sisters
Before entering Zhiqiong Hall, to be fair, Lin Xu was worried almost every day and had difficulty sleeping at night.
She had worn the label of "good-for-nothing" for too long in her past life. Although she seemed indifferent, she always harbored some resentment whenever she faced those pampered and learned scions of noble families. She worried that others would ridicule her for not having a mother, and she worried that she would make a fool of herself again.
Gradually, inferiority complex turned into self-abandonment.
She would complain of a headache whenever she tried to read, so she simply threw down her pen and ink and refused to step into the study or ancestral hall again. When a teacher came to teach her, she became even more eccentric, deliberately acting arrogant. The teacher would often swallow his anger out of respect for Lin Fu, but after enduring it for a while, he would eventually flee in disarray.
What's more, when he was ten, a young teacher had come to the manor; he passed the imperial examination at fourteen and had enjoyed a smooth career, only to experience setbacks with Lin Xu. His fair face flushed crimson, and he declared angrily:
"This woman is hopeless; I fear she will never come to her senses in this lifetime."
From then on, Lin Xu's talent for causing trouble became increasingly uncontrollable. Climbing trees to tease birds and dressing up as a man were not uncommon occurrences. Sneaking out of the mansion to prank passersby or taking a few servants to tease cats and dogs were all commonplace occurrences.
Fortunately, she wasn't too unlucky; her father would cover for her after she got into trouble. Lin Fu was soft-hearted and kind, and he also cared about Liang Shuangyu, so he only pretended to be stern and said a few harsh words, but he couldn't bear to be too harsh on her.
For many years, Lin Xu had never suffered any mistreatment from her stepmother. Until Qi Shi came to the mansion, and immediately tried to kill her.
But she survived.
After entering Zhiqiong Hall, Lin Xu gradually gained another understanding.
Fu Sheng was the second-place finisher in the imperial examination in the seventh year of the Yuanzhen era, and now he is in charge of teaching students at Zhiqiong Hall. He also serves as an editor in the Privy Council. He is upright and knowledgeable, with a profound understanding of both ancient and modern times, yet he never treats anyone differently because of their high social standing, nor does he show any disrespect to Lin Xu because of his shallow talent.
It turns out that there really are such dedicated and conscientious people in the world who teach and nurture others.
She felt admiration for him and secretly studied harder than the average student.
She studied books like the Shuowen Jiezi and Erya, listened to scholars discuss current affairs, and diligently practiced calligraphy in the clerical script every day. After several days, her figure became even more slender. Her waist, which was already so thin that one could wrap it around her hand, was now even more graceful and delicate in her light summer clothes, like a slender willow.
After spending half a month together, she gradually figured out the character of everyone in Qiongzhitang.
The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince often traveled together. One was tall and thin, while the other was short and stocky. The Ninth Prince was the youngest, having entered school at the age of eight. He was somewhat nervous when speaking in front of his elder brothers and often stumbled over his words.
Kunrou always had a cold expression. She usually disliked others getting close, and would finish her daily homework with a sullen face before leaving first. Everyone in the school was used to it.
The Yao sisters remained as beautiful as ever, and they were close friends with the few other girls in the school. Yao Su'an was in poor health and often stayed home to recuperate, while Yao Suran came frequently, but she always wore makeup and gold and silver jewelry, making a very ostentatious display.
Duan Jinru came from a prince's mansion. As the nephew of Prince Mao, he did not inherit his maternal uncle's powerful and influential style. Instead, he was very taciturn and had excellent calligraphy skills, which often earned him praise from Fu Sheng.
The room was filled with royalty and nobles of noble birth. The so-called peace was merely a facade, and the undercurrents and armed conflicts beneath the surface were likely to arrive sooner rather than later.
Just as the eunuch had kindly warned her that day, if she were to accidentally offend one of them, she would surely suffer greatly.
There were also sons and grandsons of officials who accompanied students in the school.
The Third Prince's study companion was Zhao Fujiang, the son of a Grand Master of the Palace, a third-rank official. He was tall and strong, and he was very humble and obsequious in front of the Third Prince.
Emperor Su currently has four sons. The third prince is the legitimate son of the Empress. The fifth prince is on good terms with the third prince. The tenth prince is still an infant. The ninth prince is timid and fearful. At present, only the third prince has the best chance of ascending to the throne.
The Fifth Prince was skilled in martial arts but less so in literature. His study companion was Cao Yuan, who came from a family of martial arts masters in Mujing. Cao Yuan often took the blame for the Fifth Prince when he failed to complete his homework. Fu Sheng was ruthless in punishing people. Cao Yuan, who had been whipped several times, often couldn't even straighten his back. Sweat dripped all over his face, but he would never utter a sound of pain.
In comparison, becoming Princess Kunrou's study companion was truly a wonderful job.
Although Liao Yan was cold, she was well-mannered from a young age, eloquent, and skilled in literature, and also accomplished in martial arts. Yao Suran mentioned that during the autumn hunt, Liao Yan had shot and killed the eye of a swift wild deer with perfect accuracy, and this woman had won first place that year.
She was never arrogant; when praised by Fu Sheng, she would merely nod slightly before burying herself in poetry and books again. Her demeanor and conversation flowed smoothly, like a wild crane in the clouds—the most aloof of them all.
It is said that she is strikingly similar to the eldest princess in her youth. It's a pity that Dayu didn't have a female emperor as a precedent. Otherwise...
Lin Xu sighed inwardly, his gaze slowly shifting to Song Jiaoling, who was sitting not far from Liao Yan.
Song Jiaoling was the only student in the academy whose family background was inferior to Lin Xu's. Her name, Song Jiaoling, perfectly reflected her personality: bright and clear, like a new moon. Her father, Song Anyi, came from a humble background and was then an assistant instructor at the Imperial Academy, thus having the advantage of proximity to the academy to send his daughter there. If Lin Xu wished to become the princess's study companion, Song Jiaoling would be his only obstacle.
She had never met Song Jiaoling in her previous life. The two had no enmity, so figuring out how to make a move was quite a dilemma for Lin Xu.
However, she discovered the Yao sisters' secret first.
.
That day, as usual, Lin Xu followed the professor and recited the subsection word by word. When she was serious, she had a habit of frowning. Her two dark eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and the shadows under her eyelashes trembled with her breath, making her look more solemn.
Suddenly, she felt a light object strike her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Yao Suran's fair face reveal a hint of cunning as she smiled at her without making a sound.
What fell at her feet was the small piece of paper that Yao Suran had thrown at her earlier.
She lifted her foot slightly and hid the crumpled paper under her foot. Then, she accidentally dropped the brush in her hand, gave Fu Sheng an apologetic smile, and blatantly bent down.
Lin Xu carefully concealed the crumpled paper under his loose sleeves. After a moment, he stood up and unfolded the crumpled paper when Fu Sheng wasn't looking.
With just a few strokes, the boy's eyebrows and eyes are depicted very vividly.
A straight nose and high-arched eyebrows. The ink was not yet completely dry, and the outline of the profile was somewhat blurred, but the person in the painting was still recognizable.
Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat, and she looked towards the instigator. Yao Suran was sitting to her left and behind her, meeting her questioning gaze with a shy smile.
Does it look like it?
Yao Suran parted her lips slightly and asked her quietly with her mouth.
Following the direction she was blushing and looking, the Third Prince stood tall and straight by the window, earnestly reciting along with the scholar.
Lin Xu lowered his head again and clenched the crumpled paper he had hidden in his hand, his palms sweating slightly from nervousness.
Her past life memories resurfaced before her eyes.
The invitation to that noble ladies' banquet came from the Duke's mansion, and the person who sent the invitation was none other than the elder sister, Yao Su'an. At that time, the two sisters from the Duke's mansion were considered the most outstanding noble ladies in the capital, with noble status and beautiful appearances. Many women often tried to get close to them to ask for invitations to banquets, but to no avail. Therefore, when Lin Xu received the invitation for the first time, she was naturally overjoyed and accepted the invitation to go.
She has had almost no friends growing up.
Although her maternal grandparents treated her well, they lived far away, and the bond they formed during her youth when she temporarily stayed with them couldn't withstand the long years of separation. Later, Liang Zhengyuan came to Mujing to accompany her. The two were of similar age and naturally became very close. However, the traditional separation between men and women still existed, and even in their intimacy, there was always some distance between them.
What she once longed for most was a close female friend with whom she could share intimate thoughts.
Discussing makeup and cosmetics together, strolling hand in hand through the spring, or sharing a bed at night, whispering sweet nothings about their girlish dreams.
She had never done that before.
She had always been alone, with only Qingwu by her side. Later, as she played and ran wild every day, even fewer people were willing to confide in her and become her sisters.
She had heard since childhood that the two young ladies of the Duke's mansion were inseparable and very close. She actually envied that kind of sisterly affection.
So after receiving the invitation, Lin Xu repeatedly picked out several outfits, but was not very satisfied with any of them. The Yao sisters were very famous in Mujing, and their attire was very elegant, all in the most fashionable styles at the time. She worried that she was not pretty enough and would not be able to be friends with them.
She was so naive back then, and she deserved to be schemed against.
Qi arrived cleverly, seeing that she was bored in her room, she volunteered to help her make a plan. She chose a beige blouse with a plum blossom pattern, which was most popular among daughters of noble families at the time, paired with a crimson gauze skirt with a tie-dye pattern, and then put on a plain-colored jacket. She kept praising how beautiful it looked.
Lin Xu then believed it.
She only noticed something was wrong during the banquet.
The theme of the gathering was appreciating flowers and composing poems. The hall was filled with brightly blooming flowers, and the air was filled with fragrance. The guests chatted and recited poems, feeling very relaxed and comfortable.
Her back was instantly swarmed by several buzzing wasps.
Only then did she realize that Qi had secretly tampered with the inside of the jacket, sewing in needles and thread soaked in rose juice.
Its densely packed needles and strong floral scent make it a favorite of wasps.
She was bold and not afraid. However, the noble ladies attending the banquet were terrified of being stung, and they all turned pale and ran away with their heads in their hands.
In the midst of everyone's panic, Yao Suran picked up a jade cup filled with pear wine and splashed it directly onto her from several steps away.
Lin Xu's carefully chosen clothes and hair were soaked, and wine dripped to her feet. The swarm of bees scattered and fled, carrying the strong smell of alcohol. Yao Suran's eyes were filled with smugness, her smile undiminished.
"The fragrance of the flowers is intoxicating, but it also attracts bees and butterflies, so Miss Lin must be careful."
Her smile held a hint of charm, and her words carried a double meaning.
The older sister, Yao Su'an, who had been standing at a distance, turned pale with fright at Yao Suran's sudden action. She nervously twisted her handkerchief, but after Lin Xu's embarrassment, she inadvertently revealed a hint of smugness.
Lin Xu understood that expression; it clearly said:
What makes you so special that you deserve Zhou Weikan's favor?
The guests at the banquet were all young ladies from prominent families in Dayu, but due to the Duke's mansion's status, none dared to speak up for her. Only Dou Zhen quietly handed her a handkerchief.
Lin Xu once thought that Yao Suran had splashed that glass of pear wine for herself.
But now, clutching the crumpled paper in her hand, she realized that it was actually Yao Su'an who had always admired Zhou Weikan, and that Yao Suran was merely avenging her sister. What she truly desired—
It is the more prestigious position of Crown Princess.
When going into battle, the greatest fear is having one's weaknesses exposed. Once those weaknesses are known, even wearing armor is no different from being unarmed.
Lin Xu glanced again at the Third Prince, who was reciting intently. He had striking features, with sharp eyebrows and a straight nose like a pine tree standing alone on a rock, exuding an air of nobility.
Su Ran, this time... you underestimated your opponent.
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