Hearing her speak at length, Leng Yu Yan summarized that the Late Empress had founded Xinya Academy as a place for girls to learn, not necessarily to achieve careers like men after their studies, but to excel in a skill.
After the Late Empress passed away, over time, the academy's purpose slowly evolved into a place where daughters from noble families would seek to add a gilded layer to their reputations, in hopes of marrying a suitable husband.
Moreover, since Xinya Academy was only separated by a wall from the Imperial College, countless young girls yearned to study there. Unfortunately, the limited spots available made it inaccessible for everyone.
"Sister, holding this golden flower postcard, you can go to the tailoring shop and collect a set of clothes to wear at the academy during holidays or festivals, which is considered a school uniform," Lai Jiajia added, "However, the outfit is simple in style. Many daughters of noble families often change into it in their horse carriages before entering the academy."
"Was the school uniform also created by the Late Empress?"
Lai Jiajia nodded vigorously, "Yes, it's said that the Late Empress designed it herself."
Leng Yu Yan was momentarily stunned. The Late Empress truly was an extraordinary woman with both founding the academy and designing the uniforms.
As the two talked on their way to the gate, Lai Jiajia suggested, "Sister, let me accompany you to the clothing shop; I'm familiar with it."
"Thank you very much!"
"Hehe, no need for thanks!"
After Lai Jiajia had informed Ms. He, she and Leng Yu Yan exited the house together and headed straight for the tailoring shop.
Leng Yu Yan felt somewhat thankful towards Ye Yiheng for the freedom to leave the house. It was because he had sent the Imperial Physician to take her pulse that her father agreed she could come and go freely from the Leng Residence, without needing to report to Mrs. Feng.
--
Upon reaching the largest clothing store in the capital city, Huayang Hall, Lai Jiajia confidently led Leng Yu Yan to the section for school uniforms.
Many young women were gathered in groups of two or three, picking out clothes.
"Isn't that Leng Family's Sixth Miss?"
"Yes, Man Ting's younger cousin; she used to constantly follow Man Ting around, much to Man Ting's annoyance." A young woman sneered, "Recently she has come to her senses and stopped following her."
"Who is the veiled woman next to her?"
As the question was asked, several girls turned their attention to Leng Yu Yan.
The same young woman scoffed, "Who else can it be but the newly returned Leng Family member who has to cover her face with a veil?"
The girls quickly realized.
"Replacing Man Ting to marry the Crown Prince, the country girl raised by the Leng Family in the middle of nowhere?"
Someone whispered in a lower tone, "That's the so-called ugliest woman in the land!"
At that moment, they saw Leng Yu Yan showing her golden flower postcard to the female shopkeeper.
"How does she have a golden flower postcard?"
"Don't tell me she is also going to Xinya Academy?"
After the shopkeeper had seen the postcard, she warmly invited Leng Yu Yan to the fitting room to try on the uniform.
Leng Yu Yan, oblivious to the nearby whispering, directly entered the fitting room.
Lai Jiajia detested these people who gossiped needlessly, and a few of them had even bullied her in the academy. Anger built up, and she fiercely glared at them.
"Hey, did you see that? Lai Jiajia actually dared to glare at us?"
A few girls approached, positioning themselves opposite Lai Jiajia.
The maid, Qinxian, quickly held onto Lai Jiajia, hoping her mistress would show some submission to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Lai Jiajia shook off Qinxian's hand and continued glaring at them.
"Feeling brave, daring to keep glaring at us!" In the midst of talking, a girl in pink rushed forward and swung her hand toward Lai Jiajia's face.
In a split second—
"Craack—"
A crisp sound rang out.
It was the sound of finger bones being dislocated.
Those present followed the sound and saw a girl dressed in a Xinya Academy uniform, her face veiled with a white gauze, gently grasping another girl's fingers in pink attire.
"Ah, it hurts!" the girl in pink cried out in agony, "My hand is ruined, someone report this to the authorities."
Another "crack" sounded.
Leng Yu Yan said indifferently, "It's not ruined!"
With that, she turned nonchalantly and said to the female shopkeeper, "This outfit fits perfectly, I'll take it."
Only then did the shopkeeper shift her gaze to Leng Yu Yan and was shocked beyond measure.
In over twenty years since Xinya Academy was founded, no one had ever worn their uniform to such a stunning extent.
"Miss has a graceful figure, and this size fits you just right, as if it was tailor-made for you," the shopkeeper couldn't help but exclaim, "Out of the several thousand uniforms sold here, Miss is the first to showcase both the essence and outer beauty of the Late Empress's school attire!"
Those present nodded in agreement.
Even those girls who gossiped about Leng Yu Yan and were at odds with Lai Jiajia had to admit that no one could match the poise of the Leng Yu Yan before them.
No matter what she looked like under the veil, she was simply too beautiful.
If they had such a figure, they would wear the school uniform out from the academy itself and wouldn't need to change on the horse carriage.
The girl in pink gaped, taking a long time before finally diverting her gaze from Leng Yu Yan and carefully examining her own fingers. After ensuring her fingers were fine, she suddenly broke into a cold sweat.
What just happened?
She distinctly felt her two fingers being pinched by that ugly girl, dislocating at the joints and causing unbearable pain. But they were quickly set right, and the pain vanished.
What kind of technique was that?
The shock made her feel as if she had lost half her soul.
On the carriage ride back to the Leng Residence, Lai Jiajia gripped a handkerchief, "Sister, thanks to you just now, if it were not for you, I would surely have been slapped."
"They started the gossip about me, don't take it to heart," Leng Yu Yan said lightly.
At this point, Qinxian interjected, "Fifth Miss might not know, but our Miss often suffers bullying at the academy. If Miss resists, they bully her even more."
Lai Jiajia shot a glance at Qinxian and turned to Leng Yu Yan, "Sister, how did you do that move just now? Teach me!"
As she spoke, she tried to imitate Leng Yu Yan's earlier action by grabbing Qinxian's two fingers and swinging them vigorously.
No matter how she swung, there was no "crack" sound.
She swung again and again, repeatedly...
Unable to watch any further, Miao Zhu spoke up, "Sixth Miss, this is not something ordinary people can learn."
Hearing this, Lai Jiajia stopped her actions and stared blankly at Leng Yu Yan.
Amused by her expression, Leng Yu Yan said warmly, "If at the academy you want me to swing someone's fingers, just say the word."
A spark of light instantly filled Lai Jiajia's eyes, her gaze becoming bright, "From now on, no one at the academy will dare to bully me!"
Before she could finish speaking, she shifted closer to Leng Yu Yan.
As Leng Yu Yan moved an inch to the side, she followed by moving an inch as well, not just that, she chattered incessantly on the way.
"Sister may be wearing a veil, but she looks especially beautiful when she laughs. Even when not smiling, Sister's eyes are also very attractive, as if they could speak..."
At the clothing store, as soon as Leng Yu Yan and her party left, the female shopkeeper immediately wrote a note and sent someone to deliver it to the Eastern Palace.
Song Guo presented the note to Ye Yiheng, "Your Highness, this note was sent from Huayang Hall. The suit of school attire personally designed by the Late Empress has been selected! The one who chose it seems to have some exquisite skills. The shopkeeper couldn't make it out clearly, but it appears they are quite skilled."
"Oh?" Ye Yiheng raised an eyebrow.