Xiao Lan received the news of the returning of the royal entourage, and was already waiting at the intersection. Due to the lack of advancement of communication in ancient times, Xiao Lan was not informed of what happened at the post station. She happily picked up her beloved daughter from Songyu the moment she returned, and held her tightly in her embrace for a long time.
Lin Feilu hugged and kissed her several times, completely melting Xiao Lan's heart.
At the sight of Honorable Lady Xiao Lan, Songyu immediately thought of the incident in the post station, and immediately buried her head all the way back to Mingyue Palace, trying to hold back the tears. Xiao Lan noticed her abnormal behaviour, and asked in a soft voice, "What is the matter, Songyu?"
Tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes, Songyu knelt in front of her, "This servant has let down my Lady! This servant failed to take care of the princess, it's all this servant's fault. My lady, please punish this servant!"
Xiao Lan paled from shock. She put down Lin Feilu from her arms and quickly helped her up. "What happened?"
Songyu explained to her the story in the post station, sobbing the whole time. Xiao Lan's face turned paler by the second. By the time Songyu finished, her fists were clenched together and her lips had completely lost colour. She looked at her safe and healthy daughter in fear.
Lin Fei Lu comforted her, "Mother, I'm fine. That man didn't appear again."
Xiao Lan barely managed to smile. She recalled Songyu's words – if his Majesty had not arranged guards for full-time protection, and if Little Lu had not been in the constant company of Noble Consort Xi, the perpetrators would have already taken action again.
After organizing her luggage and after Lin Feilu woke up from her nap, she entered her room alone, and caressed her daughter's head with a shaky hand.
Lin Feilu rubbed her eyes and sat up. Holding her mother's hand, she said, "Mother, I'm really OK, don't worry."
Xiao Lan's eyes were red, her voice was low, "I'm too incompetent and can't protect you."
Lin Feilu patted her own little chest, "I can protect myself, I can also protect my mother and brother!" She paused to look out, and then asked in a whisper, "Mother, have you ever had any old resentment with Consort Mei?"
Xiao Lan was surprised at the question, bewilderment filled her face for a moment before she shook her head, "No."
She pondered, and said, "Consort Mei and I entered the palace in the same year. We were both promoted to be Pure Ladies by his Majesty, and because of her personality, I had a good relationship with her. But later when I lost favouritism, the people around me gradually distanced themselves, and we also stopped communicating. It's normal."
She frowned at her daughter and asked, "Why are you suddenly asking this? Did you meet with Consort Mei during the trip? Did she cause any trouble for you?"
Lin Feilu really thought that her mother deserves the title of a fool.
With her personality, she was not suitable for any harem cold war. Her character would not even last for three episodes in any modern palace dramas. To think that she was able to gain favour and even give birth to royal children, it was obvious that Emperor Lin cared deeply for her.
Lin Feilu decided not to tell her innocent, naive mother her heroic story, but asked another question, "Mother, I heard from Qingyan that Brother was born prematurely because you were given the wrong medicine?"
Lin Feilu decided not to tell her innocent, naive mother her heroic story, but asked another question, "Mother, I heard from Qingyan that Brother was born prematurely because you were given the wrong medicine?"
Xiao Lan did not want her children to know that; with a little frown, she answered, "Yes. The drug was administered very discreetly. Even the doctors who examined the medicine everyday have not found anything wrong with it. I only realised it these years. It should be a poison with a slow effect, and accumulates after many days. I just don't know whether the culprit wanted me to miscarry, or just made a mistake to have damaged your brother's wisdom."
She suddenly realised something, and asked in surprise: "Lu'er, are you suspecting all of this was done by… Consort Mei?"
Lin Feilu did not bother being euphemistic, "Yes. She and mother are the same type of beauty, and both of you entered the palace in the same year. You two had a good relationship, and when you were pregnant, she had no reaction at all? It's only normal for her to try to harm you out of envy and to fight for favour."
Xiao Lan gaped at her daughter, who had solved the many years of mystery, in shock.
She was soft and kind-hearted; she did not fight nor rob, and had no intentions of getting promoted to a better title. She only had heart for her crush at that time, and always complained about her unfair fate. She did not even care to fight for Emperor Lin's favour, let alone the other people around her.
Kind people would only have a simple outlook of the world.
Also finally mothering two children, she gradually matured and accepted her life in the harem.
If there was one thing to blame, one could only blame that Xiao Lan was born in the wrong era. With her personality and appearance, if she was born in the modern era, everyone would be fighting to protect this silly sweet girl.
Xiao Lan was stunned for a long time, then murmured, "Consort Mei was pure and good in character, gentle to others, how can she…"
Her voice trailed off, probably doubting everything that had happened in her life.
This was the typical tactics of a Green Tea Princess. Lin Feilu was not surprised at all, instead, it felt very familiar.
Well, compared with Consort Mei, she was extremely disgusted by her old self.
However, as much as she hated her old self, to counter a Green Tea Princess, one must be a better Green Tea Princess. No one knew better than Lin Feilu on how to expose a Green Tea Princess. How humiliating can foot odor be? For a Green Tea Princess, bad reputation was the biggest blow.
Xiao Lan saw the shrewd gleam in her daughter's eyes. A mother knows her daughter best, and she knew Lin Feilu well after being with her for a long time. She hesitated and said worriedly, "Lu'er, Consort Mei is not any ordinary person. She is deeply favored by his Majesty. Even if the incident was related to her, all evidence would be erased after so many years. If we were to go against her, I'm afraid we won't be able to gain any benefits."
Seeing her hesitant and weak demeanor, Lin Feilu knew that she would need strong motivation. She said, "Mother, I suspect Consort Mei was behind what had happened in the post station."
A fierce battle instinct suddenly gleamed in Xiao Lan's eyes!
Lin Feilu was very satisfied.
She cajoled with Xiao Lan for a while so she would not worry too much, and narrated to her about practicing martial arts with Noble Consort Xi with enthusiasm.
Xiao Lan was not surprised that her own daughter was gaining much favor, but still advised her, "Since Noble Consort values you, don't let her down."
Lin Feilu nodded solemnly.
Practicing horse stances had become her daily routine. Early in the next morning, the princess was already shouting and grunting in the courtyard, attracting confused stares from Qingyan and the others.
Songyu explained, "This matter… started from a crow with a broken wing."
After a long time of her absence, Lin Zhanyuan apart from clinging on to her during their sleep at night, he had also been following her around during the day. He asked curiously when he saw his sister practicing the horse stance, "Is Sister pooping?"
"…" She corrected him "Sister is practicing martial arts! Hmph! Ha!"
Lin Zhanyuan was even more puzzled, "What is martial arts?"
Lin Feilu replied, "I will become very powerful after learning martial arts. I can beat down all the bad guys and protect Brother!"
Lin Zhanyuan immediately imitated her stance, squatting next to her and said, "Brother also wants to practice martial arts and protect Sister!" In less than two minutes, he fell to the ground on his bottom. Feeling aggrieved, he scolded himself, "Brother is stupid!"
After scolding, he got up again with his lips pursed and continued to squat.
AD
A big reason Lin Feilu was becoming more accepting of her cute five-year-old character was this silly brother.
In the afternoon, after practicing her horse stance and stretches, Lin Feilu rushed to see Noble Consort Xi.
It was her first time visiting Noble Consort Xi in her residence, Jinyun Palace. She was indeed second only to the empress. The scale of the palace was much larger and more exquisite than that of the four consorts.
Noble Consort Xi's palace servants had grown familiar with her during the retreat, and immediately welcomed her into the palace as soon as they saw the Fifth Princess. Concubine Xi had no children so far, and her palace servants had always been envious of the other concubines with children.
Now with the presence of the Fifth Princess, although she was not the Noble Consort's child, they were very close. The whole palace adored the lovable princess.
Lin Feilu started sweating as soon as Lin Feilu entered the well heated room, and quickly took off her cloak. It was the same in the retreat palace. The furnace in Noble Consort Xi's room was always burning very well.
She always thought that a martial arts practitioner like Noble Consort Xi would have a strong body and would not be afraid of the cold. She probably was inflicted with internal cold, which led to cold hands and feet; the imperial physician would need to prescribe something to treat that.
The little bean had spoken her thoughts aloud in earnest, and the room was instantly silent.
Noble Consort Xi did not respond. She was still fiddling with the lid of her teacup. The two palace servants beside her looked a little sad, they opened their mouths to speak, then closed it. Finally, one of them replied with a smile, "The Fifth Princess is very caring for the empress."
Noble Consort Xi took a look at the little bean and said, "I'm not afraid of the cold. I don't have any internal cold, and my hands and feet are not cold either."
"…"
Then what are you doing! Remove the furnace!
Noble Consort Xi glanced at the little bean and continued, "I got into an accident when I was young and I injured my muscles. It hurts when it's cold, so I need to always stay warm."
At first, Lin Feilu wondered why such a mysterious woman, a majestic female general, entered the palace. Now she suddenly understood that this was probably the reason she did not choose to be a general.
The tone of her voice was light, as if it was not a big deal. But if her injured muscles could not even stand the cold weather, then the injury must be serious.
Lin Feilu felt sad and regretful.
Concubine Xi glanced at her again, "What's that expression for? Go position yourself on the piles."
"The piles?"
With a signal from Noble Consort Xi, the maid servant led Lin Feilu out to the neighboring courtyard, where there were many wooden posts set up and arranged irregularly.
Lin Feilu was a little excited, "Is this the legendary quincuncial piles?"
Noble Consort Xi raised her eyebrows, "She knows quite a lot." Her lazy voice echoed from the hall, "Go up and stand for an hour. We will restart the time if you fall."
This is much easier than a horse stance!
She climbed up in high spirits, but fell down after standing for less than two minutes.
Fortunately, she did not get injured due to the muddy ground, but Lin Feilu quietly climbed up again, feeling disheartened.
And fell again.
She fell so many times into the mud that she could be mistaken for a clay doll.
It's time to practice balance yoga.
Finally, she completed the time requirement on the pile with much struggle. Her legs trembled so violently that she felt like she was floating on the clouds by the time she was done.
Noble Consort Xi looked at the adorable little bean's muddy, ash covered face. Her expression remained indifferent, but there was a hint of a smile in her eyes, and spoke shortly in a bossy manner, "Tomorrow again."
Lin Feilu left obediently.
Although the Jinyun Palace was large and luxurious, its geographical location was not good; it was quite remote. The general preference for concubines in the harem was to have their palace placed as close to Emperor Lin's Yangxin Palace, but Jinyun Palace was far away from Yangxin Palace.
However, the remote palace had a peaceful sense of tranquility. The traces of winter had gradually faded, and spring quietly arrived. The flowers and trees alongside the roads had shooted buds. Her mood was elevated once more at the sight of the young flowers and plants all the way back to her own palace.
When she reached the junction, Lin Feilu also saw that the bamboo forest nearby was flourishing. The plants seemed to have been nourished by the baptism of wind and snow.
Jinyun Palace was far away from Yangxin Palace, but it was quite close to Song Jinglan's Cuizhu Villa.
She had not seen the pretty boy for a long time, and she happily headed towards the villa.
Before she got near to Cuizhu Villa, she bumped into Song Jinglan who was digging for bamboo shoots with Tiandong in the bamboo forest.
Hearing Lin Feilu's pitter-patter footsteps, he looked up and saw the little girl's bright eyes. He was stunned for a moment, then could not help laughing. He stood up and said, "Was the Fifth Princess skating in the mud?"
Lin Feilu recalled her skiing adventures and scratched her head, "No, I'm practicing martial arts with Noble Consort Xi. I fell when I was standing on quincuncial piles."
Song Jinglan raised his eyebrows in surprise, but did not say anything. Instead, he handed Tiandong the digging knife in his hand, and took Lin Feilu's dirty hands gently, "Let's go and get you cleaned."
Song Jinglan raised his eyebrows in surprise, but did not say anything. Instead, he handed Tiandong the digging knife in his hand, and held Lin Feilu's dirty hands gently, "Let's go and get you cleaned."
Lin Feilu followed him blankly into Cuizhu Villa.
Song Jinglan asked her to wait inside the hall, then turned around to fetch some hot water. When he returned with a basin, the little girl ran out of the house and sat on the steps outside the door. Her eyes bent into curves, "It's not good to splash water into the house."
Song Jinglan smiled and did not speak. He placed the basin aside and squatted in front of her.
He picked up a wet handkerchief in the basin and wrung the water out of it. Holding her head in one hand, he wiped Lin Feilu's face with the handkerchief with the other.
Lin Feilu was a little embarrassed, "I'll wash myself."
He chuckled, "Your hands are dirty. The more you wash them, the dirtier they'll get."
Lin Feilu pursed her lips and rubbed her hands on his white robes while he wiped her face.
Song Jinglan looked down at the fingerprints on his clothes, and then at the girl who was shaking her head in denial. He said nothing but drooped his eyelids and laughed.
Pretty boy was gentle and lovable. Lin Feilu indulged in his care, and after two changes of basin of water, the clay doll finally turned back into a porcelain doll.
At this time, Tiandong had also returned from digging up bamboo shoots. Song Jinglan then instructed, "Split some into a basket for the Fifth Princess." Then he turned to Lin Feilu and said, "The bamboo shoots are crisp and delicious. If the Fifth Princess likes it, you can send a servant to have more next time."
The ministry of internal affairs always deducted the food supply of the Cuizhu Villa, but there were always abundant supplies of fresh bamboo shoots every spring.
Lin Feilu was happy. It was still early in the day, and she was not in a rush to return. She followed Song Jinglan into the hall, and found that it was cold and there was no heating furnace.
She immediately asked, "Your Highness, have you run out of coal?"
Song Jinglan was preparing flower tea as he replied with a soft voice, "No, it's just that the snow has melted, and spring has come. It's not too cold anymore, so we planned to keep the rest for next year."
Lin Feilu was very upset.
Pretty boy behaving like a squirrel storing food for the winter! This is what 'lack of security' looks like!
She took the hot tea cup in her hands, her eyes damp from the steam emitted from the tea, "The coal would be damp by next year, and it can't be used. I will send new ones to your Highness next winter." The little girl patted her chest like an adult, there was an "I got you" tone in her voice as she declared, "You still have me!"
With a laugh, Song Jinglan raised his hand to brush a piece of broken bamboo off his head, "En, I will listen to the Princess. I'll let Tiandong heat up the furnace in a moment."
Lin Feilu nodded happily and shared stories of her adventures in the retreat, including the little fox she found on the mountain.
Song Jinglan did not talk too much, but looked into her eyes with a gentle and serious look as she spoke.
Lin Feilu suddenly remembered a sentence she had read before. If someone looked into your eyes when you were talking and listened intently, he must be a gentle person.
In the past, she simply could not stand such a tender boy, because she would not have the heart to be mean to him.
Under his intent gaze, she felt her ears starting to heat up, the little girl stopped talking abruptly and ran away without even bidding goodbye.
Tiandong asked with curiosity, "Your Highness, is the Fifth Princess shy? I think her ears were red."
Song Jinglan glanced at him. His glare was not cold, but Tiandong seemed to have realised something and stopped speaking altogether.
With the return of spring, the bitter cold presence of winter had gradually waned, and finally lost its trace on a sunny day. Although the sun was still cold, the people in the palace had changed out of their winter clothes.
Lin Feilu had also taken off her lovely and invincible robe – the red cloak, and changed into a beautiful dress made by Xiao Lan. There was no shortage of brocade in Mingyue Palace lately and Xiao Lan had made various styles of dresses for her. Women would never complain of having too many clothes! Especially girls, too!
Her birthday was at the end of spring, and she would be turning six years old this year. Xiao Lan and the others had always celebrated her birthday the past years with a bowl of noodles; but this year would definitely not be as quiet as it was in the past.
Pengman had been serving Emperor Lin for many years. He was conscious minded and understood the emperor's thoughts easily. He mentioned lightly in Emperor Lin's ear that the Fifth Princess' birthday was approaching when spring began.
A trace of guilt surfaced in his heart when Emperor Lin recalled how he had ignored the Little Fifth Princess five years ago. Immediately, he waved his hand and passed down the order – the birthday banquet for the Fifth Princess must be carried out on a large scale! It was going to be loud! It was going to be grand!
Many people in the palace had never even seen his lovely Little Fifth Princess, and the commoners in the world did not even know the existence of his Fifth Princess. He wanted to announce the Little Fifth Princess' title and existence during this birthday banquet.
Therefore, the palace began to prepare for the Fifth Princess' birthday banquet two months in advance. The palace servants finally realised that the Fifth Princess was now in Emperor Lin's favor, and no one could dare to ignore her presence anymore.
What was stranger than fiction was that not a sliver of the love Emperor Lin showered the Fifth Princess was shared with the one who gave birth to her; Honorable Lady Xiao Lan. Yet the Fifth Princess herself was also very strange – she must be very intelligent to be able to obtain his Majesty's favor, but she never spoke a few words on behalf of her mother.
Everyone had different opinions; some felt regretful, some were indifferent and some took pleasure in it, but the parties aforementioned were not affected at all.
Xiao Lan, too, was perfectly at peace. She had never liked socialising, and now that no one dared to cause her any trouble when she went out and about, her life was as peaceful as it was before. Lin Feilu, on the other hand, who had recently obtained permission from Emperor Lin to enter the imperial school, was enthusiastically making preparations for it.
Large-scale NPC gathering place, here I come!
She was very familiar with studying, from kindergarten to graduating from master's, but she still felt excited to be able to experience it again in a different time.
Generally, a royal child should be accompanied by another child serving in one's study, or even a study partner. However, Lin Feilu did not want any, and only asked Xiao Lan to sew her small school bag, filling it up with ink, paper and inkstone from the Imperial Household Department. On the first day of imperial school, She and Songyu went to Changming Palace together to wake up Lin Jingyuan and go to school together.
Lin Jingyuan yawned as he dragged his feet, and endured the dread of going to school. Looking at the high-spirited Fifth Princess, he said gloomily, "I don't know what's so happy about going to school." He sighed, "You don't know what you've lost."
Lin Feilu smiled happily with her small school bag on her back, "It's very fun to go to school. I can read and write, answer questions and solve puzzles, and also make many new friends!"
Lin Jingyuan suddenly woke up, "What new friends? It's just a bunch of spoiled brats just like me! You better stay far away from them and sit right next to me!"
"…"
You do know yourself very well.
When they arrived at the imperial school, the expressions of the young people dressed in splendid clothes were indeed in dreadful pain. It seemed like the habit of dreading school periods was a disaster that did not change no matter the era nor time.
Since servants could not enter the hall, thus Songyu went into the side hall to await after going up the steps. Lin Jingyuan held Lin Feilu's hand, his back straight as he glared back at the curious eyes around them, "What are you looking at!"
Compared with the Eldest Prince and Crown Prince, the people were more afraid of the playful and reckless Fourth Prince, and they quickly averted their gazes.
Lin Feilu thought that if he was born in the modern times, he would definitely be a school bully.
News spread quickly among the palaces, and everyone already knew that the Fifth Princess had obtained a royal favor and was granted the permission of entering the imperial school. They had seen the cheerful and adorable little princess who was always hanging around together with the Fourth Prince last year, and had a good impression of her.
It was just a little heartbreaking to see that she was like a hostage held captive by a big bully.
Everyone who studied in the imperial school were all royalties or relatives of the royalty, and some of them were the children of the courtiers who were especially valued by Emperor Lin, but the seats in the school were not arranged according to their status.
The seats at the back of the class were extremely wanted. Except for a few who were extra studious, no one was willing to sit in the front row. For example, Lin Jingyuan and Xi Xingjiang were always in the second row from the last, while Lin Qing and Lin Ting were always in the first row.
It was not yet time for class, the bell had yet to ring, and the hall was buzzing with chatter, just like a classroom after the winter vacation.
As soon as Lin Jingyuan entered, he moved all the things from Xi Xingjiang's table to the vacant space on the other side. Then he placed Lin Feilu on Xi Xingjiang's original seat. "You will now sit here!"
Lin Feilu looked around, and she was probably the youngest and shortest in the imperial school. The desks in ancient times were unlike those of the present. They were all low desk tables, and one would kneel on the cushion. She was like a little bundle when she sat down and the desk was almost taller than her, completely blocking her vision.
Lin Jingyuan was very glad, "That's great, you can eat or sleep as you wish, and the mentor wouldn't be able to see a thing."
"…"
This boy is both a school bully and also a hopeless student!
Lin Qing who just happened to enter the class from outside, heard everything that transpired. He chided politely, "Don't fool around! Fifth Sister is all set in her heart to learn, unlike you!"
He knew that his Fifth SIster was eager to learn and was well-read in classic literature. He leaned down and picked up Lin Feilu from the cushion and carried her small school bag. "Come to the front."
Lin Jingyuan's pout was so protruded that it could hang a bucket, but he dared not to refute his Third Brother, and just stared at Lin Qing taking Lin Feilu to the front with hidden bitterness.
When the people saw that the one next to the Fifth Princess was replaced by the Crown Prince, they were no longer afraid, and came up to greet and salute.
Lin Feilu looked at them with her head tilted, and smiled sweetly to anyone who came up to her.
The only other princesses who studied in the imperial school were the Eldest Princess Lin Nianzhi and the Fourth Princess Lin Zhuyu. The Eldest Princess was unruly and the Fourth Princess was too dull. The Third Princess was even more unlovable, but now, the lovely Fifth Princess was unexpected and pleasant.
In just a short time, Lin Feilu had met many people, such as the second son of the prime minister, the cousin of the royal uncle's family and the cousin of the royal aunt's family. The composition of the family members in the ancient times was too complex, she might need to draw a family tree to sort out the relationship between these people.
Although the officials of the imperial school were informed in advance that the Fifth Princess was coming to class, they did not think a five-year-old girl was really going to study seriously. They placed her somewhere at the back, next to the two other princesses.
Just like there were no empty seats in the front row for a new exchange student, there was no empty seat for Lin Feilu in the front row of the imperial school.
Lin Qing looked around and went out to order the officials to rearrange the seat for the Fifth Princess. When he entered the hall again, Lin Feilu was already hugging her little school bag, sitting on the corner seat of the first row.
That desk was positioned far away from the others, as if it was isolated for only one person to sit.
Lin Qing frowned slightly and walked over, "Fifth Sister, I have ordered them to rearrange the seats. Come on."
Lin Feilu shook her head and replied in a small voice, "No need to worry, I think this seat is very good. It's near and spacious." She blinked, but it was more intelligent than naive that was in her eyes, "Brother Crown Prince, can I sit here?"
Lin Qing knew she was smart, but also knew that she was young, and it was too early for the five-year-old to understand the bitter resentment between the countries. As the Crown Prince, he certainly could not say that "This was the seat of the Prince hostage of the Song Dynasty, you should not sit with him."
He could only state euphemistically, "This seat was taken by someone, you don't know him, do you want to sit next to him?"
Lin Feilu nodded happily, "Yes! I can also make new friends!"
As they were speaking, someone approached them from behind. They turned back to look, and it was the hostage prince of Song Dynasty.
He had his usual gentle and calm appearance, with a smile on his face. He walked up to them and gave a little salute. He was not surprised to see the person sitting next to him, and only greeted gently, "Your Highness, Fifth Princess."
Lin Feilu raised her head, her eyes curved in a crescent, "It's you!"
Lin Qing recalled that when she partnered with him in poetry writing in the Imperial College exam before, and was not surprised that they knew each other. It would be a humiliation for the Great Lin if Lin Qing said something inappropriate in front of Song Jinglan, and only gave Lin Feilu some advice and then returned to his seat.
Song Jinglan watched Lin Qing leave, swished the sleeves of his robes before he knelt down, and began to organize his table.
Lin Feilu looked at him with her head tilted, and whispered in secret, "Your highness, we will be seatmates together from now!"
It was Song Jinglan's first time hearing the word "seatmate".
He had been sitting alone ever since he entered the imperial school. No one was willing to approach him, nor did anyone befriended him with any shred of sincerity. Even the mentors paid little attention to him. He did not mind it, after all, he was a captive in an enemy country. To be able to live in safety was all he wanted, and he did not expect anything more nor better.
He had found out through Ji Liang that the little girl was going to study at the imperial school, but he did not expect to see her have a seat next to him.
With the wisdom of the Fifth Princess, she would not know what his hostage status meant. It was not the same as her visiting him secretly at Cuizhu Villa, so it was unwise for them to get close in public.
Yet there she sat, happily telling him that they would be seatmates.
Seat, mates.
A new and intimate word.
Song Jinglan smiled at her, "En."
Lin Feilu deliberately stared at him, "Your Highness, are you studious? If the mentor asked me questions and I couldn't answer them, would you help me? If I sleep secretly in class, will you keep a lookout for me? If I haven't finished my homework, will you help me? Would you let me copy the answers in exams?"
He picked his eyebrows, "Is this what seatmates must do?"
Lin Feilu nodded heavily, "Of course! That's what it means to be seatmates!"
Song Jinglan laughed, "OK, noted. I will."
Lin Feilu was drowning in the tenderness of this Brother.
If she had such a seatmate back then in school, she would have been in love at an early age.
The desks in the hall gradually filled with people, and followed by a gong of the bronze bell outside the hall, the class began. Lin Feilu looked back. The front row students sat in all seriousness, upright in posture, while some seats in the back were still empty, and Lin Jingyuan on the last row was lying under the table, sleeping. Xi Xingjiang was absent.
How nostalgic it is to return to this familiar and hearty classroom scene.
The teacher official today was a first class minister. Although it was a high position, in fact, he held no real power. However, even the emperor would pay him respect for his high academic reputation.
He glanced in the direction of the Fifth Princess, and was surprised to see that she was actually sitting with the captive Prince of the Song Empire, but did not say anything, and started the lecture.
In ancient times, there were no classes for physics, chemistry, biology, politics, history, and geography, but only explanations of the benevolent and justice teachings of Confucianist theories.
Lin Feilu paid attention for a while and finally understood why Lin Jingyuan did not like school so much.
It was too boring and dry. The mentor's voice was slow and draggy, like a hypnotic weapon. Lin Feilu was already at page ten, while he was still going on about the first page.
She uttered a single word – sleepy.
Song Jinglan realized the little girl who was enthusiastically listening to the lecture was now lying on the desk, her head tilted and her body curved in a strange posture, the book resting on her forehead.
The pages of the book happened to cover her eyes, revealing long and thick eyelashes. Her dainty face was scrunched up, and her small mouth was a little pouty.
He suppressed a smile, gently took the book down and put it aside. He leaned forward slightly, and held his book in his left hand, blocking the view of her sleeping head with his hanging white sleeves.
Halfway through the class, the hopeless student Xi Xingjiang finally arrived. When he found that his books had been thrown to an empty seat at the side, immediately infuriated, he bellowed, "Who messed with my things?!"
The people around trembled and looked at the sleeping Lin Jingyuan.
Xi Xingjiang wanted to kick him, but the mentor reprimanded him solemnly from the front, "The Viscount is late again today, get seated quickly!"
Xi Xingjiang pouted as he moved his books back, and sat down beside Lin Jingyuan.
Lin Jingyuan was awakened by his movements and looked up at the person who woke him up angrily. The two glared at each other for a long time. In the end, Xi Xingjiang figured that he should not be petty with someone younger than him, and changed the subject, "Isn't Little Lu coming today? Where is she sitting?"
Lin Jingyuan answered impatiently, "Why do you care so much about my sister? What does it matter to you where she sits?"
Xi Xingjiang snorted and ignored the control freak. He swept his eyes across the room before him, and froze. He elbowed Lin Jingyuan, who sprawled down again, "Why is Little Lu sitting with Song Jinglan?"
Lin Jingyuan sat upright, and when he saw the two figures in front of him, he was aggrieved to death, "What? Why did he let Little Lu sit with him instead of me! How can Third Brother be like this!"
Lin Feilu, who was dozing off in class in front, had already woken up because of Xi Xingjiang's arrival.
Song Jinglan watched the little girl lift her head, and touched the corner of her mouth, relieved to find that she was not drooling.
He could not help laughing, and then put down the hand he had been holding up. Lin Feilu straightened her back and asked in a hushed voice, "Your highness, I wasn't discovered just now, right?"
Song Jinglan also replied in a hushed voice, "No."
Satisfied, she yawned, and whispered in a small voice, "This mentor's lecture is so boring, it's not interesting at all."
Song Jinglan encouraged her, "Mentor Luo is older and respectable, so his lectures will sound dry. The other two mentors have experienced traveling around the world when they were younger, and thus they have gained and learned a lot, so they will include their experience and quotes from classics in their lectures, and so you won't be bored."
Lin Feilu felt her spirits heightened.
In the imperial school, there were also break periods in between the classes. The bell would ring every two hours for a break period for as long as a stick of incense.
(E/N: Around 5-10 minutes, incenses are made/done so that they actually burn with somewhat accuracy of timing)
There was also no issue with being held back in classes. As soon as the bell tolled, the class got up to leave without a salute before the mentor could even finish his sentence. The hall suddenly became lively, but Lin Feilu was still flipping through the pages in her seat, while Lin Jingyuan rushed to the front in a hurry.
He did not speak, and only sat next to Lin Feilu and looked at her begrudgingly.
"…"
Xingjiang followed behind him, and teased him from the side, "Little bean, your Fourth Brother is aggrieved, comfort him with a few words."
Lin Jingyuan glared at him fiercely, "Change seats! You sit here, and Little Lu will sit at the back with me!"
Xi Xingjiang refused mercilessly, "No, then how can I sleep?"
Lin Jingyuan was heartbroken, "Is the imperial school a place for you to sleep?!"
Xi Xingjiang was speechless for a moment, "… Look who's talking."
The two of them were always bickering whenever Lin Feilu saw them, and one of them was her own brother, which was quite embarrassing. She stole a glance at Song Jinglan and found that he seemed to be completely indifferent, minding his own business calmly.
The two of them were still bickering when a lofty voice suddenly interrupted them, "I heard that Fifth Sister is starting imperial school, why is she sitting here?"