No matter what excuses Tong Aning made, the iron-faced and impartial Tong Aobai still sent her to the Imperial Academy.
The Imperial Academy had originally had no school for girls. It was only established two years ago at the empress's suggestion. Apparently, it had even produced a female top scholar last year.
[Just you wait! I'm going to throw myself into studying and become the next female top scholar!!!]
Tong Fengye stumbled. His little sister really dared to dream that big?
[Host, do you really not want to go back?]
Tong Aning gripped the strap of her book bag. [No. It's nice here.]
Almost ten days had passed since she recovered her memories.
She had originally been from the twenty-first century. After dying in a car accident, she had transmigrated into a baby in this country that appeared in no history books.
Although Tong Aning wasn't from this world, she had lived here for fifteen years. All the kindness and care the Tong family had shown her were real.
She was very satisfied with her life now. Wherever her family was, that was where she would be.
Tong Aning didn't notice Tong Fengye quietly sighing in relief behind her. Although their family had already discussed it in private and agreed to support whatever decision she made, he was still happy from the bottom of his heart that his little sister could stay here.
The system fell silent, and Tong Aning suddenly grew wary.
[System, don't even think about making me do missions.]
[Host, I'm not a mission system.]
Tong Aning was utterly confused. [Then what are you?]
[I'm the Gossip System. Host, want to add a little fun to your boring life? Want to make your life without phones, air conditioning, or flush toilets more colorful? Then come enjoy some gossip with me.]
Tong Aning: "..."
Was this a sales pitch or a dig at her?
[You don't have to pay any price, Host. Please, I'm begging you. I just want a gossip buddy.]
Aside from being pretty, Tong Aning had no great ambitions. She was also especially softhearted, and could never stand people pleading with her.
Tong Aning agreed.
Tong Fengye scratched his head. What exactly was... gossip?
"Third Brother, what are you standing there for? We're going to be late."
Tong Aning looked back at Tong Fengye, only to discover that her third brother had fallen a long way behind.
"Coming."
As Tong Fengye ran toward Tong Aning, he accidentally collided with someone else.
"Who was that? Are you blind?"
Both Tong Fengye and Tong Aning knew that voice very well.
Rubbing his aching wrist, Tong Fengye said, "You certainly are."
"Tong Fengye, what did you say?"
"I said you're blind!"
"You..." Feng Chu pointed at Tong Fengye's nose, then abruptly changed tack. "Tong Fengye, exams are coming up. Just wait until you go home and get a beating."
Tong Fengye retorted stubbornly, "We don't know who's getting beaten yet."
As the two faced off, Tong Aning's voice rang out.
[System, you said you were the Gossip System. Give me two pounds of gossip on Feng Chu to whet my appetite.]
Tong Fengye stepped over beside Tong Aning, as though he now had someone backing him.
Meanwhile, Feng Chu froze. Tong Aning hadn't even opened her mouth.
Had these siblings both gone off to learn ventriloquism just to scare him?
Feng Chu clenched his fists. How sinister!
[Coming right up, Host.]
[Host, Feng Chu may act tough, but his stepmother deliberately raised him crooked.]
[I know that. Spoiling a child is like killing him. Once Feng Chu's father loses all faith in him, his whole life will be over.]
His life would be over?
How could his life be over?
He hadn't won back his mother's dowry yet.
Feng Chu wiped his forehead, lifted his head, puffed out his chest, and walked inside.
Tong Fengye: "...What's gotten into him?"
"Maybe he suddenly saw the light." Tong Aning's eyes darted around, and she put some distance between herself and Tong Fengye. Looking him over, she said, "Third Brother, you're done for. Your rival has already begun his rise."
Tong Fengye swung his book bag and said defiantly, "Is he the only one who can rise?"
Tong Fengye decided that from now on, he would wield his brush with all his might-and stay a little farther away from Tong Aning.
His fourth sister knew too many secrets. That system of hers was practically omnipotent.
Perhaps because he had something to prove, Tong Fengye felt especially sharp that day, his brush moving as though guided by the gods. When he and Tong Aning finished school, he even comforted his sister, who had missed several days of lessons.
"Fourth Sister, don't worry. Even if you do badly on the exams, Father won't beat you."
Tong Aning looked over to see her third brother standing against the light, his smile blooming like a flower.
Tong Aning could only shake her head.
[Third Brother still has time to worry about me? He ought to worry more about his own backside.]
Tong Fengye: "..."
He sheepishly covered his backside. They found their family's carriage, and once inside, Tong Aning said, "Uncle Zhao, let's go buy chestnut cakes in the west of the city."
"Certainly, Fourth Miss, Third Young Master. Sit tight."
As the marquis's carriage passed the Feng family's carriage, Tong Aning saw Feng Chu jump down and walk away without looking back. A well-maintained woman hurried out after him and ordered someone to chase him.
That woman was probably Feng Chu's stepmother.
The steaming chestnut cakes gave off the distinctive fragrance of chestnuts. Tong Aning handed Tong Fengye one, then picked up another and took a bite.
Tong Aning said contentedly, "Freshly made chestnut cakes really are delicious."
Seeing Tong Aning looking like such a little glutton made Tong Fengye want to laugh. He asked, "Just chestnut cakes? Nothing else?"
Tong Aning stared straight at him, and Tong Fengye immediately had a bad feeling. She asked with a beaming smile, "Are you paying, Third Brother?"
They had already come all this way.
Tong Fengye could only grit his teeth and agree. "Yes. I'll pay."
When they finally arrived at their gates, Tong Fengye looked at everything in the carriage and winced. His little sister really didn't feel the slightest pang spending his money.
Su Zhouyue raised her eyebrows at the things in Uncle Zhao's hands. "Why did you buy so much?"
Tong Aning took a sip of tea. "Third Brother said I'd just recovered from a serious illness and insisted on buying them for me."
"Is that true?" Su Zhouyue looked at Tong Fengye.
Tong Fengye nodded pitifully. "It's true. I spent it all on my little sister willingly."
"Mother, I'm going back to my room."
"All right."
After Tong Aning left, Tong Fengye remained where he was. Su Zhouyue asked, "Don't you have schoolwork?"
"Mother, let me tell you..."
His trip with Tong Aning had been quite eventful. Every shop they had bought something from had been thrown into chicken-flying, dog-leaping chaos.
Su Zhouyue found it unbelievable. "She even knew which cat fathered the kittens in the candied-fruit shop's cat's belly?"
"Yes, Mother. The owner of that shop immediately grabbed a cleaver and stormed next door, saying their cat had defiled hers."
Su Zhouyue knitted her brows. "How could she know?"
By rights, these should all have been Tong Aning's inner thoughts.
Tong Fengye lowered his voice. "Mother, you've noticed too, haven't you? I suspect we family members aren't the only ones who can hear Fourth Sister's thoughts."
There was a crack.
The cup in Su Zhouyue's hand shattered.
Tong Fengye jumped. "Mother, what's wrong?"
"Go do your schoolwork first. I need to discuss this properly with your father."
"Oh, all right."
Even after Tong Fengye left, Su Zhouyue's heart remained in turmoil.
She didn't even know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Tong Aobai comforted her. "It's already happened. There's nothing we can do. We just need to protect Aning."
Su Zhouyue leaned into his arms. "That's true."
Tong Aobai patted her back. "Don't worry."
Su Zhouyue wrapped her arms around him. "I just want our whole family to be safe and well."
"Of course we will be."
[What??? My father is about to offend the emperor and get our whole family demoted?]
Tong Aning had been resting comfortably in a reclining chair, but now she shot upright like a dying patient startled from her sickbed.
Su Zhouyue, who had heard every word clearly, froze for a moment. Once she reacted, she gave Tong Aobai's arm a vicious twist. "Tong Aobai, have you been speaking bluntly in front of His Majesty again?"
"I'm innocent, my dear."
Su Zhouyue poked Tong Aobai's temple with a slender fingertip. "I know you can't stand those schemes in officialdom. You're a rare good man, and I don't want you to go against your conscience either. But you need to remain in office to uphold justice, don't you?"
"My dear, I'll remember that."
"Father, Mother, Eldest Brother is home. It's time to eat."
Tong Yi'an poked a little head around the doorway.
Su Zhouyue's expression changed at once, and she smiled gently. "Coming."
Tong Aobai: "..."
During dinner.
Tong Fengye asked in surprise, "Father, why is there a mark on your forehead?"
"There isn't."
"But..."
Tong Aobai said sternly, "Tong Fengye, eat your food."
"All right."
Su Zhouyue covered her mouth and chuckled. Tong Aobai looked at her. Still laughing. As expected of a military officer's daughter.
Su Zhouyue placed some food on his plate, and only then did Tong Aobai's expression ease a little. Having soothed her husband, Su Zhouyue turned her attention to her five children.
Ever since learning that Cui Heng was no good, Su Zhouyue had had Tong Siyan come back to stay.
Looking at the quiet, reserved Tong Yibin, Su Zhouyue asked considerately, "Yibin, how have things been at the Ministry of Justice these past two days?"
Tong Yibin set down his chopsticks and answered solemnly, "All right, Mother."
Su Zhouyue nodded. "All right is good."
[I suppose Eldest Brother is what you'd call alive but slightly dead inside.]
Tong Yibin paused and looked toward Tong Aning.
Chewing her cherry pork, Tong Aning sighed. [Ah, looks like this job would get on anyone's nerves.]
Author's note: