Chapter 11

Chapter 11

[Your legitimate elder brother has earned modest praise from Palace Tutor Lu Zhen (Middle Rank), gaining 20 points in the palace struggle.]

[Your legitimate elder brother has earned modest praise from the Emperor Xiao Yunzhou (High Rank), gaining 50 points in the palace struggle.]

[Your legitimate elder brother has gained significant favor from Sixth Prince Cheng Shan, gaining 30 points in the palace struggle.]

Xiao Chuchu was admiring her mother Lower Concubine Liu embroidering flowers in the main hall, struggling to keep her eyes open from drowsiness.

Suddenly, she was jolted awake by three consecutive system prompts.

Just as she was pondering this, she heard the steady voice of a young man.

"Prince Cheng Qian greets Mother."

It was her brother!

Xiao Chuchu made an effort to prop herself up and looked toward the handsome young Fifth Prince entering the room.

[Did Brother pass the examination?]

Fifth Prince Cheng Qian had just entered the room when he heard his sister's thoughts. Although he had maintained a stern expression all the way from the Palace Tutor's chambers, unable to show his emotions to ordinary people, he now couldn't help but crack a slight smile.

"Mother, the tutor did indeed test us on our recent lessons this afternoon."

Cheng Qian smiled at his sister, but quickly turned to Lower Concubine Liu and said, "I did reasonably well. The Emperor has rewarded me, Elder Brother, Second Brother, and Sixth Brother with a mutton hot pot for dinner."

Lower Concubine Liu was overjoyed. "Cheng Qian has done well."

Although she had heard her daughter's thoughts and was not at all impressed by the reward from the 'Emperor who had almost gotten her buried alive', she was very happy that her son had passed the test safely and avoided getting his palms beaten.

"Quickly wash your hands, warm yourself up, and come see your sister. She has just nursed and is feeling sleepy."

It was all thanks to this young girl, a reincarnated immortal, that her son had avoided the crisis.

Cheng Qian didn't need to be told and had already warmed his hands.

He stood eagerly in front of the cradle, gazing at his sister's adorable appearance.

"Mother, if you or Sister ever lack anything, just send someone to let me know."

"No matter what, you must not be shortchanged."

It was all thanks to his sister that he knew the examination points today.

He did not think his sister had any evil powers, or that she was a calamity. On the contrary, he felt she was a blessing from Heaven.

His kind and fortunate sister had protected him.

[Wow, did Brother gain the tutor's favor?]

[The Palace Tutor is very powerful, and he was even the Emperor Father's teacher, it seems.]

Cheng Qian silently agreed.

Today, when Scholar Lu returned from the Qian Qing Palace, he not only brought rewards and punishments, but his expression when looking at Cheng Qian also showed a degree of approval that was unusual.

Normally, although Scholar Lu was very attentive to all the princes, he still taught the older first three princes more.

He was not good with words, and did not treat Cheng Qian specially.

But today was different.

After returning, Scholar Lu looked at him several times.

"Do not be arrogant or hasty. Cheng Qian, do not slack off in your studies, but..."

Lower Concubine Liu couldn't help but worry about what her daughter had said about her son's fate.

"But a tall tree in the forest will be blown down by the wind."

Before he had even grown up, he would face envy and hatred, which was a calamity.

Cheng Qian nodded in agreement. He knew.

In this life, until the succession to the throne was assured, he would remain cautious.

"Rest assured, Mother. Today's reward was not just for me..."

But as he said this, he faltered in sudden alarm.

His mother now had such great wisdom.

The tragic fate his sister had mentioned seemed to have been calculated step by step by his mother, first using his grandfather to test and warn the grandsons, and now reminding him not to reveal his abilities too openly.

"If it weren't for Fifth Brother today, I would have been beaten on the palms like Third Brother and Fourth Brother!"

Sixth Prince puffed out his chest.

Consort Min immediately felt fear in retrospect. Their palms had been beaten too?

She knew her own son's abilities; in terms of lessons, he was probably only slightly better than the youngest Seventh Prince, who was only five years old.

If it weren't for Fifth Prince's help, her son's palms would most likely have been beaten to the point of resembling pig trotters today!

Consort Min immediately became appreciative. "The tiger inkstone set I gave you last time, there's another one. Pack it up later and deliver it to your Fifth Brother yourself."

As she spoke, her face also showed joy.

At first, she didn't believe it, but now that she knew the reason, she felt the elation of her son being praised.

Who wouldn't want a son who excels in both literary and martial arts?

"Later, I'll also send a bolt of Sichuan silk to Lower Concubine Liu."

"That's appropriate!" Cheng Shan was also delighted, patting his chubby face.

"Mother, I'll have the reward dish sent here. Tonight, I'll eat Father's rewarded mutton hot pot, and you can have the cabbage."

Consort Min: "...?"

Damn it, raising a son is not as good as raising Lower Concubine Liu!

In the Kunning Palace.

The Empress was overjoyed by the reward dish and praised the Crown Prince as she stroked his arm, "You've lost weight from studying hard recently."

"Your father has rewarded you with this dish, and Mother will also reward you with an embroidered lion head ornament."

"By the way, is that hot pot just for you, or do your brothers also get one?"

The Crown Prince immediately replied, "In addition to me, Second Brother, Fifth Brother, and Sixth Brother also received one."

A flash of thought crossed the Empress's gentle eyes.

Fifth Prince had also received a reward?

"Mother, Father likely rewarded them because of their young age."

The Empress nodded in agreement. That was probably the reason.

However, the fact that Noble Consort's Third Prince had been beaten on the palms and stripped of the right to officiate at the Winter Sacrifice was an unexpected delight!

She could eat an extra half-bowl of rice tonight!

"As the eldest brother, you should also provide guidance to Fifth Prince and Sixth Prince in the future."

"They are young, and your father pays close attention to their studies as well."

The Empress suddenly discovered a new perspective.

The younger Fifth Prince Cheng Qian and Sixth Prince Cheng Shan excelled in their studies, making the older Third Prince and Fourth Prince look even more useless!

How could that arrogant Mr. Fucha dare to challenge her?

The Third Prince born to Mr. Fucha was nothing but a worthless lump!

*

"Xiao Chuchu, Consort Min has sent you some Sichuan brocade and a bowl of bird's nest soup."

The gratitude from the neighboring room was quickly delivered to Xiao Chuchu.

The eunuch Liu from the Imperial Clan Household lowered his head as he accompanied the wet nurses.

He could not help but be astonished once again.

How did Xiao Chuchu suddenly gain such favor in the harem?

Consort Min was showing concern.

The Fifth Prince was here too!

Eunuch Liu thought to himself, then respectfully paid his respects to Xiao Chuchu and the Fifth Prince.

But as he was about to introduce the three wet nurses behind him, Xiao Chuchu and the Fifth Prince's expressions changed.

["Oh no, Mother, Brother, the wet nurse with the mole at the corner of her eye must not be employed!"]

["She was planted here by the Noble Consort!"]