Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 416: Pursuing Education (Part 3)

Lu Xuan’s handsome face turned from white to red, then red to white, looking extremely unpleasant. In the end, he didn’t say anything.

Jiang Shaohua patiently waited for a moment: "Does Father have anything else to say?"

This word "Father" lacked any respect, and was even terribly mocking.

What kind of father in the world is as useless as him! Bowing to his daughter’s orders, and now even the right to discipline his other children has been stripped away.

Lu Xuan was filled with indignation and fury, but what he uttered were just two words, "No more."

Jiang Shaohua gave a casual nod, and smiled at the uneasy Aunt Mei and her daughter: "You heard it too, Father has been persuaded by me. After returning, you can start packing your luggage. Coincidentally, in a few days, I as the Commandery Princess will go on patrol, and my first stop will be Ye County, with Hua accompanying me."

Aunt Mei was so excited, her tears welled up, and she hurriedly nodded in agreement, then curtsied and withdrew.

Lu Xuan also cupped his hands and withdrew.

The family of four left the main hall in silence and returned to the courtyard.

Aunt Mei, well aware of Lu Xuan’s temper, knew she wouldn’t escape physical and verbal humiliation. Just as she entered the courtyard, she urged Lu Ying and Lu Ruohua, the siblings: "You are both about to go out to study, go back to your rooms to pack now."

Lu Ruohua dawdled and didn’t want to leave, but upon seeing the anxiety and pleading in their mother’s eyes, Lu Ying pursed his lips tightly and pulled his sister away.

Lu Xuan glared coldly at Aunt Mei, who followed him into the house like a dough ready to be kneaded, without any temper.

...

"Brother, is Mother going to be beaten again?"

Inside, Lu Ruohua’s little face was full of worry and fear, clutching Lu Ying’s sleeve tightly.

Aunt Mei endured greatly, never telling her children about the scolding or beatings she endured daily. The bruises were hidden under her clothes. Although when she was younger, Lou Ruohua didn’t understand, in the past year or two, she had become sensible and knew that her mother’s life was not as decent as it appeared to outsiders.

Lu Ying was extremely heavy-hearted, replying softly, "Mother doesn’t want us to follow because she doesn’t want us to see it firsthand. Just pretend you don’t know."

Lu Ruohua’s eyes turned red, like a rabbit. The words she spoke, however, were very surprising: "When we grow up, we’ll take Mother away."

Lu Ying was momentarily stunned, then smiled bitterly: "Sister, Mother is Father’s concubine. Unless Father decides to dismiss her, she has to stay here to serve Father’s needs."

To put it bluntly, she doesn’t even have the right to divorce. The two of them, even less reason to take their Mother away.

Lu Ruohua bit her lip hard, a determination flashing in her eyes: "There will be a way. Father also fears Sister. As long as we listen to Sister, she will back us up in the future."

This made sense.

Lu Ying thought for a moment and nodded: "Now we are still young and can’t do anything else. First, we should study well. In the future, I will pass the Imperial Examination, and you will succeed in your studies, then we can seek Sister’s help."

Lu Ruohua nodded vigorously.

That night, Aunt Mei did not appear.

The next day, Aunt Mei claimed to be ill and did not come out. When the siblings went to visit, they were turned away by the maid: "Aunt has caught a cold and is afraid of spreading it to the Young Master and Miss. Please, Young Master and Miss, return."

It wasn’t until five days later, just when the siblings were about to leave after packing, that Aunt Mei appeared.

Aunt Mei’s face was covered with a thick layer of powder, barely covering the gradually fading finger marks. She earnestly instructed her children to study hard after leaving and to write home often.

Lu Ruohua, with tears in her eyes, wanted to ask something but held back under her brother’s gaze, softly saying, "Don’t worry Mother, Brother and I will definitely study hard."

Aunt Mei lifted her lips, her eyes filled with relief.

As long as her children have a good future, her suffering and grievances don’t matter much.

Lu Ying was to go to the Prefecture School, accompanied by Lu Dalang. There were also more than ten Prince Mansion Guards traveling with him for protection. Lu Ruohua was to go to Ye County Women’s School, boarding a carriage that would set off with Jiang Shaohua.

Lu Xuan, the Lu Junma who had not shown himself, came to see them off as the Commandery Princess was about to depart.

Over the past few days, Lu Xuan seemed to have completely forgotten what happened that day, and with a smiling face, he wished the Commandery Princess well. In front of everyone, he even lovingly admonished Lu Ruohua: "The Commandery Princess has arranged for you to study at Ye County School. You must work hard and live up to the Commandery Princess’s high hopes and expectations for you."

Lu Ruohua, from the bottom of her heart, didn’t want to respond, but in front of everyone, she couldn’t be disrespectful, so she nodded in agreement.

Jiang Shaohua observed this scene, smirking slightly.

Having once shown weakness, there would be a second and third time. Lu Xuan’s reaction was not surprising at all.

"Set out!" Jiang Shaohua ordered succinctly.

With the command, dozens of trusted aides rode ahead, cutting an imposing figure.

Lu Ruohua, sitting in the carriage, occasionally poked her head out to look, her little face flushed with excitement. Especially when she heard the citizens cheering and sending off the Commandery Princess warmly, Lu Ruohua inexplicably joined in and shouted a cheer for the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua, with sharp hearing, caught the cheer from the carriage behind, and couldn’t help but smile.

...

Two days later, the groups arrived at Ye County.

A Commandery Princess’s visitation was a fairly common event, so after the initial excitement, the citizens went about their individual ways.

Jiang Shaohua personally led Lu Ruohua to the Ye County Women’s School. Upon seeing the spacious, tidy schoolhouse and hearing the sound of girls reading aloud from within, Lu Ruohua’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

Li Ying and Cui Wenxiu, the two female teachers, came to greet them personally.

Regarding Lu Ruohua’s enrollment at Ye County, the two female teachers were, of course, extremely welcoming. Although Lu Ruohua was born of a concubine, she was the Commandery Princess’s half-sister. The Commandery Princess personally bringing her sister to study at Ye County School was an opportunity for the school to gain fame.

In fact, over the past few days, people had already been inquiring about it. As Jiang Shaohua had anticipated, quite a few wealthy families began considering sending their daughters to study, to be classmates with the Commandery Princess’s sister. How distinguished that would be.

Li Ying and Cui Wenxiu were eager to make Ye County School the best women’s school in Da Liang!

Cui Wenxiu personally tested Lu Ruohua once and praised her intelligence highly. For it was known that girls from ordinary families often entered school without knowing how to write. Lu Ruohua had been taught by Mr. since the age of five and had already studied for three full years. Her writing, when she picked up a pen, was particularly neat and beautiful.

Cui Wenxiu smiled and said, "Miss Ruohua has a good foundation and is smart and willing to learn. Let her go straight into the top class!"

At the Women’s School, there were four classrooms in total, with the top class being the best.

Jiang Shaohua nodded with a smile: "Regarding her studies, Mr. Cui can make the decisions. Teach her as you would anyone else, no special treatment is necessary."

Cui Wenxiu nodded and agreed, then suddenly solemnly bowed: "At the end of last year, the Meng Family sent my daughter to Ye County. This was all thanks to the Commandery Princess supporting me. Thank you, Commandery Princess."