Her guards

Chapter 36 A Friend I Haven't Seen for Many Years

"I was startled to suddenly receive a letter telling me to go to a certain place at a certain time to buy braised meat."

Lingyu walked along the corridor again, but this time she didn't read the book. Instead, she held the book in her hand and carried it on her back, her beautiful eyes taking in the scenery on both sides.

"I went there but didn't see you. Turns out you were waiting for me here."

"Since we're here, why not just go in? It'll be good for both of us, let alone finding the doctor. Why go through all this trouble?"

Because asking would leave a trace of her presence, Mo Zheng didn't answer, but just smiled and said, "I'm so glad that Senior Brother Ling can recognize my handwriting after so many years."

“What’s there to be happy about?” Ling Yu shook her head. “It just means that your handwriting hasn’t improved at all over the years.”

Mo Zheng laughed heartily: "I really can't compare to my senior brother's calligraphy."

Ling Yu shook her head again: "You can't compare to me. I come from a privileged background, have no worries about food or clothing, my parents are healthy, and my brothers and sisters are harmonious."

He turned to look at Mo Zheng, as if he could see the child who had been led by the hunched old man again. He apologized, "Young master, please don't be offended. My grandson loves to read and was eavesdropping outside. He was so engrossed in reciting the text that he disturbed us."

The child held a twig in his hand, and with his head down, secretly used his toes to wipe away the words written on the ground.

It's been six years since we last met.

Seeing each other again now, I don't feel like a stranger at all.

Although his face has matured, his childishness has faded, and he has grown much taller, the boy's eyes remain as clear and peaceful as ever.

Ling Yu smiled slightly.

"Initially, the master wanted to take you as his apprentice, but your grandfather was getting old and he had to fulfill his filial duties. I just saw your cousin at the butcher shop, and he said that your grandfather had passed away. Your family came to the capital. So, are you here to see the master now to continue your studies?"

Mo Zheng smiled and shook her head: "No, I'm working as a bodyguard now, accompanying my young lady during her exam."

Ling Yu was slightly taken aback, surprised by the guards and the young lady's test, and subconsciously looked at a palace next to her.

"The exam for the princess's companion?"

……

……

"The names are laid out on the table. Ladies, please find your seats."

Since the purpose of the visit was to select study companions, it meant that none of the people in the building were yet the princess's study companions. Therefore, when the princesses arrived, they did not engage in conversation but were invited upstairs by the palace maids and tutors.

A table had already been set up in the hall on the second floor, with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones all prepared on it.

The women dispersed in the hall, looking for their seats. Apart from the four princesses who sat at the head of the table, the others were arranged randomly.

"Miss Liu, here is your seat."

Just as Yang Luo was searching, Qin Ying waved and called to her.

Yang Luo hurried over to thank Qin Ying, but then saw Yang Hui also coming over. Seeing the two of them standing together, she pouted.

"Liu, or was it Miss Fu again?" she asked.

Qin Ying glared at her: "Yang Hui, tone it down. This time, good conduct is the top priority when choosing a study companion."

Yang Hui wasn't afraid of her and said, "I was just joking with her to help her relax." Then she looked at Yang Luo and said, "Miss Liu, feel free to ask me anything you don't understand."

Yang Luo smiled at her. She was used to her cousin's spoiled behavior at home, but she didn't expect her to be the same way outside.

Aren't you afraid of being criticized?
Or is it that they are just bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong, who are snobbish and obsequious to the rich and powerful, and who are very good at hiding it in front of most people?
Or perhaps their talent is so outstanding that their flaws don't overshadow their virtues?

So he was eventually selected as a companion to the emperor and was often taken by Princess Heisei's side.

Qin Ying nudged her arm and said, "Ignore her." Then, remembering something, she whispered, "Don't provoke her."

It seems Qin Ying is still afraid of Yang Hui. Is it because of the title of Duke of Ding'an? Yang Luo smiled gratefully: "Thank you for taking care of me. You are such a kind person."

Qin Ying chuckled: "Anyway, I won't pass the exam. I'm just here to make friends. By befriending the princess's companion, my status will rise as well."

The instructors over there had already started urging everyone to "find a seat and sit down as soon as possible," so Qin Ying didn't say anything more.

"Do your best on the exam. You've come all the way from here, you must have real skills to outshine them."

After saying that, she walked away to her seat.

Yang Luo sat down. She would do her best on the exam, but not to, and it was impossible for her to, outshine everyone else.

All she needs to do is outshine Yang Hui.

“There were forty people at the time, and eleven were chosen. I fought my way through the crowd.”

Yang Luo could still hear Yang Hui's triumphant recounting of the past. She had been telling this story for five years, from the time she entered the Ding'an Duke's Mansion until her marriage. She couldn't remember the occasion, but all her other siblings were present. When Yang Hui was telling the story, her eldest cousin said something.

"You came in last place, eleventh, and barely made it into the finals."

Yang Hui was very angry at the time, saying, "The eleventh person also passed the exam, and he also fought his way through the competition. Even a narrow victory is still a victory."

This time, she'll be the eleventh one, kicking Yang Hui out.

Yang Luo lowered his head, looking at the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the table. "...Let's start by writing some characters to check your calligraphy skills."

Accompanied by Yang Hui's voice from his memories, the sound of drums could be heard in the hall.

Yang Luo looked up and saw a palace maid holding a drumstick, and an instructor standing in the center of the hall.

"Ladies, our first task is to examine your calligraphy skills," the instructor said, gesturing with his hand. "An essay has been distributed on the table. Please write it down; the style of calligraphy is not limited."

As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound filled the hall. The women busied themselves finding the article on the table and began spreading out the papers.

Yang Luo wasn't in a hurry; he looked at the instructor and listened to him finish his last sentence.

"...After the drum has been struck three times, the scroll will be rolled up."

Yang Luo glanced to the side and saw that Yang Hui had already picked up the article and was reading it, her little eyebrows furrowed as she muttered, "So many words." Noticing Yang Luo's gaze, she immediately forced a fake smile.

"Miss Liu, stop looking at me and hurry up and write. Don't cry if you don't finish."

Yang Luo smiled at her: "I can finish writing it. I've been practicing for a long time."

After saying that, he looked away, ignoring Yang Hui rolling her eyes.

Yang Luo looked at the paper that had been laid out.

At first, she both admired and respected Yang Hui, thinking that she was well-educated, could be a princess's companion, and was a famous noble lady in the capital.

She was young and loved to daydream, wondering if she could become a princess's study companion if she studied hard.

So she learned the characters she wrote, the piano she played, and the articles she wrote.

She wrote it over and over again, played it over and over again, and then asked the female teacher for guidance.

I don't know how long it took, maybe three or four years. The female teacher, who had initially remained silent and only encouraged her to work hard, finally nodded and said, "You did a better job than her."

She was very happy at the time and believed the lady's words.

However, looking back after her rebirth, she realized that the female teacher was probably just trying to make her happy.

Whether it's just to please her or whether she's truly better than Yang Hui, we'll find out today.

Yang Luo picked up his pen and wrote the first character.

……

.......
Everyone in the hall was focused on writing.

Princess Wuyang, seated above, frowned as she looked at the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone before her: "Do we have to write too?"

Before the palace maids could speak, Princess Heisei spoke first.

"They're choosing study companions for us, but it's also for us to get into the Chinese Academy," she said. "Of course, we'll have to take an exam."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the three princesses.

"The Grand Master of Ceremonies is a rigorous scholar; it's best not to let him speak ill of you to the Emperor."

Princess Wuyang was immediately displeased: "What do you mean by 'us'? What about you? We're all about the same age, and we were all taught together in the palace."

Princess Heisei glanced at her calmly and said, "I am indeed a little better than you."

Having said that, he stopped looking at them and picked up his pen to write.

Princess Wuyang was so angry that she tried to stand up, but was stopped by the palace maids. "Princess, please don't make a scene," they said. "Everyone is watching."

Although I was sitting at the very front, some distance away from everyone else, we were still in the same room, and the noise from here had already attracted the attention of many people.

Princess Wuyang could only suppress her temper and glare at Princess Nangong and Princess Shengping. What about you? You have nothing to say?

Princess Nangong nodded timidly, "My elder sister is better at studying than us. I've heard Father praise her."

Princess Shengping waved her hand aggrievedly, "Sister Wuyang, I didn't start my studies with you, so don't drag me into it."

Sycophant! Coward! Princess Wuyang cursed inwardly, picked up her pen angrily, and then looked at the tutor beside her, as if remembering something.

"Will the Chief Priest personally oversee our exam today?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Heisei, who had been writing diligently, paused slightly.

The instructor smiled and said, "It's called an exam, but it's actually to let the princess and her companions get to know each other and see how well they're learning. It doesn't need the chief priest to come and watch. It's judged by two doctors of the Five Classics in the academy. They are both disciples of the chief priest."

Princess Wuyang breathed a sigh of relief; at least it wasn't that old man.

Princess Heisei felt somewhat regretful, as these women were not good enough to catch the eye of the Grand Master.

However, this is only temporary.

Her eyes were filled with determination.

As the most beloved daughter of her father and mother, and the future first princess of the Great Xia Dynasty, she is exceptionally talented and will surely be able to become the first female disciple of the Grand Master.

(End of this chapter)