Chapter 2: Miss Wen's bracelet is very beautiful

Wen Xingluo lowered his head and stared at the tip of the embroidered shoes.

Maybe the old empress dowager didn't hate her, but it was difficult for several princes in the palace to accept that her mother was their stepmother, so they also disliked her.

This is human nature.

Wen Xingluo didn't expect that he would be liked by all of them as soon as he arrived.

She still maintained the posture of bowing and saluted, and changed her words to say, "Long live the prince."

Xie Guanlan said nothing more.

Only after he walked away did Wen Xingluo's tense body relax.

She stepped into the inner room and bowed to the old concubine.

The old concubine twisted her Buddhist beads and said, "It's my first time meeting you, and I don't know what to give you. I heard that you girls like jewelry, so I prepared a pair of gold bracelets for you."

Nanny Chen smiled and said, "This old servant will put it on for Miss Wen."

It is a pair of solid gold bracelets with curling grass patterns.

Wen Xingluo remembered that her sister also got a pair of gold bracelets like this.

The elder sister came home wearing a gold bracelet, but she said that the old concubine was stingy and that gold was tacky and not as elegant as jade ornaments. She criticized the old concubine for being from a military family, being rude and ignorant, and not even having basic aesthetic sense.

My sister doesn’t like gold bracelets, but Wen Xingluo never wore a gold bracelet until his death.

All of my father's salary was used to pay the rent to my three brothers, and the rest was used to buy rouge and powder for my sister, so the family was short of money.

Later, she helped her second brother make money, but he never gave her monthly salary or dividends.

It was only when she arrived in the capital and was preparing her dowry that she saw a few pieces of gold jewelry.

Unfortunately, she died with them before she could wear it.

Wen Xingluo looked at the gold bracelet hanging on his wrist.

They are heavy and golden, with exquisite carving craftsmanship, which makes the skin look white and tender, as if the little girl wearing this pair of gold bracelets is being pampered by her family.

Wen Xingluo looked at the old concubine.

The old man was drinking tea with his eyes lowered, but he couldn't help but glance at her nervously, as if he was afraid that she would not like the pair of gold bracelets.

Wen Xingluo smiled sweetly, "Thank you, Queen Dowager!"

She doesn't dislike the things that her sister dislikes.

She likes the old concubine that her sister doesn’t like!

Seeing her sincerity, the old concubine secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I summoned you here today to ask you if you want to study at the White Crane Academy?"

Baihe Academy is the best academy in the southwest.

In addition to princes and nobles, daughters of wealthy families in the southwest could also go to school with the help of their family's reputation.

In her previous life, Wen Xingluo was very envious when she learned that her sister could go to Baihe Academy. She mustered up the courage to find her sister and begged her to let her go as a maid to attend the class, but her sister refused.

My sister said that she was not smart, was quiet, dull and stupid, and would definitely not be able to learn to read.

Several of her brothers also laughed at her for imitating others.

They said that reading was a very elegant thing and only noble ladies like my sister were worthy of it.

A taciturn person like her would only make a fool of herself if she went there.

So she was unable to go to Baihe Academy.

Later, he was busy running around for his brothers year after year, immersed in officialdom and business all day long, scheming and planning, and worked hard, so he had no chance to sit down and study.

In this life, Wen Xingluo wants to read some books quietly.

She bowed and said gratefully, "Thank you, Madam Concubine, for your cultivation."

"Look at you, thanking me all the time. We're a family now, isn't it strange to say such things?" The old concubine was both angry and amused. "Also, you should change your way of addressing me and call me Grandma!"

The old woman, who came from a military family, was neat and dashing. She leaned against the Arhat couch with a golden dragon-headed cane bestowed by the emperor. Although her face was serious and majestic, Wen Xingluo still caught a trace of pity from the corners of her eyebrows and eyes.

Wen Xingluo arched his brows: "Grandma!"

The girl's voice was sweet and crisp, like a thin-skinned green pear in August.

…

Two days later, Wen Xingluo boarded a carriage heading to Baihe Academy.

The academy is about a quarter of an hour's drive from the Zhenbei Palace, so you have to go early and return late.

Xie Shian was in the car with her.

Xie Shian is the youngest son of the Zhenbei Palace. He is one year older than her and is at the age when he is naughty.

Wen Xingluo lifted the curtain of the carriage and noticed that Xie Guanlan was there too.

Xie Shian sneered, "On your first day of school, grandma was worried and specially arranged for your eldest brother to pick you up. Wen Xingluo, are you very proud?"

Wen Xingluo ignored his sarcasm and just looked at Xie Guanlan.

He was riding on a tall horse, and he was probably going to the government office after sending them off. He was wearing a straight crimson military officer's robe, a narrow sword on his waist, and a long black feather cape tied with gold buckles on his shoulders. He held the reins in one hand, and his profile was so cold and noble that it was frightening.

Noticing her gaze, Xie Guanlan glanced at her indifferently.

His eyes fell on Wen Xingluo's hand.

Because of the way she opened the curtains, the girl's sleeve slipped half way down, revealing a section of her fair wrist.

And on that wrist, there was a heavy, golden bracelet.

He said softly, "Miss Wen's new bracelet is very beautiful."

Wen Xingluo: “…”

Although it was a compliment, there was sarcasm hidden in the tone.

It seemed as if he was mocking her vanity and greed for wealth.

Wen Xingluo lowered the curtain and silently took off the two gold bracelets.

What my sister said was fine, but she was right when she said that Xie Guanlan was two-faced and the most annoying person in the palace.

Xie Guanlan caused a sensation when he sent them to the academy.

He was born handsome and was very popular among girls.

When he was young, he also studied in Baihe Academy and ranked first in his studies every year. Now, he not only inherits the throne of the crown prince, but also serves as the commander-in-chief of the southwest army, and has won many battles in the wars against the border countries.

He was born into a noble family, held great power, had made great military achievements, and was gentle and humble in his dealings with others. He was exactly the ideal son-in-law that the elders had in mind, so many noble ladies were secretly inquiring about his marriage.

Wen Xingluo ignored the students' restlessness and walked into the school with his bag on his back.

Her foundation is too poor.

Baihe Academy has exams every month, and she doesn't want to do too badly.

But time is too tight.

Before Wen Xingluo could catch up on the lessons he had missed, the exam began.

Wen Xingluo ranked last in the exam.

Xie Shian ranked second to last in the exam.

In the carriage on the way back to the palace, Xie Shian was very proud: "You read books every day when you go to and from school. I thought you were so great, but I didn't expect you to be worse than me! This time, with you as the last one, my father won't scold me anymore!"

The carriage drove along the long street.

Xie Shian heard the familiar sound of horse hooves, lifted the door curtain, and saw Xie Guanlan returning home from his shift.

He was excited: "Brother, I'm finally not last in this exam! Wen Xingluo got last place! Hahahahahaha, father will definitely whip her and punish her by making her face the wall and reflect on her mistakes!"

Just like how we punished him before!

Xie Guanlan held the reins and said in a gentle voice, "Miss Wen ranked last in the exam?"

Seemingly caring tone.

But they were passing through a busy city.

Xie Guanlan's voice spread, and then all the people on the street knew that the stepdaughter of King Zhenbei had ranked last in the exam.

Wen Xingluo: “…”

The girl clutched the test paper in silence.

Xie Shian saw her eyes were red, and couldn't help but be surprised: "Wen Xingluo, you are not crying, are you? Just because you didn't do well in the exam?!"

Wen Xingluo's voice was buzzing: "No."

"She's clearly crying!" Xie Shian seemed to have witnessed something unusual and shouted outside the carriage, "Brother, Wen Xingluo didn't do well in the exam and is crying!"

Wen Xingluo's cheeks felt hot.

It's embarrassing.

She grabbed Xie Shian's arm and said, "What are you yelling about?!"