Five Years To Ascend The Throne, Three Years Of Mock Simulations - Chapter 13

However, just then, a sudden pull came from Ming Xiao’s waistband, dragging her half a step backward. Her slap missed.

Ming Xiao was startled by the unexpected loss of balance and immediately turned to look. In an instant, she cried out in furious disbelief, “Ming Zhao?! How dare you!”

Behind her, Ming Zhao withdrew her hand as if she had been shocked by electricity. She retreated two steps and bit down hard on her lower lip.

—But that sudden tug had already won Ming Tan the perfect opportunity.

The girl in the white dress gave a cold smile, grabbed Ming Xiao by the front of her clothes, and while the other girl was caught off guard, raised her hand and, without holding back, slapped her twice across the face with two crisp smacks!

“Today, I’ll teach you,” Ming Tan said, her voice like ice tempered in fire, cold and furious, “what it means when people say the one who starts trouble is the cheap one!”

After those two sharp slaps, Ming Xiao was struck dumb. Her cheeks burned with pain and almost instantly flushed red and swollen.

She instinctively screamed and struggled, but Ming Tan’s grip was shockingly strong. While choking her by the collar until she could hardly breathe, Ming Tan also casually grabbed a handful of incense ash from the desk. Without thinking, she pressed it fiercely over Ming Xiao’s mouth and nose!

“You little—ah! Cough… cough, cough…”

The Upper Study descended into chaos.

Teacher Qin was only a scholar and did not dare forcibly restrain these imperial nobles. He tried to stop them for a long while, but no one heard him. Just as he was caught in a dilemma, a dignified voice filled with anger came from outside the door, instantly stopping everyone in the hall.

“What is all this commotion!”

Ming Tan reacted extremely quickly. She immediately released her fingers and stepped back two paces, swiftly creating distance between herself and Ming Xiao. She even took the opportunity to hide the still-frightened Ming Zhao behind her.

As for Ming Xiao, she had not expected Ming Tan to let go. She had been struggling halfway, and under the force of inertia, she fell backward. With a loud bang, she landed flat on her back right there on the spot!

Ming Tan and Ming Zhao: “…”

Teacher Qin and Ming Yao: “…”

The emperor, who had just stepped into the hall: “…”

Only Ming Xuan quickly snapped back to his senses. He hurriedly rushed over to help his sister up and shouted, “A-Xiao! A-Xiao! Are you all right?!”

Ming Xiao had fallen so hard she was seeing stars. Dizzy and dazed, she could not even speak for the moment.

Ming Tan, however, cleared her throat from the side. Her eyes were mocking as she copied Ming Xiao’s tone from earlier and said innocently, “Aiya! Fourth Imperial Sister, what happened to you? You were clearly standing just fine a moment ago. How did you suddenly fall down?”

She deliberately pinched her voice and spoke in an exaggerated, affected tone, instantly making herself several times more infuriating.

“…Pfft.”

Ming Zhao, who had witnessed the whole thing, bit the tip of her tongue and swallowed back the accidental laugh that had escaped. She lowered herself and hid even farther behind Ming Tan.

At the side of the hall entrance, the emperor stood with a solemn expression, his brows drawn together, pretending not to have heard his youngest daughter’s sarcasm just now.

His gaze swept over Ming Xuan and Ming Xiao, then turned toward Ming Tan, whose face was full of contempt. With some headache, he rubbed his temple and instructed, “Teacher Qin, explain to Us how a perfectly proper grand exam became like this.”

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Teacher Qin saluted and hesitated. “It seems that Ninth Princess accidentally knocked over the inkstone first…”

“Teacher does not know the truth. That is not what happened,” Ming Tan immediately interrupted. “It was Ming Xuan and Ming Xiao, these two siblings, who deliberately knocked over the inkstone and blackened my exam paper. That is why I tore up their papers too!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Ming Xiao, who was on the floor, finally recovered. Her heart panicked, and she quickly shouted, “No! You were clearly the one who knocked over the inkstone yourself, then went mad and destroyed mine and Brother’s papers. Yet you still dare slander us here!”

After shouting, Ming Xiao turned toward the emperor, pushed herself up, and kowtowed grandly to him, tears shining in her eyes. “Father Emperor, Ninth Imperial Sister has no respect for her elders and even dared hit me in the face! You must give your daughter justice!”

“Heh.” Ming Tan sneered, crossing both arms. “The villain complains first. Ugly people do make the most trouble.”

“…”

The emperor looked at Ming Xiao, half of whose face was covered in ash, then looked at Ming Tan, who was spattered all over with ink. In a low voice, he said, “Both sides insist on their own version. Neither can be taken as the truth. Yao’er, step forward and speak.”

Ming Yao hesitated for a moment, then stepped out and cupped his hands. “This son believes that rumors do not arise from nothing, and all things must have a cause. Ninth Imperial Sister would certainly not tear up exam papers for no reason—therefore, this son boldly guesses that perhaps Fourth Imperial Sister accidentally knocked over the inkstone and splashed Ninth Imperial Sister’s paper, which is why…”

“No. Fifth Imperial Brother is wrong.”

At this moment, a weak voice suddenly came from behind Ming Tan.

Everyone turned to look and saw Ming Zhao, who had been hiding there all along, slowly walk out. She did not dare raise her head and meet the emperor’s eyes. She only quickly curtsied, but her tone was very firm as she softly defended Ming Tan. “This daughter saw it with her own eyes. Fourth Imperial Sister deliberately knocked over the inkstone, and that was what stained Xiao Jiu’s paper.”

Ming Xiao’s breath caught. She had never expected such an unexpected interference halfway through. Instantly, hatred made her grit her teeth, and her eyes cut toward Ming Zhao like knives.

Ming Zhao shrank slightly, yet still persisted. “Every word this daughter says is true. May Father Emperor investigate clearly!”

The emperor was silent for a while. His gaze swept lightly over this third daughter who had never entered his field of vision, but he did not offer any opinion.

He walked over to Ming Tan’s desk and examined for a moment the exam paper thoroughly soaked with ink. Then he lifted his eyes and looked toward the scraps of paper scattered all over the floor. In his heart, he already had a rough judgment.

Everyone cautiously remained silent, watching as the emperor finished observing the miserable state of the scene. Then he slowly paced back to the lectern, picked up the only two remaining papers, and said unhurriedly, “This one is Yao’er’s, and the other should be…”

“It’s Third Imperial Sister’s.” Seeing the emperor get stuck, Ming Tan pouted a little unhappily and supplied the answer.

“Oh, right. It is Zhao’er’s.” The emperor nodded as though suddenly enlightened. After carefully reading the current-affairs essays on the two papers for a while, a trace of satisfaction finally appeared on his face.

“Yao’er has always been outstanding. This time, his policy essay also approaches the topic from a sharp angle and argues reasonably. He naturally deserves first place!”

Joy appeared on Ming Yao’s face, and he quickly said, “This son thanks Father Emperor for the praise!”

The emperor nodded slightly, then turned toward Ming Zhao, who looked tense and uneasy, and said gently, “Zhao’er’s answer is also quite good.”

“Zhao… Zhao’er thanks Father Emperor for the praise…”

“However,” the emperor suddenly changed the subject. Looking at her paper again, he slowly read aloud, “‘Emperor Dezhen once said: May all the women under heaven be able to read widely in the classics and histories, and possess ambitions no less than men… only then can it be called the sight of a flourishing age.’ Who taught you this sentence?”

Ming Zhao lowered her head even further and whispered, “It was Mother Consort who taught this daughter.”

“Your mother consort?”

The emperor frowned, seeming to recall who exactly her mother consort was.

After pondering for a moment, he finally retrieved the birth mother of the Third Princess from some corner of his memory and gave a faint “oh,” his interest not high. “Noble Lady Ying teaches well.”

Now, because other than Ming Yao’s and Ming Zhao’s papers, everyone else’s papers could no longer be judged, the emperor made the final decision: the final rankings for this spring exam would still have to wait until the afternoon recitation exam before any comparison could be made.

As for today’s farce… since both sides stuck to their own versions, in the end, it could only be dropped unresolved.

Ming Tan, however, did not feel particularly unwilling.

In her view, as long as she had not suffered a loss, that was already a complete victory.

…

By now, it was close to noon, just in time for school to end.

Before leaving, the emperor gave Ming Tan a meaningful look. In the end, however, he said nothing and turned to leave first with Teacher Qin.

The other students also began preparing to return to their palaces. Ming Xuan supported Ming Xiao and glared at Ming Tan with hatred before hurriedly rushing out of the hall. Ming Yao thought for a moment, then approached with concern and offered a few light, airy words like “Ninth Imperial Sister has suffered a grievance,” before quickly taking his leave and returning to his palace as well.

Only Ming Zhao and Ming Tan were left to leave the Upper Study together.

“Zhaozhao-jie, thank you for speaking up for me just now.”

“Why should Xiao Jiu thank me?” Ming Zhao sighed. “I merely reported the matter truthfully to Father Emperor.”

When Ming Xiao splashed the ink, Ming Zhao had been sitting right behind Ming Tan, so naturally she had seen the whole thing clearly.

Warmth rose in Ming Tan’s heart. Holding Ming Zhao’s hand, she shook her head and smiled. “Then I should thank you even more properly.”

“All right, why be so polite? If we really calculate it, then I’m the one who should thank you.”

Ming Zhao smiled faintly and patted the little girl’s head. Her eyes were gentle, yet they also held hidden sadness. “If not for your timely reminder, I’m afraid Father Emperor… would have forgotten me completely.”

Seeing her mood sink because of this, Ming Tan could not help pressing her lips together. She gave a slight sigh and tentatively hinted, “Zhaozhao-jie and Noble Lady Ying are far too low-key on ordinary days, so it is no wonder Father Emperor could not remember for a moment… However, today happened to be the perfect timing. Your spring exam paper received much praise, so you should seize this opportunity and appear more before Father Emperor together with Noble Lady Ying.”

“…”

Ming Zhao lowered her eyes and smiled without committing either way. She avoided answering the question and only said, “Yaohua Pavilion is just ahead. I will go on first. After Xiao Jiu returns, remember to read properly so you can prepare for Father Emperor’s questions this afternoon.”

Since the other party was unwilling to discuss it further, Ming Tan would not force her. She only nodded and said, “All right. Zhaozhao-jie too.”

From there, the two parted ways.

…

Ming Tan slowly returned to Kunning Palace while thinking over the afternoon exam.

The events at the Upper Study had not yet spread, and naturally, she would not be talkative enough to tell the empress. After lunch, Ming Tan was leaning against the head of the bed, torn between taking a nap and reading Zuo Tradition, when Jinkui’s report suddenly came from outside.

“Your Highness, Eldest Miss Lin has arrived!”

…Lin Shurong?

Ming Tan froze, jumped down from the bed, and ran thud-thud-thud over to open the hall doors.

Outside, Lin Shurong was dressed in a sky-blue short jacket with a front opening, paired with a pleated skirt of the same color embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns. She was standing quietly before Ming Tan and smiled at her.

“…What are you entering the palace for?” Ming Tan was dazed for a moment by her beauty, which made her look like an immortal consort or fairy. Supporting herself against the doorframe, only after a long while did she raise her brows and ask.

Lin Shurong curved her eyes, tucked both hands into her sleeves, and said slowly, “Naturally, I entered the palace to supervise Your Highness’s review.”

Ming Tan turned sideways to let her in. While waving for Jinkui not to attend them, she curled her lips and deliberately said to Lin Shurong in a strange tone, “Eldest Miss Lin is truly so devoted and responsible as a study companion. Should I go report to Father Emperor and have him issue you some salary, to comfort Eldest Miss for your hard work these days?”

Her words were sharp, but Lin Shurong treated the sarcasm as passing smoke. She merely smiled faintly and instead said calmly, “If Your Highness truly has the intention, simply give it to me directly. Why use such a small matter to disturb His Majesty?”

“…” Ming Tan rolled her eyes. “You really are thick-skinned.”

The other girl smiled gently and demurely. “Many thanks for Your Highness’s praise.”

The two sat on opposite sides of the desk. As Lin Shurong placed Zuo Tradition by Ming Tan’s hand, she casually asked, “How did Your Highness perform this morning?”

Ming Tan was silent for a moment. She shifted into a more comfortable posture and said expressionlessly, “There was no performance at all.”

Lin Shurong was stunned in confusion and lifted her eyes to look at her. After discovering that Ming Tan did not seem to be joking, she immediately straightened her posture as well and asked with a frown, “What happened?”

Ming Tan gave a light scoff, the corner of her lips curving into a mocking arc. She said blandly, “Besides Ming Xiao, who else spends all day causing trouble out of nothing?”

She propped up her cheek and thought briefly. After organizing the events of the morning in her mind, she repeated them to Lin Shurong exactly as they had happened.

The latter listened patiently. Before she knew it, her brows had drawn even tighter. Her fingers lightly tapped the table twice, and a few traces of disapproval appeared in her eyes.

“May Your Highness forgive this subject’s daughter for speaking frankly.”

Only after a good while did Lin Shurong say, “Your conduct today not only could be called repaying every slight and disregarding the larger situation, it was also done in front of Teacher Qin and all your classmates… Such behavior is truly not the conduct of a gentleman.”

“……?”

Almost the next second after Lin Shurong finished speaking, Ming Tan’s expression darkened. She shot back coldly, “Then in your view, is swallowing anger in silence the conduct of a gentleman?”

When the little princess before her became seriously angry, storm clouds gathered over her delicately carved, jade-like face. While Lin Shurong considered her wording, she looked at the other girl a few more times and actually felt that she was rather cute.

The eldest miss of the Chancellor’s Estate, who understood rites and righteousness deeply, laughed softly in her heart twice. Yet her tone remained calm and breezy as she asked in return, “In Zuo Tradition, the twelfth year of Duke Xuan says, ‘To stop weapons is true martial virtue.’ Does Your Highness know what this means?”

“…This sentence means ‘to turn weapons of war into gifts of jade and silk,’” Ming Tan answered, half angry and half suspicious. Her gaze darkened even more. “You aren’t trying to make me repay Ming Xiao’s resentment with virtue, are you?”

Her posture was so fierce that it seemed if Lin Shurong dared say a single “yes,” she would grab the teapot and splash the entire pot of cold tea onto the other girl’s face.

“…That is not it,” Lin Shurong said calmly.

“I only want Your Highness to understand this: from ancient times to now, among the ways of dealing with the world, using your hands is always the lowest strategy, using your mouth is only the middle strategy, and only using your mind—only that is the best of the best.”

The anger in Ming Tan’s expression gradually receded. Instead, doubt took the upper hand. After furrowing her brows for a long while, she finally said, “I don’t know what you mean.”

“It is very simple.” Lin Shurong smiled faintly and explained generously, “As long as Your Highness is stronger than others in every aspect and wins through intelligence, then those petty people will no longer use such lowly methods… to try to humiliate Your Highness.”