Lu Zhen took the examination for female scholars and secured the top position, staying on in the palace to work. This was a grand event worthy of boasting for years, even decades, for the Ye County Won’s Academy. For the Lu Family, it was like a large at pie had fallen from the sky, striking the entire family dizzy.
The Lu Family was rely ordinary citizens in Ye County, with two looms at ho and six people of all ages. When Lu Zhen went to the academy to study back then, it was mostly for the free lunch.
Who would have thought that the girl who brazenly declared she would work for the Commandery Princess when she grew up, indeed went to the Capital City, entered the court, and beca an Imperial Attendant?
The Commandery Princess had nad her Lu Zhen back then; as it turned out, it was the ’Zhen’ that ant ’dream co true’.
The Lu Family received the good news over a month ago, and yet they still hadn’t recovered from the joyous news that fell from the heavens. Every day, a large number of relatives and friends visited.
Granny Lu was no longer stingy or miserly, taking out her private silver to prepare a feast, inviting neighbors and friends to eat to their heart’s content. She didn’t forget to educate her grandson: "Look at your sister, she is so accomplished. You must study hard, and in two years, you can also go to the Capital to take the Advanced Scholar exam and beco a high official."
Lu Xiaobao, now a twelve-year-old, had been studying at the academy for a few years, with average results. He had a clear self-awareness: "I won’t make it; I’m just not cut out for studying. Seriously studying for a few more years and then seeking a job isn’t difficult. As for the Imperial Examination, let’s forget it. Not to ntion the Advanced Scholar, even passing the Scholar exam would be tough for ."
Granny Lu, furious, slapped her grandson, but her face was full of joy.
No matter what, Lu Zhen had made great achievents, so the entire Lu Family followed suit and changed their fortunes. In front of the Lu Family house, there now stood a stone-carved scholar’s box. Everyone who passed by touched it, hoping to catch a bit of the prosperous fortune of the female scholar.
Today, Master Li returned to Ye County, and both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law couldn’t even bother with weaving, rushing together outside the city gate. Mrs. Lu Zhang kneeled quickly, and Granny Lu was a step slower but soon knelt down too.
Li Ying couldn’t help but laugh and reached out to help the two up: "This won’t do; you should all get up quickly."
"Lu Zhen now holds an official position, as a legitimate court official. You are all officials’ family mbers now; you can’t kneel so casually anymore."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, slightly bewildered, got up, unable to express anything beyond incessant thanks. Clearly, they were overwheld with joy.
Li Ying laughed and said: "Everyone, stop standing here; let’s enter the city gates. We can talk more when we return to the academy."
Everyone responded in unison, flocking around Li Ying as they walked through the city gate.
County Magistrate Cui looked equally proud, thinking his wife was indeed impressive and capable.
Because of Li Ying’s return, Ye County Won’s Academy suspended classes for a day. On this day, all the students were filled with joy, as if they might be the next to beco a female scholar.
Even Lu Ruohua was infected by this bustling and celebratory atmosphere, pestering Li Ying, asking endless questions: "Master, when you went to the Capital, did you see my elder sister?"
Li Ying laughed and corrected, "You must call her the Emperor."
Eleven-year-old Lu Ruohua, now a growing young girl, had graceful features and a sweet smile: "Master is right; did you see the Emperor?"
"Yes, I did, more than once." Li Ying laughed and said: "I saw her once during the Ministry of Rites exam, once when entering the Jinluan Palace, and later once in the palace."
Lu Ruohua was full of envy: "Master, quickly tell , what does the Emperor look like now?"
Li Ying didn’t laugh at Lu Ruohua’s innocence and, after so thought, said: "A person’s deanor varies drastically according to their position. When the Emperor was the Nanyang Commandery Princess, she was beautiful and majestic. Now sitting on the Dragon Throne, she has more of an emperor’s imposing and fierce aura."
"However, when the Emperor summoned us, she was still as approachable and gentle as before."
Lu Ruohua was lost imagining her elder sister’s deanor, her heart fluttering with longing.
Unfortunately, she was still in mourning for her father, making attending the academy already sowhat improper. Going to the Capital was impossible. At least another two years would have to pass.
Lu Ruohua looked regretful, and Li Ying, seeing this, couldn’t help but smile: "There is still plenty of ti in the future! Perhaps it won’t be long before the Emperor summons you siblings to the Capital."
Of course, a larger possibility was keeping Aunt i and her three children in Nanyang County.
If it were Li Ying, she would make the sa choice.
Though Lu Ruohua and her brother were the Emperor’s biological siblings, they were still Lu by surna. As long as they were settled in Nanyang County, no one would say anything. Even the Fan Yang Lu Family wouldn’t jump out to defend Lu Ruohua and her brother.
The Lu Family had produced a Pingzhou Governor, and now it had Lu Qingqing, who went to the Ministry of Rites to observe politics after becoming a female scholar. The Emperor truly favored the Lu Family generously. The Lu Family wouldn’t dare cause trouble for the Emperor; they’d rather wish Lu Ruohua and her brother behaved and didn’t go to the Capital to create problems for the Emperor.
Lu Ruohua, still young, couldn’t think of these things, only feeling regret for not being able to reunite with her elder sister.
A few days later, coincidentally, it was a break at the academy.
Lu Ruohua took a carriage back to the Nanyang Prince Mansion.
The present Nanyang Prince Mansion was notably colder than before. The Commandery Princess had gone to the Capital, taking along Chief Historian Chen, grandfather Ma Yaosong, Tang Youyin, and Yang Zheng. All matters in the Mansion were now decided by Chief Historian Feng.
Aunt i had been in mourning for Lu Junma, hardly leaving her courtyard. Lu Ying hadn’t returned to the Prefecture School, either; he stayed at ho to mourn and study.
Lu Ruohua knew nothing about the inside story of her father’s "sudden passing," feeling quite sorry upon seeing her mother and brother eating vegetarian daily and living in sorrow. She muttered privately: "Father’s been gone almost a year. Even in mourning, we can secretly eat so at. No one will check our dining table."
Aunt i had beco a bit thinner, her deanor softer, yet her complexion had improved. Once modest and demure, now she could straighten her back, relax her brows, speaking with a smile on her lips: "You two are still young, at the age for growing. Eat whatever you want. I myself am not fond of at; so vegetarian food is just fine."
Unable to persuade her mother, Lu Ruohua then turned to her brother: "Brother should start attending the Prefecture School again. Spending all day in the mansion reading alone isn’t interesting and progresses slowly."
Lu Ying glanced at his naive sister, softly saying: "I don’t need to take exams for titles. Whether my studies are good or bad doesn’t really matter."
The elder sister had beco the Emperor of Da Liang.
As this consanguineous brother of different mothers, being too outstanding and remarkable might not be favorable. It’s better to be ordinary and unnoticeable, quietly staying in the Prince Mansion.
Even if he wanted to achieve sothing, it would have to wait until his elder sister solidly secured her position on the Dragon Throne and had control over the court and the palace. By that ti, he might have a chance to step out of the Nanyang Prince Mansion!
Lu Ruohua was stunned for a mont, slowly comprehending so aning: "So should I also stay in the Prince Mansion and not continue to the Ye County Won’s Academy?"
Lu Ying smiled: "That is not necessary. With mother and staying in the Prince Mansion, that should be enough."
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