After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

Time passed silently like the gurgling of water, but the atmosphere of grief that permeated the Taifu Mansion had not dissipated. In this way, more than a month of peaceful days had passed without anyone noticing.

One bright, sunny morning, my uncle returned from a solemn court session with shocking news: "The Grand Tutor's eldest son, Qi Rongjin, has been deprived of his love and instead been granted the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince!" Such a special honor meant he wouldn't have to observe the typical three-year mourning period for the deceased Grand Tutor and could immediately devote himself to his new mission: supervising the Crown Prince's studies. Although my uncle wasn't promoted, he had no complaints. After all, loyalty to the emperor and patriotism was the norm; all he had to do was to fulfill his duties with the utmost dedication.

Upon hearing this news, Tang Wenshu's heart finally settled. She knew that since someone was assigned to teach the prince's studies, his sister would be safe. Returning home from school that day, Tang Wenshu was pleasantly surprised to find a pure white pigeon perched by her window. The dove was leisurely preening its smooth feathers, seemingly oblivious to its surroundings.

Seeing this surprising scene, Tang Wenshu's heart surged with joy. An indescribable joy washed over her like a tide, instantly forsaking all the unpleasant experiences she had in school. Unable to contain her delight, she thought to herself, "Oh my goodness! A dove as white as snow has flown right here! Could it be attracted by my stunning beauty? Hehehe..." At this thought, Tang Wenshu couldn't help but let out a hearty, unrestrained laugh. The sound was as clear and melodious as a silver bell, seemingly piercing the heavens and reaching the very firmament.

Pei Qingqing, standing by, was already accustomed to her occasional bouts of madness. She was now concentrating on packing Tang Wenshu's schoolbag and pulling out homework books. After helping Tang Wenshu with her homework, they would head to Zeng Yuan's courtyard for a sumptuous dinner. Pei Qingqing had fully adapted to her transformation from a wealthy daughter to a maidservant to this somewhat deranged young lady.

"Qingqing, Qingqing, come and take a look!" Tang Wenshu's excited voice came, as if she had discovered some rare treasure. She hurried over to the busy Pei Qingqing, her eyes full of excitement and curiosity.

Pei Qingqing heard the shout, put down what she was doing, and quickly walked over to Tang Wenshu. Tang Wenshu was holding a white dove carefully, and there was a piece of paper tied to the dove's leg.

Tang Wenshu couldn't contain his anxiety and quickly unfolded the note. He saw only two simple words: "Be well." Looking down, he saw the signature word "Rui" (瑞). Puzzled, Tang Wenshu fell into deep thought: "Who is this 'Rui'? Why would he send me a note with the word 'Be well' written on it?"

Just as Tang Wenshu was puzzled, Pei Qingqing, who was still busy with her work, could vaguely hear her mumbling. So, she responded casually, "Maybe it's the young master I met before." In fact, Pei Qingqing had no idea who the man she met that day was. She only learned that he was a young master when she went to the master's study before they were detained. At that time, Pei Qingqing could only watch helplessly. However, since the lady did not object to this matter, and no other incidents occurred afterwards, it seemed that there should be no major problems. Therefore, Pei Qingqing felt there was no need to say anything more and simply chose to remain silent.

It was the Crown Prince's sister! Tang Wenshu wondered whether she should write back, and how she should respond. Her eyes slowly shifted to the white dove, leisurely perched by the window, pecking at the grains with relish. After a moment's contemplation, she decided to write the letter herself. She picked up pen and paper and began to write with difficulty. Her handwriting wasn't particularly beautiful, crooked and scraggly, like a creeping insect, but this didn't dampen her resolve to express her true feelings.

She carefully wrote, stroke by stroke, "Brother Rui, I miss you." These few words held an endless longing and attachment. After finishing, she gently blew the ink dry on the paper, then neatly wrote her name—Shu'er—at the end. A happy yet shy smile filled her face, as if she could already see the distant Crown Princess's ecstatic expression upon receiving the letter.

After the court was dismissed, Duke Tang seemed dragged along by an invisible force, his slightly exhausted body slowly moving towards his residence. Each step seemed heavy, as if carrying the pressure and anxiety of the entire court. Finally, he crossed the threshold of the mansion, and a familiar yet unfamiliar tranquility washed over him.

Upon entering the palace, Duke Tang couldn't wait to open the letter from the Crown Prince that the mysterious eunuch had handed him back in the palace. From the moment he received it, it had weighed heavily on his heart. Now, he finally mustered the courage to open it.

Unfolding the letter, lines of powerful handwriting came into view. It clearly stated that the Crown Prince and Miss Tang Wenshu had secretly agreed to marry. Between the lines, the Crown Prince expressed his earnest wishes, pleading with the Duke's Mansion to take extra care of Tang Wenshu in the future.

"Shu'er is only eight years old..." Duke Tang murmured softly, his voice filled with disbelief and deep worry. He frowned, lost in thought. What impact would this incident have on the family? Would it be a blessing or a curse? Countless thoughts raced through his mind, leaving him feeling dizzy.

The old lady standing nearby also wore a solemn expression, weighed down with worry. However, her friendship with Duke Tang was unparalleled, and they had always been frank and open with each other. Especially after the Duke reached his fifties, he abandoned his past philandering habits, no longer lingering on the gentle pleasures of other concubines, but instead devoted himself wholeheartedly to the old lady. Therefore, faced with the current predicament, the two of them leaned on each other and discussed solutions together.

Twenty years ago, the late emperor issued an edict: all heirs to a noble title would automatically be demoted one rank, until the title itself vanished entirely. Ever since, the Duke's family has been consumed with anxiety, grappling with how to prevent the title from being demoted. Duke Tang had only been able to retain his title thanks to his close friendship with the emperor. Since then, they have been forced to turn their attention to cultivating women, hoping to consolidate their family's position through marriage.

Duke Tang toiled daily, his thoughts consumed by how to preserve the Duke's Mansion's century-long glory. When he passed away, would his eldest son naturally succeed him as the new Duke of Tang, rather than becoming a mere Marquis of Tang?

However, the position of the crown prince has already been established, and the emperor has no other heirs. The crown prince's position is stable and there is no need for him to follow the emperor. This matter between the crown prince and Shu'er may be a godsend opportunity and is expected to become the key to breaking the deadlock.