Jiu paused for a mont, the bitterness in his eyes flashed briefly and vanished, saying, "I’m just a servant, after all, in the Imperial Court, there’s not much charcoal for servants and Your Highness to use during winter."
Rong Heng gently tapped the table in front of Gu Lan with his fingertips, saying, "Focus."
The voice was serene and lingering, not severe.
Accompanied by the warmth of the charcoal fire, Gu Lan’s pen flew across the paper, and he soon finished copying the passage Rong Heng had recited a hundred tis.
Rong Heng looked at the unbearably ssy handwriting, took a deep breath, and told himself to get used to it.
Seeing the look of disdain in his eyes, Gu Lan glanced at her own writing, then pouted:
"Brother Hang, although my handwriting is ugly, at least I’m good-looking!"
It’s not her fault her handwriting is bad, maybe it was inherited from the Dingyuan Marquis.
Upon hearing this, Rong Heng first marveled at Gu Lan’s shalessness, then looked at her.
The boy’s smooth, fair face, illuminated by the palace lanterns, exuded an elegant charm, making him montarily at a loss for words to refute her.
Such a mischievous, headstrong person, yet possessing a face that could be forgiven for anything. If Gu Lan were a girl, probably countless young n would flock to her...
He shook his head slightly, dispelling the dangerous thought from his mind.
Gu Lan, however, waved a piece of paper in front of his eyes, "Brother Hang, look—"
On it, were the crooked characters "Rong Zichan".
Rong Heng’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt that despite the characters being so ugly, it was as if Gu Lan was softly calling him.
"If you don’t teach how to write, this is as far as I can write your na," Gu Lan said with a sense of righteousness.
Rong Heng took the paper and pen, wrote his na once more on the paper, and handed it over: "Since Young Master Gu wants to improve so badly, then copy this a hundred tis."
Gu Lan: ...
Rong Heng curved his lips into a smile, adjusted into a more comfortable position, then watched as Gu Lan began copying with a look of agony.
What Young Master Gu felt, he didn’t know,
He just felt a certain pleasure thinking about his own na appearing on her paper a hundred tis.
This, perhaps, is the joy of tornting a younger brother?
Late at night, Gu Lan rubbed her aching wrist, and feeling around, found not the usual fragrant tea or juice, but just a cup of warm water.
Zijin explained: "Sir, there’s no tea in Xiaoxiang Palace. If you’re thirsty, you can just make do with so hot water."
This hot water, even, was made with firewood she got from Jiu.
Gu Lan took a deep breath, drank the water, then got up to leave, swearing she would never co back to the godforsaken Xiaoxiang Palace.
Only those seeking tornt would willingly return.
The next day, Young Master Gu brought a box of Da Hong Pao and a box of Mingqian Longjing to Xiaoxiang Palace to find Rong Heng to copy books and insisted on calling Rong Heng ’grandfather’;
The day after, Gu Lan brought so special snacking nuts for entertainnt, to Xiaoxiang Palace to study with Fifth Young Master Rong;
On the third day, after class, Gu Lan followed Rong Heng back to Xiaoxiang Palace, not only bringing food but also occupying Fifth Young Master Rong’s reading seat;
On the fourth day, the fifth day...
Arriving by the moon, departing accompanied by stars, even Xie Yun knew about Gu Lan’s private sessions with Rong Heng at night.
And although Rong Heng wasn’t the best in the Imperial Family, he deliberately maintained an unremarkable standard, which was sufficient for teaching Young Master Gu.
The best students were Rong Miaoyan and Yuan Lang, and certainly, Young Master Gu couldn’t be barging into boudoirs or colluding with enemy princes.
Over ti, Gu Lan felt that although Rong Heng hadn’t taught her much, she had indeed learned a lot of knowledge.
Whenever Xie Yun began a lecture she would want to sleep, but strangely, when Rong Heng spoke, she remained particularly alert.
Another ten-day break ca, and Gu Lan returned to the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion. Wei Chengyuan, who had been long unseen, finally appeared to pay the new installnt of house rent to Gu Lan.
Gu Lan had previously suggested he should pay rent just to drive him away, never expecting Wei Chengyuan to actually pay in silver taels.
It was then she learned that the valiant person who killed Little Fu was Wei Chengyuan.
Wei Chengyuan, quite large in stature, crouched under the ancient tree at Step Lotus Hall, with only a stump left, honestly recounting the events of that night...
No wonder, though Little Fu’s death caused quite a stir for a while, it quickly died down, and Zhang Fengcai sent a new little eunuch from Inner Supervision to spy on Rong Heng, closing the Chapter on that matter.
It turned out, Consort Qian had bribed Zhang Fengcai.
When Gu Lan heard about how Consort Qian almost pounced on Wei Chengyuan, she excitedly called Zijin to listen to the story together, while serving a plate of peanuts.
Reviews
All reviews (0)