A crisp and confident voice echoed in everyone’s ears, each word laced with subtle barbs. The Liu Yin of the past only knew how to throw tantrums and spew vulgarities. Yet, after just a few days at the academy, her sharp tongue had evidently become much more refined.

The Fifth Princess was so furious that her eyes turned red. When had she ever been so insulted? Her mother consort had repeatedly warned her not to provoke the Liu family, but was she a noble princess, supposed to endure such humiliation?

Shen Yao’s calm gaze swept across Liu Yin, and a faint smile played on her lips. “The princess simply spoke her mind without much thought. Sister Liu, too, mentioned that the princess is young, so why take her words to heart?”

Liu Yin glanced briefly at the serene Shen Yao and took a leisurely sip of her fruit juice. Her tone was unhurried as she replied. “When I said the princess was young, it was merely a metaphor. After all, she’ll come of age in just a year. As her companion, you should guide her properly and steer her away from developing bad habits. Such a simple principle—how is it that even you, Sister Shen, don’t understand?”

The Sixth Princess, standing nearby, looked utterly astonished. She stared blankly at Liu Yin, unable to reconcile the sharp, articulate young woman before her with the unruly girl she had known just days ago.

Before Shen Yao could respond, the Fifth Princess abruptly stood up, her face flushed with anger, and glared at Liu Yin. “No matter what, Sister Shen is far better than you in every way!”

Liu Yin, still focused on brushing crumbs from her almond pastry, replied without even looking up. “Even if it may seem improper, I must take this opportunity to advise you, Princess. You are a royal, your every action reflects on the dignity of the imperial family. How can you shout and behave like a common market woman? Look at the other princesses who are younger than you—they are far more composed and sensible.”

Hearing this, the younger princesses immediately straightened their postures, adopting graceful and poised demeanors. Their mothers lacked the power and influence of the Noble Consort Li, so they had long learned to tread cautiously.

Liu Yin’s words only deepened the Fifth Princess’s anger, her eyes brimming with tears. Spoiled and impatient by nature due to Noble Consort Li’s indulgence, she had none of the restraint of the others. Next to her, Shen Yao gave her a subtle shake of the head as if urging her to hold back.

When Grand Tutor Shen entered the hall, he was greeted by an odd scene: the Fifth Princess slumped over the table, red-eyed and seething while the Second Miss Liu sat calmly, leisurely nibbling on pastries.

“Cousin…”

The Sixth Princess immediately tugged at the sleeve of the person beside her, lowering her voice. “The Grand Tutor is here.”

It felt exactly like spotting the homeroom teacher entering the classroom. Liu Yin, despite her rebellious streak, held a healthy respect for Grand Tutor Shen. Without hesitation, she quickly packed up her snacks and handed them to her maid, Xiyun. Then, she pulled out her brush, ink, and paper, instantly transforming into the picture of a diligent student.

Seemingly unaware of the underlying tension among the children, Grand Tutor Shen approached the front of the hall, placing his ruler on the desk. He cast a sweeping glance around the room. “How are the essays I assigned you yesterday?”

The students all responded in unison. “We ask the Grand Tutor to review them!”

This put Liu Yin in a tight spot. As a transfer student, she was practically at a kindergarten level in this academic environment. Writing essays was entirely out of her depth—she could barely recognize most of the characters, let alone craft coherent paragraphs. However, as a hardworking transfer student, she had spent hours the previous day struggling to complete the assignment. Though her handwriting was still atrocious, it was at least a significant improvement compared to her initial attempts.

“Place them on the table,” the Grand Tutor instructed.

At his words, everyone laid their essays neatly on the desk. Grand Tutor Shen gathered them one by one, preparing to critique each submission.

The essay topic was On the Balance of Literature and Martial Arts. The Grand Tutor started with the piece written by the Tenth Prince, a twelve-year-old boy who always tried to appear far more mature than his age. After reading it, the Grand Tutor stroked his beard thoughtfully, his expression giving nothing away.

“Literature governs the state, and martial arts defend it. Both are indispensable,” he remarked. “However, I asked you to elaborate on one over the other. Tenth Prince, your essay strayed somewhat from the intended theme.”

The Grand Tutor shook his head slightly and turned to the next essay. The Tenth Prince lowered his head slightly, his reserved and silent demeanor making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

Next was the Ninth Prince’s essay. Known for his mischievous nature, his work was little more than a jumble of scribbles. The Grand Tutor immediately slapped the chaotic essay onto the table with a frown. “Copy the assigned passage five times by tomorrow,” he ordered sternly.

When the Grand Tutor was angry, his imposing presence could be quite intimidating. The Ninth Prince, however, merely pouted before resuming his playful distraction, toying with a grasshopper he had a eunuch catch for him.

When it was the Sixth Princess’s turn, the Grand Tutor’s expression softened slightly. “Not bad, but your argument lacks clarity and is missing some essential points.”

As a model student, the Sixth Princess wilted under the criticism. She sat gloomily, already reflecting on where her essay had gone wrong.

Finally, it was Shen Yao’s turn. Despite her prestigious background, the Grand Tutor showed no favoritism. “It’s true that the world is often governed by the wise,” he began, “but your essay’s treatment of martial arts is overly simplistic and dismissive. Such condescension is a grave error for any scholar of literature.”

Shen Yao’s palms tightened, and she slowly lowered her head, assuming a humble and teachable posture.

Meanwhile, the Fifth Princess sat with a smug expression, clearly expecting Liu Yin to embarrass herself. She didn’t believe for a second that Liu Yin could produce anything worthwhile.

And indeed, when Grand Tutor Shen saw Liu Yin’s handwriting, his brows furrowed deeply. Having educated countless students over the years, many of whom had risen to become high-ranking officials, he had seen his fair share of calligraphy. But these characters… they were, without a doubt, among the most… indescribable he had ever encountered.

Still, compared to her earlier attempts, Liu Yin’s progress was undeniable, so he continued to read with interest.

Everyone held their breath waiting for the Grand Tutor to criticize Liu Yin. Yet, after a brief moment, the Grand Tutor unexpectedly smiled, stroking his beard. “Not bad, not bad. While your ideas may only be theoretical, it is commendable that you’ve reached such insights.”

No one had anticipated this. The Grand Tutor rarely gave such praise, let alone to Liu Yin. The Fifth Princess’s face flushed with anger, her lips twitching as she struggled to find the words to object.

“Literature and martial arts complement each other and are both indispensable.” the Grand Tutor began, his tone one of approval. “However, throughout history, the truly wise never flaunt their strengths. Who is to say that a scholar cannot wield a sword or that a warrior cannot wield a pen? Yet, ultimately, it is literature that takes precedence. Warriors may conquer the world with force, but scholars govern it by mastering those same warriors. This clearly shows that literature surpasses martial arts.”

Stroking his beard, the Grand Tutor looked at Liu Yin, seated in the front row with satisfaction. “For you to have such an understanding is indeed impressive.”

“What understanding? Isn’t it the same as Shen Yao’s?” The Fifth Princess could no longer hold back her voice.

The Grand Tutor’s expression darkened at this interruption. “What I evaluate is not your conclusion but your perspective,” he said sternly. “Yao’er’s essay was steeped in disdain for warriors, reflecting the same arrogance typical of scholars. It lacked originality and was no different from the conventional thinking of others.”

Liu Yin looked at the Grand Tutor with wide, starry eyes. So this was what it means to be impartial, to have a noble demeanor… Who ever said that Grand Tutors were rigid old men? That was just a prejudice.

Shen Yao, having been scolded by her own father in front of everyone, felt her eyes redden. She gripped the handkerchief in her hand tightly.

“Shen Yao didn’t say anything wrong. What use are those barbarians except for fighting?” The Fifth Princess huffed, clearly displeased.

Liu Yin immediately shot her a glare. “Fifth Princess, those words are rather harsh. Without warriors, who would guard the borders and protect the country? You? Or your Shen Yao?”

The Fifth Princess’s eyes immediately reddened with anger. “You—”

“And let me ask you,” Liu Yin continued without missing a beat, “which famous scholar throughout history has ever dismissed warriors as useless? Scholars and warriors are both essential. Just like our Emperor, and the emperors of every dynasty before him—who doesn’t need warriors to defend the country? What are you implying with your words, dismissing all the military officials in the court?”

Her words, firm and resolute, echoed through the hall. Everyone stared, stunned by her unexpected outburst. The way they looked at Liu Yin had shifted, as they couldn’t believe the once-clumsy and foolish girl could speak with such conviction.

The Sixth Princess, in particular was dumbfounded. Was this really her cousin?

“Well said!” The Grand Tutor clapped his hands in approval, his praise unreserved. This girl may be flawed in some ways, but she understands what truly matters, unlike others who only care about appearances.

“It’s all thanks to your teachings, Grand Tutor.” Liu Yin grinned, adding a flattering comment.

The Fifth Princess glared at Liu Yin with a face full of anger, her eyes fixed firmly on her. Meanwhile, Shen Yao kept her head down, seemingly lost in thought, as though reflecting on her own actions.

After the lesson, as expected Liu Yin found herself the subject of many curious stares. She waved her hand casually, signaling for Xiyun to pass around the pastries she had brought.

The others, sensing that Liu Yin had become more approachable, eagerly accepted the treats, whether out of a desire to get on her good side or simply to join in the conversation.

“The almond crisps taste even better than those from the Imperial Kitchen—this must be from Ju De Zhai.” The Ninth Prince remarked, showing off his inner foodie.

“If you like them, I’ll bring them for you more often.” Liu Yin said with a carefree smile.

The younger princesses eagerly gathered around, asking where she bought her cosmetics and chatting endlessly about all the topics girls love to discuss.

The Fifth Princess looked on with disdain, watching as Liu Yin made herself seem important after just a few days of study. Who knew if she had even written that essay herself?

But soon, Liu Yin was called away by the Grand Tutor. The two of them conversed like old friends, laughing and chatting easily.

As they walked along the orderly palace stones, the Grand Tutor stroked his beard, glancing at Liu Yin with a kindly expression on his elderly face. “You don’t need to rush, just focus on making progress. As long as you have a desire to improve, that’s enough. If you don’t mind, I’ll bring you some tracing paper tomorrow for practice. It will help you a great deal.”

Liu Yin hadn’t expected him to offer help with her handwriting, but she quickly nodded eagerly. “Thank you, Grand Tutor!”

Looking at the young girl before him, her smile as bright as a flower, the Grand Tutor couldn’t help but chuckle. He thought to himself that the rumors must have been wrong. While Liu Yin from the Liu family might be a bit overbearing and forceful, she was actually reasonable, humble, and eager to learn. He was pleased to have such a student.

“Grand Tutor.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice reached their ears from not far away. Liu Yin turned to see a group of people walking down the nearby path, their bright and extravagant robes exuding an air of nobility. It seemed the speaker was Xian Yi, and at the forefront of the group was none other than the former owner of Liu Yin’s heart.

Liu Yin felt a wave of complicated emotions. The very person she didn’t want to run into seemed to be coming toward her. Why didn’t the former owner of her body have this kind of luck?

As soon as he saw them, the Grand Tutor immediately bowed respectfully, lowering his body and greeting them. “This humble servant greets His Highness the Crown Prince, and the Third Prince.”

Taking a deep breath, Liu Yin quickly composed herself and began her act. She lifted her skirt and jogged toward them, sweetly calling out. “Crown Prince Gege!”