Chapter 18: The Civil Examination Dilemma, Thwarting the Conspiracy at Last

Chapter 18: The Trap at the Imperial Examination, Plot Finally Unraveled

Lin Shiya entered the examination hall with a trace of worry in her heart.

The towering palace walls, the stern guards, and the solemn atmosphere all underscored the gravity of this examination. Yet, in stark contrast to the dignified mood inside, suspicious figures lingered outside the hall. Some gathered in small groups, whispering furtively; others paced alone, their eyes darting as they glanced inside, like leopards waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Their presence was impossible to ignore.

Lin Shiya calmly observed their every move, her vigilance heightened.

Within the hall, the candidates sat upright, writing furiously. The only sound was the soft rustling of brush against paper. Lin Shiya took a deep breath, forcing down the unease swirling within her and focused her attention on the exam before her.

But as she unfolded her paper, her expression changed dramatically. The ink on the test sheet was blurred, as if the paper had been soaked and hastily dried. Many crucial questions were nearly illegible.

A surge of anger rose in her chest. She instantly understood—this was no accident. Someone had deliberately sabotaged her, trying to set her up for failure.

Who was it? Who was orchestrating this from the shadows?

“Master Lin, it’s been a while…” A low voice sounded by her ear, laced with mockery and derision.

Lin Shiya turned sharply and saw a man in brocade robes standing behind her, a cold, wicked smile on his lips. She recognized him at once—Zhao Er, the examinee with whom she’d quarreled at the inn.

Suppressing her emotions, Lin Shiya rolled up the exam paper and looked at Zhao Er coldly. “What advice do you have for me, Master Zhao?”

Feigning surprise, Zhao Er replied, “What’s wrong, Master Lin? Is the test too difficult for you?” His sarcastic tone drew the attention of the other candidates, who began to whisper among themselves.

A faint, confident smile played on Lin Shiya’s lips. “Whether the test is difficult or not is not for you to decide, Master Zhao.” She carefully unfolded the test, her gaze sharp and unwavering, as if she could pierce through the blurred writing.

Under the watchful eyes of the entire hall, she relied on her extraordinary memory to reproduce every damaged question word for word, copying them neatly onto a blank sheet.

The hall fell into stunned silence.

All the candidates stared in disbelief, even the examiner couldn’t help but nod in tacit admiration.

Zhao Er’s face turned ashen. He had never imagined Lin Shiya possessed such a prodigious memory. What was meant to utterly ruin her chances had instead caused her to shine brightly before all present.

Paying no attention to the stares around her, Lin Shiya devoted herself to answering the questions, her brush dancing across the paper in a fluid, graceful hand.

Her answers were clear and insightful, filled with references and allusions, displaying her profound knowledge and talent. The other candidates were awestruck by her brilliance; those who had plotted against her now looked utterly miserable.

They knew—their conspiracy had failed.

Lin Shiya set down her brush and let out a long, contented breath, a sense of accomplishment welling up inside her. She glanced outside the window, where the sky was a boundless blue and sunlight glinted off the golden glazed tiles.

Suddenly, a sharp scream shattered the calm of the examination hall.

“A rat!”

The cry pierced the stillness like an arrow. The candidates dropped their brushes in panic and looked around in alarm. A fat rat scurried along the table legs, squeaking madly, sending some of the more timid examinees into a frenzy and plunging the hall into chaos.

Lin Shiya frowned, irritation rising within her. She knew at once—this was no accident. Someone was trying to disrupt her focus.

She swept her gaze around the room and caught the faintest trace of a smirk on Zhao Er’s lips, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Her suspicions were confirmed.

Drawing a deep breath, Lin Shiya forced herself to remain calm. She knew that giving in to distraction was exactly what her adversary wanted.

She closed her eyes, shutting out the noise and recalling the contents of the exam, willing her focus back to the tip of her brush.

Yet, things did not go as she wished. The rat’s squeals grew shriller, assaulting her ears, while the candidates’ murmurs buzzed incessantly around her, making it impossible to concentrate. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she gripped her brush so tightly her fingertips turned pale. She needed an opening.

A thought flashed through her mind. She deliberately slowed her writing, letting her brush scratch erratically across the page, feigning agitation and even sighing softly, as if overwhelmed.

Zhao Er’s eyes sparkled with glee. Believing his scheme had succeeded, he smirked with contempt, even coughing deliberately to draw more attention to Lin Shiya and make her plight more conspicuous.

But he did not realize it was all an act.

Outwardly flustered, Lin Shiya was in fact carefully observing everyone, looking for a moment to strike back.

As Zhao Er dropped his guard, a mocking smile on his lips, Lin Shiya calmly placed the misleading sheet over a blank page. Then, without hesitation, she began writing in earnest, shutting out the chaos around her as if she were alone in the hall, pouring her answers onto the page.

Her brush flew like a dragon, every stroke exuding strength and confidence, a radiance impossible to overlook.

Those who had pitied her moments before now watched in awe, quietly admiring her wit and resilience. Hope flickered in their hearts.

“You…you…” A trembling gasp broke the silence, as if something unbelievable had occurred, then abruptly ceased.

Zhao Er stared at Lin Shiya in disbelief, his finger trembling as he pointed at her.

What had he seen?

Beneath the tampered, blurred exam sheet, Lin Shiya had hidden a pristine new answer sheet. On it, her neat handwriting filled the page, each answer logically precise, every argument compelling.

His meticulously planned plot had been so easily unraveled!

The other candidates, too, noticed Lin Shiya’s subtle maneuver and suddenly understood. What they’d thought was a victim’s despair had, in fact, been the perfect ruse.

A chorus of gasps swept through the hall as admiration for Lin Shiya grew.

The examiner approached, studying her answers closely. Slowly, his frown relaxed into a broad, approving smile.

“Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!” he exclaimed three times, his voice ringing through the hall.

“This essay is lofty in its vision, unique in perspective, and brilliant in style—a rare masterpiece indeed!”

At his words, the hall erupted with excitement. The candidates gazed at Lin Shiya with envy; those who had once tried to sabotage her were now flushed with shame, wishing the ground would swallow them up.

Lin Shiya showed little joy, merely bowing to the examiner before calmly gathering her belongings and leaving the hall.

She knew this was but the first step of a long journey; greater challenges still lay ahead.

As the sun set, golden light bathed the earth.

Lin Shiya stood at the window of her inn room, lost in thought as she gazed into the distance.

“Congratulations, Master Lin! You passed the examination with flying colors!” The innkeeper, Master Sun, bustled in with a beaming smile, carrying a pot of hot tea.

“You flatter me, Master Sun,” Lin Shiya replied, taking the cup and sipping gently.

“Master Lin, you are truly accomplished! When you achieve great success, don’t forget about us little folk!” Master Sun said obsequiously.

Lin Shiya only smiled faintly, offering no reply. She knew such people only flocked to power and need not be taken to heart.

Her gaze drifted to the darkening sky outside, where a bright star twinkled in the night.

“The palace exam…” she murmured softly. “I am coming…”

Suddenly, a hurried knock sounded at the door…