Changyu answered honestly, "A classmate from the academy, Li Huaian, grandson of Grand Scholar Li."
The wind rustled the carriage curtains, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across Xie Zheng's jade-like face. His eyes were half-lowered, long lashes veiling his expression as he asked ambiguously, "Are you two close?"
Changyu instinctively straightened her posture.
Only one thought crossed her mind: if he found out she often copied Li Huaian's arithmetic homework with Qi Zhu, she'd definitely get scolded.
She immediately cleared her throat lightly, "We're just classmates, sharing ordinary schoolmate camaraderie."
Xie Zheng narrowed his eyes slightly at her transparent attempt to cover up.
The restlessness in his chest intensified, and he closed his eyes again in irritation.
Seeing his silence, Changyu ventured another question, "Since your return, have you visited Aunt Xie yet?"
A faint "hmph" escaped Xie Zheng's nostrils.
His tone was decidedly cold.
Changyu realized she'd asked a foolish question—of course his first visit would be to Madam Xie. She remained silent for the rest of the journey.
Fortunately, the carriage soon arrived at the Meng residence. Before alighting, Changyu politely asked, "Would you like to come in for some tea, brother?"
Calling him "brother" still felt somewhat awkward on her tongue.
Xie Zheng finally opened his eyes, "I need to visit my uncle's residence first. I'll pay respects to Aunt Meng another day."
Changyu nodded, waving as she jumped down from the carriage, "Goodbye then, brother!"
Xie Zheng's brow seemed to furrow slightly. Without a word, he dropped the carriage curtain and departed.
Watching the receding carriage from the entrance, Changyu murmured with confusion, "Did his temper grow along with his height?"
Upon entering the residence, a snow-white bundle came flying toward her.
"Sister! Sister! There's a huge bird at home!" After hugging Changning's legs tightly, the child excitedly gestured with outstretched hands.
Looking toward the courtyard, Changyu indeed spotted a Gyrfalcon confined in a cage.
It wasn't the one Xie Zheng had used to deliver letters to her—this one was slightly smaller, seemingly not fully grown, pure white with only slightly mottled tail feathers that made it quite distinctive.
Her face lit up with delight as she hurriedly asked Meng Lihua, "Mother, where did this come from?"
Meng Lihua smiled, "The young Marquis sent it, said it's a gift for you."
The smile on Changyu's face faded slightly. Approaching the cage, she reached out to stroke the Gyrfalcon's head, but the fierce bird immediately tried to peck her.
Meng Lihua exclaimed urgently, "Don't touch it! The young Marquis said this Gyrfalcon is unfamiliar with people, needs to be tamed with a whistle—"
Changyu grabbed the Gyrfalcon by its neck and smacked its head twice. The bird let out a piercing cry, losing several neck feathers in its struggle.
When Changyu reached to pet its head again, the bird stood with ruffled neck feathers, not daring to move.
She turned to Meng Lihua and declared, "It's behaved now."
Meng Lihua: "..."
After playing with the Gyrfalcon for a while, Changyu returned to her own courtyard, climbing onto the roof to lie on the blue tiles while gazing blankly at the clear blue sky.
She truly didn't like the capital at all.
There were too many rules here, too many complications.
When she first attended the Imperial College, the Prince of Gong's son was also there. Though he didn't dare provoke her openly, he secretly forbade other girls her age from associating with her.The daughter of a Record Keeper who had become somewhat close to her was bullied and harassed by him leading a group of young lackeys. Unable to swallow her anger, she beat up the son of Prince Gong again. However, this matter was only resolved after Madam Xie intervened to plead on her behalf, and her mother took her to apologize to the son of Prince Gong.
Her mother punished her by making her kneel on a stone slab to reflect on her mistakes, but she insisted she had done nothing wrong.
Her mother’s expression at the time seemed deeply sorrowful, yet she still told her, "A Yu, in this world, sometimes it is also wrong to act beyond one’s capabilities when one lacks the ability."
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