Chapter 10, Thank You, Young Master Xie

In the crowd, a young girl immediately blushed, disregarding the setting, boldly tossing a handkerchief folded into a flower into the young man's embrace. The customs in Mingqi are generally open-minded, especially regarding the rules for young men and women, which are quite lenient.

It is truly a pity, Shen Miao sighed inwardly, that such an outstanding young man ultimately met a tragic end, pierced by a thousand arrows and flayed to dry.

Perhaps the compassion in her gaze was too evident, as the young man suddenly looked over, his eyes, deep as the stars, flickering slightly, casting an ambiguous glance at her

Yipeilan murmured: "It is the young lord of the Xie family"

It is said that the Xie family inherently harbors a few rebellious traits. The actions they undertake are often nonsensical, such as disregarding the orders from the capital a thousand miles away to retreat and instead insisting on pursuing a reckless offensive. In the end, they even glorify their actions by claiming, "When one is in the field, military orders may be accepted or disregarded as one sees fit." However, the imperial family is always at a loss when it comes to the Xie family, for the Xie family is undefeated in battle.

Among the second-year students, Shen Yue's talents are the most outstanding, consistently excelling in school evaluations each year. Although Shen Qing may not match Shen Yue's accomplishments in poetry and literature, she ranks among the top in mathematics, always managing to secure a place in the standings.

Thank you, Young Master Xie? Shen Miao looked outside.

There are civil officials like the Feng family, as well as military generals like the Shen family. If it is said that the Shen family has been honest and straightforward in leading troops for generations, recognized as sincere individuals, then the Xie family, holding significant military power, is filled with unscrupulous individuals both inside and out. The current Emperor finds himself helpless against the Xie family.

The young man sat upright on the horse, dressed in a narrow black brocade robe embroidered with cloud patterns, and draped in a deep purple mink fur cloak. He casually played with the riding whip in his right hand, his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes giving him an exceptionally handsome appearance. The corners of his mouth were slightly curved, appearing to smile yet not quite, while his gaze remained very indifferent.

Shen Miao had no intention of joining the commotion, but Feng Anning took a few steps, turned back, thought for a moment, and grabbed Shen Miao's hand: "Let's go see it together!"

After the death of Xie Ding's wife, he did not remarry. He only had one concubine, who bore him two sons. This means that Xie Jingxing has two half-brothers. Perhaps out of sympathy for his legitimate son's mother who passed away early, Xie Ding tried to make it up to him by pampering Xie Jingxing from a young age, ultimately raising him to be a reckless and unruly character

Shen Miao seemed to have transformed into a different person overnight, appearing calm, composed, open-hearted, and generous, exuding a sense of maturity that was unexpected for her age. This change in temperament was particularly evident as we were seated at the same table.

Feng Anning was slightly taken aback; she did not expect Shen Miao to candidly reveal the truth about the situation. She scrutinized Shen Miao carefully and asked, "Could it be that you were truly hurt deeply, which is why your temperament has changed so drastically?"

But what is surprising is not this. Cai Lin had just squeezed out of the crowd when he saw someone outside exclaim in delight: "Young Master Xie!"

The verification of Guangwen Hall is scheduled for October each year

The examination serves as a test for every student in the academy, and particularly outstanding students will have the opportunity to participate in a talent showcase. Most importantly, many esteemed scholars and court officials will be in attendance, and the princes will also be observing from the side. If there are exceptional students, they may perhaps gain an opportunity to enter the officialdom as a result.

She glanced at Feng Anning and said, "Verification? I have never thought about competing for any ranking. Being at the bottom, what is there to compete for?"

"What sound?" Yi Peilan turned her head.

Shen Miao was somewhat taken aback, as Feng Anning had always looked down on her, let alone such an intimate gesture. She was still at a loss, yet she was already being pulled out of the classroom by Feng Anning.

Outside, many students had already gathered at the door upon hearing the news. When they saw Feng Anning bringing Shen Miao along, they all cast surprised glances. Shen Yue's eyes flickered slightly, but she remained silent. On the other hand, Shen Qing, noticing this, let out a cold snort from her nose. Ever since she learned that Shen Miao also harbored feelings for the Crown Prince, she no longer bothered to feign even superficial cordiality.

After the class was over, the students went to the garden outside Guangwen Hall to rest and play. The girls were either playing chess in the classroom or discussing the new poems they had written, when they suddenly heard what seemed to be the sound of a startled horse passing by outside

He sat up lazily, possessing an innate and strong sense of aggression, yet his handsome face amplified that allure to the fullest. He is inherently an existence that captivates the gaze.

What a cold and malicious person

"Let's go outside and take a look," Jiang Caixuan suggested, pulling Shen Yue along. "Come on, let's see what the matter is."

The prominent families of the Ming and Qi dynasties today largely owe their status to the merits earned while assisting the founding emperor in establishing the realm since its inception. Through generations, some families have retained only their titles, while their substance has dwindled. In contrast, other families have flourished even more, blossoming into vibrant and prosperous entities

The Shen family and the Xie family have always been in opposition to each other. This is undoubtedly due to the previous emperor's deliberate sowing of discord and provocation, which served to maintain a balance of power and stabilize the court. Shen Xin and Lord Xie have never agreed on political views; Shen Xin disapproves of Xie Ding's radical and cunning tactics on the battlefield, considering them unorthodox. Conversely, Xie Ding finds Shen Xin's reliance on military texts during warfare to be outdated and inflexible, lacking adaptability. Apart from quarreling in the court, the two families have no other interactions, which the previous emperor clearly welcomed.

Perhaps it is because adolescents at this age instinctively feel respect or envy towards those who are more mature than themselves. Shen Miao's demeanor unexpectedly improved Feng Anning's attitude towards her somewhat

In summary, showcasing one's talents to others is, in any case, a matter of gaining attention. Therefore, during the annual evaluations, everyone exerts their utmost effort in hopes of achieving recognition.

Looking back now, it all seems like a petty rivalry among children. She has seen all kinds of situations and truly does not take it seriously.

Shen Miao raised her eyebrows, the young lord of the Xie family, Xie Jingxing

If one were to say that she has achieved nothing, it is undoubtedly Shen Miao who is at the bottom. She is completely inept in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and is utterly clueless about literature and strategy. Every time she faces the annual assessment, it is embarrassing; let alone showcasing her talents, even passing the examination is quite difficult. In her past life, Shen Miao dreaded the annual assessments the most, merely watching Shen Yue and Shen Qing on stage, flourishing in their success, and feeling a sense of envy in her heart.

Outside the vermilion gate of Guangwen Hall stands a chestnut steed, its coat glossy and smooth, unmistakably a rare and valuable horse. The horse slightly arrogantly kicks its front hooves, and its elegant form is truly capable of attracting the attention of all.

Yet they ultimately cannot match the brilliance of the person on horseback

Yet, even so, Xie Jingxing remains an exceptionally remarkable individual. Apart from his inherently mischievous and somewhat aloof nature, his talents, intelligence, appearance, and family background are all among the best in Mingqi. Otherwise, there would not be so many young ladies secretly admiring him.

Indeed. Shen Miao smiled and said nothing more

The silk flower fell into the young man's embrace, and he reached out to take it, holding it in his hand with a smile. The girl who had thrown the silk flower immediately placed her hand on her chest, her face flushed, clearly already infatuated.

In the next moment, the boy's mischievous smile vanished in an instant. The silk flower fluttered and fell to the ground, landing beneath the hooves of the chestnut horse, crushed into a pile.