Chapter 119 – The Widow’s Adopted Daughter (part 19)

Xiao Qi Zhi stood in front of the newly repaired Eastern Palace and took a deep breath before he strode in. As the crown prince’s grandmaster, Xiao Qi Zhi would go to the Eastern Palace every day to teach the crown prince.

Today was his first visit to the Eastern Palace.

In Primary Green Hall in the Eastern Palace, Crown Prince Li Qi Ming was already sitting at the table.

After Xiao Qi Zhi entered, he first greeted the crown prince. The crown prince then gave a half bow.

Xiao Qi Zhi saw Si Qin standing behind the crown prince in a brand-new palace outfit. He smiled slightly. Since Si Qin was here, then the crown prince obviously trusted her.

She did it.

After the lecture, Xiao Qi Zhi was about to leave the palace when he saw Wang Si Qin standing outside the hall, waiting for him and holding a bag.

“His Highness has allowed me to leave the palace to visit my family. I can return tomorrow after noon,” Wang Si Qin said with a smile.

Xiao Qi Zhi was stunned. He then smiled. “Okay, your mother will be very happy.” Xiao Qi Zhi had not planned on going back to the mansion. He had planned on going to the Ministry of War, but now he changed his mind.

Xiao Qi Zhi and Wang Si Qin turned around to leave. Suddenly, someone from the hall chased them. “Si Qin, wait a minute! His Highness wants to know where you put the Zhao Ming Literary Works.”

“The Zhao Ming Literary Works? They should be on the second bookshelf. It should be the seventh book on the third shelf,” said Wang Si Qin without thinking.

The messenger remembered this. “Okay, I’ve remembered it.” Then, he smiled and said, “Si Qin, come back early. Nobody is allowed to enter His Highness’ study.”

“I know. I will be back tomorrow afternoon.” Wang Si Qin smiled.

While they were leaving the palace, Xiao Qi Zhi asked, “You can enter and leave His Highness’ study freely?”

Wang Si Qin nodded. “I have always cleaned His Highness’ study. His Highness is afraid that others will mess up, so he doesn’t allow them to enter.” There were all kinds of people around His Highness. Wang Si Qin understood that if she wanted to stand next to His Highness, she had to have skills that others did not and make herself indispensable to His Highness.

After careful observation, Wang Si Qin found a way. With her own hard work and abilities, she kept track of the books in His Highness’ study and created a unique method of managing them. She noted down the locations of all the books in the study so she could accurately and quickly find the books that His Highness needed.

After he came down a few times, His Highness allowed Wang Si Qin to accompany him every time he read in the study. After a long time, she had slowly managed to organise and clean up His Highness’ study. Nobody else could enter it casually. When His Highness was reading and went riding, Wang Si Qin could enjoy the books in the study freely.

Of course, Wang Si Qin would not touch things she wasn’t allowed to, not even if she was curious. She believed that sooner or later, she would have the opportunity to look at them, but it wasn’t time yet.

This might be the crown prince’s test for her. She was not afraid.

Wang Si Qin knew that, in order to realise her dream, she would need to put in more effort. She was doing so now, but it was far from enough. Before she could achieve her dream, she had to read as much as possible. She liked the feeling of reading. It made her excited and content!

Xiao Qi Zhi knew that Si Qin had already gained the crown prince’s trust, but he did not expect that the crown prince would trust Si Qin so much. Although the crown prince was young, he had already been exposed to government affairs. Those must be in the study. The crown prince really…

“Si Qin!” Xiao QI Zhi felt that he had to remind her, even if she knew it herself. “His Highness asked you to organise his study. This is the trust His Highness has placed in you. You must live up to His Highness’ trust.” Not only could she not touch things, but she couldn’t tell anyone what she saw.

Xiao Qi Zhi didn’t say this, but he knew that Si Qin should understand what he meant.

“Don’t worry, granduncle, I know.” Wang Si Qin smiled. She was not stupid. How could she dig herself a hole like that.

Xiao Qi Zhi nodded. Si Qin had always been smart. “Go back and instruct Yan Xi and the others. Let them know of the difference between you and them. Otherwise, they’ll think highly of themselves and consider themselves infallible.”

Wang Si Qin laughed and said, “Older brother Yan Xi and the others are all very good. Granduncle, you are too demanding.” Xiao Yan Xi and the others were already qualified and were considered very good amongst their peers.

Of course, they couldn’t be compared to her. Everyone’s starting point was different. She didn’t have a high starting point. She needed to work harder than ordinary people to climb up faster.

That night, Li Qi Ming was practicing calligraphy. As soon as he sat down, he felt a little awkward. He turned his head slightly and looked unhappy. “You are blocking my light!”

The maid standing next to him quickly took 2 steps back.

Li Qi Ming held back his displeasure and picked up his brush to continue practicing. After a while, he frowned. “More ink!”

The palace lady hurriedly stepped forward to grind the ink and therefore blocked the light again. Li Qi Ming put down his brush in anger. The palace lady was so stupid. She didn’t even know how to grind ink. She was so dumb. When Si Qin was there, she did very well!

The palace lady knelt on the ground in fright. “Your Highness, forgive this servant!”

Zhao Fu heard movement and entered, waving his hand. “Leave!” Then, he smiled and said, “This old servant is here to wait on Your Highness.”

Then, he came forward to grind the ink.

Li Qi Ming continued to practice his calligraphy.

After practicing for an hour, Li Qi Ming put down his pen. Zhao Fu handed over a cup of hot tea. Li Qi Ming took a sip and, out of habit, said, “Si Qin, let’s play chess!”

After he finished speaking, Li Qi Ming realised why that night felt awkward. Si Qin was not here.

Li Qi Ming sighed a little. He seemed to rely on Wang Si Qin a little too much, which wasn’t a good sign. Li Qi Ming was determined to get rid of this habit. So, he asked someone to set up the chessboard and randomly found someone to accompany him to play chess.

But, it felt wrong. When Si Qin played chess with him, she had to wrack her brains to win. She was very happy, even if she only won half the time.

But the people playing chess with him were trying to figure out how to lose to him without him noticing. It was so boring!

Li Qi Ming threw the chess piece on the board. “No more. I’m tired!”

Zhao Fu looked at Li Qi Ming’s back and sighed.

In fact, His Highness’ reliance on Si Qin was known earlier to those who served His Highness. The reason why they didn’t stop it was that they didn’t know what His Highness was thinking and they were afraid of offending His Highness. Additionally, Si Qin was a clever child who was eager to learn. Currently, her presence was a good influence on His Highness. His Highness had no playmates since he was a child. When His Highness looked more like his age when he was with Si Qin.

Now that His Highness had noticed, what would he do?

Wang Si Qin returned to Yong An Mansion like a fish to water, like a bird into the forest. She was so happy. She didn’t think of anything and merely enjoyed the love from her mother and elders.

Early the next morning, people came to the Eastern Palace and said that the crown prince dictated that the women of the palace were to go to the imperial palace.

Yong An Mansion and Wang Si Qin thought that something had happened, so they didn’t dare to ask casually. They hurriedly asked Wang Si Qin to follow the people back to the palace.

After Wang Si Qin left, Li Su recalled that the Eastern Palace was the focus of everyone’s attention. If something happened in the Eastern Palace, then how could it be so peaceful? The eunuch’s expression was also subdued.

What happened?

Wang Si Qin also had this doubt in her heart. She hurried back to the palace only to find that the Eastern Palace was as per normal. When she asked, His Highness was well and he was practicing riding and shooting. There was nothing wrong with him!

Why was she called back in a hurry? She and her mother were going to make rouge together that morning.

Since she was back, she didn’t bother with those who were missing. Wang Si Qin went to the study and saw the mess. She was speechless and began to sort it out in silence.

Li Qi Ming came back from school and changed his clothes. “Where is Si Qin?”

“She has returned and is now in the study,” said Zhao Fu as he offered a cup of hot tea.

When Li Qi Ming heard this, he moved to walk to the study. But, halfway through the action, he stopped. “Oh!”

Zhao Fu watched from behind, feeling somewhat helpless. Obviously, His Highness had called Wang Si Qin back, but he pretended that he didn’t care. Why did he bother to embarrass himself like this?!

His Highness hummed and hawed, and ended up not sleeping well that night. Those waiting on him looked at him in distress. Fortunately, in the morning, His Highness finally understood and ordered Si Qin to come back. This meeting was awkward again.

They also thought about it clearly. Sooner or later, His Highness would have a caring person to serve him. Instead of those women who didn’t know better, it was better to have Si Qin. Although she was related to Yong An Mansion, her biological father was unknown. Her identity was good for a concubine. They also knew Si Qin’s character. If she really became the favoured concubine of His Highness, she would probably be like Empress Xiao Quan, and not a demonic woman who would try and ruin the country.

Although, His Highness was still young. Who knew what would happen in the future?

Over there, Wang Si Qin had heard that the crown prince had returned to the palace, so she hurriedly left the study to meet him. She didn’t expect the crown prince to treat her indifferently. She had no idea what was wrong.

Wang Si Qin didn’t bother. After she greeted the crown prince, she withdrew. There were still a lot of things for her to do. She didn’t know what His Highness did yesterday for the study to be in such a mess. She had spent the entire morning organising it and hadn’t finished yet.

Li Qi Ming blushed in anger when he saw her like this.

But after a while, he felt that this was too much. It was obvious that Si Qin didn’t know anything.

Finally, Li Qi Ming went to the study. Wang Si Qin was standing on the ladder and organising his books.

“Was it fun going home?” Li Qi Ming asked after he watched her for a while. Although Wang Si Qin didn’t say anything, her expression told him. Wang Si Qin was in a good mood.

Wang Si Qin was startled and looked down at the crown prince. She then went down the ladder.

Li Qi Ming waved his hand. “You don’t need to be polite.” He then took a book and handed it to Wang Si Qin and the two of them started to converse.

“It was fun. We ate barbeque in the garden last night. Although the meat was burnt, it was very interesting. Everyone was happy,” Wang Si Qin said with a smile.

“Oh,” said Li Qi Ming. “From now on, you can leave the palace once a month. You can go in the morning, but come back before the palace gate closes at night.”

Wang Si Qin was a little surprised, but she shook her head and refused. “Thank you for your kindness, but forget it! Your Highness has just become the master of the Eastern Palace. If His Highness breaks the rules for His Highness’ people, then His Highness will be criticised. Moreover, if this starts, then more people will follow suit. In that case, what will happen? Since His Highness has now become the crown prince, His Highness must abide by the rules. Just know that this servant’s family are doing well.”

Li Qi Ming glanced at her and then nodded. He casually took a book and sat on the steps to read. Wang Si Qin had sorted out all the books at her feet. It was difficult to get past him to get the other books, so she had to sit down to grab them. The master and the servant read the books one by one.