Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Zhao Rui summoned the Imperial Academy student most skilled at Go and even had his own treasured Go board brought over.

I shook my head. “I don’t know how to play Go.”

The moment he heard that, he grew smug.

“Then you’ll accept the outcome of the wager?”

I was just about to speak when someone in the crowd said softly, “Why not make it three rounds? Best two out of three would be somewhat fairer.”

At that, everyone murmured their agreement.

I truly did not know Go, and only managed to force a draw in the third game.

Seeing Zhao Rui let out a breath of relief, I was about to return to My Lady’s side when he frowned slightly. “One more round. A literary test.”

The Imperial Academy students immediately clamored again.

Of course. When it came to memorizing the classics, who under heaven could possibly surpass them?

Carefree Wanderings, a piece by Laozi and Zhuangzi, was only a thousand characters or so. Zhao Rui was indeed practiced, and recited the entire text without missing a single word.

But the moment I opened my mouth, they burst into laughter.

Yet no matter how they mocked me, I stubbornly recited the whole piece to the end.

When the three rounds were over, Zhao Rui did keep his promise. “Since we each won one and lost one, we will call it a draw.

“As for the women’s school My Lady wants, I will yield it.”

From his tone, it sounded as though he were bestowing charity upon a cat or a dog.

I felt indignant.

But with My Lady in mind, I could only bow deeply.

It should have been a scene of harmony between both sides, but a cool, mild voice interrupted it. “You are all unworthy to be Imperial Academy students.

“Could you truly not hear…

“that this child recited it backward, word for word?”

In an instant, every shade of expression appeared across the crowd’s faces.

In the end, it was Zhao Rui who stepped out from among them and said coldly to the man, “Lord Han, you misheard.”

At the time, Han Mo was still young. As a Hanlin Academician, proud and high-spirited, how could he tolerate Zhao Rui glossing things over like that?

Seeing the chill in his eyes as he was about to speak again, I hurriedly tugged him aside. “My lord, your face is terribly red. You should go cool off under the trees.”

With one pull from me, he somehow had no choice but to follow me to the side.

Seeing Crown Prince Rang standing where he was, waiting expectantly with My Lady beside him, I hurried forward. “Sister, His Highness has agreed.”

At that, My Lady pinched my cheek.

“Little Cat, you were amazing.”

Seeing how close we were as mistress and servant, yet how we made no mention of the competition at all, Han Mo seemed displeased. His eyelids lifted slightly, like thin willow leaves slicing open the surface of water.

“You clearly could have defeated Zhao Rui. Why did you deliberately hide your ability?”

“As the saying goes, leave others a way out today, and you’ll meet again on better terms tomorrow. My lord, do you not know even that?”

“You…”

Han Mo froze, then actually seemed to understand.

At this, Crown Prince Rang laughed freely. “Han Mo, oh Han Mo. You usually look down on everyone, yet who would have thought that today a mere child would put you in check!”

Then he turned to me. “Well done, Little Cat. Brave and clever both!

“When I-”

Realizing he had misspoken, he gave a light cough. “In time, you shall certainly be appointed General of Agile Cavalry!”

When he said this, My Lady gazed at him with tender affection, clearly of one mind with him.

Upon learning I could become a female general, I was naturally delighted as well.

But for some reason, Han Mo turned instead and bowed to My Lady. “I happen to be lacking a child to grind ink by my side… Miss Su, might you be willing to part with her?”

I had not expected matters to take such a turn, and for a moment I was struck speechless.

When I looked at My Lady, she too was silent for a long while.

“No.”

“Why not?”

Han Mo frowned faintly. “If it is a matter of money, I can offer three thousand gold.”

He was tall and elegant. Simply standing there, he had the bearing of a jade mountain. Even when unhappy, he was far better-looking than ordinary people.

“Because…”

My Lady’s anger immediately went out. Covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, she shot me a look.

I understood at once and immediately returned to the carriage to change.

After the time it took one stick of incense to burn, I appeared once more in the plum garden, my hair coiled into twin buns and a goose-yellow ruqun with colored panels on my body. Not only Han Mo, but all the Imperial Academy students turned to look.

Their eyes practically dropped to the ground.

“Th-this boy is actually a little girl!”

“If even the servant looks like this, what must the mistress be like?”

“Exactly!”

Only then did My Lady take my hand and hide a soft laugh behind her sleeve. “Little Cat grew up with me. We are as close as sisters. How could I give her away so easily?”

Crown Prince Rang was even more delighted by the spectacle. “Brother Han, oh Brother Han. The little boy has turned into a young lady! Now do you still want to ask for her?”

Compared with the contempt and curiosity in everyone else’s eyes, and all the emotions in between, Han Mo remained calm. Even after his moment of realization, his gaze was still clear.

He neither refused nor responded.

In the end, he merely gave me a faint glance.