Before dawn the next morning, the sky outside was still pitch black.
Ting Xue entered carrying a small lamp. She tiptoed across the room, lighting each candle on the candelabra until the chamber glowed with warm light. Only then did she make her way quietly to Yun Shu's bedside and gently call out:
"Princess, it is time to wake. You have to attend the Imperial Academy today."
"...Just a little longer..."
Yun Shu rolled over and clung to her blanket. Her sweet dream had been rudely shattered.
In ancient times, there wasn't much nightlife to speak of. People went to bed early, often as early as seven or eight in the evening.
But Yun Shu was not used to this.
Last night, she had sent her consciousness into the villa and stayed up reading novels until nearly eleven. Now she could barely crack open her eyelids.
Ting Xue, persistent as ever, continued tugging at her. "Princess, it's already quite late. You really cannot sleep any longer. We are almost halfway through the yin hour!"
"..."
So it wasn't even 4 a.m. yet?
Yun Shu buried her head under the blanket.
"Not listening, not listening, I don't hear you!"
"Princess..."
Ting Xue sighed helplessly.
"Grand Preceptor will cane your palms if you're tardy."
Yun Shu's grogginess evaporated: "What?!"
"Aren't I royalty? Where's my pampered-princess immunity?!
AAAAAAAAH—!"
She kept her eyes closed the entire time as Ting Xue helped her wash and dress, mentally shrieking like a groundhog.
Only when the familiar scent of milk tea wafted toward her nose did she calm down a little.
"Smells amazing."
Ah, her beloved milk tea never let her down.
"You mentioned yesterday that it still tastes good when cold, so I had some extra prepared for you to take to the Academy."
Seeing her mistress finally open her eyes, Ting Xue chuckled and handed her a still-warm cup.
"Tea can help keep you awake. Also, there's a new study companion. If you like, you can share some with her."
"New study companion?"
Yun Shu sipped her milk tea and nibbled on a pastry.
"Why haven't I heard anything about this?"
"His Majesty sent word about it late last night, but you had already gone to bed, so I didn't disturb you."
Ting Xue explained softly:
"The Second Miss of the Dingyuan Marquisate will be of age soon, so it's no longer appropriate for her to continue as your study companion. His Majesty has chosen a new one for you, the legitimate daughter of the Wu'an Marquisate, Cen Yiyi.
She just turned eight. Although she is younger than you..."
The rest went unspoken, but Yun Shu caught the implication.
After all, she was going back to the Academy to study with the eight-year-old Sixth Prince. Of course her companion would be younger too.
But Yun Shu's focus had shifted entirely.
Wu'an Marquisate. Cen Yiyi.
"Wait a minute, wasn't that the original female lead of the novel? And also, the future wife of the Sixth Prince?"
In the story, after the Sixth Prince ascended the throne with the support of his mother's clan, his cruelty became infamous. Families who genuinely loved their daughters all avoided sending them to court.
But with one imperial edict, all unmarried girls from noble families ranked fifth grade and above were required to enter the palace for the selection.
Naturally, Cen Yiyi couldn't escape.
Though born into a military household, she was the only girl in three generations. From childhood, she was doted on by her grandfather, father, uncles, brothers—everyone. They raised her like a fragile flower.
So when she entered the palace and faced the tyrant, one glare from him would make her tear up. One harsh tone, and she'd shrink like a scared quail. A slightly too-tight grip on her waist, and her eyes would well up like a startled fawn.
The tyrant took one look and thought, Oh? You've caught my attention, and from there it was all kinds of indescribable developments until he was whispering, My life is yours, into her tearful eyes.
Yun Shu: "..."
And now, thanks to the wings of this little butterfly flapping—meaning herself—the male and female leads were going to meet at eight years old.
Well then. This was going to be a front-row seat to the drama!
Suddenly, going back to school didn't seem so miserable.
Shoving a few more bites of pastry into her mouth, Yun Shu leapt to her feet with unexpected energy. "Let's go, let's go! Time for school!"
"You don't want to eat a little more?" Ting Xue, surprised at this sudden enthusiasm, hurried to pack an untouched plate of pastries into the book chest.
Because the original Yun Shu had not been favored, her quarters in Fengyang Palace were in a slightly remote corner of the palace grounds.
By the time they walked there with lanterns in hand, nearly half an hour had passed before the Academy finally came into view.
When Yun Shu arrived, the Sixth Prince was already inside, chatting with his companion, Liu Ziming—the grandson of the Left Prime Minister—about a new myna bird he had just received.
Seated at the far end of the room, away from the two boys, was a little girl with two round hair buns, her cheeks and eyes both plump and soft like a porcelain doll.
She was nibbling on a pastry with both hands. Whether or not she had caught the Sixth Prince's attention was unclear, but she definitely captured Yun Shu's. She had loved collecting dolls in her previous life, after all.
Eyes lighting up, Yun Shu strode over and greeted her directly.
"You must be Cen Yiyi?"
"This humble subject greets Your Highness."
Cen Yiyi jumped, startled by the sudden approach, and quickly stood to bow. Despite her young age, her posture and etiquette were impeccable.
Unfortunately, she didn't seem to notice that there were still a few pastry crumbs stuck to the corner of her mouth, making her look exactly like a guilty little hamster caught mid-snack. The sight made Yun Shu laugh.
"No need for formalities in the Academy."
She pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the crumbs from Cen Yiyi's lips.
Realizing what had happened, the little girl flushed crimson. She had no idea where to put her hands.
"I... I..."
"It's alright, no need to be nervous. I like you a lot!"
Yun Shu smiled and sat beside her. Then she reached into the book chest Ting Xue had just placed beside her and pulled out some pastries and milk tea.
"I haven't eaten breakfast either. Let's eat together."
"Yes, Princess."
Sensing that Yun Shu was genuinely easy to get along with, Cen Yiyi's nerves began to ease.
And with that, the fragrant aroma of milk tea immediately captured her full attention.
"It smells so good!"
At this age, she had no idea how to hide her true thoughts. Cen Yiyi swallowed hard. The look in her eyes was that of someone who hadn't had water for three days.