Chapter 98: I Want to Enter the Palace!

"How could it be the Grand Princess?" Cheng Ru'an couldn't believe it, "The Grand Princess clearly dotes on Tuan Tuan!"

Besides, Prince, what would the Grand Princess send Tuan Tuan to Da Xia for?

Xiao Yuanhang pondered for a long time: "According to those few people, they only know it's someone from the Grand Princess's entourage, but they can't say exactly who."

If I could confirm it, I would definitely go to the Imperial Radiance Hall to confront them in person.

But now, not knowing the culprit's true identity, and unable to rule out that they are randomly accusing others, we still need to investigate secretly.

Xiao Yuanhang took his wife's hand: "An'er, don't worry too much. Just, if Tuan Tuan goes to the Imperial Radiance Hall again in the future, you must pay attention and watch over her."

Cheng Ru'an nodded silently: "Prince, please rest assured."

The next day, a few streets away from the Ning Prince's Mansion, there was a narrow lane called Pass-the-Exam Lane.

This place was the refuge of impoverished students in Jingcheng.

At the lane's end, inside the most cramped little house, Liu Yunyi supported his still slightly dizzy forehead and struggled to sit up from the hard plank bed.

The persistent sudden high fever had almost drained his already frail body.

"Cough cough..." The itch in his throat made him involuntarily start coughing.

He pounded his chest hard, poured himself a cup of water to soothe his throat, and felt utterly gloomy inside.

In the end, he still missed Yun Yai Xiansheng's scholarly discussion.

He had studied hard for years, waiting for just such an opportunity to be appreciated by a great scholar, but who would have thought that this sudden serious illness would cause him to miss this great chance.

I wonder what comment Yun Yai Xiansheng will have after Brother Zhao presents my essay to him?

As if answering him, the wooden door creaked open from outside.

A figure stepped in against the light—it was his classmate Zhao Qi.

"Yunyi! Are you alright?" Zhao Qi hurried a few steps to the bedside.

"Thank you for your concern, Brother Zhao," Liu Yunyi forced a faint smile, his voice hoarse, "The fever has broken, but I still feel weak all over; I suppose a few more days of rest will see me right."

"I wonder how Yun Yai Xiansheng's scholarly discussion went?"

Upon mentioning this, Zhao Qi's face instantly flushed with indignation; he slammed his thigh: "Yunyi, don't bring it up! Not going was actually a good thing! That Yun Yai Xiansheng is nothing but an empty reputation!"

Liu Yunyi blinked: "Brother Zhao, what do you mean by that?"

"That day I went and presented your essay, intending to speak a few good words for you." Zhao Qi looked anguished, "Who would have thought that Yun Yai Xiansheng wouldn't even glance at it, just casually setting it aside."

"What so-called great scholar! His eyes see nothing but nobles' offspring!"

"He actually said this sort of pedantic writing is unbearable to behold! I argued with him on principle, but he scolded me and kicked me out!"

Zhao Qi described it vividly, even half-believing himself.

Had it not been for Liu Yunyi's earnest pleading that day, he would have been too lazy to agree to this impoverished classmate's request to bring his essay to Yun Yai Xiansheng.

Unexpectedly, he lost face and left in shame, not even thinking about the essay anymore!

Liu Yunyi listened, his face grew even paler, his eyes dimming.

"So that's how it is—actually they never even gave it a proper look..." He shook his head bitterly, "It seems I, Liu Yunyi, am simply too shallow in learning; my writing is not fit for refined eyes. Ah, I can't blame others; I just need to study harder."

Zhao Qi feigned sympathy to comfort him: "Yunyi, you needn't undervalue yourself; it's Yun Yai Xiansheng who lacks discernment! Once you recover, let's study together; someday we'll make them take notice!"

Liu Yunyi weakly nodded, said no more, his expression forlorn.

Yet he never imagined that his cherished painstaking work, which he had entrusted with his future, had long been cast aside by this so‑called "close friend" in a corner, never seeing the light of day.

At the same time, the Guozijian.

In the outer class, the sound of reading rang out loud and clear; the students who used to romp about now each bent over their desks, truly showing a bit of the diligence of cold‑window study.

Tuan Tuan still sat on the desk where the instructor checked assignments, her big eyes scanning approvingly over the students below.

"Hmm, not bad, they're all very obedient."

But as she sat, her two dangling little legs began to swing unconsciously.

"How boring, I wish my brothers were here."

"But the eldest brother went to the frontier, the second brother went to the army camp, and the third brother went out studying with Old Man Yun."

"No one's left to play with me, it's really no fun!"

"Who else could keep me company… Ah! Third Elder Brother!"

"Zuo Zhengji!" she sprang up onto the desk.

Every time Zuo Zhengji saw her standing on the desk, his heart trembled: "Junior Ancestor, please be careful! What are your orders, Junior Ancestor?"

"I can't stay put!" Tuan Tuan pouted, "I want to go find my disciple; you take me!"

"Yes." Zuo Zhengji adeptly scooped up the little bundle that was the Junior Ancestor from the desk and walked outside.

"Junior Master, how come you're here?" Cui Daisheng saw her and hurriedly put down his scroll and rose.

Tuan Tuan slipped from Zuo Zhengji's arms, toddled over on her short legs, and said astonishingly: "I want to enter the Palace; you take me."

"Enter… enter the Palace?" Cui Daisheng nearly choked on his own saliva, quickly waving his hands: "Junior Master, the imperial palace isn't a place you can just walk into; without an imperial summons, you may not enter arbitrarily."

Tuan Tuan set her small face, placed her hands behind her back, puffed out her little chest, full of determination: "That's why I came to you! You can get into the Palace, so just bring me in."

"I am your Junior Master, you are my student—you must obey your teacher! I'm going right now!"

Cui Daisheng lowered his head, looking at the little doll who hadn't even reached the height of his desk, earnestly invoking his teacher's authority to speak to him, he was torn between laughter and tears, his old face wrinkling like a bitter melon.

Zuo Zhengji lowered his head, embarrassed to watch his own teacher being scolded by the Junior Ancestor.

Yet his shoulders twitched uncontrollably, evidently straining hard to hold back laughter.

Seeing Cui Daisheng still hesitating, Tuan Tuan immediately switched tactics.

She stretched out her tiny hand, grabbed Cui Daisheng's wide sleeve, gently shook it, her voice soft as could be: "Grandfather Jiziu, please take me!"

"I just want to go play with Third Elder Brother; he said the Imperial Kitchen has lots of tasty things, but last time I rushed off and didn't get to eat any."

"I promise to be good, not run around! Please take me, Grandfather Jiziu!"

Zuo Zhengji widened his eyes in astonishment: "The Junior Ancestor really is flexible—able to yield and stand firm!"

One after another, the cries of "Grandfather Jiziu" made Cui Daisheng's heart soften halfway.

Looking again at those big eyes full of longing, blinking and blinking, they thought of His Majesty's extraordinary regard for her.

He sighed helplessly: "Alright, alright." In the end he gave in, taking Tuan Tuan's little hand, and said, "This old man will now take Junior Master into the Palace!"

"Yay! Grandfather Jiziu is the best!" Tuan Tuan immediately broke into a smiling grin.

One old and one young arrived at the imperial palace.