Chapter 82 New Year's Wishes
Today, the majority of students at Tianlou were from out of town, either there to take on challenges or to broaden their horizons.
At this moment, everyone was looking Xie Yunman up and down.
"Tsk tsk... It's true what they say, comparisons are odious." Someone remarked.
The young master standing to one side spoke up again: "The questions from Tianxing Tower are more difficult at the beginning."
The texts that Master Fu and the old tutor revised were all from the Four Books and Five Classics.
Many of the questions were ones I'd never seen before.
So... even if this guy surnamed Qu goes up to the fifth floor, he might not be as good as Cui Xinghe.
"Wasn't Gong Tianhua from Bailu Academy a top contender for the top scholar position?"
"Hey, you're really ignorant."
Xie Yunman and Su Chen from Nanshan Academy.
Gong Tianhua of Bailu Academy, Feng Shuo.
Wang Qing'an from Qingshan Academy, and Qu Songtao upstairs, are both popular candidates.
The high-stakes gambling dens in the capital have all opened for business.
"Why are they all from the three major academies?"
The person who spoke rolled their eyes at him: "What else? Bet with you? Who knows who you are?"
The person who asked the question blushed and was extremely embarrassed by being interrupted.
Everyone's attention then turned to Xie Yunman and Fu Xiang.
Suddenly, someone shouted from below, "Second Young Master Xie, do you know all the answers to the questions in the Heavenly Pavilion?"
Xie Yunman looked up when she heard this.
He was a student from out of town, and he looked carefree and irresponsible, not like a proper scholar.
So he humbly smiled and said, "Brother, you flatter me."
I've been staying at Nanshan Academy for the past two years, rarely going home or visiting Tianxing Tower. I'm no longer familiar with the topics here.
I wouldn't dare say I know everything.
The man scoffed, "You dare not say you'll be able to do everything?"
Didn't they all say you had the talent to be a top scholar? Could it all be just empty praise?
Xie Yunman laughed and said, "It's just that my friends are praising me. The imperial examination hasn't even started yet, so how can I say that I have the talent to be the top scholar?"
Perhaps I'm not even as good as that guy on the third floor?
After hearing Xie Yunman's words, everyone turned their attention to the third floor.
Qu Songtao had just overheard the conversation and was standing by the railing listening when suddenly everyone stared at him, so he cupped his hands in greeting to the crowd.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Xie Yunman pulled Xie Yuntang and Fu Xiang away.
The three of them went directly to the west side and entered room number two.
Even in broad daylight, the room at No. 2 Earth was brightly lit, and people outside couldn't see anything, but that didn't stop passersby from looking up and glancing at it.
As soon as Xie Yuntang stood by the window, he reached out and closed it.
"Brother Xie, why are you running?" Fu Xiang asked.
What do you think?
Xie Yun glared at him with displeasure.
"This Tianxing Tower belongs to my family. If I continue speaking today, I will incur the wrath of the masses."
Upon hearing this, Fu Xiang slapped his forehead and said, "Oh dear, I was wrong. I didn't think that far ahead."
The three of them stayed at Tianxing Tower for half a day, listening to a story about Sun Wukong's three battles with the White Bone Demon before dispersing and going home.
After that, Xie Yunman never left home again, devoting herself to studying diligently at home.
Xue Zhan had been sending people to inquire about Xie Yunman's situation, hoping to create an opportunity for his sister to play the hero and save the beauty.
But during this period before the Lunar New Year, I couldn't find a single opportunity.
But this doesn't stop people from celebrating the Lunar New Year.
On the thirtieth day of the month, Xie Yunyu notified all her family's shops to close for a break after noon.
No sooner had the message been sent than someone came to report that Old Master Xie had drunk too much in the palace and asked his family to go to the palace gate to meet him.
Xie Yuntang and Xie Yuanshan happened to be both away from home.
Looking at the snowflakes falling outside, Xie Yunyu worried about Xie Yunman's frail health and decided to go pick him up herself.
Unexpectedly, he ran into Xie Yunman as soon as he stepped out.
After Xie Yunman asked for the reason, she got into the car with him.
"Second brother, it's cold, you don't need to make the trip, I can go by myself."
"Let's go. After all, it's the palace gate. It's not convenient for you, a woman, to go alone. I'll go with you."
Xie Yunyu had no choice but to have a servant hand over a hand warmer and a cloak, and add some more charcoal to the charcoal stove in the carriage.
When the two arrived at the palace gate, they did not see the old man, but instead saw a palace attendant.
"Excuse me, are you here to pick up Grand Tutor Xie?"
Xie Yunman lifted the carriage curtain and replied, "Yes."
"When the Prince of Shou'an left the palace, he brought people with him. The Grand Tutor is currently in the Prince's carriage."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yunman realized that this wasn't a formality to pick someone up; it was a trap set to meet Xie Yunyu.
His face darkened immediately, and he said to Xie Yunyu, "You wait in the car, I'm going to pick up my grandfather."
After speaking, he got off the carriage, wrapped himself tightly in his cloak, and walked towards Xiao Ling's carriage in the wind and snow.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Xie Yunman walked to the car and bowed towards it.
Upon hearing Xie Yunman's voice, Xiao Ling frowned slightly and immediately became displeased.
Today is a snowy day. Qingchen sent a message saying that Xie Yuntang and Xie Yuanshan are not at home. He figured that Xie Yunman wouldn't go out today given her health.
Therefore, it must be Xie Yunyu who comes.
Upon hearing Xie Yunman's voice, he immediately realized that he had miscalculated.
After a long pause, he said, "No need for formalities."
"I heard from the young eunuch that my grandfather was drunk in your carriage. Is that true?" Xie Yunman asked.
"Qingfeng, help the old tutor down."
Xiao Ling's cold voice rang out.
Qingfeng acknowledged and entered the car, helping Old Master Xie out.
Xie Yunman saw that her grandfather's face was flushed and he smelled strongly of alcohol; he was indeed drunk.
After taking the person in, he struggled to support him and prepared to bid farewell to Xiao Ling.
To everyone's surprise, Xiao Ling got out of the car and draped a thick cloak over the old man.
Then, supporting Old Master Xie on the other side, he said to Xie Yunman:
"Let's go, I'll see you off."
Seeing that his grandfather did indeed need two people to support him, Xie Yunman did not refuse Xiao Ling's kindness.
The two men, one on each side, helped the old tutor walk toward the Xie family's carriage.
Xie Yunyu saw the two approaching through the car window and leaned out from the car side.
A bright red cloak and a white fox fur trim around her neck made her small face look radiant and beautiful.
Just now, when the Xie family's carriage arrived, Qingfeng said that the driver was Qingchen and the carriage belonged to Xie Yunyu.
Xiao Ling immediately guessed that Xie Yunyu must have come.
Sure enough, when the person was brought over, I saw the person I had been longing for.
Her delicate, picturesque features were especially captivating amidst the snow and ice.
As soon as Xie Yunyu appeared, Xie Yunman turned and glared fiercely at Xiao Ling.
She happened to see Xiao Ling smiling at Xie Yunyu with obvious affection, which made her even more dissatisfied, and she snorted coldly.
Xie Yunyu and Xie Yunman helped the old man into the carriage, while Xiao Ling stood outside, not yet gone.
Xie Yunman then got off the carriage alone and bowed to Xiao Ling with a gloomy face.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Xiao Ling didn't speak, but took out two large red purses from his sleeve and handed them to Xie Yunman.
"New Year, lucky money."
Xie Yunman looked at the two bright red purses, one embroidered with a carp leaping over the dragon gate and the other with two carp playing in the water.
It's obvious at a glance that the carp leaping over the dragon gate is for himself, while the other fish playing in the water is for Xie Yunyu.
This guy really hasn't given up on his thieving ways.
Xie Yunman hesitated to take the purse.
Xiao Ling spoke again, "I have bestowed this blessing upon you; you cannot refuse."
Upon hearing this, Xie Yunman glared at him angrily and reluctantly took the purse into her hand.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Xie Yunman gritted his teeth and said.
Seeing that the items had been delivered, Xiao Ling smiled slightly.
Then he said to the passengers in the carriage: "At the beginning of the new year, may the country be prosperous and the people at peace, and may you be accompanied by your beloved."
A moment of silence fell over the carriage.
Just when Xiao Ling thought Xie Yunyu wouldn't speak, a clear voice suddenly came slowly from inside the carriage:
"At the beginning of the new year, may the country be prosperous and the people at peace, and may my beloved stay healthy."
Xiao Ling's lips couldn't help but curl upwards, revealing a big smile.
Then, like a victorious general, he strode confidently toward his carriage.
Xie Yunman was left alone, sulking.
Xie Yunman got into the car with a very unpleasant expression, sat on the other side of the old man, and helped him to his feet.
He said to Qingchen, who was rushing to catch the carriage, "Let's go."
As the carriage left the palace gate, Xie Yunman handed the double carp playing in the water sachet to Xie Yunyu.
"He gave it to you."
Xie Yunyu accepted it with a smile.
"You're still laughing? You're not going to change your mind and really marry him, are you?"
Xie Yunyu opened the sachet and found a fine mutton-fat white jade bracelet. She then put it back into the sachet and packed the contents away.
"Given the current situation, between us... the Princess will not agree."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com