Chapter 3
Chapter 3
I had been studying at the Imperial Study for nearly a year.
The tutors were strict but easy to fool, while the Imperial Princes and princesses were fussy but easy to coax.
Only Liang Shuxue, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, was always at odds with me.
Back when we studied at the academy, she would oppose me at every turn. Now that we’d transferred to the Imperial Study, I still couldn’t shake her.
The two of us were practically in a constant, open rivalry.
It had gone on for years.
Before, our wins and losses were about fifty-fifty.
But ever since we came to the Imperial Study, the Prince of Junnan’s Heir had shown up out of nowhere and taken her side every single time.
So I ended up on the losing end again and again.
Fuming, I demanded, “Why do you always help her?”
Liang Shuxue pulled a face at me.
“He and I were set in a childhood betrothal when we were little. Of course he’s going to help me,” she said, growing smugger by the second. “If he’s not helping me, do you think he’d help you?”
A childhood betrothal?
What kind of ridiculous thing was that?
I, Xie Zhining, have always made friends far and wide, relying on nothing but my own personal charm.
Who knew there was such a thing as a childhood betrothal-basically cheating!
Seeing how pleased with herself she was only made me more miserable.
I’d been combative since I was little. If someone else had something, then I had to have it too.
I was the type who’d have to get in first even if it meant eating manure-while it was still warm!
I poked the Crown Prince at my side.
“What is a childhood betrothal, exactly?”
Hopefully it wasn’t another one of those things that could implicate my Nine Clans.
The Crown Prince lifted his eyes, bafflement written all over them.
“Why are you asking that?”
After I told him the whole story, his expression didn’t change in the slightest.
“Is that really so hard?”
“Then I’ll enter into a childhood betrothal with you.”
I shot to my feet in excitement and slapped the desk.
“You’re incredible! So loyal!”
I immediately went to find Liang Shuxue, lifted my chin as I looked down my nose at her, and provoked her. “It’s just a childhood betrothal. You think you’re the only one who has one?”
“You have one too?” she asked.
I nodded. “Just got it settled.”
“That doesn’t count as a childhood betrothal. You don’t even have a token,” Liang Shuxue retorted.
At that, I cursed inwardly, “What kind of crappy childhood betrothal is this? So many rules!”
The Crown Prince, meanwhile, remained completely unhurried. He drew a dragon-pattern jade pendant from his sleeve and held it out in front of me.
“This jade pendant can serve as the token.”
“For me?” I took it without the slightest hesitation.
It looked expensive!
The Crown Prince was like one of those living gods in a temple-ask and you shall receive.
No. Even better than a living god.
After that, whenever I fought with Liang Shuxue…
If I couldn’t out-argue her…
I’d take out that dragon-pattern jade pendant. Even if she craned her neck stubbornly, she’d still have to give me a little ground.
And she’d always glare at me, eyes wide, as she warned,
“Xie Zhining, don’t go around throwing your weight around just because you’re borrowing someone else’s power.”
“If you keep getting carried away like this, you’ll get what’s coming to you!”
As if I’d listen!