Su Wenyan finally pieced it together: the Crown Prince had originally been Shang Shiyan’s fiancé, but now his heart was entirely with Shang Yunrou. Wasn’t that just another theft—even stealing a man?
Shameless! Into the pig cage with her! A woman like that deserved to be drowned in a pig cage!
Soon, the tutor arrived to begin the lesson.
At Shengting Academy, the girls not only studied poetry and prose but also practiced music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and even riding and archery.
The tutor assigned to Shang Shiyan’s class was Master Song. He taught both Shang Shiyan’s hall and Shang Yunrou’s. Compared to Shang Shiyan, who was inattentive and distracted, Master Song favored Yunrou.
On her way back to class, Shang Yunrou had tearfully exaggerated the earlier incident to him. Already biased against Shang Shiyan, Master Song now disliked her even more.
“Do you even know how to use such superior Tongyan Hui ink?” Master Song sneered the moment he saw Shang Shiyan.
Shang Shiyan rose respectfully. “Master, even if I cannot use it well, it was made with great effort by my cousin and given to me.”
“Hmph.” Master Song dismissed her words as excuses. “Your family is all the same—blatantly showing favoritism from top to bottom.” He was mocking the fact that her cousin had prepared the rare ink only for Shang Shiyan, not for Shang Yunrou.
“Master, are you criticizing my grandfather? I will faithfully repeat your words to him, so he may reflect on whether it is wrong to love his own granddaughter.”
At this, Su Wenyan slammed the table and shouted, “Ah Yan’s cousin is *her* cousin, not Shang Yunrou’s. What’s wrong with him cherishing her alone? Master, are you now twisting things just to defend Shang Yunrou?”
“You—!” Pointed at and questioned so directly, Master Song’s face turned dark with embarrassment. He flung down the book in his hand and turned to leave, clearly furious.
But Su Wenyan called out, “Master, stop! My father sends so much silver to the academy every year so you can teach us properly. Where are you going? If you leave, what will happen to my studies?”
“You—you!” Master Song was nearly driven mad with anger by Su Wenyan.
But she was right—his monthly stipend came from the parents of these students. Though his heart burned with rage, he didn’t dare offend Su Wenyan. He could only swallow his temper and begin the lesson.
Shang Shiyan glanced back at Su Wenyan, who raised her brows at her.
Shang Shiyan’s eyes sparkled with admiration. “Wenyan, you’re amazing!”
That look of admiration delighted Su Wenyan. She puffed up proudly, tail practically wagging, and thumped her chest with a fist. “Leave it to me from now on!” she whispered.
By the time the lesson ended, it was already noon.
The academy students gathered in the dining hall for their meal. In the past, Shang Shiyan either ate alone or was forced to sit with Shang Yunrou. But today, as soon as the tutor left, Su Wenyan came over. “Ah Yan, let’s eat together!”
Shang Shiyan’s eyes curved with a smile. “Alright.”
She had to admit, being with someone like Su Wenyan was easy—no need to guess at hidden motives, just straightforward and carefree.
“Ah Yan, this afternoon we’re going to the riding grounds. I’m so excited!” Su Wenyan’s favorite part was the thrice-weekly riding and archery training.
“But have they found us a new riding instructor yet?” The previous one had joined the army, and training had been suspended for some time.
“I think they have.”
If the new instructor were Gu Peice, word would have already spread through the academy. Since there was no news, it likely wasn’t him.
Shang Shiyan sighed. A man like Gu Peice, so calculating and strategic, wouldn’t heed the words of a mere girl. He surely had his own plans.
After lunch and a short rest, the students headed to the riding grounds in small groups.
The midday sun was harsh, and Hubo held a parasol to shield Shang Shiyan from the glare.
Inside the riding grounds, even the Academy Chancellor was present.
Shang Shiyan was surprised. “Why is the Chancellor here?”
Su Wenyan craned her neck. “Let’s go closer.”
In Great Sheng, civil learning was valued over martial skill. Even though the academy required riding and archery training every three days, many noble sons and daughters disliked attending, dismissing martial arts as brutish and preferring poetry and prose.
But failing to complete the training affected graduation, so even Shang Shiyan, frail and uninterested in riding, attended every session.
“Step forward. This is our academy’s new riding instructor.” The Chancellor bowed respectfully and invited the man out.
Shang Shiyan didn’t care much who the instructor was—as long as it wasn’t Gu Peice, it was all the same to her.
Just as she thought this, a familiar cold voice rang out. “From now on, your riding and archery training will be supervised by me.”
Shang Shiyan’s head snapped up instantly. Her clear eyes shone with brilliance. Gu Peice! He had actually come! She thought he wouldn’t agree.
The moment he spoke, his gaze fell upon Shang Shiyan. He saw her lift those bright eyes, full of joy, expectation, and curiosity—eager to speak to him, yet mindful of the setting, so she pressed her lips together, restraining her emotions. Even so, the slight upward curve of her lips betrayed her delight.
Gu Peice lowered his eyes, and a faint smile flickered there. Was she always so quick to show her emotions?
The noble daughters around them, however, felt none of Shang Shiyan’s joy. The moment they saw Gu Peice, their faces turned pale. They had all heard how he trained soldiers in the army—harsh and merciless. Now their legs trembled in fear. Would the Prince use the same methods to train them?
“My expectations of you are not high. In one month, there will be an assessment. If you meet my standards, you will be considered qualified.”
“Those who think they can rely on family power to pass—say it now. Such tricks will not work here.”
Just two short sentences, and the noble daughters were already wailing in their hearts.
Prince Lin’an’s standards—who knew what those standards even were?
As they fretted, a woman in riding gear appeared, leading a fine steed. At Gu Peice’s command, she swiftly mounted the horse. The horse’s hooves struck the ground as she drew her bow, aimed at the target’s center, and released.
“Bullseye!” Jinyun, standing by the target, shouted loudly when the arrow struck dead center.
“This is my requirement,” Gu Peice declared.
Everyone was stunned. To reach that level in just one month? They weren’t preparing for war—why demand so much?
But none dared complain aloud. After all, their riding instructor was Prince Lin’an.
Shang Shiyan and Su Wenyan went together to change into riding gear. When they came out, they saw Yu Yao glaring at them with malice.
“What are you looking at?!” Su Wenyan snapped, glaring back fiercely. “Keep staring and I’ll gouge your eyes out!”