On the first day my brother returned home, after washing up, he first went to pay respects to the ancestors of the An family, and then, according to custom, served tea to my grandparents.
"I have met my grandfather and grandmother."
The grandfather looked at the boy in front of him. He had a dignified appearance and a righteous air about him. He vaguely resembled his second son when he was young and in his prime.
Although he was raised away from home, he showed no difference from the sons of noble families in the capital.
"I heard from Chao Li that you asked to study at the Royal Academy on your very first day here? The academy has been open for nearly two years now, so you would be considered a transfer student. Although my grandfather is the academy's tutor, he cannot show favoritism."
An Hui looked away but did not show any displeasure.
He said sincerely and earnestly, "Grandfather is upright and trustworthy, and naturally fair. I am willing to enter school through the proper examination channels. If I enter school a few years later, I will definitely work hard and will not bring shame to the An family."
Grandmother sat in the center, not saying a word in support of An Hui. Although she had given up on the concept of destiny, she didn't have much affection for this grandson who had been sent away to another place after birth.
Even if An Huishou were to pass the exam, outsiders who didn't know the situation would assume that the Grand Tutor had shown favoritism. Grandmother didn't want anyone to have any leverage over the An family.
Her brother only wanted a chance, and An Yuan'er hadn't expected her grandfather to hesitate. Just as she was about to say something in her defense, An Chaoli shook his head at her.
“Yuan’er, if you can’t even withstand this little difficulty, you won’t be able to establish yourself in the An family.”
The elder brother knelt before his grandfather and pleaded once more, "Please give your grandson a chance, grandfather."
An Huaishou remained kneeling outside Songhe Hall under the blazing sun. He knelt upright, sweat pouring down his back, but he didn't even reach out to wipe it away.
Although An Chaoli told An Yuan'er to go back, she wouldn't listen and took a handkerchief to wipe her brother's sweat under the scorching sun.
She knew her brother needed support the most, so she clenched her little fists to cheer him on: "Brother, you can do it!"
An Huaishou knelt from midday until sunset, when his grandfather finally emerged from Songhe Hall.
"You have good patience and are willing to endure hardship. You don't have the bad habits of a rich young master. You've passed this test."
An Yuan'er jumped up: "Grandfather is wise. Can my brother go to school now?"
"You little brat, you have the nerve to say that? Back then, you begged your grandfather to let you go to school, but after a short while, you ran off to be the Sixth Prince's study companion. I haven't settled that score with you yet." Although his grandfather was strict with An Yuan'er, he also spoiled her, letting her run wild so many times.
An Yuan'er stuck out her tongue: "Brother would never do that to Yuan'er, so please, Grandfather, have mercy and don't make things difficult for brother. Brother has been kneeling for almost a day."
"You siblings do have a good relationship. However..."
An Huaishou pulled An Yuan'er behind him: "My sister is just being innocent, and she was doing it for my sake. Grandfather, please don't be angry with her."
"If you can answer my question, your grandfather will give you a chance. If you can't, don't mention the Royal Academy again." Grand Tutor An presented a choice.
"What if Grandfather deliberately makes things difficult for Brother?" An Yuan'er whispered in An Huishou's ear, "Brother, this is definitely a trap, we can't fall for it."
An Huishou pondered for a long time, then patted An Yuan'er on the back to soothe her emotions.
"Yuan'er believes in her brother, right?"
An Yuan'er nodded.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com