Chapter 109: The Art of Provocation

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Shen Zijiao was utterly bewildered, staring fixedly at Tan Qingjiu. “You, you, you…”

“What about me?”

Shen Zijiao gritted his teeth. “How can you marry Prince Duan? No—”

He furrowed his brows tightly. “How can you even get married?”

Hadn’t the servants gossiping before said that this woman conceived before marriage, and that she was very likely his biological mother?

Although he refused to admit it.

Yet he knew that this wicked woman, having borne a child before marriage, had already lost all reputation. How could anyone still want her?

And on top of that... she became the Princess Consort of Prince Duan?

Tan Qingjiu sneered. “Why can’t I marry? Why can’t I be the Princess Consort of Prince Duan? It just so happens that this imperial edict was issued today. Meeting you here today is perfect—I can use this edict, and my status as Princess Consort, to properly teach you a lesson.”

Shen Zijiao’s face flushed red. How dare this wicked woman! How could she even think of lecturing him?

Tan Qingjiu’s eyes gleamed coldly. “As the young master of the Crown Prince’s residence and a descendant of the emperor, you should be learning etiquette and cultivation of character, mastering the Five Classics and Six Arts in such a rare place. Yet you only know how to exploit your status to do evil and bully others.”

“Clearly a noble youth, yet you've turned into nothing but a spoiled and reckless son of privilege.”

“Your identity as the young master of the Crown Prince’s residence seems to have given you nothing but flesh on your bones.”

Shen Zijiao was nearly hopping mad. “What did you say? Who are you to speak to me like that?”

Tan Qingjiu ignored him completely. “No matter why the Crown Prince entered this Prince Duan’s mansion, once you’re here, you must live and act by its rules.”

“If you speak wrongly or act improperly, there must be punishment. Since you were rude, you shall stand facing the wall here for an hour to reflect.”

“You are already six years old. From tomorrow on, I will have the steward find a governess to teach you etiquette and rules, invite a tutor to instruct you in reading and writing, and have you train with the martial instructor to strengthen your body.”

Shen Zijiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Who gave you the right? Who?”

Tan Qingjiu’s lips curled into a smile. “I did. I am the soon-to-be Princess Consort of Prince Duan, now residing in the Prince Duan’s mansion. Moreover, Prince Duan just commanded that all matters in the household must obey my instructions.”

After speaking, Tan Qingjiu turned her head. “Make sure to keep a close watch on him. He must stand there for the full hour.”

“Steward, take care of the governess, tutor, and martial instructor arrangements…”

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The steward hurriedly responded, “Princess Consort, please rest assured. Leave these matters to this old servant.”

Tan Qingjiu nodded. “Thank you, Steward.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Before the steward could speak further, a servant rushed in. “Your Highness, two medicine boys have come, claiming to be your apprentices. I just brought them to see Prince Duan, and he confirmed they are indeed your medicine boys. I’ve brought them here.”

Two medicine boys?

Hearing this, Tan Qingjiu felt a stir in her heart. She looked toward the door and sure enough, saw Xing Qi and Xing You standing outside.

She raised her hand and pressed her temple. “Come in.”

Xing Qi and Xing You quickly stepped inside. “Greetings, Princess Consort.”

“...”

Tan Qingjiu pressed her temple again. If only your greetings weren’t so strange when you come in.

Those two little rascals—hadn’t she instructed Qing Dai to keep a close eye on them? How did they manage to slip out again?

But recalling their glorious past escapades, Tan Qingjiu sighed softly. It was really hard for those watching over these two little monkeys.

Indeed, not easy at all.

Xing Qi and Xing You glanced at Tan Qingjiu, then at Shen Zijiao, who stood in the corner like a defeated rooster. They exchanged a look.

“Princess Consort, before we came here, we heard you scolding the young master, saying he doesn’t understand etiquette, can’t play chess or the zither, can’t read or write—the Six Arts of a gentleman?”

Seeing their sly expressions, Tan Qingjiu clicked her tongue inwardly. What are they scheming now?

“Yes.”

Shen Zijiao shot Xing Qi and Xing You a displeased look.

Xing You immediately widened his eyes. “Heavens! How is that possible? Isn’t this young master from the Crown Prince’s residence?”

“The Crown Prince is the emperor’s grandson. Shouldn’t there be royal governesses teaching etiquette and rules at the mansion?”

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“As the Crown Prince’s legitimate eldest son, shouldn’t he be attending the best academy in the capital? Shouldn’t he excel in chess, zither, calligraphy, painting—the Six Arts?”

Shen Zijiao was naturally hot-tempered and could not withstand their provocation. He immediately retorted, “It’s not that I can’t do it, just that I’m not that proficient yet!”

“I’m only six years old! Were you all perfect at six?”

Xing Qi nodded. “Yes.”

Xing You added fuel to the fire. “Exactly! Isn’t that how it should be? We’re already six.”

They said it so confidently, as if they were not six but sixty-six.

“You’re bluffing!” Shen Zijiao snapped.

Xing You rolled his eyes. “Are the Six Arts really so hard? No, you’re just slow. Don’t assume everyone else is as dumb as you.”

Xing You placed his hands on his hips. “Let’s see what you’ve got. Show us what you can do. Bring it on! If there’s anything we can’t do, we’ll admit defeat.”

Tan Qingjiu watched Shen Zijiao’s angry expression and smiled slightly. Xing Qi and Xing You were clearly using provocation, and it seemed to be working.

Those two kids were occasionally quite clever.

“Then paint a picture for me.”

“Is that so difficult?”

Xing Qi and Xing You turned to Tan Qingjiu. She smiled. “Steward, please prepare the ink, brushes, paper, and inkstone.”

Shen Zijiao quickly shouted, “They must paint in front of me! Otherwise, who knows if they secretly had someone else do it and pretended it was theirs?”

Xing You shrugged. “Fine, fine, in front of you then. Painting is nothing hard.”

The materials were brought, and the painting table was set.

Xing Qi and Xing You each stood behind the table, picked up their brushes, and began painting with nonchalance. Yet the images on the paper formed swiftly.

Though Shen Zijiao stood some distance away, he could see the paintings clearly. His expression gradually changed...