Lu Yixian, a scholar favored by the emperor for his excellent writing, was assigned to the Zishangtang to assist the crown prince and royal family. He had always been somewhat arrogant, disregarding Ning Wanwan, who had entered through connections.
When he noticed her arriving late and secretly reading novels, his disdain for her intensified. He decided to make things difficult for her, hoping to force her to leave the Zishangtang and no longer obstruct his view.
“Since the princess has been in the Zishangtang for some time, why don’t you explain whether the Way or Principle comes first?”
Ning Wanwan, absorbed in the “Essential Prescriptions,” was startled when called upon.
Si Zhan suddenly looked at her, worry flashing in his eyes.
Ning Wanwan pressed the “Essential Prescriptions” under the “Book of Documents” and slowly stood with her hands on the bookcase. As she did, nearly everyone’s gaze turned towards her. Typically, she sat quietly, barely noticeable.
Everyone knew that a noble lady like her, raised in the inner chambers, could hardly recognize a few characters and was clearly using the guise of studying to approach the crown prince for favor.
As Lu Yixian posed a difficult question, the audience anticipated her embarrassment, mingled with sympathy.
“This student knows her own limitations are shallow.”
As expected, the princes and kings sighed and shook their heads. Si Yi smiled contemptuously and turned away, but then heard Ning Wanwan calmly say: “However, since the Grand Tutor has asked, this student will offer a humble opinion.”
Upon hearing this, everyone wore expressions of amusement.
“This student believes that the Way and Principle are not sequential and should be viewed equally.”
Si Yi turned his head back at this remark. The mockery on everyone’s faces stiffened slightly.
“How do you explain this?” Lu Yixian asked.
Ning Wanwan’s bright eyes met Lu Yixian’s defiantly: “Are we discussing ‘principle’ or ‘Way and Principle’ today?”
“Naturally, it’s ‘principle’,” Lu Yixian replied.
“Then that’s it,” Ning Wanwan grinned, displaying her tiger teeth. “Principle is a unified concept. Only when combined do we find meaning in Way within Principle and Principle within Way. If the Grand Tutor insists on a sequence, he is forcibly splitting ‘principle’, leaving Way as just a Way, and Principle as just a Principle.”
The Zishangtang fell silent, taken aback by Ning Wanwan’s insight, which sounded reasonable.
Si Yi’s handsome eyes flashed, staring thoughtfully at Ning Wanwan’s elegant face. Si Zhan smiled, knowing she was no ordinary woman.
However, Lu Yixian saw her words as fallacious, believing she was deliberately opposing him.
Angrily, he asked, “Even so, tell me how the emperor once asked Prime Minister Zhao, ‘What is the largest thing under heaven?'”
“How did the Prime Minister answer at that time?”
This question seemed unrelated but involved principles that required a deep understanding of the dynasty’s history. Without such knowledge, one would struggle to grasp Lu Yixian’s intent.
Lu Yixian aimed to challenge Ning Wanwan.
The imperial princes and royal kings exchanged shocked glances, showing genuine admiration, while Si Yi maintained an inscrutable expression, lost in thought.
Lu Yixian’s face turned green with anger; he did not expect Ning Wanwan, a mere woman, to articulate her arguments with such eloquence and quick wit. Given her status as a noble princess and future imperial consort, he hesitated to argue further, fearing a negative outcome.
After some thought, Lu Yixian stiffly said, “What the Princess says… makes sense.” He cleared his throat awkwardly and said, “Next, let us discuss…”
Si Zhan waited for the noon bell but did not receive another note from Ning Wanwan, feeling uneasy and wondering if she was angered by Yuan Zhu’s remarks.
Lu Yixian left the classroom amid the respectful send-off of the students.
Ning Wanwan unconsciously followed Lu Yixian out of the classroom, her mind fixated on a passage from the “Golden Cabinet Synopsis” about the Fuzhuang pulse, indicating abdominal fullness and associated symptoms, and the appropriate treatments. So absorbed was she that she nearly tripped while crossing the threshold.
Fu Yi quickly stepped in to support her, reproaching gently, “My noble Princess, can’t you pay a bit more attention?”
Ning Wanwan steadied herself and offered a sheepish smile, saying, “I know, I know.”
As they left, she glanced at Yuan Bi, considering asking about Yuan Zhu’s absence but decided against it, recalling that Yuan Bi hadn’t known her in her previous life. She abandoned the idea and continued on with Fu Yi.
He then expressed his gratitude to Ning Wanwan, saying, “Thank you, noble person, for saving Xuetuan in time. Otherwise, its leg would have been ruined. May I ask your honored name?”
This servant wishes to report to Pure Consort and express gratitude for your kindness.”
Ning Wanwan shook her head, “It was just a small gesture, no need to worry.”
Presumably, Pure Consort was anxiously waiting for Xuetuan. Wan Shun, bowing slightly, said: “If that’s the case, this servant will take Xuetuan and bid farewell.”
Ning Wanwan nodded, watching Wan Shun leave with Xuetuan.
Unexpectedly, Wan Shun was still a person from Pure Consort’s palace. Who knows how he later became the most trusted supervisor of Si Zhan?
Si Yi and the Fourth Prince emerged from the inner door of Yan Yi Pavilion, their eyes on Ning Wanwan’s retreating figure.
The Fourth Prince said: “This Yunxiang County Lord doesn’t seem like the poisonous woman you described. A woman who helps an injured kitten doesn’t seem so bad. Are you misunderstanding her?”
Si Yi remained silent. The Ning Wanwan he had come to know was different from the one Tong’er had described.
He was no longer certain if he had misunderstood her, but that day at the Zishantang gate, Ning Wanwan had clearly threatened him that if he dared to marry her, she would disrupt his harem forever. Such words suggested a vicious and jealous heart.
He shook his head, warning himself that Ning Wanwan was calculating and trying to confuse him, so he must not be deceived.
Momentarily distracted from the thought of secretly taking away Sihan’s medical case from the Shangyao Bureau, she put down the scroll, climbed to the bedside, and pushed open the window.
A chilly breeze swept over her face, revealing snowflakes drifting in the moonlight, with the ground covered in thick snow.
Fubyi turned and exclaimed, “Miss, it’s really snowing!”
Zhanxiang was awakened by Fubyi’s voice, rubbing her eyes and looking outside. The next moment, her eyes sparkled as she shouted, “Wow, what a big snow…”
The heavy snow evoked childhood memories for Ning Wanwan. She suddenly became playful, sliding down from the bed, putting on her phoenix-head shoes, and rushing outside.
“Miss, slow down—” Fubyi hurriedly took out a green cloud fur coat and followed her out.
Ning Wanwan stood under the corridor, reaching out to catch the snowflakes flying from the eaves, soon filling her hand.
Fubyi quickly draped the green cloud fur coat over Ning Wanwan, muttering, “Look how anxious the miss is, rushing out without a thick coat.”
It’s snowing heavily outside. What if she catches a cold?
A flash of inspiration struck Ning Wanwan’s mind. She had finally thought of a way to retrieve Sihan’s medical case.
“Miss, let’s go inside. The snow looks like it’s getting heavier,” Fubyi urged.
But Ning Wanwan smiled and walked down the steps, spreading her arms to embrace the snowflakes. “The bigger, the better! We can make snowmen and have a snowball fight.”
