【All right, I hope the host is right】
…
The Grand Tutor was particularly spirited as he lectured that day.
He spoke at length, occasionally posing questions to the students seated below.
The person he questioned most often was Princess Fuxi.
The Grand Tutor was clearly very pleased with this newly acquired student. However, although Princess Fuxi was excellent at memorizing texts, whenever he asked about the deeper meaning behind them, she could not answer at all.
The Grand Tutor lowered his head and looked at Princess Fuxi in confusion. Unable to hold back any longer, he asked, “If you don’t understand the meaning, how did you memorize it so quickly?”
Rongyao replied, “I just read it a few more times.”
The Grand Tutor: “…”
The Grand Tutor coughed and said seriously, “From now on, if there is anything you don’t understand, you may ask this old man. Reading only counts as true learning when you understand the meaning behind the words.”
Rongyao widened her eyes and stood up. “I don’t understand what the Thousand Character Classic we recited earlier means, either.”
The Grand Tutor: “…”
And so, the Grand Tutor took on the role of commentator and patiently answered Princess Fuxi’s questions.
However, an hour passed, and Princess Fuxi was still gazing at him with her bright eyes, brimming with excitement as though she had countless more questions to ask.
The Grand Tutor: “You must not try to accomplish in a single day what requires time. Do you remember everything I explained just now?”
Princess Fuxi immediately recited everything the Grand Tutor had just taught her.
The Grand Tutor: “…”
Everyone else: “…”
The Hall of Literary Brilliance did not have only one Grand Tutor. There were also several Academicians, Expositors, and Calligraphy Instructors, all of them exceptionally talented. Several of them gathered around to test Princess Fuxi, and they were all astonished by her intelligence.
But when they saw the characters Princess Fuxi had written, they fell silent as one.
The characters twisted and crooked, lacking even the slightest trace of strength. They were painful to look at.
The Grand Tutor and the others closed their eyes.
They instructed Rongyao to practice her calligraphy properly from then on and not slacken for even a single day.
Rongyao nodded vigorously, indicating that she would certainly work hard at her calligraphy.
In her previous life, she had been foolish and could never write well. This time, she was so clever—surely she would be able to master it!
The Grand Tutor was an old teacher who was very good at teaching according to each student’s abilities.
At the end of the day, the Grand Tutor assigned a poem for all the students to read through and memorize, while also giving each student a different assignment.
For example, Princess Shengping’s task was to consolidate the first volume of the Thousand Character Classic and make sure she was thoroughly familiar with it.
The less perceptive Heir of Prince Guang and Heir of Prince Rui were assigned to memorize the first ten poems from the first volume of the Thousand Character Classic.
Rongyao’s assignment was to practice her calligraphy and become familiar with the meanings of the classics.
Once the allotted time had passed, class was dismissed.
The Grand Tutor clearly did not wish to linger in the palace either, and he was the first to leave.
Daoxiang hurried over to help Rongyao gather the things on her desk.
The Heir of Prince Guang ran over from the other side and looked at Rongyao with fascination. “You’re really clever. No wonder you’re the Emperor’s eldest daughter. Are all of the Emperor’s eldest daughters this clever?”
Rongyao could not stop the corners of her lips from lifting. Her cheeks flushed pink. “I-I’m only a little clever right now, but you’re amazing too.”
The Heir of Prince Guang stared at her in disbelief. “Really?”
Rongyao nodded firmly. “Of course. You recited the text very well just now.”
The Heir of Prince Guang scratched his head. “I spent three days memorizing that passage at home.”
Rongyao’s eyes widened. “Then you’re even more amazing! You never gave up!”
The smile on the Heir of Prince Guang’s face grew broader. Looking at Rongyao with utmost seriousness, he said, “You’re the most amazing one! You’re much cleverer than Shengping, who used to be the smartest.”
Hearing that, Rongyao felt positively delighted. She was just about to speak when she saw Princess Shengping walking toward them.
Rongyao’s smile faded as she stared at the approaching Princess Shengping.
Princess Shengping asked, “How many days did it take you to memorize the Thousand Character Classic?”
Princess Shengping was asking her.
Rongyao tilted her head and thought for a moment. “It was a long time ago. I forgot.”
Princess Shengping frowned. “Five days?”
“Five days!” Rongyao exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock. It took five days to memorize the Thousand Character Classic?
Before she could answer, Princess Shengping gave a soft laugh and said, “I knew it. Even I took four days. You must have put in a tremendous amount of effort to memorize the Thousand Character Classic.”
With that, Princess Shengping turned and left.
Rongyao blinked as she watched Princess Shengping’s retreating figure, feeling somewhat bewildered.
So, was Princess Shengping comparing herself to her?
Princess Shengping had needed four days to memorize the Thousand Character Classic!
The corners of Rongyao’s mouth rose uncontrollably, and her eyes shone with extraordinary brightness. She remembered that in her previous life, she had only needed to read it twice before she could recite it from memory!
She had known it! Once she became clever, even Princess Shengping could not compare with her!
She had to work even harder and become much, much cleverer than Princess Shengping!
She had to become even cleverer than the most brilliant top scholar!
At that thought, Rongyao suddenly looked toward the doorway. She remembered the Grand Tutor saying that the Palace Examination was being held today. The best scholars in the entire realm had gathered in the palace, and the top scholar would be chosen today.
Would her maternal uncle be coming too?
When Rongyao left the Hall of Literary Brilliance, she indeed saw her mother coming to collect her. She excitedly ran over.
Cui Huaiyin hurriedly crouched down and gathered her rushing daughter into her arms. Tenderly, she asked, “Rongyao! How was your day? What did you learn? Did you see the Grand Tutor? Were you punished?”
Rongyao happily took her mother’s hand and told her all about what had happened in the Hall of Literary Brilliance. She even recounted how the Grand Tutor had tested her memorization and praised her.
“…The Hall of Literary Brilliance is so much fun. I like it there!”
Cui Huaiyin let out a sigh of relief and could not resist pinching her well-behaved daughter’s chubby little cheek.
She had known it. Rongyao could memorize texts faster than even she could. Her elder brother had called Rongyao a little prodigy. How could Rongyao be disliked? How could she lose to Chen Yunxiang’s daughter?
Her Rongyao was a child who had loved listening to her recite poetry since she was two or three years old.
Even if she had not yet developed a fine hand at calligraphy, there was still plenty of time ahead of her!
As long as she was intelligent, there was nothing she could not accomplish!
Cui Huaiyin praised her daughter at length, then headed toward the Hall of Two Ceremonies with her.
From the Hall of Literary Brilliance to the Hall of Two Ceremonies, they could pass through Fuguang Palace on the eastern side or go through the outer court on the western side.
Cui Huaiyin took her daughter’s hand and was about to head east.
However, Rongyao tugged on her mother’s hand and blinked her big eyes. “Mother, the Grand Tutor said that the Palace Examination is being held today. Are all the best scholars in the realm gathered in the palace?”
Cui Huaiyin looked at her daughter suspiciously. “Yes.”
Rongyao asked, “Then is my maternal uncle in the palace too?”
Cui Huaiyin smiled. “Of course. After today, he’ll be conferred the title of Presented Scholar and will be able to enter the imperial court as an official.”
Rongyao looked at her mother expectantly. “Rongyao wants to go and see.”
Cui Huaiyin immediately adopted a stern expression. “No. If someone discovers you, those ministers may impeach you.”
Rongyao said, “I’ll only take one look. We can pass by and I’ll sneak a glance. I’m small, so no one will notice me.”
Cui Huaiyin clearly still did not want her daughter to go.
Rongyao pleaded, “If Rongyao wants to see it next time, I’ll have to wait another three years. Mother, please let me go and take a look.”
“No breaking the rules.”
In the end, Rongyao still failed to convince her mother.
However, after returning to the Hall of Two Ceremonies, Rongyao secretly slipped out while her mother was not looking and headed toward the outer court.
Many people in the palace recognized Rongyao.
Whenever the eunuchs and palace maids passing by saw her, they stopped to bow and pay their respects.
Rongyao might have been short, but her little legs moved quickly.
She soon arrived at the outer court.
There, she ran straight into a patrol of guards.
All the guards froze when they saw Rongyao.
They exchanged glances, seemingly unsure whether they should drive her away.
Rongyao tilted her head back to look at the tall guards and introduced herself. “I’m Princess Fuxi.”
Only then did the guards realize who she was. They hurriedly bowed and paid their respects.
Rongyao waved at them and continued forward. Pumping her little legs, she climbed up flight after flight of stairs. By the time she finally reached the rear hall of the Golden Hall, she was panting with exhaustion. Peering through the crack in the door, she caught sight of the scene inside.
The hall was packed with people—some tall, some short, some old, some young, some plump, and some slender.
