Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The scolding started again.
“I’ve seen thick-skinned people, but I’ve never seen someone as thick-skinned as you. You’re so self-assured even after copying someone else’s work,” Xuanyuan Mo scolded with a look of disdain.
“She dares to take responsibility for her actions, though.” Xuanyuan Fan smiled lightly. There was no mockery in his eyes. Instead, there was a strange look in them.
Xuanyuan Ye’s hand moved again, but his eyes were still slightly lowered.
“Your Majesty, according to the rules, in such a grand ceremony, once someone is discovered to have plagiarized another contestant, they will be disqualified. Moreover, they will also be punished by the Zan Zhi.” When the empress heard that Meng Fuying herself also admitted it, she once again looked at the emperor and spoke in a low voice.
The Zan Zhi was a kind of torture in the old days. Put a rope through five small sticks, wrap it around your finger, and tighten it.
Meng Fuying’s lips curled into a sneer once more. It seemed that the Empress was somewhat impatient.
“Empress, Fu’er didn’t mean it. Please forgive Fu’er.” Meng Ruxue immediately stood up and pleaded for mercy on Meng Fuying’s behalf with an anxious expression.
She had to admit that Meng Ruxue was indeed good at acting. However, she wanted to see how long she could continue acting.
“She copied yours and you still protected her. You are such a kind child.” The Empress looked at Meng Ruxue with a satisfied smile.
However, when she looked at Meng Fuying again, the smile on her face instantly disappeared. She put on a stern expression and said coldly, “However, this rule cannot be broken. Meng Fuying, do you know your crime?”
“Page 132 of the ‘Huayun Record’, line 8, line 11.” Meng Fuying’s eyes sank slightly. Her red lips moved slightly as she slowly spoke word by word. These words clearly did not answer her question.
Everyone was stunned. They didn’t understand what she meant.
“I’m asking you a question. Why are you replying in such a mess?” The empress raised her almond-shaped eyes and growled angrily.
Xuanyuan Ye raised his eyebrows slightly. He suddenly raised his hand and waved it at the wind behind him.
“Yes.” Luckily, Su Feng reacted quickly and immediately understood what she meant. Just as he was about to walk out, he suddenly remembered that this was the Imperial Palace and not the Prince’s mansion. Could it be that he had to go to the Imperial Study on his own accord?
If they returned to the Prince’s mansion, it would take a lot of time.
She called out in a low voice, feeling a little awkward, “Your Highness…”
“I have a book in my study, go find it.” The emperor also reacted and told a guard behind him.
However, when she looked at Xuanyuan Ye, a strange look flashed across her eyes.
Was Ye-er helping that lass? If so, it was the second time he had helped that lass even back at Lord Hou’s Estate.
And that girl actually knew how to read that kind of book, and she even remembered which page and line the poem was on?
Only then did everyone understand. When they looked at Meng Fuying again, their gazes were somewhat different.
This was especially so for Xuanyuan Fan. He looked even more astonished. Who would dare to call her a fool now?
Meng Ruxue’s expression suddenly stiffened, and a hint of panic appeared in the depths of her eyes. Especially when she saw Xuanyuan Ye helping Meng Fuying again, her heart was filled with hatred and fear.
Xuanyuan Ye returned to his usual cold and indifferent self. It was as if his actions just now were just an illusion.
A moment later, the guard brought out the Huayun Record. He flipped to page 132 and presented it to the emperor.
On page 132, line 8, line 11, were those two poems.
The empress looked at the poem in the book and her expression changed slightly. However, she quickly reacted and said with a smile, “The sisters are good. They read the same books. Under such circumstances, they actually thought of the same thing.”
The women in the palace who had been around for a long time were all smart. Under such circumstances, a single sentence cleverly defended Meng Ruxue, completely losing the harshness she had shown Meng Fuying earlier.
“That’s right. My sister and I really have telepathy.” Meng Ruxue naturally understood the empress’s intentions, so she answered with a faint smile. When she lied, her face wasn’t red, and she wasn’t panting.
The emperor’s eyes darkened, with a bit of dissatisfaction hidden in his expression. However, under these circumstances, he naturally couldn’t directly criticize the empress.
How could he not understand what the empress was thinking? In all these years, the only woman that Ye’er didn’t reject was Meng Ruxue. The person that Ye’er chose today was most likely Meng Ruxue.
Most importantly, there was no evidence to prove that Meng Ruxue was the one who copied this Ying lass’s.
However, he had cleared the suspicion that Ying had plagiarized. That was all he could do.
Hmph. Meng Fuying snorted inwardly. Telepathic? Her and her?
What a joke.
How could it be so easy to confuse this matter with a mere telepathy?
Those who plagiarized would have to face the Zan Zhi. If it wasn’t for the fact that she saw through Meng Ruxue’s scheme right from the start, her fingers would be suffering a terrible fate now.
Therefore, she would not let Meng Ruxue off so easily today.
She had always repaid kindness with kindness and revenge with enmity. Meng Ruxue had schemed against her time and time again. This time, it was time to teach her a lesson.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Meng Fuying slowly raised her head again and looked at Meng Ruxue. Then, she slowly said word by word…
“‘The lotus blossoms in the chest, the autumn flowers in the west lake; the clear sky and bright night; a realm I have entered.’ Sister should know what the first line of the poem describes, right?” A faint voice, a casual tone, and a slight smile on the corner of her lips.
Every time she did that, she would give people the illusion that they would unconsciously let down their guard.
Having been in the modern world for almost 30 years, she had a thorough understanding of human psychology.
Meng Ruxue was slightly stunned. Seeing her like this, for a moment, she was a little confused.
Everyone was looking at her. If she did not answer…
After thinking for a moment, she said slowly, “Lotus flowers, West Lake, night sky…”
The poem clearly described the scenery…
“Heh heh…” Meng Fuying suddenly chuckled. The smile at the corner of her lips was mixed with obvious mockery. “So it turns out that sister and I have telepathy, huh?”
There was a hint of coldness in her indifferent voice.
Meng Ruxue’s expression changed slightly as she realized that she might have been tricked by Meng Fuying again.
“At the end of the poem is the answer. It refers to the Heart Piercing Lotus. And a special breed of chrysanthemum. The sky is filled with stars. Big Sister doesn’t remember the poem, did you also not read it at all? Otherwise, with Big Sister’s intelligence, as long as you casually glance at it, you will definitely have been able to give the answer just now.” The ridicule on Meng Fuying’s lips became even more obvious..