The Abused Novel Heroine Became a Clingy Sweetheart [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 50.1

Song Yaoci did not look at You Ting.

She was turned sideways, speaking about something to the old gentleman beside her.

You Ting examined him closely; although the old man was aged, his expression was clear and his spirit was vigorous.

She guessed that he must be Grand Tutor Song.

After watching for a while, seeing that Song Yaoci consistently kept her gaze from shifting towards her direction, You Ting felt bored and withdrew her attention.

The female students queuing up varied in age, from young girls just entering their prime to old women with wrinkled faces.

But what they had in common was that the same bright light shone in their eyes when they looked towards the examination hall.

The sky was bright; You Ting raised her head and looked up at the clear blue firmament.

She slightly narrowed her eyes.

The sky was clear and the air crisp; it should be a good day.

…

…

While the students were taking the imperial examination, You Ting and He Changsi followed Grand Academician Liu to patrol the examination grounds.

In order not to disturb the students during their exams, they only glanced in from outside the corridors.

The examination rooms were silent; all that could be heard was the rustling sound of brush tips rubbing against white paper.

As they walked past one of the examination rooms, You Ting specifically paused and looked at one person inside—it was Deng Jia.

Deng Jia was still wearing that washed-out pale blue gown, sitting upright, diligently writing with his brush.

Noticing her gaze, Grand Academician Liu asked curiously, “Does Your Highness also know that student?”

You Ting replied, “I encountered him by chance.”

Grand Academician Liu nodded, “This old official also met him once; he is indeed a promising talent.”

They walked past another examination room.

This time, the familiar figure inside was Song Yaoci.

Song Yaoci had a calm expression, her writing speed was neither fast nor slow, looking composed and at ease.

“Miss Song is very spirited,” said Grand Academician Liu, “This old official truly envies Grand Tutor Song for having such a good granddaughter, unlike my unfilial descendants, all of whom are good-for-nothings.”

Grand Academician Liu had dedicated his life to profound study, yet none of his descendants could inherit his mantle, choosing instead to pursue commerce.

He Changsi softly comforted him, “Everyone has their own way of life; Grand Academician need not force it.”

Grand Academician Liu glanced at him and sighed softly, “Your Highness speaks true.”

Everyone in the court knew that the Second Prince He Changsi was merely a puppet that the Empress’s clan, unwilling to give up, was trying to shape into a second Crown Prince.

The former Crown Prince liked the color blue, so He Changsi often wore blue robes.

The former Crown Prince loved spicy food, so He Changsi had to taste every spicy dish as well.

The Empress attempted to replicate all of the former Crown Prince’s likes and dislikes onto He Changsi.

Even this name—

Changsi (Longing Thought).

Longing thought (Chang Xiang Si) is thinking of you for long, thinking and remembering (Chang Xiang Yi); what is thought of and remembered is the predecessor.

How could He Changsi’s words not also be directed towards himself?

After inspecting the examination grounds, You Ting and the others returned to the main hall, waiting for the exams to end.

In the middle of the exam, guards caught several students cheating; their cries for mercy were incessant.

The punishment for cheating in the imperial examination was extremely severe in the current dynasty; once caught, it meant a ruined future.

Grand Academician Liu shook his head and sighed, “Why bother? Years of hard study, yet one wrong step and all is lost.”

The crying gradually faded, presumably having been dragged away by the guards.

An official spread out the list of examinees before everyone and chuckled, “Since all you esteemed sirs have some free time, why not guess the rankings of this imperial examination?”

This was something of a tradition; the examiners would predict the students’ rankings before the exams concluded.

The stakes were merely trivial items, used to pass the time.

The more accomplished students, like Song Yaoci, usually already had a reputation that reached the ears of these officials.

Everyone first looked towards Grand Academician Liu, the chief examiner: “Grand Academician, please start.”

Grand Academician Liu looked down at the list for a long time, musing, then circled Deng Jia’s name.

He smiled good-naturedly at You Ting and He Changsi, “Your two Highnesses, please.”

He Changsi circled another student who had always been known for his talent.

He looked sideways at You Ting, “Sister Shunan, it’s your turn.”

You Ting didn’t even look and said, “I choose Song Yaoci.”

The junior official responsible for recording jotted down the results in a small booklet, asking with a cheerful smile, “What prize has Her Royal Highness the Princess decided upon?”

You Ting pondered for a moment, took down a gold hairpin with a painted butterfly and Youlan (a type of orchid) from her hair, and said, “This will be it.”

“This hairpin,” He Changsi recognized, “seems to be the work of Master Yanzhi.”

He smiled, “Sister Shunan is truly generous.”

You Ting said, “No, it’s just that I have exceptional confidence in Song Yaoci.”

She looked towards the entrance, calculating the time; the writing period for today’s exam should be almost over.

…

…

The day of grading the examination papers was very lively inside the examination hall.

Thick stacks of examination papers were piled on the floor, almost forming small mountains.

Rapid grading, rapid sealing, and rapid sorting.

Grand Academician Liu held the examinees’ papers, occasionally praising a good piece of writing, and occasionally angrily denouncing what was written.

He Changsi quickly offered him a cup of tea, “Grand Academician, please calm your anger.”

He and You Ting did not yet have the authority to grade papers and could only assist on the side.

The Princess of Dingxi had come to look for You Ting a few times, but seeing that they were all busy, she had to go prepare for the martial arts examination for women herself.

After continuous effort day and night, the list of the top three finalists was finally selected.

The junior official responsible for compiling and writing the Imperial Announcement List smiled, “For this round’s top rank, which esteemed sir guessed correctly?”

Grand Academician Liu playfully scolded, “Stop keeping us in suspense and tell us quickly.”

The junior official chuckled and cleared his throat, saying, “It is Miss Song Yaoci from the Grand Tutor’s Mansion.”

Everyone selected well-known talented scholars, so it was not surprising who took first place.

It was an expected outcome.

Everyone’s gaze involuntarily fell on You Ting.

“Congratulations to Princess Shunan for guessing correctly. Now Grand Tutor Song has an heir and can finally retire with peace of mind.”

Most of the civil officials here were pupils of Grand Tutor Song, and upon learning that the Grand Tutor’s granddaughter had won the top spot, they all showed sincere smiles.

The Imperial Announcement List would be posted on the notice board outside the examination hall for three full days, and the area was already jam-packed with people waiting to see the results.

Three layers deep, inside and out, they stood on their tiptoes and strained their necks to look in.

Ying’er had planned to stand guard at the gate of the examination hall from early morning but was stopped by Song Yaoci.

“Miss,” Ying’er asked, “Today is the day the Imperial Announcement List comes out, why aren’t you anxious at all!”

Song Yaoci asked with a laugh, “What’s the use of being anxious?”

“If I passed, naturally someone will come to deliver the good news.”

“If I didn’t pass…”

“Bah, bah, bah!” Ying’er quickly interrupted her, “How could Miss possibly fail!”

Song Yaoci smiled slightly, lifting her chin gently with a confident pride, “I was just teasing you. I have confidence and don’t need to go look.”

Although Miss said so, Ying’er was still nervously pacing back and forth.

Until she heard the sound of gongs and drums from outside the wall, she quickly ran to the door and peered out through the door frame.

It was a procession delivering the good news, holding a golden plaque, beating gongs and drums along the street, very lively.

“Ah!” Ying’er cried out in surprise, “She passed! She passed!”

She had good eyesight and immediately saw her Miss’s name on the plaque.

Ying’er quickly ran back to the room with delight, rushing to Song Yaoci’s side: “Miss! Miss! They’re here, they’re here!”

Then she muttered to herself, “I must hurry and prepare some money for tips!”

She started rummaging through boxes and cabinets for silver pieces.

Song Yaoci looked at her busy figure and laughed softly in spite of herself.

Learning the news of passing the exam did not cause much of a stir in her heart.

She was confident in her abilities and never thought she would fail.

She just wondered what her rank would be.

As she was thinking, the procession delivering the good news had already arrived at the main gate of the Grand Tutor’s Mansion.

Someone knocked on the door and said joyfully, “Is Miss Song in? We’ve come to deliver the good news!”

The house servant opened the door, and Ying’er accompanied Song Yaoci outside.

The burden on Ying’er’s heart was finally lifted, and her face was beaming with an irrepressible smile.

She quickly took out the prepared reward money and stepped forward to distribute it one by one.

Song Yaoci, however, was stunned for a moment.

Because in this procession, she distinctly saw a very familiar figure.

You Ting stepped forward, a smile spreading across her red lips: “Congratulations to Miss Song for winning the top rank.”

The people around them started offering festive congratulations, but Song Yaoci hardly heard them.

In her eyes, all that remained was the person whose eyes were brimming with smiles.

How could the Princess… be here?

“Miss? Miss?” Ying’er nudged Song Yaoci’s arm and whispered, “What’s wrong? Quickly reply to Her Highness.”

Song Yaoci came back to her senses, took a few steps forward, and curtsied: “Thank you, Your Highness, for your personal visit.”

You Ting raised her hand to help her up and smiled, “Miss Song, please don’t be so polite. I just came to share in the good fortune.”

She took down a gold hairpin from her head, a hint of a smile gracing her eyes: “I’ll give you this hairpin as a congratulatory gift.”

Song Yaoci looked closely; the hairpin was crafted from pure gold, the butterfly’s eyes were inlaid with gemstones, lifelike, and clearly an extraordinary piece.

“Your Highness,” she quickly waved her hand, “This is too precious.”

You Ting walked closer to her ear and lowered her voice: “Take it. You won it.”

Song Yaoci looked puzzled.

You Ting did not explain and directly took the hairpin and inserted it into Song Yaoci’s hair bun.

She carefully tucked Song Yaoci’s stray hairs behind her ear, and only then did she say warmly, “Congratulations.”

The breeze gently swept through the surroundings, and the noisy drumming faded into the distance.

All that remained was the body temperature and breathing of the person in front of her, the voice clear like an ice spring.

Her heart softened slightly, her eyes curved in a smile, and she whispered, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

After the Metropolitan Examination came the Palace Examination.

There was still some time until the Palace Examination, allowing the students to rest and recuperate.

He Zhige held the copied list of the Imperial Announcement and lightly frowned.

The advisor next to him said, “Your Highness, you should take this opportunity to gather support.”

“A group of people who haven’t even embarked on an official career yet,” He Zhige wondered, “Are they useful?”

The advisor smiled slightly, “Your Highness, you should not underestimate these young people easily.”

After the old officials in the court retire, someone must fill their positions.

Young blood means easier control.

The advisor looked at the top spot and sighed, “It’s a pity about Miss Song. If Your Highness could have won her over earlier, it would have been of great help to Your Highness.”

Song Yaoci…

He Zhige’s finger rested on the name.

The advisor had suggested that he make a move on Song Yaoci during the palace banquet.

But he hadn’t.

He Zhige’s target was his Imperial Sister; once he saw her, others could hardly catch his eye.

After missing the opportunity, he had no further chances to meet Song Yaoci.

Song Yaoci was now the top scorer, and the Song family still had Grand Tutor Song.

It would probably be difficult to make a move on her again.

And he didn’t have that much time left to wait.

He Zhige decisively looked at the next target—Deng Jia.

The advisor praised, “Your Highness, this is a rare talent. Furthermore, your subordinate has investigated, and this young man comes from a poor family, but he is extremely filial and has an elderly mother who is bedridden year-round.”

“If Your Highness approaches him from this angle, the effort will surely be twice as effective.”

He Zhige nodded, “Good, go and find him.”

While he was still sending people to look for Tianshan Red (a type of herb) in preparation to visit Deng Jia,

Someone had already arrived at Beitang Street before him.

The usually deserted poor district was bustling today, with scattered red paper remnants on the ground.

Because everyone knew that a successful candidate for the imperial exam had emerged from here.

A great scholar who was about to participate in the Palace Examination and meet the Emperor.

Deng Jia’s dilapidated thatched hut was now crowded with visitors.

In addition to local dignitaries, even the Prefect of Jingfu personally came to offer congratulations.

Given Deng Jia’s talent, he would be at least a First-Class Scholar after the Palace Examination.

Such a talent might hold a higher position than himself in a few years.

Those who had previously looked down on Deng Jia were now busy trying to forge connections with him.

Deng Jia finally managed to send off wave after wave of people when he saw another figure appear outside the courtyard.

He said wearily, “This student is truly exhausted today and not well enough to receive guests. Please come again tomorrow.”

A clear and pure voice followed, carrying a hint of a smile: “Will you not see me either?”

Deng Jia suddenly turned around and said in surprise, “Is it that young lady?”

He then realized that he still didn’t even know the young woman’s surname.

You Ting took off the woven bamboo hat on her head, revealing her beautiful, radiant face.

She looked up, performed a courtesy first,

At the Palace of Everlasting Health (Shou Kang Gong), the Empress was earnestly lecturing He Changsi, the content being nothing more than the usual:

Saying he was inferior to his older brother and must work harder.

“Since you served as the deputy examiner for this imperial examination, have you sought out any students worth cultivating a deep relationship with?”

He Changsi looked helpless: “Mother Empress, as the deputy examiner, I should be the one to avoid suspicion even more.”

Support