V2C44

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Translator: Anne

Editor: Miqich

Proofreader: Ani

By the time the second door had opened, there were dozens of other doors. If there hadn’t been two people testing each key out together, there simply wouldn’t have been enough time left!

Qiao Mei had already told her that, among the three popular beauties who were all equally as famous as her, Wang Yuzhi was the most well-known for her talent. Even the intelligent Wang Yuzhi had come out after she and Qiao Chu did, with barely enough time to spare. How did Lang Linling manage to do it?

At that moment, Lang Linling gave an act of courtesy; she turned toward the direction of the Ceremonial Officials and bowed. Gracefully furrowing her brows, she said, “Ladies, please pardon me.”

Qiao Chu’s heart stirred. She believed she had somewhat understood what she meant.

Several Ceremonial Officials forced fake smiles onto their faces. A female official was the first to reply, “The young lady is quite clever.”

It turned out that, just like Qiao Chu and Wang Yuzhi, Lang Linling had taken note of the black-coloured window paper prior to entering the second room. She had also calculated how much time remained, which was only a quarter of an hour. As the female official opened the door, Lang Linling deliberately slowed the pace of her footsteps. When the female official closed the door behind her, she instantaneously exited the room, seized the female official, and placed a dagger against her neck.

The female official was extremely shocked.

Lang Linling interrogated her, demanding to know why the other candidates had been locked inside a room. Could it have been because a spy had wormed their way into the ranks of the Ceremonial Officials? Could it have resulted from the indignance of Western Xia after Prince Rui had won the battle, so they sent someone to sabotage the Imperial Concubine Selection Competition?

The female official had desperately tried to explain that this wasn’t the case. However, Lang Linling was simply ‘not having any of it’. With the intent of finding out the truth, she pressed the dagger so dangerously close to her neck that it drew blood.

Because it still wasn’t time, the Emperor was waiting in the hall. When the other female officials urgently escorted the Emperor out as it was finally time to do so, Lang Linling already knew what the examination questions were because the female official had told her. She waited in the courtyard to meet with the Emperor.

This method was the most risky; Lang Linling was the only one who had come to the courtyard by herself, without having to go through the three sealed doors.

Everyone was either shocked or in deep thought. The people, whose own daughters were candidates in the selection, had been secretly indignant. Finding out what the Emperor intended to do was impossible back then, but nowadays they knew his first method of assessment was an exam. The Emperor’s test was to see the women’s skills in critical observation, judgment and strategic decision-making based on various different forms of intelligence. Lang Linling’s victory was due to her cleverness, in the end, how could that be said to be a violation of the rules?

Lang Linling slowly knelt down and said, “Linling dares to ask Your Majesty for forgiveness.”

The Emperor laughed, “Young Lady Lang is quite clever; you exceeded my expectations. If your father hadn’t gone to battle with Jinghong, I would have praised Lang Qing! The Lang Family’s daughter has grown up, how lovely!”

The Empress was delighted. Prince Xian lightly reprimanded, “This little girl has yet to thank the Emperor.”

Lang Linling, who didn’t need any more suggestions from her older cousin, gracefully bowed to the emperor once again.

Qiao Chu was secretly alarmed; in terms of reputation, Young Lady Lang was not as great as Wang Yuzhi when it came to writing or Qin Qiuyu when it came to martial arts. However, this girl had many hidden talents. The following two rounds would most likely prove to be extremely difficult.

She slightly glanced at Qiao Mei, only to see that she was also frowning.

At that moment, General Qin seemed to have pushed the thought of his daughter’s defeat to the back of his mind and said with a smile, “Your Majesty, this general is ashamed. It’s regrettable that military men are uncouth, and their daughter’s aren’t any better. There’s nothing that can be done about this. Many girls are naturally intelligent, if Prince Rui were here, wouldn’t he be happy?”

Prince Ning said with a smile, “A scout just reported that eighth younger brother has arrived at the entrance of the court. If eighth younger brother returns, and a candidate has already been chosen, wouldn’t it be delightful?”

Everyone let out a laugh. The Emperor gave a silent smile and shot a quick glance at Eunuch Mo.

Several of the women’s chests constricted; they realised the second round of the competition was about to begin. Prince Rui would arrive soon. Surely, they must’ve appointed someone to inform him of the first round’s results? How would he be able to evaluate any of the talents the candidates had revealed? Would he be able to see the second round for himself? What kind of mysterious examination awaited them now?