The land Xiao Yan had chosen for the academy was located in a quieter area in the southern part of the city, away from the bustling markets. From Jiyun Alley, it took a carriage ride of two cups of tea’s time to reach it. This area had once been a “slum” in the capital, home to beggars and impoverished citizens. Xiao Yan had invested a large sum of money to acquire it, annexing everything up to the outskirts of the city within the academy’s grounds. Additionally, he had established a shelter and a charity hall elsewhere to house those who’d been displaced, making the relocation a joyful affair rather than a source of resentment.
The few remaining buildings within the area were already being dismantled, and workers from the Capital Construction Bureau had set up barricades. As their carriage approached, they could hear the energetic shouts of laborers at work. No sooner had they arrived than Song Ru, who’d already taken a tour of the grounds, hurried over to greet them.
“Sister!” Song Ru’s cheeks were rosy, her hair no longer dull and dry, and in her pink dress, she looked like a blooming flower as she ran over.
When she noticed the unfamiliar face with Song Tangning, her smile quickly faded, her gaze shifting with curiosity.
Song Tangning took her hand. “This is Lady Qian. Just call her Sister Ah-Yue.”
Song Ru’s large eyes brightened with recognition. She knew of this Lady Qian, a dear friend of her sister’s who had spoken up for her during the falling out with the Song family. Her smile returned as she greeted Qian Qiyue warmly, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sister Ah-Yue.”
Qian Qiyue, ever the affectionate type, pulled Song Ru close and playfully pinched her cheek.
Seeing the girl shrink back like a startled little animal, hands flying to cover her cheek and her eyes wide, Qian Qiyue turned to Song Tangning with a grin. “Your little sister is just as fun as you said she’d be.”
Song Tangning gave her a gentle glare. “Don’t bully Ah-Ru.”
Qian Qiyue laughed. “This isn’t bullying—it’s love! Our little Ah-Ru is so adorable. She’s like a flower, just begging to be cherished. Isn’t that right, Ah-Ru?”
Song Ru had never been complimented like this before and immediately blushed, trying to hide behind Song Tangning while gripping her sleeve shyly. Her white earlobes turned bright red, though she couldn’t help sneaking glances at the vibrant, pretty Lady Qian.
Just as she looked up, she caught Qian Qiyue’s playful, twinkling gaze. Startled, she quickly looked away, but curiosity got the better of her, and she sneaked another look only to see that Qian Qiyue had already turned to chat with Song Tangning. Song Ru let out a tiny sigh, and a small, shy smile dimpled her cheeks.
“Ah-Ru, come here!”
Song Tangning called, and Song Ru quickly lifted her skirt and trotted over to join them.
The academy grounds were expansive, and after the old buildings were cleared away, workers came and went, carrying out piles of rubble. The Capital Construction Bureau officials noticed Song Tangning’s arrival and quickly approached to greet her. After showing the three young ladies around, one of them pointed to a specific direction.
“Here, near the city center, is a spacious open area,” he explained. “Director Xiao intends for this to serve as the academy’s main gate. It’ll buffer the noise from the outside without making it seem too remote. When the academy is completed, the Wende Monument will stand directly across from the main gate, allowing it to be seen as soon as visitors arrive.”
“The terrain around here is flat, so constructing the main buildings will be straightforward. We’ve also prepared some architectural blueprints,” he added, offering the drawings. “If you’d like, County Princess, please look them over. If there’s anything you’d like adjusted or added, just let us know.”
Song Tangning took the blueprints and gathered around with Qian Qiyue and Song Ru to study them.
The plans were filled with densely packed sketches and notes, with various buildings carefully outlined. Though they couldn’t understand all the labels, the general layout and structure of the academy were clear.
Qian Qiyue exclaimed, “Just how big is this academy?”
At first glance, the numerous courtyards and halls were overwhelming—main gates, secondary gates, lecture halls, dormitories, and even a temple and ceremonial grounds. Outside the dormitories, there were plans for bamboo groves, flower gardens, lakeside pavilions, and even a small mountain, stretching all the way to the city walls. This academy would be several times larger than the biggest school in the capital.
The Capital Construction Bureau official smiled, “Once completed, the academy grounds will cover nearly thirty acres.”
Qian Qiyue’s jaw dropped, and before she could express her astonishment, he continued, “That’s just the central area of the academy. Including the surrounding gardens, farmland, and study fields, it will occupy around forty acres in total.”
Song Ru, who had only recently begun studying arithmetic, didn’t have a strong sense of what this meant, but Qian Qiyue was astounded. This wasn’t a patch of land on the outskirts—it was forty acres within the capital itself! Even in the relatively cheaper southern district, such a vast, continuous piece of land would cost a fortune.
Qian Qiyue turned to Song Tangning, half-joking, “Does your brother still need a sister?”
Song Tangning’s smile was soft, her dimples appearing sweetly. “No need.”
Qian Qiyue gave a theatrical sigh, feigning distress. “Oh, Ah-Ru, your sister is so mean!”
She pulled Song Ru into a hug, pressing the girl’s face to her chest. Song Ru’s cheeks turned bright red, but instead of pushing away the clingy, pouting Qian Qiyue, she gently patted her back. “Don’t cry, Sister Ah-Yue. You have a brother too.”
This only made Qian Qiyue feel even more dejected. Her own brother only liked to tease her and begrudged her even a few taels of silver for spending money.
Song Tangning’s smile only widened as she listened to Qian Qiyue’s jealous grumbling, though she herself was rather surprised. Even though she had known the academy would occupy a significant area, she hadn’t expected it to be this large. Holding the blueprint, a warmth filled her heart, and she looked up to instruct, "Build the academy as shown in the plans, but leave two separate courtyards detached from the main buildings. Make sure they’re quiet, and add a back path to enter the courtyards directly without passing through the main gate."
The official hastily made a note of her request. "Is there anything else, Your Highness?"
Tangning shook her head, “I don’t know much about construction, so please proceed as the Capital Construction Bureau sees fit. However, I insist the finest materials be used for the entire academy, particularly the library. The wood must be durable, resistant to rot and pests, and especially for the library—it must be able to withstand time and remain moisture-free.”
Though the academy was being established under the Rong family’s name, its true purpose was to build prestige for her brother and to provide a place to educate future scholars of the Great Wei dynasty. Tangning, with her lofty ambitions, had invested much into this academy, and she couldn’t bear the thought of it collapsing one day into a laughingstock instead of becoming a revered site.
The official nodded immediately, saying, “Rest assured, County Princess. Director Xiao has already issued strict instructions that every tree, every flower, and every stone in this academy is to be of the best quality.”
Knowing it was Xiao Yan’s command, Tangning felt reassured.
After the three had finished touring the incomplete academy, they prepared to leave. As they walked out, they continued chatting about what they had seen. Hang Li had already gone ahead to fetch the carriage, while Qian Qiyue, with Song Tangning and Song Ru on her arm, laughed and joked as they walked. Just as they exited the Capital Construction Bureau’s designated area, the three were standing before the future main gate, chatting about stopping by Xijue Tower on their way back to try the newly launched pastries.
Qian Qiyue glanced around casually, but suddenly her face darkened.
"What’s wrong?"
Noticing Qian Qiyue’s shift in expression, Tangning started to turn to look over her shoulder, but Qiyue grabbed her arm firmly. “Tangning, I just remembered—I missed something back there. Let’s go take another look.”
She exchanged a quick look with Song Ru, who caught on immediately and chimed in, “Sister, I want to see the spot for the flower garden too. That way I can plant some flowering crabapples for you later. Let’s go back and have another look.”
Tangning looked puzzled. “The academy’s not even fully built yet. What’s there to see?”
"We’ll have plenty to see!” Qian Qiyue didn’t give Tangning a chance to ask further questions, quickly pulling her along. “We need to plan out which flowers to plant so that they’re ready for transplanting. Some species are rare, and I can even ask my mother to help you find them.”
She turned Tangning around and gently nudged her forward, while Song Ru linked arms with Tangning to block her view of the figure standing outside.
Lu Zhinian had been waiting outside for some time, his gaze fixed on the academy’s grounds. The moment he spotted the figure he had yearned to see day and night, a sharp pang pierced his head, which hadn’t ached in days. Yet, along with the pain came a mix of guilt and relief, his heart pounding as he nervously clenched his fists, already rehearsing what he would say to Tangning to beg her forgiveness.
But just as he braced himself, the group suddenly turned and started walking back the other way.
Alarmed, Lu Zhinian hurried forward, calling out, "Tangning!"
Qian Qiyue draped herself over Tangning, half-covering her ears in a playful gesture, while raising her voice to drown him out. “I think crabapples alone would be a bit plain. What if we plant some peonies and hibiscus as well? Magnolias would be lovely too…”
“Tangning!!” Lu Zhinian’s voice grew louder, the strain scratching at his throat.
Tangning stopped, frowning. “Did someone call me?”
“No, you misheard…” Qian Qiyue replied hastily.
“Tangning!!!”
This time, she heard it loud and clear, and as she turned with a furrowed brow, it was clear she could no longer be deterred.
Qian Qiyue shot a glare over her shoulder at Lu Zhinian, who was now jogging towards them, calling Tangning’s name. She muttered under her breath, “Damn nuisance. Why won’t he go away?”
Song Ru’s face turned serious too. Seeing Lu Zhinian heading straight for them, she instinctively stepped in front of Tangning, as if to shield her with her small frame, baring her teeth like a little guard dog. “What do you want?!”
Lu Zhinian came to an abrupt halt in front of Tangning, ignoring the small barrier Song Ru tried to create. He looked at Tangning with a mixture of love and regret on his pale, gaunt face, as though she were a vision that had haunted his dreams.
The cries that had filled his mind quieted, and the ceaseless turmoil in his thoughts stilled, as if a sudden peace had washed over him. For the first time in days, his mind felt clear, and the pain receded.
He froze, momentarily overwhelmed, his gaze on Tangning growing more intense.
"Tangning…" His voice was hoarse, and he reflexively reached out, wanting to touch that fair face, so familiar yet so distant from his dreams.
But before he could get close, Qian Qiyue swatted his hand away with a sharp slap.
Stepping protectively in front of Tangning, her usually bright eyes turned icy cold. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Song Ru joined in, her small face set with fury as she glared at Lu Zhinian, “Are you here to hurt my sister?”
Seeing both girls’ protective stances and Tangning’s cold, distant gaze, Lu Zhinian quickly withdrew his hand, lowering his eyes in guilt. “I would never… I could never hurt Tangning. I just…” he murmured, his gaze still on Tangning, “I missed you so much, Tangning…”
Qian Qiyue rolled her eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t get stuck. "Lu Zhinian, are you still dreaming, or did prison knock the shame clean out of you? Who is Tangning to you, exactly, that you think you even have the right to miss her?"
She nearly spat, disgusted by the thought that he’d dare to taint Tangning’s good name.
Lu Zhinian paled at the rebuke but stubbornly kept his gaze fixed on Song Tangning.
"Tangning…" His eyes, filled with longing, lingered on the image of the girl who had haunted his dreams with her cries night after night, and his voice brimmed with desperate pleading. "Can we stop fighting? Please…"
The way he looked at her, so full of so-called “affection,” nearly made Qian Qiyue lose her breakfast. She was just about to lash out when Tangning gently held her hand.
“Ah-Yue, let me handle this.”
“What are you going to do? He’s shameless; he doesn’t deserve even a word from you!”
Tangning gave her a quiet look, and though she said nothing, her gaze was steady and resolute. Qian Qiyue understood her intention.
With a reluctant stomp of her foot, Qiyue shot Lu Zhinian one last venomous glare, but she backed away, though still fuming. She’d seen Tangning suffer for years over this man, had watched her friend chase after him, only to be hurt again and again. She feared Lu Zhinian’s begging would somehow soften Tangning’s heart and undo all the progress she’d made in finally leaving him behind.
Song Ru, ever obedient to her elder sister, also stepped back. But she kept her eyes firmly fixed on Lu Zhinian, as if her small frame alone could shield her sister from him.
Tangning stood before him, her chin lifted as she looked at the man in front of her, now stripped of his usual polished appearance. His face was pale, shadows heavy under his eyes. Although he’d changed into fresh robes and tidied his hair, no amount of grooming could hide the decay and desolation emanating from him.
Noticing her scrutiny, Lu Zhinian grew uneasy and murmured, “Tangning…”
"Third Young Master Lu," Tangning cut him off coolly, her tone icy. "Assistant Minister Lu and Her Majesty have already approved the annulment of our engagement. We are nothing to each other now. For you to address me by my personal name so casually—is this the noble conduct expected from a family such as yours?"
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