The Crown Princess Is Jealous Again - Chapter 38

Song Qingqian left the Headmaster’s study and made her way out. Behind her, students were still murmuring among themselves, mostly expressing doubts about her qualifications as a Kunzhe instructor.

“How can a student of Master Li act so violently and insult a teacher without consequence? Just because she’s a Kunzhe, does that absolve her of wrongdoing?”

Rather than returning directly to the palace, Song Qingqian instructed Wu Sanqi and the secret guards of the Kun division to investigate Sun Cheng’s background—as well as that of his classmates.

It was not until evening that she returned. Xiao Beitang had been waiting in the courtyard the entire time. When she saw her return, she hurried over with concern.

“You’ve been gone so long—did they give you a hard time? And why are your eyes red?” She fired off question after question, not even waiting for an answer before declaring indignantly, “Tomorrow, I’ll go beg the

Empress to shut down the Imperial Academy!”

Song Qingqian smiled. “Your Highness, may I answer one question at a time?”

Xiao Beitang nodded.

Song Qingqian replied calmly, “I ran a few errands on the way. No one gave me trouble. My eyes are red from the dust in the wind.”

“And besides, imperial power should never be misused. A ruler ought to be magnanimous.”

Xiao Beitang gave a soft “oh” and asked, “Then where did you have lunch? Are you hungry now?”

She hadn’t eaten much all day, having rushed about constantly.

Skirting the full truth, Song Qingqian replied, “A little hungry.”

Before her words had even faded, Xiao Beitang turned and shouted, “Xing’er, serve the meal!”

“And yesterday’s incident—how does the Headmaster intend to handle it?” Xiao Beitang still feared they might make things difficult for her.

Song Qingqian slowly shook her head. “No conclusion yet.”

Xiao Beitang, filled with righteous anger, said, “What’s there to deliberate? Sun Cheng was the one who insulted you first. He showed blatant disrespect and spouted slander. He should be expelled! That stubborn old fool of a Headmaster needs a lesson!”

Song Qingqian teased her, “And now you speak disrespectfully of your elders as well.”

“But I wasn’t nearly as vile as him! To say such things about you—claiming you were involved in indecent acts with others—how outrageous! If only I’d known sooner, I would’ve kicked him a few more times and made sure he couldn’t pass on his bloodline!” Her expressions were vivid, eyebrows rising and falling with her emotions.

Song Qingqian couldn’t help but laugh. “It was just a moment of verbal insolence. Why let it anger you so deeply?”

“This isn’t even me truly angry. If I were truly angry, I wouldn’t just have him castrated—I’d have his head rolling outside the palace gates!” she said with dramatic flair.

Song Qingqian laughed even more. “Yes, yes, Your Highness is ever so magnanimous.”

With eager eyes, Xiao Beitang asked, “So when can we return to the Academy?”

“Since when has Your Highness become so fond of the Academy?” Song Qingqian poured her a cup of hot tea.

Taking the cup, Xiao Beitang watched the steam curl before her eyes. She blew gently, sipped, and set it down, then mused,

“It’s not that I didn’t like learning before, but I disliked the content. All that pedantic rhetoric—they couldn’t live up to what they preached.”

She smiled radiantly. “Now, I enjoy it because—even though there are frictions—my classmates and I get along quite well overall. Every day feels fulfilling. And without my identity as Crown Princess hanging over me, people aren’t as distant or deferential. Someone even dared to punch me in the face! It feels real—and I like it.”

She added in a softer voice, “And… I like our teacher too.”

The teacher she liked. And the person she liked.

Song Qingqian smiled and asked, “Does Your Highness know why His Majesty sent us both to the Imperial Academy? By rights, you could have stayed in the palace for your education, and I could’ve been your private tutor.”

“Why?” Xiao Beitang’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Song Qingqian sighed lightly. “To protect my reputation.”

She explained, “I am a Kunzhe, and also the consort of the Crown Princess. My father holds high office. You’re only sixteen—not a child, but still young. The court would worry that I might be manipulating you for the benefit of the Song family, or even have greater ambitions. Women interfering in state affairs is taboo.”

“That’s why His Majesty had us adopt aliases to study at the Academy. This way, the ministers are unaware, and their concerns are eased. In truth, His Majesty always places you first, but he also protects me. He is a wise ruler.

If not for the previous emperor’s missteps and the heavy burdens on Dayu’s administration, the empire would already be a dominant power. With all his efforts, he has done more than most could in his position.”

Xiao Beitang could tell that Song Qingqian was trying to ease the tension between her and the Emperor. Unlike before, she hadn’t made any sarcastic remarks about the Emperor.

“I know,” she said. “Mother has explained it to me. My grievances with her are just between us as father and daughter. It doesn’t affect anything else.”

“As long as Your Highness understands.” Song Qingqian nodded.

In the following two days, Song Qingqian continued leaving early and returning late, refusing to take Xiao Beitang with her. Xiao Beitang, bored and frustrated, wanted to leave the palace but didn’t dare anger her.

She sulked for two whole days.

Three days later, the holiday ended, and the students returned to the Imperial Academy. Though only three days had passed, they had much to catch up on.

Most of the talk centered around speculations about how the incident would be resolved.

“I heard Sun Cheng’s parents made a scene at the Academy.”

“They have the nerve?”

“He was the one most seriously injured, and his parents only heard his side of the story. They claimed we bullied him. Not only did they demand our expulsion, but they also threatened to use all their connections to have our teacher dismissed,” Liu Qing said worriedly. His father had connections in the capital and had gathered this information.

Xiao Lin snorted in disdain. “Really? Just what kind of background does this Sun Cheng have to be so arrogant?”

Liu Qing frowned. “I heard he’s of imperial lineage.”

Xiao Wanqi glanced at Xiao Lin, doubtful. “Never heard of anyone like that.”

Usually, the truly prominent members of the royal family wouldn’t attend the Imperial Academy. And if he were someone notable, they would’ve recognized him.

Xiao Beitang arrived late, just as Song Qingqian entered the classroom.

“Good day, Teacher Song.”

“How are your injuries?”

“All healed, except for Zhao Ziming.”

Song Qingqian glanced around. Indeed, he was the only one absent.

“Who among you is closest to him? Please visit him after class.”

“I went yesterday,” said Wei Ming, who was on good terms with him. “He’s okay—just physically weak. He probably won’t be able to return soon. His family is poor, so they can’t afford nourishing medicine. He’ll recover slowly.”

Song Qingqian nodded. “Good.”

“You all wait here. I’ll speak with the Headmaster.” With that, she left the classroom.

…

“Teacher Song, today this matter must be settled,” Master Li said harshly, not even waiting for her to sit. “The student’s parents have been harassing the Academy relentlessly. The Headmaster is at his wit’s end. A decision must be made.”

Song Qingqian sat down slowly, smoothed her robes, and looked up at him. “I agree—it’s time we reached a conclusion.”

Hearing this, Master Li assumed Sun Cheng’s family had already pulled some strings. He asserted coldly,

“The matter is clear-cut. The facts are undeniable. Xiao Lin and the others struck first, and Sun Cheng was the most seriously injured. Both by logic and emotion, Xiao Lin and the rest must be expelled.”

“Forgive me, Master Li, but I must disagree. Every action has its cause and consequence. Over the past two days, I visited the homes of several students to understand the situation. Xiao Lin and the others had been cleaning your courtyard for days.

Sun Cheng and his group repeatedly insulted them, even deliberately made a mess. The they endured it again and again. They only lashed out when his words became too vile—especially as he slandered me.”

She rose and bowed respectfully. “Headmaster, I propose we penalize both sides equally. The situation has escalated enough. Both parties suffered losses. Let’s settle this fairly.”

“No. Absolutely not.” Master Li shot up, his tone fierce.

Song Qingqian frowned. “Then are you insisting on expelling Xiao Lin and the others?”

He flung his sleeve. “Otherwise, where is the justice?”

Song Qingqian smiled faintly. “Very well, then I ask the Headmaster and Master Li to accompany me to the classroom.”