Chapter 100
Chapter 100: Never of One Mind With Her
Luo Ning was at a loss.
She did not know why the Princess and Pei Ying were being so kind.
In her previous life, Pei Ying had indeed wanted to marry Luo Ning. When it did not work out, he left the secular world and became a monk.
But Luo Ning had already been granted in marriage to Prince Yong.
She and Pei Ying did not have much contact.
Even if Pei Ying had been young and blinded by desire, the Princess would not have allowed him to act recklessly, much less go along with him in such nonsense.
It had nothing to do with a secret affair.
It was even less about appreciation of talent.
As for what talent Luo Ning’s brother had, anyone who looked at the people of the Luo Family would know.
From top to bottom, there was not a single person in the Luo Family who seemed suited for study.
“Is it to curry favor with Princess Consort Yong?” Grandmother asked.
Luo Ning said: “The Princess and the Pei Family do not even need to care about Prince Yong, let alone a Princess Consort who has not even entered the house yet. That does not make sense.”
Grandmother fully agreed.
The power held by the Princess and Madam Pei was something the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s manor could never match.
Jia Hong, the Grand Princess, was also Prince Yong’s aunt, and she had face in front of both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.
“Grandmother, could it be that the Princess really has taken a liking to this white jade Guanyin statue?” Luo Ning said. “Didn’t two Madams come before to see your Guanyin statue too?”
Old Madam was just like Luo Ning, her thoughts turning quickly.
This seemed the most reasonable explanation.
“If Pei Ying can really introduce A’You so he can study, I will part with this Guanyin statue and give it to the Princess,” Old Madam said.
Luo Ning said: “You can bear to part with it?”
“A child’s future is more important than anything. If the Bodhisattva knows, she will not blame me for being rash,” Old Madam said.
Luo Ning fell into thought. After a while, she said: “I will call A’You to Wenqi Courtyard and talk with him in detail. Do not worry. I will think everything through carefully and then talk to you again.”
Grandmother nodded.
Then Luo Ning had Wan Xi send someone to wait at the back Southwest Corner Gate.
Luo You went to study at the Zhou Family Clan Academy. Every day he returned home through the Southwest Corner Gate. The two estates were connected by a covered passage in the middle of the courtyard wall.
The Zhou Family had received their noble rank early, earned by their ancestors through military achievements. Although they accepted Luo You to study there, they were not very close with the Luo Family.
Madam Zhou did not like the Marchioness Madam Bai very much.
When Luo You heard that his sister was looking for him, he felt a little uneasy but still came to Wenqi Courtyard.
“What dishes do you like to eat?” Luo Ning asked him. “I will ask Nanny Kong to cook them. Her cooking is very good.”
Luo You said: “I will just go along with whatever the host has.”
“We are brother and sister. How are you a guest?” Luo Ning said with a laugh.
“…Then I will eat whatever Big Sister eats,” Luo You said.
Luo Ning told Nanny Kong to prepare the food, and also told a maidservant to bring pastries and tea.
He had been studying all day, and he was at the age when boys were growing, so he ate a lot and got hungry easily.
When he saw the pastries, he only said a few polite words before he started eating.
“Pei Ying came today with Jia Hong, the Grand Princess,” Luo Ning said.
Luo You almost choked.
He gulped down a mouthful of tea and forced the pastry down.
“If you go to the Pei Family, do you want to ask Pei Ying for guidance in your studies?” Luo Ning asked him.
“It is not that I want to go. It is Zhou Huai,” Luo You said. “His second and third older brothers have failed the Lushan Academy exams many times. He really wants to surpass them so that the Duke of the Realm will look at him differently.”
The Duke of the Realm of the Zhou Family was Zhou Huai’s grandfather.
With Grandfather as head of the family and so many sons and grandsons, the Zhou Family had fierce competition inside.
“How is his learning?”
“About the same as mine. Our Scholar-Teacher says we will not even pass the first exam,” Luo You said. “But the eldest branch is always bullying them, so he wants to win some honor for his parents.”
Luo Ning said: “…”
As if afraid his sister would look down on him, Luo You lowered his voice and added: “Studying is very hard. Hard work alone is not enough. Those who can get into Lushan Academy all have great talent. Zhou Huai and I have no talent at all.”
Luo Ning thought for a moment, then asked: “If Pei Ying is willing to guide you and recommend you to go to Chunshan Academy first, would you be willing?”
Luo You’s eyes widened.
“We went to look for the Heir Apparent only because Zhou Huai was daydreaming. Why would the Heir Apparent be willing?” Luo You asked in confusion. “Or did he come here just to scold us?”
“No. He said your aptitude is not bad,” Luo Ning said. “You do not want to go by yourself. You only want to go if Zhou Huai goes with you?”
“If Zhou Huai does not go, of course I do not want to go,” Luo You said. “Without him to make me look better by comparison, if I go to Chunshan Academy alone, people will laugh me to death.”
Luo Ning could not help laughing.
Compared with arrogant, conceited, and lazy Luo Yin, her younger brother Luo You was more practical.
He was steady and hardworking.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan, Luo Chong Ye, besides coveting power, also had a very hardworking and ambitious side.
For example, back then he had been willing to marry a merchant’s daughter for beauty and money, instead of only trying to climb up to a great noble house. That showed he was rather practical. As for his military merits, he had earned them over many years, one step at a time.
In this, Luo You was like Luo Chong Ye when he was young, before he changed his original heart.
Time had not yet worn down Luo You. He was still young and had not been stained by the world.
“I will think of a way,” Luo Ning said to him.
“If it is too hard, then forget it,” Luo You said. “I keep telling Zhou Huai that it is more important to study hard for a few years. When his grandfather passes away, the eldest branch will inherit the title. Why must he compete with the eldest branch? It is better to behave, keep his head down, and act humble than anything else.”
Luo Ning gave him a surprised look.
“Is that wrong?” he asked.
“No. I am just surprised that you can see things so clearly at such a young age,” Luo Ning said.
“In our own manor, Brother will also inherit the title in the future. I will not compete with Brother in everything. Zhou Huai’s pride is too high, and he does not have much ability,” Luo You said.
“You seem to look down on him.”
“I am only telling the truth. I am not belittling him. I say these words right in front of him, and he admits it himself,” Luo You said.
“You and Zhou Huai are very good friends then,” Luo Ning said.
“If he were not close to me, the Zhou Family Clan Academy would not have agreed to let me study there,” Luo You said.
Luo Ning understood.
Luo You stayed to eat dinner with her.
Thinking about Luo You’s future, Luo Ning felt that going through Chunshan Academy would be a good path. Even if he could not get into Lushan Academy later, he would still have gone through stricter study.
Even after becoming a ghost in her previous life, Luo Ning still remembered that when the results of the Imperial Examinations were posted, most of the top names people talked about were students from Lushan Academy.
Those who were truly capable did not fear exams. No matter who tested them, they would stand out.
“I need to ask the Prince for help,” Luo Ning thought.
She could not guess the intentions of the Princess and Pei Ying. But in her previous life, Pei Ying had indeed wanted to marry her, and Luo Ning could not leave such a big hidden danger.
If she lost Prince Yong’s trust for the sake of her brother’s vague future, it would not be worth it.
She had already made up her mind to be a proper Princess Consort Yong. In the future, when Prince Yong ascended the throne, she would separate from him and be enfeoffed as a Commandery Princess. Then she might be able to ask for a small post for her brother in passing.
Prince Yong was Luo Ning’s only support.
Madam Bai soon learned that Luo Ning had invited Luo You to eat with her.
Luo You was called over to the East Main Courtyard again.
“…What did Luo Ning want with you?” Madam Bai asked.
Her tone was very strange.
Luo You had never been very close to his mother.
Before, his mother’s heart had all been on managing the household and on Brother. After Big Sister was hurt and left the manor and Cousin entered the house, Mother favored Cousin even more.
Luo You still remembered that when his private tutor drank and gambled, he told his mother. She listened to half a sentence, then went off to see the servants making spring clothes for Brother.
Later, when Luo You was playing outside, he met Zhou Huai, and Zhou Huai took him to the Zhou Family Clan Academy.
When Luo You told his parents about this, neither of them cared. It was Grandmother who took out money, paid the tuition, and sent him to study at the Zhou Family.
He had a place to play and had Zhou Huai as a friend, so he did not feel sad.
Now, hearing his mother’s tone, Luo You felt a bit afraid.
“She talked about my studies,” Luo You said.
“No matter what she says, you must not let her trick you,” Madam Bai said. “I gave birth to you. From now on you must stand on my side and your sister A’Rong’s side. Do you understand?”
“…Who is Sister A’Rong?” Luo You asked.
Madam Bai stared at him in disbelief: “What?”
Luo You was puzzled too.
He had many sisters.
There were three branches in the Marquis Manor and quite a few sisters. It was only recently that he had learned that Big Sister’s given name was ‘Luo Ning’.
He was still young. How would he know which sister was called ‘Luo Rong’? Normally he just called them Second Sister, Third Sister, according to order.