Chapter 15
Chapter 15: Turning It In Early, Shocking Class A
Sweetie tipped up her little face. Her big eyes were clear and calm—no fear, not even a ripple.
Eldest Prince Chu Cheng Yan strode over, warm and gentle as always. He crouched and lightly patted her head. “Sweetie, don’t be afraid. Your Imperial Brother believes in you. Once you’re done, I’ll take you to try the imperial kitchen’s fresh squab.”
A moment later, Crown Prince Chu Cheng Xuan arrived as well. His complexion was still a touch pale, but his spirits were high. He took Sweetie’s small hand without hesitation. “Sister Little Nine, I trust you. You’ll take first. Afterward, I’ll personally take you to Zhen Xiu Pavilion for something delicious.”
Two heavyweight imperial heirs flanked a little princess round and pink as a dumpling, doting on her without the slightest attempt to hide it.
The watching students’ expressions changed color on the spot.
Just a moment ago, plenty of them had been cool—or outright scornful—because Sweetie came from the cold palace and supposedly wasn’t favored. Now their eyes flicked about in panic, like they could rewind time and squeeze in a friendly greeting.
Unfavored?
She was clearly the one the emperor’s heart leaned toward—the imperial heirs’ shared darling.
Princess Qing Yue stood beside Chu Jiao Jiao, watching Sweetie get treated like the moon among stars by two imperial brothers. The envy in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Chu Jiao Jiao clenched her handkerchief so hard her nails nearly cut into her palm. Her voice turned cold and sour. “Heh. Nice tricks. At such a tiny age, she’s already got Big Imperial Brother and Crown Prince Brother wrapped around her finger. When she grows up, will there still be room for us in this palace?”
Qing Yue nodded blankly. “Yeah… Sister Nine is really amazing…”
“You idiot!” Chu Jiao Jiao shot her a look, furious she couldn’t hammer sense into her. Her voice dropped lower, dripping with spite. “Amazing? She’s a calamity. Can’t you tell? She’s born a little seductress, a walking jinx. Why does every good thing revolve around her? Why do Imperial Father and Imperial Grandfather—and even the crown prince and Big Imperial Brother—only have eyes for her?”
Qing Yue shrank back, uneasy. “Ying Yue… you’re the Great Ning Lucky Star too. Lots of people crowd around you…”
“Not enough!” Chu Jiao Jiao cut her off sharply, her gaze dark enough to chill the spine. “Not even close. She has to be isolated—completely alone. She… she’s a devil fetus. We cannot let her grow up. If we do, the consequences will never end!”
Qing Yue still looked lost. Chu Jiao Jiao sneered to herself.
Stupid was stupid… but as a handy knife, she was perfect.
She would plan this properly.
The entrance exam officially began.
Thirty students of mixed ages filled the exam hall, and the atmosphere turned solemn.
Sweetie unfolded her test paper and swept her eyes over it.
Hehe.
Thank you, Tong Tong, for that “photographic memory”!
The questions making other kids scratch their heads looked far too easy to her. She grabbed her brush and started writing, quick and sure.
Her handwriting was still childish and crooked, like chubby ants marching in formation, but her answers were precise and neatly organized.
Before long, Sweetie set down her brush.
She glanced left and right.
Everyone else wasn’t even halfway done.
Boring.
Sweetie lifted her little arm high, her baby voice bright. “Teacher! I’m finished! Can I hand it in?”
Today’s proctor, Teacher Dong Kang Wei, was a famously strict Class A teacher. He hated students treating exams lightly.
That crisp little voice made his brows knot. His face dropped so long it could rival a horse’s. “Nonsense!” He strode over, anger flaring. “How long has the exam even been running? How can you treat it like a game? Even if you don’t know, you should at least sit quietly and think—”
His scolding cut off mid-sentence.
Teacher Dong’s severe eyes locked onto Sweetie’s paper.
It was… filled out?
The entire hall went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
All the examinees stared up—first stunned, then openly mocking.
“Pfft. That fast? She definitely just scribbled.”
“Exactly. She was bragging at the door, too. Now she’s exposed.”
“A tiny brat—what could she know? Waste of a spot.”
Teacher Dong’s face turned black. He snatched up Sweetie’s paper. Fine. He’d see what nonsense this little princess dared to submit.
His eyes swept the first line—and paused.
Second line—his brows jumped.
Third line—his breath caught.
He read faster. His eyes widened.
The anger drained right off his face, replaced by disbelief so sharp his fingers trembled.
The answers weren’t just correct—they were clear. Even the quoted passages were chosen well: childish, yes, but accurate. Some ideas were unexpectedly clever, even a little original.
How could a child possibly write this?
“Teacher?” Sweetie tipped up her face, blinking innocently. “Can Tian Tian go now?”
Teacher Dong snapped back to himself. His throat bobbed once. He stared at her with an expression too complicated to name, then forced out one dry word.
“Go.”
He waved as if sleepwalking, but his eyes stayed glued to that impossible paper, like he could bore holes through it.
Outside the exam hall, Crown Prince Chu Cheng Xuan and Eldest Prince Chu Cheng Yan stood shoulder to shoulder beneath dappled sunlight.
“Imperial Brother, how did you find time to come today?” the crown prince asked mildly, though his gaze never left the exam doors.
Eldest Prince Chu Cheng Yan’s lips curved in a faint, indulgent smile. “I promised Imperial Grandfather I’d keep an eye on Little Nine. Of course I had to watch personally. You, on the other hand—your health just improved. You should be resting.”
The crown prince shook his head, voice firm. “Sweetie only returned to the palace recently. Everything needs watching. I can’t relax.”
They exchanged a look—an unspoken agreement passing cleanly between them: once Little Nine came out, each would snatch her back to his own palace and reward her properly.
Just then, Chu Jiao Jiao glided over, smiling sweet enough to turn cloying. “Big Imperial Brother, Brother Crown Prince… the exam won’t end for a while, and the sun is hot. Why not rest in the pavilion? Jiao Jiao prepared chilled fruit. It’s very sweet.”
Eldest Prince Chu Cheng Yan gave her a cool glance. Since being entrusted with Sweetie, he’d learned most of this “princess’s” background.
That innocent-looking face carried a sharp calculation that didn’t match her age. He disliked it on instinct.
“No need. I’ll wait here,” the Eldest Prince said, distant and decisive.
Crown Prince Chu Cheng Xuan didn’t even spare her a look. After the incident in Imperial Mother’s palace, Chu Jiao Jiao had sunk to the bottom of his patience.
“I don’t like overly sweet fruit,” he said flatly.
Chu Jiao Jiao’s smile froze. Her eyes reddened at once, voice trembling with grievance. “Big Imperial Brother… Brother Crown Prince… is it… is it because Jiao Jiao isn’t your real sister, so… you don’t want to talk to me?”
Eldest Prince Chu Cheng Yan frowned. “You’re thinking too much.”
The crown prince only hummed once through his nose, meaning unclear.
Chu Jiao Jiao was about to keep performing when the exam doors creaked open.
A small pink figure burst out like a happy little butterfly, bouncing as she ran. Her tiny topknot bobbed with every step.
It was Chu Tian Tian.
“Big Imperial Brother! Crown Prince Brother!” Sweetie’s eyes lit up. She pitter-pattered to the space between them, grabbed one hand each, and beamed like a sunflower.