Everyone looked back in surprise to see Chu Xingbai with his arm bound in bandages, being supported by his younger brother as he approached unsteadily.
Tie Ci glanced over—the arm injury wasn’t light. The arrowhead had completely pierced through, with white bone visible in the wound.
He bowed to Tie Ci with a somewhat guilty expression: “Your Highness’s great grace weighs heavily on Xingbai’s heart. However, Xingbai and his younger brother have been companions since childhood, having sworn to journey through life together, never to be separated. If Xingbai alone goes to the capital, it would damage brotherly bonds. Xingbai thanks Your Highness for your kind intention, but this position should go to other senior brothers instead.”
Everyone looked at him in amazement.
After great effort to pass through five barriers and defeat six generals, winning the grand competition and even suffering injury to earn Her Highness’s favor and make the list—with a bright future right before him—someone would actually give it up for his brother?
The Mingquan Academy head was both anxious and angry, unable to help scolding: “Xingbai! Don’t speak nonsense! Have you forgotten how long you studied hard for this grand competition?”
He then said to Bai Xingchu: “Bai’er, don’t just smile without speaking. Advise your older brother not to be so confused!”
“That’s right, elder brother’s future is important.”
“Even if he goes to the capital, you can go too. If you pass next year’s spring examinations, can’t you brothers still serve as officials in the same court? That would also be a fine story.”
“Chu is probably bound by past oaths that are hard to break. Bai should persuade him. People can’t be too selfish!”
Bai Xingchu listened with his constant smile throughout. After everyone finished speaking, he said cheerfully: “Thank you all for caring about my brother, but if you use my elder brother to pressure me, he’ll get angry, you know.”
Everyone was silenced, and looking at Chu Xingbai again, his face was indeed dark.
Bai Xingchu made another circular bow: “My brother and I made an oath in our early years to journey through life together, watching over and helping each other. Breaking this oath would mean we couldn’t get wives, which is quite serious—I can’t let my brother remain wifeless. Besides, giving up this opportunity doesn’t matter. Next year we’ll take the spring examinations together—he’ll be first, I’ll be second; he’ll be top scholar, I’ll be second place. That would be an even finer story.”
Tie Ci: “Pfft.”
What an amusing person.
Suddenly feeling like a thorn in her back, she turned to look—oh no, because of that laugh, the vinegar king’s face had also darkened.
Tie Ci felt troubled.
This jealous jar—after hearing her decision later, wouldn’t it take even longer to coax him back to good humor?
But the Crown Princess had to prioritize state affairs. At worst, she’d sacrifice herself to placate the demon. State matters should be handled as they needed to be.
Seeing everyone’s faces turn blue-purple from being rebuffed, while the twins bowed to her again, she prepared to withdraw without hesitation.
Tie Ci smiled: “Wait a moment.”
After the twins turned back, she said to the examiners: “Bai Xingchu is also talented, just lacking some luck. Now I’ll provide that luck for him. How about it?”
The Mingquan Academy head understood Tie Ci’s meaning and was overjoyed, hurriedly rising to bow deeply, saying sincerely: “Your Highness acts fairly in all things, showing universal love for all under heaven. We ministers are deeply impressed.”
“What, are you afraid I’m favoring Leaping Carp and deliberately eliminating you from Deer Chasing and Mingquan?” Tie Ci smiled: “You are all my subjects, all future pillars of Great Qian. Why should there be distinctions of factional closeness? I also hope that from now on, all academies can view academies throughout the realm as peers, treat all students as their own disciples, unite as one, share resources, gather wisdom, and adopt the best from all sources. Only thus will it benefit our Great Qian.”
The academy heads all bowed in unison to receive the command.
Tie Ci took the opportunity to say: “I came here with another hope—that the three academies can open themselves to each other, allowing outstanding students to visit for exchange and study. Let Deer Chasing students refine practical affairs and mathematics at Leaping Carp; let Leaping Carp students study poetry and rhyme-prose at Mingquan; let Mingquan students learn classical interpretation and commentary at Deer Chasing. Thus, the three academies, countless students, and even Great Qian’s future literary culture will all benefit.”
The heads of Deer Chasing and Mingquan academies remained slightly silent, but finally bowed: “We respectfully follow Your Highness’s wishes.”
Tie Ci secretly breathed a sigh of relief, smiling happily.
Her efforts to organize this grand competition weren’t in vain.
Selecting talent was secondary—the key was getting Deer Chasing and Mingquan, with their deep factional prejudices, to set aside biases and competitive hearts, open their academy gates, give each other opportunities for mutual progress, and give her opportunities for further infiltration of major academies.
This was crucial for controlling literary forces throughout the realm and the future court.
Therefore, she gave Deer Chasing and Mingquan exceptional opportunities, establishing a completely fair list of ten people with no intention of favoring Leaping Carp.
Tie Ci’s gaze swept over the list. Based on her observations of everyone’s words and actions over these past days, she had already determined the ten-person roster.
Rong Pu asked her to announce the list. Tie Ci nodded: “Qi You…”
She had intended to call Qi You first to give some guidance to this willful pride of Leaping Carp, but turning her gaze, she saw Qi You stand up from beside Miss Li and walk over.
Miss Li had offended her, and people avoided her like the plague, yet after being released, Qi You had gone to help her up.
Now, being the first to receive the Crown Princess’s summons, he showed no excitement or elation, bowing quite properly.
Tie Ci said: “Junior Brother Qi performed excellently in the literary competition. Since your innocence has been cleared, then…”
Qi You suddenly said: “Your Highness, though this matter was unrelated to this commoner, this commoner’s behavior was reckless and excessive. If not for Your Highness’s intervention, Senior Brother Chu would have nearly died by my hand. Reflecting on this matter fills me with shame beyond measure. I feel unworthy of being among the ten. This commoner wishes to cultivate character and nature from now on, bury myself in diligent study, and await Your Highness in the Golden Throne Hall at next year’s spring examinations.”
“…”
People looked at each other in bewilderment, thinking their ears were broken.
One after another declining the Crown Princess—had their brains been squeezed by the dormitory door panels?
People looked anxiously at Tie Ci, thinking that the Crown Princess’s good intentions were being repeatedly rejected and her face slapped—anyone would be angry, right?
These fools throwing away bright futures!
Tie Ci wasn’t angry. She stared at Qi You, as if only now truly seeing this unconventional Leaping Carp talent clearly. After a long moment, she slowly said: “Why?”
Qi You kept his head down: “Actually, when Qi You joined the grand competition, I was already prepared not to enter the central government. Only because of the academy director’s great affection did Qi You want to win honor for Leaping Carp, so I submitted my application. Now, disappointing the director and Your Highness, Qi You is guilty.” He bowed toward Rong Pu’s direction.
Rong Pu seemed to want to say something but ultimately didn’t, only sighing.
Among the crowd, some felt regret while others were pleased.
Though Leaping Carp Academy also had people selected, Qi You was ultimately the most outstanding. With his withdrawal, others gained more opportunity.
Tie Ci smiled, enduring Murong Yi’s death glare as she gestured for him to come closer.
Qi You was quite gracious, walking near her and stopping one step away, looking at her with some puzzlement.
Tie Ci winked at him and said quietly: “Because of the Li family?”
Qi You’s head shot up.
“Because you received Li family funding to attend school, entering the court would mean serving the Li family, but you actually don’t want to be anyone’s lapdog, preferring not to enter court for now and wait longer?”
Qi You was dumbstruck.
Tie Ci smiled as she looked at him.
A clever one.
Some things she couldn’t say directly, but clearly this person not only didn’t want to be the Li family’s lapdog but probably disliked their conduct, seeing that future court conflicts were inevitable and unwilling to enter court now with Li family sponsorship, thus being forced into political struggles and ultimately becoming cannon fodder.
She only said: “Looking ahead and behind is not manly behavior. I’ll give you a chance to speak again.”
The last sentence was spoken louder, so everyone heard it.
Then everyone saw that after two quiet words, Qi You was briefly silent before bowing to the ground: “This commoner is willing to be driven by Your Highness until death!”
Everyone was surprised.
Qi You seemed carefree but was stubbornly principled at heart.
How had the Crown Princess convinced him to change his mind with just two sentences?
Someone whispered quietly: “Perhaps getting close revealed she’s more beautiful than flowers, making him momentarily dizzy…”
Fearing discovery of such disrespect, he kept his voice extremely low, like a thread.
The next instant he was blown over by a demonic wind, eating dirt before everyone’s eyes.
Amid the uproar, Murong Yi calmly withdrew his finger.
Tie Ci had lost interest in watching the show.
It was just someone acting up again.
But bringing Qi You into her fold pleased her greatly.
Ultimately, she would bring Fang Huai’an, Jian Xi, Chu Xingbai, Bai Xingchu, and Qi You all into the capital court.
The literary competition wasn’t actually important—seeing each person’s talents, character, and strengths was more important.
Having the three academies abandon prejudices was even more important.
Of course, having her own people in Deer Chasing and Mingquan academies would be even better.
Just as Tie Ci had this thought, someone suddenly stepped forward from below and bowed: “Your Highness, I have an improper request.”
It was Shen Mi.
As soon as he appeared, the Leaping Carp Academy people became somewhat uneasy, all looking toward Rong Pu.
Rong Pu’s expression remained unchanged.
Tie Ci glanced at Rong Pu and smiled: “Shen Mi, long time no see. How have you been lately?”
At these words, many people’s brows twitched, especially those in officialdom.
This… wasn’t it said that the Crown Princess and Academy Director Rong had an extraordinary relationship? How could she be giving Shen Mi an opening when she knew Supervisor Shen and Director Rong were at odds, especially when Shen Mi came with ill intent?
For those in officialdom, reading expressions was basic skill. After knowing of certain conflicts, they would respond differently based on need. For instance, right now, if she didn’t want Shen Mi to speak, she could completely block his words. The Crown Princess couldn’t be unaware of this.
So this meant the Crown Princess also had dissatisfaction with Rong Pu?
Officials skilled at detecting nuances from the slightest signs focused intently, while Tie Ci acted as if completely unaware of what Shen Mi intended to do, looking curious.
Shen Mi bowed again with neither servility nor arrogance, saying straightforwardly: “I have today’s position because of Your Highness, considering myself Your Highness’s loyal dog, so there’s nothing I cannot say to Your Highness. My situation at the academy is not very good now.”
He then pointed at Rong Pu and spoke at length, saying many things that essentially accused Rong Pu of being stubborn and self-willed, forming cliques and excluding others, acting autocratically without consulting others’ opinions.
The academy heads and instructors from other institutions all raised eyebrows in silent communication.
Everyone knew the reasons. It was simply that both were young, both trusted by the Crown Princess, both wanting to achieve something at Leaping Carp Academy, making them competitors naturally leading to conflicts.
Rong Pu had first gained control of the academy’s power, then Shen Mi arrived and proposed many reform measures. Some Rong Pu adopted, others he ignored, thinking Shen Mi too radical and wanting to cool him down, causing Shen Mi’s dissatisfaction. Day by day, matter by matter, it finally erupted before the Crown Princess today.
People thought about gossip they’d heard, comparing it with today’s situation, then secretly glanced at Tie Ci, indeed seeing a troubled expression on her face.
She tried to mediate, just glancing at Rong Pu, when he said: “Your Highness, the innocent are innocent. I won’t refute Supervisor Shen’s accusations. I only ask Your Highness to look at Leaping Carp Academy as it is now. If Your Highness feels this matter requires joint trial by three judicial offices, I can go to the capital anytime.”
Everyone was stunned.
Wait, the usually gentle and mild Director Rong also had such a tough side?
Or… did he become proud when meeting the Crown Princess?
Eyes rolled between the two of them.
Suddenly someone walked over.
Though the atmosphere was serious, he walked as if no one else existed, holding a blue porcelain bowl with steam rising from it. Walking to Tie Ci’s side, he leaned against her chair, stretched his long legs out lazily, and casually handed her the blue porcelain bowl: “After talking so long, you must be thirsty. Drink it while it’s hot.”
Everyone: “…”
Tie Ci: “…”
She looked up. Above her head, Murong Yi blocked the sunlight, smiling at her with eyebrows like painted pictures, gentle as spring.
But Tie Ci knew that if she didn’t accept this bowl burdened with the important mission of showing affection, tonight she’d be kneeling on its shards.
So she accepted it, drinking calmly under everyone’s burning gossip-seeking gazes.
Her posture was proper, expression serene, like a fatuous ruler who loved demon consorts more than morning court.