Chapter 58 Because I knew it was jealousy
Of course it's true, how could it not be?
He has a father who is a high-ranking official, how could he be bad?
After Liu Shen returned to the capital, he no longer had the leisure to raise his children. So he hired three tutors for his daughter to teach her a little about music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, incense, flowers, and tea, so that she could pass the time. His son was sent to the Imperial Academy, where he was encouraged to study diligently and strive for excellence.
The news spread that the young master was going to study at the Imperial Academy and would be staying in a special cell. The entire Guangyi Hall fell silent; everyone was hiding and laughing. It was truly wonderful news! Lü Yang even ran to Shanlai's room to offer incense to the Bodhisattva, beaming, "Bodhisattva, please continue to bless me; I am deeply grateful for your great kindness!"
How could it not be a blessing from the Bodhisattva? She sold herself into servitude as a maid, thinking she would suffer endless hardships, but instead she enjoyed happiness. She had already enjoyed happiness for three years, thinking it was over, but unexpectedly it continued. How could she have such good fortune!
Shanlai, however, could not be happy.
Separation again. Although we are no longer thousands of miles apart and can see each other often, it is still separation in the end.
She was already afraid of separation.
However, Liu Min had no choice but to leave.
Of course, Shanlai had to see him off. It was a quiet morning, and although there were many people standing there, there was not a sound of noise.
The goods were taken directly out, but the person had to make a detour to Yihetang to bid farewell, fulfilling the filial duty of a son.
When they entered, Lady Yue was sitting upright, and Liu Qi was sitting to her left, yawning incessantly. He caught sight of them out of the corner of his eye, quickly stood up, and called out "Brother!" But before he could finish, he started yawning again. Lady Yue, watching from the side, frowned.
"What a mess! I've spoiled you too much! You're so tired, what time did you go to sleep last night?"
Before Liu Qi could answer, Liu Min spoke up first, speaking on Liu Qi's behalf, "My sister is still young, and little ones just don't get enough sleep. How can you blame her? In fact, it's my fault. If it weren't for me, why would my sister get up so early?"
He didn't complain, so Madam Yue didn't need to either. She immediately smiled gently, like a loving mother.
“It’s not unfair to me,” Liu Min said with a smile. “How can going to the Imperial Academy be considered unfair? My former teacher had a student, I vaguely remember his surname was Sun, who studied under me for a few years before going to study at the academy. Later, he was recommended by the prefectural school and was able to study at the Imperial Academy. My teacher said that he was very prestigious at that time. The banquet lasted for many days, and relatives and friends from all over the country came in an endless stream… How can it be unfair to me?”
"You can't say that. Your father was, after all, a third-place scholar in the imperial examinations. How could an ordinary person compare?" There were thousands of students in the Imperial Academy; how could one possibly become a third-place scholar? Madam Le certainly looked down on him, but she knew she couldn't say too much, lest Liu Min feel bad. Such a bad place, yet they insisted on sending him there. Madam Le quickly changed the subject, "Lian Si, just think of it as a trip. If there's anything wrong, go talk to your eldest uncle. Their office is close to the Imperial Academy, just a few steps away. They can come and go quickly and get justice for you promptly. If there are too many problems, we won't go. Don't worry, even if I argue with your father, I will never let you suffer any injustice."
Liu Min lowered his head and replied, "Yes," saying he had remembered everything.
Madam Yue then began to inquire about the luggage, asking about each item carefully to make sure nothing was missed. Madam Yue stood up and said, "It's getting late, Lian Si, you should go soon, otherwise the sun will be high and it will be too hot."
Liu Min responded with another "Yes," and followed Madam Yue outside.
After being escorted to the ceremonial gate, Liu Min could not go any further. He bowed and first paid his respects to Lady Yue, then gave Liu Qi a few instructions, and then bowed to Lady Yue again before taking his leave and exiting the ceremonial gate.
Shanlai saw it all clearly from behind; he didn't turn around, walking away decisively and cleanly. She kept watching him, but he didn't turn around, not even once.
He spoke to his mother and sister with composure and politeness, but she sensed that his forced smiles were merely perfunctory.
He was clearly not doing well, but he used flowery words to brush her off. He was also perfunctory towards her. Back then... back then, when they were tightly embracing, it seemed that there was nothing else in the world but each other.
A heavy feeling settles in my heart, a lingering bitterness—the taste of loss.
As soon as Liu Min arrived at the Imperial Academy, someone came up to greet him and asked if his surname was Liu.
Liu Min got out of the carriage and saw the person who came. He was a young man in his twenties, wearing a blue round-necked robe and a square scarf. He had a refined and scholarly air about him and could be seen at a glance as a scholar, not a servant.
Upon seeing Liu Min, the visitor asked, "Are you Junior Brother Liansi? I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Liu Min had recently taken on another apprentice, this time to Wang Zhiyao, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. It was precisely because of Wang Zhiyao that Liu Shen wanted Liu Min to come to the Imperial Academy.
Wang Zhiyao was Liu Shen's classmate, taking the provincial examination and the metropolitan examination in the same year. He was also quite talented, but lacked luck. He ranked first among the top three, but as a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination), he was considered inferior. Later, he was appointed to an official post outside the capital. Although he achieved some political success, he offended many people because he didn't know how to cultivate relationships, and ultimately ended up being dismissed. It was only through Liu Shen's efforts that he had a chance to be reinstated. Liu Shen genuinely cared for him. With his personality, it would be extremely difficult for him to succeed in officialdom. It would be better for him to teach and educate people. Therefore, Liu Shen arranged for him to take the position of Director of Studies at the Imperial Academy, not seeking merit but avoiding mistakes. Fortunately, he was indeed talented and had friends to help him. After serving as Director of Studies for a few years, he was promoted to Chancellor, enjoying a much higher position. He was a grateful man, but his friend was superior to him in every way, and he really had nothing to repay him with. Now that his friend had asked him to take care of his only son, there was no reason for him to refuse. If he refused, how could he be considered a human being? At his home, he drank the tea offered by Liu Min as a formal apprenticeship ceremony. Waiting for Liu Min at the gate of the Imperial Academy was Lu Yue, a student previously accepted by Wang Zhiyao.
"Junior brother, our teacher originally intended to come and pick you up personally, but as the head of the prison, he is highly respected and attracts attention wherever he goes. He knows that you are of noble character and was afraid of causing you unnecessary trouble, so he asked me to come and pick you up. This is Junior Brother Pang. He will take people to put away your belongings. Junior brother, why don't you come with me to pay your respects to our teacher first? What do you say, junior brother?"
Naturally, I have no objections.
Having met before and become quite familiar with each other, there was no awkwardness in seeing each other again. Wang Zhiyao greeted Liu Min as if he were seeing his own son, and immediately took Liu Min's hand to introduce him to his fellow disciples. In an instant, the shouts of "Brother" and "Junior Brother" were heard one after another.
After Wang Zhiyao became the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, he stopped accepting students. As a result, most of the students had already left the Imperial Academy to pursue their futures. The few who remained were all of excellent character and came from poor families. Since they could not make a future for themselves, staying at the Imperial Academy to do some work was a way for them to survive.
"If you have any odd jobs on weekdays, just ask one of your senior brothers. As long as it's not too outrageous, they can take care of it for you."
Wang Zhiyao never mentioned Liu Shen from beginning to end, so the senior brothers didn't think the new junior brother was unapproachable at all, and they all treated him with great friendliness.
Since it was the last day of the Qingming Festival holiday and there were no classes scheduled, Lu Yue led Liu Min to wander around the Imperial College after leaving Wang Zhiyao's place.
The next day, I went to class alone. I went to Zhengxin Hall and waited outside the door. After the professor arrived, he called me into the hall in front of dozens of people.
The doctor had naturally made arrangements beforehand. After briefly introducing himself, he pointed to a seat in the middle of the third row and said, "Please sit there."
Liu Min didn't say much, just replied "yes" and then carried the things over.
The others remained silent. There were countless students in the Imperial Academy, and as long as it wasn't too outrageous, no one would meddle, let alone provoke them. After all, people are born into different social classes.
Liu Min's enrollment went unnoticed, and everyone treated him with great courtesy. After a few days, his classmates found him to be upright and composed, showing no signs of arrogance. Gradually, many people started talking to him, and of course, some subtly inquired about his family background. He simply smiled and shook his head, pretending not to hear. Eventually, no one asked anymore, and he quickly adapted to life at the Imperial Academy, except for one thing. He sat in a good seat, and the seat next to him was also a good one. Since it was a good seat, why was it always empty? It couldn't possibly be his; that would attract too much attention. But if it was occupied, why had no one ever mentioned it? Not even a single word.
Liu Min had been gone for several days, and Shan Lai had been drawing for those same few days. Just as she put down her brush, Zi Yu came to find her. Seeing that Shan Lai had lowered her sleeves, she asked, "Is it finished?" Shan Lai nodded and led Zi Yu to see the painting. After Zi Yu looked at it, she excitedly said, "Good things come in pairs! Your painting is finished, and the young master has returned from his vacation. Heaven is granting you both a happy ending! Why don't you go over there quickly!" As she spoke, she pulled Shan Lai over.
Shan Lai entered the room, where Liu Min was having Cheng Feng and Bi Tao change his clothes. The moment he saw her, the corners of his mouth twitched into a faint smile.
Seeing that his brow was relaxed and he didn't seem to have any worries, Shanlai smiled unconsciously as well.
After changing their clothes, Chengfeng and Bitao left, while Lvyang brought in tea and then tactfully left as well, leaving Shanlai and Liumin alone.
Shanlai poured Liu Min a cup of tea and asked him as he handed it to him, "How have you been lately?"
"very good."
Hearing this, Shanlai felt genuinely happy, which was so much better than before. So she asked him again, "How is it so good?"
Liu Min then recounted to her all his experiences at the Imperial Academy, what he ate, what books he read, who he met, and what he did together. He also mentioned that the azaleas at the Imperial Academy were beautiful, with dozens of varieties, as well as the paulownia flowers, which bloomed in white and purple. He insisted that Shan should definitely go and see them when she came. He added that his fellow students treated him very well and would let him lead people in.
Shanlai did not respond, not uttering a single word. He appeared calm, but inwardly he was annoyed and even anxious.
Because I know it's jealousy.
How could someone like her be jealous?
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