Fan Xian sat down, ignoring the boy, and offered his little sister a seat . "Who's the boy?" he asked, smiling . He had already guessed who the plump young lad was, but he wasn't going to say anything .
"I'm Fan Sizhe," the boy said, "the young master of the Fan family . " He looked Fan Xian in the eyes . "Hmph . So you're the bastard . "
He heard a faint sound, and tried to catch sight Lady Liu in the corner of his eye . To his surprise, she had already left, and he wasn't sure where she'd gone . It seemed she had intentionally allowed her son to come in and annoy him, overturning his efforts to remain calm . In any case, if he acted inappropriately, there was the excuse that Sizhe was still young and unaware of how he should behave .
A strange smile crept across Fan Xian's face . He was already aware when he left Danzhou that the Count's heir was a bad-tempered, rude, and unreasonable young boy . For his father's sake, Fan Xian decided that he would commit himself to educating his 'little brother' . . . to prevent him from committing some grave offence and bringing the house of Fan into disrepute .
But taking on this task was more than he had bargained for .
"Give me your hand," said Ruoruo, coldly . As she said this, she pulled out a ruler .
"Why?" mumbled Fan Sizhe . His face was filled with fear, and yet he still obediently extended his hand .
Two solid whacks later, Fan Sizhe's hand was left with two red marks . Tears began to well up in his eyes, but he gritted his teeth and tried to keep them back . "But sis, he is a bast . . . "
Before the word could leave his mouth, Ruoruo had already brought the ruler down on his hand again, her expression completely unchanged .
Fan Xian realized that the coldness of his sister's manner, in the eyes of most people, would seem rather repressed .
"First of all, you are to call him ‘older brother’ . Second of all, you understand our family's status, so you shall not make such awful remarks . Third of all, if you will not respect your elder brother, then you will be punished . "
Fan Ruoruo spoke coldly . The way she gripped the ruler in her hand reminded Fan Xian of a kindergarten teacher - gentle on the outside, but ferociously strict on the inside .
Fan Sizhe looked Fan Xian resolutely in the eyes, pressed his lips together tight, and ran away towards the rear courtyard .
"Every time, he runs crying to mama," sighed Fan Ruoruo .
"I was wondering what he was about to say . "
"He'll think twice before saying it again . "
"It's quite funny to watch you be so strict with him . "
"I don't think there's anything funny about discipline, brother . "
"Why do you carry a ruler to hit him with?"
"Father gave me the authority to discipline him . "
"It seems I was mistaken in my analysis of how the world works . "
"You mean, in terms of male authority?"
"Uh-huh . There's still the question of distribution of power in the household . "
"It seems that I now hold a little power . "
"But don't forget, that kind of power is completely dependent on that man's whims . "
"Brother, you should not forget that 'that man', as you call him, is our father . "
. . .
. . .
Their quick-fire question-and-answer session at an end, Fan Xian and Fan Ruoruo smiled at each other . They were truly happy to be in each other's company, with no one else around . Fan Ruoruo let her guard down and allowed herself to laugh; it seemed her happiness was difficult to restrain .
Fan Xian was the same . Perhaps because they had exchanged so many letters, they were able to have a conversation on each other's intellectual level . When they had started to write to each other, Fan Ruoruo was still young . To an extent, her view of people and of the world had been deeply yet imperceptibly shaped by Fan Xian's influence .
They had not seen each other in ten years, so it would have been natural to feel like strangers to each other . But as they sensed the bond that had developed between them, it soon brought them closer together . It was as if the two siblings had never been apart but had seen each other every day; as if they were long-standing intellectual confidants and close friends .
In their relationship, Fan Ruoruo saw Fan Xian as a kind of tutor, and Fan Xian saw her as his student and his junior . They had a subtle mutual understanding .
Fan Xian smiled . "It seems like you have a good life here," he said to her in a low voice . "I suppose I don't need to worry . "
Fan Ruoruo lowered her head . "I have missed your counsel, brother," she said quietly .
"Oh?" Fan Xian smiled shyly . Had the last chapter he wrote and sent to her had an effect? It wouldn't be right to ask so directly .
"Lady Liu has been happy with herself recently," she said coldly, calling her by her name . Even though she and Fan Xian were the only two people in the hall, the atmosphere had clearly gotten colder .
Fan Xian paused for a moment in thought . "Even though I was far away in Danzhou, I knew about the Liu family's position in the capital . You shouldn't disrespect her . "
"I won't . " Fan Ruoruo's eyelids drooped, and her eyelashes hung beautifully on her pale skin .
Fan Xian gazed at her with a slight smile . It was his good fortune to find someone who understood him in this world, even if it was someone that he had taught himself .
"Did you receive my letter?" he asked softly .
"Mm . " Fan Ruoruo smiled, and the coldness left her face . "I saw it in my room the other night . It scared me, I thought some awful person had left it there . But then I saw the handwriting and I realized it was you . "
Fan Xian shrugged . Relying on Wu Zhu's abilities to deliver a letter was truly a waste of his talent .
No one had entered the room to interrupt their conversation . Fan Xian was happy for that . He took a sip of his tea . "You probably don't know why I'm in the capital," he said firmly .
Fan Ruoruo lifted her head and looked at her brother with a smile that didn't seem quite like a smile should .
Fan Xian felt somewhat embarrassed by her gaze . "What is it?" he mumbled .
Fan Xian gave a sigh that seemed almost mocking, then smiled . "I think most people know why you're here . I believe the children of the capital's noble houses are quite curious . Count Sinan must have big plans for his illegitimate son, if he's going to summon him to the capital . "
"Eh?" Fan Xian was taken aback . "I thought father brought me here in secret . How come everybody knows? There can't be that many people in the capital who know who I am . Why is everyone so curious about me?"
"Because you're here to be married . " Fan Ruoruo laughed . "The bride father has arranged for you is quite well-known . "
Fan Xian frowned . Although he didn't necessarily want to marry her, he was still rather concerned over what his bride might be like . "Do you know her?"
"My future sister-in-law is a daughter of the Lin family . " Fan Ruoruo's eyes shone . "Not only do I know her, I believe the whole capital knows her . "
"What Lin family? Why is this girl so famous?" Fan Xian raised his eyebrows .
"Brother, although you were far away in Danzhou, I know that the imperial household sent you a letter about it . Grandmother should have a copy of it . " Fan Ruoruo laughed .
Fan Xian thought back and slapped his palm to his forehead in realization . "You mean the Lin family, as in the family of the Prime Minister, Lin Ruofu? She's the illegitimate daughter from that great scandal he was caught up in?"
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