My spirit appeared on the road to exile, and I was treated as an ancestor.

Chapter 53 Acquiring Reading Supplies
Although she wanted to change the situation, shouting in the quiet night was still a bit too much for Shunyu.

Fortunately, someone from the Lu family noticed the little princess and told Lu Qing. Lu Qing was surprised and took off his hat to look. Sure enough, Princess Shunyu was standing not far away.

He got up and walked around with his cane. "Why did Your Highness get off the carriage?"

It's cold at night, and it's starting to snow again. Shunyu isn't dressed warmly enough, so it's really inappropriate for her to get off the carriage now.

Shunyu scratched her sleeve. "The horse is dead, and the carriage is no longer usable."

Lu Qing was immediately in a dilemma. If the horse died, the princess would have no carriage to ride in, but he was currently penniless and had no money to buy her a new horse.
He ordered his clansmen to bring two down jackets for Shunyu, thinking that at least she should have some clothes to wear, as it was so cold at night and she might get sick.

However, before the clansmen could fetch the clothes, Shunyu suddenly knelt down before Lu Qing, saying, "Elder, I want to go with you."

Not only Lu Qing, but the entire Lu family was shocked!
If you want to leave together, then leave together. It's not a big deal. Why did you have to kneel down?

Although the emperor had stripped her of her princess title, she was still a member of the royal family. The old man was no longer an official, so why should he kneel before the Lu family?

The eunuch was also frightened and stepped forward to help his master up, but the man was kneeling in front of Lu Qing as if he had something to ask for. So the eunuch knelt down as well, because it was unreasonable for his master to kneel while he stood.

"Your Highness, please rise!" Lu Qing realized what was happening and hurriedly went to help the little princess up.

At this moment, Gu Xingzhao also noticed this side, ignored Du Hangwu's side, and quickly walked back this way.

Shunyu didn't get up. She looked up at Lu Qing, who reached out to help her. From this angle, she was instantly reminded of the time when she was a child and she had eavesdropped on Lu Qing teaching her brothers.

At that time, I was not even as tall as the Grand Secretary's leg. I was peeking through the window, stepping on pebbles, when I fell.

Lu Qing helped me up back then, just like he does now, except he was much younger then, unlike now with his head of white hair.

The princesses had other tutors to teach them, but she preferred Lu Qing, who taught her brothers. She found his lessons much more interesting than those of others, so she often went to peek at them. Later, she fell badly and Lu Qing told their father about it.

When his father found out, he didn't blame him. Instead, he praised him and had a table made for him inside so he could listen with his brothers.

At that time, some of the other tutors who were instructing the princes were dissatisfied, feeling that since ancient times there has been a clear distinction between heaven and earth, and women should learn the precepts for women and uphold the virtues of women, and should not listen to these things with the princes.

Lu Qing, however, was different from the other teachers. He fought against four or five people by himself and left his table behind.

Two years later, she grew up and could no longer sit at the same table with men, nor did she have the chance to listen to Grand Secretary Lu's lectures.

Now, as she recalls those past events and her brother's actions, she finds it laughable that he hasn't absorbed a single thing the teacher taught him.

Shunyu looked up at Lu Qing, hesitated for a long time, and then said, "If you have time, could you continue to teach me to read and write as before?"

She didn't want to end up like that person in the capital, a ruthless, heartless, and utterly hypocritical man.

Lu Qing was slightly taken aback, then sighed, "Your Highness, I am no longer an official, so please do not address me like that again."

He helped Shunyu to her feet. "If Your Highness wishes to hear, I am naturally happy to speak. However, I am in the middle of nowhere, with nothing of value to my name, and I do not know what to say to Your Highness."

In my memory, I have taught so many princes or sons of ministers, but I never expected that the most studious one was Princess Shunyu, who only studied for less than two years.

Sometimes he wondered if it was his own fault, otherwise how could the current emperor have become like this?

Shunyu said softly, "Just tell me what you said before. I didn't have the chance before, but now there's nothing to stop me." Lu Qing thought about it. This wasn't something to make things difficult for anyone. Besides, it was good to have something to do. Moreover, his granddaughter was eleven years old, an age when she should be studying and understanding things.

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Gu Xingzhao was surprised. This little princess had come to her senses and was no longer troubled by the death of that maid. Now she even wanted to study and sought out Lu Qing. This was a good thing.

However, judging from Lu Qing's expression, he seemed to be facing some kind of difficulty.

"Lu Qing, is there something troubling you?"

Upon hearing the voice of his ancestor, Lu Qing was overjoyed: "Ancestor, I have a request."

This was the first time Lu Qing had ever taken the initiative to ask him for something, so Gu Xingzhao smiled and agreed, "Just tell me what you want, and I'll get it for you if I have it."

Lu Qing: This junior would like some books.

Fearing his ancestors might not understand, he explained: Princess Shunyu wanted to study, and his granddaughter had also reached school age. He thought, why not teach her himself and let them both listen?

Gu Xingzhao smiled and said, "Reading is a good thing. Tell me what books you want, and I will go find them tomorrow and bring them to you in three days at most."

Women in ancient times had few opportunities to study, and were bound by a host of female precepts and chastity rules, not to mention the presence of an emperor. How many books could Shunyu possibly read?

At first, she thought Princess Shunyu was weak and indecisive, but now it seems that she has many more ideas after leaving the palace.

Lu Qing rattled off the titles of about ten books, but only asked for two first, since he would be traveling during the day and carrying so many would be too much trouble.

The next day, Gu Xingzhao got up early and searched online for the books Lu Qing had mentioned. They were all available, but considering that the exile team was traveling day and night and it was not advisable to carry too many things, she decided not to buy the physical books.

She bought three smart readers online and asked the seller to download all the books Lu Qing wanted. She also paid extra for shipping and had the seller send them via the fastest courier service.

Considering that studying would definitely require practicing calligraphy, Gu Xingzhao specially chose the best pen, and also bought a water-writing cloth and a schoolbag. Since most of the time was at night, Gu Xingzhao added two portable desk lamps, two tables, and a support.

The table and heel stand are mainly used for practicing calligraphy, and I can deliver them to them every night, so it's not too much trouble.

The moment she paid, she suddenly felt like she was raising a daughter, so she quietly bought another box of sanitary napkins and overnight pants.

That day, Gu Xingzhao posted on his WeChat Moments: "So this is what it feels like to raise a daughter. I want to give her the best of everything."

Not long after she posted the message on her WeChat Moments, she received likes and comments. When she clicked on them, she was surprised to find that the comments came from Xu Shisan, the owner of an antique shop, whom she had only recently added as a friend.

Xu Shisan: Sister, you look so young, do you already have a daughter?

Xu Shisan: What does your sister's daughter look like?

Xu Shisan: Why isn't my sister replying to the comments?

Xu Shisan: Sister is so beautiful, her daughter must be very cute too.

Gu Xingzhao's silence was deafening.

(End of this chapter)