Chapter 843: Teaching by Imperial Order

The Winter Solstice is merely a day when daughters-in-law make shoes for their in-laws for ordinary people, not a particularly grand occasion. Yet for the imperial court, it is one of the three most important festivals of the year. During these three days, officials who usually wear ordinary robes often change into formal festive attire and visit guests with red letters, just like on New Year’s Day. With a ten-day holiday, the time for visiting guests naturally extends, and the streets are filled with people in red clothes and endless carriages, creating a splendid sight.

Starting from the Winter Solstice, every household hangs a “Nine-Nine Cold-Dispelling Chart.” Ordinary families simply paste a piece of white paper on the wall, draw a 9×9 grid, and mark a circle in each cell as each day passes. Noble families, on the other hand, go to greater lengths—often drawing a plum blossom with 81 petals, coloring one petal per day. Once all petals are red, the nine-nine period ends, signaling the arrival of winter. Now that the ten-day Winter Solstice holiday is over, the bustling scenes of mutual visits have disappeared, replaced by children clapping their hands and singing the Nine-Nine song while playing.

“One nine, two nines—too cold to stretch out hands;
Three nines, twenty-seven—playing the flute by the fence;
Four nines, thirty-six—sleeping cold as in the open;
Five nines, forty-five—every household piles up salt ‘tigers’;
Six nines, fifty-four—blowing warm breaths from the mouth;
Seven nines, sixty-three—walkers wear thin clothes;
Eight nines, seventy-two—cats and dogs seek shady spots;
Nine nines, eighty-one—the poor suffer greatly before they can sleep, as mosquitoes and fleas emerge.”

On the first day officials returned to work, Zhu Ning also rode into the palace. However, at Du Wan’s request, she took a detour through the Gate Tower Alley. As she listened to the children’s song on her way back, she frowned thoughtfully. Mother Feng laughed beside her and said, “These crude folk songs are quite interesting to hear.”

“More than interesting… Compared to the nobles in fine clothes, this is the real life of the common people. To still feel sad in such a life is truly nonsensical!” Zhu Ning pressed her lips together before smiling sarcastically. “It’s a pity that so many who live in luxury are never satisfied!”

Mother Feng knew that Zhu Ning had touched a sensitive point, so she hurriedly tried to persuade her, but Zhu Ning waved her hand and said, “Ignore those matters for now. Wait until the head steward returns before we discuss it. Speaking of which, if it weren’t for being in the palace on the day the little academy opened, I really would have wanted to go see it. Zhang Yue went to such lengths—his intentions are truly good. You must understand that wayward young men often end up that way because they’re spoiled from a young age by countless maids and attendants. By the time they enter the imperial academy, they’ve already become incorrigible fools! While they’re still young, let the teachers discipline them properly. Even if they don’t become successful, at least they’ll learn what restraint means!”

“But many of them will inherit titles in the future. Most of them won’t listen to discipline. Even if you agree to marry the young lady of the Zhang family, and they receive proper education, who knows if they won’t retaliate once they gain power?”

“A teacher remains a father for life. Just as there are those who harbor resentment, there are also those who are grateful. After all, not everyone in this world knows how to be grateful. Moreover, the eldest son of the Duke of Ying is kind-hearted. With him around, others will be more restrained. Although Zhang Yue gave up control of the family academy, he has thought everything through carefully. You needn’t worry.”

Hearing Zhu Ning’s words, Mother Feng quickly agreed and stopped talking further. The carriage traveled straight from Dong’an Gate to Donghua Gate before stopping. Mother Feng hurriedly got off the carriage and personally helped Zhu Ning down. Seeing her go straight inside with two young-looking maids, she couldn’t help but follow a few steps closer and ask, “Princess, are you really going to let Ying Shu and Zhu Er marry? They’ve been with you for so many years.”

“Exactly because they’ve been with me for so long and are intelligent and perceptive, I need to find them good families. Knowing they’re my maids, their husbands won’t dare treat them poorly. And with what they’ve learned from me, they might be able to raise talented children in the future. Why keep them by my side as slaves to serve generation after generation? Can’t they come to see me when they’re outside?”

Zhu Ning knew Mother Feng wanted to say more, so she waved her hand. Seeing her sigh and bow before retreating, Zhu Ning continued walking. She had always had a straightforward, masculine temperament. Now that she saw through things, she certainly wouldn’t get entangled in trivial matters. If she didn’t marry, did that mean her trusted maids couldn’t marry either? What kind of rule was that?

Although inside Donghuamen it was already the imperial palace, there was the Wenhua Hall where the emperor summoned his ministers, and behind it the Wenyuan Pavilion. Along the southern palace wall were the Inner Cabinet offices and the offices for issuing imperial edicts. On the other side, censors from the Six Departments also came and went frequently. Thus, in addition to the eunuchs going in and out, there were also external officials. Naturally, these external officials would occasionally encounter Zhu Ning entering the palace through Donghuamen. People like the elderly Yang Shiji were used to this, but the young talents from the Six Departments couldn’t help but take a closer look and think more when they saw this princess from Chenliu.

It was a pity that though the princess was deeply favored by the emperor and would lead a wealthy life after marriage, her own future would be ruined!

Yet Zhu Ning never paid attention to these people—those who served in these areas of the palace either had ambitions or aspirations, not to mention that she had long passed the age of youthful infatuation. As she walked, she thought about what she wanted to say. By the time she entered Renshou Palace, a female official came forward to remove her white fox fur cloak and said softly, “Princess Jiaxing just arrived and presented an embroidered painting. She is currently in the East Warm Pavilion talking with the Empress Dowager. It’s a good chance for you to appreciate it together.”

Empress Dowager Zhang had given birth to three sons and one daughter for Zhu Gaochi. Although Princess Jiaxing was the only daughter, her timid and shy nature meant she didn’t stand out among the other princesses as the eldest legitimate daughter. Moreover, as Empress Dowager Zhang had to defend Zhu Gaochi’s position as crown prince in the past, and then focused on state affairs after becoming empress dowager, she was generally strict with Princess Jiaxing.

Not only that, but Princess Jiaxing and her husband received the same annual salary as the other princesses—2,000 dan of rice and wheat from the Nanjing granaries. Although Zhu Ning repeatedly refused, Empress Dowager Zhang insisted it was an order from Emperor Taizong. So, though she wasn’t granted the title of princess, she still received 2,000 dan per year. In addition, the silk, gauze, brocade, satin, winter and summer fabrics, cotton, and other items she received each year were all twice as much as those of the princesses.

Furthermore, though young, she was of the same generation as Empress Dowager Zhang. Such treatment meant everyone in the palace praised the empress dowager and emperor for their fairness, and none of the princes or princesses dared to object. Princess Jiaxing also always behaved with great courtesy. So, upon hearing that Princess Jiaxing had arrived, she hesitated slightly, thinking about not disturbing the mother and daughter first, but before she could decide, another female official came out.

“Princess has arrived? The Empress Dowager just mentioned it. I was about to send someone to ask. Please go in quickly.”

With that said, Zhu Ning hesitated no longer and followed the female official inside. After passing through the corridor, maids were already waiting with pine-flower colored door curtains lifted. She lowered her head to step over the threshold and saw Princess Jiaxing already standing up. Upon closer inspection, Zhu Ning wasn’t sure if it was her imagination or not, but Princess Jiaxing seemed even thinner than the last time they met. Though her face was covered with thick makeup, it still revealed a sickly paleness.

After meeting Empress Dowager Zhang and hearing Princess Jiaxing timidly call her “Aunt Ning,” Zhu Ning took her hand and examined it carefully before saying concerningly, “It’s already past the Winter Solstice. You should start taking good care of yourself. If you don’t want to take medicine, I have several good medicinal recipe formulas, as well as some recipes taught by others. You can bring them back and have your servants prepare them.”

“A Ning is absolutely right. You really do need to take good care of yourself.”

Empress Dowager Zhang also nodded. Seeing Princess Jiaxing quickly stand up to thank her, she subtly frowned. After all, it was her own daughter. She had once summoned the mothers who came with the princess to the palace and asked if their relationships with their husbands were harmonious. Those mothers always replied that the princess was gentle and modest, and that the couple treated each other with respect. She had assumed that a princess of noble birth would naturally have a softer personality, making it easier for them to get along. But now it seemed that her daughter wasn’t just soft—she was actually weak and easy to manipulate.

When the mother and daughter were alone earlier, Princess Jiaxing answered questions briefly with minimal speech. Now that Zhu Ning was there, she became even quieter. After another fifteen minutes, she got up to leave. Seeing her biting her lip as if she had more to say, Zhu Ning pretended to see her off, took her hand, and escorted her out. Once outside, seeing that Princess Jiaxing remained silent, she softly called her by her nickname, “Changle. Is something bothering you?”

Princess Jiaxing froze instantly. Glancing around slightly, she finally spoke in a voice even softer than a mosquito’s buzz, “Aunt Ning, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

“If there’s something, don’t hide it. If you don’t tell me, how else will anyone know?” Seeing that Princess Jiaxing remained silent, Zhu Ning was somewhat helpless. She gently pinched her hand and said, “Come visit me when you have time. Even though you’re a princess, you can’t just sit at home all day. Consider it a way to relax.”

“Yes, thank you, Aunt Ning.”

Faced with such a wooden and timid noblewoman, although Zhu Ning wanted to show concern, she could only watch her leave. When she returned to the East Warm Pavilion, she saw Empress Dowager Zhang already reclining on the pear-blossom bed, with a palace maid kneeling beside her gently massaging her legs. She stepped forward. When Empress Dowager Zhang raised her eyes and saw her, she asked directly, “Did she say anything to you?”
Seeing Zhu Ning shake her head, Empress Dowager Zhang couldn’t help but sigh. “Zhan Ji is brave and capable, Zhan Yong is humble, and Zhan Fan is virtuous. Only Chang Le is so meek. Although it’s true that princesses being spoiled is a bad habit from the Han and Tang dynasties, she’s still too… Jing Yuan, though from an eunuch family, is said to not be good at studying and prefers gambling. Surely she has her difficulties. I’ll have Zhan Ji assign a tutor to supervise him properly.”
Empress Dowager Zhang was frustrated by their lack of ambition, and Zhu Ning sighed inwardly. After a brief pause, she said, “Speaking of studying, has the Empress Dowager heard of that little academy?”
“The original Zhang family school? Just a different name for the same thing. He’s good at coming up with new names.” Empress Dowager Zhang had already heard about it from Eunuch Fan Hong of the Imperial Secretariat. She sat up straighter and asked Zhu Ning, “Fan Hong hasn’t been there himself; he just heard from the children there. Since you’re on good terms with Lady Du, you should probably go take a look.”
“I went there specifically on my way here today. It’s naturally impossible to enter inside, but hearing the sound of reading aloud outside was quite comforting.” Zhu Ning picked up a blanket from beside her and covered Empress Dowager Zhang’s knees before continuing, “These children should be taught from a young age, including Confucian classics. Families of dukes and nobles are already extremely wealthy, so it’s not too early to teach them archery and horseback riding. But they usually hire tutors only after they’re around ten years old, which often results in them becoming spoiled. This little academy only accepts children under fifteen, allowing them to cultivate their character properly so they won’t cause embarrassment when they go to the Imperial Academy later. Moreover, interacting with poorer youths might help them learn good habits. I fully agree that nurturing talent should start in childhood.”
“Nurturing talent should start in childhood…” Empress Dowager Zhang murmured, then nodded in approval. “Indeed. If a solid foundation is laid in youth, it’s harder for people to go astray later. I heard that the eldest son of the Duke of Yingguo, the great-grandson of the Marquis of Baoding, and the eldest son of the Zhang Yue family all go to that little academy the next day. They all have good family education, but when they encounter those with violent temperaments who refuse to obey, would the teachers at the academy dare to discipline them? You know, even the Discipline Office of the Imperial Academy never dares to punish the children of nobles!”

“This is indeed a big problem… But once these children grow up, some can enter the local schools for imperial examinations, while the sons of noble families can continue to study at the Imperial Academy. It’s truly a great thing for nurturing talent for the court. Besides, this isn’t the first time Zhang Yue has offended people. With the eldest son of the Duke of Ying as a strong supporter, at worst those spoiled sons of nobles will just not be accepted anymore.”

Zhu Ning spoke calmly, but Empress Dowager Zhang thought it over carefully and quickly understood. She then snapped, “Well, Ah Ning, you’ve learned to keep things mysterious too—always speaking in veils! Enough. This is indeed a good thing for nurturing talent. I’m too lazy to listen to censors accusing these noble sons of bullying the common people or drinking during mourning periods… Later, I’ll give you a ruler so that the teachers at the academy can properly discipline those noble sons, so that I and the emperor can have some peace!”

After saying this, seeing Zhu Ning beaming with joy, Empress Dowager Zhang felt somewhat melancholic: “It’s a pity that Jingyuan is already sixteen—too late already… His father has a good reputation in office, but why is his son like this…”

That evening, as soon as Zhang Yue returned home, he saw the shiny cedar ruler in Du Wan’s hands, along with a copper plaque placed next to it. Glancing at the plaque, he saw what appeared to be a seal on it.

“It’s the Empress Dowager’s private seal. It’s enough for them to know it was bestowed by the Empress Dowager, so as not to cause too much commotion.”

Since Zhu Ning had already explained, Du Wan added a few more words to Zhang Yue, then said with a smile, “Sister Ning also instructed that they should be beaten hard if necessary—don’t be lenient in discipline. This is an order from the emperor. It’s a shame there are so few such academies in the world; otherwise, there would be fewer scoundrels ruining the noble bloodlines.”

Zhang Yue guessed that Zhu Ning’s words were heartfelt and found it strange, but after some thought, he let it go. Sitting down next to his wife, seeing that others had wisely stepped back, he tried to touch her, but Du Wan smiled and moved aside.

“It’s not time to turn off the lights yet—how immature! Also, Sister Ning said another lady in the palace has been diagnosed as pregnant, and the Empress Dowager has ordered extra protection.”