“The Lin family has met with lots of misfortune,” Fan Lanying said as she studies with Jun Hua in the school.
Jun Hua nodded. Part of it is her scheme, but the rests are from what Chun Maora had sown. She will stay in jail for a long time and Jun Hua won’t even remember her anymore.
“Today lesson is music. How’s your skill, Jun Hua?”
Jun Hua smiled sheepishly. She hasn’t learned much about music. Hopefully, the teacher won’t pick on her again. Unfortunately…
“Jun Hua you try to play this song.”
Jun Hua awkwardly come forward and starts playing the zither. The voice she made is barely correct and some students even hold their ears. Halfway through, the teacher stopped her.
“Stay behind until you can play correctly.”
That day, Jun Hua keeps on plucking the string with Fan Lanying waiting beside her. The girl said that she didn’t have anything to do at home too, so it’s better to stay behind and help Jun Hua learns. After all, in a few days, it will be their test day.
“You have to use less force and make your movement more… what do you said it? Swing I guess?”
Fan Lanying choice of words truly making Jun Hua feels headache. She doesn’t help her much and even until the end, she still cannot play the song correctly. The teacher dismissed her since she too has been depressed by how poor Jun Hua play is.
“How about you skip school and meet me at my home tomorrow? The math is so boring,” Fan Lanying suggested.
Jun Hua thinks about it for a while. It’s true that she had grown tired of changing place with Yamin every Friday and getting surrounded with the girls. Since she’s about to finish her lesson, there’s no harm in visiting her friend home first.
“Sure then.”
The next day the girls in the academy feel heart-broken because Jun Min wouldn’t come. On the opposite, the teacher feels relief because the appearance of Jun Min would surely create another chaos in the academy.
“Excuse me for interrupting,” Jun Hua said as she comes in.
Madam Fan, Fan Lanying mother, is there and she seems to be happy for Jun Hua visits. She is wearing a plain dress, but maybe because she’s the wife of a general, she has air of authority around her. She quickly ushered Jun Hua and her servants to come and as she ordered the servants to call Fan Lanying from her room.
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“Jun Hua greets Madam Fan.”
Madam Fan smiled. “You don’t have to be so polite. Lanying is upstairs so you have to wait for a while.”
“It is fine, Madam Fan.”
Madam Fan stared at the girl before her. The girl is still as pretty as before. She only used a simple dress but it has made her looks exceptionally charming. Madam Fan truly wondered how can there be someone so pretty like her. She looks as if she comes from the painting.
Fan Lanying comes down quickly after she hears about Jun Hua coming. The girl is wearing her training clothes and in her hand is a wooden dagger.
“Jun Hua, come accompany me in my training,” she pushed Jun Hua to the training room. Madam Fan only laughed at her daughter action and continues to sip her tea. She’s glad that her daughter has a decent friend.
Jun Hua refuses to train with Fan Lanying. It’s not because she can’t, but because her skill is far above Fan Lanying. If she were to fight the other party, it will looks like bullying.
Fan Lanying also didn’t force her as she started to practice her usual movement. Not long on her practice time, someone comes.
“Lanying, you’re still practicing? I thought you would stop when I leave?” a laughter come to their ears. A young man around the age of 18 comes inside. He wears training clothes too with his sword hanging on his waist. His face is similar with Fan Lanying, but he’s much taller than her.
“Big Brother,” Fan Lanying said excitedly. She run to his side and look at him from top to down. “You have grown taller.”
He messed up Fan Lanying hair. “Isn’t it’s you who grow shorter?”
“Big Brother!”
He turned towards Jun Hua, “This is?”
“This is Jun Hua, my best friend,” Fan Lanying answered. “And Jun Hua, this is my brother, Fan Ying. He’s the captain of a small squad I guess.”
Fan Ying almost chocked on the air. “I’m a captain of 100 people squad, Lanying…”
“Oh yes, sorry about it,” Fan Lanying stick out her tongue.
“Nice to meet you Fan Ying,” Jun Hua greeted.
Fan Ying nodded. “You don’t have to address me so politely. I’m just one of the few captains under your brother.”
Jun Hua is startled. Fan Ying is someone below her? Wait a minute… she doesn’t really remember him. She had thousands of soldiers under her and she only manages to remember around 4/5 of them all. Besides, if he has just been promoted, there’s no chance to meet her before.
Looking at the doubtful face of Jun Hua, Fan Ying laughed. “You don’t have to put that face to me. I have just joined his soldiers a few months ago.”
Jun Hua nodded.
Fan Lanying eyes flashed. “If you’re under her brother then, Jun Hua can you ask your brother to give my brother promotion?”
“…”
Promotion is not that easy. The person in question must have done merit and have been under service for a long time for it to happen. In Jun Min cases, she done exceptional battle and won a lot of merit thus makes her rank rose very quickly. It’s not like she cannot pick people to promote if they’re under her, but she needs reason for that.
Looking at the two faces that staring at her weirdly, Fan Lanying laughed dryly. “Fine, I’m just kidding…”
Fan Ying laughed. “Don’t worry Lanying, there will be more change for me to rise through ranks.”
“But you have been in the military for 4 years and still only a captain…”
“I’m just lacking opportunity,” Fan Ying said simply.
Jun Hua hears their conversation curiously. Given the aura Fan Ying had, she knows that he’s someone capable. How can he didn’t rise that quickly in these 4 years?