His period of mourning was also over, so he no longer wore plain clothes. Today he wore a newly made spring outfit in light green fabric with dark satin patterns. It was a style Madam liked, saying it looked full of youthful vigor.
After breakfast, he went to the front courtyard to see Madam.
Zhang Yizhu had not changed much in recent years. She was still well-maintained, looking gentle and amiable. Seeing Lu Shuo arrive, she smiled and tapped the seat beside her: "Here, sit."
Lu Shuo bowed and sat down.
Zhang Yizhu got straight to the point: "Lu Shuo, I called you here today to discuss something. As you know, Sir Jiang hasn't been in good health lately. On Pei'er's side, it doesn't matter much, since from last year Sir Jiang told me he has limited ability and can't teach Pei'er much anymore. Now he just accompanies her in reading various books. But it's different for you. Sir Jiang's poor health really affects your studies. And now that you're older and have lived in the capital for so many years, it's time for you to go study at the Imperial Academy. What do you think?"
Lu Shuo's throat tightened, and his fists slowly clenched on his knees.
He had vaguely expected this before coming, but when Madam actually said it, he still couldn't avoid feeling a hollow emptiness in his chest.
He was already fifteen, and Helan Pei was fourteen. Logically, they should no longer continue studying together. Especially on days when Sir Jiang was on leave, they would still go to the Eastern Corridor Side Room to study on their own—mainly for Lu Shuo's convenience, so he could ask Helan Pei for help with any questions he didn't understand.
Since last year, he had been somewhat afraid that the Lord and Madam would send him to the Imperial Academy, but logically he knew it was inevitable. So every day he studied with her felt like stolen time.
Now that it was settled, he no longer had to steal.
"I'll follow Madam's arrangements," Lu Shuo said, lowering his eyes.
"That's good. I've inquired, and the Imperial Academy just admitted a batch of new students this year. It's the perfect time to enroll you. There won't be any issues keeping up," Zhang Yizhu said. "But there's a small problem: many of these new students are from the capital's local families, so they were admitted at the right age. You might be a year or two older than them, but that's no big deal. There are also children from commoner families who passed the entrance exam. Don't worry."
Lu Shuo said, "Madam, rest assured. I don't mind that."
Ever since he learned to ride a horse, he had been forced to go to the racetrack several times. Sure enough, there were many young masters there. When they heard he was the adopted son of the Duke of Xuan, they all showed surprise and curiosity.
This made him uncomfortable, but perhaps because news of the Song Duke Mansion incident had spread, or because he now had Helan Chang and Helan Rong accompanying him, no one had bullied him like that Young Master Du.
Some were curious about him and specifically came to befriend him. But after interacting with him and finding him unremarkable and ordinary, they lost interest. Next time they met, they would just exchange simple greetings and that was it.
So Lu Shuo had not made any friends.
He told himself he didn't need to mind, because he was not on the same path as them.
"If you encounter any problems at the Imperial Academy, feel free to go find Second and Third," Zhang Yizhu said with a smile.
Lu Shuo asked, "Do the Second and Third Young Masters know about this?"
"I'll tell them when they come back this time. They'll surely be happy about it," Zhang Yizhu said. "Those two have finally become more sensible in the past year. They don't cause trouble anymore. Thank goodness."
Lu Shuo pressed his lips together.
Everyone in this family was growing up.
Helan Chang and Helan Rong were no longer as mischievous as before. They didn't like fighting anymore; at most, they would bicker and then stop.
Helan Zhen had performed well during his practical training at the Ministry of War. Half a year later, when a vacancy opened at the ministry, he filled it and became a minor secretary. Although the position was low, everyone knew it was only because Helan Zhen was too young; a bright future lay ahead.
The Xuan Duke Mansion was thriving, while its old rival, the Song Duke Mansion, had long been silent.
The Emperor and the Empress Dowager had been locked in a power struggle for several years, finally ending last year with the Empress Dowager completely relinquishing power and spending her days in the palace chanting Buddhist scriptures. Now the Emperor held all power and had thoroughly purged the Empress Dowager's faction. The Song Duke Mansion was severely weakened, and even that Young Master Du had not shown his face for a long time.
Those knots that had troubled him for so long seemed to be loosening with time.
Lu Shuo asked, "Do Sir Jiang and the Fourth Miss know as well?"
"I've already told them," Zhang Yizhu said. "Sir Jiang agrees. After all, the teachers at the Imperial Academy are more knowledgeable, and studying there will allow you to make more classmates, which will benefit your future. As for Pei'er..."
She paused and smiled. "Actually, Pei'er asked me before why I hadn't sent you to the Imperial Academy yet. She was afraid you'd fall behind."
Is that so? So the Fourth Miss had privately inquired about this matter.
He remembered that summer when he first arrived at the Duke Mansion, with the blazing sun and incessant cicadas. She had slowly written to him, saying he couldn't stay with her forever, and that he should go study at the Imperial Academy in the future, not be like her, cooped up at home.
After all these years, she still remembered this matter.
Lu Shuo was silent for a moment, then asked, "Then... should I go to the Eastern Corridor today?"
If the Duke Mansion had decided that he and the Fourth Miss would no longer study together, then would they never again sit in the same side room, huddled together reading and solving problems?
If he had known, he would have treasured yesterday's last moments...
"You can," Zhang Yizhu said casually. "You're not entering the Imperial Academy today. If you want to study, you can still continue."
Lu Shuo's eyes brightened.
"By the way, Pei'er should still have a few notebooks from the Imperial Academy that the Eldest Young Master gave her. Go ask her. If she's finished with them and no longer needs them, she can give them to you. You might find them useful," Zhang Yizhu said kindly.
Lu Shuo couldn't help the corners of his mouth lifting. He said, "Thank you, Madam. I would be very grateful for the Eldest Young Master's notebooks. Then... I'll take my leave now?"
Zhang Yizhu nodded. "Mm, go ahead."
Lu Shuo withdrew.
As soon as he left the courtyard, he quickened his pace, faster and faster, until he was almost jogging to the outside of the Eastern Corridor Side Room.
The door of the side room was open. He had arrived late because he had been talking with Madam, but Helan Pei was still sitting at her desk as usual, buried in a book.
Her brows were lowered, revealing half of her delicate profile. Fragile golden light fell on her through the window lattice, making her skin glow faintly.
Three years had passed. She had grown from a young girl into a slender maiden.
His chest heaved from the short run. He paused at the doorway to catch his breath before stepping inside.
Hearing his footsteps, Helan Pei looked up and gave him a gentle smile, the corners of her eyes curving into shallow arcs.