Chapter 100 If you know what's good for you, get out of the way and don't block the way!
"How was it? Was the show entertaining?" Xiao Lingxi's voice rang in my ears, filled with undisguised smugness.
Su Xiaoyu swallowed hard, her throat dry.
"Second Miss, what... what exactly happened? Miss Lin isn't..."
Isn't she interested in the Crown Prince?
Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingxi let out a cold snort: "Does Lin Wan'er even deserve my elder brother? She usually pretends to be aloof and virtuous, but behind the scenes she resorts to all sorts of underhanded tricks. Now she has only herself to blame."
She paused, seemingly feeling that further discussion was pointless, and then said, "Alright, there's nothing more to see here. I've got nothing else to do today, so I'll go see my second brother."
Xiao Jingxuan?
Su Xiaoyu's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously thought of Shen Moyan, assuming that she couldn't forget her old flame and was going to look for that person again.
"Second Miss, it's getting late. Why don't we head back to the manor first..."
Xiao Lingxi seemed to see through her thoughts and interrupted her directly: "Don't worry, I'm really going to find my second brother this time."
She glanced at Su Xiaoyu and explained, "With the autumn imperial examinations just around the corner, as his younger sister, I should show him some concern. I can't let him think that nobody at home cares about him, can I?"
As she spoke, she instructed the coachman to take the carriage to the most famous Wenbaozhai in the vicinity, where she personally selected a set of fine writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones before ordering the carriage to proceed to Qingsong Academy.
However, upon arriving at the academy, they learned that Xiao Jingxuan had left early in the morning and was not in the dormitory.
She asked a pageboy, who recognized her as Xiao Jingxuan's sister, and said, "Young Master Xiao went out early this morning with Young Master Zhao and Young Master Sun, saying... there's something interesting to see outside."
Xiao Lingxi's heart skipped a beat: "Lively? What's lively?"
The pageboy thought for a moment and answered truthfully, "I heard they went to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion..."
Xiao Lingxi's face instantly darkened, and she tightened her grip on the handkerchief.
Well, what a good second brother of hers! With the autumn examinations just around the corner, instead of focusing on his studies, he actually went to join in that filthy fun!
Just as I was holding my breath, I heard laughter coming from outside the door, growing louder as it approached.
"Hahaha, you guys didn't see Li Mo's face just now, it was as black as the bottom of a pot!"
"That's right! He's always been so arrogant, but now he's become famous by being associated with Lin Wan'er. Let's see how arrogant he can be now!"
"Next time I see him, I absolutely have to give him a proper 'congratulations'!"
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Jingxuan walked in with Zhao Rui and Sun Wei, their arms around each other's shoulders, their faces still showing an excited look that seemed to enjoy watching the drama unfold.
When he looked up, he suddenly saw Xiao Lingxi standing at the entrance of the dormitory, her face covered in frost.
Xiao Jingxuan's smile froze instantly, looking as embarrassed as if he had been caught doing something wrong.
Zhao Rui and Sun Wei were quick-witted. Upon seeing this, they immediately released Xiao Jingxuan, chuckled awkwardly, and bowed, saying, "Second Miss, are you well?"
"Um... Xiao Er, we suddenly remembered we have something to attend to, so we'll be leaving now."
After they finished speaking, they ran away faster than rabbits before Xiao Jingxuan could react.
Looking at his sister's icy gaze, Xiao Jingxuan felt a chill run down his spine.
"Ling, Lingxi, what brings you here?" He scratched his head and asked, trying to remain calm.
Xiao Lingxi snorted coldly, shoved the newly bought set of writing implements into his hands, and said irritably:
"The autumn imperial examinations are just around the corner, and as your younger sister, I was asked by our mother to come and see you, to bring you some useful things. But I never expected this..."
"At this point, Second Brother, you still have the leisure to watch others make fools of themselves. It seems that you are absolutely certain of victory in this autumn examination?"
Upon hearing the words "autumn examination," Xiao Jingxuan's barely maintained confidence vanished instantly, and his handsome face contorted into a bitter expression.
"Lingxi, stop teasing me. You know perfectly well that your second brother is just not cut out for studying."
He sighed, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "Those classical essays and policy proposals are much harder for me than fighting on the battlefield. If my mother hadn't forced me to take the imperial examination route, I would have gone to the border military camp to gain experience long ago."
"Even starting as a lowly soldier is better than being locked up in this academy all day, facing these dead books."
Seeing her second brother's distressed expression, Xiao Lingxi felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
She knew perfectly well that her second brother's ambitions lay elsewhere, but...
"That won't do!" She stamped her foot, her voice tinged with disappointment. "If you don't achieve something in the exams, your mother will be heartbroken. Besides..."
Her voice lowered; "Do you really want to lose to that Shen Moyan?"
Xiao Jingxuan smiled bitterly and reached out to ruffle his sister's hair: "Silly girl, do you think the top scholar is like a cabbage in your backyard, something you can just take whenever you want? As for your second brother, I'm just grateful that I didn't get my legs broken by our parents just by getting a junior scholar degree."
"Pah, pah, pah, don't talk nonsense." Xiao Lingxi slapped his hand away, feeling even more choked up.
Afterwards, the brother and sister talked for a while, but it was mostly Xiao Lingxi urging him to study harder, while Xiao Jingxuan responded vaguely.
Xiao Lingxi was visibly downcast when she left the dormitory.
She originally wanted to visit her second brother to cheer him up, but instead, she felt even more depressed.
She walked along the corridor with her head down, her mind elsewhere, while Su Xiaoyu followed silently behind her.
I had just turned a corner through a moon gate when I ran into an old acquaintance.
"Lingxi Girl?"
Shen Moyan looked pleasantly surprised, but tried his best to maintain a gentle and refined voice. He bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.
"Long time no see, nice to meet you."
Xiao Lingxi looked up and saw him standing under the eaves, dressed in a slightly worn blue robe, holding a book, with just the right amount of surprise and joy on his face. He appeared refined and polite.
In the past, Xiao Lingxi would have been overjoyed.
But at this moment, she only felt that he was hypocritical and utterly deceitful.
Xiao Lingxi slightly raised her chin, her eyes no longer holding any infatuation, and her tone was icy cold:
“So it’s Young Master Shen. This academy’s corridors don’t belong to my family. If Young Master Shen can walk here, so can I. It’s not a matter of good luck or bad luck.”
Shen Moyan was surprised by her ruthlessness. The gentle smile on his face froze instantly, and then a hint of sadness appeared on his face.
"Miss Lingxi... are you still angry about what happened earlier? If I have been impolite in any way, I..."
"Stop!" Xiao Lingxi raised her hand without any politeness, making a gesture to stop him, her eyebrows furrowed.
"Stop with your excuses! Shen Moyan, do you think I know you that well? If you know what's good for you, get out of my way and stop blocking my way!"
The disgust in her tone was almost tangible, making Shen Moyan's face turn pale.
However, Shen Moyan not only did not step aside, but took another step forward, his gaze falling on the pen and ink in Xiao Lingxi's hand that were originally given to Xiao Jingxuan.
"You've come to see Young Master Xiao, haven't you?"
He feigned regret and sighed, "Young Master Xiao is straightforward in nature, but when it comes to scholarship, I'm afraid... The autumn imperial examinations are approaching. If needed, I can..."
"Stop!" Xiao Lingxi warned, her eyes almost overflowing with contempt.
"The exam hasn't even started yet, and Young Master Shen is already acting like a teacher?"
"You really think you're something special just because you have a little knowledge? No matter what, my second brother is still a son of a marquis. It's none of your business to worry about him."
"Get out of the way!"
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