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Chapter 7 – The Academy

“I don’t know, I’m not interested in any of them…”

“Ahem, ahem.”

As soon as Yu Mingyao entered, Pei Shang began loudly clearing his throat, acting as if afraid no one would notice him. He repeatedly opened and closed his folding fan.

Normally already meticulous about his appearance, today he was dressed in splendid finery, a bejeweled forehead ornament resting on his brow—every bit the image of a wealthy young master.

Sitting directly in front of him, Xie Zhuoguang raised his gaze slightly, taking in Pei Shang’s showy, peacock-like display.

Just days ago, wasn’t this the same guy constantly worried about being too good-looking and from too prestigious a family, afraid someone would fancy him? Now he’s suddenly doing a full 180?

As Xie Zhuoguang sat there, caught between amusement and exasperation, the shopkeeper from Yunlou’s recent comment suddenly resurfaced in his mind.

The playful expression on Xie Zhuoguang’s face froze.

It felt like he was back on that day—his heart uneasy, revealing his true self for the first time in public. Yet the steward’s eyes seemed to strip him bare.

He had nearly wanted to crawl into a hole from shame.

“I’ve lived in the capital for decades and rarely seen such a beautiful young lady. I’d say, Young Master Pei is quite the looker too—what a perfectly matched pair.”

“My lord, you wouldn’t believe it. When Young Master Pei heard the price, his face turned black! I teased him about asking his family. Instead, he gritted his teeth and bought it—just told me to fetch the pair from Pei Manor without letting anyone know.”

“Such a perfect match… I wonder when they’ll finally tie the knot!”

That last line rang in his ears like a gong, reverberating nonstop.

Xie Zhuoguang lowered his eyes. Amid the classroom’s noise, he sat quietly, eyes on his book, exuding an unapproachable calm.

No one knew that his mind was filled with the image of a face—languid, weary, dejected.

Yu Mingyao hadn’t been seated long when she received a friendly greeting from Pei Biyu, the youngest granddaughter of the Pei family.

“Good sister, you’re finally here.”

She turned, her voice like silver bells. Her jade-like face radiated youthful innocence.

Pei Biyu was one year younger than Yu Mingyao. In her past life, the two had been as close as sisters.

Yu Mingyao was about to respond when Pei Lianzhu, seated beside Pei Biyu, let out a cold snort and rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Some people call every stray cat or dog brother or sister… What kind of sister is that supposed to be?”

Pei Lianzhu, daughter of the second branch, was just half a year older than Pei Biyu. The two had never gotten along since childhood and bickered whenever they met.

Sure enough, Pei Biyu snapped back instantly:

“That’s still better than some people who look like wild beasts and can’t help being jealous of others’ beauty. My sister Mingyao is way more beautiful than certain people—and she’s not the least bit rude.”

“You—!”

Among the three Pei sisters, Pei Lianzhu ranked last in appearance. She had nothing to retort with and could only shoot a venomous glare at Yu Mingyao.

Yu Mingyao, caught in the crossfire, was inwardly speechless.

She hadn’t even dressed up today—just wore an ordinary peach-pink long dress.

Besides, by current capital fashion standards, the trend was for simplicity. Bright, flowery colors like peach-pink or willow-green were seen as tacky by refined scholars.

Yu Mingyao was still dazed when Pei Shang suddenly shouted:

“You two ugly ducks are so noisy it’s unbearable!”

His words silenced the classroom, which had no more than a dozen students.

Pei Shang, like Yu Mingyao, sat in the last row.

He thought his timely interruption would earn him some gratitude for ending a meaningless quarrel.

Chest puffed, he waited. But all he got in return were flipping pages and a few blank stares—none of the thanks he hoped for.

So he stole a glance to his left.

There were only four rows of three desks each in the small classroom. Between him and Yu Mingyao sat Yu Jinnian.

Pei Shang held his breath and stole a glance—right into Yu Mingyao’s amused eyes.

Caught red-handed, a blush immediately spread across his cheeks. He wanted to look away, but doing so would make him seem guilty.

So he stubbornly held her gaze.

But in such standoffs, it’s always the initiator who falls first.

[“This girl’s… not bad looking, actually.”]

Pei Shang thought. That peach-pink, vulgar color the capital girls hated only made her skin look whiter, her cheeks more radiant. She made it look elegant, even alluring.

Like a magnet, she drew all eyes with just one glance.

Pei Shang felt like a hook was pulling him deeper. His heart began pounding.

Blood rushed to his face, burning hot.

Eventually, unable to maintain the gaze, he looked away in panic. His hand trembled as he tried and failed to open his fan—twice—before letting out two forced coughs to cover up.

The two’s subtle interaction went mostly unnoticed—except by Yu Jinnian between them and, curiously, Xie Zhuoguang seated in the second row.

He found himself stealing glances.

To outsiders, it looked like Yu Mingyao and Pei Shang were sharing affectionate glances. But to Xie Zhuoguang, the once-crisp words in his book suddenly turned blurry.

When Master Fan entered the room, he was greeted by a scene of near-silence.

He stroked his beard, the usual sternness on his face softening slightly. Without further comment, he began the day’s lesson.

Unlike other academies, the Pei family’s school taught not only the Four Books and Five Classics and the Six Arts, but also abacus calculation, military strategy, and geography.

Yu Mingyao had always loved geography the most. In her previous life, she would focus intently, imagining the distant lands Master Fan described.

She came from the scenic south—Jiangnan. They said the northwest had desert mists, and long rivers flowing under sunset.

She tried her hardest to imagine it but could never quite grasp how magnificent it must be.

All she ever learned were household duties, shop management, social etiquette, and how to be a virtuous wife.

Master Fan’s lecture was clear and well-paced. As Yu Mingyao daydreamed, Yu Jinnian found the content incomprehensible. His head started bobbing.

He pinched himself, sat upright, and glanced at his sister.

Seeing her also distracted, he felt relieved.

Yu Mingyao had no idea her brother had mentally grouped them as the same kind of student. She was gazing outside at the apricot blossoms.

It was spring, and the apricot branches stretched out, full of pink-white blooms. A breeze scattered petals like rain.

She thought of Xie Zhuoguang from her previous life.

He once sat beneath that apricot tree playing the qin—ethereal, like a celestial being.

At first, his demeanor had been cold and aloof. He rarely raised his eyelids when looking at people—eyes full of indifference.

She admired him. Foolishly tried to warm him.

Even after marriage, she wanted to be a good wife and bear children for him.

But he, knowing she had no family left, still coaxed her into giving up her hopes.

She remembered clearly that day of utter despair.

Seven years with no child, and she had trusted him completely. Only her maid Yan Yue suspected anything.

While out shopping for jewelry, she had arranged for a skilled doctor—hidden in the shop, courtesy of her cousin.

After examining her, the doctor said she was perfectly healthy.

When he saw the medicine she’d been taking, he looked at her with sympathy.

Everyone knew her marriage to Xie Zhuoguang was cold.

Two lifetimes—and she still couldn’t understand him.

Thinking of this, a bitter smile crept to Yu Mingyao’s lips.

She didn’t bother hiding her distraction.

Pei Shang, self-proclaimed disciplinary monitor, noticed Master Fan glancing several times toward Yu Mingyao. Immediately, he shot his hand up and declared:

“Sir! I must report a violation! Someone isn’t paying attention and is wasting your valuable teaching!”

Master Fan looked at him calmly. “And what about you?”

Pei Shang’s eyes widened. “I’m, of course, being extremely studious!”

Though respectful, his petty motives were obvious. Everyone looked back—except one.

Xie Zhuoguang.

Sitting straight as ever, he remained untouched by the class’s shifting energy.

But only he knew—a heavy weight sat on his chest, suffocating him.

He felt bewitched.

This gaudy girl, with her bright colors and showy looks, should have been exactly the kind he disliked.

But her eyes—pitiful, mournful—always seemed to accuse him, as if he were a heartless lover from a past life.

He furrowed his brow and made a decision.

He needed to stay far away from this enchantress, lest she ruin his soul.

As everyone drifted in their thoughts, Master Fan announced:

“Since everyone claims to be paying attention, we’ll move the scheduled test forward. It will be in two days. The Six Arts exam will focus on archery. Rewards and punishments remain unchanged.”

A collective groan filled the room.

Yu Jinnian endured his curiosity until break, then asked the person in front:

“What’s the punishment Master Fan mentioned?”

Pei Shang’s gloating voice answered first:

“Of course it’s getting your hands smacked and copying characters standing up! Hahaha~”

“We’ve got a packed schedule. Someone’s definitely going to rank at the bottom this time—teehee~”

Pei Shang snickered smugly. Yu Jinnian clenched his fists.

He glared at Pei Shang, then muttered:

“A true man fears not pain—just punishment like that? Hah!”

“Let’s see then~” Pei Shang grinned maliciously, sneaking a glance at Yu Mingyao again.

Seeing she wasn’t looking his way, he dropped the subject.

“Do you think those Yu siblings can even pass? That ruler won’t care who you are—girl or not. Might swell their hands good.”

On the way home, Pei Shang was still mulling over it.

Xie Zhuoguang walked beside him, face unreadable as ever. After hearing Pei Shang’s excited chatter, he simply said:

“I don’t know. I’m not interested in any of them.”

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