spend time

After delivering the imperial edict, Minister Dong did not rush back to the capital. He spent the New Year in the Prince of Nanyang's Palace. It was not until the eighth day of the first lunar month that he returned to the capital with a generous gift.

The Nanyang Palace, which had been bustling for many days, finally became peaceful and returned to its former busyness.

After this New Year, Jiang Shaohua will be fourteen years old.

Seeing that the princess' birthday was approaching, Prince Lu enthusiastically suggested organizing a good birthday banquet.

Jiang Shaohua said, "Because of the imperial court's award of the title of Earl of Changning a few years ago, the palace held many celebration banquets one after another. Not only did it cost a lot of money and food, but everyone in the palace was exhausted. There is no need to be extravagant on this princess' birthday this year."

In the palace, Jiang Shaohua has the final say. As a father, Lu Junma has almost no influence on his daughter.

County Master Lu was not upset at being rejected, and said with a smile: "Then let's keep it simple this year. Next year, the princess will come of age, and the ceremony should be more grand."

Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly: "Of course." Then he turned around and discussed this year's tour arrangements with Chen Changshi beside him.

Lu Junma sat for a while, but felt bored, so he stood up and left.

After returning to the courtyard, Aunt Mei and her two children greeted them respectfully.

Aunt Mei is still charming and gentle. Lu Ying is nine years old this year. She has grown taller and her eyebrows and eyes are becoming more mature. She looks quite like her father. Lu Ruohua is eight years old this year. She is cute and adorable, with a pair of particularly bright black eyes.

Three years ago, Jiang Shaohua invited a scholar to be Lu Ying's teacher, and Lu Ruohua also studied with him. Over the past few years, Lu Ying's academic performance has improved rapidly, and Lu Ruohua has also learned well.

"Is Ying'er going to Jingzhou Prefecture to study this year?" Aunt Mei looked at Lu Xuan eagerly, her tone revealing reluctance: "He is only nine years old, isn't it a little early?"

Lu Xuan frowned, "It's just right to go to the prefectural school at the age of nine. You can't just bury your head in study. Go to the Jingzhou Prefectural School, where there are several great scholars in Jingzhou as teachers, and you can also meet some classmates and broaden your horizons. This is very beneficial for the imperial examination."

"The princess also agrees, so the matter is settled."

Hearing that the princess also meant this, Aunt Mei immediately stopped talking and nodded silently.

Lu Ying was not afraid at all about leaving home to go to the provincial school to study. Instead, she was full of anticipation.

He had lived in this courtyard since he was born and had grown up until he was nine years old. He had only traveled a few times. Now he could finally leave this courtyard and take a look at the vast fields outside.

Lu Ruohua looked at her brother enviously and whispered, “I also want to go out to study.”

"Ridiculous!" Lu Xuan glared at his daughter. "How can a woman show her face in public? Besides, all the students in Jingzhou Prefecture School are men, and there has never been a precedent for women to enroll. Don't mess around!"

Lu Ruohua retorted in a low voice: "I didn't say I was going to the prefectural school. I wanted to go to the girls' school in Ye County."

In the past two years, the reputation of the girls' school in Ye County has become more and more famous. Even Aunt Mei and her daughter have heard of it. Especially Lu Ruohua, after knowing that there is such a place, she felt an inexplicable desire in her heart. Today, she finally mustered up the courage to speak out.

Lu Xuan frowned and snorted, "You are studying in the palace, with a teacher to teach you, why go to Ye County. That girls' school is a gimmick made by the Cui County Magistrate and his wife to please the princess. It won't last for a few years. Besides, the students there are girls from humble families. Why do you want to get to know them?"

These words were really harsh to hear.

Aunt Mei couldn't bear to listen any longer, so she lowered her eyes to hide her emotions.

Lu Ruohua was still young and didn't know how to hide her feelings. When she heard her father's contemptuous comments about the girls' school, she was so angry that she said loudly, "That's not what my father said! The girls' school in Ye County is very good. The princess has praised it many times. Years ago, I met that Master Li. She is beautiful, kind, and full of talent. I want to be her student." "The girls in the girls' school are not humble either. I want to go to the school and be their classmates."

Lu Xuan was so angry that he slammed the table with force, making a crisp sound. "You bastard! How dare you speak to your father like that! Are you trying to be disobedient and unfilial? Go back to your room and kneel down! You are not allowed to eat dinner today!"

Lu Xuan was a coward in the Nanyang Palace, but in this courtyard, he was the absolute male master, domineering. No one dared to disobey him.

Lu Ruohua was so aggrieved that she kept crying.

Aunt Mei was afraid that her daughter would say something inappropriate to anger Lu Xuan, so she quickly bent down to apologize and pulled Lu Ruhua into the house.

Lu Ruohua knelt on the soft and thick futon, crying and sobbing: "Why can't you let me go to Ye County School? I want to go!"

"My father's words don't count. I'm going to ask my sister. As long as she agrees, I can go to school."

Aunt Mei's heart tightened, and she hurried to close the door: "Girl, if your father hears this, he will be furious again."

Lu Ruohua was also a stubborn child. She wiped her tears with her sleeves and said, "I will go and beg my sister tomorrow."

Lu Ying felt sorry for her sister, so she wrung out a warm handkerchief and wiped the tears off her sister's face. Then she said softly, "I'll go with you tomorrow."

Lu Ruohua’s eyes lit up, and he grabbed Lu Ying’s sleeve: “Brother, do you support me too?”

Lu Ying smiled and nodded: "Going out to study can broaden your horizons and increase your knowledge, which is a good thing. Of course I support it. But you have to think it over. If your sister really agrees, you will have to leave the palace like me and live in a strange place. It will be useless to cry when you miss home."

She didn't think about her biological father, but she was reluctant to leave her biological mother.

Lu Ruohua hesitated for a while, and quickly made up her mind: "If I miss my mother, I will come back when I have a vacation."

The brother and sister were talking animatedly, and Aunt Mei did not stop them. She reached out and touched her daughter's face, saying softly, "In my heart, nothing is more important than your academic future. Whether you succeed or not, go and try tomorrow."

……

The next morning, Aunt Mei took Lu Ying and his sister to pay their respects to the princess.

In the past few years, whenever Jiang Shaohua was in the palace, Aunt Mei would come to pay her respects every few days. Jiang Shaohua was quite kind to the three of them, mother and son, and always kept Aunt Mei to talk.

"After the Lantern Festival, Brother Ying will go to the Jingzhou Prefecture School." Jiang Shaohua said with a smile: "When you go to the prefecture school, you must study hard and don't embarrass the palace."

Lu Ying nodded heavily in agreement.

Lu Ruohua couldn't wait to open her mouth and beg: "Sister, I want to go to Ye County Girls' School to study, please agree."

Jiang Shaohua was a little surprised and glanced at Aunt Mei: "Does Aunt Mei know about this?"

Aunt Mei took a deep breath, pulled Lu Ruohua down to kneel down and said, "I came here today to ask the princess to agree." (End of this chapter)