C44

Outside the mansion, Feng Qing hurried back from the military camp, wearing a black cloak.

“Uncle, Yao is all set!” Inside the hall, Feng Xueyao saw Feng Qing enter and naturally assumed he was there to pick her up. She greeted him with a bright smile.

According to the rules of the Imperial Academy, candidates from families of second-rank officials could ride in carriages into the Martial Academy. Such candidates often attracted more attention and even envy from the start.

This was exactly what Feng Xueyao had in mind.

Accompanying Feng Xueyao were the matriarch and Feng Yan’s family.

Feng Qing was momentarily taken aback when Feng Xueyao blocked his way in the front courtyard. “Isn’t the carriage ready outside?”

“I arranged for it,” Feng Tiange said, approaching with a calm expression.

This was awkward.

Everyone in the household, including the matriarch, seemed to have forgotten that Feng Tiange was also a candidate this year. Now, who was supposed to take Feng Qing’s carriage?

“Ahem, since Tiange has already arranged for a carriage, why don’t you take Yao over? After all, Yao is representing our Marquis Mansion,” the matriarch asserted with authority.

Feng Qing was displeased but didn’t react immediately. “I’m here to pick up Tiange.”

The atmosphere grew tense. Feng Xueyao looked at the matriarch with a hint of grievance, while the matriarch glared at Feng Tiange, who was veiled.

Someone was left speechless, feeling that the matriarch and the second household were truly being unfair.

"Grandmother is right, Father should take my sister over," Tiange said, not wanting to argue over this matter, especially since she intended to go by carriage herself.

The rise of someone from humble beginnings is a different kind of spectacle compared to someone already standing on high ground taking another step forward.

Without giving Qing a chance to refuse, Tiange, along with Yueya, headed towards the mansion's gate.

The matriarch and Yan's family breathed a sigh of relief.

Qing turned away helplessly, while Xueyao followed, a faint coldness in her eyes.

One day, she vowed she wouldn't rely on the main household to achieve glory.

Watching Qing's carriage fade from view, Sunn Hexiang quietly slipped out the back door of the mansion...

The Imperial Academy was bustling with its annual event. Except for officials of the second rank and above, who could ride directly into the Wenn Mansion and Martial Academy, most candidates had to stop their carriages outside the twelve designated spots and walk in.

When Tiange arrived, she happened to see a few students from humble backgrounds, who had stood far away during registration. They came together without carriages, dressed very simply.

"Miss, I'll be here waiting for your good news!" Yueya stood by the carriage, her voice unusually firm, tears inexplicably falling.

Feng Tiange wiped her tears away, promising, "I won't let your wait be in vain."

As was customary, the exams at the Wenn Mansion started half an hour earlier than those at the Martial Academy. Like most candidates, Feng Tiange turned left after passing twelve meditation seats and entered the crescent archway leading to the Wenn Mansion.

A few early arrivals at the Martial Academy were already familiarizing themselves with the exam layout.

Entering the Wenn Mansion revealed a world of its own. The expansive complex stretched as far as the eye could see, with walls primarily of blue bricks, exuding a profound sense of history and the passage of centuries.

In sight were three sides of hand-copied corridors, with the main path leading straight to the main hall, flanked by side paths adorned with rocks. The entire Wenn Mansion felt simple and unadorned yet grand and majestic.

Ahead stood a white jade arch bridge, which no official carriage could cross—not even those of Empress Dowager Chu or Beiming Yuan.

As the exam time approached, more scholars crossed the bridge, heading towards the imposing main hall.

Just as Feng Tiange was about to step onto the bridge, a sudden, piercing shout came from behind!

"Feng Tiange! You wretched child!"

The harsh name-calling, coupled with the loud yell, was impossible to ignore. Feng Tiange turned to see a woman in a silk jacket, her face twisted with rage, running up to her and pointing accusingly.

Almost simultaneously, everyone passing by froze, but Feng Tiange noticed out of the corner of her eye that the few students from humble backgrounds who had entered behind her only paused for a moment before continuing on their way. This is the attitude of someone destined for greatness—never distracted by trivial matters and always aware of their goals.

Feng Tiange also saw her father and Feng Xueyao approaching from a short distance away.

"Feng Tiange! You're not really the daughter of the South Suppressing Marquis! You're the daughter of the lady and a servant... uh..." Mrs. Zhao had rehearsed a long speech all night, but barely got the first sentence out before Feng Tiange grabbed her by the throat, lifting her off the ground.

"Elder sister, what are you doing? This is the Imperial Academy, please don't act recklessly..." Feng Xueyao panicked as she saw Mrs. Zhao turning red from being held up by Feng Tiange. Mrs. Zhao hadn't even finished what she was supposed to say!

Holding Mrs. Zhao, Feng Tiange turned her clear eyes to Feng Xueyao, and the cold glance froze Feng Xueyao in place as if she were a statue. That look was terrifying, radiating an authority that made anyone instinctively hesitate to challenge her limits.

"Tiange, what's going on?" Feng Qing, having not heard Mrs. Zhao's outburst, approached with concern to inquire.

In an unexpected move, Tiange suddenly released Mrs. Zhao, only to swiftly strike her again before her feet could touch the ground. As Mrs. Zhao hit the ground, her vision went dark, and she fainted.

"If you're here for entertainment, you'll have your fill at the Ministry of Punishments after the exam. For now, don't let trivial matters distract you from your future," Tiange said coolly before turning to walk toward the white marble bridge.

The mention of "future" snapped the students back to reality. No one spared Mrs. Zhao another glance as they hurried toward the main hall.

Watching the gathered officials and students head over the bridge, even Feng Qing joined them in the hall. Xueyao was seething with frustration. A good show had ended before it even began. Who would've thought Tiange would just knock Mrs. Zhao out cold?

With so many eyes watching, there was no way Xueyao could go over and wake Mrs. Zhao up. Frustrated, Xueyao had no choice but to leave Mrs. Zhao and head over the bridge herself.

In front of her stood a majestic building with a nine-ridged roof, yellow tiles, and intricate brackets. The words "Main Hall" were boldly inscribed in the center, their strokes strong and graceful.

Tiange changed out of her exam attire in a side room and stood alone in front of the Main Hall. Memories flooded back—during her previous life, she hadn't known Beiming Yuan when she first entered the Imperial Academy, and her time there was the most carefree and spirited period of her life.

Here, she made several close friends who would later become leaders of the Thirteen Sects or influential figures in the government. They once had grand ambitions, vowing to create the most glorious era. In the end, everything was destroyed by the chaos caused by a corrupt concubine.

Tiange composed herself as she approached the entrance of the academy, handing over her slightly crumpled exam papers. "Why is it you?" If there was anything that could truly affect Tiange's mood since leaving the Marquis Mansion, it was the unexpected appearance of Rong Qi.

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