Zhao Qingning hadn’t even fully woken up when the word “cheating” jolted her alert. Facing Yang Fuzi’s accusation, she firmly denied it: “Teacher, this has nothing to do with me. I don’t even know when this paper ball was thrown over.”
But Liu Yiyi wouldn’t let it go: “Zhao Qingning, are you afraid of losing the bet, so you’re cheating with Chen Jinbao?”
She spoke with some smugness: “I’ve been watching you the whole time.”
Zhao Qingning was speechless: “The paper ball was thrown to me by Chen Jinbao. You know how his grades are—they’re worse than mine. What could I possibly copy from him? Who would bother copying from the second-to-last place? Unless they want to be last place themselves?”
Chen Jinbao: “…”
He felt insulted.
Yang Fuzi frowned and unfolded the paper ball, only to find many correct answers written on it.
“Explain yourselves, both of you.”
He looked at Chen Jinbao. He knew how incompetent this boy was—how could he suddenly know how to solve these problems?
Just as Liu Yiyi was about to speak, a voice interrupted: “Teacher, Young Master Chen snatched my test paper earlier.”
Everyone turned to see Zhao Yuyang looking grim and furious.
As all eyes fell on him, he repeated his statement.
Yang Fuzi’s expression immediately darkened.
It appeared Chen Jinbao had forcibly taken someone else’s answers and tried to share them with Zhao Qingning.
Zhao Qingning narrowed her eyes at Zhao Yuyang.
He met her gaze fearlessly.
Why should he be afraid when he was telling the truth?
The students lost interest in the exam, eagerly watching the drama unfold.
Chen Jinbao was so angry he wished he could beat up Zhao Yuyang. This concerned his sister’s reputation, and yet this guy chose to kick them while they were down.
Perhaps emboldened by Zhao Yuyang speaking up, Zhao Mianmian timidly added: “Eldest Sister, even if you can’t surpass Miss Jiang in the exam, you shouldn’t cheat. Teacher just taught us that we must be honest, especially in our studies. What you did is wrong.”
Chen Jinbao immediately interjected: “This has nothing to do with Zhao Qingning! I threw it to her on my own initiative.”
Liu Yiyi sneered: “You two are always attached at the hip. Who would believe she’s not involved?”
She then turned to Yang Fuzi: “Teacher, the academy strictly forbids cheating. Please handle this impartially.”
Jiang Zhiyi also spoke softly: “If everyone cheats, what’s the point of exams?”
Wouldn’t that be unfair to those who study diligently?
Yang Fuzi stroked his beard. They were right.
He looked at Zhao Qingning, feeling disappointed.
Just when she seemed to be improving, she was already back to her old ways.
He sighed: “Zhao Qingning, what do you have to say for yourself? I thought you’d been focusing on your studies lately and making progress. It seems it was all just for show.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Mianmian tightened her grip on her handkerchief.
The carriage ride this morning had been terribly uncomfortable, jolting so much it made her nauseous.
Since Eldest Sister treated them so poorly, she shouldn’t blame her for this.
Thinking this, she timidly said: “Please don’t be angry, Teacher. Eldest Sister’s grades used to be so poor, yet she improved dramatically overnight. This shows she’s actually very clever—she just took a wrong turn temporarily.”
Her words seemed to praise Zhao Qingning, but actually implied that her recent exam improvements were also achieved through cheating.
With everyone watching, Yang Fuzi had to make a decision.
He coughed twice and was just about to announce the punishment when Zhao Qingning spoke up: “Fuzi, leaving aside that I haven’t even had the chance to open the paper ball, wouldn’t you like to take a look at my exam paper?”
Liu Yiyi snorted coldly: “You started sleeping not long after the exam began. It must be completely blank, waiting for Chen Jinbao to help you cheat. What’s there to see?”
Ignoring her, Zhao Qingning picked up her exam paper and handed it to Yang Fuzi: “Please take a look.”
Yang Fuzi eyed her suspiciously but reached out and took it.
With a single glance, he saw that every question on the paper was fully answered. Initially assuming she had scribbled nonsense, he looked more closely, and his expression shifted from casual to surprised, then to solemn.
He studied Zhao Qingning. Earlier, he had heard that the Emperor intended to select additional study companions from the main hall students to accompany the princes and princesses for advanced studies in the Hall of Enlightenment.
For this reason, he had deliberately increased the difficulty of this exam and included some questions not yet taught, essentially to identify which children had the aptitude to enter the Hall of Enlightenment.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Qingning had answered every single one correctly!
This exam paper could be called perfect.
Zhao Qingning stood up and walked over to Zhao Yuyang. She smiled at him.
Recalling the incident that morning and Zhao Qingning’s unruly behavior, Zhao Yuyang grew wary: “Eldest sister, I…”
She raised her hand, and Zhao Yuyang flinched, almost thinking she was about to hit him. He was just about to call on the Fuzi to intervene when he saw her hand lightly take away his exam paper.
“Fuzi, the paper ball probably contains Zhao Yuyang’s answers. Why not take a look at his exam paper as well?”
As she spoke, she tapped lightly on the test paper on the desk, resting her chin in her hand, looking entirely at ease.
Yang Fuzi picked it up. Comparing the two papers, it was immediately clear which was superior.
Setting down the papers, he looked at her with mixed emotions: “This paper deserves first place. How did you manage it?”
His words shocked everyone. Liu Yiyi immediately stood up, snatched both papers, and since her own results were decent, she could clearly see that Zhao Yuyang’s answers were inferior to Zhao Qingning’s.
Jiang Zhiyi’s face abruptly changed.
What was going on?!
Zhao Qingning replied lazily: “I’ve been idle lately, so I had a few tutoring sessions with the Fuzi at my residence.”
This wasn’t entirely false—Yongjia had indeed hired a tutor for the original host, but she had never attended the lessons.
Yang Fuzi didn’t doubt it; it was common for noble children in the capital to have private tutors.
“Zhao Qingning did not cheat.”
Who would copy answers from someone who performed worse than themselves?
Liu Yiyi couldn’t believe it: “How is this possible?”
Gritting her teeth, she pointed at Zhao Qingning: “You must have used some other method.”
Jiang Zhiyi stared darkly at Zhao Qingning.
An unprecedented sense of crisis surged within her.
Zhao Qingning had actually earned the Fuzi’s praise and was declared deserving of first place.
What did that make her?!
She would never allow anyone to steal her glory.
Zhao Qingning frowned, finding it almost unbearable to watch: “Liu Yiyi, you said it yourself—I fell asleep not long after the exam started. Besides, with your petty and narrow-minded nature, if you had seen me copying from someone else, could you have resisted exposing me?”
“You…” Liu Yiyi was left speechless but still stubbornly insisted, “Maybe you found out the exam questions in advance. You’re so cunning—what trick wouldn’t you use?”
Zhao Qingning smiled: “If you really doubt it, you can have the teacher set a new question right now and see if I can answer it.”
“Enough!”
Yang Fuzi sternly cut her off, his sharp gaze sweeping over Liu Yiyi: “I have always conducted my lessons with strict integrity. I would never leak exam questions, nor is there any need for me to do so.”
Liu Yiyi paled: “Teacher, that’s not what I meant.”
She belatedly realized her words had inadvertently questioned Yang Fuzi’s integrity as well.
“I’ve said it already—Zhao Qingning did not cheat. This paper deserves first place. If anyone has doubts, achieve better results than her before speaking up. There’s still a quarter hour until papers are collected. Shouldn’t you all be focusing on your exams?”
The class snapped back to attention, realizing they hadn’t finished their papers yet.
Recalling Liu Yiyi’s claim that Zhao Qingning had fallen asleep shortly after the exam began yet still completed all questions, they recognized her terrifying capability.
Jiang Zhiyi gripped her pen tightly, feeling unsettled.
She had long forgotten about the bet, now more concerned about her top ranking being threatened.
Distracted, she began resenting her humble background—the Jiang family couldn’t afford private tutors. Otherwise, how could Zhao Qingning have improved so rapidly?
Soon, the exam concluded.
Yang Fuzi collected the papers but remembered Chen Jinbao’s attempt to snatch someone else’s exam. He punished him with copying texts one hundred more times.
Though penalized, Chen Jinbao was delighted. The moment class ended, he rushed over and hugged her: “Zhao Qingning, you’re amazing!”
Seeing Liu Yiyi’s contorted expression filled him with joy.
He was still waiting for her to kneel and apologize.
Zhao Qingning pushed him away impatiently: “Don’t cause me trouble next time.”
Chen Jinbao beamed, regarding her with newfound admiration: “Don’t worry, from now on you’re my boss. Whatever you say, I’ll do.”
He’d go east if she said east, steal dogs if she told him not to chase chickens.
Zhao Qingning sighed in exasperation, ignoring him.
When school ended, Lu Jinghan and Qiuhua were waiting at the gate.
With no one else to boast to, Chen Jinbao slung an arm around Lu Jinghan: “Xiao Jiu, let me tell you, my boss was incredible earlier…”
He chattered incessantly while Lu Jinghan’s eyes darkened.
He only knew Zhao Qingning had been bullied earlier.
Silently memorizing the names of those involved, he escorted Zhao Qingning to the gate.
Seeing her board the carriage, Lu Jinghan smiled: “Young miss, see you tomorrow.”
Zhao Qingning looked surprised but pleased at his maturity, smiling back: “See you tomorrow.”
As her carriage disappeared into the distance, Lu Jinghan’s smile vanished instantly.
Chen Jinbao looked at him: “Why don’t you say ‘see you tomorrow’ to me?”
Lu Jinghan expressionlessly turned and returned to the backyard.
Chen Jinbao had no time to argue—he still needed to go home and copy texts.
At the entrance of Princess Manor.
Zhao Qingning alighted from the carriage and encountered Zhao Mianmian and the others again.
Seeing her, Zhao Mianmian grew guilty, avoiding eye contact.
She knew exactly what she had done in the main hall.
Zhao Yuyang greeted her normally: “Elder sister.”
Zhao Qingning suddenly smiled and walked toward him. Zhao Yuyang’s heart leaped to his throat as she patted his shoulder and said lightly: “You’re finished.”
Zhao Mianmian’s eyes reddened with fear.
Zhao Yuyang’s temples bulged with anger. Just as he was about to demand an explanation, Zhao Qingning ignored him and entered directly.
Swallowing hard, the two entered full of tension. Yet as dinner approached, Zhao Qingning still hadn’t come to confront them.
Zhao Mianmian tugged at his sleeve. “Big brother…”
“Don’t be afraid,” he comforted his younger sister. “Perhaps eldest sister was just trying to scare us.”
Chen Shi was directing servants to set the table when she noticed their troubled expressions and quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Her two children were more precious to her than her own life.
Seeing Mianmian like this, had she been bullied at the academy?
Faced with her mother’s concern, Zhao Mianmian burst into tears. “Mother.”
She hugged her, and Chen Shi’s heart ached terribly. Just then, Zhao Junyuan entered and was startled. “Yuyang, what’s wrong with your sister?”
Zhao Yuyang lowered his gaze and recounted the morning’s events—switching carriages and what happened at the academy.
However, he didn’t mention Yang Fuzi’s praise for Zhao Qingning, only stating that Zhao Qingning and Chen Jinbao had cheated, and that he and his sister had reported it to the teacher, only to be threatened by Zhao Qingning afterward.
His eyes reddened slightly. “Father, you often say one should be down-to-earth, honest, and trustworthy. I’ve always kept your words in mind and don’t see where I went wrong.”
Zhao Junyuan frowned, also growing angry.
Zhao Yuyang had always treated his words as absolute truth, which greatly pleased him.
That Zhao Qingning would do such a thing was truly shameful.
Chen Shi also shed tears. “Husband, for the eldest young lady to bully her own siblings like this is truly excessive. What wrong did Yuyang and Mianmian commit by merely riding in a carriage?”
She had known about this since morning but hadn’t dared to show anger due to Yongjia’s presence. Now that Zhao Junyuan had returned, she could finally vent her frustrations!
Why shouldn’t her children be allowed to ride in luxurious carriages? After all, she had been engaged to Junyuan first—by rights, Yongjia should be calling her elder sister! She should have been the legal wife!
If Yongjia hadn’t used her princess authority to pressure Junyuan, he would never have married her, separating their family.
Fortunately, Junyuan’s heart still leaned toward her. These years of living in comfort had somewhat made up for her regret of not becoming the legal wife.
“Let’s eat first. I’ll go speak with your eldest sister later. She should be properly disciplined for committing such shameless acts!”
Hearing this, Zhao Mianmian’s tears turned to smiles.
As long as Father intervened, eldest sister wouldn’t dare act recklessly anymore.
Chen Shi also felt triumphant—even as the legitimate daughter, Zhao Qingning couldn’t surpass her two children.
At the doorway, Zhao Qingning listened quietly, then glanced at Yongjia’s expression. Sure enough, it had turned as dark as a pot’s bottom.
When she said Zhao Yuyang and the others were finished, she hadn’t been joking.
These ungrateful wretches deserved proper punishment. But since she was still a child, she couldn’t handle it herself. So upon returning home, she had immediately reported everything to Yongjia.
Learning that her daughter had been wronged, Yongjia flew into a rage and came to the main hall with her attendants, just in time to overhear their conversation.
That Chen Shi’s children actually had the nerve to distort the truth—it seemed she had been too indulgent with them, making them forget their place.
Chen Shi charmingly served dishes to Zhao Junyuan, but he frowned. “Why are there only vegetarian dishes?”
Hearing this, Chen Shi sighed. “Husband, you don’t know—the mistress ordered the entire household to observe vegetarian fasting. We haven’t seen meat for several days now.”
Zhao Junyuan’s face darkened as he set down his chopsticks.
Ever since Yongjia returned, there hadn’t been a single peaceful day.
It seemed he still needed to find a way to persuade her to go cultivate Buddhism elsewhere.
Chen Shi said softly, “It’s fine for us adults, but the children haven’t had a proper meal in days.”
As she spoke, she threw a meaningful glance toward Zhao Yuyang.
Zhao Yuyang reacted instantly, speaking with a hint of melancholy, “Father, my sister and I truly can’t get used to this food. Sister has grown thinner from hunger these past few days.”
Zhao Junyuan frowned and snorted coldly, “It’s all because of Yongjia! It’s not like our household lacks money—why must we endure such plain and simple meals?”
Seeing his resentment toward Yongjia, Chen Shi felt inwardly pleased. Just as she was about to feign consolation, a stern voice came from the doorway: “If you can’t stomach it, then don’t eat. If you starve to death, I’ll take the blame!”