that stumped the Crown Prince, prompting him to summon her to the palace late at night.

Thinking of this, Lin Xi and Liu Mei frowned slightly, thinking to themselves.

Fortunately, the guard was cautious and sensible, unlike the Crown Prince who was reckless. If this matter had alarmed the people in the Ministry of War's residence, or if the news had spread, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

This grandson is truly lacking in the composure and demeanor of a crown prince.

What a great show they put on in front of me before!

I wonder what the state of knowledge is like these days.

Lin Xihe grew angrier the more she thought about it, and her gaze unconsciously swept across the table, landing on a piece of Xuan paper next to the small blue note.

On the pristine white Xuan paper, there wasn't a single legible character.

The entire piece was filled with crooked, illegible scribbles, and in some places it was smudged with ink, turning into a dark mess.

There were even a few drops of oil on one side of the Xuan paper!

Lin Xihe seemed to see the image of the Crown Prince casually drawing talismans while eating last night, and her heart instantly burned with rage.

She took a deep breath, grabbed the teapot left overnight from the table, and turned to walk quickly toward the Crown Prince's bedroom.

Since it was still early, only a few servants and maids were busy in a corner of the East Palace.

Suddenly, a blur flashed before my eyes.

Upon closer inspection, everyone saw a woman dressed in a light blue dress carrying a teapot. Her eyes were gloomy, and she exuded a chilling and murderous aura. Her skirt fluttered as she strode quickly toward the Crown Prince's bedroom.

His imposing presence was so overwhelming that none of the servants or maids present dared to stop him.

At the entrance to the Crown Prince's sleeping quarters stood two tall, solemn-faced guards. Upon seeing someone hurrying towards them, they immediately stepped forward warily, about to speak and stop them, but they met the woman's cold gaze and stopped in their tracks.

Lin Xihe stopped, her eyebrows slightly raised, her gaze falling on the sword sheath that was hurrying towards them from not far away.

He asked in a cold voice, "Sword Guard, did you deliver the message I asked you to convey yesterday?"

The sword sheath was startled by the murderous aura emanating from her, and the familiar oppressive feeling from last night returned.

He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Madam, I have delivered it. However, His Highness the Crown Prince slept late last night, so..."

"Don't try to explain for him," Lin Xi interrupted sharply. "Let me in."

The sword sheath looked troubled and stammered, "Madam, but this is against the rules. His Highness the Crown Prince is still resting. If we barge in and anger him, I..."

"If that's the case..."

Lin Xihe paused, looked at Eunuch Zhou who had rushed over after hearing the commotion, and suddenly raised her voice, "Since the Crown Prince can't get up, then I'll go back. Let him figure out the test questions himself this time."

"Madam, Madam, please wait." As soon as she finished speaking, Eunuch Zhou quickly stepped forward to stop her, with a fawning smile on his face.

"Please forgive me, Madam. His Highness the Crown Prince simply overslept. This old servant will go and wake him right away! Please wait a moment."

As he spoke, he waved to the two guards at the door, "What are you all standing there for? Open the door!"

Upon hearing Eunuch Zhou's instructions, the two guards quickly stepped forward and pushed open the door to the sleeping quarters.

Lin Xihe walked past Eunuch Zhou and went straight into the bedroom.

The people outside were taken aback and craned their necks to look inside.

This Crown Prince is a notorious troublemaker in the Eastern Palace, with a terrible temper, especially his terrible temper when he wakes up. This lady just barged in like that, and I wonder how His Highness will punish her.

"what!"

The next second, a scream echoed through the room.

The tranquility within the Eastern Palace was instantly shattered.

Then, the prince's ghostly wails began.

Everyone was shocked, their faces turning deathly pale, and they hurriedly rushed into the bedchamber.

But at the door of the inner room, they all stopped, dumbfounded and frozen in place.

Just as everyone was shocked and a moment of silence fell.

Then a leisurely male voice came from the outside room.

"Is there something stuck in the Crown Prince's bed today? How could it have gotten him to open his eyes before Chenshi (7-9 AM)?"