"Tomorrow, everyone need not rise too early; wait until your elder brother brings the tutor back before beginning."
"Eldest sister‑in‑law, are we not going to study at the Imperial Academy?" Eight‑year‑old Xiao Lidong asked timidly.
"Go study at the Imperial Academy? Once you enter, you’ll only be bullied. Don’t even think about it—better to study here at your own residence."
Wen Qingwan looked at a group of raggedly dressed children and shook her head with a disdainful laugh.
"Eldest sister‑in‑law, I don’t want to study at the Imperial Academy. Studying at home is good. I will work hard, strive to earn honors, and secure a rich stipend to support you."
"Very well, what is your name? Eldest sister‑in‑law awaits your success as top scholar, so that she may share in your glory."
Wen Qingwan gave a perfunctory response, knowing that the Marquis of Cheng’en could never produce talent.
In her previous life, even years later when she became Empress, she never saw the Marquis of Cheng’en’s household produce any talent—not even a single successful candidate in the imperial exams.
Yet her Merit Mall just reminded her that the Marquis of Cheng’en had two Literary stars, and only a top scholar can truly be called Literary star.
This variable, different from her previous life, made Wen Qingwan somewhat look forward to what would come next.
In her previous life, the Fifth Prince nearly pulled Zhao Jue down from the crown prince’s seat—just a hair’s breadth away.
In the end, the Fifth Prince was forced to leave the capital for his fief. His consort, steadfast and loyal, followed him there, and the couple both died on the road.
"Eldest sister‑in‑law, my name is Xiao Lidong. I will surely become the top scholar and bring you pride." The eight‑year‑old child made this promise with utmost seriousness.
He was born in winter and named Lidong; in the Marquis’s household he was the twenty‑sixth son of the concubine line.
Xiao Lidong was born of one of the Marquis’s concubines, and he also had a six‑year‑old younger sister.
The younger sister had not returned from her maternal family. Her maternal grandfather dealt in large trade—wealthy, yet without social standing.
His maternal uncle knew a teacher at the Imperial Academy and once sent him there to study.
But the classmates there were cruel, mocking him daily and even beating him, so he refused both the Imperial Academy and his maternal grandfather’s home.
Each day he ate coarse food with his brothers, fought crickets alongside them, yet he was far better than the rest.
His younger sister could win their grandmother’s favor, and when his concubine‑mother returned from her own family, she would bring back plenty of food. Mother and son often ate it in secret.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to study, but he didn’t want to study at the Imperial Academy. Since he wouldn’t go there, he felt relieved.
The other children, full of lofty spirit, echoed: "We will study hard and bring honor to elder brother and sister‑in‑law."
"Heh‑heh… it’s to bring honor to our entire Marquis household, to grandmother and father." Wen Qingwan laughed awkwardly as she said it.
Seeing this, Old Madam Xiao laughed so broadly that all her wrinkles smoothed out. “If our Marquis household produces a top scholar, then grandmother will have face before your grandfather and all the ancestors.”
"Grandmother, rest assured—we will study diligently." Several children spoke in unison.
There were also some who had no interest in studying. They kept their heads down in silence, secretly vowing in their hearts to train in martial arts instead.
Marquis Cheng’en glanced at the crowd, and only then did he realize with shock that he had so many children.
His meager stipend barely sustained himself, and he had no idea how all those children managed to grow up.
He sat upright beside his eldest son in silence. Money—he had none. Ability—even less. What was there to say!
"That’s all for today. Everyone go back to sleep. Tomorrow, come promptly for breakfast—latecomers will not be waited for."
After speaking, Wen Qingwan left ahead. Xiao Jin quickly caught her arm—if he moved any slower, she would have left him behind.
Seeing that the little girl paid no attention to his appearance, Xiao Jin felt a headache coming on.
His little girl was kind to his step‑brothers and step‑sisters, yet paid no attention to him.
Never mind. She was the one he had yearned for all these years. If she was happy, that was all that mattered.
"My dear, you must be tired. Shall we sit in the courtyard for tea, or wash up first?"
"I’m tired. I’ll go in and wash first—you do as you please". Wen Qingwan had no wish to stay with him.
She must go into the merit mall to see what good things can be exchanged, and also draw some Tang costumes from memory.
“Then I’ll go to the study.” Xiao Jin longed to stay with the little girl, but since she was unwilling, he could only give up.
Better to go to the study and think of ways to earn money. The burden of the whole household lay on his shoulders, and he had to carry it.
Jinlan had already called for hot water. Wen Qingwan told them to wait outside, then leaned against the bath barrel, her consciousness entering the merit mall.
In just one day, the merit mall had changed dramatically: the black soil had increased by half an acre, and the board now displayed new items available for exchange.
There was a loyalty‑traitor detector, priced at five hundred merit points. Wen Qingwan flatly refused—she didn’t need it.
There was a universal antidote, priced at a thousand merit points. This one was worth having—for long life requires good medicine. She resolved to redeem a bottle once she had enough points, to keep in reserve.
Just as she thought of it, a voice echoed in her mind: [Once bought, no returns—thank you for participating.]
"........."
The merit points she had worked so hard to earn tonight were already gone!
From now on, she must be careful: things she doesn’t need, she mustn’t even think of; things she does need, she mustn’t think of carelessly either!
Wen Qingwan could only place a small vial of antidote in the storage cabinet within her space. It was utterly empty—just that single vial of antidote!
She had long wanted to redeem a roast chicken to taste, but the merit points she earned hadn’t even warmed in her hands before they were all spent!
At the height of her dejection, the blackboard displayed lines of small characters, prompting her: continue saving the Cheng’en Marquis’s household, and unexpected surprises await.
It was fortunate that she was tasked with saving the Cheng’en Marquis’s household. If it had been the Wen household, she would rather forgo merit points altogether.
The people of the Wen household had treated her with malice across two lifetimes. In this rebirth, her own family even forced her to marry an abusive man.
Although she subdued him by her own ability, the Wen family’s malice could never be forgiven.
The people of the Cheng’en Marquis’s household had never harmed her in either lifetime. Saving them was acceptable—after all, there were merit points to be gained.
Thinking thus, Wen Qingwan immediately rose to dress. Hearing the sound of water, a round‑faced maid timidly said: “Madam, allow this servant to attend you.”
“Mm, help me with my outer garment.” Wen Qingwan spoke, then stood in place with her arms outstretched.
This maid had been chosen by Jin Lan, so Wen Qingwan felt at ease.
Once dressed, Wen Qingwan sat at the desk in her bedroom, sketching and writing. By the time she had finished a complete drawing of a Tang costume, Xiao Jin still had not returned.
She sat before the dressing table, gazing at the clothing sketch, thinking of matters from her past life.
Sadly, her past life held little worth remembering: before marriage she seldom left the Wen household, and once she entered the palace, stepping outside its gates was harder than reaching the heavens.
When Xiao Jin returned to their chamber, he found the little girl asleep at the desk, a glistening droplet still clinging to her lips.
He gently lifted her back to the bed, moving the quilt in the middle to the outside.
The next morning.
Xiao Jin gently withdrew his arm, and just as he moved the quilt to the middle, he saw the little girl wake.
Wen Qingwan, seeing she hadn’t rolled into the man’s arms, was just relieved when Jin Que’s voice rang out: “Young Lord, Madam, the imperial edict has arrived—quickly rise to receive it.”
No comments:
Post a Comment