Chapter 699 - 690: Noble Consort Sheng
Women didn’t need to learn as much as men, and not all books were deemed suitable for them. Having mastered the Four Books for Women, they might read some of the Book of Songs, but that was commonly the extent of their learning. They were typically taught needlework, embroidery, and arts like playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
Without the heavy workload of modern education, girls would often complete their schooling at a women’s academy in two or three years.
Lin Qianqing and Xie Qinyun had met at a women’s academy, where they studied the Four Books for Women and the Book of Songs from the age of ten to thirteen.
To say that they went out to play meant, for the Princess, nothing more than strolling through the Imperial Garden.
In the summer, the lotus flowers in the ponds blossomed with vibrant beauty. Many early-bloomers had already formed seed pods; this was likely the last round of blooming.
"Ninth Princess, you love painting. Do you like to paint these lotuses in the pond?"
Since Gu Youyou had interacted with the Ninth Princess and Cui Yingying, she had discovered that Cui Yingying was seriously studying medical skills, comprehending even complex medical principles. The Princess wanted to learn medicine, perhaps out of hope and concern from seeing her mother ill during her childhood. But what she truly loved was painting, which was why Gu Youyou decided to cater to her interests, teaching them separately and focusing on instructing the Princess in painting.
The Ninth Princess leaned on the railing by the lotus pond, scrutinizing the beauty before her. After a moment, she turned back to Gu Youyou and said, "These aren’t the most beautiful lotuses in the Imperial Palace. I’ve seen a kind that’s as red as fire. In that pond, they bloom like sparks, incredibly stunning. If I were to paint lotuses, I’d paint those."
Hearing this, Gu Youyou was delighted. She guessed that the Ninth Princess was referring to the Fire Lotuses in the Flame Pool.
It was said that this was a treasure of the Imperial Palace. Once tended by the Zhuzhao Pearl, the flowers hadn’t been as red since its disappearance.