The next day, as soon as Meng Yunwan arrived at the Shangshufang, she heard a commotion outside.
Shortly after, the four siblings of the Meng family—Meng Ruan and his brothers and sisters—walked in carrying their book boxes.
They had come to attend school.
For days, they had waited anxiously at home, and finally, last night, they received a letter from Meng Yunwan stating that she had persuaded the Empress Dowager to allow them to study in the Shangshufang.
They had bathed, burned incense, and changed into fresh clothes, only to be stopped by an ill-mannered maid who refused to let them enter. How outrageous!
“Greetings to all the princes and princesses.”
Meng Ruan, acting as the eldest brother, cleared his throat pretentiously and said,
“The Empress Dowager has specially permitted us to study in the Shangshufang, but these people are blocking our way. We are not here to cause trouble intentionally. We ask for your understanding.”
He spoke with an air of false dignity today, hoping to display his refined demeanor in front of the imperial children.
But he soon felt embarrassed.
Because no one paid him any attention.
He glanced at Meng Yu Tang for help.
But Meng Yu Tang’s gaze was fixed on Ling Shuo in the distance, completely ignoring him.
As the whispers among the surrounding students grew louder, Meng Nan stepped forward to smooth things over.
“Alright, it’s all a misunderstanding. The priority now is to bring four new desks and chairs. From now on, we will be classmates. Please be understanding, please be understanding.”
“Classmates?”
Meng Yunwan, who had been quietly watching the scene, finally spoke up in confusion, asking, “Who are your classmates?”
Meng Nan was taken aback. After a moment, he hurriedly replied, “Didn’t you write to us yesterday, saying that the Empress Dowager praised the four siblings of the marquis’s mansion as gifted and promising scholars, and allowed us to study together in the Shangshufang?”
“I never said that, nor did I send you any letter.”
Meng Yunwan slowly shook her head. “Third Brother must have remembered incorrectly. How could I possibly make decisions for the Empress Dowager?”
Meng Nan grew anxious. He snatched the letter from Meng Ruan’s arms and unfolded it for everyone to see. “Look, look! This is Yun Guan’s handwritten letter. It says—”
His words abruptly stopped.
In his usually unflappable eyes, a rare trace of panic appeared.
Meng Yunwan took in his expression and smiled. “It’s just a blank piece of paper. What does Third Brother want to prove?”
What Meng Nan held in his hand was a clean, blank sheet of paper, without a single drop of ink.
He muttered in disbelief, “Impossible, this can’t be…”
The other three quickly gathered around to look, but no matter how hard they stared, the paper remained blank, with nothing written on it.
Seeing this, Ling Qianche laughed heartily.
He turned to Meng Yunwan and said, “Are your brothers here to make a joke? Bringing a blank piece of paper and claiming they’re here to study in the Shangshufang? Hahahaha!”
“Promising scholars? I think they’re just a good laugh! Coming to the palace early in the morning to embarrass themselves—how shameless!”
Following Ling Qianche’s lead, the students in the study burst into laughter. What kind of people were they? Treating a blank piece of paper as an imperial decree from the Empress Dowager? They must be desperate to study here!
Amidst the uproarious laughter, the four siblings of the Meng family left in disgrace, covered in dust and shame.
Meng Yunwan watched their awkward retreating figures, a faint, elusive smile curling at the corner of her lips.
She had used special ink that fades overnight when writing on rice paper, so she timed the letter to be sent yesterday, waiting only for Meng Ruan and the other three to disgrace themselves today.
But it wasn’t her fault.
Who asked them to be so greedy?
“I’m so angry, I’m absolutely furious!”
Even after walking a long distance, the knot of frustration in Meng Ruan’s chest still hadn’t eased.
The usually gentle and dignified young master had completely lost his composure. Whenever he thought of the humiliation he suffered in the Shangshufang, his cheeks burned with shame.
It was utterly humiliating!
He vented all his anger on Meng Yu Tang, “It’s all your fault! We were perfectly fine attending the clan school, but you insisted we come to this Shangshufang to join in the excitement. Now look—we’ve been kicked out! Are you satisfied?”
When Meng Yunwan sent the letter back last night, they were still hesitating. It was Meng Yu Tang who vigorously encouraged and supported them, insisting they must come to the study. If not for her, they wouldn’t have lost face in front of everyone!
Meng Yu Tang’s eyes instantly reddened, “Elder brother, how can you say that to me…”
Wasn’t she doing it for their own good?
In her previous life, only her eldest brother had achieved the title of zhuangyuan. If in this life they could all enter the Shangshufang early to study, then the Meng family would have a complete trio—one zhuangyuan, one second-place scholar, and one Third Place in Imperial Examination. By then, she would become the most distinguished young lady in Shangjing City.
Of course, Meng Yu Tang would never tell them these thoughts. Biting her lip, she sobbed with an expression of extreme grievance.
Meng Fan, heart aching for his younger sister, quickly stepped in to mediate,
“How can this be blamed on Yu Tang? Clearly, it was Yunwan who was cunning and deliberately made us lose face. She just wanted to get back at us!”
Meng Ruan clenched his fists. Yes, that letter must have been tampered with by Meng Yunwan.
She had snatched Yu Tang’s chance to enter the palace first, and then showed no regard for sibling affection. They had repeatedly tolerated her, only to provoke her into escalating her actions!
After this incident, the four Meng siblings thoroughly resented Meng Yunwan.
Especially Meng Yu Tang. Along with her resentment, she felt deeply frustrated. In her previous life, she had merely acted obediently in front of the Empress Dowager and easily entered the Shangshufang. Yet now, she had to rely on Meng Yunwan’s favor just to get a chance to enter the Shangshufang.
The contrast between the two situations left her with an indescribable sense of discomfort.
“This matter was all due to my lack of consideration. I will go to Lin Hong Palace right away. Mother is now the emperor’s consort. As long as she whispers in the emperor’s ear, he will allow us all to enter the Shangshufang. Then we won’t have to beg Meng Yunwan for favors anymore.”
By the Imperial Lake, after Meng Yu Tang finished speaking, she clearly saw the eyes of her three brothers light up.
“Really? Yu Tang, you’re willing to plead with Aunt for our sake?”
“As long as it benefits my elder brothers, Yu Tang is willing to do anything.”
Meng Yu Tang spoke softly and timidly, “As long as my brothers remember Yu Tang when they achieve success in the future, Yu Tang would die without regrets.”
“If we ever achieve success, we will surely use carriages and fine horses to request a princess title for Yu Tang.”
Though it was an empty promise, it still thrilled Meng Yu Tang immensely.
In her previous life, wasn’t it when Meng Nan achieved Third Place in Imperial Examination that Meng Yunwan was granted the title of princess?
Even upon arriving at Lin Hong Palace, her heart was still racing with excitement. Only when she saw Madam Wen did she suppress her joy, bowing and saying, “Greetings, Mother!”