Five Years To Ascend The Throne, Three Years Of Mock Simulations - Chapter 6

The Chancellor’s Estate in the capital.

After Eunuch Sheng An finished proclaiming the imperial edict, he hurriedly reached out and helped Chancellor Lin, who was kneeling before him to receive the decree, to his feet. Beaming with joy, he said, “Congratulations, my lord. Congratulations, Eldest Miss Lin!”

However, contrary to his delighted expression, the people of the Lin Estate did not seem particularly happy. Instead, there was faintly an air of gloom hanging over them.

Chancellor Lin’s expression froze slightly. He forced out a smile, tucked a pouch into Sheng An’s hand, and said in a low voice, “Thank you for making the trip to proclaim the edict this time, Eunuch… But this subject vaguely remembers that Her Highness the Ninth Princess is only eight years old? Since she has not yet reached the proper age, how can she enter the Upper Study?”

Sheng An’s expression did not change, but his hand quietly applied a clever bit of force, pushing the pouch back into Chancellor Lin’s hand untouched. He said cheerfully, “The Ninth Princess is naturally clever, spirited, and exceptionally perceptive. His Majesty intends to cultivate her, so he has graciously allowed Her Highness to enter the Upper Study early. This is the first example of its kind in Tiancheng!”

At this point, he paused, then added meaningfully, “My lord serves the country with loyalty, and Eldest Miss Lin is famously overflowing with talent. His Majesty values these things, which is why he personally chose Eldest Miss to become the Ninth Princess’s study companion… This servant is bold enough to offer one extra reminder: my lord must handle this matter well, so as not to fail His Majesty’s vast imperial grace.”

With that said, he did not stay any longer. He led the group of palace attendants who had come to proclaim the edict and left the Lin Estate in a grand procession.

After hearing Sheng An’s reminder, Chancellor Lin stood in place for a long while without moving. The fist inside his sleeve tightened, then loosened. For a long time, he remained silent.

Madam Lin walked to his side, her face full of worry, and murmured, “The Ninth Princess. How could it be the Ninth Princess… Rumors in the palace say she is violent by nature and used to acting recklessly. Once Shurong goes there, what is to become of her?”

Chancellor Lin sighed. Turning to look at his eldest daughter standing gracefully not far away, he asked in a low voice, “Shurong, what do you think?”

Hearing her father’s question, Lin Shurong lifted her eyes slightly. Her pupils were dark and deep, and her long lashes cast shadows over her porcelain-white cheeks. She truly looked like an otherworldly beauty.

She paused and was just about to speak when a young man’s furious voice sounded beside her, indignant as he said, “What else is there to think? Everyone in the capital says that Ninth Princess is ignorant and useless, even more of a wastrel than many rich young masters. How is she worthy of having Sister serve as her study companion!”

Chancellor Lin’s brows furrowed, and he shouted sternly, “Lin Xun, do not be rude!”

His second son, Lin Xun, turned his head away and gave a disdainful “bah.”

Seeing his completely stubborn appearance, Chancellor Lin was about to continue reprimanding him, but before he could speak, Lin Shurong calmly addressed her younger brother first. “A-Xun, where have all the rites and propriety I usually teach you gone?”

Lin Xun froze, then instinctively shrank his head back. “I…”

“No martial arts practice this afternoon. As extra punishment, copy one page of fill-in-the-classics exercises from The Book of Rites and hand it to me personally for correction.”

After Lin Shurong said this blandly, she no longer looked at her younger brother, whose face had fallen like a bitter gourd. Instead, she turned aside, saluted her father, and said in a gentle tone, “In this daughter’s view, just as Chief Steward Sheng said—we should have me devote myself fully to accompanying the Ninth Princess in her studies. Only then can we live up to His Majesty’s boundless imperial grace.”

Chancellor Lin paused. Meeting his eldest daughter’s calm gaze, his expression gradually turned thoughtful.

Only after a long while did he nod slightly to Lin Shurong and remind her seriously, “No matter what, you must protect yourself well. You absolutely must not allow the people in the palace to bully you. Shurong, do you understand?”

“Yes.” Lin Shurong smiled faintly. “Father, do not worry. This daughter naturally understands.”

…

Ming Tan’s good days had finally come to an end.

At this moment, the sky had only just begun to brighten. Before she had even opened her eyes, Jinkui had already pulled her out of bed and begun washing her, dressing her, feeding her breakfast, and preparing her to go to the Upper Study for class.

Ming Tan yawned endlessly the entire way, so sleepy she could barely stand it. Only when she stood before the school hall’s gates, with their golden tiles and red walls, did she finally reach up to rub her eyes and ask lazily, “This is the place?”

“Yes. Please forgive this servant for being unable to accompany you inside,” Jinkui said with a curtsy. “Teacher Qin will only arrive at the chen hour. Your Highness may enter the hall, choose a desk that suits you, and wait a while.”

Ming Tan nodded, waved at Jinkui, then turned and ran thud-thud-thud up the long flight of steps.

She held her book chest in her right hand and pushed open the hall doors with her left. The noisy chatter inside instantly fell silent. Several children lifted their heads from their seats, their expressions varied, and all looked in unison toward Ming Tan standing at the entrance.

Ming Tan raised a brow.

She had thought she had come early enough. In the end, she was actually the last one to arrive in the classroom?

The environment inside the Upper Study was quiet and elegant. Early in the morning, the servants had already scented the room faintly with agarwood incense. As Ming Tan stepped into the hall, her shoes made clear, crisp sounds against the wooden floor, especially distinct in the silent room.

After she had walked several steps, a handsome young man seated in the very front row finally snapped back to himself. He hurriedly stood, waved to Ming Tan, and said amiably, “Ninth Imperial Sister is here? Teacher Qin personally instructed us yesterday. Your seat is here. Come sit beside Imperial Brother.”

Ming Tan blinked, gave the young man a sweet smile, and replied very politely, “Thank you, Fifth Imperial Brother.”

This person was none other than the Fifth Prince, Ming Yao, Noble Consort Wan’s second son.

“Ninth Imperial Sister, there is no need to be polite.” Ming Yao walked out from his seat and came to Ming Tan’s side in a few steps, making as if to help her take the book chest in her hand.

However, just then, a girl’s spoiled, delicate voice suddenly came from the side, immediately interrupting Ming Yao’s movement.

“Fifth Imperial Brother! Why are you being so nice to her?”

Ming Yao paused, turned toward the girl who had spoken, and showed a helpless expression. “Fourth Imperial Sister…”

Ming Tan glanced over. She recognized this person too: the Fourth Princess, Ming Xiao.

As for the boy glaring at her nearby, he was Ming Xiao’s full elder brother, the Fourth Prince Ming Xuan—the mother of these two siblings was none other than the mistress of Chongle Palace, Consort Ning, who had provoked Ming Tan not long ago.

“Fifth Imperial Brother, don’t you know? This bad girl spends all day acting tyrannically and bullying servants. No one in the entire palace likes her!”

Ming Xiao glared at Ming Tan, unconcealed disgust flashing in her eyes, and mocked sharply, “I heard that Ninth Imperial Sister often beats and kills palace servants at will, showing no kindness as a master. A few days ago, she had just beaten a palace maid from the imperial garden to death with rods, which made the maid’s younger sister risk her life to poison her, all so she could avenge her sister with her own hands!”

“Fourth Imperial Sister, do not speak nonsense!”

“How am I speaking nonsense?”

Ming Xiao looked as if she had suffered some enormous grievance. Furious, she slapped the desk and shot to her feet, pointing at Ming Tan’s nose as she cursed, “My mother consort’s head palace maid was beaten half to death by her. She could barely stand and almost lost her life. My imperial brother and I saw that with our own eyes! Don’t be fooled by her young age. She is so vicious and ruthless, practically like a yaksha reborn—I refuse to study in the same room as someone like her!”

These words were truly spoken without the slightest restraint.

As the Fifth Prince, whose birth mother held an even more honored position, Ming Yao’s face darkened. He was just about to reprimand her sternly when the little girl beside him tossed her book chest aside. It landed on the floor with a thud, instantly drawing everyone in the room’s attention.

Ming Tan tucked her hands into her sleeves, her delicate little face full of smiles as she slowly said, “You don’t want to study with me?”

This Ninth Princess was clearly smiling until her eyes narrowed, looking as lovely and adorable as carved jade and snow, but Ming Xiao’s momentum somehow weakened by three parts. For no reason at all, she felt a chill in her heart.

She could not help shrinking back. Then, abruptly realizing something was wrong, she quickly resumed her fierce, clawing posture and said hatefully, “You’re the one who isn’t worthy!”

“Oh…”

Ming Tan nodded lightly, and the smile at her lips deepened even more.

“In that case,” she tilted her head, her voice as sweet as if she were acting spoiled, yet her words were utterly impolite, arrogant, and unrestrained, “then please get out.”

Ming Xiao froze from being cursed at, then reacted in the next instant and flew into a rage. “How dare you—”

However, before she could say the fourth word, Ming Tan’s expression suddenly sank. With a cold smile, she cut her off and said, “Father Emperor praised me as clever, bright, sharp, and fond of learning, and ordered me to come to the Upper Study to study by imperial decree. Yet as his child, your mouth is full of abuse, and you think I am unworthy to be here. Could it be…” Her eyes narrowed, and she questioned sternly, “that you are doubting Father Emperor’s decision and intending to disobey the imperial decree?”

As soon as these words came out, not only was Ming Xiao thoroughly frightened, even surprise appeared on Ming Yao’s face.

In just a few sentences, she had pinned the great crime of “disobeying the imperial decree” onto the other party’s head… She was indeed the arrogant and domineering Ninth Imperial Sister from the rumors.

Seeing Ming Tan’s cold expression, and seeing that the Fifth Imperial Brother who had always been gentle to her remained silent, Ming Xiao instantly grew both angry and afraid. Somewhat panicked, she turned her head and instinctively sought help from her full elder brother.

“Imperial Brother, she… she’s slandering me!”

The Fourth Prince, Ming Xuan, was somewhat older after all, and he was a boy, so he was steadier than his easily frightened younger sister.

He had refused to speak earlier in order to maintain his status. But seeing Ming Xiao lose momentum after being intimidated, he could not continue remaining silent. He could only step forward to support his sister and rebuke Ming Tan. “Ming Tan, as the younger sister, how can you be so disrespectful to your elders? Hurry and apologize to your Fourth Imperial Sister!”

However, even though Ming Xuan put on the air of an imperial elder brother, Ming Tan was not the slightest bit afraid of him. She immediately shot back, “I’m disrespectful to my elders? Fourth Imperial Brother truly says such interesting things! If you did not forget to bring your brain with you when you left home today, then you should still remember who was the first to speak rudely just now, shouldn’t you?”

“You! Ming Tan, how dare you speak to your imperial brother like this!”

“What would I not dare?” Ming Tan raised her head slightly and said contemptuously, “The Book of Rites says, ‘If a person has no propriety, then even if they can speak, do they not possess the heart of a beast?’ You two siblings have no intention of respectfully obeying the sovereign’s command above, and no heart to love your younger siblings below. You do not observe filial respect or sibling affection, and you know neither ritual nor righteousness. Truly, you are the beasts described in the book!”

Consort Ning came from a high-ranking family and held considerable status in the palace. Ming Xuan and Ming Xiao had also grown up surrounded by flattery and fawning. When had they ever suffered such blunt abuse?

Both their expressions immediately changed. Ming Xiao was so angry that she ran out from behind her desk. Ignoring Ming Yao’s attempt to stop her, she cursed “slut” while raising her hand to strike Ming Tan’s face—

“Stop! In the school hall, how can such noise and uproar be tolerated? All of you, be silent!”

An angry shout suddenly came from the doorway of the hall, frightening Ming Xiao so badly she jolted. She hurriedly turned back to look and saw Teacher Qin standing there with his hands behind his back, his face stern. He questioned coldly, “Fourth Princess, what are you doing?”

Ming Xiao froze. As if burned by fire, she abruptly pulled her hand behind her back and mumbled, “I… I…”

“Hmph. This old man heard everything clearly from outside the door!”

Although Teacher Qin was old, his presence was not weak. He carefully looked over these noble imperial descendants, then angrily flicked his sleeve and said, “Fourth Princess, please do one extra sheet of large-character practice and hand it to this old man for inspection tomorrow morning.”

Facing this teacher of the Upper Study, Ming Xiao’s originally arrogant momentum vanished without a trace. She did not dare disobey and could only say dejectedly, “Yes, Teacher.”

Heaven, earth, sovereign, parents, teacher. Even as a princess, she did not dare act out lightly in front of Teacher Qin.

Moreover, Teacher Qin’s background was truly not ordinary. He had once served as head of the Hanlin Academy. His learning was extensive, and his reputation was known throughout both court and country. Five years ago, his request to retire had failed. At the same time, he disliked how exhausting the Hanlin Academy was, so he petitioned to become a grand tutor and transferred to teaching in the Upper Study. From then on, he became the teacher of the princes and princesses.

The emperor appreciated him greatly and respected him deeply, so these highnesses also understood their own weight and did not dare offend Teacher Qin.

However, since Teacher Qin had once served as an official in court, he was naturally also a teacher who knew how far to go.

For example, this time, Ming Xiao’s slap had nearly landed, yet in the end, she was only punished with one sheet of large-character practice. It could truly be called neither painful nor itchy.

Ming Tan curled her lips and shrugged without leaving a trace.

Forget it. In any case, she had cursed to her heart’s content and had not been punished. No matter how she calculated this round, she had earned a steady profit.

Just as she thought this, Ming Tan lazily raised her head and saw a girl of about twelve or thirteen step lightly and gracefully forward. Turning slightly, the girl slowly walked out from behind Teacher Qin.

She lifted her eyes and curved her lips into a faint smile. The moment her gaze met Ming Tan’s, Ming Tan was thoroughly stunned on the spot.

She had the bearing of Ban Ji continuing the historical records, and the grace of Xie’s courtyard chanting of snow.

She only needed to stand there to already be a peerless beauty.