But those were things buried deep in his heart—each memory brought pain. So for a long time, he hadn’t thought about them. Whenever he did, even breathing hurt faintly.

This time was the same.

He could only let the scenes slowly flow past, like a scattered string of pearl bracelets.

“Those who seek trees to grow tall must firmly establish their roots; those who desire streams to flow far must deepen their sources…”

Children of third-rank officials had the privilege of receiving instruction in the imperial study alongside princes and princesses. However, the children had begun learning at four or five years old, and after several years, had already learned much. But the Sixth Prince, who had only done menial labor in the palace due to his lowly birth, only began literacy and writing at age ten.

Though quite intelligent, his uneven foundation ultimately couldn’t catch up.

When Grand Tutor Wei Chenghui (as he was then) called for recitation, the Sixth Prince got stuck partway through and couldn’t continue no matter what.

The entire room of princes and princesses burst into laughter.

Even the officials’ children, though not daring to be too bold, covered their mouths and smiled.

Though he had chosen a secluded seat, he couldn’t escape questioning from Grand Tutor Wei, who, following the Empress’s instructions, treated him severely.

The Sixth Prince seemed unconcerned on the surface, smiling along good-naturedly, but inside felt bitter, fearing the Empress would learn of this, become disgusted, and send him back to menial work.

A voice behind him softly prompted: “Those who desire streams to flow far must deepen their sources; those who think of national security must accumulate virtuous righteousness… Don’t try to memorize it—my uncle says you should think and imagine. Sixth Highness, think: only with deep sources can streams flow long, so those desiring far-flowing streams must first dredge their sources. These lines mean: for trees to grow well, you must first strengthen their foundations; for water to flow long, you must first clear its source; to make a nation stable, rulers must accumulate righteousness and virtue… Those who want to achieve great things must accumulate foundations, store up strength for gradual release, proceeding step by step…”

He recited accordingly, and the laughter suddenly stopped.

Grand Tutor Wei’s disciplinary ruler also stopped mid-air.

When class ended for a brief rest, though mature and steady, he couldn’t help looking back, seeing two girls sitting in the back row.

He knew their fathers’ ranks must be the lowest in the study hall.

The thought passed quickly as his gaze fixed on one of the girls—she had crescent-moon eyebrows and delicate features, yet with a heroic spirit in her eyes. The other resembled her somewhat and was more beautiful, but he didn’t examine her closely.

He only stared at that girl who seemed boyish, quietly saying thank you.

“Why did you help me?”

“Seeing injustice, I drew my sword to help. Actually, I do have ulterior motives—I think you’ll definitely have an unlimited future, so I’m making friends first. Later you can take care of my uncle’s family more, haha.”

“…”

“Sister A Luo, what are you saying? Sixth Highness, we have no such intentions…”

…

The next day, she brought him many old books, saying they were unused books from her uncle’s house, asking him not to mind. When he opened them, he found her study notes inside, from basics to advanced concepts.

There was also a note reading: “Diligence, diligence, diligence, catch up. It’s not scary to be under someone’s eaves—it’s scary to always be under others’ eaves.”

Three years later, he became the best student in the imperial study.

That was their first meeting.

Later, Lian Jie, Lian Qin and others were successively won over by him, becoming his little followers calling him “Sixth Brother.” But her address changed from “Sixth Highness” to “Lian Yu.”

Though the palace had fine delicacies, whenever she entered the palace, she brought him small snacks.

When his studies became heavy, she said to stop and rest.

She taught him poetry and literature; he taught her horseback riding…

Later, as the princes grew older and the imperial study disbanded, she had fewer chances to enter the palace. Only occasionally did he leave the palace to see her.

Time flew by. Years later, at the Mid-Autumn palace banquet, when they met again that evening, she quietly left her seat and he followed.

In the shadows, she gave him personally embroidered shoe uppers, saying she wished that someday he would trample these vast rivers and mountains underfoot, becoming his own master, no longer despised or bullied.

That same night, under those swaying tree shadows, he pulled her into his arms…

Later, to train his courage and ruthlessness, his mother Xiao’an personally selected a concubine’s son for him to deal with, having him find a way to put that child to death.

He had countless methods to accomplish this, but ultimately couldn’t bring himself to do it.

That was still his brother, after all.

He told her this.

She said: “Lian Yu, you’re so tired. Why don’t we leave this place? With the money you gave me, I’ve already bought farmland for my mother in another province. Mother has already gone there. Shall we also quietly go there?”

He smiled and said: “Weren’t you waiting for me to trample these rivers and mountains underfoot?”

She also smiled: “That was just jest. It’s not because of what you can give me that I… like you. Initially it was pity, now it’s reluctance to part. No matter who you are, even if you were a stone, you’re A Luo’s jade.”

…

Later still, they agreed to meet at a detached palace outside the imperial city to roam the world together. That night, he was late.

He had thought much but couldn’t abandon his promise to Xiao’an, the mystery of his birth mother’s death, and perhaps also the ambition that had slowly accumulated over the years.

The desire to achieve great enterprise, to become master of these rivers and mountains.

When he rode there, under the dark moon and faint stars, amid desolate fragrant grass, she lay in a pool of blood in crimson red, already dead.

Clutched tightly in her hand was the jade pendant he had given her.

Her face, her body… stabbed dozens of times.

He nearly went mad then!

That was their secret meeting place—no one knew of it.

But he knew someone understood him completely. Moreover, palace servants said Xiao’an had summoned her earlier… Holding her corpse, he stormed Xiao’an’s sleeping quarters like a madman.

Xiao’an also looked shocked, slapping him hard across the face and sneering coldly: “It wasn’t this dowager. Even if it had been, that slut who lured you away from this dowager deserved to die! This dowager raised and taught you—you haven’t repaid this yet, and you’re already so rebellious! What can you do to anyone now? This palace is full of open and hidden daggers. Lian Yu, you can’t even protect what you care about, yet you want to seek revenge from this dowager? If you want autonomy, make yourself strong so no one dares provoke you, everyone fears you, no one dares touch your things!”

…

Afterward, he unhesitatingly schemed to have Emperor Dejing kill one of his brothers—executed cleanly and beautifully.

But he could never find A Luo’s killer.

Later still, in despair, he asked imperial physicians for medicine that made his face covered with hideous leprosy sores, and left the palace.

Without looks, without the aura of status, without utility value, no one would love him—he was just a beggar. Anyway, the only person in the world who truly loved him was already dead. Who he was didn’t matter anymore.

He thought he would never return to the palace, until he met a strange youth who was both extremely like and unlike A Luo.