Remembering that Lin An was originally supposed to be Huo Xiaoxiao's son-in-law, Shi Tou could understand it somewhat. Just think about it, if he weren't lacking in status or talent, why would he be willing to become a son-in-law?
Lin An himself sensed this atmosphere. After exchanging lukewarm conversations with a few more people, he led Shi Tou to the rest area: "The wedding is about to begin. Shall we sit here and wait for a while?"
Shi Tou nodded quickly. She really wished she could just go home and not want to be stared at here.
That's right, it's about attracting attention.
As the second young lady of the Huo family, not being admitted to the Imperial Capital Academy is a scandal in itself. It's important to understand that members of the six major families, not just the main branch, but even collateral branches like Lin An's, would generally try every means to get into the Imperial Capital Academy. After all, in any world, backdoors are unavoidable.
"Little Yi, you're 11 years old this year, right?" After hesitating for a moment, Lin An finally asked the question. Actually, he knew Shi Tou's age very well; he was just asking to set the stage for what he was about to say.
Stone raised an eyebrow, understanding dawned on him, but he nodded without hesitation: "Yes."
"Have you ever thought about attending Imperial Capital Academy?" Lin An asked somewhat nervously.
Shi Tou's lips twitched. Huo Xiaoxiao had asked her this question more than once. Imperial Capital Academy had a rule: it only admitted children under 12 years old. Shi Tou was already 11 years old. Her birthday was exactly one month before the academy's admission deadline. In other words, if she didn't find a way to get into Imperial Capital Academy this year, then she would have no hope of ever attending it.
"Why do we have to go to Imperial Capital Academy?" Stone looked at Lin An with an innocent expression.
“This…” Lin An hesitated. “Nobles usually choose to enter the Imperial Academy.”
Shi Tou glanced around; they were sitting on chairs in the rest area, surrounded by quite a few other people. Although Lin An's voice wasn't loud, the rest area was quite quiet, so his words were easily heard.
Unsurprisingly, several girls showed disdain on their faces. A hint of mockery flashed in Stone's eyes, but his expression remained unchanged: "I don't like studying, and I haven't awakened any magical talent yet. I don't think I can get into the Imperial Academy."
Lin An's face showed obvious shame. Coupled with the whispers of the young men and women around her, it was clear that after today, the news that the second young lady of the Huo family was a good-for-nothing would spread throughout the entire capital.
But so what?
You know your own state of mind.
Stone possesses all the magical elements within her body. If she were already a nine-star mage, this physique would be an absolute treasure bestowed by heaven. Unfortunately, she is someone who cannot awaken her magical talent.
Magic was simply not a viable path for Stone. Besides, having grown up in the land of dwarves, she didn't like that kind of weak, ineffective magic. And, well, not everyone likes Harry Potter.
“Little Yi…” Lin An thought for a moment and then advised, “Actually, if you want to get into the Imperial Capital Academy, I can ask my father for help.”
Yes, this is what they call getting in through connections.
It should be understood that although most of the descendants of the six major families in the East have amazing talents, this does not mean that there will never be any useless people among them.
Thus, Imperial Capital Academy would create these classes specifically for high-born but useless students. They were often referred to as: the noble trash class.
Are you going to join a low-level class?
Shi Tou couldn't help but twitch her lips. She was the second young lady of the Huo family's main branch. If she really wanted to, let alone a low-ranking class, even the genius class, Old Master Huo could get her in. Unfortunately, she didn't want to.
Imperial Capital Academy is good in every other way, except for one thing that is very bad.
People with two stars or higher are not allowed to go out at will.
In other words, unless you can reach level two or higher, you can only leave the academy within a specified time. Stone felt that, given her talent, reaching level two in this lifetime would be impossible unless the heavens were truly on their luck.
“I don’t want to go to school.” Shi Tou looked at Lin An with bright eyes. What she really wanted to say was, if you think I’m a disgrace, you can just call off the engagement.
However, given that she was currently on Lin family territory, and today was the eldest son's wedding banquet, Stone, not wanting to cause trouble, silently swallowed the rest of her sentence. But…
Hmph, Young Master Lin An, you've never been my type.
"Newcomer here!"
While the two were in silence, the main character of the day finally arrived.
The groom, Lin Yao, looked exceptionally smart in his sharp suit. To Shi Tou's surprise, she also knew the bride.
Chu Fei, the eldest daughter of the Chu family.
The Chu family is not large; in this generation, the main family only has two children: Chu Fei and the other is not yet 5 years old.
“Chu Fei…” Shi Tou stared at Chu Fei, somewhat stunned.
Chu Fei's background is certainly not in question; the Chu family's status is higher than the Lin family's, and Chu Fei is the eldest daughter of the Chu family, so marrying her to Lin Yao is perfectly appropriate. Moreover, Chu Fei herself is quite capable; Huo Xiaoxiao once told Shi Tou that Chu Fei is also a peerless genius. Although she is only 19 years old this year, she is already a six-star mage.
But……
Looking at Chu Fei's obviously Western-looking appearance, Shi Tou was slightly confused.
The six major families in the East value bloodlines. Generally speaking, only girls of pure bloodlines can become the eldest daughter-in-law. However, if Shi Tou had not known Chu Fei's identity beforehand, he would have definitely thought she was a pure-blooded Westerner.
Watching the bride and groom complete the wedding ceremony according to protocol, Shi Tou buried his doubts deep inside. He really didn't want to talk to Lin An anymore; he'd better ask Huo Xiaoxiao about these things when they got home.
But at that moment, she never expected that the wedding banquet would end in such a way.
After the wedding ceremony was completed, all the guests dispersed and chatted with their friends in twos and threes.
Huo Xiaoxiao quickly approached Shi Tou: "Xiao Yi, come with me."
Lin An initially wanted to refuse to hand over the person, but Huo Xiaoxiao's aura was too strong, and she hadn't even asked if he was willing to release the person. In the instant Lin An hesitated, Huo Xiaoxiao took the person away.
"Xiao Yi, didn't you hear any gossip?" Huo Xiaoxiao pulled Shi Tou to a secluded corner and asked directly.
Shi Tou looked at Huo Xiaoxiao with a half-smile: "Isn't it just that you look down on my abilities? Too bad, I just don't like studying, what can I do?"
Huo Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes in a very unladylike manner: "Don't even mention it. I just heard from my friend that Lin An's parents are interested in a marriage alliance with the Han family."
"Oh?" Stone's smile widened instantly: "I thought nobody wanted him!"
“Originally, nobody wanted him, but Lin An’s fourth sister got involved with the third young master of the Han family. Now, that third young master wants to act as a matchmaker for Lin An.” Huo Xiaoxiao curled her lip dismissively: “What exactly do you think of Lin An?”
"No idea." Stone's expression was very calm.
Huo Xiaoxiao looked at Shi Tou seriously: "If that's the case, we can take the initiative to break off the engagement. Hmph, does the Lin family think the Huo family is easy to bully?"
Stone thought for a moment: "That's a good idea, but are you sure you can convince Grandpa?"
Yes, that's right. The Huo family patriarch values face the most. Whether it's the Huo family or the Lin family breaking off the engagement, he'll feel he's lost face. Given his personality, he would absolutely not agree to it.
"Hmph! If you ask me, we should just kill Lin An!" Huo Xiaoxiao angrily swung her fist: "I..."
Ah~~~
Huo Xiaoxiao stopped abruptly, exchanging a surprised glance with Shi Tou: "What happened?"
Stone quickly turned her head to look at the direction from which the screams came, because they had been in a relatively remote place, and now they only saw a group of people rushing towards one direction.
"Help! Quick, get a doctor! Hurry!"
Huo Xiaoxiao grabbed Shi Tou: "Don't go, let's stay here."
Shi Tou glanced at the congested crowd, then at Huo Xiaoxiao, a thoughtful expression on his face: "Do you know what's going on?"
Huo Xiaoxiao hesitated, then gritted her teeth and said in a very soft voice, "Grandpa said that Chu Fei is holding on with medication, but I'm afraid she won't make it..."
Chu Fei?!
☆, Chapter 163 Time Magic and Heavenly Fate Fruit
"Why didn't you stay and help?" On the carriage, Shi Tou looked at Huo Xiaoxiao with a serious expression, his tone full of confusion.
Huo Xiaoxiao appeared calm, but her slightly trembling hands betrayed her: "Because we are all from the six great families of the East."
"So what?" Stone was even more puzzled: "We just leave like this."
Huo Xiaoxiao poured herself a cup of tea with trembling hands, but accidentally spilled it on the coffee table: "Because the Lin family wouldn't want us to stay and watch the show. Besides, Grandpa and Dad are still at the Lin family's house. If the Lin family really needs our Huo family's help, they won't need the two of us."
Stone nodded thoughtfully.
When the unexpected happened, Huo Xiaoxiao was the first to ask to leave, and Shi Tou was worried that her doing so would displease the Lin family. However, the Lin family only hesitated for a moment before arranging for the two sisters to be escorted out. The other guests, especially those from the six major families besides the Lin family, also immediately took their leave.
It turns out that this wasn't the cold-blooded ruthlessness that Shi Tou thought, but rather a desire to avoid causing further trouble for the Lin family.
"I wonder how Chu Fei is doing..." Huo Xiaoxiao drank a cup of tea and let out a long sigh: "Chu Fei... she's a good person."
Is he a good person?
Shi Tou didn't have much feeling for anyone from the Dongfang family except for Huo Xiaoxiao. Originally, she had a passable feeling for Lin An, but after today, she had no good feelings towards him at all.
However, Chu Fei...
"Xiaoxiao, is Chu Fei the same person who helped us at the auction house in the capital city center back then?" It must be the same person, right? But it's only been a little over two years. Why has her health deteriorated to this extent?
"Yes." Huo Xiaoxiao nodded: "Chu Fei is the eldest daughter of the Chu family, and she has a younger brother. The Chu family has always been small in number. If something really happens to Chu Fei this time, then the Chu family will only have one son left."
"Doesn't her father have any brothers?" Stone frowned. There's no family planning in this other world. If you want, you can have seventeen or eighteen children and no one will care.
"No." Huo Xiaoxiao sighed. "Chu Fei's father not only has no brothers, but he doesn't even have any sisters. By the way, Xiao Yi, do you remember? Back then at the auction house in the center of the capital, Chu Fei mentioned her aunt?"
Shi Tou thought for a moment. It seemed like something like that happened: "I remember her mentioning a full moon celebration? Does that mean her aunt is still very young?"
Huo Xiaoxiao picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea for herself and Xiaoyi. But this time her hands were no longer trembling: "It's a pity that her little aunt didn't make it."
"What do you mean?" Shi Tou was about to grab a teacup when he heard Huo Xiaoxiao's words and almost knocked it over.
“She died, on the eve of her second birthday.” Huo Xiaoxiao took a sip of tea. “According to the Chu family’s rules, children under three years old cannot be included in the family genealogy. So, that child left no record at all.”
"And this rule..." There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Shi Tou's tone: "The Dongfang family has so many rules!"
Huo Xiaoxiao glanced at the stone and corrected, "It's the Chu family's rule, not the Dongfang family's. Other families don't have such rules."
"Because many people from the Chu family died?" Shi Tou thought about it and realized that this was the only possibility.
"Yes, it's not that the Chu family is infertile. It's just that their offspring are generally short-lived. A significant percentage of Chu family children die before the age of three. And children who live past the age of three usually have a lifespan of less than a hundred years."
Lifespans in this other world are longer than in the stone's previous life. Here, under normal circumstances, dying before the age of 150 is considered premature, and people who live past 200 are commonplace. There have even been people who lived to be 280 years old.
To die before the age of 100 is indeed a short lifespan.
"The Chu family has a hereditary disease?" If this were in Shi Tou's previous life, it might be related to power struggles within a family. But this is another world, in the Luo Ming Empire where even the royal family practices monogamy, so power struggles within a family are indeed unlikely.
If they were to die from infighting after growing up, it's unlikely that most of their offspring would die before the age of three. [~] So, the only remaining possibility is hereditary diseases.
“It’s a curse.” Huo Xiaoxiao gave an answer that surprised Shi Tou.
Yes, although the other world doesn't have advanced medical skills, they do have doctors and priests.
Healers and priests are both people who save lives. However, priests usually use light magic, while healers use water and wood magic.
The difference between the two is that priests use them to exorcise curses and external harm, while doctors use them to heal internal injuries.
"Xiaoxiao, I remember those people were calling for a doctor, right?" If it really is a curse, then they should call for a priest. Doctors are only for healing.