Chapter 20: Perils of the Metropolitan Examination, Resourcefulness Overcomes Adversity

Chapter 20: Peril at the Metropolitan Exam, Wit Turns the Tide

Lin Shiya moved through the crowd with the agility of a cat, her demeanor seemingly nonchalant, yet every sense was alert to the persistent feeling of being watched. The marketplace bustled with noise, hawkers’ cries rising and falling, while lanterns cast a hazy golden glow, wrapping everything in a shroud of misty light.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted several furtive figures, slithering through the throng like venomous snakes, now visible, now hidden, stalking her with the patience of predators lying in wait. She narrowed her eyes, a cold smile playing at her lips—did these skulking cowards truly believe she was so easily preyed upon?

Quickening her pace, she ducked into a crowded teahouse, then slipped out the back door, vanishing amidst the surging masses. The pursuers, realizing her escape, barreled after her, drawing curses and complaints from those they shoved aside. Despite their breathless pursuit, sweat soaking their clothes, they could only watch helplessly as Lin Shiya slipped from their grasp like an eel.

Meanwhile, a stifling tension hung over the strictly guarded examination hall. Young Master Wang’s narrow eyes glinted with malice, a sneer curling his lips as he stared at Lin Shiya with the intensity of a serpent ready to strike.

Raising his voice with deliberate mockery, he called out, “Well, if it isn’t the illustrious Lin Shiya! Who would have thought that someone with nothing but petty tricks could make it this far? Truly an eye-opener!” His words, dripping with contempt, drew curious glances from the other candidates.

A frown creased Lin Shiya’s brow, anger flaring within her. She knew perfectly well that Young Master Wang was provoking her, hoping she would lose composure and falter in the exam. She gripped her brush tightly, restraining the urge to retort. Drawing a steadying breath, she forced herself to remain calm.

Undeterred by her silence, Wang grew bolder, slamming his exam paper onto the desk with a resounding bang. “What’s the matter? Struck a nerve, have I? Cat got your tongue? My advice: return home while you still can, before you embarrass yourself any further!” His words, sharp as blades, cut at her dignity, setting the hall on edge as if a fierce altercation were about to erupt.

Lin Shiya slowly raised her head, her gaze icy as she met Wang’s eyes. Parting her lips, she uttered only two words: “You…”

“You are far too noisy,” Lin Shiya replied, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. “This is the metropolitan examination hall, not your family’s garden. Such clamor is beneath you.” Her eyes swept across the hall, the warning in her gaze unmistakable.

For a moment, Wang was struck speechless by her commanding presence. He had not expected that this seemingly delicate woman possessed such formidable strength of spirit. Humiliated and furious, he was about to retort when the chief examiner’s stern voice rang out.

“Silence!” The examiner’s authoritative tone reverberated through the hall. “No one is to speak or disrupt the order here!” His gaze settled on Wang, heavy with warning.

Chastened, Wang fell silent, not daring to make another sound.

Lin Shiya paid him no further heed, lowering her head to focus on her paper. Her script flowed gracefully, each stroke as fluid as drifting clouds and flowing water. Inspired, she finished swiftly, then carefully reviewed her work before submitting it.

The chief examiner read through her essay, visibly impressed by her elegant prose and original insights. Around her, the other candidates regarded her with newfound respect and admiration. None had expected such brilliance from this unassuming young woman.

Wang, witnessing her excellence, was consumed by jealousy and resentment.

He clenched his jaw, vowing silently to find a way to eliminate Lin Shiya.

Official Li, having heard of Lin Shiya’s remarkable performance, grew increasingly uneasy. He knew well her talent; should she pass the metropolitan exam, she would pose a grave threat to him in the future. Desperate, he resolved to act again.

That night, as Lin Shiya returned to her inn to rest, she opened her door to a strange, alluring aroma. Instantly alert, she noticed a subtle discoloration in her meal. She recognized at once that Official Li was trying to ensnare her with another of his insidious schemes.

A cold laugh escaped her. “Official Li, do you truly believe such petty tricks can defeat me? You underestimate me.”

The air in the room was thick with danger. Her gaze settled on the food, her tone icy: “So, you’ve grown impatient at last…”

Steadying herself, Lin Shiya quietly closed the door. Rather than act rashly, she decided to turn the trap against her foes, feigning illness as if poisoned. Her body trembled, her face paled, and she appeared ready to collapse at any moment.

Sure enough, the enemy’s vigilance waned. Outside, Li’s strategist, Zhang, was elated, sure their plan had succeeded. He ordered his men to withdraw to avoid arousing suspicion.

At that moment, Lin Shiya’s secret protector, Guard Qin, emerged from the shadows. His hawk-like eyes swiftly locked onto Zhang and his subordinates. Moving with ghostly silence, he intercepted them one by one, removing them without a trace. Throughout, Lin Shiya inside remained unaware of the rescue.

Once all was quiet again, Lin Shiya allowed herself a faint, satisfied smile. She had anticipated this move and merely awaited the perfect moment.

She stood, opened the window, and breathed in the fresh night air, her eyes glinting coldly. The immediate danger had passed, but she knew greater challenges lay ahead.

Returning to her desk, she picked up her brush, continuing to draft strategies and countermeasures for the examination. Her writing was sure and confident, each word radiating intelligence and resolve. Even the air around her seemed to thicken with determination.

Outside, night deepened. Guard Qin’s silhouette appeared once more beneath the eaves, and he gave Lin Shiya a reassuring glance. The understanding between them needed no words.

With her protector near, Lin Shiya felt a renewed sense of security, ready to face whatever trials awaited her.

Setting her brush aside, a resolute gleam in her eyes and a confident smile on her lips, she murmured, “Official Li, try again if you wish. Let’s see if I do not rise even higher in the examinations.”

Elsewhere, in a nearby teahouse, Candidate Sun glared out into the night, grinding his teeth as he schemed his next move.

The final round of the metropolitan exam was underway, the atmosphere heavy with tension. The candidates sat in utter concentration, pens scratching across paper in a silent war of intellects.

Lin Shiya wrote with lightning speed, her thoughts flowing freely as a brilliant essay took shape under her brush.

Suddenly, a commotion shattered the calm. From behind her, Sun paled, flustered, and hurled a bottle of ink toward her exam paper. The ink, like a black beast, lunged for her spotless essay, poised to destroy it.

In a split second, Lin Shiya reacted—she seized the tablecloth and yanked it up, forming a barrier that deflected the ink. The black stain spread across the cloth, glaring and ugly, but her exam paper remained untouched.

Sun gasped in horror, dropping the ink bottle, which shattered on the floor, sending ink splattering everywhere. He stood frozen, trembling violently.

The examiner rushed over, furious at the scene. “Bold of you, Sun, to disrupt the exam and cause chaos! Guards, remove him at once!”

Two attendants seized Sun, dragging him from the hall as he struggled and protested in vain.

Order was restored, though the faint scent of ink and a lingering tension hung in the air.

Lin Shiya took a deep breath, steadying her nerves, and finished her essay with renewed vigor. Her words were sharp and brilliant, each phrase brimming with her passion and sense of justice.

When she handed in her paper and stepped into the sunlight outside, she was filled with satisfaction. Justice had prevailed; the plot against her had been crushed, bringing her great relief.

The air outside the examination hall was fresh and free, as if heralding a new beginning.

Back at the inn, as Lin Shiya prepared to rest, she found a letter waiting on the table. The envelope bore no signature, only a few delicate words: “For the attention of Young Master Lin.”

Puzzled, Lin Shiya opened the letter. There was but a single line, yet it drained the color from her face:

“Be careful—you are already being watched…”

The air in the room seemed to freeze, thick with mystery and danger.

Clutching the note tightly, her knuckles white, Lin Shiya whispered to herself, “Who is it? Who is orchestrating all of this from the shadows?” Her voice was low, laced with unease and unwavering resolve.