Everyone felt both envious and jealous, all thinking that this big pie was about to fall into Ye Shiba’s hands.

Tie Ci, being swept by these burning gazes, thought: Could it be that just as things had gotten better, she was about to become the whole academy’s target again?

But she heard the Director say: “What are you thinking? Huh? Such a good thing – could it possibly be students’ turn? Ye Shiba, you’ll just be responsible for making the roster. Don’t be like what you just said, using the roster-making opportunity to extort and blackmail – there’ll be points deducted from you for that.”

Everyone then laughed with relaxed relief, looking at Tie Ci with somewhat sympathetic eyes.

They thought the Director was going to make an exception and elevate this kid to the heavens, but it was just casually assigning him grunt work.

Tie Ci also put on a wry smile and cupped her hands in acknowledgment, but her heart was clear as snow.

If she remembered correctly, Leap Carp Academy had produced peaches and plums filling the court for many years, making it very easy to get things done in the court.

Court officials with rank naturally had to pass through imperial examinations to leap through the dragon gate. But ordinary low-level clerks and staff mostly came from local academies and official recommendations.

Especially students from Leap Carp Academy had always been the main source for filling low-level administrative department clerks everywhere. Leap Carp Academy’s recommendation letters had always been valued by officials at all levels. Students often started as staff and eventually achieved success and fame.

Now this tone clearly meant to select a batch of students with no hope of imperial examinations, train them well, then send them directly to practical departments everywhere. And the so-called having her make rosters – the subsequent personnel selection, arrangement, recommendation, and so on would obviously be entrusted to her.

Even if she didn’t handle it directly, ultimately people would owe her the favor.

These people would become seemingly inconspicuous but key figures controlling vital departments of people’s livelihood and military administration everywhere, with room for advancement. If they developed well, they would become backbone local forces scattered throughout all of Great Qian.

And these people, selected and arranged by her, would be her people in the future!

This was indescribably immense power, yet unobtrusive.

The reason others couldn’t think of this was because they didn’t know her identity. For ordinary students, this power of roster-making and personnel selection was meaningless.

But she was the Crown Princess, the legitimate heir. With slight management, these people would become her people.

This was simply having a huge pie smashed down on her.

Just because she performed well in practical affairs class?

Tie Ci felt somewhat confused for a moment. She hadn’t expected the Director she’d never seen to give her such a big gift upon first meeting.

The Director turned to Senior Student Mu again: “Your answer was actually quite good too. You’re both excellent academy disciples, so there’s no need for petty disputes. If you fight, I lose double, right?”

Tie Ci smiled and accepted the order.

Senior Student Mu’s face was iron-blue. He glared fiercely at Tie Ci, then glared at Qi Yuansi.

Qi Yuansi: “…”

What did I do?

Can you see the huge character for “wronged” above my head!

After glaring at people, Senior Student Mu actually ignored the Director, turned around and left.

Arrogantly outrageous.

Tie Ci wondered where this fool had come from.

The Director wasn’t angry either. He told Tie Ci they would allocate a room in the Teaching Hall for registration purposes. After speaking, he led people outside, walking and saying: “How are my little darlings Fu Huang and Liu Mo doing lately?”

Someone said: “We were just about to tell you. Liu Mo has been missing for several days, and Fu Huang…”

The voice lowered, then suddenly there was a sharp scream: “What? Eaten! Who ate them! Who!”

Tie Ci jerked her head back to see the middle-aged handsome man’s gentle, delicate features twist grotesquely as he clutched his chest, his voice already broken.

Tie Ci: “…”

That grilled koi head that night seemed to have a circle of yellow on top.

That pile of swan feathers had fine black edges. Chi Xue had been making a goose feather fan recently, even saying this circle of black was like ink brush outlining, very elegant and beautiful.

If the Director knew his little darlings were now in her belly, would he snatch back the huge pie he’d just given her?

Tie Ci shrank her neck, calculating in her mind.

That goose feather fan needed to be given away soon…

Only Tie Ci went to the Academy Affairs Office, received the key to an empty room in the Teaching Hall. Academy Affairs assigned a steward to move tables and chairs for her, provided paper, brush and ink. Now they just waited for the academy to formally issue the announcement.

Students from Liang Hall were quite enthusiastic about this. Several students with decent academic performance had already expressed interest in going for training. It wasn’t that they wanted to take the path of minor clerks from then on – they were still aiming for Imperial Academy student recommendations.

In the afternoon was archery class. When Tie Ci changed into riding attire and headed toward the martial field, a group of female students ran excitedly past her. Tie Ci watched their retreating figures, somewhat lost in thought.

Rong Wei was quite popular.

A fragrant breeze swept by – it was Wei Xuan with several female companions, also excitedly not noticing her.

Wei Xuan wore bright yellow riding attire today, the color bright and tender, making her appear even more fair and sweet.

Tie Ci heard a female companion beside her say: “Ah Xuan, you’ve been dressing so beautifully lately, Master Rong must really like it.”

Another also said: “Whether Ah Xuan dresses up or not, Master Rong likes her. Haven’t you seen him eating at the same table with Ah Xuan every day?”

The academy dining hall was divided into male and female sections, but female students could come out to eat if they wished – it’s just that most female students didn’t want to.

But Wei Xuan had always eaten in the outer section, after all she had to bring her younger brother. Wei Xing was tall and prone to sudden violent outbursts, so Wei Xuan didn’t dare get too close to the female students.

Tie Ci slowed her steps, thinking that she always ate later than others. By the time she went, the dining hall was empty, but Wei Xuan had never mentioned this matter.

Recently Tie Ci often went to her place. The siblings had a separate small courtyard because of their special circumstances, making it convenient for Tie Ci to go train Wei Xing. Wei Xing had become much quieter and more elegant, beginning to say two or three-word phrases. Wei Xuan’s expression was visibly brightening. She would send things to Tie Ci from time to time, and the two gradually became familiar.

Wei Xuan was very grateful to Tie Ci. This gratitude manifested in actions as various kinds of care – sending clothes, food, and gifts, even dispatching servants to collect Tie Ci’s clothing saying they’d help wash it. Tie Ci respectfully declined, refusing the clothes and gifts, accepting food about once every five times it was offered. Wei Xuan was also clever – afterward she stopped sending other things, making food in front of Tie Ci and eating first herself out of respect. Tie Ci could no longer refuse, being fed various fancy foods daily. She felt that in just half a month she’d gained a whole circle of weight.

Although Tie Ci was quite careful, she could only find time to go over at night, inevitably being seen once or twice. A single man and woman alone – gradually rumors emerged. Wei Xuan didn’t seem to mind much, but Tie Ci couldn’t help thinking about a young lady’s reputation, so she usually avoided her when outside.

But at this moment, she didn’t need to avoid her. Wei Xuan, who usually observed everything around her, was completely absent-minded.

Now hearing her female companions’ teasing, there was no shyness on her face, her smile becoming even sweeter: “Master Rong is interested in southern customs and local conditions, so he asks me a few more questions. Don’t tease too early.”

Someone laughed: “The way you put it – so when things naturally develop between you two in the future, then we can tease?”

Wei Xuan laughingly went to pinch that person’s mouth.

Tie Ci glanced at Wei Xuan – her cheeks and ears were red.

She slowed her pace.

Because of last time’s incident, Dan Shuang insisted on accompanying her to class this time. Looking at her, she suddenly said: “Young Master, you’re unhappy.”

“Huh? Am I?” Tie Ci blinked.

Dan Shuang was laconic, giving her a “you’re being so fake” look and staying quiet.

Tie Ci walked unhurriedly, suddenly saying: “Dan Shuang, if I suddenly became debauched and liked forcibly seizing civilian men to fill my harem, would the Empress Dowager be very pleased by my downfall?”

Dan Shuang asked pointedly: “Who do you want to seize?”

“Generally speaking, generally speaking. I have three palaces and six courtyards – I can seize whoever I want.”

Dan Shuang thought hard but couldn’t figure out what consequences such behavior would lead to. She just said expressionlessly: “You can’t seize those you truly like. Why seize those you don’t like?”

Tie Ci was struck again, staring at her heart-piercing maid for a long while, all her energy deflating.

Yes, she couldn’t seize them.

Couldn’t be willful, couldn’t be indulgent.

Her own future was unclear, with enemies on all sides – what right did she have to drag innocent people into this bloody situation?

She had targeted the Liaodong Prince because he was far enough away, unrelated enough, had enough background, wouldn’t easily be implicated to death, and even if something happened to him she wouldn’t feel heartbroken.

The people around her could only be this type – clear backgrounds, strong capabilities, no emotional involvement, fearless.

After a long while she smiled and shook her head.

What a boring Q&A.

“Me? What likes or dislikes do I have in this lifetime?”

Suddenly a voice behind her asked: “Why don’t you like?”

Author’s Note:

Getting older, writing becomes increasingly difficult, and my level is just that, so I hereby declare that this book doesn’t guarantee strict logic, clear reasoning, consistent content, or being bug-free. I suggest everyone treat it as a melodramatic romance novel for casual consumption. Please don’t take it seriously, especially don’t argue with me about it. If you really don’t like it, please gracefully close it – there’s absolutely no need to specially tell me.

Of course, I’m not that petty either. I’m still very grateful for bug reports and constructive suggestions.

Some friends said I have fewer author’s notes now and worry I’ve been stimulated by comments or something. Thanks for the concern, but whether comments stimulate me depends on the situation. I care more about longtime readers’ opinions and fear disappointing longtime readers. As for sock puppet accounts, those who spray without reason, those who are sourly passive-aggressive – these aren’t my readers, so naturally they can’t affect my mood. Honestly, I just love watching their cute little expressions of hating me but being unable to do anything about it. Really adorable.

Also, I have a delay in reading comments. Basically when you’ve all showered me with love and care, I might not have even seen the hater comments yet.

The main reason for no author’s notes is that I’m too busy. Writing a few thousand words a day already leaves me breathless – every extra word is a burden. Also because my condition really isn’t great, and middle-aged people with elderly above and young below have to handle everything from daily life to spiritual matters for both elders and juniors, plus work pressure, career pressure, interpersonal pressure… very hair-loss inducing.

Actually saying too much is just being affected. Who in this world has it easy?

So let’s all walk forward together properly.