Dismissal of Chi Zhuyi

After dealing with Chi Zhuyi, Lin Yuejiao walked up to Si Yingxi.

Si Yingxi had been frightened by the scene just now and stepped back repeatedly, saying in panic, "I didn't slander your mother. I was telling the truth. What? Your parents did those things, and people aren't even allowed to talk about it?"

"My parents have done nothing that cannot be spoken of, but it depends on whether what you are saying is true. What do you mean by marrying without the command of parents or the arrangement of matchmakers? What do you mean by illicit affections? You are also from Xinzhou, and this matter is no secret there. Since both you and Chi Zhuyi know the origin of my mother, why mention only one side of the story and omit the other?" Lin Yuejiao looked at her and said, "You should keep the word 'shameless' for yourself; my mother cannot bear it."

With that, Lin Yuejiao turned to the young ladies present and said, "My mother is indeed the daughter of a convicted official, but before the Jing family fell into disgrace, my parents had already been betrothed in childhood. The two families completed the formal engagement rituals long ago and exchanged horoscopes. With the commands of parents, the words of matchmakers, and all documents and tokens fully present, they were only waiting to hold the wedding. But heaven is unpredictable, and my grandfather's family fell. My father is righteous and affectionate; he did not break off the engagement just because my mother was the daughter of a criminal official. According to the Great Zhao Code, female relatives sentenced to whole-family exile belong to their husbands if they are betrothed. Therefore, my father brought my mother back openly. When she was brought back, the imperial officials escorting my family into exile were so moved by the steadfast love of my father and mother that they personally presided over their wedding ceremony on the spot, which became a celebrated romance."

"So, before you speak of my parents, please understand the whole story first. As for Chi Zhuyi saying just now that my grandmother was displeased—you are not my grandmother, how would you know whether she was displeased? Our Lin family is a scholarly lineage that values trust and righteousness above all else; how could we ever break an engagement like that? If you don't believe me, everyone is welcome to ask my grandmother whether she is satisfied with this marriage."

This last sentence was an outright display of shamelessness.

Even if Old Madame Lin were ten thousand times displeased in her heart, she would never admit it. Otherwise, she would be seen as despising the poor and loving the rich, and failing to keep her promises.

"Well said." An aged voice came from behind the crowd, belonging none other than Yu Kangru, the chief examiner of the Rites Examination.

When the young ladies saw that it was the honorable elder himself, they stood up and bowed in greeting.

"This old man came to post the rankings, but I never expected to witness such a good show." Yu Kangru stroked his snow-white beard and said with a stern expression, "Ever since Consort Zhaohuang, our Great Zhao has held the Zhaohuang Selection once every three years, ranking young ladies by nine grades to establish a standard. Ordinary people know that young ladies are expected to be proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but the very first subject tested in Zhaohuang Academy is not talent or literary skill, but virtue. The second subject is not talent either, but rites. Surely you all should understand that what comes first for a young lady is not her talent, but her virtue and rites. A person without virtue and rites, no matter how talented she may be, is not worthy of being called a young lady. Therefore, Chi Zhuyi, your scores in the examinations of virtue and rites were very good, but what this old man sees before him right now is just as this young lady said—passing you in virtue and rites means this old man has gone blind. I hereby announce that your exams in both virtue and rites are deemed failed."

As soon as these words were spoken, they created waves like a stone dropped into a calm lake.

"How could this be? How is it possible? How can you invalidate my scores? I clearly did very well on the exam..." Chi Zhuyi panicked and said angrily, "You are openly showing favoritism and bias! What is your relationship with Lin Yuejiao? What bribes did you take from her?"

Yu Kangru laughed instead of getting angry. "Having served as chief examiner for so many years, this is the first time I have ever been accused of favoritism, ha-ha. No wonder you would so slander another's mother. Such behavior—the family discipline of the Chi family truly opens this old man's eyes. When I return to the capital, I will surely submit a memorial impeaching Chi Shuangxiang. If he cannot even govern his own household, what business does he have being an official?"

Yu Kangru was notoriously incorruptible, stubborn, and completely impervious to both soft and hard tactics, with a temper as foul and rigid as they came.

Lin Yuejiao herself had not expected Yu Kangru to be so fiery and direct, simply expelling Chi Zhuyi just like that.

"Elder Yu, Chi Zhuyi's words were merely an unintentional slip; to expel her outright is surely going too far. Her examinations in virtue and rites must have scored quite well. To dismiss her just like that would waste all her hard work. Furthermore, Lin Yuejiao struck her. Compared to Chi Zhuyi, that is the true insult to refinement..." Lian Shi'er said with a frown.

"Chi Zhuyi did indeed score very well, passing all four subjects, and her test in virtue even earned a superior grade," Yu Kangru said with a rigid face. "However, female virtue is not something written on paper. Such inconsistency between words and actions is all the more detestable. As for hitting someone, this old man feels that when someone insults one's mother, I too could not remain patient. Although physical violence tarnishes refinement, it does not violate virtue and rites. There was a cause for it; it was an act of utmost filial piety. As for whether hitting someone breaks the law, that is none of this old man's concern. I only manage examinations and care nothing for penal law..."

Lin Zijin had initially worried that this old examiner might strip her eldest sister of her qualifications because of the fight, but upon hearing these entirely reasonable words, she almost wanted to let out a cheer.

Lin Yuejiao was also somewhat surprised.

"No, you cannot invalidate my scores, no..." Chi Zhuyi completely failed to accept this reality.

Ignoring her entirely, Yu Kangru turned to the two assistant officials beside him and commanded, "Post the rankings."

The two men pasted long scrolls onto the stone wall.

"Look quickly! Miss Si Yingxi received one superior plaque and three middle plaques; she is truly worthy of being the number one talented woman of Xinzhou."

"Chi Zhuyi also received one superior plaque and three middle plaques, but what a pity she has been disqualified."

"Miss Li Yingxi is a renowned talented woman of Nanzhou, yet she didn't manage to secure even a single superior grade. It seems she only made the middle tier."

"Did you think superior grades were easy to get? I heard that in the Zhaohuang examinations, achieving a middle plaque is already very difficult. If one can win a superior plaque, they are basically a master in that field and could serve as a grandmaster. For instance, the calculation examination becomes increasingly difficult the further you go, and those who pass are masters of mathematics. As for the rites examination, I heard that no young lady from a noble family has ever managed to obtain a superior grade. Because the grand rituals of sacrifice involve countless rules that only the senior nannies in the imperial family understand, it is simply impossible for anyone not regularly participating in grand rituals within the imperial court to execute them with such precision. Therefore, historically, getting even one superior grade in the first round of the Zhaohuang Selection is already remarkable. Throughout the entire Jiangnan region, only a few people ever attain two superior grades. If someone manages three superior grades—tsk tsk—that is absolute first place. As for four superior grades? Heh, that's simply impossible," said an assistant official who had overseen examinations for years.

"Lin Zijin: three middle grades, one superior grade." Seeing the name on the list, Lin Yuejiao smiled at Lin Zijin and said, "Congratulations, Zijin, you've passed the first round."

Lin Zijin was brimming with excitement. "I was just looking for my own name in the middle tier, and it turns out I somehow managed to luck into a superior grade."

With no more than two or three people per province receiving a superior grade, Lin Zijin could well be considered among the very best in Xinzhou.

"Look, the first place is out! Three superior grades! Aside from the rites examination, all the remaining three subjects are superior. How incredible! Lian Shi'er is truly worthy of being the premier young lady of Jiangnan; the title is well-deserved." Someone with sharp eyes pointed at the ranking list and exclaimed.

Si Yingxi, having secured a superior plaque, was beaming with triumph. Seeing Lian Shi'er's exceptional results, she felt a surge of secret jealousy, but on the surface, she fawned, "Miss Lian is truly worthy of the name. In a single stroke, she has obtained three superior carved-ivory bamboo plaques. Unlike certain people who resort to opportunism, these were earned through genuine, hard-fought examination."

"Indeed! Oh, look, Lin Yuejiao's name isn't even on the ranking list. Could it be that she's stuck in the middle tier?" another young lady said with gloating delight.

Lian Shi'er also looked over the list carefully and indeed found no trace of Lin Yuejiao's name, her heart filled with sweet surprise.

"That can't be right. Eldest sister, could your name have been left off by mistake? Even I managed to get a superior grade; how could you possibly not get a single one?" Lin Zijin asked in disbelief.

"This is what a true Jiangnan noble lady looks like. Not just anyone is qualified to bear that title," Si Yingxi glanced at Lin Yuejiao and mocked.

Lian Shi'er was overjoyed in her heart, but she maintained a dignified and gentle smile on her face as she looked at Lin Yuejiao with feigned sympathy. "Miss Lin, do not be too upset. Although you didn't manage to secure any superior grades this time, you still have three superior carved-ivory bamboo plaques—oh wait, no, you have none—well, do not lose heart, and work hard in the next two rounds of examinations."

"Thank you for your concern. It's just exam results, hardly enough to make me upset. Miss Lian's words are too heavy," Lin Yuejiao replied politely while still scanning the middle-tier scrolls for her own name.

Even if she hadn't won a superior grade, she wouldn't have been upset; she would only have been puzzled: did the examiner chosen by Rong Yu happen to have an incompatible horoscope with hers?

"Miss Lian is comforting you, yet you give her such an indifferent attitude. Knowing you failed the exam and feeling bitter inside, you go ahead and give others a sour face. Tsk tsk, such a narrow measure is truly small-minded. Well, coming from a humble background, how could you ever be as poised and generous as Miss Lian?" Si Yingxi sneered. "I knew it. Your acquisition of three superior carved-ivory bamboo plaques—oh wait, you didn't get any—look, the moment you are tested, your true colors are completely exposed. If you were truly exceptionally talented, how could you fail to secure even a single superior carved-ivory bamboo plaque? Miss Lian is the only one who truly deserves the honor. As for you, tsk tsk..."

Before she could finish speaking, another young lady nearby shouted, "Look, another list has been posted!"

This was the final scroll to be posted. At the very top of the ranking list, listed entirely by itself, was a single name.

Lin Yuejiao.

The scores following this name were equally jaw-dropping.

Superior, Superior, Superior, Superior.

Four superiors!

"Congratulations! Eldest sister, congratulations on winning four superior plaques!" Lin Zijin was the first to react, saying with joyous surprise.

Lin Yuejiao smiled faintly and replied, "Congratulations to you too."

She had absolute confidence in her own ability. Seeing four superior grades was slightly surprising, but she didn't find it strange.

It was just that Rong Yu must have done this on purpose, posting it last and on a separate scroll just to make her think she hadn't made the top list.

Actually, they were wrongfully blaming His Highness the Heir.

"You are Lin Yuejiao?" Yu Kangru looked at Lin Yuejiao, stroked his beard, and smiled consolingly. "During the rites test last time, watching your every move didn't look at all like the daughter of a Xinzhou noble family, but rather like an imperial noblewoman. Strict as this old man is, I had no choice but to give you a superior grade. This is also the first superior grade in the rites examination awarded to a noble family's daughter in a hundred years. Congratulations."

Lin Yuejiao bowed respectfully to Yu Kangru and saluted him. "The elder flatters me too much. This humble woman thanks the elder for bestowing the plaque."

Si Yingxi's face turned so awkward that she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Lian Shi'er was equally ashamed and vexed, struggling hard to maintain a gentle expression while wishing she could instantly vanish from the spot.

The other young ladies wore complicated expressions as well, many of them suddenly thinking of a much more serious problem.

Yu Kangru said nothing more. Having posted the rankings, he turned and left.

Just moments ago, several people had been mocking Lin Yuejiao, and now the atmosphere instantly turned incomparably awkward.

Eventually, some of the young ladies who had not participated in the mockery stepped forward to butter up to Lin Yuejiao and offer their congratulations.

Lin Zijin felt thoroughly disgusted by their opportunistic bandwagon-jumping. When no one was paying attention, she lowered her voice and said, "Eldest sister, why bother paying attention to them? They are just weathercocks blowing whichever way the wind turns. What good could coming to terms with them possibly do? They are entirely unreliable and not worth associating with."

"Zijin speaks wisely. These people are indeed not worth deep association, and it is very hard to rely on them to accomplish anything; however, it is remarkably easy for them to ruin things. If I ignored them now, they would inevitably worry that I harbor a grudge over their mockery, treating me as a potential enemy out of fear, and thus feeling compelled to deal with me first," Lin Yuejiao said with a calm smile. "But by letting bygones be bygones, they will know that I am not holding a grudge and will not view me with hostility because of it. They will even strive to perform well in front of me to thoroughly erase their bad impression. There are already enough open spears and hidden arrows in this world, and two fists are no match for four hands. Why make enemies everywhere and invite trouble for oneself?"

Lin Zijin fell into thoughtful silence.

Lin Yuejiao was not purposely trying to put on a magnanimous show; rather, she simply saw no need to manufacture a batch of enemies for herself.

In truth, Lin Yuejiao didn't care about those taunts at all, but the people who had mocked her wouldn't believe that. Only by doing this could she dispel the fear in their hearts.

These people might not possess any great abilities, but malicious schemes are impossible to guard against completely.

"Zijin has been enlightened. Seeing my eldest sister conduct herself this way, I finally understand that her winning all the way through is no mere stroke of luck, and those enemies didn't lose unjustly at all," Lin Zijin said with a soft smile.

Lin Yuejiao pressed her lips together. She had clawed her way up through hardship in her past life and knew all too well how many secret losses she had suffered; her greatest reliance in this present life was simply the memories of having lived twice.

Under Lin Yuejiao's deliberate efforts to ease the tension, the atmosphere in the Invitation to the Moon Pavilion shifted from awkwardness to harmony and warmth.

The young ladies all crowded around the table where Lin Zijin was seated.

"Let me tell you an interesting piece of news. Everyone knows about the Xinzhou Gambling House, right?" Li Yingxi covered her mouth and laughed. "That gambling house is certainly shrewd; knowing that Miss Lin was bound to pass the first round, they set up their own book as the house, betting that Miss Lin would definitely pass. If anyone wanted to place a wager, they could only bet on Miss Lin failing."

Yi Qinxue laughed and said, "I heard that the common people of Xinzhou have absolute confidence in Miss Lin. Although the maximum payout was one hundred to one, hardly anyone dared to wager that Miss Lin wouldn't pass the round."

"Naturally! After all, Miss Lin's strength is plain for everyone to see. But someone really must have gone mad with a desire for silver, actually placing a wager of ten thousand taels of silver, betting that Miss Lin wouldn't pass the first round." Li Yingxi covered her mouth and scoffed mockingly, "Tell me, isn't that person who placed the bet the absolute biggest fool in the entire world?"