Chapter 11: Returning to the Noble Academy

"You're right, I want to use your family's fabric to make clothes for the commoners."

Malken's expression wasn't good.

Yes, nobles generally look down on commoners. If their family's fabric were worn by commoners, they would definitely feel it was a disgrace to their family.

“Miss Liang Di…you…”

Liang Di shook her head. "I know what you want to say, but I have to tell you some bad news. I had my people investigate our family's tailor shop in Namiwei City. Since most of the fabrics couldn't be sold and were rotting in the shop, they chose to sell them to the common people at the original price plus one Vitcoin per piece (thirty-five Vitcoins equal one silver coin)."

Malken's expression gradually shifted from anger to shock. Finally, he fell silent, then dejected.

Liang Di smiled. She knew she was close to success.

"So what if the Mist family buys a quarter's worth of your fabrics at a high price, Duke Malken? Is this all you care about? Don't you want countless gold and silver coins flowing in every month? Will the Mist family keep buying your fabrics at such high prices? Won't they suffer losses?"

"The Mist family... their tailoring business only started two months ago, right? Are they... very knowledgeable about fabrics and formal wear? Does the Mist family have the same prestige as our Langwendi family?"

This barrage of questions, like cannonballs, rained down on Malken.

Malken was a shrewd man. He was not only a duke but also a shrewd businessman, which was why Liang Di had traveled so far to seek cooperation with him.

 “…Miss Liang Di, I think you’re right.”

Appreciation appeared in Malken’s eyes. “So, what kind of cooperation do you want?”

“Our Langwendi family will take over the Nolan family’s fabrics, at a reduced price of one Vitcoin for every five pieces of fabric. And our tailor shop will give the Nolan family 20% of all the Vitcoins earned.”

Malken frowned slightly when he heard about the price reduction, but his brow relaxed when he heard that his family would receive a share. 20% was already a lot.

“Good.”

Malken readily agreed.

“Then, Miss Liang Di, it’s a pleasure to cooperate with you.”

Liang Di smiled, extended her hand, and shook hands with Malken, finalizing the cooperation.

"Duke Malken, it's been a pleasure doing business with you."

Before leaving, Liang Di suddenly remembered something and turned back to Malken, who had come to see her off, asking, "Excuse me, what kind of trees are those dwarf trees outside? I don't think I've seen them in the Soteland Empire."

"Oh, they're from the Labimian Empire. I thought they were pretty, so I bought some saplings to plant at home. If you like, I'll have someone send you a batch of saplings when I deliver the cloth to your family in a couple of days."

"Thank you, but could you also send me some branches with leaves?"

"Of course."

Malken didn't ask what she intended to use them for, assuming she just liked those kinds of things.

—Two days later—

"Sister Liang Lin, what should I be careful about at the noble school?"

Liang Di was wearing the noble academy's uniform, a brown, tight-fitting top that accentuated her curves. Compared to her, Liang Lin looked quite ordinary. Of course, Liang Lin didn't like this kind of thing either; if she were any bigger, it wouldn't be convenient for her sword practice.

“Uh…” Liang Lin scratched her cheek, thinking of herself dozing off in academic classes, or even just falling asleep with her head tilted back.

“There shouldn’t be anything to worry about, as long as you don’t fight.”

Liang Lin thought for a moment, then added, “However, my courses are different from yours. I have swordsmanship and horseback riding classes, and I’ll take grammar and etiquette classes with you, but I won’t be with you for dance and astronomy.”

“Hmm…?”

If Liang Di remembered correctly, women didn’t take swordsmanship and horseback riding classes.

“Oh, I’m an exception,” Liang Lin noticed the confusion in her eyes. She straightened her collar smugly. “I’m the only female student in the academy who takes both swordsmanship and horseback riding classes. And none of the male students aren’t afraid of me.”

“Pfft~”

Look at that smug little look in her eyes.

The maid was about to push Liang Di, but Liang Lin raised her hand to stop her. “I’ll walk with her. You can go, I’ll push her.”

The maid looked at Liang Di with trepidation.  “But…”

Liang Lin clicked her tongue in displeasure.

“Let her push me, it’s alright,” Liang Di reassured the maid.

“Yes, Miss Liang Di. Well then, I'll take my leave, Liang Lin.”

Liang Lin gave the maid a cold glance, pushed Liang Di, and left. She remembered that the maid only called Liang Di “Miss,” not her, Liang Lin. That impolite maid, she’d be punished when she got back… punished, punished to clean the third-floor corridor twice more (puffing out angrily)!

–On Campus.–

Liang Di noticed that almost all the students showed strange expressions when they saw Liang Lin; some even trembled and ran far away, terrified.

"Ahem."

Seeing Liang Di's confused expression, Liang Lin felt a little embarrassed. "They're just too timid. I didn't do anything... (gradually losing confidence)"

Liang Di could guess that these people had either been beaten up by Liang Lin before, or had witnessed Liang Lin beating up others, and were now intimidated and wanted to run away at the sight of her.

To ease the awkwardness, Liang Lin flipped open the class schedule.

"Hmm... the first period is grammar class, I'll go with you."

They needed to go up the stairs.

Liang Di instinctively opened her arms, wanting to hug Liang Lin's neck, but was lifted up.

The result.

"Why are you raising your arms? Don't be afraid, I'm very strong."

Liang Di looked down at her wheelchair suspended in mid-air, falling silent.

Was she that strong? She lifted her and the wheelchair together? Liang Di turned around and saw Liang Lin, looking relaxed, with clear yet foolish eyes.

This woman is terrifying. No wonder those students ran so fast.

On the third floor...

Liang Lin pushed open the classroom door. The previously noisy classroom fell into a strange silence after one of the students saw Liang Lin and forcibly swallowed the words he was about to say. The teacher on the stage, on the verge of tears but not daring to offend certain nobles, showed a delighted expression upon seeing Liang Di.

"Liang, Liang Lin, you're here to school?"

"Yes."

This… she's more effective than the teacher.

"This is my sister, Liang Di. I believe everyone has already heard about her."

The Langwendi family's official statement is that Liang Lin and Liang Di are twins, but Liang Di has been sickly since childhood and was sent to Shuijin City to recuperate, only recently returning.

However, most nobles speculate that Liang Di is the Langwendi family's illegitimate daughter.

This is the effect Auston wanted.

If everyone treats Liang Di as an illegitimate daughter, it will become difficult for her to compete with him for power.