Free Web NovelChapter 190: Chapter 190: First Rank, the Cream of the Crop
The Emperor said with a smile, "It’s no trouble. You’ve arrived at just the right time. Attendants, bring a seat for the Prime Minister."
Xie Suzhi was travel-worn, his clothes still bearing the damp marks of autumn dew. Clearly, he hadn’t even had time to return to his residence to change.
He took a seat at the main table for the powerful ministers, joining the Imperial Tutor, General Chen, and others.
Then, Xie Suzhi’s gaze turned toward Shen Ningning. The little one grew even more excited, so much so that she could barely stay in her seat and wanted to jump down and call out to her daddy.
However, Xie Suzhi merely gave her a slight nod and a faint smile before looking away.
Shen Ningning snapped back to her senses.
’No, Daddy doesn’t know who I am yet. I can’t act disrespectfully and make him think I’m an ill-mannered child.’
At this thought, the little one sat up perfectly straight, her posture impeccable.
Her chubby, pink face was a mask of solemnity.
She accepted the gift list from the eunuch, bowed her head slightly, and thanked the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
Following that, a stream of congratulatory gifts from the guests was brought by the eunuchs to a long table beside her.
The little one once again thanked everyone with perfect etiquette.
Throughout it all, Consort Rong watched her with a gentle smile.
The Emperor said, "Ningning, from this day forward, you are a Commandery Princess of our Cangyun Country, recorded in the official scroll. A thousand years from now, people will still see your name on our bamboo slips and in our books."
"Now, your Uncle Emperor needs you to offer three sticks of incense. One to honor the ancestors of Cangyun Country, one to honor heaven and earth, and the last one to honor the Rain Godess."
Shen Ningning nodded obediently. "Okay."
The State Preceptor came forward with members of the Astronomical Bureau and several high-ranking monks from the National Temple. One of the monks held the ancestral tablet of the founding emperor of Cangyun Country.
Ordinarily, the tablet was enshrined at the very top of the Buddha Tower in the National Temple, where it constantly received incense offerings. To think it was brought down for the enfeoffment of a Commandery Princess.
Everyone clicked their tongues in amazement, whispering amongst themselves—
"The Emperor’s affection truly extends to those the Crown Prince cares for. He dotes on His Highness, and now he shows such favor to Princess Funing as well."
"Isn’t that the truth? The way I see it, it won’t be long before Princess Funing is promoted to a full Princess."
Shen Ningning held a stick of incense, kowtowed to the founding emperor’s tablet, and then offered the incense.
Next, under the State Preceptor’s guidance, she kowtowed to heaven and earth. Her small body repeatedly knelt and rose, and though her fair forehead became smudged with a bit of dust, she showed not a hint of impatience.
When it came to the final step, offering incense to the Rain Godess, Shen Ningning had already finished kowtowing and was about to place the incense into the censer.
As she put her small hand forward, she suddenly cried out in pain. "HISS!"
The little one hastily pulled her hand back.
Mo Lingwei shot to his feet and walked toward her. "What’s wrong?"
All the guests present craned their necks to see what was happening.
Mo Lingwei took Shen Ningning’s small hand and saw that a falling ember from the incense had burned a small red mark on her fingertip.
Shen Ningning blew on it twice, forcing a smile through the pain. "Brother, I’m okay. I was just being careless."
The Emperor quickly asked, "Should we summon an Imperial Physician to prescribe some ointment?"
Shen Ningning shook her head. "I’m alright, Uncle Emperor."
After confirming that Shen Ningning was truly unhurt, Mo Lingwei led her back to her seat by the hand.
Even so, he didn’t forget to complain to the Emperor in a low, cold voice, "Father, why did you insist on having the three incense offerings here? For past enfeoffments, it was enough to just go through the rites at the Imperial Ancestral Temple."
The Emperor chuckled. "Wasn’t it because We wanted everyone to witness Ningning’s enfeoffment? It was also a way to express Our affection for her."
Mo Lingwei pressed his thin lips together and looked at Shen Ningning. "Does it still hurt?"
"It doesn’t hurt anymore, Brother!" the little one said with a sweet smile.
She secretly glanced at Prime Minister Xie Suzhi out of the corner of her eye, only to see him sipping his tea with his head lowered, seemingly paying no attention to her at all.
The little one puffed out her pink cheeks and comforted herself internally. ’It’s okay.’
’Daddy doesn’t know I’m his daughter yet!’
After everything was cleared away, the Emperor spoke again. "On this auspicious day, We have another happy occasion to announce. We hear that the entrance exam results for the National Academy are out."
Hearing this, Xie Yuanjiu, who had been feeling rather bored, immediately looked up.
The Emperor continued, "Minister of Rites, please announce the names of the top three successful candidates for the National Academy in front of everyone."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The Minister of Rites was already prepared. He stepped forward before the crowd and drew a scroll from his sleeve.
All the young masters and ladies present who had taken the exam couldn’t help but prick up their ears in anticipation.
Getting into the National Academy was as difficult as ascending to heaven; sometimes, even power and influence weren’t enough. Who could the three who passed this time be?
The young ladies beside Xie Yuanjiu were already fawning over her—
"Fourth Sister Xie is definitely on the list."
"She might even be first place in the top grade."
Xie Yuanjiu offered a faint, dignified smile. "Alright, now. Even if that’s true, there’s no need to make a fuss on my behalf. I prefer to be more low-key."
The words had barely left her mouth when the Minister of Rites announced, "First place candidate, Grade A: Shen Ningning."
The entire hall was stunned.
Shen Ningning, on the other hand, was quick to react, her face immediately breaking into a brilliant smile.
’This is great!’
’I passed! Now I have good news for the mad scholar.’
Mo Lingwei led the applause, with Lu Shaoyuan and Xie Mingxu joining in. The hall instantly erupted with excitement.
"Princess Funing? All the good things seem to happen to her!"
"I could tell this little girl was clever from the moment I saw her. Remarkable!" said the old tutor sitting beside Xie Suzhi, chuckling.
General Chen nodded. "To come up with the idea of using a wolf pack to help refugees... she is no ordinary child. She is bright indeed."
Xie Suzhi remained silent, merely drinking one cup of tea after another.
At this, the young ladies beside Xie Yuanjiu hurriedly tried to console her. "Her first-place win is probably fake. You can tell by how much the Emperor dotes on her."
"It’s alright, Fourth Sister Xie. Coming in second or third isn’t shameful."
Even the faintest trace of a smile had vanished from Xie Yuanjiu’s face.
The Minister of Rites read out the remaining two names: "Second place candidate, Grade B, Xu Jingxi; and third place candidate, Grade C, Lu Shaoyuan."
Lu Shaoyuan leaped up, ecstatic. "Yes! This is great! All those nights this young master spent studying by lamplight weren’t for nothing! I wore out six Calligraphy Brushes for this!"
He had put in a Herculean effort, and now he could finally go to school with Shen Ningning again!
Commander Lu pushed him back down into his seat, saying with a faint smile, "Alright, don’t get too carried away."
The second-place candidate, Xu Jingxi, was from a humble family and thus had not been invited to the enfeoffment ceremony. However, the good news would soon be delivered to his home by a dedicated messenger.
Everyone began congratulating one another, exchanging auspicious pleasantries.
Only the area around Xie Yuanjiu was deathly silent. The young ladies who had been fawning over her moments ago now sat with their heads bowed, not saying a word. The atmosphere was exceptionally awkward.
They had spoken too soon. Who would have thought that Xie Yuanjiu, who always seemed so talented, hadn’t even made it into the top three for the National Academy?
After a moment, Xie Yuanjiu took the initiative and broke the silence with a smile. "Princess Funing did so well on the exam. We should go congratulate her together in a little while."
Only then did the young ladies chime in with forced laughs. "Yes, of course we should."
Shen Ningning was absolutely thrilled, her fair, rosy little face beaming with joy.
’Through my own hard work, I got first place in the National Academy exam, and I’m a Commandery Princess, too!’
’This way, when I’m reunited with Daddy, I can tell him with my head held high that even though I lived on my own all these years, I haven’t brought him any shame.’
Seeing that the time was right, Mo Lingwei was just about to ask the Emperor to help Shen Ningning with her family reunion.
Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Xie Suzhi beat him to it, rising to his feet and clasping his hands in a salute. "Your Majesty, since everyone is gathered here today, this subject would also like to beg a favor of you."
The Emperor’s interest was immediately piqued. "Oh? Tell Us, what is this happy occasion?"
Consort Rong looked toward Xie Suzhi.
The crowd then heard Xie Suzhi announce, "This subject has found the whereabouts of my biological daughter."
Like a drop of water hitting a pan of searing hot oil, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
Chancellor Xie’s daughter, lost for so many years, had been found? Who could it be? To have such good fortune!
Xie Mingxu glanced impassively at Shen Ningning, only to see the little one also gazing at Chancellor Xie, her eyes filled with hope.
The Emperor grew excited as well. "Is that true? Where is she now?"
