Chapter 1, Unworthy Offspring

General Du, with his black face and fierce beard, is quite intimidating. Yue Zheng always dares not look at him for more than two glances. It is truly unexpected that he would have a daughter like Du Siyu!

Madam, Madam!" A maid hurriedly walked in from outside, her expression remarkably calm, "The master is going to hit the young master again.

Oh—" Yuezheng felt a slight disappointment, yet also found it to be quite natural. Fenglin enjoyed playing with Du Siyu, just as the Crown Prince liked to play with her and Yueque. Although Fenglin was the legitimate student of her father, he always treated her and her brother with indifference, unlike the more approachable Crown Prince Fengxun. There was nothing to be done; in Yuezheng's memory, his temperament had always been this way—sparing in words, having a bad temper, and when displeased, he would coldly glare.

The clever maid had already attentively reported: "The clothing and jewelry are all prepared, madam"

The eunuch Xiang was anxious, stamping his foot and urging, "Little ancestors, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is still waiting!"

The Yuan siblings frequently entered the imperial court, and with the guidance of Eunuch Xiang by their side, they encountered little scrutiny and smoothly gained access to the palace

At the age of ten, Du Siyu already exuded a graceful and elegant charm typical of a young girl. When her small hand rested on Feng Lin's arm as she reached out to support her, Yue Zheng, who was watching coldly from the side, felt a gentle stirring in her heart, as if something delicate had plucked at it, leaving her feeling both sweet and numb. Before Feng Lin could speak, she hurriedly reminded them of her presence, "Siyu, we have been waiting for you for quite a while, come and play with us."

Yuezheng knew that he did not understand how to appreciate it, pointing and preparing to elaborate on the wonderful aspects of this mantis. The sound of carriages and horses came from the palace road, and the person at the front of the convoy rode a tall horse, whose imposing presence would intimidate anyone even with a glance. Yuezheng lowered her arms and followed Fenglin's gaze to look at the Du family's procession. General Du Zhian was renowned for his military achievements and concurrently served as the Minister of War. The Emperor granted him special permission to ride into the inner court, making him the most formidable figure in the entire Shun Qian dynasty. He was also the nominal teacher of the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince's tutor. Yueque often sighed, wondering why there was such a vast difference between General Du, a royal teacher, and the original scholar, who was also a royal teacher.

The maid and the young servant outside the door reacted with extreme indifference to the impending punishment of the young master, each preoccupied with their own tasks, showing no signs of being affected. The master, in a fit of rage, found the frequent invocation of the "family rules" to be excessive, making it difficult for them to muster any positive response.

The eunuch smacked his lips, ultimately not daring to use force against the crown prince's companion, and hurriedly ran back to report to his master with a sense of trepidation

"My lord," the former lady smiled at him, "tonight you are the only one dining, I truly apologize for that. I have specially prepared your favorite dishes."

The moon's crescent heard the joy in its expression, while the moon zither wore a face of regret. Xiao Xiangzi arrived just in time; this meal was destined to go to waste

Upon seeing Feng Lin, Du Zhi'an merely adjusted his stirrups on the horse and greeted him nonchalantly, saying: "Prince of Guangling."

Du Zhian cleared his throat and said, "Since that is the case—do not forget to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress."

Before the words had even faded, the steward in the courtyard eagerly announced in a loud voice: "Sir, Master Xiang has arrived"

Yue Zheng frowned and thought for a moment, "You should quickly go tell Feng Xun that we are all here, and let him come to join us."

Du Siyu heard it, and Rou Rou lifted the car curtain to look outside, but she did not dare to jump out of the car. With her eyes glistening, she gazed at Feng Lin, who was walking towards her.

Xiang Gonggong is the close attendant of the Crown Prince, aged around fifteen or sixteen. Having visited the Yuan family numerous times, he is now quite familiar with the surroundings and can come and go with ease

When Du Zhian rejected Matou, he naturally noticed the smile on his daughter's face as she looked at Prince Guangling, and a slight ripple arose in his eyes.

The former scholar trembled his lips as he watched his son and daughter leave without looking back, feeling that the dignity of an elder had been completely trampled upon. He cast a furtive glance at the servants in the courtyard—those who were to trim the flowers did so, and those who were to wipe the fence did so... The steward stood proudly at the gate of the courtyard, asking a young servant, "Is Madam's carriage and horses ready?" Upon closer inspection, the former master noticed that the young servant who was nodding and bowing in response to the steward was the very one he had sent to convey the family rules...

The original moonlit courtyard played a tune, and he raised his eyes to look at his father, feeling a bit of despair. He had just begun to understand what a eunuch was, only to realize that his father bore some resemblance to one, which saddened him greatly. The father he envisioned should be like General Du, or at the very least, like his uncle; he certainly did not expect the pale, soft-bearded man before him, who spoke in a delicate voice and, when agitated, would cry out like a plucked chicken.

Yueque also instructed to stop the carriage, jumped down to greet Fenglin, and his casual demeanor would surely provoke his father to scold him. Being of similar age and often getting into mischief together, it was not easy to establish a hierarchy between the Yuan family siblings.

Miss Yuan always had to bring a change of clothes when attending banquets in the palace, and she would redo her makeup before taking her seat to avoid appearing disheveled and disrespectful. Despite raising such children, Grand Scholar Yuan still got angry every day, attempting to enlighten the ignorant, while Madam Yuan had long resigned herself to the situation, allowing things to unfold as they would.

In the entire house, only Yuan Yuezheng, with unflagging enthusiasm, jumped up with a beaming smile, as if afraid of missing the excitement. Without waiting for her mother, she swung her short legs and ran towards her father's study, wearing a knee-length skirt that allowed for easy movement. In the blink of an eye, she arrived at the door of the study.

The original bachelor complied with the rules and went out to greet them, while the fragrant eunuch politely acknowledged the greeting, saying, "The Crown Prince has something to say; the Yuan family siblings are requested to enter the palace earlier for tonight's banquet."

The original bachelor suddenly felt the world was filled with vibrant flowers, without a trace of gloom, as he warmly hurried over to support his wife, nodding repeatedly.

The renowned scholar of the original bachelor generation in the capital, when angrily scolding others, also pays great attention to parallelism and antithesis. At this moment, he is eloquently elaborating on the principles of ethics and propriety: there are distinctions in respect and inferiority, and there are differences between ruler and subject

Prince Guangling, Feng Lin, was not surprised by her somewhat reckless appearance. His perfectly shaped lips curled slightly as he said, "I am waiting for Si Yu"

Du Siyu smiled slightly at her, her starry eyes shimmering, and her cheeks adorned with a hint of cherry blossom charm, truly deserving of the title of light beauty renowned in the capital. Yuezheng felt a twinge of discomfort, and she couldn't help but recall the words of the Empress when she once saw them playing in the garden: "If Yuezheng were to change her temperament, she might be on par with Siyu." At that time, she remembered this remark but did not understand its meaning, so she specifically asked her mother upon returning home. The original lady glanced at her daughter, whose hair was disheveled from play and whose clothes were covered in dust, and bluntly explained: "The Empress said you are not as good as Du Siyu!" At that time, she remembered this remark but did not understand its meaning, so she specifically asked her mother upon returning home. The original lady glanced at her daughter, whose hair was disheveled from play and whose clothes were covered in dust, and bluntly explained: "The Empress said you are not as good as Du Siyu!"

I will wait with you. " Yuezheng smiled as she leaned closer to him, while Fenglin remained silent

The Prince of Guangling was born with an extraordinary appearance and exceptional intelligence, becoming a topic of admiration in both the marketplace and the court. In contrast, the Crown Prince's reputation was somewhat lacking. Although the Emperor was determined to support the Crown Prince, he could not help but show favoritism towards him, considering the late Empress Xiaohui. The favor enjoyed by the Prince of Guangling was unparalleled among the princes, and coupled with the full support of his maternal uncles, it led to years of hidden turmoil regarding the succession.

In early summer, when the flowers are in full bloom, the Empress invites the Princess Consort to a banquet to appreciate the flowers, and the young ladies from various families are also included in the invitation. Logically, such an occasion would not involve the family of the former scholar, as the former scholar serving in the Hanlin Academy is merely a minor official of the fifth rank, a mere scholar without power or influence. However, as the esteemed teacher of the Fifth Prince, Prince Guangling, Fenglin, the Emperor and Empress have always treated him with special courtesy.

Yuan Yuezhen peeked in through the door frame with a giggle, while the one being scolded remained remarkably calm, kneeling on the ground and shamelessly picking his nose. The scholar Yuan, hailing from a family of literary tradition, could not tolerate such vulgarity, feeling deeply disgusted by his son to the core, his voice trembling as he sharply shouted: "Family rules, family rules"

The gentle breeze of early summer sways the delicate willows outside the intricately carved window, dancing lightly and gracefully. The lady sits beside the dressing table in front of the window, instructing her maid to style her hair, and this scene brings her an extraordinary sense of joy

Having just passed through the long archway, Yue Zheng heard the greeting of the fragrant eunuch. Upon hearing "Prince Guangling," she immediately lifted the curtain of the carriage. Although the carriage was still in motion, she leaped down gracefully and landed lightly in front of Feng Lin.

Du Zhian, esteemed as a pillar of the nation, has been repeatedly instructed by the Emperor to ensure that the princes treat him with respect. Therefore, Feng Lin respectfully clasped his fists in greeting to him

This time, the Emperor has appointed new tutors for the Crown Prince and the Prince of Guangling. For the Crown Prince, he has chosen not only a true scholar of great renown but also Yan Huazhe, the Minister of War and Chancellor. In contrast, the Prince of Guangling has been assigned a minor scholar with no background or influence, the implications of which are glaringly obvious. As the Crown Prince grows older, the Emperor's attitude towards the Prince of Guangling is likely no longer as simple and naive as it was during the childhood of the princes.

Madam Yuan did not even glance at her, instead choosing earrings from her makeup box, and casually asked the maid, "Is everything ready for the young lady's evening gown?"

Du Zhian furrowed his brow as he rode, thinking of Si Yu—who had been held in high regard by the Du family since childhood. Recently, the Empress had also been dropping hints. However, despite being a martial man, he had served in office for many years, and the political landscape was unpredictable. Si Yu was still young, so he had refrained from engaging with the Empress's insinuations on several occasions. Minister Du sighed softly, saying that it is often said that children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. He could only hope that Si Yu would bring blessings rather than misfortune to the Du family.

Oh. Madame Yuan was also quite composed, gently shaking her head from side to side as she examined her makeup in the mirror

Yuan Yueque turned back with a sense of frustration, finding no one to rely on. He said somewhat impatiently: "Father, if you are going to strike, please do it quickly; everyone is quite busy."

The original bachelor was momentarily taken aback. Faced with his daughter's charmingly beautiful little face and her radiant smile, he truly found it hard to feel anger. The inability to feel anger only deepened his frustration. He and his wife, both of whom were raised in a family of poetry and propriety, could not understand how they could have produced such children. It is not just a matter of unworthy parents; even the ancestors of the original family had never produced anyone like this!

The mood of Bachelor Yuan was quite complex; he was relieved that no one noticed his frustration, yet disheartened by the decline of his own authority. Just then, the elegantly dressed Mrs. Yuan gracefully walked into the courtyard, and Bachelor Yuan's spirits lifted. After all these years, his wife was still so pleasing to the eye, her beauty reminiscent of the moon and the zither. If it were not for the striking appearance of those two little brats, they would truly be worthless; it would be no loss to throw them in the wilderness to be eaten by wolves! Bachelor Yuan was indignant. If it were not for the striking appearance of those two little brats, they would truly be worthless; it would be no loss to throw them in the wilderness to be eaten by wolves! Bachelor Yuan was indignant.

Yuan Yuezheng entered the room with a smile, sitting obediently on the threshold, her small hands neatly placed on her knees, her bright eyes sparkling. "No, I just came to observe a little."

Madam Yuan nodded, feeling that her pair of lively treasures seemed to have been swapped in from the market by a midwife. Other young ladies by the age of ten had already taken on the demeanor of little adults, speaking eloquently and behaving gracefully, standing tall and charming. However, the children of the Yuan family still retained a mischievous spirit. Coupled with the notorious troublemaker, Yuan Yueque, who was an extremely unsuccessful older brother, the Yuan siblings spent their days climbing trees and wading in rivers, teasing cats and dogs, with not a moment of peace for anyone. It is truly remarkable that the Emperor and Empress still entrusted the scholarly Yuan, who had such lively treasures at home, to be the tutor of Prince Guangling.

Prince Fengxun and Yuan Yueque are of similar age and temperament, and although Yueque is a companion scholar to the Prince of Guangling, she is even more familiar with the Crown Prince. They often enjoy causing trouble together. This situation has caused considerable anger for Scholar Yuan, who believes that the playful interactions between these two children, both around twelve or thirteen years old, are utterly inappropriate. In his view, the Crown Prince should be revered like a deity, requiring others to kneel upon meeting him, avoiding direct eye contact, and refraining from unnecessary conversation. This matter has greatly vexed Scholar Yuan, as he feels that the playful camaraderie between the Crown Prince and Yueque is a serious breach of decorum.

Du Zhian had a blank expression on his face, while Du Siyu timidly glanced at him and softly said, "Father..." She did not even dare to clearly express her desire to stay and play with her companions

The Prince of Guangling had walked to his daughter's carriage, and Du Zhian could not continue driving forward. He could only raise his hand, and the well-trained attendants immediately brought the carriage to a steady stop.

Yuezheng took out the precious mantis from the small cloth pouch at her waist, "Fenglin, look, isn't it beautiful"

"Mother, how long are you going to take to get ready?" Sitting on a low stool, Yuan Yuanzheng was growing increasingly impatient. She raised the mantis in her hand, which had been tormented by her for quite some time, flailing its large claws in a manner that perfectly matched Yuan Yuanzheng's expression. She was quite pleased with the bright green mantis she had caught today, finding it much more impressive than the one the prince had shown her a couple of days ago. She was eager to show it off, making her mother's preparation time feel particularly long.

The original moonlight turned back, feeling somewhat moved, "Sister, will you come and plead for me?"

"Father," a child with a moon-shaped hairstyle and a pair of crescent-shaped eyes peeked out from the door frame, "Are you going to hit brother again?" The voice was sweet, and the smile even sweeter

"Feng Lin, are you waiting for me?" She tilted her head and smiled at the handsome young man who was much taller than her, too familiar with him that she called him by his name in private. A child's emotions are very straightforward; she liked beautiful things, and she liked Feng Lin more than the Crown Prince for a particularly simple reason: Feng Lin was more handsome than Crown Prince Feng Xun. Throughout the Shun Qian Dynasty, Feng Lin was more attractive than any young man she had ever seen.

Feng Lin cast a faint glance and responded with a nonchalant "mm".

Prince Guangling was born to the late Empress Xiaohui. The Emperor once intended to establish him as the Crown Prince, but unfortunately, Empress Xiaohui passed away due to illness. The virtuous Consort subsequently became the Empress Mother and was deeply favored. Ultimately, it was the second prince, Fengxun, born of the current Empress, who was conferred the title of heir. The court is very sensitive regarding the matter of appointing a Crown Prince. The maternal family of the late Empress Xiaohui once flourished, and although they have faced repeated suppression by the Emperor and their glory has faded, they are still a prominent family with a history of a hundred years and extensive connections, which should not be underestimated

Du Siyu let out a sigh of relief, as her father had agreed. Unable to contain herself, she smiled sweetly at Feng Lin, who was also looking at her. Her smile illuminated his eyes.

The original scholar was still bowing in gratitude, while his pair of oblivious children ran out to casually pat Xiao Xiangzi on the shoulder, making their father's solemnity appear quite ridiculous. Master Xiang's attitude towards the original scholar was somewhat arrogant, yet he was very warm towards the original siblings, especially towards Yuan Yuanzheng, leading her forward in a flattering manner, smiling as he said: "The Crown Prince has been waiting for quite a while..."

The 34th year of the Shunqian era of the Zhuofeng Dynasty