Chapter 771: 321 Talented in Both Arts and Martial Arts_2
Yueyao bowed slightly, “Second Brother.”
Tingyi nodded, “Yueyao, have you been well at Ma’s Mansion these past few years?”
Yueyao nodded and said, “I have been well at Ma’s Mansion. I heard that you were honored as Tanhua, congratulations, Second Brother.” Her grandfather was Tanhua, her father also was, and now her Second Cousin Brother too, three Tanhuas in one family, indeed a pleasant tale.
Tingyi said, “Yueyao, about that day’s incident, it was my mother who wronged you, and I am here to apologize on her behalf.” Tingyi had learned about this matter from Tingli. At the time, Tingyi was shocked; he could never have imagined his mother doing such a thing. It was from that moment that Tingyi began to restrain his behavior and concentrate on his studies. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have achieved Tanhua.
Yueyao was startled, hurriedly catching Tingyi who was about to give her a deep bow, “Second Brother, aren’t you overwhelming me? Second Brother, if you act like this, I will not dare to see you again.”
Tingyi’s face filled with guilt, “Yueyao, it was my mother who went astray, I am sorry.”
Yueyao, for some reason, felt a sourness in her heart. Her eldest uncle came to scold him, her main first cousin also came to scold him, but it was her Second Brother who was the first to say he wanted to apologize, “Second Brother, this matter has nothing to do with you. Second Brother, this matter is already in the past, you don’t have to bring it up again.”
Tingyi shook his head and said, “Yueyao, if the matter were truly in the past, you wouldn’t have stayed away from the Lian family for five years. Yueyao, I know that what my mother did was too much. But you are ultimately a member of our Lian family.”
Yueyao’s expression changed, and her gaze toward Tingyi was filled with caution.
Tingyi hadn’t expected Yueyao to be so wary of him, yet given the deeds of his mother, it was unavoidable for Yueyao not to guard against them, “Yueyao, I’m not asking you to return to the Lian family. I only want you to attend my wedding.” After saying that, Tingyi handed a red and gold wedding invitation to Yueyao.
Yueyao accepted the wedding invitation and said, “When you get married, Second Brother, I will attend.”
Having gotten Yueyao’s tentative agreement, Tingyi felt relieved. He knew that the previous incident had deeply hurt Yueyao, and now she guarded against them heavily. The ice of three feet wasn’t formed in a single day; winning back Yueyao’s trust would take time.
Xiang Wei looked at Yueyao and said, “Miss, you won’t really go to Tingyi’s wedding, will you?” Xiang Wei felt that Yueyao was letting her soft-heartedness get the better of her again. Once this precedent was set, naturally there would be more such instances in the future.
Yueyao smiled and said, “I did promise my Second Cousin Brother to attend his wedding, but there are always the unexpected. If something happens and I can’t go, there’s nothing that can be done.”
That put Xiang Wei at ease.
Yueyao hadn’t looked at the wedding invitation, but Xiang Wei did, and said, “What a coincidence. Miss, the girl Tingyi is marrying is the legitimate second daughter of Zhou Xi.”
Yueyao was startled, “How could it be the eldest senior brother’s legitimate second daughter? Shouldn’t it be the Earl of Yongchang’s legitimate second daughter?” Yueyao then gave a bitter smile. In her previous life, Tingyi had only passed the imperial exams with a second-tier ranking, positioned beyond the hundredth spot, yet now he had become Tanhua. How could these situations even compare? She had changed, and at the same time, she had changed the destinies of many others. Yueyao could only hope that all the changes were for the better.
Xiang Wei smiled and asked, “Miss, after Zhou Yue marries Lian Tingyi, how will you address her?” Normally, Yueyao would naturally call Zhou Yue ‘sister-in-law.’ However, Yueyao was Zhou Xi’s junior sister in their studies, which made their relationship rather complicated.
Without hesitation, Yueyao responded, “Naturally, I will call her ‘sister-in-law.’ Our teacher formally accepted only me as a disciple.” Although Mr. Yu Shan took in Zhou Xi and Min Jun, neither of them had undergone a formal discipleship ceremony, so the requirements were not so strict.
Xiang Wei muttered, “Miss, you’re really no fun.”
Yueyao looked at the collection of poems in her hand, “If you are so spirited, help me organize these collections of poems.” Seeing Xiang Wei escaping as if fleeing, Yueyao’s lips curled up in a smile.
On April 20th, the Martial Arts examination results were released. Yueyao didn’t recognize the top three, but she was quite familiar with the fourth place, Heir to Marquis Yongding, Guan Jingshuo.
Yueyao found it incredible, “The Heir to Marquis Yongding actually got fourth place? Could he really be a genius?” She knew that Guan Jingshuo was top-notch in literature but had not expected that he also had a talent for Martial Arts. Such favor from the heavens!
Xiang Wei was also surprised, originally thinking it would be great if Guan Jingshuo could make it into the top three of the Martial Arts exam, yet he had managed to secure the fourth place, “Is there some bias involved, or are all the current scholar candidates just embroidered pillows?” Xiang Wei couldn’t help but be skeptical! As she knew, Guan Jingshuo was still frail at eleven years old; how could he possibly have reached such heights in just over seven years.
Although Yueyao also found it hard to believe, she disagreed with Xiang Wei’s opinion, “You don’t understand him, how can you make such judgments? This Martial Arts exam is not like the literary exam; everyone has to show their real skills on the field. It’s not possible to cheat.”
The Martial Arts exam was divided into three parts. The first part was mounted archery: riding around three laps and shooting nine arrows, where hitting three was considered passing. Those who didn’t meet the standard were eliminated and couldn’t proceed to the next part. Typically, two-thirds of the candidates would be eliminated in this round.
The second part consisted of ground archery and showcasing bravery and skill. Ground archery required shooting nine arrows from a set distance, hitting at least five. Typically, half would be eliminated in this segment. Bravery and skill primarily tested arm strength in three disciplines: bow, sword, and stone; all these actions had to be performed correctly in a sequence to pass.
The third part was the theoretical exam, essentially a literary exam. The overall top scorer in these three categories would be the Martial Scholar of this session.
Xiang Wei, very tactfully, changed the topic, “Miss, I think you should also let Tingzheng participate in the Martial Arts exam. It would be beneficial for his career if Tingzheng could become a Martial Scholar.”
Speaking of Tingzheng joining the military camp, Yueyao found it odd, “I thought my grand uncle would know and interfere, but I didn’t expect that he didn’t even make a peep.”
Xiang Wei laughed, “Given your current poor relationship with the main branch of the Lian family, would he really come charging over to blame you? Moreover, it’s not his biological son, and since you decided this, people wouldn’t blame him. Lian Dongfang calculates things more craftily than you, only a naïve person like you would believe he was sincerely apologizing. If Yueyao wished to mend relations with the Lian family, surely they would interfere in everything in the future.”
Yueyao sighed, “Mending relations with the main branch is impossible.” She didn’t blame Tingli and Tingyi, as this matter really had nothing to do with them, but getting close was also impossible; the best outcome would be to maintain superficial courtesy.