"I will not let you ruin my first day," Ruyi whispered to herself.
She then proceeded into her classroom, where the real difficulty just began. She looked around for an empty seat—the tables were almost full, and the few that were empty looked promising until she approached.
"This seat is taken," a girl said with an air of attitude, moving her belongings onto the empty seat.
Ruyi calmly moved to another, only to receive the same treatment. Each time she tried to sit, her classmates would either claim the seat or find an excuse to want to sit alone. She was getting tired of their games, but since she was sent here by the Imperial Noble Consort, she had to behave.
Without warning, a voice spoke up, "why are you hiding your face?"
Ruyi turned to see a boy smirking at her. "This is the Imperial academy; if you want to be here, at least show us your face."
Whispers rippled through the room; some giggled while some mocked, a few students looked uncomfortable, but Ruyi stayed silent, never saying a word.
"Could it be…" another student chimed, "that you're ugly?"
"Or," another teased, "she has a horrible scar she's hiding?"
The class burst into laughter.
Before Ruyi could speak, a familiar voice jeered, cutting through the noise.
"How pitiful, if you're too ashamed to show your face, then you shouldn't be here," Shen Chun said, stepping forward. "Or you think you're special and above all of us?"
Ruyi's fingers curled tightly around her veil.
"Let me help you, since you won't do it yourself."
Shen Chun said, smiling slyly. With a tug, Shen Chun yanked the veil away from Ruyi's face, but Ruyi quickly fought back, holding the veil intact.
"What are you doing?" Ruyi said calmly, still holding onto the veil.
"I'm helping you," Shen Chun responded, her grasp still on the veil.
"I don't need your help; I can do it myself," Ruyi stated.
The other students began laughing and jeering, clearly enjoying the entertainment.
With deliberate force, Shen Chun finally yanked the veil away, revealing Ruyi's delicate features.
Silence followed; words could not be found. The noise blurred away like ashes; in that moment, time seemed to slow, as if everyone had been pulled into a gravitational field.
Even Shen Chun became stunned; her words became stuck in her throat, the light penetrating through the windows illuminated Ruyi's skin as she stood there. She was pure, and her beauty was out of this world. Her lips were perfect, her nose was upturned, and her brown, sparkling eyes were filled with warmth.
Finally, voices were found.
"She's… she's so pretty," one of the students who had mocked her earlier commented.
Murmurs spread like wildfire.
"More than pretty," another voice added breathlessly, "she's stunning."
Then another, "No, she's flawless."
A boy moved close to Ruyi and placed his hands on his chest. "Marry me," he teased, "how could you hide such a pretty face?"
One after the other, everyone had something to say, and those who had placed their belongings on the empty seats began moving them, inviting her to
Sit with them.
Shen Chun's expression twisted with anger; this was not what she expected. She wanted Ruyi humiliated, not praised like some celestial goddess who had descended from the heavenly realm.
Shen Chun gripped the veil tightly, her body fuming with furry.
All of a sudden, an authoritative voice cut through the murmurs.
"Don't you all have work to do?"
All heads turned to the entrance.
Sun Jingxuan sat in his wheelchair, his expression calm yet imposing. Liu Yi stood behind him, his hands firmly on the handles of the wheelchair. Sun Jingxuan's gaze shifted to Ruyi, and his eyes widened slightly. He had seen countless noble ladies in the finest silk robes and jewelry, yet none had captivated him like she did.
Liu Yi blinked in astonishment. Her beauty could almost knock him off his feet. Her face seemed familiar. He placed a hand on his chin, as if trying to recollect something. Then, with urgency, he whispered to Sun Jingxuan, "Your Highness, it's her!"
"I know," Sun Jingxuan said softly, and his mind raced back to the previous day when he had met her. He chuckled at the thought of her dressed as a man, for he was drawn by her mischief. And here she was, standing before him. There was something about her, something he hadn't been able to pinpoint. Perhaps it was fate that had brought them together again.
"Brother Jingxuan?"
Shen Chun called as she ran towards him, her robes dancing behind her. She reached his side and took his arm, smiling and swinging it like a baby.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, batting her lashes.
All eyes were on them, and she liked it. The display of attention was exactly what she wanted: a declaration of her dominance, a clear message that she wasn't to be messed with.
Sun Jingxuan removed her hands and answered her calmly. "His Majesty asked me to supervise your classes."
Shen Chun's eyes glistened. "Truly? Thank goodness, that means I'll get to see your face everyday," she said, jumping with zest.
The instructor came in at that moment. "Return to your seats," he ordered unambiguously.
Ruyi settled into one of the empty seats beside a girl who was quiet, unlike the others.
After restoring order, he introduced himself to the new students before turning to Sun Jingxuan.
"His Highness will be overseeing your studies. I hope that you will act with diligence and self control, don't disappoint your parents, and, most importantly, don't disappoint the Imperial Academy."
The students immediately stood up and bowed.
"Greetings, your highness."
Sun Jingxuan raised his hands. "Too much formality is not needed; this is not the Imperial court, but a place of learning. Here, commitment and discipline are required. Each of you has an obligation to maintain the reputation of the academy."
"Yes," they all chorused and took their seats.
The class began, but Shen Chun barely paid any attention; all she did was stare at Sun Jingxuan, her expression one of affection.
"Class dismissed."
The moment Sun Jingxuan announced it, students hurried to gather their belongings, their lively chatter filling the air.
Then his voice rang out again.
"Miss Xu."
Ruyi, who had stood to leave, froze.
"Wait behind; others may leave."
She rolled her eyes as she gathered her books, "what does he want now?"
Shen Chun smirked at her.
"Come here," Sun Jingxuan ordered, though his tone remained calm and respectful.
But Ruyi remained glued to the spot.
His brows furrowed as he stared at her, "didn't you hear what I said?"
She returned the stare, her resolve unwavering. "What do you want?"
Gasps rippled among the few lingering students.
"How dare you!" Shen Chun barked. "Brother Jingxuan is the crown prince; how can you question him?"
Ruyi curved her lips, "I merely asked what he wanted from me; am I wrong to do that?"
Shen Chun scoffed, "isn't it obvious? He's going to punish you for your insolence; do you really think you can do what you want and get away with it? If he doesn't make an example of you, everyone will think this school tolerates lawlessness."
"So, you need your older brother to help you settle the score?" Ruyi said, chuckling.
Shen Chun's face flushed with anger. "You…!"
She lifted her hand in an instant, ready to strike Ruyi across the face, but a strong grip caught her wrist mid-air.
"Enough!"
Sun Jingxuan's voice was as sharp as a blade.
Shen Chun turned to Sun Jingxuan and pointed at Ruyi. "Brother Jingxuan, look at her; look at what she's doing?"
But he wasn't listening; his gaze was on Ruyi.
"I have a question," Sun Jingxuan began, "Was it you at the fabric store that day?"
Ruyi didn't flinch; she didn't say a word, she just stared at Sun Jingxuan.
Shen Chun looked between them in confusion, her brows furrowing. "What? You know her? Impossible, how could you possibly know someone like her?"
"Get out," Sun Jingxuan said, his gaze still on Ruyi.
Shen Chun folded her arms and sneered. "See? Brother Jingxuan asked you to leave; we don't need the likes of you here."
Sun Jingxuan turned to her, his eyes cold. "I was talking to you."
Shen Chun's smirk vanished. "What? Me? Brother Jingxuan, how can you…"
"Do you want me to repeat myself?" Sun Jingxuan interjected, his patient wearing thin.
She understood; she knew the look, the way he narrowed his eyes, the upward etching of his brows—a clear warning. Though Sun Jingxuan treated her like a sister, she knew better than to argue when he was serious. She gritted her teeth in anger and stormed out.
Silence fell.
Sun Jingxuan's attention shifted back to Ruyi. "I asked you a question."
Ruyi looked at him, her eyes no longer accommodating. "Even if it was me, so what?"
Liu Yi stepped forward. "You…!"
But before he could finish, Sun Jingxuan raised a finger, silencing him.
"So it was really you." Sun Jingxuan said smiling.
"That's right, it was me. What? You have a problem with that?" Ruyi asked.
"No," Sun Jingxuan replied. "I just didn't realize we'd get to meet like this."
"Yeah, me too," Ruyi said and smiled. "Your Highness, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to take my leave; my Mother is waiting for me at home."
"Alright, you may leave," Sun Jingxuan declared.
"Then, I won't bother you anymore," Ruyi said and bowed before taking her leave.
As soon as Ruyi left, Liu Yi raised a brow. "Your highness, how could you let her leave like that? What if she…"
Sun Jingxuan interjected, "You don't understand. Come here," he instructed, gesturing with his hands. Liu Yi moved closer to him, and he whispered something into his ear.
Liu Yi's expression brightened, and a smile played on his lips as he nodded. "Oh, not bad, not bad at all."