Chapter 183 : Challenge

As soon as Rong Yimeng hobbled in, he heard this and immediately fainted out of sheer frustration.

When Ah Bao left the Rong Prince’s mansion, she was escorted out by the old prince himself.

Everyone was stunned.

The old prince, who had been bedridden from a stroke, had recovered overnight!

“Prepare everything; I’m heading to the palace to see the Emperor.” This would be his first time entering the palace in years, all thanks to Ah Bao.

…

Luo Zifeng escorted Ah Bao and Di Rongjing back to Yihe Palace.

“Brother Luo.” Ah Bao tugged at Luo Zifeng’s sleeve. “This is for you.”

[Luo Zifeng’s aura is getting darker. Someone’s been eyeing his special eyes, wanting to gouge them out.]

Concubine De had just stepped out and heard Ah Bao’s thoughts, her heart instantly tightening.

Luo Zifeng was Yun Ci’s eldest son, practically half her life.

Luo Zifeng looked down to see that Ah Bao was handing him a yellow talisman. “Thank you, little sister Ah Bao.”

[No need to thank me.]

Luo Zifeng: ???

Wait, where did that voice come from?

He looked around but didn’t see anyone else speaking. He glanced at Ah Bao, but she hadn’t opened her mouth either.

Oh my gosh!

Did I just encounter a ghost?

[Is Luo Zifeng being stupid? He looks so dazed. This dark aura only affects his special eyes, not his intelligence.]

Luo Zifeng suddenly looked at Ah Bao. “Sister?”

“Mm-hmm~” Ah Bao responded sweetly.

That voice… it’s the same as Ah Bao’s.

Luo Zifeng realized the truth—he could hear Ah Bao’s thoughts!!

“Feng’er, this is a gift for your mother. Take it with you when you go.” Concubine De came out, handing a gift to Luo Zifeng.

Luo Zifeng snapped out of his daze. “I… I understand, Aunt Su.”

[How do I warn Luo Zifeng to be careful on his way home? Ah, forget it. The talisman will protect him anyway, but he really shouldn’t let it get wet.]

Ah Bao was fretting, trying to figure out how to phrase her warning.

Concubine De, sharp-eyed, noticed the talisman in Luo Zifeng’s hand. “Feng’er, did Ah Bao give that to you?”

“Yes, she just handed it to me.”

“This child… She’s been getting into all sorts of new things lately, probably learning from Taoist Baiyun outside the palace with An’er. But that talisman—I remember the Taoist mentioning that it mustn’t get wet, or it’ll lose its effect,” Concubine De advised.

Luo Zifeng clenched the talisman tightly, cherishing it. “I’ll make sure to take good care of it, Aunt Su.”

“My dear mother truly understands me; she’s practically speaking on my behalf.”

Concubine De: …

Luo Zifeng: …

When Luo Zifeng left, he was still in a daze. This was such a shocking revelation that he couldn’t wrap his head around it even now.

…

At the Rong Prince’s Residence.

Rong Yimeng had been thoroughly disciplined and was now acting very subdued, no longer daring to make any trouble. The mischievous child sat outside on the steps, drawing circles in the dirt.

Inside, the old Prince Rong was inquiring about something with Rong Taifei.

“Madam, I heard that recently the shrine in the capital lit up. Is that true?”

“Yes, while you were bedridden and we had just returned to the capital, I didn’t mention it to you. Where did you hear about this?”

“Everyone in the capital knows about it; how could it be kept from me?” Since getting back on his feet, the old Prince Rong hadn’t stayed idle. He even left the residence and went to the busiest market, drinking tea and catching up on the latest gossip.

In just half a day, he had caught up on all the news from the past six months, frequently sighing in gratitude for being able to witness the world once again.

He never forgot that his current state of health was entirely thanks to the blessings of his ancestors.

“I heard that when Ah Bao entered the shrine, it lit up…” Prince Rong mused, “She’s a child with great fortune; perhaps this fortune will extend to the Tiansheng Dynasty.”

A small figure at the doorway, nibbling on a melon seed, heard this and, with a shift of his eyes, slowly got up, clutching his sore bottom as he descended the steps, intending to leave the residence.

“Young Prince, the old master has ordered that you stay within the residence and reflect on your actions. You’re not allowed to go anywhere,” a guard advised. Having been by the young prince’s side for three or four years, he genuinely cared for him and hoped he wouldn’t get into trouble again.

When the old master decides to punish, he really means it.

Would the little troublemaker listen?

Of course not.

If he did, he wouldn’t be the little troublemaker.

…

In the palace, Concubine De took Ah Bao to Concubine Chun’s palace, where they made rice dumplings together.

Ah Bao stared at the perfectly round dumplings, drooling.

[I heard mother’s dumplings are very sweet. I love hawthorn filling. Will mother make some for me?]

As soon as the thought crossed Ah Bao’s mind, Concubine De brought over a bowl of hawthorn filling.

Ah Bao looked at Concubine De with stars in her eyes.

“Today, your tutor is giving a lesson to Jing’er. Since Ah Bao has nothing to do, why not join in? Consider it an early start to your education,” Concubine De said with a smile.

Ah Bao’s smile froze. What?

Zhilan led Ah Bao to the study next door, where Di Rongjing was already sitting obediently, listening to the tutor.

Ah Bao plopped down on the mat and immediately let out a big yawn. “Yawn… sleepy…”

Zhilan, standing at the door, thought to herself: …

Does the little princess get sleepy as soon as she starts listening to lessons?

If this is her nature, schooling might be quite difficult in the future.

[Why does the tutor’s lesson sound like chanting? The more I listen, the sleepier I get.]

[Back then, I wouldn’t even let Old Hei and Old Bai get a word in edgewise during their lessons.]

Di Rongjing: ?

Curious, he wondered how his sister managed not to let “Old Hei” and “Old Bai” speak.

[As soon as they started talking, I would fall fast asleep. To prevent me from dozing off, they wouldn’t dare speak at all.]

[Mainly because once I fell asleep, I’d be out for at least a year…]

Di Rongjing: …

Soon, the sound of steady breathing could be heard from beside him.

The tutor, holding a book in one hand and pacing with the other behind his back, glanced over when he heard the sound. He saw the little girl lying spread-eagle on the ground, fast asleep, and shook his head in resignation. Oh dear, oh dear, it looks like the tenth princess is destined to be a bit of a rascal in the future.

As a tutor who had taught countless students, he could usually tell at a glance who had potential and who did not. From the tenth princess’s current behavior, it was clear that she was likely to turn out a bit simple-minded.

“Little Princess.” During the break, Zhilan came in, worried that the little princess might catch a chill on the cold floor during the frigid January weather.

Ah Bao was dreaming of gold and a big pork knuckle. When she opened her eyes, she rubbed them, “Sister Zhilan…”

“Little Princess, someone from outside the palace brought a letter for you.” Zhilan was puzzled since the envelope had no name on it.

Ah Bao was suspicious. [I don’t think I have any friends outside the palace.]

[Come to think of it, I’m not even old enough to make friends yet.]

“Let me see.” Ah Bao’s small hands tore open the envelope, revealing a piece of white paper with a few drawings on it.

Three little turtles were fighting, and one particularly large turtle had the character “one” written on its back.

Zhilan leaned over to take a look. “This???”

What on earth is this?

Ah Bao, however, understood it immediately. [Well, well, that brat Rong Yimeng is actually challenging me.]

[But his handwriting is terrible! That character for ‘one’ is all crooked and twisted. Look at Di Rongjing’s handwriting instead—at the same age, his writing is so neat.]

[Looks like the brat didn’t get enough of a beating; I’ll have to take matters into my own hands and teach him what’s what.]