Consort Ru quickened her pace to meet him.

"Eunuch Li, what’s wrong with His Majesty? Why is he in such a rage?"

When Eunuch Li looked up and saw her, he couldn’t help but groan inwardly.

’What awful timing!’

"Imperial Concubine, this... this..." Eunuch Li looked awkward. "His Majesty wishes to see the Second Prince."

Consort Ru grew even more uneasy.

"Why would His Majesty suddenly summon Cheng Xuan out of the blue?"

Of course, Eunuch Li couldn’t say.

Knowing she wouldn’t get anything out of him, Consort Ru turned to go inside, but Eunuch Li quickly blocked her way.

"Oh, Your Highness, you shouldn’t go in right now. His Majesty is in a fury!"

A muscle in Consort Ru’s brow twitched. Whenever His Majesty had been angry in the past, she had always been the one to soothe his temper, the perfect, understanding companion. For Eunuch Li to dissuade her like this... ’It must mean the Emperor’s anger is truly related to Cheng Xuan!’

Consort Ru pressed her lips together, her mind racing through everything Xiao Chengxuan had done recently.

’There shouldn’t be... any problem, right?’

She pondered for a moment, then forced a smile.

"If that’s the case, then I shall return later."

Eunuch Li breathed a sigh of relief and hurried away.

Consort Ru glanced back. His Majesty would not be unaware of her arrival, yet from beginning to end, he had shown no intention of seeing her.

"Let’s return to the palace."

Consort Ru withdrew her gaze and walked toward Yaohua Palace.

The moment she entered, Consort Ru ordered someone to bring her a brush and ink.

A quarter of an hour later, she had finished writing a letter.

It was addressed—To my Father.

...

「Jiang Mansion.」

Jiang Zhao Yuan was quizzing his grandson, Jiang Heqi, on his recitations. Jiang Heqi was seven years old and mischievous by nature, only reining it in slightly in Jiang Zhao Yuan’s presence.

With his hands behind his back, he recited two lines before forgetting the rest, stammering for a long time without being able to recall them.

Jiang Zhao Yuan frowned. "It’s just one seven-character poem, only eight lines in total. You can’t even memorize this?"

Jiang Heqi pouted.

Seeing his attitude, Jiang Zhao Yuan grew even angrier. "The Jiang family has produced generations of civil servants! Which of them was ever as unruly as you? How will you ever succeed in your studies?! If you can’t recite this today, you won’t get any dinner!"

Jiang Heqi would have none of it and immediately started shouting, "It’s just some stuffy old poem! What does it matter if I memorize one more or one less? Is Grandfather really going to starve his own grandson?"

"You—"

Jiang Zhao Yuan raised his hand, but before the slap could land, someone came rushing over.

"Master, a letter from the palace!"

Jiang Zhao Yuan froze, then his brows knitted slightly.

"Let me see."

’Why would Mei’er suddenly send a letter at a time like this?’

After opening the letter, Jiang Zhao Yuan quickly scanned the few words written on it, and his expression changed slightly.

He considered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Someone, prepare the carriage. We’re going to the palace at once!"

Hearing that he was leaving, Jiang Heqi was delighted, but in the next second, the smile froze on his face.

"Memorize it properly! If you still can’t recite it when I return, you will face the family discipline!"

Jiang Heqi’s face immediately fell.

’How could he possibly memorize this stuff!? It’s so boring!’

After Jiang Zhao Yuan left, Jiang Heqi irritably swept everything to the floor.

Only after he had vented most of his anger did he finally calm down.

"Go find me a couple of crickets! I want to play!"

The servants exchanged hesitant glances.

"Young Master, the master instructed that you are not to leave this courtyard before he returns..."

Jiang Heqi snorted and lifted his chin.

"What, does my word mean nothing now?"

He was Jiang Zhao Yuan’s only grandson; how could these servants dare to defy him?

After a moment’s hesitation, they lowered their heads and backed away.

Jiang Heqi sneered in disdain and strode out.

’His grandfather was the current Chief Cabinet Minister, and his aunt was the favored Consort Ru. So what if he didn’t study a few stupid books?’