Planning
Yao Sha lay lazily on a kang table made of huanghuali wood inlaid with white jade brocade patterns. Beside him stood a beautiful young maidservant, who used her slender, jade-like fingers to peel fresh lychees for him, one by one. The crystal-clear flesh was plump and juicy, and when immersed in a glass filled with ice, it shimmered even more beautifully, making it a truly lovely sight.
Yao Sha didn't raise his hand, letting the little girl feed him the fruit. Her slender fingers brushed against his cheek almost imperceptibly. Yao Sha half-closed his eyes, not pointing it out, seemingly enjoying it quite a bit.
Wearing a rose-pink brocade dress with floral patterns, Yao Suran strode into the hall. She looked around, glanced at the little girl, and said coldly, "You vixen."
The young girl panicked immediately. She hurriedly put down the skewer in her hand and was about to bow to Yao Suran when Yao Sha grabbed her wrist, which was half-exposed, like white jade. The girl was both embarrassed and frightened, unsure of what to do. Yao Sha chuckled:
"Second sister, don't take your unhappiness out on the maids all the time. Don't ruin your health by getting angry."
Yao Suran glared at Yao Sha and retorted, "It's because I have such a good-for-nothing brother like you that I always get angry. If you were ambitious, how could you be so lazy and let these vixens bewitch you? I don't think any of the noble families in the entire capital enjoy such pleasures as you. You're almost ruining the reputation of the Duke's mansion."
Yao Sha picked at his ear and sighed lazily:
"It's that same old cliché again. I think Second Sister is quite sensible. Look, she went to Zhiqiong Hall to hang out and was even kicked out by the scholars, forced to stand in the sun for half a day as punishment. Truly, wherever you go, you're as imposing as ever!"
Yao Suran had barely managed to forget the conflict in the school that day, but now Yao Sha had brought up her grudge again, and her face immediately changed color. She angrily said:
"You bastard Yao Sha! You dare to mock your sister after eating a bear's heart and a leopard's gall! Today we'll go to Father and have a word with him to see who was disrespectful first!"
Yao Sha didn't even lift his eyelids. He picked up a skewer from the table beside him, pierced a fresh, sweet, and cool lychee, and tossed it into his mouth. After taking a few bites and swallowing the lychee, he slowly said:
"Second sister still loves to tattle. Fine, then let's go ask Father, why don't you focus on your studies all day long, and only think about how to embarrass girls from families with lower social standing than you? What kind of rule is that?"
Yao Suran stood up, pointed at Yao Sha angrily, and said, "I knew it! You're still angry with me because of that Lin Xu! You really are my good brother!"
Yao Su'an walked in from the corridor, coughing a few times because she had walked too fast. After finally calming down, she looked at the two women and said:
"Alright, you two always argue whenever you're home. We can hear you from far away on the veranda. Be careful, if Father finds out, you two will be in big trouble."
Her gaze shifted to the maid whose wrist Yao Sha had grabbed, and her expression darkened. The maid hurriedly pulled her wrist away from Yao Sha's grasp; her fair wrist had turned red from the force of the grip. Ignoring the pain, she quickly bowed to the Yao sisters and hastily retreated.
Yao Su'an then sat down, looked at Yao Suran and Yao Sha, whose faces were displeased, and said softly:
“The court is quite unstable these days, and Father has been very worried and has lost his appetite. We can joke around as usual, but even if we can't help Father with his burdens, we must not cause any discord among the siblings and make Father unhappy.”
Although Yao Sha and Yao Suran often exchanged barbs, he had a very harmonious relationship with his elder sister. He nodded and sat up. "Is that old man, Prime Minister Zhao, going to cause trouble again?"
Yao Su'an shook her head slightly, her face showing worry.
“I don’t know the details either, but I overheard a little bit when I paid my respects to my father and mother yesterday.” She glanced at Yao Sha again and whispered a reminder: “You should also reduce your contact with your friends recently, and never tell them everything. Especially that Zhao Fuchang, his family is not peaceful either.”
Yao Suran sneered when she heard this, "What decent friends could he possibly have? He's just a bunch of shady buddies who hang out together all day playing cards."
Yao Sha was too lazy to pay attention anymore and half-closed his eyes.
Yao Su'an glanced at her sharp-tongued younger sister, sighed, and still tried to persuade her:
“Su Ran, I understand you’re upset. But what happened last time was indeed too dangerous, and it dragged you into it as well. From now on, no matter what, you should try to be patient and never act impulsively. Besides, you know perfectly well that your brother has feelings for Lin Xu. Now that things have turned out this way, I’m sure you’re not feeling good either.”
Yao Suran waved her hand impatiently, clearly unwilling for her to bring up that day again.
She had always had a smooth and successful life, enjoying all the privileges and favors she could imagine, and had never lost face in front of so many people before. In fact, she was even disliked by the Third Prince, who had always treated her fairly well. It was such a loss that she felt resentful just thinking about it.
The person who had twice caused her to lose face in front of everyone, however, only had to stand as punishment for a short while before fainting weakly, causing chaos throughout the school.
She was also standing outside the palace at the time. She saw that Fu Sheng and the others were all terrified and their expressions changed drastically. The Third Prince rushed over as soon as he heard the news and immediately called the guards around him to carry the unconscious Lin Xu to the sedan chair.
It's just a punishment of standing in the corner. Yao Suran, the eldest daughter of the Duke's mansion, hasn't said anything yet. How come it's Lin Xu's turn to make a scene? Who knows what new trick that vixen who's always trying to climb the social ladder is using, only thinking about winning in front of everyone by appearing weak.
Thinking of this, Yao Suran's lips curled into a cold smile.
She suppressed her impatience and turned to look at Yao Sha, her voice softening as if filled with apology and self-reproach:
"Alright, as your older sister, I won't hold it against you. I also bear some responsibility for this matter. If you really can't forget Lin Xu, I might still have a way to help you."
Yao Sha opened his eyes, a thought flashing through his mind. Although he pretended to be calm, the thought of that slender and aloof woman, her extremely fair face, and her seemingly gentle and weak demeanor in public, yet ruthless and decisive in private, made him feel a strong itch in his heart.
What method should I use to win her over?
On that day, the Shangsi Festival, aboard the boat, he used all his strength to hold her tightly in his arms. All he could see were those wet, panicked eyes, yet incredibly alluring. She pushed him away with all her might, and when those hands touched his chest, her face turned fierce, as if she wanted to devour him alive. But why did he find even that anger so endearing, like a cat with its fur standing on end in a rage?
However, just thinking about that person again made him restless and unable to sit still.
Yao Sha stretched lazily and asked casually, "Oh, Second Sister, do you have any ideas? Tell me about them."
Yao Suran glanced at him sideways, already seeing through the undercurrent beneath his feigned indifference. A cold smile crept into her heart as she said in a sweet voice:
"What's the rush? Good things come to those who wait. Let me rest for a few days," she said, playing with the Canaanwood and gold filigree bracelet on her bright, moon-like wrist, her voice becoming increasingly charming, "and then I'll plan this matter properly for you."
.
Song Jiaoling paced anxiously in the hall. Several days had passed since the last examination, and now it was time to announce the results. After waking up that morning, she was restless at home, unable to sit still. She could only anxiously coax her young brother to read and write, while her mind kept wandering to the window.
Finally, her father returned. She immediately put down her younger brother and rushed out to greet him. She saw her father walking briskly, his crimson official robe slightly damp with sweat from the heat. She couldn't help but ask with concern, "Father, you're back. Is it still hot outside?"
Song Anyi nodded with an unreadable expression, strode into the room, and then sat down, lifting his robe. He took a sip of the tea that had already been cooled, glanced at his nervous daughter, and after a long while said, "I just met with Fu Sheng and Mr. Zhang Gu, and the results of the previous selection examination have been released."
Song Anyi paused, then added with a serious expression, "You are at the top of the list."
Song Jiaoling's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. She glanced at her father in disbelief, and finally couldn't help but cover her face and weep. Thank goodness, all her previous efforts hadn't been in vain.
In an instant, her mind raced. She realized that after this, she could finally hold her head high in the school. The humiliation of losing a grade because of ink stains on her pen that day could finally be avenged. The more she thought about it, the happier she felt, but she didn't notice Song Anyi's face gradually darkening.
"Then, about becoming a study companion...?" Song Jiaoling couldn't help but ask with a smile. Historically, study companions for the imperial family were chosen based on academic performance, and now that she was at the top of the list, the position of study companion for the princess was surely within her grasp.
Although Song Anyi, as a tutor at the Imperial Academy, was not responsible for teaching the students of Zhiqiong Hall, he was close to the other doctors and scholars, and must have heard about the candidate for the companion from Fu Sheng.
However, Song Anyi fixed his gaze on her and said in a deep voice, "Let me ask you, have you ever offended Princess Kunrou in the school?"
Song Jiaoling's heart skipped a beat under her father's stern gaze, and she stammered. She tried to recall for a moment, then said blankly, "No, no... I've always been cautious and careful in my dealings with others, following Father's teachings. I'm especially respectful and humble towards Princess Kunrou, how could I dare offend her..."
Song Anyi's eyes showed even greater doubt, and after a moment she pondered and said:
"That's strange. Logically speaking, since you topped the list of candidates, you should have been chosen as the princess's study companion. But Fu Sheng just said that he received news from the palace that Princess Kunrou was not satisfied with the choice of study companion and kept refusing to accept it."
Song Jiaoling looked at her father in disbelief and said in a panic, "How...how could this be? The princess has always been closer to me than to others, how could she be dissatisfied with me?"
Song Anyi looked worried and stroked his beard, saying, "I also find this matter strange. But Fu Sheng didn't say much, only these words. My son, you have studied hard since you were young, hoping that one day you could rise to prominence with your true talents. Now you have finally achieved the top score, but this has happened halfway through. This makes your father very worried."
He pondered for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "In my opinion, the princess may not necessarily be dissatisfied with you. Since the companions are selected based on their grades, my son should naturally be chosen. Why don't you go to the princess's residence now to find out what's going on and see if the princess has any advice for you this time?"
After saying that, he waved his hand and beckoned the maidservant standing outside the door to come in, and said in a deep voice:
"Quickly go to the storeroom and select some top-quality tonics such as ginseng and deer antler, as well as a pair of Hetian jade auspicious pattern ruyi scepters. Once everything is ready, accompany the young lady and deliver them to the Princess's residence immediately."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
