Through Eyes of Others
Principal Cang He can't help but think about three of Lingyang's newest students.
Princess Huang Beiyue, Shi Zhonglei, and Yin Dongling. The latter two were servants to Princess... in paper only. In reality the three of them more like very close friends... or siblings. Enough that she almost adopt them into a family, only refrained from doing so to politically protect them.
They also start making waves, with or without them knowing.
Princess Beiyue defied stereotypical of a girl. She did not wear pretty dresses or elaborate accessories. Instead, she wears simple and practical dresses. Still high-grade due to the material, but it was very plain in comparison to other young ladies. Her hair was styled in simple, yet somehow elegant. That's her normal clothes. According to teacher Guo, her riding outfit is more suitable to be worn by a young man instead of a girl. Unless she peak or someone pointed it out, everyone will mistake her as a rather effeminate boy. The only time she dolled up was during the banquet.
Even her course was mostly taken by men. In fact, she was the only girl in the mathematic class this year.
Unlike her cousin, Princess Yingye, or her mother, the late Princess Royal, she did not smile or be gentle. Her face was neutral and closed off, assessing people whether they are a threat or not. She did not enjoy the company of others unless it was her servants. Not even her cousins.
Well... she was abandoned and betrayed by her family. It was natural the young princess has a severe trust issue.
Still, it doesn't mean she's ignorant. According to the grapevine, and confirmed by Teacher Guo, the Princess was vexed after her first Mount Archery Class, where the class was brought to Warrior Training Course to see their Eastern College counterpart and ended up with Xue Meng performing her skills. Princess Beiyue was angry, she ranted at how Xue Meng deliberately showing off and mocking them, goading them to follow her movement and make fools out of themselves.
How... interesting.
Perhaps the Princess is not as jaded and socially detached as people initially thought. She shows concern to others' wellbeing. Enough that she was angry on their behalf. That was something.
Speaking of that... her maid, and now a first-year student in Eastern College's Warrior Course, Yin Dongling, had publicly humiliated Xue Meng.
According to the rumor, Xue Meng had approached the younger girl with the intent to humiliate her and beat her up. Principal Cang He was aware of her personality and all sorts of rumor regarding her. He was truly ashamed of her behavior and wish to correct it, but his hands are tied. He can't just act. It would be an act that would make tongue wagging. People would ask why he singled her out. If there's a prove, it's alright, but without proof? That would lead to all sorts of rumor and crazy theories, and in the end, it will be political shitstorm with the Xue Clan, and perhaps the Royal family itself. After all, Xue Meng is Prince Jing's maternal cousin. All he can do is wait for someone to raise the right question. Then he can lecture the Xue Meng about her behavior. Strangely enough, no one stepped forward.
As a result, he can deal with Xue Meng no matter how he wished so, lest he and Lingyang he represents, gain one hell of political stink!
Until Yin Dongling happened.
And she didn't ask for help. She deals with Xue Meng herself.
The rumor grapevine said the privileged maid sassed Xue Meng and verbally outwitted her, resulting in the Xue daughter to challenge her to a duel in the Arena. Clearly intent to humiliate the younger girl before "accidentally" kills her.
Killing in the Arena is, sadly, not uncommon, so any accident can be excused right away. Especially if you have a strong political background.
Except Yin Dongling beat her up. She waited until Xue Meng exhaust herself before making her move, pinning down the older girl until she can't move. Effectively won the duel.
Only for Xue Meng to attack her when her back was turned. Thankfully miss Dongling was able to evade it and pin her down, again, and twisted her hand for her dishonorable action.
It has to be noted that Xue Meng is almost Silver Class Warrior, just one step away, and miss Dongling was a new student whose movement is clearly self-taught. People now have a new rumor to talk about, and eyes are on miss Dongling's back. After all, she just barely start her school years! If she was this strong, this talented, without a proper lesson, what more when she learns under a Master and gained pill for cultivation? How long it takes before she was a Gold Class Warrior?
Right now she takes Archery elective as her main elective, with swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat as secondary electives. Most students pick their strongest subject as the main elective, yet miss Dongling picks her weakest subject. Shown when she STRUGGLES to hold arrow properly when pulling the bowstring. She intends to fix the glaring flaw in her skill. It's certainly interesting thought progress.
And to think the newest prodigy is from commoner background, a maid no less! This will be one hot topic in Linhuai city.
The servants were the ones who talk about it the most. Undoubtedly, they were moaning in jealousy that Princess Beiyue's maid got the chance to cultivate AND learn in Lingyang school. What if they too have potential, yet left un-nurtured because their Master refused to back them? What a waste!
And to think this was just the first week in school...
Shi Zhonglei was another case entirely. Born from Xiao Yuancheng and Concubine Xue, he was so different compares to his family... and HOW!
Looks aside, his mannerism was unlike his... blood relative. Yuancheng was arrogant and an Idiot with a capital "I". WHO in their right mind cheated out the late Princess Royal? HIM, of course. A shameless philanderer who can't keep it in his pants. And his mother... Good Lord. The team assigned to pry open Concubine Xue's mind finally got a fraction of information. She was used to be Princess Royal's maid until she betrayed her mistress by seducing the husband. And she intends to use her daughter to climbs higher and left Xiao in the dust. A traitorous bitch.
Somehow, Zhonglei turned out just as a fiercely loyal older brother. The Principal was just passing by the class curses when he overheard someone made an unsavory remark about Princess Beiyue, hidden behind a layer of "concern". Before anyone could say something, Zhonglei had torn the girl a new one with sharp words that made anyone in hearing range cringed at sheer viciousness of it, despite the polite words. The idiot who made the unsavory comment was almost turned into a sobbing mess. The fact he did it with a perfectly polite smile in his face betrays bloodlust that practically rolls from him.
Think again, he rewrote his name in a show of his true allegiance.
Princess Beiyue only has two retinues... two very loyal and fiercely protective retinues. One who happily deals heavy-handed punishment regardless of her personal safety. Attracting all sorts of attention so all harm would directed at her instead of her mistress. The other is mild-mannered yet has very poisonous fangs which he readily turned to anyone who speaks ill of his princess.
This year will be interesting.
Interesting, as in "May You Live In Interesting Time" kind of interesting.
~X~
Zhongqi's world was turned upside down then sideways.
It all started from that fateful day when the Xue Clan come to their residence due to agreement to broke the betrothal contract between Xue Che and Beiyue. HOW he should know that the head of censorate happens to be visiting?! No, let him rephrase it. WHO the moron who was sleeping on the job and forgot to warn them?!
From there, things went downhill.
They were brought to censorate, thrown into separate jail, and then interrogated separately. Then they were given punishment with that was—ahem, Beiyue declaring the punishment as if she was reading scripture. No feelings. Only an odd sense of detachment and duty.
Father didn't make things easier. He makes things harder. He had tried to protest, to appeals to Beiyue's better nature, with a hint of threat underlying.
Beiyue stares at them, hard and so so dead and cold.
"Silence that tongue of yours before someone did, Xiao Yuancheng." Come her scathing reply. "You have slighted the Royal family repeatedly. Your shameful actions and infidelity towards my mother, stealing, cheating, and lying from Monarchs on top of desecrating the dead's wish, and you still making demands? You should be grateful your family didn't get the Third Generation Punishment because you had gained enough charges to warrant it." Her eyes would glow amber under the light. "Know. Your. Place."
The aura was oppressive.
Zhongqi shivered.
He still has a nightmare about that.
He counts himself as lucky Beiyue switched back to detached neutrality. The punishment, however, SUCK! The family coffers would be cut off paying back what they had taken from her, and his salary will be cut to help pay back those money. Nevermind that once he graduates, there's no way he can work as mercenary. He will HAVE to apply to the army.
Mother was exiled to who-knows-where. There's no word from her hence. Probably dead in a ditch somewhere. Punishment for a woman who helped shamed Princess Royal during Royal Banquet twenty years ago. How mortified Zhongqi was when he knew the truth. The only reason why Yun wasn't laughing, was because that slutty bitch of her ma was struck underground, tortured with her mind pried open or so he heard.
By end of the week of condemnation, everyone in Linhuai city and their grandmothers knew.
Grandfather was very furious when he got back from seclusion and finding THIS! The lecture he lashes at them would be another nightmare for years to come. And when Father was sent for months-long expedition and no words from his squad, Zhongqi knew.
Father is dead. That squad was sent to their death.
Grandfather took up the mantle as Head Clan and Zhongqi, with further cultivation, was impossible, was groomed to be a better head than father ever be. It was a tedious and painful lesson with the heavy expectation on his back. Because he was the only childe now. Zhonglei was Xiao no more. He had to forget him ever being his brother.
Going to Lingyang school that year was hell and a half in itself.
People take one look at him and then start pointing fingers. He can hear their whispering and mockings. People don't even try to hide it, because, why should they? In their eyes, he was nothing more than an insignificant bug. Why was his opinion matter? After all, it was his fault for treating a royal badly, even if she was a waste.
Even Xue Clan, their almost ally, was also mocking them. Xue Meng, in particular, like to hurl hurtful words whenever they passed by, Zhongqi had to hold himself back from attacking her. Ugh! As if she was better! She calls Beiyue names, too! Hypocrite!
He found out that the damned maid was in the same course as him! That maid! Beiyue's stupid maid! Dammit! Beiyue must be spending a huge amount of money and pills on her! There's no other way! And she makes waves that got all servant in uppity!
To make things worse, he later found out that Zhonglei, his once a younger brother, was in Summoner Course like that slut Yun.
No. Not like Yun. Better. Yun needs four years' worth of Miyang Retinue to got where she was now. Zhonglei spends not even half of it, with a better result. Amateur in summoning spell he may be, but Zhongqi heard the teacher praised his name as he apparently seamlessly worked together with his beast. Grandfather was raging in his office because they neglect such a blessing and now it was out of their reach.
Had Zhonglei was not exiled from family, he would be the Childe. Stronger, more talented, smarter, with the politic-savvy mind. Why he heard his once brother made his whole class afraid of him with words alone.
That made Zhonglei bitter.
WHY did that loose cow giving birth to Summoners?! Why it can't be him with Summoner's potential? Or Rou? Why he was the one who left behind?!
...it's not fair. He may be stealing from Royal for his cultivation, but his skills, his merits, he work sweat, tears, and blood for it! And now it all was for naught!
It was not fair!
It was not his fault! No one ever told him it was wrong, how should he know?! If only father was a better father, if only he learns his lesson with his mother, there won't be Concubine Xue! There won't be Princess Royal's death, there won't be Yun, there won't be Zhonglei! They won't have to live in hellish life with a trash reputation! Zhongqi's future career won't have to suffer!
And Grandfather was not blameless. WHY did he leave so soon after Father married Princess Royal?! Isn't elder supposed to be wise?! Why he was gone? Seclusion, his ass! He only came back for 'darling' Yun and then gone again. Look where it led them to. And he has the galls to act as if he plays no hands? HA! As if! Zhongqi can't recall one instance where grandfather ever kind or at least neutral to Beiyue! He was not as innocent as he thinks he was!
Stupid adults causing stupid messes and making the children clean up after them! It's not fair!
He hates adults! They're so stupid and useless! He hates them!
~X~
Xiao Yun was one hateful girl. Her mood was all-time bad, and anger seems to be her default emotion.
It was because of that bitch Huang Beiyue! She and her cohorts!
She was supposed to be dumb, weak, and ill! She was supposed to be the laughingstock, exist only to be mocked! The poison mother sent her would ensure she would DIE! When she died, they could claim all of her money. ALL OF IT! No one would be wiser! They would be set for life! Yet she somehow gained a backbone and turned the table around.
How Yun supposed to know that the Head of Censorate was visiting when they planned her to annuls engagement? Sure, the engagement was broken... but there was no celebration! They were taken away and treated like criminals, like trash! Not only that, that bitch look down on them as if they were an insignificant bug. It was supposed to be THEM who looked down at HER! She's a weak, stupid, and waste of space! She can't even cultivate!
Their money was taken away and their assets were liquidated to pay that shitty brat! And they still have to pay her for the next decade! All they could keep was the main house and some cheap pavilion. Her beautiful dresses and accessories, gone! Most of them, the beautiful and expensive ones! All left was plain, outdated dress. Ick! And her summon... Her summon was taken away! Now she was summoner no more! She may know Spells any Summoner worth their salt knows, but THAT was it! Furthermore, she was kicked out from Eastern College to Imperial College. How humiliating is that?! Students went from Imperial to Eastern, not the other way around! She was the FIRST student in Lingyang history to be demoted! And she can't even take medicine classes. Damn it! How was she supposed to do now?
Now they are penniless, humiliated, and alone.
The Xue Clan refused to associate with them. Xue Che who was supposed to be her fiance, now avoiding her as if she was a leper or something.
Her friends at school now also distancing themselves, being downright cold, and ridiculing her. They now not even bothered to pretend.
Humiliating!
And that maid. God damned it, that maid! She was living a privileged life! Fully paid school expenses at a prestigious school, at the Eastern College! That means she's a cultivator. What the hell?! A mere maid is treated better than her?!
SO HATEFUUUULLL!
~X~
Qiyuan didn't know where did he go wrong.
Was it when he retired too early? Was it when he shows neutral and cold contempt to Princess Royal's daughter? Was it because he neglects his family? He doesn't know, and god, someone gives him a sign, so he knows what to do next.
The damage was done. The family's prestige had fallen thousands zhang, buried deep under the earth, never to see light ever again. There's nothing they can do but accept it.
With most of their money and assets gone, he doesn't know what to do now. Most of their estates are taken down, but they can keep some. The problem was taking care of it. It was Him, Zhongqi, Yun, and Rou who need servants, as they have NO IDEA how to do household chores, and Yun and Rou are girls... Fang was a former maid, she can and have already taken care of her pavilion. She arranges a schedule for Ling's manner and discipline lesson with a recommended tutor, and use the seventh day to train her daughter in womanly art, as of now she was almost of marriage age. He would have to see if she willing to take care of the other two.
Princess Beiyue did not condemn them to Third Generation Punishment, but it was not out of kindness! This was not an act of mercy, this was set them to prolonged torture. Humiliated and forced to do things no noble ever should! Nevermind he and Zhongqi would essentially work for her. Certainly, she was bitter about what they have done. Tit for tat.
Sigh. Yuancheng, why you never use that brain of yours or at least listen to SENSIBLE ONE?! Fang may be a former maid, but so does Xue! Yet he listens to that traitorous snake?! Had he listens to Fang and treated her well, they won't be in this mess! After all, Fang was the one who receives no punishment. That speaks a lot of her character.
Now he had to groom Zhongqi as childe and made him political-wise. It was a tedious job, seeing the brat inherit his mother's temper. Qiyuan had to forcefully instill obedience and patience in him, for his own sake because the political battlefield is more deadly than the actual battlefield itself. You would never know who will betray you at the first opportunity. The loose tongue would make you killed, or worse.
Had Zhonglei was still a family, he would switch the Childe status to him. Zhonglei at least has patience and brain to deal with politics, even if his cultivation was weak...
...until Zhongqi comes home and tells him that Zhonglei was admitted into Summoning Course like Yun used to be, and the teacher praised his coordination with his beast.
It means Zhonglei has Summoner potential. Not only that, but he also has a Summon. He never told anyone, never ask for money or help. Meaning he actually fought and subjugated his own beast, unlike Yun who need his help taming her Snow Sky Cat. That was proof that he has MORE potential than Yun ever had.
Qiyuan was so furious with his own son. They have another gem in the family, a superior heir, yet he shows him the inferior one. Why he never told him?!
Oh right. Because Zhonglei fell ill on the day of the presentation. Both his and Yun and he was not present for Rou's. The first was food poisoning as his stomach disagrees with Xue's exotic food taste and later was due to high fever. Maybe that's why Xue ignores him and how his potential was hidden.
Stupid woman.
~X~
Bugiel Luoluo had a lot to think about, regarding princess Beiyue.
There's something about her that attracts him. It was strange, how she stood out. She was neither pretty nor dressed elaborately. Yet her presence was undeniably here. Garnering attention left and right.
Among those girls who do their best to outshine others, she both win and lose.
Because she was the only one who's manly enough to pass as a man. She could slip among the boys and no one is the wiser. Luoluo swears he heard some girl crying that Beiyue was born a girl and not a boy.
Another thing was how they just... clicked.
From what he had seen, Princess distanced herself from everyone, only get close when she absolutely has to, and even then she prefers to keep to herself. Yet she let him getting close and never once inching away. Her cold, assessing, boring gaze would lit up whenever she saw him, and unless his ears are playing a trick on him, her tone was almost... fond.
He in return treat her as if they are friends. He didn't even realize it until someone ask how did he befriend the ice-cold princess.
It feels like he knows her and yet at the same time he didn't know her. A mystery puzzle, except all pieces are here. He just has to connect them, yet he finds some discrepancy among the pieces.
How strange.
He wants to as Yunque, he always knows what he should do, but his strange masked... friend? Acquaintance?... was away. Probably staying with his cousin who got stuck in a precarious situation in a hostile place. Knowing him, Yunque would stay there as long as possible, maybe until situations got better.
He wonders what would happen if he introduced Yunque to Princess. Both are so alike yet so different! Yunque and Beiyue both are androgynous. Beiyue can easily be mistaken as a boy, especially in her riding outfit. Nobody knew Yunque's gender and speculated about it, until the unofficial-official confirmation that he was a young man. Well, he never comments on it, so the theories still running wild.
However, Beiyue is closed off and only open at certain people of her choice. She never seems to smile. The closest one Luoluo saw was a happy twinkle in her eyes. Yunque, on other hand, wore his heart at the sleeve, open with what he feels and think. He mingles and coordinates with people like breathing no matter how rude they are, and he often found smiling. Either in fondness or exasperation.
So similar yet so different. Yin and Yang. Two halves as a whole.
Luoluo entertains thought that the two are one and same... but that was a foolish notion, right? Yunque's voice was definitely of a man, even if a little high pitcher enough to pass as a deep-voiced woman. Plus, Yunque enjoys people company while Beiyue dislike it, almost loathing even.
They can't be the same person. They just happen to share similar quirks.
TBC
Zhonglei name was written as this: 誓 (Shi / To pledge) 忠缧 (Zhong / loyal | Lei / Bond)
Dongling's new surname (courtesy from Beiyue insisting she has her own) was 殷 (Yin / Earnest)