Xie Qiao focused all of her attention on her painting. Her face was paler now, while sweat was seeping out of her forehead.
When she was done with the painting, she looked much weaker. She sighed softly and rummaged through the bamboo basket, eventually retrieving a small jade stamp.
She stamped it on the ink pad. After exhaling, she stamped it on the painting as hard as she could.
Xie Qiao was rather satisfied with it.
Back when she had been at the Water Moon Temple, she would hardly paint. Apart from painting as practice, those that were presentable were usually small paintings.
She had put in quite an effort in order to get into the Royal Academy now.
In reality, it was not that she could not accept the Xie family’s silver.
She still had silver with her. Moreover… To be honest, if not for her lethal destiny and the dark energy in her body, Ms. Peng might not have died when she was born. Therefore, she felt rather guilty toward Xie Niushan and Xie Pinggang.
If not for that, she would not avoid Ms. Lu as much as she could.
As long as Ms. Lu did not cross her bottom line, she would definitely be nice to Ms. Lu.
After the painting dried, Xie Qiao framed it herself.
Three days later, Xie Niushan came over to bring her to the Royal Academy to become a student.
Becoming a student was just the first round.
Naturally, the amount of silver and one’s identity were not the only qualifications the Royal Academy required to take in students. Firstly, they had to see if the person really wanted to learn. If they were paying with silver, they had to write a little bit at the academy to prove that they were not completely illiterate.
That was especially for the enrolment for third-grade and below officials’ daughters. The youngest one would be 10 years old.
For females, although there were not many who would only enroll when they were 16 or 17, there were people like that.
However, if they were still illiterate at such an age, it would be too late for the academy to teach even if they were willing.
Hence, the people who came in would need to be able to read and write at least.
Xie Niushan brought Xie Qiao there himself.
When they departed, Pei Wanyue revealed her sadness on her face, making Xie Niushan feel pitiful.
If not for the fact that the family had no money, he would have brought this lady along with a wave of his hand.
“Yue’er told me that she likes her sister along the way here. She wants to stay with Qiao’er. Now that Qiao’er is about to join the Royal Academy, but Yue’er is going somewhere else, the sisters won’t be together…” Ms. Lu was upset.
Xie Qiao frowned lightly.
“She had never said that.” Xie Qiao looked serious.
Ms. Lu was stunned. “What?”
“She has never said she wants to be with me. I’m unwilling to be her friend, so there’s nothing that we can talk about. If Mother really wants to send Pei Wanyue to the Royal Academy, you can ask for Father’s help all you want. I won’t stop you, but don’t drag me into this. I’ve already said this to you before,” said Xie Qiao.
Ms. Lu felt uncomfortable upon hearing that. “S-So you’re looking down on Yue’er? S-She’s your half-sister after all…”
“I’m not looking down on her. It’s her who is looking down on herself.” Xie Qiao smiled lightly, “She’s comparing with me in everything. Why torture herself like that?”
Xie Qiao put down the carriage’s curtain as she spoke.
Ms. Lu’s facial expression looked gloomy as she was blocked outside.
It was not that Xie Qiao had no idea about what was happening. From the first time Pei Wanyue had laid her eyes on Xie Qiao, it was as if her eyes were dyed with poison.
She had done that because she imagined Xie Qiao to be ugly.
Xie Niushan was shocked by his daughter’s straightforward words. He frowned lightly.
Ms. Lu noticed that and panicked. She said immediately, “I-I sincerely want the sisters to bond. Who would’ve thought that this girl would be so cold? Yue’er wanted to spend time with her a few times, but she ignorantly rejected her. What can I do about that?”