Chapter 8: Small-minded
Wen Xingluo lowered her eyes and stared at the tip of her embroidered shoes: "My handwriting is not good, but the prince's handwriting is beautiful."
Xie Guanlan: "But I just heard you say—"
Wen Xingluo remained calm, "Your Highness must have misheard."
Xie Shian looked at her with admiration.
His sister is really talented. She can lie in front of her elder brother without blushing or getting nervous.
Xie Guanlan slowly curled up the corners of his lips: "So, you really want me to write a birthday message for you?"
Wen Xingluo said stubbornly, "I really hope so."
Xie Guanlan was very sorry: "But I'm very busy with official duties recently, I'm afraid I don't have time to help you write it."
Wen Xingluo: “…”
This person seems to be sick.
Even though he knew she had no intention of asking him to write, he still had to reject her in person before he would give up.
Small-minded.
Anyway, she has to go to the academy tomorrow. Wen Xingluo remembered that there were several young ladies from wealthy families in the academy with beautiful handwriting, so she planned to ask them if they could help write a birthday poem.
The next day.
As Wen Xingluo and Xie Shian's carriage arrived at the entrance of the academy, they heard a noise.
After getting off the carriage, Xie Shian said sarcastically, "Wen Xingluo, which brother of yours is he?"
The ones causing the trouble were Wen Rufeng and Wen Yueyin.
They came to Baihe Academy to register today. They changed into new clothes and came here excitedly, but they were stopped outside by the servants of the academy.
Wen Xingluo stepped forward: "Brother, sister."
Wen Rufeng's eyes lit up when he saw her. "You've come just in time! These servants are insisting we're not students here and won't let us in! Explain this to them!"
Wen Yueyin was holding the newly bought pen, ink, paper and inkstone.
The surrounding area was filled with students watching the fun, some of them were rich young men and some were daughters of officials, and they were whispering to each other from time to time, as if they were making fun of them.
She glanced at the Baihe Academy uniform that Wen Xingluo was wearing, and her face looked unhappy.
In her previous life, she was the one who entered the academy with full right, and Wen Xingluo was not even worthy of being her maid.
But this life is upside down.
She still has to rely on Wen Xingluo to enter Baihe Academy.
However, when she thought that in three years, her father would be promoted to a first-rank minister, her brothers would become successful and even help her become the Crown Princess, while Wen Xingluo could only hastily marry a minor official, Wen Yueyin didn't feel so bad anymore.
Seeing Wen Xingluo's silence, Wen Rufeng couldn't help but scold him, "Xingluo, why don't you say something? Your elder brother taught you to be outgoing and confident, have you forgotten? Look at your sister, so graceful and lovable! How come you can't compare to her?!"
Wen Xingluo lowered his head and whispered, "I'm sorry."
Wen Rufeng was stunned: "What?"
Wen Xingluo clutched her clothes tightly and choked up, "Actually, Grandmother didn't let you study at Baihe Academy. I was the one who lied to you..."
Wen Rufeng's eyes suddenly widened.
Wen Xingluo burst into tears and said timidly, "Because big brother has been forcing me to give the opportunity to study to my sister, but I really can't bear it... When I was at home, my sister was able to learn music, chess, calligraphy and painting, while I could only wash clothes and cook for her. I couldn't even recognize all the words... But big brother, I really wanted to improve, so I made up a lie. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
She covered her face and ran into the academy crying.
Wen Rufeng was stunned.
The students around came to their senses and couldn't help but point and talk:
"No way? They're both sisters, but one is a lady and the other a maid. How can someone be so partial to them?!"
"If you ask me, Wen Xingluo really can't be blamed for this! What's wrong with her thinking for herself? She's not a saint! If it were me, I wouldn't give up such an opportunity!"
"You have no ability, but you force your sister to give up her chance to your elder sister. How can you be so shameless!"
“…”
There were accusations coming from all sides.
The scholar who had won the highest position in the imperial examination in his previous life was now only a teenager of eighteen or nineteen years old. Wen Rufeng's face turned red with shame and anger. He was so embarrassed that he could not stand and quickly pulled Wen Yueyin away in disgrace.
Only after he had run quite a distance did he angrily exclaim, "Wen Xingluo is too outrageous!"
Wen Yueyin panted heavily, her eyes red as she spoke, "It's all my fault... If it weren't for me, Big Brother wouldn't have suffered this humiliation."
"We can't rely on Wen Xingluo. I think we still have to ask mother for help with our studies." Wen Rufeng clenched his fists. "I heard that mother is very popular with the King of Zhenbei. As long as she says a few good words to the prince, the prince will definitely be willing to send us to Baihe Academy!"
The brother and sister put in a lot of effort before they finally got the opportunity to enter Baihe Academy.
When Wen Rufeng sent Wen Yueyin to the girls' class, Wen Xingluo was talking to the girl with the most beautiful handwriting in the class.
The girl hesitated and said, "Xingluo, it's not that I don't want to write a birthday message for you, but my handwriting is only acceptable in our class. If it is used as a birthday gift, it is far from being worthy. There are so many famous calligraphers in the world. If I show my handwriting to others, it will only be a show of humility and embarrassment."
Wen Xingluo looked at her words.
The girl's handwriting was elegant and beautiful, but it was indeed far inferior to Xie Guanlan's handwriting that she had seen before, and it was too immature. It was not appropriate to give it to the Empress Dowager on her 60th birthday.
"Wen Xingluo!"
A cold voice suddenly came from behind.
Wen Xingluo turned around and looked.
Wen Rufeng said with a sullen face, "Are you preparing a birthday gift for me? You teased me and Yue Yin like that the other day. Do you really think I'll invite you to my birthday?!"
Wen Xingluo then remembered that next month was also Wen Rufeng’s birthday.
In her previous life, she would carefully prepare a gift for him a month in advance, but she forgot in this life.
However, there seems to be no need to prepare.
Wen Yueyin said softly, "Xingluo, why don't you apologize to Big Brother quickly? If you really can't attend Big Brother's birthday, you'll be so anxious that you'll cry again."
"I--"
Wen Xingluo was about to explain that she was preparing a birthday gift for the royal concubine, but Wen Rufeng snorted coldly and interrupted her: "Even if she cries to death in front of me, I won't be soft-hearted! A selfish person like her is not worthy of being my sister!"
After saying that, he turned away.
Wen Xingluo raised an eyebrow.
Too lazy to care about him, she went straight back to her seat to review her homework.
In the afternoon, there is a new horse riding and archery class.
Wen Xingluo changed into riding clothes and went to the stable two quarters of an hour in advance.
She wanted to see her horse.
In her previous life, she didn't have the chance to ride a horse. When she saw her sister riding a horse home to show off, she couldn't help but feel envious and begged her third brother Wen Rulei to teach her.
But the third brother scolded her for being short-sighted.
The third brother also said that his horse was his exclusive mount and she would get it dirty if she rode it.
But the third brother forgot that she even cleaned his saddle and stirrups herself.
Wen Xingluo clenched his hands.
This life is different after all. She no longer has to work hard for her father and brother, and she has the opportunity to learn many interesting things.
When she arrived at the stable, she happened to pass by the boy who was feeding the horses.
She found her horse, a snow-white mare, eating grass with her head down.
She looked at it with satisfaction for a long time before the girls from the same class finally arrived.
The servants led the horses and followed the students to the school grounds.
A familiar voice came slowly: "I was invited by the headmaster to teach you horseback archery."
Wen Xingluo withdrew his gaze from the little white horse and looked at the young man riding towards him in surprise.
Xie Guanlan?
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