Chapter 22 Look who I brought...

Lu Jinlan, having worked at the grassroots level within the system, possessed some experience in ideological work and deeply understood the importance of internal stability maintenance. The team had just been formed, and morale was paramount. As for methods, they could be devised gradually; there was still one night left, wasn't there?

Back in the dormitory, Lu Jinlan asked Ling Zhaoren, "You and the dean both have the surname Ling, are you related?"

Ling Zhaoren said dejectedly, "She is a relative. By definition, I call her my great-aunt, but it's no use. The dean is known in our Ling family for being selfless and aloof. She won't do anything for me just because we are relatives."

"Is that so?" Yan Wuxin said sarcastically, "Then who tampered with the weapons on the day of the duel?"

Ling Zhaoren protested, "I didn't do it. Someone just told me that Xiang Ruzhen and I would be paired together. I thought I was guaranteed to win, so why would I be afraid to use underhanded tactics beforehand?"

“That…weapon is…” Chu Yishu, trembling, raised her hand from the corner, “I…my family had it made.”

Yan Wuxin frowned and bit her tongue. "I really want to kick you twice."

Xiang Ruzhen smiled calmly, "Forget it, let's all learn from Jinlan's magnanimity and let bygones be bygones."

Lu Jinlan advised, "That's not necessary. The revenge that needs to be taken should still be taken."

Chu Yishu stood up in fright. "Ruzhen, I apologize to you. Please forgive my rudeness. But you... you promised that if I went with you, we would be as close as sisters and help each other. You can't hit me! You are a strong and upright woman. You have to keep your word!"

Xiang Ruzhen waved her hand, "I keep my word. Go to sleep. Let's let this matter rest."

Chu Yishu finally felt relieved, but Yan Wuxin stroked his chin, still curious, "Then who deliberately put Ruzhen and Ling Zhaoren in the same group?"

Ling Zhaoren: "I really don't know. I just received a note with a message."

Yan Yu returned and lay on the bed with his eyes closed, not moving. Suddenly, he spoke up: "Anyone could be involved. Ru Zhen was too sharp the day before, her family background is simple, and she is an outsider with no connections. The Royal Academy is full of hidden talents, and various forces are intertwined. Anyone might not want you to be selected. This mystery will remain unsolved, and we may never have the chance to find out the truth."

She turned to look at Xiang Ruzhen from the upper bunk and said, "You must have suffered a lot walking from Mianzhou to Shenjing."

Fragments of memory surfaced in Xiang Ruzhen's mind, but the weariness between her brows flashed by, replaced by the smile of a victor.

"Yes, I've encountered a lot of trouble," she smiled. "But no one has ever been able to stop me from doing what I want to do. I will change this world, and I hope that one day, people like me will never again experience the injustices I have encountered. Even those from humble backgrounds can still fight for every opportunity on an equal footing."

Yan Yu was taken aback. "That's impossible."

“What’s impossible? I know it’s difficult, but I will keep trying until I die. You know…”

Xiang Ruzhen was about to say something more when Yan Wuxin suddenly called out from the doorway, "Ruzhen, Jinlan is looking for you. Come out for a moment!"

Xiang Ruzhen followed Yan Wuxin out and found Lu Jinlan digging at the ground outside the dormitory. "What's wrong?"

Lu Jinlan looked at her and sighed, "I'm talking about Ruzhen."

The two men helped Xiang Ruzhen sit down and began to patiently persuade her.

Yan Wuxin: "How could you say such things to Yan Yu? Do you know who she is?"

Xiang Ruzhen: "I'm not afraid of her identity."

Lu Jinlan repeatedly cupped his hands in respect, "Lord Xiang, we know you're tough, stubborn, and fearless, but I beg you, please don't assume everyone is as upright as you, okay? Most people in this world think with a biased perspective. You may be selfless, but others will weigh their gains and losses. People like Ling Zhaoren and Yan Yu are beneficiaries of the current order. If you say you want to establish a new order where everyone is equal, will they be happy?"

Xiang Ruzhen was silent for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up. "You summarized it so well. Yes, I want to establish a new order where everyone is equal. You have accurately described what I am thinking."

She excitedly patted Lu Jinlan's shoulder, but Lu Jinlan's shoulder ached dully, and he couldn't laugh. "After all that talking, is that all you heard?"

Xiang Ruzhen smiled. "No, I understand what you all mean. Don't worry, I won't tell outsiders about these things anymore. From today onwards, I will consider human nature as a factor when thinking about problems. By the way, have you thought of that foolproof plan?"

Lu Jinlan let out a long sigh, rested her head on her lap, and looked up at the starry sky. "There is no perfect plan, but I have thought of three ideas. I hope they will succeed tomorrow."

*

One plan was to complain to the dean and hope to gain his support.

Early in the morning, 106 set out en masse, lingering along Ling Zhixu's usual route. Chu Yishu even climbed a tree to scout ahead, announcing, "They're here! They're here!"

Lu Jinlan rushed forward, quickly greeted him, and then asked directly, "Are you aware of the student council bullying freshmen?"

Ling Zhixu nodded. "I know."

Lu Jinlan was taken aback. "You know about this, so why don't you care?"

“I know the student council has put some pressure on you, but sometimes pressure isn’t necessarily a bad thing. At least now, you’ve already bonded with the local students, haven’t you?” Lu Jinlan quickly added, “It’s not the same thing. There’s no deep-seated hatred between out-of-town and local students; spending time together naturally builds cohesion. But what’s wrong with the student council treating everyone in a way that destroys dignity and is almost insulting? How can you quickly build cohesion? Don’t you think that’s too cruel?”

Ling Zhixu smiled slightly, "Perhaps, but the world is inherently cruel. I don't think it's a bad thing to hone your resilience early on. Besides, your seniors are sensible and won't go too far. The academy won't interfere in this matter; you students have to learn to solve your own internal problems."

Lu Jinlan thought for a moment, "Please wait a moment while I convey your message to the students."

The campus was bustling with people, and quite a few had already noticed Lu Jinlan talking to the dean. The other seven students from Class 106 stood not far away, waiting anxiously, until Lu Jinlan smiled and waved, at which point they all rushed over.

Yan Wuxin looked on expectantly: "Is the Dean willing to uphold justice for us?"

Lu Jinlan answered decisively, "I don't want to, but we'll talk about that later. Now let's implement the second plan. Everyone must be happy. Ling Zhaoren, go and hug your great-aunt."

Ling Zhaoren: "So suddenly? She hasn't held me since I was three years old."

Lu Jinlan: "Then you say this line, go!"

Ling Zhaoren steeled her heart, rushed over and hugged Ling Zhixu tightly, burying her head and pretending to cry: "Waaah, Auntie, you haven't hugged me since I was three years old."

Ling Zhixu was taken aback for a moment, then patted her back, "Oh dear, you've grown so tall, your great-aunt can't carry you anymore."

As Ling Zhixu spoke, she realized that seven or eight freshmen had surrounded her. Yan Wuxin said pitifully, "Dean, you are so kind. You remind me of my grandmother. Can you pat my head?"

Ling Zhixu was rarely praised for her kindness, and she was moved. Her aged eyes revealed her affection for the young man, and she even smiled and said, "Okay, I'll pat your head."

She casually patted everyone's heads and said, "Alright, let's go to our early class."

Ling Zhixu turned and left. Lu Jinlan said, "I'll count to three, then everyone shout 'Thank you, Dean!'"

Ling Zhixu hadn't taken more than a few steps when suddenly four loud and clear words came from behind him: "Thank you, Dean!"

This is the second strategy: to pretend to have gained the dean's support.

Lu Jinlan put her arms around everyone's necks and whispered, "Although the dean doesn't support us, we have to act like she does. The student council won't dare to question the dean, so as long as we act convincingly, they won't dare to make a move. Thirdly, be arrogant and bluff. So many people are secretly observing us. When we turn around, we have to put on our most arrogant act. Imagine you've accomplished the thing you've always wanted to do, be as arrogant as you can be, understand?"

They looked at each other and nodded firmly.

Han Li and the others rushed over upon hearing the news and happened to witness this scene, which made them widen their eyes in astonishment.

The eight women exuded arrogance, as if the world could no longer contain them. They strutted arrogantly down the tree-lined avenue of the academy, making the spacious road seem unusually crowded. Even when the dean led the entire school in a sacrificial ceremony, they had never acted so recklessly.

Each of them wore an arrogant gaze, exuding an air of haughtiness. The eight of them stood in a row, charging towards them menacingly. As they passed Han Li, Chu Yishu deliberately bumped into her hard, glaring at her arrogantly, and shouted, "Get out of my way!"

Han Li stared in disbelief as they walked away, and it took him a long time to come to his senses before he cursed a string of profanities.

Lu Jinlan's three pretentious schemes worked; for seven whole days, the student council members didn't bother them. But everyone knew that the two sides were still in a standoff, secretly observing and being cautious of each other, wishing they could take turns standing guard to prevent any ambushes.

For safety reasons, she did not meet with Rin-seo again. The two could only exchange a few words and a few caring glances during the time it took to get their food.

The Royal Academy has added three more courses this year than in previous years, bringing the total to ten: Martial Arts, Horsemanship and Archery, Military Strategy, Law, Poetry, Arithmetic, Music, Water Conservancy, People's Livelihood, and History. The coursework is packed from morning till night, causing the freshmen to complain endlessly.

Lu Jinlan, Xiang Ruzhen, and Yan Wuxin also had to take care of cleaning, sweeping the classroom every day. Not only were they physically and mentally exhausted, but they also had to endure three meals a day of unpalatable food. Under such high pressure and harsh conditions, the atmosphere in the academy became increasingly tense.

The dormitory had become deathly silent. Yan Wuxin thought, "Why is the student council so quiet? I really want to fight them right now."

Lu Jinlan: "Maybe that's what they're thinking too. Everyone's annoyed and wants to vent."

Xiang Ruzhen: "Don't worry, we're just used to being carefree and haven't gotten used to it yet."

Yan Wuxin let out a painful wail: "Ah! When will these miserable days end?"

At this moment, Yan Yu returned excitedly from outside, "Good news! The dean is taking the mentors to participate in the National Lecture Forum. We can take a break early, and there will be no classes for the next two days. The announcement has already been posted!"

Before the others could react, deafening cheers erupted outside. That night, the dormitory area was filled with singing, dancing, and the sounds of drums and gongs. Everyone was going crazy from being cooped up and was so excited that they could hardly sleep.

Lu Jinlan and Yan Wuxin squeezed onto Xiang Ruzhen's bed, eagerly planning their vacation.

Yan Wuxin: "I need to go back to the old house first to pay my respects to my mother. Then I'll go to the private residence to check on my servants; they must be missing me terribly. How about we have a picnic by the lake behind my Leisure Mountain Villa at noon? I'll prepare some good wine, dishes, and a whole roasted lamb. We'll stay at the villa tonight."

Xiang Ruzhen: "That's fine. I'll go hunt some wild game and make it a nice meal for everyone."

Lu Jinlan: "I'm going to have a long sleep. When I wake up, I'll go to Jiu'an Hall and meet you all at noon."

Yan Wuxin smiled knowingly. "Hehe, I've prepared another special surprise for you, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

When Lu Jinlan woke up, both of them had gone out. She was packing her things to leave when it suddenly occurred to her, since they were going on a picnic, why not invite Lin Cheng along? He must be bored being alone here. Meeting outside of school would be much more intimate; the green hills, clear waters, blue skies, and white clouds made it the perfect time for romance.

Lu Jinlan sent a message to Lin Cheng, inviting him to meet her by the lake. Around noon, she couldn't help but look around anxiously. Seeing her longing expression, Xiang Ruzhen smiled and shook her head, "I didn't expect that after being locked up for seven or eight days, what you and Wu Xin were thinking about most was a man."

Lu Jinlan retorted, "We're not the same kind of people. She's after all those men, while I'm only after one. We're not comparable."

Xiang Ruzhen smiled without saying a word, then looked behind her, "Your one has arrived."

Lin Cheng had changed out of his coarse linen clothes and returned to his elegant gentleman attire. He was dressed in white again, his clothes spotless and his face clean, making him a sight to behold.

Lu Jinlan walked up to her with light, airy steps, "You're here."

"Hmm, it's rare for you to treat me."

There seemed to be a hint of reproach in her words, so Lu Jinlan smiled and explained, "I haven't dared to meet you these past few days. It's not that I don't want to see you, but I've gotten into some trouble and I'm afraid of implicating you."

“I’ve heard about it, but I’m not afraid of being implicated. It’s worth taking some risks in life for the things you want to do and the people you want to see.”

Lu Jinlan smiled and nodded, "You're right. I know you're not afraid, but I still can't bear to let you take the risk."

"Cough!" Xiang Ruzhen, who was eavesdropping, choked on a piece of grilled fish and hurriedly apologized, "Sorry, I bit into a bone. Don't mind me, you guys talk."

Lu Jinlan pulled Lin Cheng a few steps away, saying, "Don't worry about her. She's the most clueless woman in the world."

Lin Cheng suppressed a laugh and teased, "Yes, everyone else is clueless about romance, but you are. But to be honest, among all the women I know, you are probably the second best woman in the world."

Lu Jinlan frowned slightly and quickly asked, "Who is the best?"

“My mother. My parents had a very good relationship, so even though my father only had me as his son, my mother never remarried. She was very devoted to her husband.”

Lu Jinlan protested, "It's still a bit unfair that you ranked me second. I haven't married any of them yet, how do you know I'll be unfaithful?"

Lin Cheng lowered his eyes sadly and sighed, "Everyone in the world knows."

Lu Jinlan said matter-of-factly, "Rumors are not to be believed. Seeing is believing. In all these days, have you seen me entangled with any young master?"

Before he finished speaking, several carriages arrived. Yan Wuxin nimbly jumped down from one of the carriages, excitedly shouting, "Quick, someone come here! I stole several jars of fine wine from home. Jinlan, look who I've brought!"

A sense of foreboding suddenly welled up in Lu Jinlan's heart. Lou Yumin lifted the curtain, stepped down from the carriage behind, and smiled at her with a beaming smile.

Lu Jinlan: What happened?

Customer service representative (elderly woman): "What's going on?"

A note from the author:

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What is a surprise? This is a surprise! The arena of heroes is about to begin! P.S.: My esteemed ladies, after overcoming numerous hardships, we have finally reached the moment of paid access. Starting with the next chapter, it will be a reverse paid access chapter. Please support the official version, thank you. My next book is "Manipulating Her for a Long Time," a romance between an older woman and a younger man pursuing a woman, a wild and ambitious career woman x a wealthy and cunning womanizer. The story begins with a series of unexpected events leading to a long-awaited reunion. Some have been plotting for a long time, while others are only half-heartedly accepting. In the end, she gains his family fortune, and he gains her love. My virtuous husband supports my ambitions, and I say to him: I give you my life.