“Yes, he’s now a Direct Lecturer at the Hall of Benevolent Wisdom,” Mei Yanran said.
The Hall of Benevolent Wisdom was where princes studied. Direct Lecturers were responsible for instructing and supervising the heir apparent or princes. Elder Zhi had been a talented scholar in his youth, achieving the top score in the imperial examinations, and was highly praised by the emperor. The Mei family had considerable influence in the Crane-Controlling Army and was a local power. The emperor naturally didn’t want to elevate him to a high position. Now that the Mei family had fallen, it wasn’t surprising that he could enter official service.
“I’ve never met him,” An Jiu said. She had barely managed to get from the Crane-Controlling Institute to her current position, half through ability and half through good fortune. She had no time to pay attention to other matters, let alone any interest in Elder Zhi’s affairs.
Mei Yanran didn’t continue the topic. She simply held An Jiu’s hand and sighed, “Jiu’er, I can hardly recognize you now.”
An Jiu remained silent, thinking that it was already impressive that her mother could recognize her at all.
“I didn’t take good care of you,” Mei Yanran said, her emotions a complex mix of guilt, heartache, and a touch of pride. “You’re a strong child.”
Mei Yanran had been visiting Elder Zhi every few days, hoping to get news about her daughter. She had thought that after the Mei family’s downfall, Mei Jiu might not survive. Yet the reality was quite the opposite! Now her daughter stood before her, intact, though her personality had become more reserved and cold, giving Mei Yanran a sense of unfamiliarity.
But in a place like the Crane-Controlling Army that tempered people, how could one survive without hardening one’s heart?
Thinking of this, Mei Yanran pushed aside other thoughts, leaving only concern for her daughter.
The “mother and daughter” talked for a while before retiring to rest.
Mei Yanran stayed, and although An Jiu wasn’t quite used to it, she didn’t ask her to leave.
When the sky was still dim, there was a gentle knock on the door. Sui Yunzhu said softly, “It’s time.”
It was time for the shift change.
An Jiu quickly arranged her clothes and shouldered her Subduing Dragon Bow. Seeing Mei Yanran also getting dressed, she said, “I’m leaving.”
Without waiting for Mei Yanran’s response, she hurried out.
Mei Yanran’s words, already on the tip of her tongue, had to be swallowed back.
The emperor was cautious about his safety, so the Commander had assigned them to the Eastern Palace first.
The Crown Prince would spend two hours at the Hall of Benevolent Wisdom in the morning. After lunch, he would study state affairs with his tutors and others in the Eastern Palace.
Sui Yunzhu and Li Qingzhi were considerate of An Jiu, assigning her to guard inside the hall, sparing her from wind and sun.
An Jiu complied, sleeping on the rafters of the Crown Prince’s study. When the Crown Prince moved, she would follow, essentially serving as his shadow guard.
After spending an entire day idly sleeping, An Jiu woke up and crouched on the beam to observe the Crown Prince.
It was said that the Crown Prince was nineteen this year, but he looked younger. His fair, delicate face appeared only fifteen or sixteen. He was quite pretty, with soft, smoky eyebrows. When reading, his brows would furrow as if deeply concerned about the country and its people. In reality, he often became distracted.
An Jiu quietly yawned, thinking that the next monarch didn’t seem all that impressive!
The emperor didn’t have many princes, only three, so there weren’t many options. Observing this situation, An Jiu suddenly understood why emperors wanted to have many sons. Statistically, it greatly increased the chances of producing an intelligent child.
The Crown Prince finally endured until the evening meal. After sending away the Eastern Palace officials, he collapsed on his seat and let out a long sigh.
A eunuch entered, bowing, “Your Highness, would you like to bathe?”
“I want to rest for a while,” the Crown Prince said lazily.
The eunuch spoke in a soft voice, “Let this servant massage Your Highness’s shoulders.”
The Crown Prince closed his eyes and made an affirmative sound.
The eunuch knelt behind the Crown Prince, his shoulder massage techniques quite skillful.
The Crown Prince dozed off comfortably, soon falling asleep on the eunuch’s lap.
The eunuch’s slender, white hands moved from the Crown Prince’s shoulders to his chest, massaging down to his groin… Before long, the Crown Prince had pitched a small tent.
Huh? This rhythm seemed off! An Jiu looked closely at the eunuch and realized it was a woman!
The Crown Prince suddenly turned over, pinning the woman to the ground.
The eunuch’s hat fell off, revealing a cascade of silky black hair spread on the mat, exposing a tender, pretty face. The Crown Prince lowered his head to capture her lips, and they kissed breathlessly.
An Jiu estimated the girl to be only fourteen or fifteen. The two half-grown children rolling on the ground, doing this created a scene both innocent and intense.
Judging by the Crown Prince’s practiced movements, he was an experienced hand. In no time, he had the girl crying and begging for mercy.
An Jiu suddenly remembered Chu Dingjiang leaning close to her mouth by the stream yesterday. That was… Her eyes widened slightly as she understood Chu Dingjiang’s intentions.
Indeed, in this world, who would be kind to another without reason?
An Jiu wasn’t averse to being close to Chu Dingjiang. Watching the blood-boiling scene below, she confirmed that her instincts were still intact. If she saw Chu Dingjiang again, she wouldn’t mind giving it a try. However, beyond that, she didn’t want to think any further.
She never wanted to have a husband or children in her life, nor did she want her child to face a terrifying father.
While An Jiu was lost in her thoughts, the two below had finished.
Like cats who had stolen food, they dared not call for servants. After tidying themselves, they went to the bathhouse together.
An Jiu was responsible for all indoor areas, so she had to follow them.
Young people indeed had abundant energy. These two started again halfway through their bath, spending a full half-hour frolicking inside.
In both her lifetimes combined, An Jiu had never watched such a long, colorful scene. This time, she saw plenty—during her twelve-hour shift, the Crown Prince indulged four or five times, with different women.
When she returned to her quarters, her mind was full of swaying white buttocks.
Fortunately, her mental fortitude was strong. Having undergone professional anti-brainwashing training, she quickly put these thoughts aside and began to consider how to persuade Mei Yanran to leave with her.
An Jiu could understand Mei Yanran’s concerns. Even she, who knew Chu Dingjiang, occasionally wondered if his kindness towards her had some ulterior motive.
She hadn’t thought it through before, but today, thanks to the Crown Prince, she finally had an epiphany.
The days in the palace passed both boringly and quickly. Before she knew it, half a month had gone by. An Jiu discovered that the Crown Prince was practically a creature of his lower half. He didn’t apply himself to his studies or state affairs, saving all his energy for women at night. If the Great Song’s fate were to be handed to him, it might as well be given directly to the Liao.
In their quarters, Sui Yunzhu was tilling the ground to plant vegetables. An Jiu, crouching in the corridor sunbathing, asked him, “What are the other two princes like?”
While scattering seeds into the holes, Sui Yunzhu replied, “It’s said that the Second Prince favors martial arts and doesn’t believe in Taoism. He’s been reprimanded by His Majesty many times for offending Taoist masters. The emperor doesn’t like him much. The Third Prince is skilled in both civil and military arts, but due to the current trends, he prefers literary pursuits.”
“Do they all have many women?” An Jiu asked.