Having done the wicked deed of bullying others using her influence, Jiang Xuening returned to her room without any psychological burden whatsoever.

What was there to worry about?

A young lady, in order to break off an engagement, insisting on pinning the reputation of “bringing death to wives” on her betrothed—moreover, someone renowned for uprightness and integrity. If word got out, who knew who would actually be the unlucky one? Besides, if they made a fuss over what she’d done today and asked others to arbitrate, Jiang Xuening would welcome it.

If things blew up, wouldn’t she be able to leave the palace perfectly?

Either way, it was a sure-profit business with no loss.

That evening, Yan Lin truly delivered some examination questions he’d inquired about. Though they might not be completely comprehensive, he knew the general direction and which books would be tested. If one studied by lamplight tonight and reviewed again tomorrow morning, passing tomorrow’s examination shouldn’t be difficult.

After all, this was merely examining everyone’s learning—not a real imperial examination.

The examination’s purpose was only to eliminate those who were too poor in their studies.

After receiving them, Jiang Xuening briefly scanned through and discovered they were almost identical to her previous life. After reading them, she held all these pages to the fire and burned them. Though she didn’t care about herself, if these things were seen by others, it would inevitably trace back to Yan Lin, and word spreading would never sound good.

Thus she slept peacefully through the night.

The next morning, after rising and washing up, she pushed open her room door. At once she saw that early in the morning, on the corridor, there were actually several daughters of prominent families holding books outside, either standing or sitting, softly reciting or memorizing silently.

“…”

It seemed everyone was truly working very hard to stay.

Jiang Xuening suddenly felt that her own laziness was rather out of place.

Perhaps because of her sudden outburst at You Yue and Yao Xi last night, when everyone heard the door and looked up to see her emerge, their gazes held considerable wariness and fear.

Only a few people proactively greeted her.

Among them was Fan Yilan, the only one in this group not cramming with books at the last minute. She even smiled faintly at Jiang Xuening, “Good morning, Second Miss Jiang.”

“Good morning, Miss Fan.”

Fan Yilan truly didn’t compete or contend. With poetry and literature filling her breast, her spirit naturally refined, possessing real substance, she was calm and composed at all times.

This tranquility was something Jiang Xuening couldn’t hope to emulate.

She was always friendly toward those who showed her friendliness, so she also nodded in acknowledgment, saying, “Everyone seems to have risen quite early today. It appears they all take this learning examination very seriously.”

On this late autumn morning, the horizon floated with faint cold mist.

Young ladies in various attire stood under the corridor reading.

No matter how one looked at it, it was a pleasing and delightful scene.

Fan Yilan glanced at the others and said, “After all, everyone probably hasn’t experienced such an occasion before. Being somewhat nervous is inevitable. Even I couldn’t sleep well last night and rose quite early today. However, Second Miss Jiang is the same as the previous two days—sleeping soundly until broad daylight. Truly enviable.”

Of all things to envy, why envy her ability to sleep?

Jiang Xuening truly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Sitting on the other side was Fang Miao, who today had rarely put down her various astronomical and calendrical texts to gnaw on a copy of the Analects. Hearing Fan Yilan’s words, she interjected sourly, “How would Miss Fan know? Even if all of us here couldn’t sleep well last night, Second Miss Jiang couldn’t possibly sleep poorly. Throughout court and country, everyone knows that Vice Minister Jiang is on good terms with Teacher Xie and has regular contact with him. Leaving aside other matters, Second Miss Jiang must at least know something of Teacher Xie’s preferences and what to pay attention to when answering the examination later, right? We’re the pitiful ones—cramming at the last minute without even knowing which Buddha to hold onto.”

Her voice suddenly paused at this point.

Fang Miao finally realized something she’d previously overlooked. Slapping her forehead, she stood up and grabbed Jiang Xuening’s hand, “Second Miss Jiang! Second Miss Jiang! I completely forgot—you’re a person with ‘influence’! Ahem, well, if it’s convenient, could you reveal just a tiny bit about what books Teacher Xie usually likes to read, and whether he has any particular preferences when grading papers?”

Though Xie Wei certainly had contact with Jiang Boyou, those were adult matters. Jiang Xuening was currently only an eighteen-year-old girl, at most nineteen by traditional reckoning. What could she know?

If Fang Miao had asked this in her previous life, she would have asked the wrong person.

However, in this life, Jiang Xuening truly knew.

Who told her she was reborn and even knew the examination content in advance?

When Fang Miao asked this question, the reading voices on the corridor somehow all grew somewhat quieter.

Jiang Xuening noticed quite a few people looking her way, and her thoughts stirred slightly: Why shouldn’t she do this kind of “good deed” that “benefits others and herself”?

The better others performed, the worse she would appear by comparison!

Fang Miao had originally just been asking tentatively. Seeing Jiang Xuening’s eyes flicker, she thought to herself, “As expected, she won’t tell.” After all, at a time like this, everyone was in competition. Who would willingly help their opponents?

If by accident one got squeezed out, who would there be to cry to?

So she sighed, “I’d better continue reading my Analects. Better to grab onto something blindly than nothing at all.”

But she never expected that Jiang Xuening, looking at her, would actually laugh and say to her, “The Analects should definitely be read. If you still have some time, reading Mencius wouldn’t be bad either. One would think that Teacher Xie won’t make the examination too difficult for us—just checking what everyone has learned. So following the general sequence of what scholars study, the Great Learning and Book of Songs should also be looked at. My father does indeed have some friendship with Teacher Xie, but I know little of the teacher’s habits. I only know that compared to answering well on the examination, Teacher Xie seems to greatly favor those whose characters are written neatly and properly. No matter how well one answers, if the characters aren’t neat and clear, they’ll be rejected by Teacher Xie.”

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.

Some hadn’t expected Jiang Xuening to actually speak so directly; some were considering whether what she said so readily was true or false; others doubted the content of her words.

Even Zhou Baoying was reading today.

Her small face was pink and rosy. Her delicate brows furrowed, appearing utterly confused, “How could that be? Reading is about reading—shouldn’t learning and cultivation be first? If someone is rejected merely because their characters aren’t written well enough, wouldn’t that be too unfair? What if there are quite a few questions on the examination and in haste the handwriting is inevitably messy…”

Jiang Xuening smiled, “Then I don’t know about that.”

In her previous life, her contact with Xie Wei truly wasn’t much—even opportunities to meet were few. She’d only heard people say that when he presided over the imperial examinations, those whose learning was excellent but characters not good enough would be thrown down a rank by his hand.

Originally first class would be placed in second class.

Originally second class would fall to third class.

Originally third class might have no name at all.

Among that year’s scholars, many were dissatisfied. This nearly caused an incident where the scholarly community petitioned to remove Xie Wei from his position as Chief Examiner. But Xie Wei continued going his own way as always, with not the slightest intention to change.

Later it just fizzled out.

As for why Xie Wei was like this, Jiang Xuening naturally didn’t know.

In any case, she’d said everything she knew. Whether others believed it was their business.

Due to Zhou Baoying’s question, many people became somewhat skeptical of Jiang Xuening’s earlier words.

Only Xiao Shu regarded Jiang Xuening with new eyes.

Because she knew that what Jiang Xuening said was all true.

After all, the Xiao clan was powerful in court. Though Xiao Shu was already familiar with the Grand Princess and her learning wasn’t poor—basically impossible to be advised to return home at this stage—once it involved examination of learning, face was at stake. Someone had long ago inquired about all the habits and preferences of Grand Tutor Xie Wei. Among them, “good handwriting” ranked first.

She knew, but had never thought to tell others.

Yet Jiang Xuening had actually said it all…

Could this person truly have no selfish motives whatsoever?

For a moment, Xiao Shu felt she didn’t quite understand her. At the same time, she felt that compared to this person’s openness, her own small desire to compete for first place seemed to have fallen to an inferior level.

Her heart suddenly felt very complicated.

Little did she know that at this moment, Jiang Xuening’s heart was blooming with joy: These foolish young ladies must hold tight to this Buddha’s feet, use this time to hurriedly review their books, write their characters seriously and carefully when answering. This palace’s grand undertaking of smoothly leaving the palace and returning home early depends entirely on all of you!

While others were seizing time to review, Jiang Xuening felt that life had never been so full of hope. She entered the Flowing Water Pavilion, wanting to brew herself a pot of tea, not preparing even a bit, only waiting for someone to come call them to the examination.

However, she didn’t succeed. She’d just put water on to boil when an “uninvited guest” entered.

Jiang Xuening looked up, her brows unconsciously rising.

Yao Xi.

Perhaps because she’d cried yesterday, and after Jiang Xuening left she’d cried even harder, her eyes appeared somewhat swollen. Walking in from outside, her gaze remained fixed on Jiang Xuening.

She wore apricot-red clothing that looked quite attractive.

But Jiang Xuening could feel her unwillingness and anger from the tightly clenched hands hanging at her sides.

Jiang Xuening reached out her hands and methodically arranged all the tea implements on the tea tray, only smiling, “Miss Yao, rest assured. Yesterday’s conversation only came about because we asked and you answered. Though I’m not exactly a good person, whatever grievances or resentments I have, I speak of them directly to the face. I don’t do things like slandering people behind their backs or spreading gossip. Naturally, you need not worry I’ll go around talking nonsense.”

Yao Xi again felt as if she’d been slapped across the face.

After all, phrases like “slandering behind backs” and “spreading gossip” sounded like pointed references no matter how one heard them.

She took a deep breath and said, “I believe I have no grievances or enmity with Second Miss Jiang. After returning last night, I deliberately inquired but couldn’t think of any way I’d offended you. If you had some conflict with that Second Miss You and targeted her, that would be one thing. But your words, every single one, were clearly directed at me. I couldn’t sleep for half the night, always finding this matter strange. Even if Miss was acting out of righteous indignation, your reaction seemed far too extreme. This makes me unable not to wonder—what is Second Miss Jiang’s relationship with that Zhang Zhe?”

Tsk.

Unable to figure it out, she wanted to suspect there was something between her and Zhang Zhe. If she found even a hint, it would make a perfect reason to break the engagement with Zhang Zhe.

Jiang Xuening was very perceptive.

However, if someone had come to question her from her previous life, she might not have been able to answer with a clear conscience. But if questioning her from this life? Now she didn’t even know Zhang Zhe—what “relationship” could there be?

Jiang Xuening leaned forward, using a tea spoon to gradually transfer tea leaves from the tea container into the pot, her expression unchanged as she said, “Lord Zhang Zhe is a censorial official, upright and unyielding, entirely righteous. I’ve heard that in his early years, his judgments in criminal cases earned him quite a virtuous reputation among the common people. Though Xuening is also a petty person, over these past two years I’ve come to understand a principle: Though not everyone in the world can be a gentleman, being a petty person is also acceptable. Using petty person’s methods on petty people is fine, but when dealing with gentlemen, it’s best to still use a gentleman’s way. Miss Yao seems to suspect I have something going on with Zhang Zhe, but after today, if Miss Yao inquires outside, you’ll know that I haven’t even met this legendary Lord Zhang once. If you want to make something of this, you’d better abandon that thought early. That you feel this marriage isn’t good and wish to break it off is understandable—people naturally seek benefit and avoid harm. There’s nothing worth criticizing in that. But if some things are taken too far, it becomes rather unseemly. Miss Yao wants both to break the engagement and suffer no damage to herself—where in the world are there such convenient good fortunes?”

“Second Miss Jiang speaks so pleasantly.” Hearing her tone of complete uninvolvement, Yao Xi found it extremely grating. “I’ve only heard that you also have a difficult temperament in your household. Now you stand there speaking without your back hurting. If you truly encountered such a situation and had to match with such a marriage, I fear you might not conduct yourself any better than I!”

This was simply slanderous accusation.

Jiang Xuening thought to herself that even at her worst in doing things in her previous life, she had clearly and plainly told Yan Lin she wanted to be empress, she wanted to marry Shen Jie, without finding any innocent excuses for herself, much less splashing dirty water on Yan Lin or adding stains to his reputation.

Moreover, she had set her sights on Shen Jie before Marquis Yongyi’s household had fallen into trouble.

Regardless of whether the marquis household fell into trouble afterward, she was going to marry Shen Jie regardless. She’d never harbored any intention to kick someone when they were down. It was just that two events collided, giving the appearance of kicking someone down, adding frost to snow, making Yan Lin hate her even more.

The gaze she raised to look at Yao Xi immediately became somewhat mocking, “I see that Miss Yao seemed to have no intention of harming anyone last night, but upon rising today, you’ve become obstinate as if determined to go down a narrow path. If I were Miss Yao: First, encountering such a good marriage match, with my father who is a Cabinet Scholar thinking well of this person, I’d be overjoyed to marry him—what need would there be to break the engagement? Second, even if I felt this marriage wasn’t good and wanted to break it off, I wouldn’t go so far as to splash ugly dirty water like ‘brings death to wives’ on someone—how would he marry a wife afterward? I’d be straightforward and tell him directly that I want to break this marriage. I imagine that Zhang Zhe, being an upright gentleman, wouldn’t force the issue. Third, if I was determined not to bear the infamy of being ‘opportunistic’ but still wanted to break the engagement, I might as well hold my position and just wait at home.”

Hearing the beginning, Yao Xi couldn’t help but clutch her handkerchief and secretly harbor resentment. But when she heard the final sentence, she suddenly froze, “What do you mean by that?”

However, at this moment, Jiang Xuening found Yao Xi increasingly distasteful to look at. Just then, the water beside her boiled, so she said coolly, “I’m going to brew tea now. If Miss Yao doesn’t intend to sit down with me to savor tea and discuss philosophy, then please don’t disturb my tranquility here. The examination is coming up soon—wouldn’t it be better to use this time to read more books?”

Read more books, and stop bullying people for being poor.

In her previous life, having experienced much, this was about all she’d learned. She could only point out this much to her, considering she might still have to marry Zhang Zhe in the future. If Yao Xi understood, then she understood. If not, it had nothing to do with her.

But Yao Xi felt she’d given her not a shred of face and was exasperated once again.

Since the person was showing her out, she couldn’t very well stay. She left in a huff.

Only after walking out did she think—the Flowing Water Pavilion wasn’t Jiang Xuening’s territory alone. How could she drive people away as if she were the master?

But to go back in now would be too undignified, so she could only endure it.

At approximately the second quarter of the hour of Mao, just as Jiang Xuening finished drinking two steepings of tea, someone came to announce from outside Yangzhi Hall.

They said, “Several teachers have now come from Wenhua Hall with the examination papers. The examination will begin at the first quarter of the hour of Chen in Fengchen Hall next door. Will all the young ladies please follow us to Fengchen Hall.”

Everyone then tidied their appearances and followed the palace servants to Fengchen Hall.

This hall was so close to Yangzhi Hall where the companion readers resided that walking there didn’t even take half a quarter-hour. They arrived in no time.

Jiang Xuening looked up and saw that Fengchen Hall had one main hall, with side halls on both sides complete with auxiliary rooms and mountain rooms. There were neither carved beams nor painted pillars—most door panels were simply finished with clear lacquer. Before the hall were only five steps, symbolizing the sage’s five virtues.

Upon entering the hall, it was just like a schoolroom.

At the front was where the teachers lectured. Below, tables and chairs were complete, with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones prepared on each desk. Against the western wall were set several square tables and chairs, with book racks and tea tables, presumably for the teachers’ rest during breaks between lectures.

They each selected their own positions to sit.

Jiang Xuening ultimately felt somewhat apprehensive toward Xie Wei. She directly chose a desk in the most secluded corner where the light wasn’t very good and it seemed rather dim. Though writing there might be somewhat hard on the eyes, it could avoid others’ gazes.

At this moment, a voice came from behind: “The teachers, please.”

Everyone immediately stood up again.

Standing in the corner, Jiang Xuening looked back and saw that Xie Wei today wore loose gray-green Daoist robes, his hair bound with a jade hairpin. His brows and eyes were lightly untouched by worldly dust, his lips carrying their customary faint smile. He walked in from outside the hall with three other elderly scholars whose hair and beards had already whitened. In terms of bearing and manner, he truly stood out like a crane among chickens, not to mention his excessively young age compared to others of the same rank in court.

Those prominent family young ladies who’d previously mocked others for blushing when mentioning Xie Wei now realized that person hadn’t been talking nonsense.

For a moment, many dared not look directly.

After one glance, Jiang Xuening immediately lowered her head: It wasn’t that she didn’t dare look at Xie Wei, but rather she hoped Xie Wei would by no means notice her. She only needed a bit of presence when, after completing and submitting her paper, he told her to get lost.

However…

Xie Wei entered the hall holding a rolled stack of examination papers. Just as he placed them on the desk and looked up, his brows moved slightly. He swept another glance around the corner, only then seeing Jiang Xuening standing with lowered head in that dim corner.

His fingers unrolling the papers paused slightly.

An old Hanlin scholar beside him asked, “Ju’an, what’s wrong?”

Xie Wei only pointed at a palace servant standing by the hall entrance and said indifferently, “In the future, unless there’s fierce wind, wild rain, or scorching sun, open the window shutters on the eastern corner.”

The palace servant immediately responded, “Yes.”

Then they walked past Jiang Xuening and pushed open the window shutters that had just been tightly closed.

Daylight from outside immediately poured in, all spilling onto her body, also illuminating her desk and writing paper bright and clear.

In that instant, Jiang Xuening felt she had nowhere to hide.

In her heart, she cursed: This posture clearly shows suspicion that this palace would take advantage of darkness to cheat! Hmph, watch this palace submit a “fine” answer paper to you, let you appreciate what’s called “having neither learning nor skill”! Infuriate you to death!