Unfortunately, before Tong Aning could speak, they arrived at the Imperial Academy.
Tong Fengye had hated going to school to begin with, and now his loathing for the Imperial Academy reached its peak.
Tong Aning and Feng Chu had already gotten out of the carriage. Standing beside it, Tong Aning saw that Tong Fengye still refused to emerge and said, "Third Brother, you aren't thinking of skipping school, are you? It's too late to skip now..."
Before Tong Aning finished, Tong Fengye lifted the curtain and jumped down.
Tong Aning glanced at him.
[How strange. Why does Third Brother look so awful?]
Tong Fengye gave Tong Aning a gloomy look. Wasn't it all because of your inner voice!
[Oh, I get it...]
Tong Fengye grew excited. Had she remembered his gossip?
Was his little sister ready to step in and save him?
Instead, Tong Aning looked at Feng Chu.
Tong Fengye: ???
Who exactly was Tong Aning's brother here!
[Tsk, tsk, tsk. Looks like Third Brother and Feng Chu are destined to be sworn enemies. He still hasn't forgiven Feng Chu, and he's even pulling a long face just because Feng Chu is here. Sigh, I'm starting to feel sorry for Feng Chu.]
Feng Chu: ?
What did this have to do with him?
A sudden weight settled on Feng Chu's shoulder. Tong Fengye leaned over until their heads touched and said, "Fourth Sister, Feng Chu and I have made up."
Tong Aning: !
"So suddenly?"
Tong Fengye said, "I thought it over carefully. We were just too young back then. Let bygones be bygones. Why hold a grudge?"
All right, could she talk about his situation now?
Tong Aning froze, then raised her hands and applauded Tong Fengye. "Third Brother, that little speech made you seem a lot smarter. I should learn from you and study hard too."
With that, Tong Aning headed toward the gates of the Imperial Academy.
Tong Fengye stood rooted to the spot as though struck by lightning.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go, was it?
"Um," Feng Chu rubbed his hands, his smile a little bashful, "have we really made up?"
Tong Fengye: ...
"No!"
"Hey, Fengye, wait for me! A man has to stand by his word..."
Because he kept worrying about the misfortune awaiting him that day, Tong Fengye was called out no fewer than ten times.
Wonderful. Now his teacher really would ask Su Zhouyue to come to the Imperial Academy tomorrow.
When school let out, Tong Aning waved cheerfully at Tong Fengye, only to see that he looked even worse than he had that morning.
Puzzled, Tong Aning asked, "Third Brother, what's wrong?"
Tong Fengye said nothing and merely kept waving his hand.
Feng Chu said, "He got called out in class."
"How many times?"
"More than ten!"
Tong Aning shook her head. Looking at Feng Chu's gloating face, she said, "I finally understand why Third Brother doesn't want to be your friend."
"Why?"
"You applaud when your friend has bad luck."
Feng Chu: ...
"Fengye, there's cricket fighting at the Clouds Gather Teahouse today. Are you going?"
Tong Fengye's world lit up. "Yes!"
Tong Aning and Feng Chu exchanged a glance, then followed along too.
After getting into the carriage and telling A Shu to head to the Clouds Gather Teahouse, Tong Aning finally remembered to ask, "Third Brother, who was that person talking to you just now?"
"Fang Ji, the Minister of War's third son. I only spend time with him occasionally, so you don't know him."
Tong Aning: !!!
[My foolish Third Brother, Fang Ji is planning to set you up.]
Tong Fengye jolted and sat bolt upright, wishing he could grow another pair of ears.
You never had enough ears when you needed them.
[System, I remember you once told me that this Fang Ji has always hated my third brother.]
[That's right. He's the third son just like your third brother, but he's invisible in his family, whereas your third brother is doted on by his parents, and you siblings are very close too.]
[So he's just jealous of Third Brother?]
[It's not quite that simple. He's always felt that he works harder and is more outstanding than your third brother. Why should someone like him be denied his parents' love while a good-for-nothing like your third brother gets it? He wants to ruin your third brother and see whether any parents would still love a child like that!]
A chill ran down the good-for-nothing Tong Fengye's back. And to think he had always considered Fang Ji his friend.
[My heavens, that's terrifying. System, how is he planning to ruin Third Brother?]
[During the cricket fighting later, he'll deliberately create a disturbance in the teahouse, then have someone take advantage of the chaos to cripple one of your third brother's legs.]
[Hiss.]
Tong Fengye hurriedly clutched his legs.
Seeing this, Tong Aning asked in surprise, "Third Brother, what's wrong?"
"I don't know why, but my legs suddenly feel so sore."
[It's an omen. This has to be an omen!]
Tong Aning clenched her fists, her gaze resolute. [Third Brother, I'll definitely protect your legs!]
Tong Fengye was so touched that he immediately reached out to hug Tong Aning.
Tong Aning dodged his hands and said disdainfully, "Third Brother, have you washed your hands?"
Tong Fengye: "..."
His little sister had some affection for him, but not much!
Tong Fengye wiped his hands on his clothes.
Feng Chu laughed out loud, earning himself a glare from Tong Fengye.
"Fourth Miss, Third Young Master, Young Master Feng, we've arrived at the Clouds Gather Teahouse."
Tong Fengye was the first out of the carriage. Fang Ji, who had traveled ahead of them, had also gotten out and was walking toward him.
Fang Ji's looks were unremarkable, but he had a very pleasant disposition. Everyone at the Imperial Academy praised him.
Yet someone like that actually wanted to ruin his leg, all over that bit of unfounded jealousy!
He was more frightening than a venomous snake.
Fang Ji smiled and said, "Fengye, I might not be good at cricket fighting, but I know you'll definitely win."
Looking at that hypocritical face, Tong Fengye wanted to throw up.
Only then did he realize what was wrong.
Fang Ji was refined and courteous and never mingled with their crowd, yet today he had taken the initiative to invite him to a cricket fight.
What sinister intentions!
"Mm, I hope so."
Tong Fengye nodded coolly and slipped behind Tong Aning.
Fang Ji's outstretched hand froze in midair. What was going on? Had Tong Fengye noticed something? Impossible. He had hidden it so well.
Feng Chu took Fang Ji's hand and asked in feigned displeasure, "I'm good at cricket fighting too. Why aren't you betting on me to win?"
Fang Ji smiled. "Does Young Master Feng's skill need any praise from me?"
"You certainly know what to say."
After Fang Ji left, Tong Fengye said discontentedly, "Feng Chu, you switched sides so quickly."
"That's called keeping your cards hidden. The way you acted just now, anyone could tell. What will you do if he comes up with another way to get you?"
Tong Aning said, "Feng Chu is right, but..."
Tong Aning tilted her head. "Third Brother, is Fang Ji planning to get you?"
Tong Fengye and Feng Chu were both startled. Feng Chu said, "I just can't stand the sight of him."
He raised his chin haughtily.
[Feng Chu really does seem to hate Fang Ji.]
Feng Chu: "..."
The three walked over. Quite a few people were already there.
[System, System, which one is the person Fang Ji planted here?]
[Host, the third person on your left, the one in gray. He's Fang Ji's personal servant.]
Tong Aning looked over. The person the system had pointed out was watching in utter fascination. If Tong Aning hadn't already known he would attack her third brother, she really would have been fooled.
[This man is rotten. He actually wants to break Third Brother's leg. I really want to break his legs!]
Tong Aning ground her teeth.
Tong Fengye froze. Had his little sister been this violent before?
No.
His little sister had become like this for his sake.
Fang Ji was a bad person, but so what if he plotted to hurt him? He had his little sister.
Aning would protect him well!
The bustle around the cricket fighting stalled for an instant.
Who?
Break whose leg?
Some people were already drenched in sweat. They only enjoyed cricket fighting. If something that horrific really happened, wouldn't their families give them a ruthless thrashing?
But they didn't dare leave rashly now either.
What if that servant intended to break more than one leg?
Someone suddenly shouted, "Whose cricket got loose?"
The crowd should have surged together at once, yet Fang Ji, who had shouted, saw quite a few people take a step aside in unison.
As a result, the servant charging at Tong Fengye with a raised cudgel was left exposed, all alone in the middle of the crowd.
Fang Ji: ...
The servant: ...
Tong Aning: [My silence is deafening.]