Expressing his refusal to send his third sister to the Women's college, Lu Lingzhi thought he saw a murderous look and resentment on the girl before him.
But when he looked carefully, he only saw a face of innocence, which was clearly disappointed and hurt.
Was it just an illusion? Or was it only a trick of the light? Sighing to himself, he thought that because he has killed too much recently, he's been perceiving things falsely, like some form of self-mockery.
"Yao Yao, you didn't do anything wrong! I just don't see the point of this. Even if you don't go to college, I can just ask your husband to teach you at home. You are the third miss of Lu, any man would be a fool if he'll refuse to wed you! As your eldest brother, I know what is good for you."
Lu Lingzhi softened his voice. he had just gone to his grandma and was informed that his third sister was going to the Women's College.
He wouldn't have stopped her from going to college if it wasn��t for the fact that she look like Ye Zhen too much.
Ye Zhen sneered in her heart, but still played coy and pouted her lips. "Second and fourth sister went to college too. Grandma said that it would be good for me if I go to college as well. Don't lie to me."
Don't you lie to me!
Lu Lingzhi's expression was vague as he thought he saw the beautiful girl he knew with the delighted and expectant voice in her. She told him not to lie to her. He lied to Ye Zhen for two years and now he was doing the same thing to Lu Yaoyao.
"Do you really want to go to college so much?" Lu Lingzhi asked Ye Zhen in a low voice
"Yes, I want to go." Ye Zhen nodded and looked at his warm eyes firmly.
If she wouldn't, how would she become a female medical doctor? How would she get herself in the imperial palace? How would she avenge herself?
Lu Lingzhi sighed, exhaustion evident on his face. He didn't wish to wound her heart but he couldn't let this subject go. He didn't want her to go to the women's college. He didn't want people to see her.
Her appearance would remind people of Ye Zhen. This, he was afraid of.
Although he did not know how many people still remembered what she looked like, given that Ye Zhen almost lived the life of seclusion inside her palace, she had a reputation and beauty that was hard to forget.
Even though she is dead now, her remains turned to ashes by the fire that engulfed her home, many people secretly sympathize with her and miss her.
With this, he couldn't imagine what kind of influence Yao Yao would bring to the college.
"If third sister can get into the exam according to her own ability, go ahead. Eldest brother will not be behind her back. " Lu Ling said flatly that he hoped the girl would withdraw from the exam without his support and blessings.
Ye Zhen's eyes looked slightly red out of frustration at Lu Lingzhi's statement. She wanted to know his reasons, of his insistence to stop her from admitting herself to the college.
"If I passed the entrance examination according to my ability, will my eldest brother stop me?"
"Of course not. Eldest brother is not that heartless."
As he uttered those words, Ye Zhen suddenly had the urge to puke, disgusted deep in her gut that a vile of a man deems himself as not heartless.
"Moreover, the entrance examination is not easy, Yao Yao."
Aside from her frightening resemblance to Ye Zhen, Lu Lingzhi didn't want her to be hurt in the future and feel even more inferior as he was certain that she will fail the exam.
He heard that she was from the border town, where people lived a much simpler life. No hassle and fuss, just bunch of ships and boats coming by everyday and folk who works just enough to fill their family's bellies. She could literally do anything without people condemning her for her flaws.
But in the capital, her mistakes would not go unnoticed.
Ye Zhen gave a firm and confident smile, "Then it's a deal. I don't need eldest brother to take care of my affairs."
"Yao Yao?" Lu Lingzhi frowned upon recognizing her tone of sudden estrangement and resistance to him.
"If there is nothing else, I have to go back to practice calligraphy," Ye Zhen said, taking advantage of this opportunity to taint her relationship with her supposed cousin before it even buds.
In this way, she doesn't have to respectfully pretend to be congenial to him in the next meetings to come.
God knows how hard it was to stop herself from thinking the crime he committed against her and her family.
A bit ounce of respect from her was the most she could give, for the sake of her disguise!
Lu Lingzhi's eyes went slightly sunken seeing Ye Zhen giving him the cold shoulder. "Do you resent your eldest brother because of this?"
"I dare not feel that. After all, you do it for my own good, I know," said Ye Zhen.
"People are most afraid of being compared. . . You will soon realize that the eldest brother is really looking after your own good." Fourth miss was a famous figure in the college and people would definitely compare Lu Yaoyao with her as they share the same surname, Lu.
What's even worse was that people would see her resemblance to the late Wang Fei of Qin Dynasty.
If she will ever be compared to her former self, then she better surpass her former achievements as Ye Zhen. What a burden!
Looking so similar but not as good as the late Wang Fei, she will be considered as a mere copycat in the future! These comparisons are not good for a 15-year-old girl who had so much at her hands; the prospects of marriage.
Ye Zhen understood what Lu Lingzhi meant. She smiled a confident smile and said, "Eldest brother, do not fret. I always thought I am the best."
Lu Lingzhi was taken aback. That smile, he could never forget. What are the odds, their smile was also uncannily similar!
When he wanted to see the expression again, Ye Zhen already lowered her head. "I'll go back to practice calligraphy first, eldest brother, I won't keep you any longer."
Ye Zhen turned around and went out to only see Mister Shan standing in the courtyard. She wondered if he heard their conversation.
Lu Lingzhi came out from behind her and saw Mister Shan frowning slightly, but he didn't say anything. He just strode out of the yard without acknowledging the teacher's presence.
Calming herself, Ye Zhen's eyes sought serenity in the courtyard. Her eyes rested on the flower bed in the , where small clusters of flowers and plants grew so well that even the withered chrysanthemum had sprouted back to life.
She looked at her palm with drooped lids. It seems that the drops emerging from the eye of the phoenix tattoo are spiritual springs.
Since the wound can foster the growth of plants and bring the withered ones to health, her lips went dry as an imminent idea came to her, would it do the same to humans?
"What made you want to study at the Women's College?" Mister Shan spoke without warn and Ye faced him while hiding her hand behind her.
Ye Zhen slowly looked up carefully at Mister Shan's inquisitive eyes. "I want to enter the palace by becoming a female medical officer, that is all."
The reason why some women strives hard to become a doctor was that the profession would buy them a key towards living inside the Imperial palace. It would bring great honor to their families.
At the same time, they will be entitled, and experience life of luxury for as long as they want!
Mister Shan smiled faintly. After looking at Ye Zhen for a long time, his smile deepened. "Well, I can help you with that. But in order to become a female medical doctor, I want you to do something for me. Do you promise me?"
"Fine. What is it?" Ye Zhen nodded without hesitation.
Mister Shan seemed satisfied with her soft tone of reply. "I will help you pass the entrance examination in the shortest possible time starting from tomorrow. Besides Six and Four Skills, you still have something to learn."
"And you are referring to?" Ye Zhen asked in curiosity.
"Beauty! I want you to take good care of yourself and to be at the pink of your health." The college favors those who are considered beautiful according to the standards. Mister Shan saw potential in her, and he hated to see that into waste.
This was also what Ye Zhen wanted so she smiled brightly and said, "Yes please, Mister Shan."
*
For the next two days, Ye Zhen didn't go anywhere without the company of books and Mister Shan.
She woke up every day to train and learn the Six and Four Arts. What she was taught was no longer new to her. Yet, she had to hide herself.
Obviously, she was the best at it, but had to pretend to not understand a thing at first.
After studying for two days, Flower Appreciation Festival day had come. Mister Shan, who had no interests to flowers felt obliged to attend. Old Maam Lu invited him to accompany her to the event.
Mister Shan and Old Lady Lu shared the same carriage while Ye Zhen was with the two Miss Lu. But it seems that today, the two girls, specially Fourth Miss Lu was not happy to be in the same carriage with her.
"Second Sister and Fourth Sister." Ye Zhen took the initiative to greet them and curtsied.
Miss Lu looked up at Ye Zhen and said, "I thought my third sister would not go to the flower festival today. She has been studying with Mister Shan for the past two days. You must be already brilliant, I assume!"
This tone sounds sour but Ye Zhen only finds it funny. "Fourth sister, I have only learned for two days. I am not a genius."
The second miss Lu smiled and said, "Third sister, you have my best wishes. With Mister Shan, you will surely pass."
"People who have studied for two or three years may still not be able to pass the exam." said the Fourth miss with a sneer.
"It's a pity that Mister Shan's good reputation is going to be tarnished by third sister's insolence!"