Tianyun was unaware that he was being watched, because another troublesome matter had come knocking on his door.
After the quiz, there will be a day off, which will be used by the examiners to grade the papers.
Since she didn't need to go to the Imperial Academy today, Tianyun started flipping through medical books. She was quite interested in acupuncture, so she asked another maid, Yihua, to sew a life-size doll with the acupoints marked on it for easier memorization.
As she was flipping through a book, Lingqi knocked lightly twice on the door and reported, "Miss, Miss Yu has arrived and is currently walking towards your courtyard."
Tianyun was no stranger to this young lady. In the original owner's memories, this young lady was the listener to whom she confided her feelings of love and affection, and one of the few people who knew her feelings for the Second Prince.
It was also the channel through which the original owner collected the Second Prince's personal belongings, and could be considered a middleman!
Yu Lan was the third daughter of a compiler in the Hanlin Academy and a relative of Yu Shanlai's father, the Imperial Censor. The two families were not close, and she was not the legitimate daughter of the principal wife.
As a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, she was a sixth-rank official with a low salary. In addition, she was an illegitimate daughter and was not favored by the emperor, so her monthly allowance was pitifully small.
So she set her sights on the original owner of this body, who was foolish and rich. Under the pretext of having a way to obtain the Second Prince's personal belongings, she would leave with a large amount of silver given to her by the original owner every time she came back.
The next day, bring her some handkerchiefs, shoe covers, or other vague items that are impossible to identify as belonging to anyone.
The original owner of this body foolishly believed it and treasured these things, overjoyed every time she received them.
They had no idea what was so strange about it. How could Yu Lan, a concubine's daughter who lived a secluded life and was not favored by the emperor, have the means to obtain something used by a prince?
The person who came shouted as soon as he reached the door, and went inside without even knocking.
"Tianyun, I heard you passed the imperial examination and got into the Imperial Academy. Did Lord Shangguan bribe his way in?"
Yu Lan became increasingly smug. Although she relied on the money Tianyun gave her to make a living, she was not afraid at all that Tianyun would break off their friendship because of such ridicule.
After all, he still held her lifeline in his hands!
Tianyun leaned against the soft couch without getting up, only turning a page of the medical book and saying lightly, "I suppose you are not yet qualified to take the test and do not know the secrets within. The Imperial Academy does not have any bribery involved."
Responding to her sarcastic remark, Yu Lan glared at her with a hint of jealousy. She had become even more beautiful in just a few days!
Trying to keep a calm tone, she said, "It's not that you're so great that you got into the Imperial Academy. My cousin, Yu Shanlai, is also there. I heard she even got a top-three ranking in the recent painting test."
"And you, you're not going to be last, are you?"
After saying that, she resumed her smug demeanor, as if she herself had won the top three places, not Yu Shanlai.
Tianyun glanced at her, somewhat puzzled by her sense of superiority. What did other people's achievements have to do with her?
"The rankings haven't been announced yet, so I don't know either." She then asked, "How did your cousin find out?"
What good would it do to get into the Imperial Academy?
Having been friends with Tianyun for so long, Yu Lan already knew Tianyun's background: simple-minded and disliked hard work.
In terms of calligraphy and painting, he was only half-skilled—completely clueless.
She must have gotten the lowest grade and was just too embarrassed to mention it. Yu Lan rolled her eyes and, without waiting for her to greet her, sat down in front of the peony-patterned mirror: "It's always the same, and this time will be no exception. My cousin's painting skills are outstanding, and she has few rivals. It's just a matter of competing with Mu Yao."
His fingers roamed restlessly over the exquisite and valuable jewelry, his eyes filled with uncontrollable greed and envy.
Shangguan Tianyun is so lucky. Because she is the only daughter in the family, she is pampered and all the good things are stuffed into her courtyard! Unlike me, my father has a low official position and has many daughters, a total of seven, so I have never been valued since I was a child.
If I can help my cousin this time, my father will gain face in the family. Then why should I worry that my father won't value me?
As Yu Lan thought this, the corners of her lips curled up, and a hint of determination flashed in her eyes.
Tianyun knew at a glance that she was about to start causing trouble.
Sure enough, the next second she said arrogantly, "I found out that there is a porcelain pillow used by the Second Prince that is looking for a buyer. This is something that the Second Prince used to use every day, so the price will be several times higher than the previous items. It will probably cost at least two thousand taels of silver."
"Go and make your own plans. I'll give you two days."
Having said that, she picked up a gold-inlaid agate hairpin with a lotus tassel and inserted it into her hair bun.
When we leave, we can just take what we need. She'll probably be overjoyed and thinking about how to raise the money right now, so she won't notice anything.
Tianyun lifted his gaze from the medical book, his eyes clear and bright, taking in her subtle movements.
She placed the book on the couch, then moved gracefully to her side, took off the hairpin she was wearing, and put it back in its place.
"This hairpin doesn't suit you; it just makes your skin look even darker."
"You!" Dark skin has always been Yu Lan's sore spot. Because she was playful when she was young, she was often punished by the mistress. Every day at noon, she had to kneel in the sun as punishment, which is why she became so dark.
Touched on a sore spot, she stood up angrily and glared at Tianyun, saying, "If this is how you treat people, don't blame me for giving that porcelain pillow to someone else!"
These words were a fatal blow to her. Yu Lan crossed her arms and raised her chin, saying, "You should think this over carefully. This porcelain pillow is truly His Highness's most intimate possession. If you miss this opportunity, you won't have another chance to get it next time."
Tianyun's cherry lips curved into a slightly meaningful smile.
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