Chapter 198: Testing

Chapter 198: Testing

After sending off the nanny from Empress Dowager Jia Shu's side, Tang Shuyi went to the study, took out "The Great Learning" to read, and began to annotate with a pen. Actually, as she annotated, her own thoughts inevitably seeped in, and Li Jingyi, unknowingly, was influenced by her ideas.

After annotating for a while, it was nearly time for the evening meal. Tang Shuyi gently blew on the freshly inked characters, waiting for them to dry before closing the book. Then she took out a letter written by Li Jingyi to read. In the letter, he expressed his confusion about certain knowledge and also wrote about his daily trivialities.

It was evident that this abandoned prince was struggling with all his might to survive. Tang Shuyi couldn't help but sigh. Although at the beginning, she annotated books for this seventh prince with investment in mind, after such prolonged contact, she genuinely felt pity for this child.

Now, she no longer eagerly hoped that he would one day become the emperor. Instead, she wished he could, like any ordinary child, study, practice martial arts, and make mistakes under the sun...

However, many things were beyond her wishes, and she couldn't risk doing certain things just because she felt pity for him. What she could do now was to teach him as much as possible and maintain a good mindset, avoiding extremism caused by his environment.

She placed the letter back into its envelope and tucked it into a secret compartment in the bookshelf, then stood up to leave. Just as she entered the hall, Xiao Yuzhu arrived, and Tang Shuyi informed her about the dowager concubine's visit to the guildhall the next day. Hearing this, Xiao Yuzhu immediately said, "I want to gift the dowager concubine a jade pendant, I'll make a tassel for it in a bit."

Tang Shuyi smiled, "What kind of jade pendant?"

"It's the blood jade that the imperial concubine in the palace gifted last time. If made into a forbidden step pendant to hang at the waist, it will definitely look beautiful," Xiao Yuzhu said with sparkling eyes.

Tang Shuyi touched her head, "Alright."

Relationships between people are mutual. The dowager concubine had treated this girl well and given her many precious things. Naturally, the girl would also think of the dowager concubine when she had something good.

After dinner, the mother and daughter strolled around the courtyard before returning to their rooms. Tang Shuyi leaned on the couch reading, while Xiao Yuzhu, with Cuiyun's help, made a tassel for the jade pendant. The next day after breakfast, the two set out for the guildhall together.

Before they even reached the guildhall, they could see from afar that Qi Er and Yan Wu were waiting at the entrance. The two young men exuded youthfulness, one dressed in a pale blue robe and the other in crescent white. With both looking handsome, they were quite a sight for sore eyes. Tang Shuyi couldn't help but smile.

Xiao Yuzhu chuckled beside her, "Brother Er said wearing white clothes is showy, but Qi Er brother is also wearing it today."

Hearing this, Tang Shuyi laughed heartily, "Don't tell him later, or he won't wear white clothes anymore. He looks quite good in white."

Xiao Yuzhu nodded with a laugh.

As they reached the entrance, Qi Er and Yan Wu hurried over, one lifting the carriage curtain and the other assisting Tang Shuyi to alight, their eagerness evident.

Xiao Yuzhu laughed from behind, "When it comes to bootlicking, no one can compare to you two."

Neither Qi Er nor Yan Wu took offense and grinned widely, with Yan Wu even saying, "We've prepared your favorite desserts for you, sister Yuzhu."

Xiao Yuzhu's smile grew even brighter.

They entered Lakeview Pavilion amidst laughter. Qi Er and Yan Wu were busy, so Tang Shuyi didn't keep them company, telling them to get back to work. Since the opening of the guildhall, while it couldn't be said that it was packed every day, it was bustling. Qi Er and Yan Wu, let alone going out to frolic as before, barely found time to rest.

The Lady of Nanling Prefecture also frequented the marquis's mansion during this period, each time bringing many gifts. She said that since Yan Wu started working at the guildhall, he had visibly matured and thanked her for her guidance. Tang Shuyi felt that she hadn't taught them much, it was just that the two had found their goals and things they liked and were suitable for.

She entered her office — the room with the large windows. Tang Shuyi was seated behind her desk, examining the ledgers, with Xiao Yuzhu beside her, looking on. Before long, Cuiyun came to report that the Imperial Consort would soon arrive. Mother and daughter rose to their feet and went together to the door to welcome her.

Today, the Imperial Consort was dressed in a long gown of purple silk, her face alight with smiles, making her appear much younger. Tang Shuyi, accompanied by Xiao Yuzhu, went forward to pay their respects, but before they could finish, the Imperial Consort lifted them to their feet, saying, "We are so familiar with each other; there's no need for such formality."

Even as Tang Shuyi insisted that formalities must be observed, the Imperial Consort had already drawn Xiao Yuzhu into a warm and affectionate conversation. Xiao Yuzhu mentioned she had a gift for her, which delighted the Imperial Consort even more.

Once inside, Xiao Yuzhu presented the jade pendant she had prepared. The Imperial Consort's eyes crinkled in joy, and she quickly hung the pendant at her waist, asking if it looked good.

After a while of laughter, the Imperial Consort walked to the large window, gazed at the scenery outside, and said, "When this residence was being built, Chengyun showed me the blueprints and pointed to a spot, saying, 'We should have a large window there, so one can rest, enjoy the view, drink tea, and listen to the rain.' I suppose this is the window he meant."

When she spoke these words, there was no sorrow in her voice, just a touch of wistfulness. Tang Shuyi speculated once more that the Carefree Prince was not dead.

Setting aside her thoughts, she joined the Imperial Consort at the window, holding a teacup. Looking out at the scenery, she remarked, "I seem to have reaped the benefits."

The Imperial Consort's expression paused, then she said, "It's also... our destiny."

Glancing at Xiao Yuzhu playing not far away, she continued, "A few days ago, I visited the Emperor in the palace. He suggested selecting a child from the royal clan to be adopted by Chengyun, but I said I would think about it. I'm just so fond of our Yuzhu; how wonderful it would be if she were my granddaughter."

Tang Shuyi smiled faintly, not quite understanding the Imperial Consort's intentions. Was she thinking of acknowledging Yuzhu as her god-granddaughter? She felt a subconscious resistance to the idea.

Suddenly, she thought of the Seventh Prince. If they really needed to adopt a child from the royal family for the Carefree Prince, the Seventh Prince was not out of the question. There were precedents in history where an emperor's son was adopted by a prince.

But if the Carefree Prince was not dead, was there a need to adopt a child?

With these thoughts, she tested the waters, saying, "When the Prince left, he had no heirs. Adopting a child would be a good idea."

The Imperial Consort sipped her tea silently, so Tang Shuyi did not pursue the topic further, instead talking about the guild hall. After all, the Imperial Consort had shares in it, and though she seemed indifferent, she ought to know how it was doing.

The Imperial Consort listened casually. When Tang Shuyi mentioned Qi Er and Yan Wu, she smiled and said, "I hear these two get along well with Yuming; they must be good children."

Tang Shuyi: "………"

In the entire capital, there weren't many who would call them good children.