The headmaster had initially asked casually, but as his gaze fell on the paper in Wu Zhan’s hand, he added, “Then did you see clearly what was written on that paper just now?”
Wu Zhan looked up at the headmaster and recited the essay topic on the paper along with the few comments beside it, word for word without a single mistake.
Although his voice was hoarse and his speech still somewhat slow, every word was perfectly accurate.
The headmaster’s expression shifted in astonishment.
“You only glanced at it once?”
Wu Zhan nodded.
The hall gradually fell silent. Several students who had just been gathered around Wu Zihua, praising him, now couldn’t help but look toward Wu Zhan.
“Memorizing it after just one glance—isn’t that a photographic memory?”
Old Mrs. Wu’s face immediately darkened. She quickly interjected, “What photographic memory? Zhan’er has never even been able to speak properly since he was little. This time, he just happened to remember a few sentences by chance!”
“How could he compare to Zihua?”
Wu Zhan’s small face paled.
Even though he had long known his grandmother disliked him, he was only six years old after all.
Those words pierced his heart like needles.
He lowered his head, his eyes slowly reddening, his small shoulders trembling slightly.
Jiang Xiu ignored Old Mrs. Wu. She simply took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corner of Wu Zhan’s eyes, then handed the calligraphy Wu Zhan had practiced at home to the headmaster.
The next moment, the headmaster walked over to Wu Zhan and softened his voice.
“Wu Zhan, if you are willing, you may begin attending the academy on a trial basis starting tomorrow.”
Wu Zhan froze.
Jiang Xiu’s eyes grew warm, and she tightened her grip on his hand.
“Zhan’er, aren’t you going to thank the headmaster?”
Wu Zhan lowered his head and performed a solemn bow.
“Thank… you, sir.”
Fu Fu finally narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.
【At least this headmaster isn’t blind.】
【Second Brother’s throat was poisoned, not his brain.】
【That damned old hag is biased beyond belief.】
She suddenly remembered the scene she had seen in the Mirror of the Mortal Realm, where Old Mrs. Wu had grinned smugly and flaunted her power.
Even before Fu Fu was born, Old Mrs. Wu had been eager to give her a name.
Outwardly, she told Fu Fu’s mother that the name “Wu Fu” was absolutely perfect, but behind her back, she sneered:
“If it’s a girl, call her Wu Fu. If it’s a boy, call him Wu Fu. Wu Fu, Wu Fu—it means ‘without fortune.’ Looks like another unlucky one.”
“If it’s born a stillborn, no one can blame anyone else.”
Remembering Old Mrs. Wu’s gloating expression, Fu Fu gritted her teeth in anger.
Fortunately, her mother later added the character “Fu” to her name, making it “Fu Fu,” which coincidentally sounded the same as her own name.
Otherwise, she would have wanted nothing more than to tear that old hag’s mouth to shreds.
Seeing that Wu Zhan had actually been accepted into the academy, Old Mrs. Wu’s expression turned extremely unpleasant.
Today, she had originally intended to bring Wu Zihua and Wu Ling to show off.
Who would have thought that just after Wu Zihua was praised, Wu Zhan had caught the headmaster’s eye in the blink of an eye.
She felt a knot in her chest, but with so many people present, she couldn’t say anything more.
Wu Zihua stood to the side, the smile on his face stiffening.
Just moments ago, the looks people gave him were filled with admiration and praise.
But now, that mute Wu Zhan had stolen the spotlight.
He clenched his hands inside his sleeves.
How dare he!
…
That night, Xing’er brought over the land register and deed for the estate.
“Madam, here are the land register and deed for the estate in the outskirts of the capital.”
“As you requested, the location of this estate is very secluded.”
“There are several dozen acres of paddy fields in the front, a sloping plot of land in the back, and a few houses.”
Jiang Xiu opened the land register and examined each page with great care.
“Continue planting grain in the paddy fields.”
“First, clear the sloping land.”
“Personally find trustworthy people to tidy up the rooms on the estate, so they can be used to accommodate people in the future.”
Xing’er was taken aback. “Accommodate people?”
Fu Fu’s eyes lit up.
[Grandfather has several retired old soldiers under his command, but unfortunately, their endings weren’t good.]
[There’s one named Zhao Tieshan, who lost an arm saving Grandfather in his early years. Grandfather gave him a large sum of money to go home and recuperate. He’s now in the outskirts of the capital, wanting to continue serving the Jiang family but feeling useless and afraid of burdening Grandfather…]
[Then there’s Wang the Lame, whose leg is crippled, but his blade is incredibly fast…]
[In the Mirror of the Mortal Realm, when the Jiang family was raided, they all rushed out to protect their masters but were riddled with arrows.]
[If we can gather them earlier, they can not only guard the estate in the future but also train the farmers.]
[Most importantly, they’ve been loyal to the Jiang family their entire lives.]
Jiang Xiu’s heart trembled slightly, and she calmly wrote down the names of the two people her daughter mentioned on a piece of paper.
She paused, then added a few more familiar names before handing the note to Xing’er.
Some of these people had injured legs or feet, others had lost arms—they could no longer go to the battlefield.
If they were willing, she would invite them all to the estate.
Her daughter was right. These people were loyal, and she would never treat them poorly.
Seeing the note, Xing’er’s eyes brightened.
“Does Madam intend to have the Jiang family’s old retainers guard the estate?”
Jiang Xiu nodded.
Fu Fu couldn’t help but praise in her heart.
[Mother and I are on the same page.]
[It seems Mother is gradually distancing herself from the Marquis’s household.]
Jiang Xiu’s heart ached.
When she first heard her daughter’s inner thoughts, she had considered divorcing Wu Xiong.
But the Wu family had caused her family so much suffering—she couldn’t accept it.
Even if she left, she would strip them of a layer of skin first.
…
The change came faster than she expected.
The Empress, unprecedentedly, summoned Wu Ling to the palace again.
Old Mrs. Wu was so overjoyed she nearly snapped her prayer beads.
“I always said Ling’er is blessed!”
“To be summoned to the palace again within just a few days—truly an Auspicious Omen for our Marquis’s household.”
“Hurry! Take Ling’er to the palace!”
Lin Shuang held Wu Ling, trembling with excitement.
They set off immediately.
Fengyi Palace.
The Emperor was also present, his brow furrowed as he studied a border map spread on the table.
Seeing Wu Ling, the Empress spoke warmly.
“Ling’er is here.”
Wu Ling nestled in Old Mrs. Wu’s arms, timidly glancing around.
The Emperor was clearly troubled by border affairs.
She knew she had to seize this opportunity.
If she could help the Emperor solve his worries this time, she would not only solidify her reputation as an Auspicious Omen but also cover up the scandal of her failed prophecy last time.
In this life, her prophecy must have failed because Jiang Huaian feigned illness to avoid the expedition…
But the Jiang family had more than one son!
As long as the Jiang family still held military power, as long as Jiang Xiu’s father remained the Duke of Zhenguo, as long as they still had someone who could go to the battlefield, she would eventually destroy them all, just like in her previous life!
A faint smile curled at the corner of her mouth. Her eyes shifted slightly, and she suddenly stretched a small hand toward the map.
“North… Di…”
The Emperor’s gaze sharpened. How could an infant know the invaders this time were the Northern Di?
“What did she say?”
Lin Shuang quickly knelt, her voice trembling. “Your Majesty, Ling’er has been having nightmares these past few days, muttering these two words.”
As she spoke, Wu Ling anxiously held up two tiny fingers, gesturing.
“Two…”
“Jiang… two…”
As these words fell, the Emperor’s expression grew even more profound.
Northern Di, the Jiang family, second…
If it were any other child spouting nonsense, he naturally wouldn’t pay attention.
But Wu Ling had just saved his prince…
Xie Xuanye was also in the hall.
He stood in the shadows in his black robe, his gaze sweeping lightly over Wu Ling.
He always felt there was something strange about this child.
But he did not speak.
After a long silence, the emperor slowly spoke.
“Oh? Is it Jiang Huaichuan, the second son of the Duke of Zhenguo’s household, that you wish to speak of, Ling’er?”