The Grand Princess

TGP Chapter 34.1: Goddess of the Luo River

“Yearning yet unable to meet,

A promise in the season of peach blossoms,

To meet by the waterside pavilion,

Lest be like the Goddess of the Luo River.”
_____

This single shout from Su Ronghua made Su Rongqing return to his senses. Su Rongqing lifted his hand and respectfully knelt down in an unhurried manner, ceremonially greeting Li Rong: “This humble official, Su Rongqing, greets Your Highness.”

Li Rong nodded and raised her hand to signal to Jing Mei and Jing Lan to release Chang Le. Si Zheng momo also stepped back and stood at her side. Li Rong turned to look at the two brothers of the Su family and expressed her doubts: “Why have the two darens come?”

It stands to reason that people outside the palace were not allowed to enter the inner palace, so why were these two brothers here?

“Answering Your Highness,” Su Ronghua was the first to speak, presenting himself rather respectfully, “We humble officials are here to tutor His Highness Su on His Majesty’s orders, holding classes here every afternoon, so we usually arrive a bit earlier to wait.”

Li Rong wasn’t surprised to hear this. Su Ronghua was Prince Su’s tutor in the previous life, and because of this relationship, he had spoken a few words on Prince Su’s behalf when Prince Su rebelled and angered Li Chuan. It was just that she didn’t know that Su Rongqing also served as Prince Su’s tutor early on as well.

There was a clear significance to using people from the Su family as Li Chun’s tutors. Xiao Rou came from an ordinary family, so if she wanted Prince Su to gain support from the imperial court and contend with the Empress, it was necessary to cultivate enough faction members. Now that Li Ming had placed Xiao Ping in the Northwest to allow Prince Su to raise troops, he had members of the Su family serve as his imperial tutors to win over the support of the aristocratic families. The imperial examination system that began five years ago allowed people from poor and humble families to pour into the imperial court, though there were not many, and their official posts were rather low. However, given some time, a new source of influence will emerge in the court. These people from common families will naturally have good impressions of leading figures like Consort Rou, who was born like them. In that manner, they will naturally choose to stand by Consort Rou.

It could be said that Li Ming has spared no effort to pave the way for Prince Su. In the heart of the matter of going through so much trouble to lay the groundwork, Li Ming likely thinks that…

He can still live for a very long time.

Li Rong felt a little helpless. If Li Ming knew that he was going to die in three years, then perhaps he wouldn’t have tried so hard…

But if Li Ming knew that he was going to die in three years, then perhaps… He wouldn’t take such a gradual approach.

Li Rong’s thoughts slightly shifted elsewhere, but outwardly, she only slightly nodded to Su Ronghua and Su Rongqing before saying to the eunuch beside her: “Since it is early noon, the two darens have arrived early. In that case, find another place to rest first.”

“Yes.”

After the two responded, they got up and followed the servants outside. As soon as they left, Li Rong looked up and saw that Hua Le’s face was still ghastly pale. Chang Le saw her looking over and wanted to open her mouth, but Li Rong directly cut her off: “Must I have your mouth slapped for it to be the end of this matter?”

Chang Le froze when she heard this. She knew that Li Rong would actually slap her mouth today. Li Rong looked down at the Buddhist scriptures and calmly said: “Si Zheng momo, I want to give a lecture on scriptures to the other sisters.”