Marrying the Crown Prince

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Zhou Zhou slept until 3:45 AM, a rare occurrence, when the sun was shining brightly.

She was still groggy from just waking up, sitting blankly on the bed, letting Jufang and Sizhu do as they pleased. There was nothing she could do; she had stayed up until dawn the night before.

After finishing her breakfast, she finally remembered what she was supposed to do today. "Is everything ready?"

"Miss asked several times yesterday, how could we forget?" Jufang replied.

Yes, she did ask, but forgot. She really can't stay up that late.

Zhou Zhou arrogantly slapped his face to bring himself back to his senses. "Let's go, let's go pay New Year's visits."

In the past, Zhou Zhou would have simply stayed at home quietly by her grandmother's side on the first day of the Lunar New Year. But now that she had become an apprentice, out of filial piety, she had to go and pay her respects to Shen Ning and the other woman.

Before leaving home, Zhou Zhou went to Ping Shuo Hall to pay her respects and received the old lady's sponsorship before going out.

As early as the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, Shen Ning and his companion had given the children a holiday. It had been almost ten days since Zhou Zhou had seen his masters.

Shen Ning and her companion lived in a small house in the west of the city. It was a bustling place with friendly neighbors; in their words, it had a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

Zhou Zhou knocked on the door, and it was Shen herself who opened it. "Why did you come in person, Master?"

"When we were young and traveling the world, we were used to doing everything ourselves," Madam Shen explained calmly, showing no surprise at the visitor.

It turned out to be the case.

Zhou Zhou beckoned, instructing the servants to carry the New Year's gifts inside, and then told them to stand guard outside. He then personally brewed tea.

Looking at her skillful manner, Ning knew that although she hadn't been to school for the past few days, she hadn't forgotten anything she had learned before.

"I was just talking about you with your master, and seeing you like this now, I feel a little relieved." Ning Shi sipped her tea and spoke calmly and naturally, "I suppose you'll be going to the palace in a few days?"

Zhou Zhou paused, "How did Master know that?"

She only found out last night, and judging from Shen Ning and the other person's behavior now, it seems that the matter has already been settled.

Ning was not surprised that the people in the Yongjing Marquis's mansion had not told these things to the younger generation, but that did not stop her from telling them.

Do you know why your maternal grandmother insisted that the two of us take you as her apprentice?

"You children are getting old, so it seems natural to open a school for you. But why do you want to go to the palace after only half a year of instruction?"

There were some things that Zhou Zhou hadn't taken to heart, but now that Ning Shi had reminded him, a guess naturally popped into his mind.

"Could it be," Zhou Zhou murmured, "that the Seventh Princess is going to choose a companion for her studies?"

During breaks in the previous lessons, Shen Ning and Zhou Zhou talked about the deeds of the empresses in the various palaces of the capital. Although she was not interested, she had a good memory and remembered everything after listening to it once.

Princess Li Zixi was born to Consort Mei, Zhou Lao Er, meaning that Princess Li Zixi was her cousin.

Previously, none of the candidates for the Fifth Prince's study companion were from the Yongjing Marquis's family, but now the Yongjing Marquis's family does not want to miss out on the Seventh Princess's study companion position.

However, Ning didn't care what the people of the Yongjing Marquis's mansion thought. She looked at Zhou Zhou and said earnestly, "You've always been sensible, but I still can't help but nag a bit."

“The wise do not contend, the benevolent do not blame, and the virtuous do not judge. We only have you as our last disciple. We do not ask you to be the best in the capital, but only that you can remain untainted in the deepest waters and not be burdened by others.”

Zhou Zhou stood up, clasped his hands in a deep bow, and said with heartfelt admiration, "It is my good fortune to have received your teachings. I will remember what I have learned today and never forget it."

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhou Zhou went to the palace with the old lady. However, the first place they went was not Consort Mei's Yaohua Palace, but Shou Kang Palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Wu kept them in the palace for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before letting them leave. "It's getting late, and I won't keep you two mother and daughters from getting together, so as not to cause any trouble."

The old lady hurriedly said she dared not, "The Empress Dowager's words truly make this old woman ashamed."

Empress Dowager Wu laughed and scolded, "You're so glib, hurry up and go."

So the group went to Weiyang Palace again, this time to pay their respects to Empress Feng.

Empress Feng had met countless officials and noblewomen in the past few days, and now that she heard that it was Consort Mei's family members who had come to pay their respects, she was even less interested. She reluctantly gave them a brief greeting and then dismissed them.

Just as they stepped out of the gates of Weiyang Palace, they saw someone approaching. The palace maid leading the way reminded them, "This is His Highness the Crown Prince."

Zhou Zhou didn't dare to look too much, and bowed respectfully to the old lady, saying, "Greetings to the Crown Prince."

Li Ziyan always treated people with courtesy, and since it was a festival, he wouldn't ask such an elderly noblewoman to perform such a grand ceremony. He quickly reached out to help the old lady up, saying, "Madam, there's no need for such formalities. Did you come specifically to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager?"

Zhou Zhou kept her head down, feeling that the Crown Prince's voice was clear and bright like the moon, very pleasant to listen to, making her itchy and wanting to look up and steal a peek at what the legendary Crown Prince looked like.

"Your Highness has keen insight. You are on your way to pay your respects to Consort Mei," the old lady replied.

It turned out they were from the Yongjing Marquis's residence. Li Ziyan, being very perceptive, said, "In that case, I will not keep the Marquis's wife any longer."

Having said that, Li Ziyan strode past Zhou Zhou and entered the gates of Weiyang Palace. Zhou Zhou, with her head down, saw a flash of bright yellow pass before her eyes and disappear in the blink of an eye.

After entering the palace, they paid their respects along the way, and it took them about half an hour to reach Yaohua Palace.

Although they could only see each other once a year, it didn't stop Consort Mei from wiping away tears while holding the old lady. "Mother, you really made me wait so long. Why did it take you so long to come?"

Before the old lady could say anything, Consort Mei asked again, "Did Her Majesty the Empress give you a hard time?"

The old lady was slightly speechless at the question. "Her Majesty the Empress is kind-hearted. How could she possibly make things difficult for us old, weak, women, and children?"

Consort Mei: "..."

Are we talking about the same person?

After finishing her sentimental act, Consort Mei looked at the children. The first one she recognized was Zhou Bai, who was the oldest. "This must be Brother Bai, right? Do you still remember me? I held you when you were five years old."

When Zhou Bai was five years old, it was the time when Consort Mei gave birth to the fifth prince. It was because of the birth of the fifth prince, Li Zichen, that she was promoted to the rank of Consort Xian.

Zhou Bai couldn't remember anything from when he was five years old, but everyone loves to hear nice things. "I don't remember much, but I do remember that my aunt treated me very well and gave me a lot of things."

"Yes, he's a thoughtful child. You're so lucky, sister-in-law." Consort Mei said with a smile, then called over the other children to ask them questions.

When asked about Zhou Cheng'an and Zhou Zhou, Consort Mei glanced at them a few more times. She didn't have much interaction with Madam Gao; she simply felt sorry for these two children who had lost their mother at a young age.