"Studying... studying is a good thing."
Song Shihuan flusteredly wiped away Gu Mingzhu's tears. "Mingzhu, your natural brilliance is obvious at a glance. There are still ten days until the class advancement exam—there's still a chance."
Hiss.
Why did those words sound strangely familiar?
Gu Mingzhu gazed at Song Shihuan through teary eyes. "Do I... do I really have a talent for studying?"
Without a moment’s hesitation, Song Shihuan nodded firmly.
Oh, now she remembered—she had coaxed her father the same way.
"Later, I’ll have Yingchun fetch some books for you to take home. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me," Song Shihuan said, as Gu Mingzhu clung to her. "Even if Class A doesn’t work out, you can start with Class B and take it step by step."
After all, she had heard about Mingzhu’s past antics.
At this, Gu Mingzhu immediately fixed her hopeful gaze on Yingchun fetching the books. The very same books she had once discarded like trash were now cradled in her arms like treasures.
Even Gu Mingliu was stunned.
Gu Mingzhu sniffled, her expression pitiful. "Your Highness, no matter what, I’m still your closest confidante, right?"
She just didn’t want anyone else to be closer to the princess.
"Of course, I like Mingzhu the most."
Seeing Song Shihuan’s earnest, almost oath-like demeanor, Gu Mingzhu finally wiped her tears and left the Qin Prince's Mansion, glancing back every few steps.
No sooner had Gu Mingzhu left than a dry voice chimed in.
"That little Gu Mingzhu only knows how to swing swords and spears—what’s so likable about her?"
Song Yu rolled his eyes dramatically as he spoke.
"Father, you shouldn’t speak of Mingzhu that way."
Song Shihuan frowned sternly before hurrying off to study in the study, leaving Song Yu and his attendant Liuxi standing awkwardly under the eaves.
"Liuxi, did Ah Huan just scold me for that little girl?" Song Yu’s handsome face twisted in disbelief.
Liuxi instinctively nodded, then quickly shook his head.
How was he supposed to answer that?
......
At the Gu residence.
Gu Zheng went from shock to numbness, even stopping midway to weep before the ancestral tablets.
Mingzhu had actually sat in the study for an entire day.
No longer would he have to worry about her yanking the bells off some young lady’s hairpin or dread unexpected complaints at his door.
He was tempted to set off firecrackers in celebration.
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the carriage, Song Yu fidgeted nervously, as if he were the one taking the class advancement exam instead of Song Shihuan.
"Father, if you keep shaking, I’m going to get dizzy," Song Shihuan couldn’t help but say.
Song Yu immediately straightened up.
"Ah Huan, I’ve looked into all the current Class A students—each one is formidable," Song Yu sighed. "Yesterday, I knelt before your grandmother’s memorial tablet for an hour, praying she’d let you draw Song Xiyan as your opponent."
There was no helping it.
In his eyes, Song Xiyan was the weakest in Class A.
Song Shihuan’s lips twitched. What a coincidence.
"Father, I also prayed to Grandmother yesterday to draw Song Xiyan. Didn’t you say you were going to the southern market for pastries?"
"Ahem, Ah Huan, didn’t you say you were going to the Gu residence to play?"
Father and daughter simultaneously touched their noses, slightly embarrassed.
"But I didn’t want Song Xiyan because she’s weak," Song Shihuan defended herself. "According to the academy’s rules, if I draw and defeat her, she’ll be demoted to Class C."
That would strip Song Xiyan of her eligibility for the championship competition.
Two birds with one stone.
At the academy, all students gathered in one place. Those taking the advancement exam stood in a line, each drawing their opponent by lot.
Song Shihuan had chosen Class A, so she would draw from Class A candidates, while Gu Mingzhu, red-eyed, settled for Class B.
At least she had some self-awareness.
When Song Shihuan reached into the box, the room fell silent. Everyone waited to see who she would pick.
Among the crowd, Song Xiyan’s palms grew clammy. For days, she had felt uneasy, as if something ominous loomed.
Song Shihuan unfurled the slip of paper she drew.
The name "Song Xiyan" glared back at her.
Song Shihuan smiled. Grandmother’s blessing indeed.
"Princess Fu’an has drawn Second Princess."
......
Song Xiling was also taking the Class A advancement exam, clearly determined to secure a spot in the championship competition.
While the instructors fetched the test papers, Song Xiling glanced at Song Shihuan and Song Xiyan.
"What bad luck—Eldest Sister and Second Sister ending up as opponents," she said, eyes glinting with schadenfreude. "Doesn’t that mean one of you is definitely going to Class C?"
Song Xiyan’s face darkened. "Worry about yourself first."
"At worst, I’ll return to Class B. Second Sister shouldn’t end up in Class C."
Recently, the Princess of Chu had hired a renowned tutor to prepare her for Class A and the championship competition. This time, she would not fail.
"Silence!"
The instructors’ voices rang out, and Song Xiling quieted down.
Throughout it all, Song Shihuan ignored Song Xiling entirely, calmly meditating with her eyes closed.
"There are three questions today. You have one hour. Begin."
Song Shihuan skimmed the paper. The first two questions were standard, drawn directly from their texts. But the last one...
"On Scholarship."
It was an essay question.
Song Shihuan’s eyes flickered. In Great Qi, such essays were reserved for imperial exams and court debates. Why would the girls’ academy include one in an advancement exam?
In her past life, Song Yanzheng and others had ridden her essays straight into Emperor Yuanyou’s favor.
Now, she was writing one for herself.
Her brush moved steadily—she already knew her answer.
Meanwhile, Song Xiyan and Song Xiling stared blankly at the paper. The instructors had never covered this!
......
Purple Dawn Palace.
Emperor Yuanyou checked the time and glanced at Shen Mingwen. "Minister Shen, didn’t you make the academy’s questions too difficult?"
Don’t let Ah Huan stumble.
"Your Majesty need not worry. That essay question has many possible approaches—it’s quite simple."
As for the other two questions...
Any fool could answer them.
Shen Mingwen smiled serenely, exuding the detachment of an immortal oblivious to mortal struggles.
The princess had a sharp mind—perfect for essays.
Wait.
Shen Mingwen’s expression suddenly shifted, his gaze avoiding the emperor’s.
He had forgotten.
The princess was only ten, and she had only been back for a few months.
Perhaps... the questions were a bit too hard...
