"Name: Qin Yueshi"

"Department: Guards"

"Grade: First Year"

"Student ID: …"

Early in the morning, Qin Yueshi jumped out of bed, packed her student card, organized her backpack, chose the clothes she wanted to wear for the day, feeling an inexplicable excitement inside.

She was not unfamiliar with schooling; it was just that the Literary Academy and Military Academy in Xuanzhu County were just so-so. Compared to the Royal Academy, although both were National Academies, the gap between them was as wide as that between Peking University and the Beijing Qinhuling School. She was attending school mainly to build relationships and date Zhengwu Jing. The focus was not on schooling at all.

In the past, she might not have cared so much about the Royal Academy, but after half a month of training at the martial arts club, she met many excellent students like senior Qian and many "repeat students"—many people did not give up after failing the entrance exam, and they kept trying year after year.

The Imperial Academy allows everyone to take the entrance exam three times, with no age limit, only a limit on the number of times. Repeat students work in Yanjing while preparing for the entrance exam, and their preparation went beyond Qin Yueshi's imagination.

For instance, there were three days for the entrance exam, and they really analyzed which day had more geniuses and which day's test was simpler; some people failed the exam twice and didn't dare to take it a third time; Qin Yueshi even saw a thirty-year-old repeat student whose child could already buy soy sauce.

During breaks in the martial arts practice, Qin Yueshi would quietly listen to their stories. Some people had their whole families framed, and their only way out was to get into the Imperial Academy to seek revenge; some had parents who were both students of the Academy and didn't dare to go home if they didn't pass the entrance exam; others simply admired the Academy's prestige and wouldn't rest until they got in.

In Dongyang, like most people, Qin Yueshi believed money was everything, with Silver Blood being their identity and lifelong pursuit.

It wasn't until she came to Yanjing and met many different peers that she realized there were many pursuits beyond money in this world. Being among these young people, as vibrant as the rising sun, Qin Yueshi's mindset gradually began to change.

Having witnessed many cunning schemes, even having to scheme within her own family, Qin Yueshi found it hard not to be moved by such pure passion and not to be attracted by the glory they yearned for.

Being able to study at the most prestigious academy, inheriting over two thousand years of history, walking the training grounds where valiant generals sparred, standing in the lecture halls where loyal ministers and famous scholars debated, inheriting the spiritual legacy left by countless virtuous, insightful people is the greatest honor for a student.

It wasn't until this very moment that she realized what it really meant for Qin Le Yin to facilitate her entrance to the academy without an exam.

Perhaps, murdering her friend Zhengwei Jing, being chased to her home, and having no choice but to dress as a black rose swaying gracefully on the street was the cost of it all.

Qin Yueshi composed herself and went to the dining hall for breakfast, finding both her brothers there. She sat down and took the initiative to say, "Good morning."

"Good morning."

She glanced at Qin Le Yin, noticing he was handsomely dressed today, resembling the charming red-haired, snow-white gentleman. The bandages he had two days ago had all been removed: "Have your injuries healed? Are there any lingering issues?"

"None."

She took a bite of a bun and asked, "Will there be anyone else attacking our home?"

"No."

As she ate, Qin Yueshi made up her mind. She knew that the feelings between her and Qin Le Yin could never go back to what they were, but revenge was also not possible—Jing Qingfu and Zhengwei Jing were the main culprits in Zhengwu Jing's death, and legally, her older brother wasn't even considered an accomplice.

Qin Le Yin gave her a pendant with a trap; Zhengwu Jing opened it, fell into a deep sleep, and missed his chance to escape. Comparatively, she herself was the direct cause of her lover's unburied end... Rather than hating her brother's coldness, she hated her own incompetence more.

However, aside from this incident, Qin Le Yin had no other faults. He gave her money when she asked for it and never restricted her actions or ordered her to do anything, moreover allowing her to enter the Imperial Academy without an exam.

Resentment and gratitude intermingled in her heart. Qin Yueshi took a deep breath, put down the bun, looked at Qin Le Yin, and said:

"Brother, thank you."

Qin Yueyang blinked.

Le Yin, who was eating fried noodles, paused mid-motion.

He saw the anxious yet somewhat hopeful look in Qin Yueshi's eyes, instantly understanding something, and turned his head to the ground:

"Uwaa—"

"Ugh—"

"Cough cough cough—"

Le Yin vomited out the breakfast he had just eaten. Qin Yueshi looked on, stupefied, as Qin Yueyang hurriedly patted Le Yin's back to make his vomiting more comfortable.

After he finished vomitting, Le Yin took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth and said, "Well, Third Sister, if I said I wasn't targeting you, would you believe me?"

"I'm full!"

Qin Yueshi stood up, grabbed her backpack, and was about to leave. She was almost furious beyond words. Any trace of gratitude in her heart was swept away—Do I really sound that disgusting when I speak!? Was it necessaary for you to vomit? Couldn't you hold it in!?

Le Yin sighed, "Third Sister, wait a moment, come over here. I heard it's a tradition in Yanjing to give a red envelope for good luck on a student's first day of school..."

He pulled out his wallet, took out a gold coin, and put it in Qin Yueshi's hand, "Wishing you academic success and happiness. As they say, out with the old, in with the new. May you find a new lover soon and forget the one in your heart..."

Qin Yueshi's face was full of black lines, but she had no problem taking Qin Le Yin's money, so she pocketed the gold coin and left. Le Yin asked, "Don't you think you should say something since your big brother is giving you money?"

"Is there more?" Qin Yueshi extended her hand again.

Seeing Qin Yueshi's shameless demeanor, Le Yin immediately felt relieved, "There is, there is. Wait up. I need to go out with you."

Qin Yueshi frowned slightly, "I'm going to the Royal Academy. How is that on your way?"

"It's right on the way, really." Le Yin swiftly ate a few buns and said to his younger brother-doppelganger, "I'll leave the matters at home to you after this."

Le Yin didn't set a deadline, but Qin Yueyang understood the weight of these words—it could be half a year or from now on.

"I understand."

"Be careful with Chanchan, talk with the Shi Family about the problems at the Trade Guild so that you won't get swindled by the Statistical Department... Hey! Third Sister, wait for me!"

Le Yin grabbed a large suitcase and followed Qin Yueshi. Qin Yueshi was curious about why he had such a big suitcase, but she found him so infuriating that she didn't want to talk to him.

The two left the bustling alley and headed toward the Yao Bell Tower, merging into the morning crowd on the main street. Many young students, full of zest and spirit, walked with straight backs in the middle of the street, while passersby and vendors made way for them, acknowledging that these future pillars of brilliance were finally done with their holidays and off to school.

Qin Yueshi and Le Yin blended in and followed the group. Qin Yueshi felt her gloom lifting, replaced by indescribable excitement and anticipation, which peaked as they caught sight of the gates of the Imperial Academy.

"Huh?" She suddenly realized her brother was still there, "You're still here?"

"I told you, it's on the way." Le Yin yawned, "Why, do you not appreciate having a parent send you to school, or do you find having a brother like me embarrassing? Oh, kids grow up and start disliking their family..."

Now Qin Yueshi truly made a face of disdain and hurried up to shake off this embarrassing brother.

At the school gate, students need to use their student cards to enter. Qin Yueshi took out her prepared student card, heard the pleasant 'beep' sound, and walked through, thinking she was finally free.

Then she turned back for a look.

"Beep, card approved." Le Yin pulled out a card, passed through the school gates without a hitch, and waved smilingly at the dumbfounded Qin Yueshi, "Don't just stand there blocking the way. Though I know you're astonished, you'd surely marvel at how such a good brother would follow you into the academy to take care of his sister..."

"You, you, you!" Qin Yueshi couldn't form a single complete sentence, "Why are you—"

Beep—

Along with the sounds of honking, several luxurious black sedans pulled up at the school entrance. The car doors opened, and out stepped a few youthful, vibrant girls basking in glorious sunlight. One of them seemed to be a star student at the academy, as many students immediately bowed and loudly hailed her as 'Double Carp President.'

"What kind of background do they have..." Even Qin Yueshi was taken aback. Unlike in the Dongyang area where owning a car was possible, in Yanjing, only high-ranking officials or members of the Imperial Family had the right to drive private cars.

However, her surprise was short-lived; there were just too many dignitaries in Yanjing, and she often encountered several while attending the martial arts club. More urgently, she needed to find out why Qin Le Yin could enter the academy—

"Ah!?"

Qin Yueshi looked around, not seeing the red-haired person anywhere.

Where is he?

Where is my big Qin Le Yin?