Chapter 270: Chapter 270

"Huh, what was up with that Empress just now, host? Did you offend her somehow?"

Why did her words feel so strangely off-putting?

Exactly! Even the system, who's usually so carefree, could tell something wasn't right!

After the banquet concluded, it was already dusk by the time all the officials' wives had gradually left the palace. Palace lanterns were lit early throughout the grounds.

Under the candlelight, An Ning was currently reviewing ancient texts she had borrowed from the Guanwen Palace some time ago.

Knowing Her Highness had been particularly diligent lately, Dongmei and the others merely set down tea and pastries before quickly withdrawing outside the hall. The vast palace suddenly grew quiet.

About half an hour later, An Ning finally leisurely set aside the ancient text in her hands.

Empress Cao, well... how to describe her? In the eyes of palace servants and even court ministers, she was the epitome of virtuous and gentle empresshood. She showed kindness and generosity toward all consorts and palace staff, never minding even Zhang Guifei's or even the original body's birth mother Lady Miao's various acts of arrogance and overstepping boundaries.

One could say that aside from not winning her cheap father's affection, there was little about her conduct that could be criticized.

Not to mention the various "admonishments" she delivered to An Ning after her arrival due to numerous rule violations. Even in the previous lifetime, when the original body and her household officials repeatedly sought to punish the Imperial Son-in-Law, it was this Empress who pleaded on his behalf multiple times.

Logically speaking, regardless of right or wrong, one was a young girl she'd watched grow up, while the other was a coarse-looking outsider. The original body at that time was clearly in poor mental state from being tormented.

Then there was that so-called "adopted son" in the previous lifetime, who immediately upon ascending the throne couldn't wait to "relocate" several young princesses from the palace, showing no fear that suddenly moving these delicate young princesses might cause accidents.

And the original body, neglected by all, meeting a tragic death in her residence...

Thus, no matter how much praise she received externally, An Ning frankly couldn't muster much goodwill toward this Empress Cao.

But that was all. Even her birth father was —what could one expect from a non-blood-related stepmother?

As for those earlier "admonishments"...

Thinking of those two individuals she'd seen outside the garden earlier—the future Emperor Yingzong of Song, and Empress Gao Taotao, who was also Empress Cao's own niece.

Truth be told, these two had quite good feelings for each other.

Who knew how much investment this Empress, or even the Cao family, had already placed on them!

Setting aside the book, An Ning bathed and changed clothes with the assistance of palace servants, soon sinking into her soft bed.

Perhaps due to her earlier intimidation, the several study companions arrived quickly, entering the palace early the next morning to pay respects. Four additional chairs were added to what was originally An Ning's exclusive classroom.

This dynasty highly revered Confucian scholarship, and unlike the increasingly prevalent strict rituals and self-castration after the later "Jingkang Incident," education for scholarly women at this time was still quite diverse and comprehensive, especially for imperial princesses.

Like the original body previously—classics, history, philosophy, literature, music, qin melodies, even chess—she had studied them all. By outward appearances, she was something of a talented lady!

After all, they were all teenage girls. Though initially reserved due to An Ning's earlier reputation, they quickly relaxed after becoming familiar with each other.

For example, right now in the chess room...

After an intense confrontation lasting about an hour, an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl wearing a plain blue silk long jacket finally set down her piece with some reluctance:

"Your Highness's skill is exquisite—this humble subject admits defeat..."

As she spoke, Han Yue couldn't help looking at the person before her with some surprise. It wasn't that she lost too miserably, but rather she never imagined someone's chess skills could improve this rapidly in such short time.

She particularly remembered that when she first arrived, she had been slightly better. Who would have thought that in just half a year...

And she had previously felt proud about successfully defeating her several older brothers earlier!

Thinking of her earlier self-satisfaction, a faint blush appeared on Han Yue's originally clear and beautiful face.

Propping her chin, An Ning enjoyed the sight for a moment before smiling quite pleasantly:

"It's precisely because I have you, A-Yue, that I can improve this quickly!"

Han Yue's face reddened again, and after a moment she said softly:

"Your Highness must not mock this humble subject..."

"Aiya, no wonder Your Highness favors Sister Yue so much—it turns out you find the rest of us foolish!"

While the two were chatting and laughing, a clear young girl's voice sounded again outside the chess room. It was Second Young Lady Zhou, Zhou Yutong, who had found it boring earlier and went outside to wander around.

Unlike Han Yue and the others, who came from generations of officials where women's education was always carefully attended to—accustomed to these studies since childhood and keeping up quickly—poor Second Young Lady Zhou had worse luck.

Coming from military background, her family's rise had only been for three generations. Even if her father and brothers were capable, they far lacked the conditions. Thus, for most of this year, she had spent great effort just catching up on studies.

Even so, her progress still lagged behind the others.

Especially after seeing An Ning enjoyed swordsmanship, she enthusiastically learned some moves from family elders and wanted to come teach others.

Though she later also found herself outmatched by Her Highness.

Now, just looking at the sweat on this person's forehead, everyone knew she had gone to the training grounds again to "diligently practice martial arts."

Hearing the voice, Sima Xiang—who had been concentrating intently on the chessboard trying to understand something—couldn't help glancing up at the other girl and lightly snorting:

"Go away, go away. Don't think everyone is like somebody."

Foolish? This Miss Sima wouldn't admit it—she was only slightly inferior to someone in chess!

Yet after looking at the intricate chess pattern before her for a while, Sima Xiang silently averted her gaze.

Forget it—everyone had their strengths. Hadn't Her Highness quite appreciated her poetry and essays earlier?

Seeing her , Miss Zhou, who had already simply washed up not far away, couldn't help bursting into laughter.

Seeing these two adversaries about to start quarreling again, Cao Xi—who had finally watched enough of the spectacle—stepped forward and separated them:

"Alright, stop making trouble. Her Highness and Sister Han are about to start again—aren't you curious how long Sister Han can hold out this time..."

"I bet it'll be another hour..." Though she didn't understand much, that didn't stop Second Young Lady Zhou from remaining enthusiastic.

Seeing her , Sima Xiang couldn't help lightly snorting: "I think it'll be less—Her Highness is definitely more skilled..."

However, contrary to the three's expectations, this match seemed unusually long. So long that the others had gradually left the palace to return home.

The official was kind, permitting the several study companions to return home to visit family for one day every half month.

Tomorrow happened to be a day off.

As the palace gates were about to close at the end of the hour, looking at the still deadlocked chessboard before her, Han Yue finally raised her eyes and looked somewhat complicatedly at the person before her:

"Might I ask if Your Highness has any instructions for retaining this humble subject today?"