Chapter Five: Astonishing! Are Ying Tai and Wen Cai as Close as Brothers?

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“It is indeed me. May I ask how Young Master Ma knows me?” Liang Shanbo was still bewildered.

Ma Wencai lightly curled his lips and sneered coldly, “Yingtai and I grew up together like siblings. I naturally know everything about what she has done at the academy and whom she has befriended!”

He actually claimed to be as close as siblings with Zhu Yingtai? Wasn’t Zhu Yingtai supposed to dislike Ma Wencai very much?

Not only I, but Liang Shanbo also looked at Zhu Yingtai with a strange gaze. “Yingtai, what is your relationship with Young Master Ma...?”

I also wanted to know the answer.

Zhu Yingtai awkwardly glanced at Liang Shanbo. “Shanbo, listen to me. The Prefect’s Mansion is a close ally of my Zhu family village. Wencai and I have known each other since childhood. I have always regarded him as an elder brother.”

Liang Shanbo suddenly understood. “So that’s it! So Wencai is the son of the Prefect! How rude of me! How rude!”

But I was still confused. How could Ma Wencai and Zhu Yingtai be like siblings? And Liang, you changed your address too quickly—from Young Master Ma to Brother Wencai just like that!

“Dean, I’ve already gotten used to living with Liang Shanbo and really don’t want to change rooms!” Zhu Yingtai still refused.

Ma Wencai frowned slightly!

I found it strange. Yingtai, are you really so partial to others over your friends? After all, Brother Wencai is your sworn brother, isn’t he more important than someone you’ve only just met like Liang Shanbo?

“Yingtai, since you’re close with Brother Wencai, naturally you should make room for him. You two brothers haven’t seen each other for days—you must have lots to talk about! I’ll move to live with Brother Yiqing tonight,” Liang Shanbo generously offered.

“No, Shanbo, we’re comfortable where we are. I don’t want to change rooms!” Zhu Yingtai insisted.

But I felt that her insistence only made her seem more suspicious.

The dean was caught in a dilemma. Ma Wencai shot Liang Shanbo a sharp glance, then smiled at the dean. “Since Yingtai refuses to change rooms, we can only leave it to her!”

“That’s fine!”

I vaguely sensed a murderous intent lurking in that gaze.

Is this Ma Wencai really the same as the brother Wencai I had in mind? Doubt crept in!

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After class, the teacher’s wife led Ma Wencai to my room. A large group of his servants carried his luggage inside, the most dazzling item being his bow.

This silver bow was exquisitely crafted and beautifully carved—surely worth a fortune!

“Young Master Ma, there are many students this year and rooms are very limited. With so many servants, I’m afraid...” the teacher’s wife said, watching the many people coming and going.

Ma Wencai nodded. “Madam, I understand,” then turned to his servants. “You may all return to the mansion. Ma Tong, stay behind!”

“Yes, sir.” After tidying up the room, the others all left.

Fortunately, Ma Wencai’s servants did not throw my bedding onto the bench. It seems this Ma Wencai still has some humanity and is very polite to the teacher’s wife.

“This is Young Master Liu Yiqing from Liujiazhuang in Yangzhou. You will share a room from now on, so you must look out for each other!” The teacher’s wife introduced me. Ma Wencai nodded at me.

“Well then, I’ll be off. If you have any questions about the academy, ask Yiqing. He’s a good lad!” After Wang Lantian’s illness that night, the teacher’s wife seemed to have a good impression of me, saying I cared for my classmates.

“Madam, you flatter me!” I saw her out the door, then turned to see Ma Wencai sitting on a stool, playing with a teacup. “Which family in Yangzhou are you from?”

“I am Liu Yiqing from Liujiazhuang, Yangzhou.”

Ma Wencai stood and sized me up. “What relation is Liu Zhongshu of Liutang to you?”

Liu Zhongshu? I only heard from Yezi that my eldest brother was called Liu Yitang, but she never said if he was Zhongshu. Well, I might as well take a chance. “Liu Yitang is my elder brother.”

Ma Wencai smiled faintly. “Young Master Liu, pleased to meet you! It’s still early; I’m new here. Please show me around.”

Is this really Ma Wencai? He’s surprisingly easy to get along with!

“Gladly. I’ll take you for a walk outside first.” Ma Wencai followed me out. My heart raced—if this were the modern age, walking side by side with such a handsome man would surely turn heads everywhere.

I guided him from the side rooms all the way to the dining hall. Unsurprisingly, he seemed particularly interested in the cuju field.

“Brother Wencai, this is the dining hall. We will have three meals here daily.”

Ma Wencai nodded and glanced in the direction I pointed. By chance, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai had just entered the dining hall. Ma Wencai’s expression darkened instantly.

“Brother Liu, shall we go in?” he said.

I had a bad feeling.

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Liang Shanbo saw us enter and warmly called out, “Brother Yiqing, Brother Wencai, come sit here!”

I nodded, served the food, and sat with Ma Wencai at their table. Zhu Yingtai seemed particularly afraid of Ma Wencai and kept her head down without speaking.

Seeing Yingtai so shy, Liang Shanbo tugged her sleeve. “Yingtai, why won’t you speak to Brother Wencai?”

Zhu Yingtai pulled her sleeve back and continued eating with her head lowered. Ma Wencai gave a slight smile. “Does she still dare talk to me? She left without a word and slipped away to study here at Nishan Academy. Has she no thought of how worried her family would be?”

Ma Wencai’s smile was truly a cold sneer. My Brother Wencai, could you be a little more sunny?

Liang Shanbo looked at Zhu Yingtai in surprise. “Yingtai, you... you are...?”

Zhu Yingtai finally looked up. “Ma Wencai, don’t spout nonsense. What do you mean by leaving without a word? I left a letter.”

“A letter? Hmph! To whom? Do you know what day tomorrow is? If I hadn’t taken the blame out of old ties, do you think you could still live carefree here with your Liang Shanbo at Nishan?” Ma Wencai slammed down his chopsticks and stormed off angrily.

What day is tomorrow? I really want to know.

“Oh, so you ran away!” Liu Xiangdong chimed in from the side again. I shot him a fierce glare.

Seeing Ma Wencai leave, Zhu Yingtai panicked and quickly put down her chopsticks to chase after him. “Wencai, wait for me...”

Liang Shanbo and I were left utterly confused, even I, who knew what was to come, was stunned. This plot was totally unexpected!

“Yiqing, Brother Wencai barely touched his food. Make another portion for him to take along,” Liang Shanbo generously said.

I glanced at the plate beside us and nodded. He really hadn’t eaten a bite. Yingtai, how exactly did you offend my Brother Wencai?

After a hurried dinner, I parted ways with Liang Shanbo and carried the dish back to my room. Just as I was about to enter, I heard Zhu Yingtai’s voice—it turned out she was in my room.