When she returned, Ma Wencai, his page, and Yinping were all waiting outside the dormitory.

"what happened?"

As soon as she arrived, she questioned Ma Wencai, asking why he had returned before even going down the mountain to buy something, and how he could have come back in such a short time. Yin Xin's tone suggested that the situation was quite serious.

"Well, you should go in and take a look."

Ma Wencai didn't pay attention to her attitude, clutching his fan somewhat uncomfortably, his eyes wandering.

Su Yuanyuan frowned as she looked at him, only to find that he was lost in thought. She snorted and pushed the door open to go inside.

"Silverheart, I told you not to let anyone in."

"Ninth Brother is me."

Hearing her voice, Zhu Yingtai poked her head out from under the covers, and Su Yuanyuan finally saw that her face was flushed red.

A pair of eyes looked at her pitifully, with a hint of tears glistening in them.

"What's wrong? Yinxin didn't explain it to me clearly. What happened?"

Seeing that she didn't seem to be in any trouble, Su Yuanyuan felt relieved and sat down next to her after closing the door.

Zhu Yingtai's expression was extremely complicated. She remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking.

“When Wencai and I reached the foot of the mountain, I suddenly got my period, so I quickly came back and asked Yinxin to go find you. It’s my fault for not explaining it to her clearly.”

Su Yuanyuan's expression also turned strange. "Don't you know when you get your period? And you still dare to go out."

"I forgot." Zhu Yingtai looked like she was about to cry. "Xiao Shi, have I been exposed? Will I be unable to stay at the academy?"

Su Yuanyuan really wanted to roll her eyes. You've already given yourself away, okay? Ma Wencai has almost won you over, and you didn't even notice?

"Don't worry, are your clothes dirty?"

"No, I came back immediately after I found out."

Zhu Yingtai shook her head. She had checked the clothes carefully when she returned, and they were still clean.

"That's fine then. Just tell everyone it's a relapse of your old illness. I'll ask for leave for you this afternoon. Just stay in the dorm for the next few days."

Su Yuanyuan thought for a moment and then said, "Have Yin Xin wash your clothes somewhere far away, so that no one from the academy sees them."

Zhu Yingtai nodded repeatedly, her eyes unconsciously glancing towards the door, where Ma Wencai was still standing.

Su Yuanyuan tapped her forehead. "What are you looking at?"

"No, no, what if Brother Wencai wants to come in and see me?"

Seeing how cautiously she asked, Su Yuanyuan snorted, "You think you've hidden it well?"

"Tell him to come less often."

After Su Yuanyuan finished speaking, she stood up and was about to leave when Zhu Yingtai quickly grabbed her, blinking her big eyes at her.

"What do you want to do?"

"I want to go down the mountain for a walk, will you come with me?"

"Don't go."

"Go ahead, go ahead, I'm so bored staying on the mountain!"

Zhu Yingtai shook her arm and acted coquettishly. Su Yuanyuan couldn't help but twitch her lips. Which of the two of them was the older sister?

"Alright, alright, pack your things, we'll leave when Silverheart comes back."

She slapped the hand off her arm, reluctantly giving in. It was just her period; a little wandering around wouldn't hurt.

On the way down the mountain, Zhu Yingtai and Ma Wencai got together again. Su Yuanyuan kept rolling her eyes behind them, wondering what the point of asking her to come along was.

Su Yuanyuan bought a lot of snacks and ate them as she walked. When she passed a very lively place, she curiously peeked inside.

She thought it was some kind of acrobatic performance, so she walked closer and finally heard voices coming from inside.

"Grandpa, come and have some fun!"

"Master Li, it's been a long time since you've come."

"Young master, come up and see me!"

……

This was very distinctive. Su Yuanyuan's eyes flickered as she glanced at Zhu Yingtai and Ma Wencai in front of her.

Since we're already here, how can we not go in and take a look?

Moreover, the brothel was decorated quite elegantly, with pavilions, terraces, carved beams and painted rafters. If it weren't for the girls standing at the entrance, who would know it was a brothel?

As she got closer, she smelled a faint scent of cosmetics, which wasn't pungent at all; in fact, she found it quite pleasant.

Su Yuanyuan opened her fan and tried to go inside, but Yinping grabbed her arm.

"Young master, this is not a place you can go in. If Madam finds out, she will definitely not let me off the hook."

“If you don’t tell me and I don’t tell me, how will Mother know that I’ve been here?”

She tried to pry Yinping's hand away, but the girl was surprisingly strong and gripped her sleeve tightly.

Su Yuanyuan tapped her forehead with her fan, "Your young master isn't doing anything, he's just going to take a look, let go quickly."

"No, young master, you have to consider my life."

Yinping shook her head like a rattle-drum, which made Su Yuanyuan laugh. At this moment, Zhu Yingtai walked over and saw the two of them pulling and tugging at each other.

"What are you doing? Why are you stopping here?"

"Ninth Young Master, please tell me about my young master. She wants to go to a brothel."

When Yinping saw Zhu Yingtai, it was as if she had seen her savior; she looked at her with a helpless expression.

When Zhu Yingtai heard that she was going to a brothel, her face darkened immediately, and she pointed at her and took several deep breaths.

"Don't even think about it. If you dare to take a single step inside, I'll write to Mother immediately."

Su Yuanyuan pouted, "Fine, I'm not going. Yinping, let me go, my clothes are all wrinkled."

"Is the young master serious?"

"Really, really, when have I ever lied to anyone?"

Yinping then released her. Su Yuanyuan looked at the crumpled sleeve and glared helplessly at Yinping.

Ma Wencai looked at her with a smile, but Su Yuanyuan could see the disdain in his eyes. However, Zhu Yingtai was still angry, so she didn't dare to say a word.

They returned to the academy right at mealtime, ate quickly, and rushed to the school, where Xie Daoyun was already waiting.

Xie Daoyun told them to practice on their own first, and that anyone who wanted to play against her could go directly to her.

Su Yuanyuan wanted to be with Zhu Yingtai, but she was ruthlessly rejected and Ma Wencai was pushed onto her instead.

"You play chess with Brother Wencai; I don't want to play with you."

Ma Wencai raised an eyebrow in confusion, "Brother Jingxian, please?"

Su Yuanyuan reluctantly sat down opposite him, while Zhu Yingtai, seemingly oblivious to her expression, propped his head up and watched them play chess with a smile.

She and Ma Wencai had similar playing styles, both being aggressive, and the two fought fiercely.

Zhu Yingtai couldn't laugh anymore as she watched. The two of them felt like they had encountered their father's killer, and even playing chess resulted in mutual destruction.

Xie Daoyun arrived at their place at some point, her hands behind her back as she watched the two playing chess, her brows slightly furrowed.

She watched for a while and then walked away. In the end, Ma Wencai won against Su Yuanyuan by one move.

"Brother Jingxian, you flatter me."

Su Yuanyuan threw away her chess piece, acknowledging Ma Wencai's chess skills, but it was impossible for her to verbally admit it.

Near the end of get out of class, Xie Daoyun commented on their chess skills, and smiled helplessly as she looked at her and Ma Wencai.

"I just watched your game of chess, so I suppose you two have had some understanding of military strategy since childhood."

Ma Wencai cupped his hands in greeting, "Master is too kind. Martial arts and archery are the foundation of a strong nation, and military strategy is the best way to advance in rank. I, your student, would naturally not dare to neglect them."

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