Chapter 11
Chapter 11
The Su household was in total chaos.
Meanwhile, the capital was bustling with excitement.
The results of the Palace Examination had been announced, and a massive crowd swarmed before the Dragon Gate.
Gu Qinglan stood out among the masses like a crane among a flock of chickens, his tall stature easily towering over the people around him.
He scanned the list for the first rank in disbelief. When he failed to find his name there, he shifted his gaze to the second rank. Finally, he spotted himself: sixth place in the second rank.
By all accounts, this was an excellent result.
However, Gu Qinglan could not bring himself to smile; his face was a mask of bewilderment.
From a tea house above, I watched his despondent expression with great interest. Seeing him struggle to even force a smile when others offered their congratulations gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
He looked up, his gaze crashing directly into mine. I raised my cup and smiled, offering him a toast from afar.
He froze for a moment before cupping his hands to return the gesture.
Someone shouted, “It’s Princess Huizhen! The Princess has come to see the results!”
Gu Qinglan was stunned, his eyes brightening slightly.
With that single look, I could tell he likely knew who I was.
Who could have told him? Was it Prince Anyang or the Princess Consort of Anyang? Or had he only found out after arriving in the capital?
Regardless, it didn’t matter.
His parents and mine were rivals; he and I were born to be on opposite sides.
Men die for wealth just as birds die for food.
He has the favor of the Heavenly Dao, but I have knowledge of the future plot.
As for who will emerge victorious, we shall see whose fate is stronger.
Following the announcement of the results was the Qionglin Banquet. My Imperial Father attended the feast in person, where the guests drank, played drinking games, and composed poetry, all vying to showcase their talents in a lively atmosphere.
Meanwhile, I dressed in men’s clothing and headed to the Martial Arts Banquet for the military Jinshi.
This dynasty favored civil officials over military ones, so my Imperial Father did not place much importance on the Martial Arts Banquet.
However, in the original plot, the second male lead, Yan Xun, was the Martial Arts Champion. He loved Su Qianyu and, for her sake, set aside his prejudices to help Gu Qinglan seize the throne. Afterward, he retired to the countryside, living a painful life of longing for his beloved while gazing toward Yujing from afar.
My Empress Mother once said that a great man once remarked: politics is about making as many friends as possible and as few enemies as possible.
Now, I was here to make friends.
Yan Xun, however, didn’t seem to share that sentiment.
I used my Imperial Father’s name as a pretext to toast the assembly, but he was the only one who didn’t raise his cup. Instead, he watched me with a cold, calm gaze.
“The Martial Arts Banquet is a feast for men. Now that This Princess has offered a toast, please return home, lest we lose our decorum through drink and offend Your Highness.”
I looked at him. He was handsome and imposing, with a powerful, sturdy build. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk’s, seemingly able to see through a person at a single glance.
His gaze was dismissive, clearly treating me like a child who had snuck into an adult’s party.
I let out a light chuckle and asked directly, “Do you look down on This Princess?”
Yan Xun was taken aback. Once he recovered, he frowned slightly. He opened his mouth to speak, but seemed loath to tell a lie, so he simply lowered his head and said, “Your Servant would not dare.”
He said he “would not dare,” not that he didn’t.
I toyed with my cup and smiled. “You do indeed have the right to look down on This Princess. I am weak and frail, relying on the soldiers to protect the country and bleed on the battlefield to maintain my position as a princess. I toasted you all today to express my gratitude.”
“But when generals are defeated and the borders are in peril, that is when a princess is sent away for a political marriage. A woman’s body is traded for ten years of peace, allowing you all to build your strength, crush the barbarians, and bring glory to our nation.”
“From that perspective, I believe I am no different from any of you. A general subdues others with force, while a princess feeds herself to the tigers. Both are sacrifices for the country, regardless of gender or age.”
“Martial Arts Champion Yan, your martial arts are unparalleled, and you will surely be a fierce general in the future. But the highest form of war is to outstrategize the enemy. Do you dare to challenge This Princess to a match of tabletop military strategy? If you win, This Princess will leave immediately. If you lose, you must finish this jar of wine with me!”
Yan Xun let out a breath of relief and spoke. “Very well!”