The two Lu sisters looked at Ye Zhen at the same time; one with a disdainful look and one with a discreet forced smile. It will be such an honor if someone from Lu family will be on the field of medicine. But, with just a few compliment from the Old madam in her hands, could she really get pass the exam and be a student of the prestigious women's college?
Many women of noble families have tried multiple of times and failed. Moreover, these women started studying and preparing themselves for the college at an early age! Lu Yaoyao was already 15, too old to be admitted as a freshman in the college. Aside from that, it was the medicine school they were talking about. People say that it was the hardest field in the college One should be naturally talented and break bones in order to succeed!
Students of the college must learn the Six Arts**.
**T/N : Six Arts of China – To promote all-around development, students were required to master six practical disciplines called the Six Arts (liù yì in Chinese): rites, music, archery, chariot racing, calligraphy and mathematics.
For one to survive in the medicine school, one naturally has to master its craft. Relying from her sister's memory, Lu Yaoyao learned some useful medical skill from Pei Shi. But, Pei Shi was not a woman of high birth nor an alumni of the college. Her ways were not sophisticated enough to earn a key to the school.
Lu Yaoyao would be simply a hillbilly who can't get on the table! She has no self-knowledge at all, and she had a wishful thinking about entering the women's college. Does she really think her eldest brother can now call the shots and she can get directly into the college?
Second and Fourth miss Lu shared the same feelings this time. Old Lady Lu did not think so much about what her two other granddaughters will feel about this. They've spent years pleasing the Old madam Lu and giving Ye Zhen her education after meeting for only a month was a hard slap to their faces. As much as they hated it, Ye Zhen had earned the Old madam's favor in such a short time.
Old madam Lu was just a businesswoman. When she sees an potential opportunity, she grabs it without thinking twice. After all, if Ye Zhen succeeds, she will bring great honor to the family, and some powerful individual might ask her hand in marriage! "Wait until your eldest brother comes back and I will have him support you!"
Ye Zhen happily replied with a grateful bow.
Seething in anger, Fourth Miss Lu wanted to reprimand Ye Zhen for being overconfident but she could see the happiness of Old madam Lu so she decided to hold her tongue.
She was only a miss of the family, daughter of a concubine even, who had won the respect of the Old madam because of her achievements in the college. Having the old lady get tired of her theatrics and eventually, lose her favor would put her years of hard work into waste.
Old Madam Lu also mentioned that there will be a flower appreciation meeting in Kyoto in three days time. Once a year, the flower appreciation meeting was held in the royal garden, which is different from the imperial garden located at the heart of the imperial palace. It is not located in the palace, but near the women's college, where imperial court ladies often hold a banquet to admire the flowers.
Lu Family was not qualified to go to Baihua Garden before, but now it is different.
Old Madam Lu has decided to bring her three granddaughters to the party to show those who despise the Lu family that they, despite being a family of merchant, are also capable of teaching sensible girls.
"Flower Appreciation Festival?" Ye Zhen looked at trance upon hearing these three words. A replica of a past unforgotten. She and Mo Rongzhan met at the flower appreciation festival when she was only seven years old. He was the unpopular prince and was also blind. She was the first daughter of Ye Family, a prominent family in Kyoto, loved by thousands of people.
"The nobles in the capital will be there and you, my dear, will attend with us." Old Lady Lu said with a gleam in her eyes. Hearing the excited in the madam's voice, Ye Zhen's eyes stooped low and the corners of her mouth became tight. "Grandma, I'm afraid I'll embarrass you when I go."
"Nonsense!" Old Lady Lu rebuked. "We are the Lu family and they are nowhere near us."
Fourth miss laughed in her heart at the old lady's preference for Ye Zhen due to her eccentricity. What's the point of her preference for Ye Zhen who was tanned and thin?
Ye Zhen touched her face and said, "I don't look good."
Old Madam Lu laughed, reckoning Ye Zhen's words as foolishness, "Who said you were going to attend all tanned from the border town? Just a bit of tonic and you will be a great beauty! In fact, you already are a beauty, no doubt."
This was a losing battle, Ye Zhen thought. Old Madam always had her ways to have all her wishes and desires be granted. If she wanted Ye Zhen to attend the festival, then she will.
Putting on a compliant smile, Ye Zhen appreciated the madam's compliment. "If Grandma says that I am a beauty, then I shall believe it. I will be glad to join Grandma and my sisters at the festival."
In the beginning, there was no one in the capital who could compare to the beauty of the late Wang Fei of the Qin dynasty, Ye Zhen.
Being twins, both Ye Zhen and Lu Yaoyao were true beauties. However, over the years, Lu Yaoyao has never cared for her own appearance and had dark and rough skin. For so long, she had been careless, her appearance coudn't be compared with the spoiled Wang Fei.
Moreover, Ye Zhen had always been fond of beauty itself. Even at a ripe age, she had meticulously paid great attention in enhancing and maintaining her appearance. Her mother's vanity table was her most favorite.
Now, she found it a pity to look at her sister's spoiled beauty.
But she will bring it back!
Beauty is a weapon for women. She knew this well, so she won't let herself be ugly any longer.
Fourth miss Lu heard Ye Zhen boasting that she was a great beauty and finally could not help but to ridicule her. She turned to see Ye Zhen's eyes that seemed to be talking and her fine and beautiful features, though dark, was still prominent. And suddenly, she could not say any more.
If…Third sister will be fairer and a little plump, would she snatch all the attention towards her?
"A few days ago, I arranged some gowns for your sisters, and I will have the dressmaker make one for you. You will all be beautifully dressed on that day." Old Madam Lu said excitedly.
Ye Zhen smiled in return. How can one not be excited about having new gowns?
It was not until an old friend came to snatch the Old Madam's attention that the three ladies bid their goodbyes and retired from the room. When Ye Zhen was about to proceed to Pei Shi's courtyard, a cold voice made her halt in her steps.
"Third sister, stay." It was Fourth miss Lu, standing behind Ye Zhen who stood tall and proud. It was as clear as water that she despised Ye Zhen, but the latter couldn't care more. She came here with a mission, an envious missus wasn't one of her concerns!
She wanted to go to Pei Shi but it seemed like her plan would have to be delayed. Despite the ice-cold treatment towards her, Ye Zhen asked her in the sweetest voice she could muster.
"What do you want from me, Fourth sister?"
Fourth miss Lu was half a fist taller than Ye Zhen and she looked at her coldly with a condescending attitude. "Third Sister, when you first came to the capital, you were ignorant of the rules here. In fact, you still are." She released a soft chuckle, mocking Ye Zhen at her position. "It looks like we need to talk more."
Talk? By the way she approached her, it sounds more like a confrontation. It's not like raising a point at all, a warning.
"Please, Fourth Sister. I don't have time for this."
"Yes, you have." Fourth miss raised her voice a little and stepped closer to Ye Zhen, refusing to let her slip through her fingers. "Third sister never heard of the reputation of the women's college. Not anyone who have the desire to enter succeeds. There's absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming, sister, but make sure you know your limits. And know the people who'll carry the shame of your reckless actions."
"Tell me sister, what exactly do you imply by that?" She still wore the smile on her face, not giving the fourth miss the satisfaction of seeing her affected by her words.
"You should consider the difficulty of the eldest brother. The eldest brother had a hard time getting into the ministry of war. Could assistant minister be able to casually ignore the rules of the college and send you in? Then not only will the Lu family become a joke in the capital, but also the reputation of the eldest brother will be dragged down!"
Ye Zhen was irked at the mention of Lu Lingzhi and his so called 'achievements.' Of course, he worked hard for his position, killing hundreds and tricking people was a lot of work! He was now standing on numerous people's blood! Even her had died in his hands.
"If that what Fourth sister is worried about, I can assure her that I won't embarrass my eldest brother." Aside from envy, Fourth Miss Lu didn't believe she could make it. Whether Ye Zhen passes or fails, it would never be a piece of good news to the fourth miss. Her passing the exam would snatch all the attention of the Lu family and failing would mean embarrassment to the whole Lu family.
That's why Fourth miss Lu thought that it was much better if Ye Zhen not try at all.
Fourth Miss Lu's face sank. "So, you still want to go to college?"
"Why won't I? The fourth sister is also in the women's college, isn't she? " Ye Zhen looked worried for a fleeting moment. Failure means losing the chance to avenge herself.
"You…" Second sister said, her voice shaking. "Can you pass the entrance examination? How much do you know about Six Arts? Even if you use grandma and eldest brother as leverage, you can never survive the college and become a medical doctor. Just who do you think you are, huh, wild girl? Your ignorance will forsake the family!"
Raging Fourth Miss Lu had her temper to the brim and was about to attack Ye Zhen when Second Miss Lu stepped in and held her back.
If the Lu family was involved in her burial, why would she not dare not bring trouble to them?
Ye Zhen said lightly, "Fourth Sister, you worry too much."