Guangwen Hall was the academy in the capital of the Ming Qi.

The nobles and officials of Ming Qi often sent their sons and daughters to Guangwen Hall, where the teachers were renowned scholars and talented individuals. Young aristocratic children considered it an honor to be admitted to Guangwen Hall.

Shen Miao was also studying at Guangwen Hall.

Unfortunately, both Shen Xin and his wife came from military families, and her elder brother Shen Qiu would get headaches at the mere thought of studying. Shen Miao had been raised by Old Madam Shen, who was a former singing girl and couldn’t recognize a single character. Shen Miao’s early education came from Third Madam Chen Ruoqiu. Chen Ruoqiu was from a scholarly family, but she had taught Shen Miao using obscure and difficult textbooks. Children naturally have a strong desire to play, and after all that teaching, Shen Miao had developed a complete aversion to reading and writing.

Seeing that Shen Miao disliked studying, Chen Ruoqiu never forced her, instead teaching her to focus on food, clothing, and material comforts, allowing her to live the life of a pampered young lady. Later, when she reached the age to attend Guangwen Hall, Shen Miao couldn’t keep up with the teachers’ lessons, performing worse than even the Level One students, and eventually became the bottom of her class. Gradually, Shen Miao grew to dislike studying even more and became known throughout the capital for her ignorance and stupidity.

Among the three legitimate daughters of the Shen family, Shen Yue was the most renowned for her talents, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Though Shen Qing wasn’t as outstanding as Shen Yue, she still performed admirably, especially in needlework, and was also at the top of her class in accounting. For someone who would eventually marry into another family and become the lady of the house, being good at accounting would win the favor of her future in-laws, so Shen Qing also earned a reputation for being capable.

The more outstanding Shen Yue and Shen Qing were, the more Shen Miao appeared to lack any talents. She was even considered inferior to Shen Dongling, the concubine-born daughter of the First House.

In the carriage, Jingzhe asked, “Miss, why aren’t you traveling with First Miss and Second Miss today?”

Usually, Shen Miao would always share a carriage with Shen Qing and Shen Yue. Shen Miao felt more courageous with her sisters accompanying her. As for Shen Yue and Shen Qing, perhaps they felt that having a stupid sister as a foil naturally made them appear more excellent.

But now, Shen Miao didn’t even want to pretend anymore.

“We are not people under the same roof, and our paths lead in opposite directions. How could we travel together?”

Jingzhe stuck out her tongue, not understanding why her mistress’s words were becoming increasingly incomprehensible to her. However, she thought this was good. Shen Miao had always been too timid, allowing the Second and Third Houses to dictate everything. Now, after falling into the water once, she seemed to have developed her own opinions. This was as it should be—the legitimate daughter of the First House, whose status was inferior to no one, should not be treated like a mere servant.

In another carriage, Shen Yue lifted the curtain slightly to peek behind them and said softly, “Eldest Sister, Fifth Sister is following behind us.”

“She’s deliberately being difficult with me,” Shen Qing snorted coldly. In front of Shen Yue, she never concealed her contempt for Shen Miao. “Let her be. In the end, she’s the one who will be embarrassed, not me.”

Shen Yue said with concern, “But she already caught a cold, and besides, the matter with Prince Jin…”

“Shen Yue?” Shen Qing said, “Do you think I don’t know what’s in your heart? Stop pretending to be a good person. If you truly cared about her, you would go sit in her carriage. Why bother discussing it with me?”

Shen Yue bit her lip, lowered her head, and said nothing more.

After the carriages traveled for about half an hour, they finally arrived at Guangwen Hall.

It was still early, and the teachers hadn’t started their lessons yet. Most of the Level Two students had arrived and were chatting in the classroom. As soon as Shen Yue and Shen Qing arrived, several girls enthusiastically greeted them.

In Guangwen Hall, Shen Yue was the most talented among the girls. Being beautiful with a humble and gentle temperament, she naturally received everyone’s admiration. Although Shen Qing’s scholarly achievements didn’t match Shen Yue’s, she was capable and socially adept, making her popular among the noble young ladies as well.

A girl in pink clothing asked, “Miss Yue, where is Shen Miao today?” Usually, Shen Miao would follow Shen Yue and Shen Qing like a maid, so her absence today was somewhat strange.

“Perhaps she’s too ashamed to come,” said a beautiful young lady with a rather loud voice and a mocking expression. “I heard she fell into the water while secretly watching Prince Jin. Is it because her cold hasn’t improved, or is she too embarrassed to show her face?”

“Pei Lan, it’s not like that…” Shen Yue shook her head.

“You always protect your sister too much,” Yi Pei Lan said. “Such a stupid person doesn’t even seem like she’s from your Shen family, yet you constantly shield her. But she truly opened my eyes—usually appearing so timid and soft, yet becoming incredibly brave when it comes to Prince Jin. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she was a girl from some humble family with no proper upbringing.”

These words were rather harsh. Hearing this, Shen Qing smiled and said, “Fifth Sister was just being mischievous for a moment.”

“I think it’s because General Shen and Madam Shen aren’t around to teach her,” said another young lady with a fallen-horse bun. “Without proper guidance, naturally she doesn’t know the basic principles of propriety and shame that every young lady should know.”

“Cai Xuan’s words are incorrect,” Shen Yue gently spoke up. “Although my eldest uncle and aunt aren’t in the capital, Fifth Sister was raised by Grandmother, and my mother and Second Aunt also frequently instructed her. She was not neglected in her upbringing.”

The implication was that Shen Miao was born without a sense of shame.

Sure enough, after Shen Yue’s statement, Yi Pei Lan said, “It’s strange. Raised in the same family, Miss Yue and Miss Qing, yet you and Shen Miao are as different as heaven and earth. This must be what the teacher meant by ‘you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.'” As she spoke, she began to giggle, and the circle of noble young ladies around her all laughed along. Even some of the young men couldn’t help but glance over.

The next moment, someone called out, “Look, Shen Miao is here!”

Everyone looked toward the entrance with anticipation for the show.

They saw a young lady slowly walking in, dressed in a deep red double-lattice goose and wild goose outfit with embroidered threads, covered by a deep blue brocade cape. Such colors would be too mature for most girls, especially since Shen Miao had round, soft features that could easily make her look like a child wearing adult clothes.

Her steps were slow, the hem of her skirt remaining perfectly still. Each step, though light, carried great weight. Inexplicably, there was a sense of dignified elegance about her. With her chin slightly raised and her expression unperturbed, her once puppy-like eyes now resembled deep, bottomless pools, containing all her power, like a fierce beast with its claws and fangs concealed.

Her features remained pleasing, appearing cute due to their roundness, but now without a trace of stupidity. Although she had not yet fully matured, her dignified bearing unexpectedly didn’t seem out of place.

She didn’t look like a young girl, but rather like… those high-ranking noble ladies, or perhaps like a decisive father who ruled the household.

The classroom gradually fell silent.