"Little one, are you in there? Brother's coming in~" The door creaked open, revealing a round, dark head peeking in.
Su Yunmo held her breath, composed her expression, and kicked the bloody bandages and porcelain bottle under the bed.
If only she could see her family.
But in her current state, she couldn't possibly approach them.
Su Siyuan chuckled as he closed the door, "Lü Luo said you brought back a very strange woman? That's not good, it could be dangerous."
Su Yunmo glanced at him, remaining silent.
Su Siyuan plastered a smile on his face and leaned closer, "You slept so early last night, I wanted to talk to you..."
"If you have something to say, say it directly," Su Yunmo frowned, a hint of impatience in her tone.
Su Siyuan stole a glance at her face, suppressing the urge to take a bite. "I've decided to accept you and be your brother!"
He patted his chest, expecting a grateful expression. "Don't misunderstand, it's not because you're cute that I'm accepting you, I just feel sorry for you."
He imagined she would be deeply moved by his words, perhaps even rush to call him brother, and then he could properly pinch her cheek!
Su Yunmo frowned and looked at him askance, "On what grounds?"
Su Siyuan froze, blinking his confused eyes.
She asked on what grounds?
Hey, this wasn't how it was supposed to go!
Su Yunmo scanned him from head to toe, "You're my follower. Do you think I would lower myself?"
Su Siyuan glared, "That doesn't count! You must have played a trick on me back then. No matter what, I'm going to be your brother!"
He refused to be a follower!
Su Yunmo didn't want to argue with this school-aged child; it was childish.
However, speaking of school, she remembered that Brother Chenxi and the others were also at the academy.
"Mother mentioned before that you attend the academy? Can I go?"
Ziyuan and the others couldn't enter the Marquis's mansion, and she couldn't either in this state. This was the only way she could get close to her brothers.
"You want to go to school?" Su Siyuan's face elongated, as if hearing those words made him nauseous. "You can, but you have to pass an exam first."
Fenghua Academy wasn't an ordinary school. It was filled with the children of royalty, nobility, and high officials, and the rules were very strict.
"How do I take the exam?"
"It's very simple, just get an exam paper, fill it out, and submit it. You'll know the results the same day," Su Siyuan said with anticipation. "Do you want brother to find someone to teach you?"
Su Yunmo batted away his round face, which was constantly striving to be a 'good brother.' "No need."
How difficult could a child's entrance exam be?
Su Siyuan pouted dejectedly, "Alright."
It seemed his sister was still angry about him tying her up. He needed to keep trying!
He must strive to pinch that soft, tender face... no, he must be a good brother!
As if to demonstrate his resolve and make Su Yunmo believe him,
Su Siyuan immediately jumped off the bed and ran out, "Wait for me, I'll be back soon."
After he left, Su Yunmo's hands slowly clenched.
Big Brother, Yuning, you must wait for me.
About half an hour later, Su Siyuan returned, holding an exam paper in his hand, looking very excited. "I found what you wanted."
Su Yunmo raised an eyebrow. This kid seemed like a softie, but he was quite efficient.
"Let me see," Su Yunmo took the exam paper and glanced at it.
There were five questions in total, not many.
The first question was about Confucian classics, using sentences from the "Four Books" as prompts, and the required essay format was the eight-legged essay.
"..."
Su Yunmo shot a look at Su Siyuan, who was smiling sheepishly.
"Did you get the wrong one?"
"No, I specifically found someone to get you the easiest one," Su Siyuan said, looking for praise.
Su Yunmo's lips twitched stiffly; she couldn't manage a smile and looked at the second question.
The second question was about poetry and prose. It required composing two miscellaneous essays according to the given title and rhyme scheme, one poem and one prose, in the style of "Five-Character Miscellaneous Prose."
Su Yunmo silently closed the exam paper, her heart screaming.
This was hardly an exam for children; it was akin to testing for the imperial examinations!
She rubbed her temples, a headache forming.
She had to give it her all!
An hour and a half later, she finally finished writing all the answers and submitted them.
Su Siyuan's expression was rather complicated when he saw the exam paper, as if he had eaten something foul. Su Yunmo didn't particularly want to look at his face.
The results would be out in a day.
Su Yunmo took advantage of this time to plant all the herbs she had bought.
No one could physically enter the Glazed Lock, so she only needed to hold the herbs, close her eyes, and let her consciousness enter to plant the medicine.
This was easier than doing it herself, but it was very taxing on her spirit, especially since her current body couldn't support such strenuous exertion. Even occasional use of her abilities left her exhausted.
She worked until late into the night before finishing planting all the herbs, and Su Yunmo, relieved, drifted off to sleep.
When morning came, Lü Luo knocked twice, but there was no response. Su Yunmo finally woke up near noon.
As Lü Luo helped Su Yunmo dress, she seemed a little displeased, "Miss, do you really want to keep Ziyuan? This servant feels she's not a good person."
She was a maidservant rescued by Miss, yet she didn't diligently serve Miss and had disappeared early in the morning. She seemed very unreliable.
Su Yunmo knew that Ziyuan had gone to find other brothers being pursued by the authorities. "From now on, she only needs to report to me. You don't need the people in the mansion to manage her."
Lü Luo pursed her lips and said, "Yes," her tone a little sour.
"Has Su Siyuan been here?"
"He has. He left a letter and went," Lü Luo wanted to remind her that she should call him 'Third Brother,' but then swallowed her words.
"Bring it to me."
Lü Luo handed over the envelope and opened it, pulling out the letter and handing it over. "Third Young Master was very angry when he left, saying he would definitely find a way."
Su Yunmo opened the envelope. A large "FAIL" was stamped on it.
As expected.
Su Yunmo sighed, regretting not studying harder in the past.
For Su Siyuan to find a way, he would have to steal the exam answers.
"Little girl, this is your room, right?" The door was pushed open, and a half-grown boy of about eighteen barged in.
He was dressed in fine silk, with a dark green jade pendant hanging from his waist. His hair was tied up high. Although young, he carried an air of nonchalance.
"Second Young Master? Are you looking for Miss? Miss hasn't finished her morning ablutions yet."
Su Siqi leaped over Lü Luo and walked to Su Yunmo's side. He leaned down to examine her closely, stroking his chin as if observing something.
Although he was not much older than Su Yunmo, he was half a head taller. His probing gaze carried a subtle maturity, like that of an adult.
With just one look, Su Yunmo knew that this second brother was much more difficult to deal with than that brat Su Siyuan.
"You're Mo Mo, aren't you?" Su Siqi reached out and pinched her cheek, saying with satisfaction, "The feel is good. Call me Second Brother, let me hear it."
Lü Luo quickly stepped forward, "Second Young Master, please be careful. Miss is shy."
Miss was different from ordinary children. Third Young Master had fussed all day yesterday and hadn't heard a single 'Third Brother.' Second Young Master had just met her for the first time, how could Miss possibly call him?
"Second Brother~" Su Yunmo smiled radiantly.
Lü Luo was stunned!
"Good child," Su Siqi ruffled her hair, then scooped the little person up by the waist and strode out. "I'll take care of her today. Lü Luo, you should get back to your work."