Free Web NovelChapter 185: Chapter 185: A Fire? Report
The little one’s voice was soft and sweet, and the fluffy yellow fuzz in her black topknot swayed gently in the wind.
"What silver?" she asked in a small voice. "Are you asking me for a bribe?"
The Attendant Student flew into a rage and slammed his hand on the table. "What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t you know the rules? The National Academy exam lasts for a full day and night. If you don’t pay us silver, how are we supposed to bring you your meals?"
"If you don’t need meals, then just go on in."
Shen Ningning froze, her limpid eyes clouding over with worry.
The mad scholar had reminded her to buy food, but she had assumed that meant she could bring her own.
That was why, before leaving, she had Grandma Qin make lots of delicious things for her to store in her Immortal Realm.
’She had no idea that "buying food" actually meant she had to pay for it.’
"I... I didn’t bring any," the little one said helplessly.
The other students in line, who were enjoying the spectacle, began to snicker.
"Then just go on in," the Attendant Student said gruffly. "It’s fine if you don’t eat. You’re the one who’ll go hungry, anyway."
Lu Shaoyuan, who was registering nearby, saw what was happening and started to walk over.
Suddenly, a delicate hand extended a silver bag. "I’ll pay for her. It’s a small matter. Why must you be so harsh?"
Shen Ningning looked up and saw that it was the same young lady she had made way for the other day.
After Xie Yuanjiu paid, the Attendant Student finally let Shen Ningning pass.
The people nearby couldn’t help but whisper amongst themselves.
"Miss Xie Si is truly a lady from a distinguished family. So kind."
"Exactly. If it were me, I wouldn’t have stepped in. Isn’t paying for your meals common sense? Or did she expect a free lunch?"
Shen Ningning waited just inside the gate. She saw Xie Yuanjiu finish registering and come in as well.
The little one quickly pattered over to her. "Thank you for helping me. How much silver did you give them? Once the exam is over, I’ll go home and get it to pay you back."
Xie Yuanjiu offered a gentle smile. "It was nothing. I didn’t even look to see how much it was. In any case, please don’t worry about it."
"You let me go first with my flower carriage the other day. I still remember that kindness, so there’s no need to pay me back."
A nearby Protector urged them on. "Don’t stand there chatting! The exam is about to begin. Please find your assigned cubicle based on your number!"
Shen Ningning had no choice but to thank her again before finding her assigned spot—Cubicle 64—and sitting down.
The National Academy had already prepared paper and brushes, which were laid out on the small desk.
After Shen Ningning settled in, she thought, ’The Xie family are all such good people!’
’Uncle Prime Minister and Brother are so nice, and now Miss Xie has helped me too.’
A short while later, the exam began.
The National Academy’s examination was incredibly strict. In the vast courtyard, two hundred and thirty temporary cubicles had been set up.
Each cubicle had partitions on both sides, making it impossible for the students to see their neighbors.
A total of eight teachers patrolled as proctors, and overseeing the entire examination were the Lord Minister of Rites and two other civil servants.
Meanwhile, in the National Academy’s kitchen, the staff were recording meal orders based on the money they had received.
When the kitchen steward opened the silver bag with Shen Ningning’s name on it, he froze.
"Just two copper coins? Two cents? That’s not even enough for water! What’s this person’s problem?" he fumed.
’How could a student play such a prank? The money pouch looked quite large, but it only had two cents inside. That’s not even enough to give to a beggar!’
A nearby kitchen maid asked in surprise, "What should we do? She paid, so we can’t just not send her any food."
"Give her whatever cold scraps are left at the end," the steward said furiously.
’In short, she wants a decent meal? Not happening!’
Back in the examination hall, Shen Ningning’s brush flew across the paper as if guided by a divine hand.
The mad scholar had predicted the exam topic for her. He said this year’s National Academy essay would surely ask students to describe how Cangyun Country should care for the victims after the drought.
And he had been right. Shen Ningning had practiced writing about this very topic countless times, so it was second nature to her now, and the words flowed effortlessly.
A civil servant acting as a proctor passed by her cubicle, his expression stern and his hands clasped behind his back.
Xie Yuanjiu was in the cubicle next to Shen Ningning’s. As she subtly looked up, she exchanged a glance with that very same civil servant.
Xie Yuanjiu had used silver from her family’s second branch to bribe this proctor.
Her goal wasn’t to cheat on her own paper. Instead, she planned to eliminate her competition at the source.
She had heard that six exceptionally brilliant candidates from the Capital City would be taking the exam. If Xie Yuanjiu wanted to take first place, she had to ensure their papers met with a... mishap.
An entire morning had passed. Her plan was for the proctor to set fire to half of the cabinet holding the answer sheets after they were collected that night.
Fires had broken out during past National Academy exams. However, the exceedingly strict teachers had ruled that any student whose paper was destroyed would not be allowed a re-test.
In the teachers’ eyes, a fire was a sign from the heavens, indicating that this group of students had no luck in their examinations this year. It was, in effect, another form of failure.
This was precisely Xie Yuanjiu’s plan.
If half the answer sheets were destroyed, her chances of securing first place would be that much higher.
At noon, the staff began to distribute the midday meal.
Shen Ningning had been writing nonstop for three hours and was already famished.
However, she waited with eager anticipation, watching as a kitchen maid carrying a tray passed by her cubicle several times without stopping.
The little one was puzzled.
’The kind Miss Xie paid for me, so why don’t I have a meal?’
Only after everyone else had been served did a kitchen maid finally bring a plate of food over, her face dark.
"Here, eat!" She slammed it down, and splattering grease nearly stained Shen Ningning’s answer sheet.
Fortunately, the little one was quick and snatched her half-finished paper out of the way just in time.
Before she could even get angry, she was hit by a sour, spoiled smell.
Shen Ningning’s eyes widened as she stared at the food the kitchen maid had brought.
There was only a single dish. The watery rice gruel had turned yellow, with a few strands of wilted greens and two blackened lumps of meat floating on top.
It was completely inedible!
Shen Ningning bit her lip. ’How could the National Academy be so awful? They don’t even check the food they serve the students.’
’This food has gone bad. It’s impossible to eat.’
The little one had no other choice. Her stomach was aching with hunger, so she just placed the spoiled meal on the floor.
When the proctor wasn’t looking, she took out the delicious meal Grandma Qin had prepared for her from the Immortal Realm.
There were slices of braised fish, accompanied by a side of glistening, emerald-green bok choy.
Grandma Qin had sliced the fish with exquisite skill.
Each slice was as thin as a cicada’s wing and coated in a rich, reddish-brown sauce. Placed over rice, a single bite was an explosion of savory flavor.
After she finished eating, Shen Ningning took out a cup of sweet almond milk.
It was made from the freshest milk from town, which had been simmered with sugar and strained, leaving only a rich, creamy liquid.
Ground almonds were sprinkled on top, and a high flame had been used to caramelize a layer of sugar and milk solids at the bottom.
She took a sip of the milk, followed by a bite of the crispy, caramelized bits from the bottom. The rich fragrance of almonds filled her mouth.
Having eaten and drunk her fill, the little one put the bowl and plate back into her Immortal Realm.
Afterward, feeling more energized than before, she picked up her brush. In no time, the entire sheet of paper was covered in her neat script.
Later that evening, the chief proctor, the Lord Minister of Rites, glanced at the nearly spent incense stick and announced, "You may now turn in your papers. All answer sheets must be submitted before this final stick of incense burns out. Failure to do so will be considered a forfeit."
The Attendant Students relayed the message, and many students who had already finished handed in their papers.
Xie Yuanjiu planned to wait until the last possible moment. She knew the Attendant Students would collect the answer sheets in batches and deliver them to the cabinet.
And that cabinet was where a "small fire" was scheduled to happen. To prevent her own paper from being destroyed, she had to wait.
In the cubicle next to Xie Yuanjiu’s, Shen Ningning also hadn’t turned in her paper.
The little one had finished writing long ago. Just as she was about to turn in her paper, a chubby little bird flew in from out of nowhere.
It hopped around on her desk, pecking at the caramelized milk crumbs she had dropped earlier.
"Little bird, are you hungry? Here, have some cake!" Seeing there was still some time left, Shen Ningning whispered as she took a red bean pastry from her Immortal Realm.
She placed it on the desk, and the fat, yellow-tailed bird hopped over to the pastry and began to eat with gusto.
Shen Ningning smiled sweetly, the candlelight on her desk illuminating her innocent, adorable face.
Just then, the little bird looked up, flapped its wings gently, and went, "CHIRP CHIRP~"
Shen Ningning started, wondering if she had heard wrong.
The little bird was actually telling her that the western cabinet was on fire, which was why it couldn’t go to that courtyard to eat fruit.
Shen Ningning was astonished. ’When I came in, I heard the proctors say that all the answer sheets would be stored in the cabinet.’
Once it finished eating, the little bird flew away.
Seeing that time was nearly up, Shen Ningning hurried to turn in her paper.
After walking up to the Lord Minister of Rites and handing him her answer sheet, the little one hesitated.
But she spoke up anyway. "Lord Minister of Rites, I think I smell something burning. Could there be a fire somewhere?"
’It didn’t matter if the bird was telling the truth or not. She had to say something.’
’It would be for the best if it was a false alarm. But if it was real, putting out the fire quickly could save so many students’ papers.’
The Lord Minister of Rites froze when he heard her. He immediately and discreetly summoned a Protector. "Quickly, search the area! See if there’s a fire anywhere!"
