I'm Entering the Competition Too

Zhao Ruxi's words didn't elicit much response from Zhao Rurui, but Zhao Ruyu, unlike before, seemed thoughtful. Lately, Fu Yunlang had stopped paying attention to her as much as before. After bringing back the bells from the south, he made a fortune, met the Emperor, and received praise from the Second Prince and Fifth Prince. Fu Yunkai also praised him, which made him incredibly enthusiastic. Despite the cold weather, he ignored the objections of the Wife of the Marquis of Pingnan and her and went south again.

He returned a few days ago, travel-worn, with several clocks and some other things in tow. He briefly met with her before rushing off to help the Fifth Prince organize the auction.

This Fu Yunlang, completely different from his previous life, made Zhao Ruyu feel very threatened.

"Are you going to participate in the painting competition?" she asked.

Zhao Ruxi nodded. "Go."

"Then I'll participate in the music competition too." Zhao Ruyu suddenly became spirited. "You're right. 'If you blossom, butterflies will come.' If I have talent and fame, good families will come to marry me. I won't have to be rejected and picked and chosen by others."

Zhao Ruxi became famous for her painting and even became a student of Mister Kumu. Even someone like Fu Yunkai came to propose marriage to her. If she also showed great talent in music and was taken as a student, would she still have to worry about not being able to marry into the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence? Perhaps even better families than the Marquis of Pingnan's Residence would come to propose marriage to her.

Once Zhao Ruyu understood this, it was as if her Ren and Du meridians had been opened; she had a purpose, and her whole personality changed.

Zhao Ruxi: "..."

Knowing that Zhao Ruyu was going to participate in the competition, she thought that her motivational speeches had worked, and that Zhao Ruyu had learned to be diligent and ambitious, and no longer only thinking about getting married.

But upon hearing the latter part of her words, Zhao Ruxi realized she had been overthinking it.

Even if Zhao Ruyu participates in the competition, it's only for the sake of finding a better husband.

Zhao Rurui looked at Zhao Ruxi, then at Zhao Ruyu, and felt utterly devastated.

Even though Zhao Ruyu was just as eager to get married as she was, she was at least a student at the Capital Women's Academy and had some talent in music, which gave her an edge.

She herself had studied with female tutors hired by the Marquis's mansion before, but her skills in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were mediocre at best; she wasn't good at anything, not even needlework. Now that she could no longer rely on her family's status, what could she rely on? How could she marry into a good family?

Zhao Jingli and Zhao Jing'an came together. However, Zhao Yuanliang wanted to talk to Zhao Yuanxun, and Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Rurui went to see Lady Zhu. It seemed that neither side wanted them to get involved, so the two of them simply went to Zhao Jingtai's courtyard.

During this period, Zhao Jingli often came to learn mathematics from Zhao Ruxi, and he was much more relaxed at the Earl's residence. After staying with Zhao Jingtai for a while, he felt bored, so he came to Slender Bamboo Courtyard to ask Zhao Ruxi some questions. He happened to overhear the conversation between Zhao Ruxi and Zhao Ruyu.

He was once again dealt a heavy blow by Zhao Ruxi.

He was taught by renowned tutors hired by Zhao Yuanxun and the Lady Zhu, yet how come he was so far inferior to Zhao Ruxi in terms of knowledge, vision, and breadth of mind? Is genetics really that important?

But thinking back to Zhao Jingtai and her two married sisters, Zhao Ruyu Zhao Ruzhu, none of them seem to be as outstanding as Zhao Ruxi. So it must be thanks to Zhao Ruxi's deceased adoptive parents.

At this moment, Zhao Jingli was filled with curiosity about the Xu Family.

"Young Master, what's wrong...?"

Seeing Zhao Jingli standing at the courtyard gate, neither going in nor leaving, Yicui, who was guarding the gate, raised her voice and called out to him.

The people in the courtyard were startled and all looked over.

Zhao Jingli quickly coughed lightly and went inside.

"Big brother."

"Big brother."

Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Rurui were both a little uncomfortable, wondering how long Zhao Jingli had been there and whether he had heard what they were saying.

Some time ago, Zhao Jingli took control of the second wife's household and successfully established his authority there.

Now, in the eyes of Zhao Ruyu and Zhao Rurui, he is an even more dignified figure than Zhao Yuanliang.

Zhao Yuanliang was a man without principles, always letting things slide. If his children made mistakes, he would at most scold them a few times and then let it go, without any real punishment.

But Zhao Jingli was different.

Two days ago, because Fu Yunlang returned, Zhao Ruyu spent more time with him at the teahouse after school and came home late. As a result, Zhao Jingli punished her by making her kneel for half an hour, not giving her dinner, and deducting half of her monthly allowance.

No matter what, the Zhao Family had never said anything about sending Zhao Ruyu away. But that night, Zhao Jingli directly declared that if Zhao Ruyu did anything that would damage the Zhao Family's reputation, she would be sent back to the Xu Family and would have nothing to do with the Zhao Family from then on.

Zhao Ruyu was terrified at the time and swore she would never dare to do it again.

Zhao Rurui had also been disciplined by Zhao Jingli Zhao Jingli, and she was always terrified of him.

Upon seeing Zhao Jingli, both of them felt somewhat guilty.

"Do you two have anything else? If not, I'd like to ask Fifth Sister for help with a math problem," Zhao Jingli asked the two of them.

"It's nothing, it's nothing," Zhao Rurui quickly waved her hand.

She smiled at Zhao Ruxi, "Then you go ahead with your work, Fifth Sister. I'm going to visit Third Sister. It's been so long since I've seen her."

She didn't Zhao Ruyu, and turned to leave.

"I'll go take a look too," Zhao Ruyu said, following behind Zhao Rurui as they left Slender Bamboo Courtyard.

Zhao Jingli looked at Zhao Ruxi: "Did they make things difficult for you?"

Zhao Ruxi shook her head, thought for a moment, and said, "Sixth Sister hasn't reached marriageable age yet, and she's eager to marry Young Master Fu Er, so she won't cause any trouble for now. But Fourth Sister, I see she's quite anxious. Second Uncle doesn't manage things, so you'd better take care of Fourth Sister's marriage to avoid any problems."

Zhao Jingli's brows furrowed deeply.

After all, he was only a fourteen-year-old boy. It was alright to let him manage the household chores, since there were housekeepers and matrons to ask him if he didn't understand something. But arranging a marriage for his sister was really too much for him.

"Does your aunt know any good families who could arrange a marriage for your fourth sister?" he asked.

Zhao Ruxi shook her head. "Grandmother's health hasn't been good for the past six months, and Mother rarely goes out. She declines all invitations to banquets that come to our house whenever possible."

Previously, Lady Zhu enjoyed attending banquets, mostly for the purpose of arranging marriages for her children. Later, she discovered that Zhao Ruxi's marriage was not a problem at all, and that her path as a scholar and a member of the elite was different from that of other young ladies. Moreover, attending a banquet at the Prince of Zhennan's Residence would cause some trouble and disputes, so she stopped attending banquets altogether.

Zhao Jingli often visited the eldest son's family and was familiar with the situation of the Earl's mansion, so he knew that what Zhao Ruxi said was true.

"Grandmother and parents all think it would be more suitable for Fourth Sister to marry a newly appointed scholar. I imagine they just mentioned this to Second Uncle and Fourth Sister herself. But I think Fourth Sister is a bit too ambitious. She always wants to marry a man of noble status, wealthy family, and promising future. Mother really can't arrange such a marriage. You can see that from Third Sister's marriage." Zhao Ruxi said.