The Emperor's pupils contracted, his gaze suddenly locking onto Song Jinzhao's face. The Dongzhao Kingdom had never seen a thirteen-year-old provincial top scorer. To call him young was an understatement; he was not even an adult yet.
The uninformed officials and their female relatives stared blankly, their mouths hanging open. What kind of monstrously talented family was this? Each one was more formidable than the last.
Recovering his composure, the Emperor looked toward Ye Liangyu and praised him, saying, Beloved subject Ye, I never expected that during your time away from the court, you would cultivate such a young talent for me. Since you are so gifted at teaching, you truly ought to take on a few more students.
Suddenly called upon, Ye Liangyu hastily stood up, his voice carrying a trace of solemnity. At that time, this humble minister believed he would never be able to serve the imperial court again in this lifetime, which is why I took on a student.
His ability to place first in the provincial exams is not entirely due to my efforts. Qiming is extraordinarily intelligent. Perhaps because he was born into poverty, he cherishes the opportunity to study all the more. Furthermore, having begun his education late, he studies bitterly late into the night every single day, never relaxing all year round. To have accepted such a self-disciplined student is an exceptional honor for this humble minister.
Hearing Ye Liangyu's unreserved praise, Xiao Chengjing looked at Song Jinzhao with immense gratification. With an elder sister setting such a fine example, the younger brother surely cannot be far behind. I greatly look forward to his results in next year's metropolitan examination.
Song Jinzhao smiled calmly. To be favored by Your Majesty is my younger brother's great blessing. He will surely study day and night to repay the imperial grace.
As Ye Liangyu and Song Jinzhao echoed each other seamlessly, and with the Emperor showing such strong support, the factions of Prince Qi and Prince Ying sitting below looked as though they had bitten into bitter melons—unable to spit them out, yet unable to swallow them down.
The birthday banquet did not conclude until the hour of the pig. Following the Emperor's departure, the attendees gradually began to disperse.
Ye Liangyu walked beside Song Jinzhao and whispered, The one who toasted you at the banquet was the Minister of Works, Ou Shinian. He was previously reprimanded twice by the Emperor for incompetence regarding the waterwheels and vegetable greenhouses. However, the man is quite open-minded and deeply appreciates talent. He was likely showing his goodwill toward you.
Song Jinzhao gave a calm nod. She had not detected any hostility from the man earlier, either.
As they walked toward the palace gates, everyone who caught sight of Song Jinzhao was secretly whispering to their companions.
Song Jinzhao's appearance at the birthday banquet today had been entirely unexpected for them, but the impact of this surprise was sensational—so significant that it could change the future of the commoners in the Dongzhao Kingdom.
Between the maritime maps and the potatoes, tomorrow's morning court session was bound to be exceptionally lively.
Song Qiming, who had been waiting outside the palace gates the entire time, saw people trickling out. With eyes full of nervous anticipation, he stared intently at the gates, searching for Song Jinzhao's figure.
He wondered how the birthday banquet had gone and whether his elder sister had achieved her goals.
The moment Song Jinzhao and Ye Liangyu appeared at the palace gates, Song Qiming threw open the carriage curtain with a swish, leapt down, and rushed over to Song Jinzhao.
His tense gaze swept up and down her frame. Seeing that she was safe and sound, and that both of them wore smiles on their faces, the heavy anxiety in Song Qiming's heart finally lifted by eighty percent.
His eyes sparkled brightly, and his voice carried a trace of hopeful anticipation. How did it go, Sister? What did the Emperor bestow upon you?
Ye Liangyu clapped his right hand heavily onto Song Qiming's shoulder, teasing him with a smile. You need to be more steady. You should really learn from your sister in this regard. Facing the Emperor for the very first time, she was even calmer than I was, acting as if it were nothing at all.
Song Jinzhao offered a faint smile. In front of so many people, and with such vital treasures in my hands, even if I had acted somewhat inappropriately, the Emperor would not have made things difficult for a mere woman. Showing too much weakness would have only made people think I was unworthy of my standing.
Ye Liangyu withdrew his gaze in admiration. Gripping Song Qiming's shoulder, he said with utmost seriousness, The Emperor has already conferred the title of County Princess Linghui upon your sister, and he even mentioned you at the birthday banquet. If you fail to place in the Second Class in next year's spring metropolitan examinations, you will become a laughingstock.
Ye Liangyu had full confidence in Song Qiming's ability to pass the examinations and become a presented scholar.
But merely passing was not enough; his ranking had to be high. The starting point for a newly minted scholar was crucial. If he wanted to reach the pinnacle of officialdom in the future, his very first step had to be entering the Hanlin Academy.
To enter the academy, placing in the Second Class was the absolute minimum requirement. As long as Qiming could achieve that, Ye Liangyu could pull the strings to get him in.
The words Second Class had barely registered in Song Qiming's mind before they were instantly blown away by the title County Princess. His eyes widened larger than a bull's, and his slightly parted lips and throat trembled so much that he could not even speak.
The Emperor conferred the title of County Princess upon his sister?
His expression suddenly relaxed. He was just about to jump up in wild ecstasy when he noticed numerous officials in their official robes stealthily glancing their way. His arms stiffened, and he forcefully suppressed his excitement, though he simply could not lower the wide grin on his face.
This was a County Princess, a proper third-rank title! Buying those potatoes had been entirely worth it; they had struck gold.
Sister, hurry up and tell me what happened at the birthday banquet. I am dying to know right now.
Seeing him grinning so widely that his eyes had narrowed into slits, Song Jinzhao gave a helpless but doting smile. Let us get in the carriage and return to the estate first.
Song Qiming nodded vigorously. Overjoyed, he carefully supported Song Jinzhao's arm, allowing her to board the carriage first.
Following behind them, Ye Liangyu shook his head with a sigh. It was only in front of Song Jinzhao that Qiming acted like a child who had not yet fully grown up, showing such deep reliance on his elder sister.
After returning to his princely estate, Xiao Rongyan stormed fiercely into Li Qinyun's room to interrogate her.
Did you not say that you and Song Jinzhao had a delightful conversation, that she was already leaning toward me, and that she promised to persuade Ye Liangyu to pledge his allegiance to me? Why did she not tell you about presenting the potatoes today, causing me to miss out on an absolutely massive achievement?
Awakened by the noise, Li Qinyun was still lying in bed. Before she could even open her eyes, she was met with a barrage of furious accusations. She looked at Xiao Rongyan with utter confusion, having no idea what had happened.
What potatoes? This concubine knows nothing of this...
Xiao Rongyan was so furious that his face turned bright red. He forcefully swung his fist, terrifying Li Qinyun so much that she instinctively squeezed her eyes shut. Her shoulders trembled as she braced herself for his blow, but after a long moment of feeling no pain, she opened her eyes to find that his fist had slammed into the bedding.
Send an invitation to Song Jinzhao tomorrow. I want to see her personally. Watching Xiao Rongyan fling his sleeves and storm out, followed by the heavy slam of the door against its frame, Li Qinyun collapsed onto the bed as if all the strength had been drained from her body.
What on earth was going on?
Was today not the Emperor's birthday banquet? How did Song Jinzhao get involved, and what was all this about potatoes?
The maidservant guarding outside the room had lost all color in her face. Only after Xiao Rongyan had left did she hurriedly rush inside.
She knelt by the edge of the bed, her face full of worry. My lady, are you alright?
Li Qinyun shook her head, completely flustered. I am fine.
She blinked, steadying her nerves as she looked at her personal maidservant, and ordered, Tomorrow morning, you must leave the estate immediately and find out exactly what happened at the Emperor's birthday banquet today. Especially anything concerning Song Jinzhao.
The maidservant nodded frantically, her head bobbing faster than a chick pecking at rice. This servant understands. I will go the moment the sun rises.
