Meng Yutang’s hand trembled so violently that she couldn’t even hold onto her Goat Hair Brush, her voice shaking as she said, “Impossible… this can’t be…”
Meng Fan, however, took it in stride. “What’s so impossible about it? This is Shangshufang! Coming in last here isn’t embarrassing at all!”
Meng Ruan and Meng Nan remained silent, clearly agreeing with this reasoning.
They had only been average students in the clan school, so how could they possibly outperform the princes and princesses who had been nurtured with the resources of the entire nation since childhood?
But Meng Yutang couldn’t accept it!
She refused to believe it!
Even if geniuses needed time to build momentum, even if success couldn’t be achieved overnight, there should at least be some promising signs, right?
How could they come in second-to-last, third-to-last, and fourth-to-last? This shouldn’t be happening, it just shouldn’t!
Seeing her reaction, the three brothers grew somewhat displeased.
What was this? She herself had come in dead last—how could she have the nerve to criticize them?
Meng Yutang knew she had overreacted. Steeling herself, she pulled them aside. “It’s not that Yutang is meddling, but you all heard what that blind fortune-teller said the other day. You are destined for literary success and will achieve great honors in the future. Now that we’ve been fortunate enough to enter Shangshufang, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, you must strive hard!”
Meng Yutang pleaded earnestly, but the three of them showed subtle signs of impatience.
They had heard this speech no less than fifty, if not a hundred times, and their ears were practically calloused from it.
Among the three of them, only Meng Ruan had passed the xiucai examination a few years earlier. The other two still had no scholarly titles to their names. Even if they were destined for greatness, how many years would it take?
Unexpectedly, Meng Yutang said, “Next year.”
Meeting the astonished gazes of her three brothers, Meng Yutang smiled confidently and declared, “Eldest Brother, by the end of next year, you will achieve the title of zhuangyuan.”
Meng Fan sighed. “Has Fifth Sister performed so poorly in the exam that she’s been driven to talk nonsense?”
Meng Ruan also said helplessly, “Yutang, I’m only a xiucai now. It’s impossible to pass the provincial examination, metropolitan examination, and Palace Examination all within a year.”
“How is it impossible!”
Meng Yutang’s voice suddenly turned shrill. “You’ll pass the provincial examination by the end of this year, just in time for the metropolitan examination early next year. Then, in autumn, you’ll emerge victorious in the Palace Examination. Eldest Brother, you must believe in yourself! You have great fortune awaiting you!”
…
Meng Ruan lost his patience and turned to leave.
Was this a dream? He wouldn’t even dare to dream this big.
Meng Fan followed closely behind, leaving only Meng Nan with a thoughtful expression.
“Yun Guan, eat more. These are all dishes you usually enjoy. I specifically had them prepared for you. I hope they suit your taste.”
In Fengyi Palace, the Empress personally served Meng Yunwan some food. Meng Yunwan rose in flustered gratitude. “Thank you, Mother Empress.”
“Good child, sit down quickly.”
The Empress smiled gently, showing none of the hostility she had once directed at Meng Yunwan. “Che’er has made such great progress this time, and it’s all thanks to you. I knew from the moment I first saw you that you were a good child. Now, I must reward you properly.”
Ling Qianche had stubbornly refused to go to the study, so naturally, he didn’t take the exam. Meng Yunwan, relying on her memory, transcribed the questions, personally supervised the exam for two hours, and then submitted Ling Qianche’s answers to the Grand Tutor for grading.
When the results came out, his score was higher than those of the four Meng siblings and even surpassed that of the five-year-old Prince Qing. Finally, he was no longer in last place.
Even the Emperor learned of this matter and, unprecedentedly, praised the Crown Prince in public, saying he had made great progress.
The Empress was so overjoyed that she shed tears on the spot. If not for the palace attendants holding her back, she would have eagerly adopted Meng Yunwan as her goddaughter right then and there.
Meng Yunwan modestly said, “Your Majesty, you flatter me too much. In tutoring His Highness the Crown Prince, I was actually… entrusted by Second Imperial Brother.”
“Shuo’er?”
The Empress raised her eyebrows in surprise, then nodded. “Come to think of it, he is a pitiful child.”
An orphan of a meritorious official, his entire family perished in battle when he was five, leaving him with no relatives in the world. Though he was taken into the palace and raised in luxury, the pain and emptiness in his heart could never be filled.
Meng Yunwan, who was usually gentle and reserved, spoke a few more words than usual,
“Your Majesty is absolutely right. When I visited Second Imperial Brother last time, I noticed the furnishings in his hall were simple and plain. Presumably, it is because Second Imperial Brother himself dislikes extravagance.”
The Empress understood the underlying meaning in Meng Yunwan’s words.
As a prince, regardless of Ling Shuo’s personal aversion to luxury, the dignity and honor befitting his status must still be granted. This was something she had overlooked. Yunwan did not state it directly, preserving her dignity as the Empress.
The Empress’s eyes gradually darkened.
She had never paid much attention to Ling Shuo before, but she never expected him to be so sincere toward Che’er. Given this, she could not ignore his contribution.
“I understand what you mean.”
“Your Majesty, you flatter me. What have I ever said?”
Seeing the cunning glint in the young girl’s eyes, the Empress chuckled and pinched her cheek affectionately. “What a clever little thing.”
That afternoon,
A steady stream of rewards flowed into the Shuo Feng Hall.
A rosewood jade-inlaid lotus flower kang table, a huanghuali carved flower high-leg table, a golden nanmu writing desk, a hundred-treasure inlaid cabinet, a rosewood curio shelf, a cloud-dragon pattern screen, a thousand-work canopy bed, a cloisonné incense table…
Yue Qi’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Good heavens, are… are all these for us?” Has the sun risen from the west?
Yue Ying tapped his head. “Stop looking so unrefined. Our Highness is a prince—what fine things hasn’t he seen?”
Yue Qi muttered, “Seen or not, such treasures have never been for us to use…”
Both fell silent for a moment, turning their gaze toward Ling Shuo, who was leisurely pouring himself a drink. Yet, his expression remained calm and composed, even carrying a hint of amusement and contemplation.
“I heard Miss Meng had lunch at Fengyi Hall this noon?”
Yue Qi was somewhat puzzled. “Yes, Your Highness. Why do you ask?”
Ling Shuo did not reply, slowly taking a sip of tea.
The tea tasted slightly bitter, but its aftertaste was sweet. The fragrance lingering between his lips and teeth slowly spread to his heart, and a faint smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
“This pre-rain Longjing tea is quite good. Send a portion to each of my imperial brothers, sisters, and siblings.” Setting down the teacup, he gave a concise order.
“Yes, Your Highness!”