Chapter 429
**Chapter 427: [Extra] Li Qingxun (5)**
Yuan'er was utterly confused.
Li Qingxun joyfully entered the room to change her clothes.
...
The next day, Li Qingxun went to the Guangwen Academy for her studies. Currently, the academy was a place for princes and princesses to learn. In the past, Li Qingxun had no right to step inside, but recently, with the fierce rivalry between the Empress and Consort Xie, she had miraculously gained the opportunity to study there.
At present, the students at Guangwen Academy included four princes and the unmarried seventh princess, Li Qingling.
As Li Qingxun stepped into the classroom, a wave of curious gazes fell upon her—some filled with disdain, others with scorn. Especially the recently unconfined seventh princess, Li Qingling, who looked as if she wished she could pierce Li Qingxun with her glare.
Only the third prince, Li Ang, had a kind demeanor, waving at Li Qingxun with a friendly smile: “Sixth sister, come sit down.”
The princes and princesses in the classroom were all dressed in luxurious robes, while Li Qingxun wore the simplest of garments, without even a hairpin to adorn her head. She looked plain.
Her beauty was not exceptional, far overshadowed by the regal presence of the seventh princess. Yet, for some reason, Li Qingxun exuded a strong aura that drew attention.
“Thank you.” Li Qingxun took a seat at an empty desk and casually flipped through the books on it. A research prodigy, she had quickly mastered the characters of the Qing Kingdom after her arrival.
As she flipped through the pages, she found them filled with tedious classical texts discussing etiquette and moral character. Bored, she had no interest in reading these books.
Meanwhile, not far away, Li Qingling was secretly observing Li Qingxun. After being confined for two months and having long talks with the Empress, Li Qingling gradually realized her mistakes. She was trying hard to suppress her temper, aiming to be a well-behaved daughter to win her father's affection.
“She’s actually reading…” Li Qingling thought, feeling a twinge of unease. If Li Qingxun diligently studied and learned the rules of etiquette, she might catch their father’s attention.
Li Qingling clenched her sleeves, determined to outshine her sixth sister.
But just as she resolved to work harder, she saw the “diligent” Li Qingxun had already laid her head on the desk, using the ancient texts as a pillow, her eyes closed in boredom.
Li Qingling: ...
She had overestimated Li Qingxun.
If it were any other princess, the chance to study at Guangwen Academy would be taken seriously. Yet here was Li Qingxun, napping on the ancient texts like a useless lump.
...
After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Li Qingxun was stirred by the commotion around her. Li Ang poked her arm: “Sister, wake up! Lord Zhang is here.”
Li Qingxun shot her eyes open.
Zhang He'an was a student of the Prime Minister, a top scholar from years past, and had smoothly ascended the ranks to hold a fourth-grade official position, serving in both the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy. The princes and princesses held him in high regard, not daring to act out of line.
As the curtain swayed slightly, Li Qingxun turned her head and caught sight of the figure in a blue-green robe stepping over the threshold.
Today, Zhang He'an wore a round-collared, wide-sleeved long robe, adorned with intricate bamboo embroidery, his hair neatly tied with a silk crown. His attire was immaculate, even the strands of his hair were perfectly arranged.
With a cool demeanor and features as beautiful as jade, Li Qingxun found herself staring, captivated.
So handsome!
She felt a sudden urge to sleep!
Zhang He'an approached the main desk, opened a book, and his voice, as clear as shattered jade, rang out: “Today we will discuss the 'History of Pingqing.' Everyone, please open your books.”
Li Qingxun had no interest in reading; she was fixated on Zhang He'an.
Listening to his voice was a pleasure in itself. It was not deep but rather clear, reminiscent of the crisp sounds of instruments in her laboratory when materials collided.
So pleasant, it made her heart flutter.
Zhang He'an seemed oblivious, calmly beginning his lecture. After an hour, his voice had taken on a slight hoarseness.
When the break arrived, Li Qingxun dashed over, taking the hot tea from a servant and presenting it to Zhang He'an: “Lord Zhang, have some water, don’t ruin your lovely voice.”
Zhang He'an looked up at her: “Thank you, Sixth Princess.”
His gaze was as clear as the peach blossoms of March, leaving Li Qingxun dizzy with admiration. She didn’t hold back her praise: “Lord Zhang, your eyes are so beautiful, like obsidian.”
Zhang He'an paused in his drinking.
He gazed deeply at this sixth princess.
Not far away, Li Qingling could no longer contain herself. She stormed over, angrily reprimanding Li Qingxun: “Li Qingxun, why are you staring at Lord Zhang during class?”
Li Qingxun spread her hands in protest: “Nonsense! When did I steal glances at him? I was looking at him openly!”
Li Qingling never expected her sixth sister to be so blunt. For a moment, she was speechless, her cheeks flushed, struggling to stammer: “You... you... you’re simply vulgar!”
Li Qingxun replied nonchalantly: “Everyone has a love for beauty; I’m just a simple person. If Zhang He'an were ugly, I wouldn’t even glance at him.”
Li Qingling: ...
She had never encountered someone so shameless!
With that, Li Qingling turned and left.
As the afternoon wore on, Li Qingling went to serve the Empress and learn the art of tea-making. Li Qingxun, disinterested in tea, followed a few princes to the training grounds.
Li Qingxun was very interested in horseback riding and archery, and she requested a small horse. The servants were initially reluctant, but with Li Ang’s help, she finally got her wish.
She had never ridden a horse before.
Li Ang, in a generous mood, took the initiative to teach her the essentials of riding. Li Qingxun visualized the act of riding in her mind and observed the other princes’ movements in the training ground, quickly grasping several key points of horseback riding and immediately began to practice.
In less than half an hour, she had mastered the essentials, leaving Li Ang dumbfounded.
“Sixth sister, you… you learned that so quickly?” Li Ang was astonished.
Sitting atop the horse, Li Qingxun pulled the reins and smiled: “Everything follows its own set of formulas; once you master the formula, you can learn anything quickly.”
Li Ang didn’t understand, but he felt that this “formula” sounded impressive.
After riding a couple of laps around the training ground, Li Qingxun suddenly spotted Zhang He'an standing under a pavilion, seemingly watching her.
Excited, she turned her horse around and trotted over to him.
Holding the reins, she looked down at Zhang He'an’s attire, smirking: “Lord Zhang, are you watching me?”
Zhang He'an replied, “Not at all.”
Li Qingxun let out a laugh, flicking the black riding whip lightly, the end of it landing on Zhang He'an’s shoulder.
The whip moved.
The rough end brushed against Zhang He'an’s neck, deliberately grazing along his Adam's apple, then sliding down his collar, unabashedly gliding to his waist.
Zhang He'an remained still, as cool as the moon.
Li Qingxun teased: “People are dressed by their clothes, and horses by their saddles. Lord Zhang, your outfit today makes your waist look quite slender.”
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