Traveling through time and space

"I deserve to die. I was wrong," they said bluntly, "Please forgive me, Princess."

"Forgive? You're just brushing it off like that. I can't handle the mistakes you made in the academy, but the frivolous words you said to me are enough to bring harm to your entire family. The academy is a sacred place for teaching and educating people. Cultivating character and morality is paramount, but you're going against everything else. You're truly bringing shame to the academy."

"Princess, are you firing them?" Ge Congwen shook his head.

"This princess won't take advantage of others' power, nor will she use public power to help others. Although they were disrespectful to me today, I won't ruin their future. Here's a plan that will satisfy both sides. Master, in every dynasty, there are always some needy students in the academy. Each of you will hand over 5,000 taels of silver to the academy within three days. The academy will arrange to reward these needy students with the money for tuition, books, and food, to help them overcome their difficulties. Do you think this is feasible?"

"Princess, student..." The two looked at each other.

"Don't tell me you're broke. You may be broke, but your families are probably wealthy. They say a father's fault is the fault of his son. Let your family pay for you. I won't ask where you come from, but I know your families must be well-off. If your parents want to be philanthropists, they can donate more money to the academy to help those in need. If you're not willing, you can submit a memorial to the court."

"Students, students understand." The two stood up.

"It is indeed true that if a child is raised but not taught, it is the fault of the father. A child is born as a blank sheet of paper. It is the teachings of the parents that allow the child to understand the world. If a child is born but not taught, it is indeed closely related to the parents. Children can also learn from the character of their parents. As for the two of you, just follow the princess's punishment method. Master Pei, you will take care of this matter. You two can go out. Princess, do you have any other opinions? Let us hear them." Su Yuanyuan understood what the dean said.

"Sir, could you please let my second brother write for me? My handwriting isn't up to par." Su Yuanyuan thought of her own handwriting and felt a little embarrassed. It was ugly, utterly awful. Everyone present stifled laughter. The headmaster nodded, and her second brother took the pen. Su Yuanyuan knew many famous warnings, and she wanted to share them all, making them classics, so more people could learn from them. In three days, Su Yuanyuan recited a complete Three Character Classic and a Thousand Character Classic. The heavens and the earth were dark yellow, the universe was vast and boundless, the sun and the moon waxed and waned, the stars and the constellations spread out... Just explaining each one, each one clearly. Although it took three days, she had thoroughly enjoyed speaking, listening, and writing. By the time Su Yuanyuan returned home, it was almost midnight. After a bath and a lie on her bed, she was still thinking about it. She had found a teacher, a rather influential one at that, and had met a group of people who shared her ideals. She felt she had to tell her father about it, and the next day she brought some dimensional gifts to the palace.

"I heard that Yuanyuan brought a gift for Father?"

"Of course, since the emperor paid for Yuanyuan's reconstruction, Yuanyuan should do what he wants."

"In my opinion, you are giving it to me as a gift. I heard that you conquered the dean of Rongde Academy and he wanted to take you in as his female disciple. Did you agree?"

"I'm sorry, father. I agreed to become your disciple without your consent. I thought it would be a good thing to have someone to teach me. I don't know much yet and I want to learn more. But those things are not the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, or painting that a princess should learn. I yearn for the outside world and want to go out and see it, so I need a knowledgeable and talented gentleman to guide me."

"Okay, Father knows that Li Beishan. He and his wife are both very upright people. Father once wanted to invite him to serve in the palace and teach my princes and grandchildren, but he refused. The reason he gave was the same as Yuanyuan said. He wanted to be free and see the outside world when he had time."

"Thank you, father, for your understanding," Su Yuanyuan bowed again.

"Your Majesty, the eldest princess is here." A eunuch shouted at the door.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." The voice was very straightforward.

"Imperial sister, I have invited you to the palace time and time again, but you always find excuses to refuse. But what's wrong with Yu Jing? I haven't seen him for a long time. I even want to go to the Duke's Mansion to see him."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. He doesn't even want to see his own mother. What urgent matter has your Majesty sent for me, your sister?"

"Eldest sister, let me introduce her to you. She is the same as you were when you were young. Yuanyuan, this is your aunt Jin, the elder sister of our father and the emperor, born of the same mother."

"Royal brother, the Royal Sister has also heard in the palace that you treat this daughter very differently."

"Yes, she is my daughter who was lost and found again, so naturally I have to treat her well." It can be seen that the emperor treats this imperial sister differently.

"Yuanyuan greets Aunt Jin. I hope Aunt Jin is well." Su Yuanyuan stepped forward and saluted.

"Imperial sister, I have called you here to ask you to help hold Yuanyuan's coming-of-age ceremony. She lost her mother when she was young and has suffered so much. Now even her only grandmother is gone."

"Your Majesty, there are many women in the palace who don't have children. Why don't you find a foster mother for her?" "Aunt Jin, it was Yuanyuan who asked your father for help. Yuanyuan has a wild nature and is not suitable for being raised in seclusion. I'm afraid the concubines won't like her and I don't want to harm them."

"You are quite self-aware. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that your father dotes on you. If anyone else raised you, it would probably arouse the jealousy of others."

"Aunt Jin is truly kind-hearted. Yuanyuan doesn't want to cause trouble for Father, nor does she want to be used as a tool by others. She won't get involved in anything. She just wants to live her own life and do what she likes."

"You do live a clear life, but you lack the dignity that a princess should have."

"Imperial sister, I have other dignified daughters. Let Yuanyuan live her life as she pleases. Didn't you often rebel against our father in the past?"

"Yes, my sister married the man she wanted to marry, but she lives the life she has now. If she had listened to our father back then, I'm afraid her life would have been very different."

"Sister, you and your husband have enjoyed nearly twenty years of happiness. He is the man you love the most."

"Yes, Your Majesty is right. With those twenty years, my sister's life was complete." But her voice was full of reluctance when she said this.

"Imperial sister, I have something else I want to ask you for help with." The emperor stood up and walked to Su Yuanyuan's side. "In the future, I want my imperial sister to raise Yuanyuan. First, I feel relieved that Yuanyuan is outside the palace. Second, it will stop the ideas of those women in the palace. I don't want Yuanyuan to be involved in the harem. Third,..." The emperor hesitated to speak.

"Father, why do you have to find a foster mother for Yuanyuan? Yuanyuan can take care of herself."

"You heard what father said to aunt just now. It can be regarded as stopping those people's thoughts. Father doesn't want you to be involved with the royal brothers. You are a girl, and father can only feel at ease if he entrusts you to aunt. Don't worry, the royal aunt will not restrain you. This time, what you did really made father very happy, so father also knows that you are a child who knows what he is doing. After two days, when the Marquis of Xiaoyong's Mansion is rebuilt, you can move to the Princess's Mansion, okay?"

"Father, are you worried that Yuanyuan has nowhere to go? Don't worry, there's a small courtyard left by grandma in Yousha Lane. Yuanyuan plans to move there temporarily."

"Your Majesty, let your sister raise the princess, but..." The eldest princess hesitated to speak. Su Yuanyuan was also a little curious about what kind of riddle the brother and sister were playing. The eldest princess' aunt looked at the emperor, and the emperor shook his head.

"Imperial sister, it's time for you and your son to change the way you live. You were not like this before. I am your biological brother, and I feel a little sad seeing this. Look at what kind of life you and your son have been leading in the past few years. With Yuanyuan in the Princess's Mansion, there will be more laughter." The emperor sighed.