The Ninth Princess Reigns Supreme [Transmigration] - Chapter 6
The time of Hai (9-11 PM) had arrived, and the lanterns at the gates of the various palaces were all extinguished. Only Liu Li went out at this time.
Yu’er followed behind her, somewhat worried: “County Princess, it’s so late…”
“Shhh.”
Liu Li put on a thick coat and tiptoed along with Yu’er, taking a shortcut.
As the saying goes, “Sleep at the second watch, rise at the fifth watch.” The ancients got up early and went to bed early. At this time, even the emperor had gone to bed. Apart from the palace people on night watch, only Liu Li, this modern soul, was still very energetic.
Who isn’t a cultivator?
Liu Li didn’t know how to get to Ning Zisheng’s residence, but it was enough that Yu’er knew. She led the way for Liu Li in front, hesitating: “County Princess, please think twice. Going at this time, I’m afraid it will disturb the Ninth Princess and Concubine Chu’s rest.”
“No, she definitely hasn’t slept yet.”
Yu’er’s eyes were full of doubt, but she didn’t dare to question her county princess’s judgment, so she had to remain silent.
The two arrived outside the Biyu Palace where Concubine Chu and the Ninth Princess lived. There were no palace people on night watch, and there was no light coming from inside. It was obvious that everyone had gone to rest.
Yu’er persuaded again: “County Princess, this…”
Liu Li thought to herself that these were all illusions. Ning Zisheng was the female lead, a top student, and in the original story, she often read late into the night.
She took Yu’er around to the side of the Biyu Palace, found a window, and gently poked a hole in the window paper.
Sure enough, Liu Li’s finger immediately touched several layers of something that was neither paper nor cloth, thickly covering all the scenery inside, dividing it into two halves with the darkness outside.
It must be that Ning Zisheng deliberately sealed the window at night to avoid attracting attention.
Liu Li gently knocked on the window sill, making a crisp sound in the wisps of the west wind, suddenly breaking the silence.
“Your Highness, the Ninth Princess.”
After a while, there was no response. Liu Li was not in a hurry or annoyed, knocked twice again, and softly called out:
“Your Highness, the Ninth Princess.”
At this moment, the thick cloth sealing the window was lifted from the inside, and the blocked scenes, such as the starlight-like but not too bright candlelight, finally came into Liu Li’s eyes.
And Ning Zisheng.
Her lips were pursed slightly, watching the beautiful girl in front of her, her nose and cheeks flushed red by the west wind, but still showing a smile.
Those eyes, which were still swollen during the day, were already radiant, and seemed to be brighter than all the candlelight in the palace combined.
This glance, unexpectedly, made Ning Zisheng stunned for a moment, before she softly said: “County Princess Chun Ning.”
“Hey.” Liu Li responded nimbly, smiling very happily, “Your Highness, please let me in. It’s really freezing outside.”
Ning Zisheng: “…….”
Why did the strange feeling in her heart disappear inexplicably as soon as she opened her mouth?
••••
Yu’er waited obediently at the door, not because Ning Zisheng didn’t let her in, but because the Biyu Palace was equally cold inside and out.
Liu Li thought she could take off her coat temporarily, but she didn’t expect to wrap it tighter, and sniffed from the cold: “Your Highness, you don’t have a charcoal basin here, it’s so cold.”
Ning Zisheng poured a cup of tea for Liu Li, and raised her eyes when she heard the words: “County Princess, you came to visit late at night just to warm yourself here?”
Liu Li tremblingly took the cup of tea poured by the destined by heaven, the real dragon and heavenly woman, unrealistically fantasizing that drinking it would add some luck, and hurriedly said: “O-of course not, I just feel that it’s too cold here, and I’m afraid that Your Highness and Concubine Chu will freeze. Otherwise, tomorrow, I will give you…”
She was silent in Ning Zisheng’s indifferent but sharp gaze. Obviously, Ning Zisheng didn’t want to listen to her exchange too many greetings.
Liu Li suddenly surprised to find, Ning Zisheng’s favorability towards her changed from -100 to -50. She didn’t know when it happened, swallowed her saliva, and said: “This humble woman actually has a request.”
“Oh?” Ning Zisheng was not surprised. Looking at Liu Li’s attitude, she also looked like she was asking for something. “I can actually be of service to the county princess?”
Liu Li said earnestly: “Can Your Highness… teach me to read?”
The person in front of her suddenly had tears in her eyes, slightly choked up, and turned her head away, as if unwilling to let Ning Zisheng see this embarrassed look: “I am naturally stupid and don’t like to work hard. I waste my time all day long, and I haven’t read a few pages of books. But the imperial doctor said that my mother is now just taking medicine to keep her alive, dragging on day by day.”
She paused, her eyes red, and said in a hoarse voice: “I don’t know how long my mother can live, I just want to be a daughter who can make her proud in the short time she can still see me. I don’t have any acquaintances in the palace, and if I want to go to the Imperial
Academy, I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up with what the Grand Tutor teaches, so I thought of coming to ask Your Highness for advice.”
Ning Zisheng took a sip of tea, and didn’t speak for a long time. The expression on her face was calm, and no one could see what she was thinking.
But Liu Li knew, because –
[Ning Zisheng favorability towards you +50. Current favorability: 0 (strangers)].
At this time, Liu Li’s tears were tears of joy. She wiped her face clean with a handkerchief, waiting for Ning Zisheng’s reply.
“Why doesn’t the county princess find a Grand Tutor?” Ning Zisheng said, “I am younger than the county princess, and my knowledge is shallow. I am afraid I will fail your expectations.”
Liu Li hurriedly said: “Your Highness doesn’t need to be modest. I am just a good-for-nothing, and it is enough if Your Highness is willing to teach me a little during your spare time.”
Ning Zisheng didn’t speak.
“I will have someone bring charcoal basins to the Biyu Palace tomorrow, to ensure that Concubine Chu doesn’t get cold.”
Ning Zisheng’s calm eyes moved, and she said almost imperceptibly, “Mm.”
The favorability was still 0, and didn’t move at all.
Liu Li knew that this matter couldn’t be rushed, her eyes shining brightly, and she grabbed Ning Zisheng’s hand.
“Your Highness has agreed!”
Ning Zisheng was caught off guard. Her left hand was resting on the table, and was held between Liu Li’s hands as if it were a treasure.
She had never been in contact with others like this before, and wanted to withdraw her hand, but looking at Liu Li’s smile, she couldn’t help but stop this action.
Let the girl’s soft hands quickly warm her skin, making Ning Zisheng’s frozen fingertips a little warmer.
The touch was smooth and comfortable.
Liu Li’s soul is an adult, so she natural perceptive noticed Ning Zisheng’s reaction, and her heart warmed.
This is her favorite female lead! Kind and lovely.
“Your Highness,” Liu Li said, “Great kindness is not spoken in words of thanks. In the future, if you tell me to go east, I will never go west. If you tell me to do something, I will never refuse…”
“Alright.” It was so late, and it was time for Ning Zisheng to sleep. “You can go back. By the way, if you really want to learn something…”
Ning Zisheng gave a meaningful smile: “Start with the basics. Diligence can make up for clumsiness. First, copy the Four Books and Five Classics until you can memorize them. In three days, I will personally check.”
Liu Li:?
••••
Liu Li was also a university student in modern times, so she was not afraid of memorizing books. But memorizing so many books in one breath within three days, even if she was a top student, would be difficult to handle.
Liu Li also specifically inquired about it, and Ning Zisheng’s request was quite reasonable. The Four Books and Five Classics are required reading for entering the Imperial Academy. From the eldest prince in his twenties to the youngest fifteenth prince, all of them have to memorize them word for word.
While reciting the Analects, she sighed at the difficulty of royal life. These young children had such heavy tasks, which was really difficult.
Three days passed in a flash. Liu Li, in addition to visiting Princess Bao’an, was memorizing and copying books, memorizing until her head was dizzy and her wrists were sore. Finally, she remembered about seventy to eighty percent of it.
After three days, it was time for her to go to the Imperial Academy to study.
The princes and princesses who were the same age as Liu Li had already studied in the Imperial Academy for seven or eight years, and Liu Li had no foundation, so naturally she could not attend classes with them.
Otherwise, it would be like a primary school student being transferred to high school, and she would definitely be completely clueless and understand nothing.
Therefore, she could only attend introductory classes with the younger princes and princesses.
The weather in spring turned warm, the sky was clear, and the lectures at the Imperial Academy were about to begin.
Liu Li didn’t have many classmates, only four, from left to right:
The six-year-old thirteenth princess, the five-year-old little county magistrate, the four-year-old fifteenth prince, and herself.
Liu Li: …As long as I’m not embarrassed, it’s them who are embarrassed.
The Grand Tutor frowned at Liu Li, didn’t say much, cleared his throat, and began to lecture.
For young children, the Grand Tutor focused on enlightenment, letting them memorize books, and then explaining the meaning of the books, touching on the main points and not being too complicated.
However, this Grand Tutor liked to ask questions, and Liu Li was embarrassed to compete with a group of kindergarten children to answer, so she had to remain silent throughout the whole process, without saying a word.
“Your Highnesses, can you recite the Book of Rites?”
The other three said in a childish voice, “Yes, we can recite it,” only Liu Li’s voice was as soft as a mosquito’s.
The Grand Tutor patiently guided: “Good, then I will test your recitation of the Book of Rites. I will say the first sentence, and you will say the next sentence to see who can recite the fastest and most proficiently.”
Just then, sparse footsteps came from outside the house, and other lectures had already ended.
After a while, Ning Zisheng was seen carrying a book bag, standing by the window, leisurely staring at Liu Li in the room, seemingly to see her performance.
Liu Li: Your ruthless memorizing machine is now online.
“Those who are good at singing make people continue their voices…”
Liu Li quickly answered: “Those who are good at teaching make people continue their aspirations!”
The Grand Tutor was stunned, and continued to ask questions: “Virtue flourishes and teaching is respected, the five grains ripen in season…”
“And then reward them with music!”
Almost as soon as the Grand Tutor finished reading a sentence, Liu Li would answer the next sentence, without giving the little milk babies next to her any chance, and did not let them answer a single question.
The fifteenth prince pouted aggrievedly, the little county magistrate was at a loss, and the most competitive thirteenth princess directly “wa” cried out.
Liu Li felt that bullying children was a bit too much, and guiltily handed a piece of candy she brought to the thirteenth princess: “Do you want some?”
The thirteenth princess ate while crying even harder.
Liu Li looked back again, but saw that Ning Zisheng’s face seemed to flash a smile, pointed to the nearby gazebo, and finally turned and left.
It happened that the lecture here was almost over. After listening to the homework assigned by the Grand Tutor, Liu Li quickly ran out with her book bag and food box.
The Imperial Academy had strict rules, and the serving palace people could not enter or leave. If the princes and princesses wanted to eat lunch, they had to bring it themselves in advance.
Liu Li specifically brought a large portion, thinking of sharing it with Ning Zisheng.
Ning Zisheng had already sat down in the gazebo, and when she raised her eyes, she saw a figure running towards her.
“Your Highness—!”