"My brother is back?"
In the room of the Stargazing Tower where the scions of prominent families were entertained, delicious food had been delivered before noon, which made the Shen Family members very hungry. However, since Shen Yu had not yet returned, no one dared to touch their chopsticks.
"They're all back?" Shen Yu chuckled, naturally taking the seat of honor at the table. Looking at the Shen Family members who hadn't even touched their tea, she nodded slightly. "Why are you waiting for me? Just eat if you're hungry."
"Brother, you've protected us so diligently all this way, how could we not wait for you? We wouldn't be at ease without you."
The speaker was a slightly chubby young man. Shen Xue glanced at him but didn't say anything.
The one flattering him was Shen Xing, the eldest son of the third branch of the Shen Family. He was a well-known follower of Shen Yu in the Shen Family. He had just been admitted to the Yin-Yang Academy last year and was highly regarded by Shen Yu. Whenever there was a good thing, he would never forget this person. In Shen Xue's eyes in the past, Shen Yu was still normal. Her own sister, at least, did not benefit her, mainly because she was not capable enough.
Even if Shen Xing doesn't become the academic administrator after entering the Yin-Yang Academy, he can easily rise to the rank of a fourth or fifth-grade sorcerer official after graduation with some maneuvering. When Shen Yu completes his term as academic administrator and returns to the capital, he can bring Shen Xing back with him to serve as an assistant, which would certainly be valuable.
Therefore, she could understand why her older brother used to be closer to his sycophantic cousin but not to her, his half-sister.
But now.
"By the way, now that you're back, have you applied for the exam?" Shen Yu smiled at everyone, but her focus was mainly on Shen Xue and her two companions.
Shen Xue was so stared at that she didn't dare to eat, and the aroma of meat on the table instantly lost its flavor.
"Brother, because of the time constraints, we have all applied to different academies. I applied to the Earth Academy."
" The Earth Academy? What does the Earth Academy do?" Shen Yu asked, frowning.
Shen Xue rolled her eyes inwardly. You've been lingering in the academy for so long, and you don't even know what the Earth Academy is for? What have you been doing all this time?
However, on the surface, he cautiously and respectfully said, " The Earth Academy mainly studies runes. The ice jade and warm jade on the market today are all made by students of the Earth Academy. It is said that the sorcerers of this academy are good at using jade to lock magical energy and make magical artifacts with many functions."
"I see." Shen Yu stroked her chin, pondered for a moment, and nodded. "This is not a bad choice."
It didn't go as expected, but at least I didn't apply to the Heaven Academy. Spiritual artifacts and jade are currently very popular in the capital, and many aristocratic families are envious of them. Their uses are too great. If I could learn them, although they wouldn't be as precious as those of a spellcaster, they would definitely be a highly valued type in the future.
It's alright, though. Although it's important, it's ultimately a support role, unlike a spellcaster who can directly act as a combat mage by Void Formation Drawing. It's barely acceptable.
Then, looking at the other two, Shen Xue, afraid that her two cousins might say something wrong, said, " Shen Yang was more interested in the Academy of Engineering, so he applied to the Mystic Academy. And Shen Luo, because he was mainly in charge of the general affairs related to medicinal herbs in the family and was quite proficient in medical theory, applied to the Yellow Academy."
Upon hearing this, Shen Yu Yu's brows relaxed, and she immediately smiled, "That's right. You should always choose what you're confident you can achieve, especially Shen Xing. Your idea is excellent. You're skilled in medicine, and the assessment rules here give extra points for special talents, making you very competitive. You've grown up and are starting to think things through."
Shen Xing quickly smiled apologetically, "Brother is right. There are so many scions of prominent families applying, the competition is fierce. Our aptitude isn't that great to begin with, so of course we have to choose what we have the advantage in."
"Not bad, not bad." Shen Yu nodded with a smile, and even put some food on the other person's plate, saying, "Eat quickly, eat quickly, it'll get cold if you don't eat now. The food in Liuzhou has changed a lot these days. All kinds of special meats are not only delicious, but also have nourishing effects. Although we are not martial artists, it's always good for our bodies to have some nourishment."
"Thank you, brother." Shen Xing was moved to tears, his years of experience in administrative affairs displaying his smooth and shrewdness to the fullest.
"And what about you two?" Shen Yu asked, looking at the other Human Dao.
"We'll naturally follow our elder brother's lead; whatever he fills in, we'll fill in too," the two said directly.
Shen Yu nodded. " Shen Xue and the others have filled in the Earth Academy and the Xuanhuang Academy respectively, which completes the process. We can now confidently fill in the Heaven Academy."
Shen Xue and the other two lowered their heads, their eyes filled with mockery.
The other two hesitated for a moment before cautiously speaking, "We also inquired this morning. Apparently, the Heaven Academy. We were rushed through our studies, so I'm afraid..."
"You don't need to worry about that, I've already figured out a way."
"Oh?" The two men's eyes lit up, and they quickly asked, "What idea has Brother come up with?"
Shen Yu picked up her teacup and finally sighed, "Find Shen Yuan!"
"Ah?"
This time, not only the two lackeys, but all three of Shen Xue looked up in astonishment.
Everyone knows that Shen Yuan and Shen Yu have practically fallen out. Now that Shen Yu is asking someone for a favor, do you think they'd be willing to help?
"We have no choice but to back down," Shen Yu sighed. "My elder brother has always been inferior to me, and he's incredibly jealous. Now that he's back in power, taking Mother away is undoubtedly a way of getting revenge on me. I despise my brother for his character, but for the sake of the Shen Family, I have no choice but to back down!"
Shen Xue: "."
I never realized before that this guy was so shameless!
Although her eldest brother was not particularly gifted as a child, he was also the type to be independent and self-reliant. He took the imperial examinations on his own and forged a path that allowed him to avoid doing mundane tasks. To be honest, if women weren't prohibited from taking the imperial examinations, she would have wanted to emulate her eldest brother.
From childhood to adulthood, she had never seen Shen Yuan jealous of his outstanding younger brother. She remembered that when they were little, he was always proud of his brother in front of others. It was only after Shen Yu started to dislike him that he gradually became silent. How could it be that he was jealous in Shen Yu's eyes?
As for taking the mother away
Shen Xue knew best that her eldest brother was quite dependent on the mistress. She didn't know the specific reason, since the mistress had always been cold to her brother. Logically speaking, even if her brother didn't retaliate after gaining power, he shouldn't have done this. But the fact proved that even though the mistress treated him so coldly, he still valued his biological mother.
Compared to Shen Yu, Shen Xue thought her older brother was much more affectionate and righteous.
As for the final statement about yielding to the family's wishes...
Shen Xue almost burst out laughing. Asking for help whenever she wanted, and all this for the sake of the family? If it were truly for the family, would she really be so harsh on her half-brothers and sisters?
They're truly shameless!
However, while Shen Xue secretly complained, her two lackeys' eyes lit up.
They exchanged a glance and quickly said, "This is truly unfair to you, brother. Why don't we go with you? We'll just throw away our pride and kneel down to beg him, then see if he has the nerve to refuse to help."
"This..." Shen Yu's eyes lit up, but after hesitating for a moment, she shook her head. "Forget it, I'll do the embarrassing thing. You all stay here and wait for my news."
He wasn't worried about his two lackeys losing face; he was mainly afraid that his older brother would deliberately humiliate him by getting his two cousins imprisoned while ignoring him. He feared that would infuriate him.
If I go in person, with my mother there, my elder brother will at least not dare to go too far.
With that in mind, he simply rejected their suggestion.
The two men secretly breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this. They were genuinely afraid that their shameless brother would agree to let them kneel down and beg. But you know what? Given this guy's personality, he really might do it.
"Let's eat first, then I'll be setting off."
"Set off?" Shen Xue was taken aback. "Big brother... cough cough, isn't Shen Yuan in Liuzhou?"
"Hmph," Shen Yu snorted coldly, "Probably to avoid me. When I came to her door, I heard that she had taken her mother to Nanyang for a trip. I probably have to take a fast boat to catch up."
"Won't that interfere with your exam, brother?" Shen Xue asked hurriedly.
"What's the big deal about delays?" Shen Yu sneered. "We're going to fail this exam anyway, so what does it matter? As long as Shen Yuan is willing to help, I'll get in. If he doesn't, then the Shen Family will never tolerate him again!"
Shen Xue: "."
She felt it was unlikely. Putting aside whether her older brother had the ability to get someone into the school, even if he did, with her attitude, it probably wouldn't work.
However, it's a good thing that this person left, as I can now focus on my exams. Regardless of whether the other person could ask for help, I certainly couldn't get in through begging. If I want to stay in Jiangnan, I'll have to rely on my own abilities!
"Cough"
In the distance, Shen Yuan, who had already arrived in Nanyang City, was choked by Shen Yu, who was under the influence of the Thousand-Eye Technique, and almost spat out his tea.
Has my adorable younger brother inherited some kind of brain damage from some kind of inheritance technique?
Not only did I lose face outside the city, but I also dared to say such things. The Shen Family won't tolerate me? On what grounds? Just because you're so shameless?
"What are you doing, child? So reckless!" Madam Zheng glared at the other woman. "Such fine tea, and you've ruined it!"
Arriving in Jiangnan, she, who was already skilled in tea ceremony, was like a fish in water. Within a few days, she gained the recognition of a group of literati and scholars with her excellent tea skills. She was very popular among the female relatives of those scholars in Jiangnan. Compared to the stifling life she had in the capital, this month was like a dream come true for Madam Zheng.
I was feeling incredibly relaxed. I had heard that Nanyang Nanyang recently produced some excellent Ziyang tea, and I planned to buy some to study. However, I never expected that my son would ruin the very first cup I made.
"Ahem, I'm sorry, Mother." Looking at his mother wiping the tea off his clothes, Shen Yuan hesitated for a moment before finally saying, " Shen Yu is here!"
Madam Zheng's hand, which was wiping the tea, suddenly froze!