The Emperor’s Bridal Gift to the Regent - Chapter 6

“No, this is not right. There must be a mistake!”

Dozens of eyes stared back. The female students huddled together, whispering and discussing the two figures at the entrance.

Meng Xueran’s face flushed a deep crimson. He stood frozen, utterly at a loss. He had never been in contact with so many people before. Perhaps having grown used to the silent, secluded life of the Shadow Pavilion, the weight of their collective gazes and the hum of their hushed scrutiny made him feel a suffocating urge to flee.

“Shiyi, look. Did we come to the wrong place?”

“There are no male students here. This has to be the wrong school!”

“Young Master, calm down first.” Mei Shiyi quickly pulled out the academy’s registration scroll, comparing the name on the document to the characters on the plaque above the gate. After confirming it three times, he spoke: “It is correct. The scroll clearly says Fanghua Academy.”

Meng Xueran stood rooted to the spot under the scorching intensity of their stares. He could neither move forward nor retreat. Why was it a girls’ academy? He was clearly male. Could his Father truly have made such a blunder?

At the thought, his heart sank, and his expression crumbled. Was this intentional?

“Shiyi, let us go back.”

“What? If we just go back like this, will you not be scolded?”

“I will accept the scolding. Why must I come to a girls’ academy? Father knows perfectly well that I am a boy, yet he arranged this so deliberately. I must ask him for an explanation!”

“No, no, please do not!” Mei Shiyi blocked his path, offering well-meaning advice. “Based on my understanding of the Prime Minister, he would not make a mistake about something like this. As for why it is Fanghua Academy, let us wait until classes are over and ask him when we get home.”

“But it is not right!” Meng Xueran was being nudged inward, his feet feeling as though they had taken root in the ground. It took a great deal of effort for Mei Shiyi to pull him into the courtyard. He was immediately surrounded by female students who had swarmed forward. He whispered sharply, “You did this on purpose, did you not? I have never dealt with girls. This is so uncomfortable.”

“This is too embarrassing. I want to leave.”

“Shiyi? Shiyi!” Meng Xueran turned around only to find the space behind him empty. That fellow had actually abandoned him and run off!

A woman with a gentle, elegant, and composed aura approached. Her long hair was pinned back with a moon-white flower, and she wore a blue scholar’s robe that was quite similar to the students’ attire. She looked like someone who would be easy to get along with.

Meng Xueran froze, not knowing what to do. The woman stepped forward and took his hand. “You must be the young master of the Prime Minister’s manor? I am the Headmistress of Fanghua Academy, Qu Jingzhu. Do not be nervous. Although this is an academy for women, the Prime Minister has entrusted you to me, and I shall treat you with total impartiality.”

“I see. I understand,” Meng Xueran could only comply.

Qu Jingzhu led him into the classroom to set up his desk, then showed him the room for his afternoon rest. It was quiet and serene. The academy was fully equipped with everything one could need; aside from the mismatch in his gender, there was nothing improper about it.

After parting with Qu Jingzhu, he sat alone by the window, staring out at the scenery in a daze. Why did it have to be a girls’ academy?

“Young Master?” Mei Shiyi called from outside the door.

Meng Xueran said, “So you knew to come back? You left me here all alone and ran away!”

Mei Shiyi replied, “The classrooms do not allow anyone except students to enter. I could only wait for you in the rest area. Look, this place is filled with servants waiting for the young misses and noble ladies.”

“So it is.” Meng Xueran walked to the door and observed. He noticed that every room had servants waiting outside except for one. It was truly an academy with a far-reaching reputation in the capital.

Outside, a bell rang, its sound echoing into every corner.

Mei Shiyi urged, “Stop thinking. Go to the classroom first!”

After two hours of studying the Four Books and Five Classics, the morning lessons finally ended. Once the teacher left, Meng Xueran felt lightheaded and slumped over the desk to sleep.

Before he could recover his energy, a thick book slammed into his head. He looked up. Thinking it was an accident, he did not take it to heart. However, a female student directly in front of him, seeing his lack of reaction, stood up and marched over.

“Did you not see my book fall at your feet?”

“Oh.” Meng Xueran leaned down, picked it up, and handed it over. “Here you go.”

The girl slapped the book out of his hand, letting it fall back to the floor. She looked at him with an air of arrogant superiority. “You are a male. How do you have the face to come to Fanghua Academy? I heard you are the Prime Minister’s adopted son. Tsk, you are quite ordinary from head to toe.”

Meng Xueran replied, “I have no special talents. If the County Princess does not want the book on the floor, then I shall not stay to keep you company.”

The person in front of him was clearly trouble; it was best to stay away from her. He did not know any County Princess, so why was she looking for a fight? Did he look that easy to bully?

Suddenly, a timid-looking girl was pushed forward. “Bai Tang, tell him who I am.”

The girl called Bai Tang twisted her sleeves, her eyes darting around. She spoke without any force: “This is the daughter of the Duke of Yi, the County Princess bestowed by His Majesty the Emperor, Bu Jinyu.”

“In the future, when you see the County Princess, you must be completely obedient.”

“Do you understand?”

After Bai Tang finished speaking, she was pushed aside again. Bu Jinyu tilted Meng Xueran’s face up, scrutinizing him without restraint. She sighed. “Ordinary background, ordinary talent, even your looks are so ordinary?”

“Why would the Prime Minister choose someone with freckles on his face as an adopted son? If it were not for those spots, you could actually be my dog.”

“How about it? Shall I give you a chance?”

“Heh!” Meng Xueran brushed her hand away, stood up, and walked out of the classroom.

Bu Jinyu had never been slighted like this before. She chased him all the way to the rest courtyard. Taking advantage of being two years older than Meng Xueran, she grabbed his curly hair to stop him.

“Stand still! No one has ever dared to give me such an attitude!” The female students following her took their cue. Seven or eight of them swarmed forward and pinned Meng Xueran to the ground.

Meng Xueran struggled on the floor, his arms and legs held fast. He shouted angrily, “Are you not afraid I will tell Headmistress Qu? Let go!”

“Oh? You are threatening me?” Bu Jinyu laughed. She turned to Bai Tang. “Where is the brush bag?”

Bai Tang whispered a plea: “Is this not a bit much? He is the Prime Minister’s son, after all. If on the first day, maybe we should not.”

Bu Jinyu said, “What are you afraid of? He is just an adopted son, not even blood-related. Hurry up, bring it here!”

Bai Tang hesitated, but the brush bag was ruthlessly snatched away. Bu Jinyu truly detested her timid nature. She kicked Bai Tang to the ground and snapped impatiently, “Get lost.”

“What are you trying to do?!” Meng Xueran’s eyes widened as he saw her pick up a brush and lean in close.

Bu Jinyu laughed incessantly as she used the brush to draw on his face. She drew a large turtle on the right side and wrote two lines on the left. After painting the character for King on his forehead, she insisted he imitate a tiger’s roar.

“Hahaha, so funny! Quickly, make a sound.”

“Bark like a dog, howl like a wolf, roar like a tiger. Do it!”

The air was filled with the sounds of their mockery. Meng Xueran felt deeply humiliated. When the crowd loosened their grip, he broke free. He ran back to his room, his heart filled with resentment, and threw his book bag onto the floor in a rage.

Mei Shiyi saw that his face was painted like a calico cat and his clothes were covered in mud. Seeing him so filthy, Shiyi quickly grabbed a cloth to wipe him down, asking worriedly: “What happened? Were you bullied by the older students?”

“Eh? Why will it not come off?” Mei Shiyi tried to comfort him. “Wait, I will go get water!”

Meng Xueran sat in front of the bronze mirror. This face was truly a joke, especially the two lines on his left cheek: Ugly freak, loved by no one. He was so angry he was speechless. This County Princess was nothing but a bully who relied on her status.

No matter. He would just have to endure through today.

Mei Jinshu was enjoying a leisurely time at the manor. Without that little cub around, he could read, drink tea, practice his sword, and admire the flowers. It was incredibly peaceful.

Upon entering his conscious world, he was even more shocked to find that he had earned eight hundred system points!

What on earth had that kid experienced at Fanghua Academy? His resentment toward Mei Jinshu was so deep. Could it be that Meng Xueran was not getting along with those female students?

He brushed it off. Regardless, he had already made the proper arrangements.

Mei Jinshu said, “System, when will I be able to control my own life?”

The System replied, “Complete the ascension mission.”

Mei Jinshu said, “But Meng Changqi’s favorability toward me remains stagnant. Why is that? Am I not being good enough to him?”

The System said, “Host, the target has returned.”

Just as Mei Jinshu left his conscious world, he was met with a disheveled face. The boy’s clothes were a mess, and his eyes were filled with resentment, staring straight at him.

“What is it? Are you going to eat me?”

“Father, why did you”

“Why are you so filthy? Go wash up first before we talk.”

“I” The moment Meng Xueran saw him, his grievances nearly overflowed. Unfortunately, the man before him did not care for such displays. No matter how pitiful or innocent he appeared, he would receive no comfort.

Mei Jinshu was not blind; he could clearly see the tears welling up in the boy’s eyes. Anyone would feel a bit of sympathy seeing someone so upset. Unfortunately, he was a villain. If he let his heart soften, he would likely meet a miserable end.

Caught between the two princes, he had to focus entirely on Meng Changqi, assisting him in a smooth ascent to the throne.

“Father, do you truly not care about me?”

“Huh? How could that be? Do not overthink things, child.”

“But the County Princess said I am an ugly freak.” Meng Xueran found a surge of courage and threw himself into Mei Jinshu’s arms, holding him tightly. His voice carried a soft, tearful sob as he asked, “Why did you send me to Fanghua Academy? That is a school for girls. I do not want to go anymore.”

Mei Jinshu was quite disgusted by the filthy boy hugging him. He frowned and tried to coax him: “What is wrong with women? General Mei is a woman too. Do you not study martial arts with her just the same?”

Meng Xueran shook his head. “That is different. General Mei is a majestic general; she is kind and upright. The County Princess only bullies me and tells me to be her dog.”

“Oh? That is indeed a bit much.” Mei Jinshu saw that his bedraggled state did not look like a lie. He had heard the County Princess was pampered and arrogant, but he had not expected it to be to this extent.

He had originally hoped to make Meng Xueran enjoy the company of women, but it had resulted in him being bullied. This County Princess had beauty but such a tyrannical personality. He had wasted his hopes on her.

It was a backfire.

“Father, your clothes are dirty. I am sorry.”

“It does not matter. Let us go bathe together.”

Support The Emperor’s Bridal Gift to the Regent