Next came the self-introductions: "I am Linghua, the eldest disciple of the Xuanzhen Sect, and this is my second junior sister, Lingyue. If you perform well, you will have the opportunity to become our junior brothers and sisters."

The first day was just for roll call, getting acquainted with the Xuanzhen Sect's environment, and everyone receiving a copy of the Xuanzhen Sect's rules and regulations.

"Please read and remember the above matters carefully. If you violate them, please go back immediately."

Several people blushed and told the man that they couldn't read. The man said expressionlessly, "Lingyue, send them out."

Those people didn't even have time to say a few more words before they were dragged out.

Everyone carefully read the manual. A few people came out of the hall. The leader looked to be in his thirties. The expressionless man respectfully addressed him as "Master".

"Hmm, how is it?"

"The results show that those who can't read are too old and have already been sent out."

"Yes, you did a great job."

An Ran peered through the crowd and spotted the so-called sect leader, who had a long beard, wore a black robe, and had his hair neatly coiled up with a hair crown.

"He really does look like a sect leader."

Even her very soft voice was overheard, and Linghua said coldly, "Don't speak!"

Startled, An Ran lowered her head and stuck out her tongue.

The sect leader, however, spotted her immediately from behind the crowd and raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, everyone has had a long journey today, let's rest and have a meal first."

With the leader's instructions, everyone quickly dispersed and finally it was time for the much-anticipated meal.

Everyone knew the food probably wouldn't be that good, but no one expected it to be so bad—there was only one vegetarian dish and one vegetarian soup, and the staple food was steamed buns.

To everyone's astonishment, "This...this...is it eaten?"

Everyone has the same thought: how should this be eaten?

An Ran wasn't pretentious at all. After all, she was here to learn a trade. If she wanted to eat well and enjoy life, she might as well stay in the capital where she could have everything.

He took a bite of the steamed bun and said, "Not bad, what do you think?"

Xiao Lan naturally agreed, "If An Ran thinks it's good, then it's good."

If others heard this, they would say it was hypocrisy, or that these two people couldn't afford to eat before.

Especially the person who was so warmly greeting An Ran in the room just now, now she wanted to stay far away, and even if An Ran greeted her, she pretended not to hear.

"Didn't you hear me?"

Xiao Lan pouted and complained, "What do you mean you didn't hear us? You just don't want to talk to us. Who cares?"

After finishing her meal, she quickly went back to catch up on her sleep; the journey had been tiring, and Anran was already exhausted.

The simple yet arduous learning journey began with the sound of a gong at dawn the next day, and it has been almost five years since then.

In ancient times, when a girl reached the age of fifteen and came of age, she needed an elder to bestow a crown and blessing upon her. The letter should have arrived from the capital several months ago, informing her of her well wishes and reminding her not to forget.

Seeing that there wasn't a rush, she felt a little reluctant to leave.

So I thought I'd wait a bit longer, and after going back, I figured I probably wouldn't come back again.

But fate had other plans, and everything happened very suddenly.

When Anran was training with her fellow students as usual, she was told that someone from her family had come to visit.

She was both excited and a little scared. Why had someone come in person? Who was it? Had something happened at home?

He rushed to the door with Xiaolan, and his heart skipped a beat when he saw the person in front of him. "Brother?"

The person who arrived was Anzhi, who was about to turn fifteen. Anzhi was wearing a dark robe, and her features, which were five parts similar to Anran's, were tightly furrowed. There was no joy on her face at seeing her younger sister, only deep sorrow.

"Grandpa, something bad has happened! Mom sent me to pick you up and take you home."

An Ran stumbled, "How could this be?"

She remembered that her grandfather was in very good health.

Anzhi didn't explain much, but urged her, "Let's go first, we can talk as we go."

An Ran didn't have time to think. She told Xiao Lan to pack her things, and then went to her master to resign.

“Master, I don’t know when we will meet again. I only hope that you take good care of yourself. If my senior brother takes over the Xuanzhen Sect in the future, I will come to the capital and let you live out your old age in peace.”

There wasn't much sadness, and they didn't even have time to say goodbye to their fellow disciples. After Xiaolan packed her things, the group hurriedly went down the mountain.

Anzhi had prepared a carriage, and Anran pulled the guard's horse over and nimbly climbed onto it, saying, "Brother, let's ride back."

The two of them lived far from the capital; even traveling day and night, it would take them a month to get there.

While resting at the post station after changing horses, Anran couldn't help but ask again, "What illnesses do my brother and grandfather have?"

An Zhi said, "My grandfather was injured in the leg by a wild boar when he was young and has had this old injury ever since. His health has deteriorated in the last two years and he couldn't hold on any longer."

An Ran cried with guilt, "It's all my fault, I shouldn't have come out."

"It has nothing to do with you coming out; this is not your fault."

After a month-long journey, the two finally arrived at the Su residence before dusk.

The old woman who guarded the gate every day turned around with joy when she saw the two of them, shouting all the way, "Young master and young lady are back!"

Anzhi and his companion went straight to their grandfather's courtyard, which was filled with members of the Su family, young and old. Seeing everyone, Anzhi felt a pang of guilt.

Upon seeing her children, Liu Huan hurriedly pulled them inside, saying, "Go see your grandfather quickly, he's been waiting for you for a long time."

The room reeked of medicine, and on the bed lay an elderly man, thin and with white hair and beard.

With eyes closed, I watched the lifeless scene.

Su's mother rocked her husband in bed, calling out, "Old man, the child is back, the grandson you've been longing for is back."

Anzhi rushed over, grabbed his hand, and cried out, "Grandfather..."

Su's father slowly woke up from his bed, staring blankly at the two of them, "You...you're back."

An Ran was already sobbing uncontrollably, and An Zhi, with red eyes, said, "Grandfather, your unfilial grandson has returned."

Father Su breathed a long sigh of relief, “It’s…good, the whole family is…all together.”

"Old woman..."

Mother Su wiped away her tears and leaned closer, saying, "I'm here."

Su's father was helped to his feet and rested for a long time. Looking at the three Su brothers in the distance, he instructed them: "Take good care of your mother. After I am gone, bury her outside the city. In the future, I will return to Maocao Village with your mother."

Su's father suddenly seemed to be in good spirits and even ate half a bowl of porridge, asking Anzhi and his sister what they were studying outside.

Anran tried her best to cheer him up, "Grandfather, when you get better I'll show you how to use a gun, and a whip too."

"Good, good, good. My Anran will definitely be an outstanding female general in the future."

An Ran was surprised that her grandfather still remembered how old she was, and tears streamed down her face.

Father Su then looked at Anzhi. He knew that this grandson had grievances against the Su family, so he said a few good words for his son.

"It's good that you're back; Grandpa can finally rest easy."

Knowing his time was near and fearing he would frighten his grandchildren, he sent them away.

"You all go out first, and call your grandmother in."

Not long after Su's mother went inside, a sorrowful cry rang out, and the crowd that had been waiting outside knelt down and wept upon hearing it.

It was only when the sons, Su Wan, and Liu Huan entered the house and saw their mother weeping bitterly at the sight of their lifeless father that they truly realized what was happening.

From this moment on, they had no father.

When the old master of the Su family passed away, officials from the court came to mourn him, and even the emperor personally offered incense.

The Su family kept vigil for seven days, and finally buried Su's father in a propitious burial site outside the city according to his last wish. Su's mother fainted several times, and finally, with Liu Huan's help, she personally escorted her husband to the burial site.

Su's mother gazed at the erected tombstone for a long time, reluctant to leave. "Remember your father's words: when I pass away, take us home."

When my father passed away, his son, who was an official, should have resigned and sent his father back to his hometown to observe three years of mourning. However, my father couldn't bear to see his children traveling back and forth, nor could he bear to be too far away from his wife after returning home.

He was temporarily buried in the capital. His wife thought she could still visit him and wouldn't be separated from her son and grandson. After his wife passed away, the two of them would go back together so she wouldn't be so lonely.

A kind old man who thought of others even in death.

When the emperor heard about this, he was deeply moved by their affection and posthumously conferred the title of Grand Master of the Palace on the deceased Su's father and the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree on Su's mother.

Liu Huan's words came true; Su's mother was indeed granted the title of Lady of the Imperial Decree because of her son's glory.

Even if they don't go back, the three Su brothers still have to observe three years of mourning for their father, temporarily take off their official hats and put on plain clothes, fast and eat vegetarian food every day, and not participate in any activities.

The grandchildren only observed the mourning period for forty-nine days, and since it happened to be close to Anzhi's birthday, they did not hold a grand celebration.

The ceremony was completed after a simple coming-of-age ceremony, not to mention a banquet for guests.

That evening, Liu Huan cooked longevity noodles for the two of them, along with two poached eggs. "Try Mom's longevity noodles. I haven't made them for years. I just don't know if they'll taste good."

Neither of them was in much spirits, especially An Ran. She would go out happily and come back to find the house empty. For over a month, she hadn't had a single happy day.

Liu Huan saw her daughter's sadness and comforted her, "Anran, your mother wants to tell you that birth, aging, sickness and death are unavoidable. It's not something that can be changed if you don't go out. Your grandfather doesn't blame you; on the contrary, he loves you both very much."

"Death is not scary, forgetting is. Look at the stars outside. Legend has it that the dead become stars in the sky and will stay with us forever."

Anran felt much better and slowly ate her longevity noodles after calming down.

After finishing a longevity noodle, Anran felt inexplicably wronged. "The longevity noodles that Mother made are the best I've ever eaten in my life, don't you think, brother?"

An Zhi nodded slightly in agreement.

"How about Mom makes this for you every year from now on?"

The mother and her two daughters chatted for a long time in the house; they hadn't had a proper chat during these days of mourning for their elders.

Looking at her daughter's face, which inherited the best features of both her and Su Yi, with her curved eyebrows and eyes that also carried a touch of heroism, and her red lips and white teeth, Liu Huan felt a pang of tenderness.

She couldn't help but think of how women in ancient times had to get married at the age of fifteen, while nowadays, people can observe three years of mourning after an elderly person passes away.

She was also afraid that the emperor would bestow his daughter upon one of the princes in three years, and the more she thought about it, the more distressed she became.

Not wanting her daughter to see that she was feeling unwell, she told the two of them to go home and rest.

"The Emperor has sent a letter today ordering you two to study at the Imperial Academy. You two should be prepared to go at any time."

Neither of them had any objections; after being free for so long, it was time to take on their responsibilities.

The Emperor's order came down quickly, and the two put on their special school uniforms and headed to the Imperial Academy.

Liu Huan, dressed in plain clothes, saw the two off to the Imperial Academy. Before getting off, he gave them some instructions from inside the carriage.

"When you go there, you must not play or make noise, and you must not forget that your grandfather has only recently passed away."

The moment the two stepped out of the carriage, the surrounding students all turned around to look at them.

Who are those two people?

"Have you forgotten? Those were twins from the Su family, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. When the old master Su passed away and was in mourning, the Emperor granted them special permission to come to the Imperial Academy."

"No wonder, I was wondering why I'd never seen him before."

The two pretended not to hear the noise and went into the Imperial Academy together.

The Imperial Academy had a strict hierarchy, and students were assigned classrooms according to their official rank.

The highest-ranking residence was the First-Class Courtyard, where princes, dukes, and ministers resided, while the lowest-ranking residence was the Second-Class Courtyard, which applied to both men and women.

An Zhi was immediately assigned to a first-class ward, as was An Ran.

Everyone knows that the twins from Lord Su's family went abroad to study a few years ago and have only just returned. Many people don't know what the two look like and are very curious.

The two caused quite a stir as soon as they entered their classroom, after all, they were both quite good-looking.

After the teacher introduced the two, they took their seats. Several young ladies from prominent families on An Ran's side were very unhappy.

Despite their noble status, they still couldn't escape the fate of wearing school uniforms; even a beautiful woman would pale in comparison to the gray school uniforms they wore.

An Ran was different. Having practiced martial arts for many years, she had a tall and straight posture. The Xuanzhen Sect's territory was good for nurturing people, and An Ran's skin not only didn't get tanned, but it even became fairer.

His serious face gives him a very aloof feeling.