Chapter 38: Inside And Outside The Examination Hall
This time, for selecting companion readers for the princess, the Emperor handed it over to Libationer Wang Zaitian of the National Academy to handle.
Wang Zaitian naturally would not personally oversee it and handed it to his two disciples.
Of course, if Ling Yu wanted to intervene, they would have no objections.
However, since it involved the princess, the imperial concubines in the Imperial Palace had privately sent messages.
“Third Senior Brother, here are some lists that the Imperial Palace has specified.” The Fifth Disciple said.
There was no need to avoid others with these words. They were called companion readers, but they were really just playmates. Playmates for girls could not be truly determined solely by knowledge, so the princess’s mothers naturally all wanted to screen them.
Ling Yu just said “oh,” and that youth, upon hearing this, showed no fear or trepidation. He still reached out to take the scroll, but he did not look at them one by one. Instead, he flipped through and took out one from the middle.
“It’s not bad, right?” He showed it to Ling Yu.
Ling Yu turned his head to glance at it and smiled.
The youth tsked: “Don’t be too harsh.” He examined the paper in his hand. “It’s better than what was written a few days ago, improving day by day. That’s good.”
Ling Yu smiled: “Good as you say.”
With that, he handed the remaining scrolls in his hand to the two disciples.
“You two look at them.”
The two disciples were somewhat puzzled at first, but then they understood something. It seemed someone had privately instructed Ling Yu.
After all, for the families of those participating in the selection, this was a tremendous opportunity. It not only concerned their daughter’s future prospects but also those of the entire family and clan, which were crucially important.
Ling Yu was the Libationer’s third disciple, so it was normal for requests to come to him.
They did not know which family it was from. They had not seen the name on the scroll. To be able to request through Ling Yu and make this bookworm put down his book, it was definitely not an ordinary person.
One had to know that sometimes even the Libationer could not command him.
Understanding the situation, the two disciples no longer said more and examined the scrolls.
Ling Yu then picked up a scroll of classics from nearby and handed it to Mo Zheng. This time there was no need for words. Mo Zheng took it, flipped through it. Since it was not a formal exam, the names were not covered, and they were all written at the very top. Mo Zheng quickly found Yang Luo’s scroll.
“How is it?” Ling Yu took the initiative to ask this time, slightly turning to look over.
But Mo Zheng did not give a conclusion this time and instead hid the scroll behind her back: “I’ll look at it slowly again.” With that, she gave the remaining scrolls to Ling Yu.
Ling Yu smiled and did not ask further. He watched as Mo Zheng walked to the desk nearby and sat down.
Mo Zheng examined the scroll.
Debating the classics could not be achieved by cramming a few days of reading after all.
Although this exam did not really require everyone’s knowledge to be outstanding, it was precisely because of this. Moreover, the two disciples had bluntly said that there were lists specified by the Imperial Palace, so those without anyone to vouch for them definitely needed outstanding knowledge to have a chance to compete.
This young lady’s words revealed that coming to the Capital City would lead to her death, so passing this exam this time to become the princess’s companion reader should be her way to survive.
Mo Zheng put down Yang Luo’s answer sheet, took another sheet of paper and spread it out, ground ink, then picked up the brush. After a brief moment of thought, she began to write.
Over there, the two disciples focused on reviewing the scrolls. Ling Yu’s gaze returned to his book, but he occasionally looked up and saw the youth sitting at the desk, focused on writing calligraphy.
……
……
A ding, a light sound.
The arrow in Yang Luo’s hand steadily entered the pot.
At this time, there were seven arrows in the pot.
Accompanied by Yang Luo’s arrow entering the pot, cheers arose from all around.
Qin Ying’s voice was the loudest: “Miss Liu, you got them all in.” As she said this, she winked at Yang Hui beside her.
Yang Hui had only gotten five just now.
Yang Hui unhappily said: “Just luck.” With that, she stroked her hand. “These hands of mine are for practicing the qin.”
Qin Ying immediately asked beside her: “Miss Liu, do you know how to play the qin?”
Yang Luo nodded.
Yang Hui was about to say something when someone else called her.
“Yang Hui, Princess Pingcheng asks you…”
Hearing this, the surroundings fell quiet, and everyone looked toward the speaker. Princess Pingcheng sat in the upper seat, with two women beside her. She was now looking this way.
Earlier, the palace maid had said they could rest and play, so the other three princesses had immediately left to rest. Only Princess Pingcheng remained here, talking with the young ladies she was acquainted with.
Yang Hui was actually not among those she was acquainted with. Hearing this, she was overjoyed and cast a somewhat proud glance at Yang Luo and Qin Ying before straightening her back and quickly walking toward where Princess Pingcheng was.
Once in front of the princess, Yang Hui lowered her body and respectfully paid respects.
“Yang Hui has seen Your Highness.”
Princess Pingcheng nodded: “No need for formalities.” She looked at Yang Hui as she stood up. “Duke Ding’an’s Family’s Young Lady. I saw you earlier at the palace banquet, but we did not speak.”
Yang Hui was even more delighted: “Your Highness actually remembers me. Yes, I entered the palace with Father and Mother to pay respects to His Majesty. His Majesty granted wine to Father and Mother and even had someone grab a handful of delicious fruit candy for me.”
The two women standing beside the princess exchanged a glance and showed some disdain. Remembering a handful of fruit candy showed she had few opportunities to enter the palace.
However, since Princess Pingcheng had proactively called her to speak, it was clear she needed to be regarded highly. The two hid their disdain, their expressions intimate and smiling as they looked at Yang Hui.
Princess Pingcheng said: “It’s pear juice candy, which Father Emperor also loves to eat.”
Amid the idle talk, the sound of qin strings rang out indoors.
The people here looked over and saw a woman sitting before the guqin playing it.
Yang Hui pursed her lips. That girl from Fuzhou in the countryside had really gone to play the qin.
As for how she played it, it was not bad, but so what?
Did she really think the princess’s companion readers were selected based on skills and knowledge?
It was based on family background.
Yang Hui turned her head to look at Princess Pingcheng and saw that Princess Pingcheng was already talking with the women beside her, not glancing at the one playing the qin.
For a royal princess, from the moment she was born and opened her eyes, she was surrounded by the best. It was too difficult to attract her attention.
Yang Luo also did not intend to attract the princess’s attention.
She just wanted to display the skills she had learned.
At the end of the piece, a voice came from behind: “This qin has been practiced for at least five or six years and has already achieved some small accomplishment.”
Yang Luo turned her head and saw Jiang Rui standing there at some point.
Qin Ying let out an “ah ya”: “Is she right or not?”
Yang Luo’s expression was slightly complex as she nodded: “Yes, it’s been practiced, nearly five years.”
Qin Ying praised Jiang Rui again: “Older Sister Jiang’s qin skills are indeed impressive. She can even tell when someone started learning the qin.” At this point, she giggled again. “I hear the Heir of Duke Yongwu’s qin skills are also very good? Can he tell when Older Sister Jiang played a wrong note?”
A faint smile appeared on Jiang Rui’s indifferent face: “His qin skills are a bit better than mine.”
A woman nearby laughed and said: “That’s because he cares about Miss Jiang. For others playing wrong notes, the Heir of Duke Yongwu ignores them and does not point them out.”
Yang Luo lowered her gaze, looking at the qin strings.
Others ignored and did not point out? The first time Zhu Yunxiao came to Duke Ding’an’s Mansion, he had pointed out her qin playing.
Was that caring? That was scheming!
Yang Luo stood up and walked away.
Jiang Rui and the others were somewhat caught off guard, their expressions stunned.
“Did we disturb her?”
“What’s this, doesn’t like people commenting on her qin skills?”
“She sure has quite the attitude.”
The girls said discontentedly.
Jiang Rui’s face also showed some embarrassment. She had come specifically to show goodwill, after all, this young lady had previously shown great respect toward her father and the Jiang Family.
It seemed she had thought too much.
……
…….
“Ah ya, Miss Jiang is still worth befriending.” Qin Ying followed behind, saying softly, “Except for Yang Hui, they’re all worth befriending.”
Yang Luo turned back to look at her.
“Yang Hui is muddleheaded. If you’re good to her, she looks down on you. If you’re not good to her, she holds a grudge against you. Associating with her brings no benefits, only a belly full of anger.” Qin Ying explained to her. “But Miss Jiang is pretty nice.”
Yang Luo smiled: “No need.” She looked at Qin Ying. “I’m different from you. I’m not here to befriend others.”
With that, she looked toward the front of the hall, where Princess Pingcheng was surrounded by several people.
The princess’s face bore a smile, but she was arrogant like a deity not to be touched.
Qin Ying’s eyes widened. She had misjudged. This young lady from Fuzhou was very arrogant, with eyes only for the princess and looking down on everyone else.
