Chapter 084
Chapter 84: Stay Alive First
In her mind, the events from the previous round of the story echoed once again.
If she dared accept the honor now, then in just a moment, Xie Xuan Yong would rise and use those two wooden paintings—prepared in advance—to expose her. She would be accused of deceiving the emperor and executed on the spot once more.
Su Qian Xue’s gaze drifted past the ceremony master and landed on the two bundles of red silk cloth placed on a stone table behind him. Displeased, she complained inwardly to the system: “This is all your fault. If you had just listened to me earlier and destroyed those paintings, none of this would be happening.”
The system responded with silence.
Truthfully, it wasn’t that it didn’t want to destroy them—it simply couldn’t. The warnings it had given earlier about the new female lead possibly noticing weren’t entirely honest. In reality, its remaining energy was already too depleted to destroy anything in this world.
And besides, the fact that the new female lead could control this woman in silence, making her recreate the exact same poems as before, proved that even if the system were at full strength, it might not have succeeded in destroying them anyway.
Of course, there was no way it was going to admit that. That would only invite ridicule. So the system decided to play dead.
[Heh. You really thought you could destroy those paintings just because you wanted to? What do you take me for, a background ornament? Even if you had managed to destroy them, Su Qian Xue, baby me would have simply made you write poems identical to Jiang Zi Tang’s. I would’ve turned you into a plagiarist of Jiang Zi Tang instead.]
[In short, since you already embarrassed yourself last time, this time there’s no way I’ll let you shine.]
Little sister, you’re amazing!
Little sister, you’re brilliant!
Little sister, you’re absolutely badass!
Listening to her heart voice, Yun Wan Ye couldn’t help the subtle curve of his lips. He had completely fallen into the role of her brainless fan, giving her constant mental thumbs-up.
If only his vocabulary were a bit bigger, he might’ve even shouted “666” like someone from the modern era.
“Miss Su?” The ceremony master’s voice rang out again throughout the hall. Having waited so long without a response from Su Qian Xue, his anxiety was growing. Holding her poems in both hands, he urged her anxiously to answer.
Snapped back to reality, Su Qian Xue looked at the ceremony master. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and her eyes turned red.
“These aren’t my poems!” she cried out. “I just thought they were good and wanted to share them with everyone!”
“I only ever said I’d present poetry—I never said it would be my own. And you never said we weren’t allowed to present someone else’s, did you?”
Her voice rose in anger and shame. Without sparing the crowd another glance, she lifted her skirt and ran off in a panic.
She ran fast, so fast it was as if some evil ghost were chasing her. She even stumbled, nearly falling. But she didn’t stop. She steadied herself and continued her escape without pause.
“……”
Everyone stared in stunned silence, watching her figure grow smaller and smaller. None could make sense of what had just happened.
She presented someone else’s poetry—fine. But was that really something worth running from as if her life depended on it?
And if it was someone else’s work, why didn’t she just say so at the beginning? She had made them all believe she was suddenly capable of writing such divine verses.
Tch. They knew it. How could the fool infamous across Haojing for being utterly useless suddenly become a literary genius? As expected, she’d simply copied someone else’s work.
[Ah, so she chose to forfeit the chance to slap everyone in the face and instead focused on saving her own life. Honestly, a very smart decision.]
[Yes, it’s humiliating. And yes, it means she failed the task set by the system, which means the plot can’t be reset. But at least she avoided the charge of deceiving the emperor, and with it, all the disastrous consequences that would’ve followed.]
[So long as the green hills remain, there’s no fear of running out of firewood. You have to live first if you want a comeback.]
[Still, such a shame. The last round ended so perfectly. Why, oh why, did she summon that damned system again?]
[Seems like the female lead truly isn’t destined to die yet. We’ll have to be more cautious from now on.]
On the other side of the venue.
Yun Wan Yao’s eyes widened in shock. She stood frozen, unable to process what had just happened.
How could this be?
Little sister had clearly said that Su Qian Xue had written those two poems to steal the spotlight, shed her “idiot” label, and snatch away the title of peerless female scholar.
By that logic, when the ceremony master asked if the poems were hers, shouldn’t Su Qian Xue have confidently claimed them? Why would she say they weren’t hers?
And then run away so fast?
Little sister’s heart voice listening had always been accurate. Why did things go so unexpectedly this time?
What had gone wrong?
Why would Su Qian Xue give up such a perfect opportunity to shine?
Yun Wan Yao felt like her brain had short-circuited. She was sure something must have happened behind the scenes, but she couldn’t say what.
“A’Yao, what is that Su Qian Xue thinking?” Mo Zhao Zhao turned to her, utterly baffled. “Everyone else presents their own poems—why did she present someone else’s? And even if she did, why flee like that? Is there some hidden reason?”
Yun Wan Yao shook her head, unable to offer a single explanation. “I don’t know either.”
Hearing their conversation, Xie Xuan Yong’s eyes flashed with thought. A notion passed through his mind.
He had been watching Su Qian Xue the whole time, and he’d noticed—when the ceremony master asked her if the poems were hers, she looked straight toward the stone table where his paintings had been placed.
Could it be… she had some sort of foresight?
Did she somehow know about the trap he’d prepared and changed her decision at the last moment?
But if she really could see through things, then why hadn’t she noticed the trap earlier, before she copied those exact two poems?
There were too many inconsistencies. Not just Yun Wan Yao and Mo Zhao Zhao—Xie Xuan Yong, who had claimed the title of top scholar at thirteen, also found himself completely stumped.
As if seeking verification, he stood up and said loudly, “Sir, just now when you read those two poems, your expression showed great astonishment. They must be extraordinary works.”
“So, I, a humble junior, dare to ask if you would read them aloud for everyone to appreciate.”
His words instantly resonated with the crowd.
Su Qian Xue’s actions had left everyone confused, but since she had already fled, their attention naturally shifted to the poems she left behind.
Voices rose all around, urging the ceremony master.
“Calm down, calm down, everyone,” the ceremony master said, raising his voice. “These two poems truly are masterpieces beyond compare. I, this old man, shall now recite them for all to hear.”
As his voice rang out with the verses, the hall once again plunged into stunned silence.
Only Yun Wan Yao and Xie Xuan Yong remained deep in thought. So it really was the same two poems as before. Yet… why hadn’t she claimed them as her own?
Just before the banquet concluded, the ceremony master suddenly remembered the paintings Xie Xuan Yong had gifted.
When he opened them and saw the words written on them, he was instantly dumbfounded. He called Xie Xuan Yong over at once.
“Young man of the Xie family, why are the inscriptions on these two paintings exactly the same as the poems Su Qian Xue just presented? And who are Zhu Yuan Zhang and Huang Chao?”
“Such divine verses—surely the name behind them must be illustrious. I, this old fellow, shouldn’t be unaware of such a poet,” the wine master said thoughtfully, his voice drawing all eyes in the hall.
Everyone leaned forward, curiosity piqued. Only now did they notice something strange.
“Indeed, how could the poems Su Qian Xue presented today be identical to the inscriptions on those two wooden plaques?”
“Young Lord Xie, what exactly is your relationship with Su Qian Xue? Could it be that you two…”
That person abruptly stopped speaking, but the look in their eyes—gazing at Xie Xuan Yong—was filled with the unmistakable scent of scandal.
[How could there be such a coincidence in this world?]
Everyone present began to suspect that Xie Xuan Yong must have had some kind of unspeakable dealings with Su Qian Xue.
Even Jiang Zi Tang, standing quietly to the side, felt a faint unease. Her brows furrowed as she looked toward him.
Seeing this, Xie Xuan Yong’s face darkened completely. It was one thing for others to question him—but why didn’t even Tang’er trust him?
He pressed his lips together, tempted to turn and leave in anger. Yet he feared such a reaction would make him appear guilty, giving fuel to the rumors that would surely run wild. If things reached that point, even the Yellow River couldn’t wash him clean.
So, with a heavy sigh, Xie Xuan Yong forced himself to speak patiently.
“A while ago, I acquired a book of poems. I found these two particularly moving, so I had them specially selected and carved onto wooden plaques. I’d intended to present them at the winter banquet for everyone’s enjoyment.”
“As for why Su Qian Xue chose the very same two poems… that, I truly do not know.”
The matter was far too bizarre. Naturally, he couldn’t reveal that he had prepared these to expose Su Qian Xue’s plagiarism. He could only fabricate a simple excuse.
Whether they believed him or not—that was no longer his concern.
Of course, no one truly believed him. But there was little they could do. They could not press the matter further.
At last, the winter banquet came to an end.
After reporting to Mo Yuan Lin, the wine master and the grand scholars took their leave. Many of the young, unmarried guests began to gather in little groups, chatting and laughing with lively energy.
“Ah Ye, the hour’s still early. Why don’t we go to the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion for a bit?” Wei Chao Hui and the others came over eagerly, trying to persuade Yun Wan Ye.
Yun Wan Ye glanced at the little milk bun in his arms, who was yawning continuously and already dozing off. Without hesitation, he shook his head.
“Another time. I brought my little sister out with me today. She hasn’t nursed or napped for half the day. I need to take her back.”
“But isn’t Miss Yun here too? I saw your carriage outside—can’t she take the little one back? Come with us just for a bit?”
His friends wouldn’t give up, still trying to coax him.
Yun Wan Ye shook his head again, his tone firm and unwavering.
“No. I’ll personally take my two younger sisters home. The little one is still so small. I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving her to Wan Yao alone.”
Everyone: “…”
[Oh? So now he’s the model of a devoted elder brother?]
“Alright then. We won’t go either. Let’s wait for another day when you’re free.”
“Alright. You all enjoy yourselves. I’ll go fetch Yun Wan Yao.”
“Okay.”
With that, they watched him carry the little milk bun in his arms and walk toward Yun Wan Yao.
Zhu Yong Cheng rubbed his chin. “Tsk, doesn’t it feel like Second Young Master has changed somehow?”
His companion chuckled carelessly. “Changed or not, he’s still Ah Ye.”
People change as they grow—that’s only natural.
“You’re right. No matter how he changes, he’s still our Second Young Master.”
…
“Yun Wan Yao, time to go home,” Yun Wan Ye said as he came up to her, looking down from above.
“The hour’s still early. Why don’t you head back first? A’Yao wants to stay a little longer with us. I’ll take her home later,” Mo Zhao Zhao quickly said, wrapping her arm around Yun Wan Yao’s with a bright smile.
Yun Wan Ye said nothing.
“That’s right. You go on ahead. I still have something I wish to say to Yao’er. Later, I’ll accompany Royal Sister in sending her home,” Mo Yuan Hao added from the side.
He had yet to resolve the misunderstandings and distance between them—he couldn’t let her leave just like that.
Upon hearing this, Yun Wan Yao rose to her feet, gently pried Mo Zhao Zhao’s hand off her arm, and said softly, “Princess, let’s chat another time. I really do need to go now. Look—my little sister’s already asleep. If I neglect her any longer, I’ll get an earful from our parents when we return.”
Mo Zhao Zhao looked toward the little milk bun in Yun Wan Ye’s arms and indeed saw the child sleeping soundly, her tiny mouth smacking softly in a dream.
In an instant, Mo Zhao Zhao’s heart turned to mush.
“Alright then… A’Yao, go take care of your little sister.”
“Mm. I will.” Yun Wan Yao nodded and bowed respectfully toward Mo Yuan Lin and Mo Yuan Hao.
Then she turned to Mo Yuan Hao and said, “If Your Highness has something to say to me, perhaps another day would be better. I truly must return today.”
She was just about to leave when a large hand suddenly grabbed her arm.
Mo Yuan Hao’s face darkened, his expression terribly grim.
“Yun Wan Yao, are you doing this on purpose?”
Was she deliberately humiliating him? Purposefully provoking him?
Yun Wan Yao: “…”
[Heh. Yes, she was doing it on purpose.]
Of course, she kept those thoughts to herself. Her face remained innocent as she said, “Why would you say that? I’m simply going home. What’s deliberate about that?”
Mo Yuan Hao stared at her for a long while, then sighed—powerless and frustrated.
“Very well. Then I’ll escort you home. Surely that’s acceptable?”
Yun Wan Yao: “…”
Yun Wan Ye: “…”
He said mildly, “Your Highness, since we brought our little sister out today, we also brought her wet nurse. Wouldn’t it be inappropriate for you to share a carriage with her?”
Mo Yuan Hao: “…”
“Then I won’t take your carriage. I’ll ride my horse.”
At this point, the siblings couldn’t protest any further and were about to acquiesce—when a calm, detached voice cut through the air.
“Second Brother, Miss Yun already has Second Young Master to escort her. She hardly needs you. On the contrary, I just remembered an important state matter that requires your attention. You’ll need to accompany me back to the palace.”
Mo Yuan Lin’s gaze landed on the large hand gripping the slender wrist. His eyes were dark, void of all warmth.
This gave Yun Wan Ye the perfect excuse to intervene.
He immediately added, “State matters take precedence. Since His Majesty needs Your Highness’s assistance, then you must return to the palace. I will ensure my little sister is well-protected.”
Mo Yuan Hao: “…”
He turned his head slowly, expression sour as he stared at Mo Yuan Lin.
[Imperial Elder Brother, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?]
No state matters a moment ago. None later, either. Only now, all of a sudden?
And if there were state matters left undone, why hadn’t Imperial Elder Brother stayed in the palace to deal with them instead of attending this ridiculous poetry banquet?