Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

"You...how can you slander me?"

An Zhiyao was speechless.

Shen Chuning stared at An Zhiyao, "Weren't you the one who started to spit bloody words at me?"

"I……"

Master Qi had also disliked An Zhiyao for a long time, so he did not interrupt Shen Chuning when she was speaking.

Seeing that An Zhiyao was almost beaten by Shen Chuning, he said, "If you have any questions, you can go down and discuss them later. Don't take up other people's class time."

"Yes, I know I was wrong." Shen Chuning quickly admitted his mistake.

"I was indeed a little distracted just now. I wonder what the question you asked was?"

"Today we talked about the Book of Han and the Book of the Later Han. What is the difference between the two?" Master Qi asked the question again.

"Teacher, the 'Book of Han' records the history of the Western Han Dynasty and was written by the Eastern Han historian Ban Gu. The 'Book of the Later Han' was written by the Southern Dynasty historian Fan Ye and records the history of the Eastern Han Dynasty."

"You still have some basic knowledge. Even so, you have to listen carefully." Master Qi was quite satisfied with Shen Chuning's answer. Although he came here mainly to teach the princess, these companions were all daughters of officials, and he couldn't afford to offend any of them. It was better to make friends with someone who had some basic knowledge than to squeeze in a few who knew nothing.

"Yes, the students have remembered it."

Just as Shen Chuning was about to sit down, she heard An Zhiyao say, "Haha, a seven or eight-year-old child can answer this question, and even get praise from the teacher, it really makes a difference to have a backer."

"Cousin Zhiyao, we have been taught to respect teachers since we were young. How can you arrange things for a teacher? You have overstepped the boundaries today." Xiao Jinyu said with a dark face.

She thought to herself, her cousin is not usually like this, could it be that she has some grudge against Shen Chuning?

"Is Princess Jiahe also going to side with her?" An Zhiyao suddenly felt that the whole world was against her.

"The Book of Han is mellow and upright, like a girl's wine that has been buried for 30 years, and has greater historical research value. The Book of the Later Han is fresh and magnificent, like a glass of fruit wine that is both beautiful and rich in flavor, and has greater literary value."

Shen Chuning ignored An Zhiyao and continued to answer the questions raised by Master Qi.

When Master Qi heard Shen Chuning's answer, his eyes lit up. It seemed that he had underestimated these noble ladies from wealthy families.

"Indeed, you can find superficial differences and have your own unique insights. You are a good student. If you were a man, you would definitely take the path of the imperial examination like your elder brother."

Hearing the teacher's high praise for Shen Chuning, An Zhiyao was so angry that her neck turned red.

After the teacher said "close the hall", she ran out of the Yuewei Pavilion without looking back, leaving only the little maid to pick up the books scattered on her low table.

……

After Shen Chuning packed up her things, she walked up to Princess Jiahe, bowed slightly, and handed her a rosewood box with both hands.

"Princess Jiahe, this is a hairpin I carefully selected. I hope you don't mind it."

"Get up quickly." Xiao Jinyu supported Shen Chuning, who was about to bow down, with both hands, took off a mutton-fat white jade bracelet from her wrist, and put it on Shen Chuning's hand.

"A Ning, why are you so polite? You used to call me Sister Jinyu." Xiao Jinyu said, holding Shen Chuning's hands.

Shen Chuning winked at Xiao Jinyu and said, "Sister Jinyu, I wonder if Concubine Hui is free at noon today. I want to go visit her. My elders at home have something for me to pass on to Concubine Hui."

"I'm free. This morning, Empress Hui said that today was your first day in the palace, and she invited you to have lunch with her at Chunxi Palace after school."

"Nan Yan, will you come with us? It will be more lively with more people." Xiao Jinyu and Shen Chuning were walking in front, and they did not forget to greet Princess Nan Yan behind them.

"If you want to talk privately today, I won't go and cause trouble."

"Besides, I haven't practiced the piece Mr. Bai Yu handed in last class yet. I need to go back and practice it quickly, otherwise I'll be scolded again this afternoon."

……

Inside the Chunxi Palace.

Concubine Hui was sitting on the Luohan bed holding a hand warmer, while a palace maid in her thirties was standing beside her peeling an orange.

"Greetings, Empress Hui." Shen Chuning knelt down to salute, and Birui knelt behind her holding the Jiaoweiqin.

"Manju, quickly help Miss Shen up." Concubine Hui ordered the palace maid beside her.

Shen Chuning widened her eyes and stared at the palace maid who came to help her.

"Miss Shen, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something dirty on my face?" Manju said as she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.

"No, no, thank you Aunt Agate."

Shen Chuning thanked Manju and asked, "Is there another Aunt Amber?"

As soon as Shen Chuning finished asking, everyone in Chunxi Palace covered their faces and laughed.

"Who is talking about me?" A palace maid about the same age as Agate came in through the curtain carrying a food box.

Shen Chuning raised her head and said to Concubine Hui, "My Lady Concubine Hui, your second aunt said she and yours were close friends when they were children. I thought that was a bit exaggerated, but after hearing the name of your aunt, I think you and your second aunt must have been very close as children."

Concubine Hui smiled and said, "We are more than close friends. We are almost as close as real sisters. The Yun Residence is bustling with people. When I was little, I often stayed there for ten days or half a month without going home."

Concubine Hui seemed to have thought of something, and her eyes turned red as she smiled.

She picked up her handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes, then reached out and patted the empty seat next to her, letting Shen Chuning sit next to her.

"The maids beside Shuxuan are called Zhenzhu and Feicui?" Concubine Hui asked.

"To answer your Majesty, Sister Pearl and Sister Jade are the maids serving Second Aunt."

"Oh, I don't know whether to say she's nostalgic or lazy. The old maids, Pearl and Jade, are sent out to marry when they reach the age, but the new maids are still called Pearl and Jade."

Shen Chuning didn't want to talk about her elders in public, so she took out a box, opened the lid and held it in front of Concubine Hui.

There were three palm-sized stones in the box.

"Second Aunt said you like to carve seals. This piece of Tianhuang stone is from Second Aunt's private collection. These two pieces of chicken blood stone and hibiscus stone were added by An Ning. I don't know if you like them."

Concubine Hui picked up the three stones and rubbed them in her hands.

"After so many years, it's amazing that she still remembers this little bit of my preference. She hasn't even come to visit me in all these years, and she never asks me for help when there's something going on at home. I've only seen her a few times at banquets, and we haven't been able to talk much."

"This time, because of you, she took out all her treasures from the bottom of the box. It can be seen that she dotes on you, her niece."

Shen Chuning replied respectfully, "Yes, Second Aunt treats Chuning very well on weekdays."

"What does Shuxuan usually do at home? Does he still read storybooks all day long?"

"Are the stories in the novels now still about officials' daughters falling for poor scholars, or brothel girls falling for poor scholars?"

Concubine Hui seemed to be full of curiosity about the world outside the palace.