Master of Discipline (Continued)

Zhang Yunchi laughed at her for being silly. "If there were special imperial examinations for women, the Shen family's young ladies could go straight to the examinations. Why would they come here for lessons?"

Just as he finished speaking, Shen Zhiyun came in.

She properly paid her respects to the crown prince and princess, and someone sitting behind the crown prince offered Shen Zhiyun a seat.

Zhao Huiluan gave Zhang Yunchi a meaningful look, and he switched places with Shen Zhiyun.

They had just settled into their seats when Rong An arrived.

Everyone rose and greeted him respectfully. "Master."

After returning their greeting, Rong An began the lesson.

Zhao Huiluan propped up her chin, her gaze following Rong An wherever he went. The sight of her was more than Zhang Yunchi could bear to look at.

Rong An, however, was unaffected.

Zhao Huiluan looked away and picked up her brush, writing and drawing on a sheet of paper with great concentration.

Burning with curiosity, Zhang Yunchi craned his neck, trying to get a good look at her drawing while Rong An wasn't watching.

Unexpectedly, Rong An came down and stopped in front of him. Tapping the desk, he asked, "Where does 'investigating things to attain knowledge' come from?"

Zhang Yunchi hurriedly stood up. "It comes from 'The Great Learning' in the Book of Rites: 'The attainment of knowledge lies in the investigation of things. Only when things have been investigated can knowledge be attained.'"

Rong An nodded, his gaze falling on the portrait Zhao Huiluan had drawn.

"Very good."

With that, he took the portrait, returned to his desk, and sat down to explain "investigating things to attain knowledge" to them.

Zhao Huiluan was dumbfounded.

After class, she went to Rong An to ask for the portrait back.

"Your Highness, the Hall of Literary Glory is a place for teaching and learning. Since Your Highness has come here, you ought to listen attentively."

"I know, but give me back the portrait first."

Rong An spread the portrait on his desk. Zhao Huiluan seized the chance to snatch it, but he pressed his large hand down on it, and she couldn't pull it free.

"This is a portrait of me. I believe I have the right to keep it."

Unable to argue with him, Zhao Huiluan could only watch as he folded the portrait and tucked it into his sleeve.

Suddenly, she smiled.

"Since you like it, Lord Rong, I shall give it to you."

Rong An's hand paused as he tucked it into his sleeve.

Zhao Huiluan returned to Jade Balance Palace in triumph.

But her triumph lasted only a few days. When it was Rong An's turn to teach again, he said he would collect their homework. Only then did she remember that at the end of the previous lesson, Rong An had told everyone to copy "The Great Learning" three times.

"You... you're going to hit me?"

Rong An held a disciplinary ruler, one end resting on her blank homework page.

Zhao Huiluan was shocked, and Zhang Yunchi and the others were so frightened that they stood up.

"Do you realize you're defying your superior? I could punish you for this."

"Here in the Hall of Literary Glory, I know only that everyone present is my student. Though the crown prince and princess hold exalted positions and are of noble status, so long as I am your teacher, I must shoulder a teacher's responsibilities. I also ask Your Highness to remember what you ought to do as a student."

"Once we leave the Hall of Literary Glory, if Your Highness or His Majesty wishes to punish me for any offense, I shall have not a word of complaint."

Zhao Huiluan clenched her fist, but held it out all the same.

As the ruler was about to come down, she squeezed her eyes shut in fright.

"Master."

A small hand reached over from the side and held itself out above Zhao Huiluan's.

"Elder Sister is afraid of pain. Let me take her place."

"Elder Sister forgot to do the copying, and I am also to blame for not reminding her. It is my fault too."

"Let me, let me!" Zhang Yunchi held out his hand as well.

Zhao Huiluan pulled her younger brother close and scolded him. "I made the mistake, so I'll bear it myself. There's no need for you to play the hero!"

After speaking to the little crown prince, she turned on Zhang Yunchi. "Are you stupid? Why are you so eager to get hit? What does it have to do with you? Stay where you are!"

The little crown prince tried to hold out his hand again, but Zhao Huiluan pulled him firmly against her and thrust out her right hand.

"Do it!"

She didn't dare look, wearing the expression of someone facing death without flinching.

Rong An showed no mercy. The ruler came down hard, and Zhao Huiluan's whole body trembled with pain.

She took a moment to recover, then looked at Rong An. "Two more."

The ruler came down again.

Her hand pressed down hard on the little crown prince, while her right hand trembled, its palm bright red.

The little crown prince knew how much it hurt her. His heart ached terribly for her, but he could only hug his sister tightly.

Rong An couldn't help looking at the princess's face. He had assumed she would fly into a rage when he raised the ruler, punish him for disrespect, and then leave the Hall of Literary Glory.

He hadn't expected her to endure it.

The third blow fell.

Zhao Huiluan cried out in pain. She looked at her right hand, its fingertips trembling, her eyes brimming with tears.

Shen Zhiyun frowned and asked her, "Shall we go back to Jade Balance Palace?"

Zhao Huiluan shook her head and quietly returned to her seat.

After class, only Zhao Huiluan and Zhang Yunchi remained in the Hall of Literary Glory.

The little crown prince had wanted to stay too, but seeing Zhao Huiluan on the verge of tears and struggling to hold them back, Shen Zhiyun shook her head and accompanied him back first.

"Do you regret it?"

"What?"

"Do you regret what you said at the Jade Forest Banquet?"

Zhao Huiluan smiled and blew on her red, swollen, burning palm.

When she didn't answer, Zhang Yunchi asked again, "What do you like about him? His looks? His talent? Or the way he hit your palm?"

"Zhang Yanli! You're mocking me!"

Zhao Huiluan was so worked up that she wanted to hit him, but as soon as she moved her hand, the pain made her grimace, and she cradled her palm, blowing on it nonstop.

"You don't understand."

She said, "If Rong An publicly refused the marriage to Wen Nihe, the Wen family wouldn't let him off."

"And how do you know he doesn't want to become the Wen family's son-in-law? With the Grand Secretary's support, his official career would leave others unable to catch up even on horseback."

"I just know! A man like him would disdain to rely on family connections to advance his career."

"Blow on it for me. It hurts terribly."

As she spoke, she held her hand out to Zhang Yunchi.

Zhang Yunchi readily obliged, blowing on her palm.

"Ever since you were little, His Majesty couldn't bear to lay a finger on you."

"Remember when we were little and I caused you to fall and hurt yourself? You only scraped a little skin, but Father and Grandfather were so distressed that they gave me ten strokes of the board."