Chapter 49: The Formidable Young Lady
Yang Hui’s arrival made the hall noisy, and the palace maids had to remind everyone to be quiet.
Princess Pingcheng also took the initiative to explain: “I asked Miss Yang to help me organize notes.”
Ai yo, I said no bringing maidservants, are you special because you’re a princess? Princess Nangong’s eyes flickered from behind.
A more reasonable explanation would be that I am rather dull, so I asked someone to help.
But obviously, the proud Princess Pingcheng would not say that about herself.
Princess Nangong hurriedly looked at Princess Wuyang, who always got along poorly with Princess Pingcheng; the one who was unconvinced by Princess Pingcheng would surely seize this loophole and mock her.
But Princess Wuyang only pursed her lips and said nothing.
Princess Nangong’s eyes flickered; it was strange—although she would fear Princess Pingcheng, it was not like Princess Wuyang’s style to not speak up with such a reasonable opportunity, unless… she did not want to offend Yang Hui.
Princess Nangong’s gaze involuntarily fell on Yang Hui.
She did not know much about this young lady from Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, because she did not come to the imperial palace often.
So she is that impressive?
“What is this young lady’s background?” She could not help asking Princess Wuyang in a low voice.
Princess Wuyang kept a straight face: “I don’t know.”
As if you don’t know! Princess Nangong looked aggrieved and murmured lowly, “My birth mother is a low-ranking consort; I know nothing and she can’t teach me anything…”
Princess Wuyang interrupted her irritably: “Shut up.”
She truly did not know, but before leaving home, her birth mother Imperial Consort Li had instructed her not to be rude to Yang Hui; she had jumped up then, saying the Empress and Princess Pingcheng had broken the rules first, so why couldn’t she say it.
“Silly girl.” Imperial Consort Li had reproachfully tapped her head. “Without His Majesty’s permission, how could they break the rules?”
Then she was not allowed to ask more.
“Just remember, you can displease Princess Pingcheng and the Empress, but you cannot displease your father emperor.”
So today she had held back from mocking those two.
Princess Wuyang had been instructed not to ask more, and the other young ladies knew without instruction that no one could question any royal decision—whether selecting eleven companion readers or if it ended up as twenty-one, it was not for them to inquire about.
“This is truly great; with Miss Yang here, it will be even more lively.”
Cheers of joy and congratulations immediately arose in the hall.
“Alright, alright, young ladies.” The palace maids signaled everyone. “No more chatting; please take your seats first.”
Because there was a lecture, this time the princesses did not sit separately at the top but in the frontmost first row.
The others were arranged in the order announced on the selection list.
Yang Luo was eleventh, at the very end; however, another table was brought behind her.
To organize notes for the princess, but not truly like a maidservant sitting next to the princess, and since it was not a compliant selection after all, only an extra seat was added at the end.
Yang Hui had no dissatisfaction with this position, but she was somewhat dissatisfied with Yang Luo sitting in front.
Yang Luo turned her head, their gazes meeting.
Yang Hui said softly with a hint of smugness: “You only luckily got to sit here; I…”
Yang Luo withdrew her gaze and sat up straight.
This was ignoring her? Yang Hui felt ashamed and annoyed, glaring hatefully at Yang Luo’s back.
…..
…..
“That young lady who was squeezed out has come again; is your young lady alright?”
Ling Yu held a book in hand, his gaze turning to behind.
“Do you want to go take a look?”
Mo Zheng, carrying Ling Yu’s book bag behind, smiled: “No need; my young lady is very capable too.”
Ling Yu had no interest in his young lady, nodded, and asked no more.
“Do you want to go to the library to read?” he asked. “The teacher is over there.”
Mo Zheng looked toward the library halfway up the hill in front; the National Academy had several hundred students—although most were in class, quite a few were moving about, and there must be many people at the library.
“No, I am a guard after all; it wouldn’t be good to be seen.” She smiled at Ling Yu. “Senior Brother Ling, find me a place to rest.”
Ling Yu also smiled: “Then go to my dormitory.”
For convenience in reading, his dormitory was chosen in the middle, closest to the classroom and library—not secluded, even a noisy place.
Pushing open the door, the small room had books piled on the desk, floor, and every corner; a small bed was squeezed in the corner, bedding neat as if unused for a long time; another corner was screened off, holding washbasin items and a small cabinet.
“Seeing a place like this, who would think you come from a wealthy family owning silver mines and gold mountains?” Mo Zheng said, tugging a cushion from under a pile of books with her hand and sitting down.
Ling Yu smiled and said: “Books hold a golden house; this is also owning a gold mine.” Then looking at the empty teapot on the desk, “You sit first; I’ll go get you some tea and pastries.”
Mo Zheng smiled and thanked him: “Delaying Senior Brother’s reading.”
Ling Yu shook the book in his hand: “Just walking; it doesn’t delay.”
Saying this, he walked out, though he still paused, looking back to see Mo Zheng already picking up a book from the floor to read.
He loved reading, eyes never leaving books; this youth was the same, only unable to read constantly due to livelihood, but whenever free, he would read.
Ling Yu smiled faintly, gently closed the door, returned his gaze to the book in hand, then walked lightly toward the canteen.
Mo Zheng sat indoors, eyes on the book, listening to Ling Yu’s footsteps fade; occasionally other footsteps passed outside, mixed with chatter and laughter.
Her gaze focused scanning line after line, hand constantly turning pages, until distant footsteps approached—these footsteps…
Mo Zheng abruptly lifted her head.
…
…..
“Why has Wei Jiao come again?”
“Once a month is annoying enough.”
“He used to come only in the evening; why come in broad daylight now?”
The discussions along the way continued nonstop; Wei Jiao did not care, but perhaps because it was his first time in broad daylight and he was unaccustomed, his expression was lazy, his walk lazy.
Suddenly he stopped, eyes glancing slyly to the side.
…
…..
Mo Zheng abruptly shrank back from the window crack.
This person was too perceptive!
She had only glanced once, and he noticed.
Of course, she had already experienced Wei Jiao’s perceptiveness back in Zhao County, but then it was her own initiative to be perceived—to create a new wound before Wei Jiao could check the old one.
Not now.
She could not let Wei Jiao see her even once now, or she was done for.
The footsteps suddenly stopped.
Oh no.
…..
…..
Not far away, the students watching Wei Jiao felt their eyes blur; Wei Jiao, who had been walking in the courtyard, vanished.
Focusing again, Wei Jiao stood before a dormitory.
A wooden fish hung above the dormitory door, spinning rapidly from the sudden wind.
Although they disliked Wei Jiao, everyone liked Ling Yu.
“Dr. Ling went to the canteen.” A student could not help shouting loudly.
Not wanting Wei Jiao to barge into Ling Yu’s dormitory and defile his pure space.
Wei Jiao looked at the slightly ajar room door, raising an eyebrow.
He knew it was not Ling Yu.
He knew what Ling Yu’s gaze was like.
If not to scold him, Ling Yu would not glance at him more; the bookworm only looked at books.
There was someone else in this room.
Others looking at him was not strange.
Everywhere he went in the National Academy, gazes stared at him.
But…
This gaze was different.
Wei Jiao ignored it all and kicked the door open.
In view: chaotic piles of books, small bed squeezed among them, empty of people, but behind the screen, a figure rustled.
Wei Jiao’s hand at his side spun a glowing blue small snake sword.
“Ling Yu, are your eyes blind?” he said. “Afraid to show yourself?”
With his words, he instantly stood by the screen; a low gasp sounded by his ear, and the next moment a expanse of pale chest assaulted his face.
Wei Jiao instantly froze.
The woman’s disheveled black hair shook like a waterfall, covering her face; in panic she wrapped a robe around herself.
It was a man’s robe.
Chest covered, but exposing fair calves and bare feet…
“Young Master, please, do not, do not spread it.” The woman’s voice trembled delicately, as if about to cry from fright.
…
…..
With a spit, the figure by the screen vanished; the kicked-open door was not closed, but footsteps walked away.
Mo Zheng’s crouched form straightened; long hair swayed before her face, covering her face not yet changed back in time.
Mo Zheng gently exhaled.
She had gotten away with it.
