Chapter 28: Returning to the Metropolitan Examination, Calm and Composed

Chapter 28: Returning to the Examination, Calm and Unruffled

A faint unease swept through Lin Shiya’s heart. After the palace examination, what awaited her? Would it be the king’s questioning in the Golden Imperial Hall, or the turbulent currents of the court? She did not know. But she knew, whether the road ahead was smooth or beset with thorns, she must press forward.

The injustice suffered by her family weighed upon her heart like a heavy stone, never forgotten for a single moment. She drew a deep breath, suppressing her anxiety, and fixed her gaze upon the towering examination hall, her eyes as resolute as ever.

“Miss, Lord Li has sent someone,” said Qin the bodyguard, his voice low and tinged with caution.

Lin Shiya turned around, and indeed saw a familiar figure—Lord Li’s strategist, Advisor Zhang.

Advisor Zhang approached her, his smile insincere, and said, “Young Master Lin, my master has asked me to deliver a few words to you.”

“Please, speak, Advisor Zhang,” Lin Shiya replied, her expression calm and her tone neither humble nor arrogant.

“My master says that Young Master Lin is exceptionally talented, truly a pillar of the nation. If you are willing, my master will fully support you, ensuring your official career flourishes,” Advisor Zhang spoke with a hint of menace.

Lin Shiya let out a soft laugh. “I appreciate Lord Li’s favor, but I prefer to rely on my own abilities, taking each step with integrity.”

Advisor Zhang’s face darkened, his tone turning sharp. “Young Master Lin, you’d best think carefully. Some opportunities, once missed, never return.”

“A threat?” Lin Shiya’s gaze grew cold, a chill entering her voice.

Advisor Zhang snorted. “Young Master Lin, a wise person knows how to adapt. My master is not one to be trifled with. You’d best not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a penalty cup.”

“Then let Lord Li try his best,” Lin Shiya met Advisor Zhang’s eyes without fear, her tone unwavering as steel.

Advisor Zhang stared deeply at Lin Shiya, then swept his sleeve and departed.

Lin Shiya watched his retreating figure, a cold smile curling her lips. She knew Lord Li would not give up easily; this contest had only just begun.

She turned toward the examination hall, her steps firm and without hesitation.

The doors creaked slowly open...

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Candidates bent over their desks, the scratch of pens on paper reminiscent of spring silkworms chewing mulberry leaves, or autumn rain tapping banana leaves.

Lin Shiya entered, found her seat, and settled herself, focusing all her attention on the examination questions before her.

Around her, some candidates frowned deeply, others bit their pens in thought, still others wrote furiously—each displaying their own manner.

Seated diagonally behind Lin Shiya, Candidate Sun grew more resentful seeing her so composed.

He deliberately made noises, coughing heavily at intervals, or tapping his pen against the desk with sharp clicks, trying to disrupt her concentration.

Yet Lin Shiya seemed not to hear him, her gaze never leaving her exam paper, as if she inhabited another world.

After a while, the corners of her mouth lifted in a confident smile.

She dipped her brush in ink. The tip danced lightly across the paper, answers flowing like clouds and water, each word powerful, each sentence shining with wit.

Candidate Sun could only stare, cursing silently, yet powerless to do anything.

Not far away, Young Master Wang noticed Lin Shiya’s composure. Consumed by jealousy, he secretly knocked her stationery box off the desk.

Pens, ink, paper, and inkstone scattered to the ground, the crisp sound breaking the silence of the hall.

Lin Shiya frowned slightly, glanced at the fallen items, then at Young Master Wang’s gloating expression, her eyes filled with disdain.

She bent down and picked up her stationery piece by piece, returning them to their place with fluid motions, entirely unflustered.

Once everything was in order, she resumed writing, as if the minor interruption had never occurred.

The atmosphere grew more charged; time ticked by relentlessly.

Lin Shiya wrote tirelessly, her thoughts pouring forth, every stroke guided as if by a hidden hand.

At times she frowned in contemplation, at others she swept the brush boldly, her every movement radiating a unique charm.

Suddenly, an examiner approached and picked up her exam paper for closer inspection.

Her brush moved across the page, lines flowing like a dragon emerging from the sea, or the Milky Way spilling across the earth, every stroke a tapestry of elegance.

She was fully prepared; when faced with difficult questions, her ideas were clear as glass, her insights sharp and original, every passage filled with profound understanding of current affairs and a sincere concern for the people.

The hall was silent, broken only by the soft rustle of pens on paper. In that quiet, Lin Shiya’s words seemed to come alive, leaping from the page.

Nearby, Candidate Sun, who had previously dismissed her, now looked ashen. He stole glances at her paper, finding the writing incomprehensible, growing ever more agitated.

He gripped his pen tightly, but it felt as heavy as a thousand catties, unable to write another word.

Young Master Wang, meanwhile, squirmed in his seat, his jealousy burning as he watched Lin Shiya’s unshakable composure, wishing he could destroy everything she had.

The examiners patrolled the hall, their eyes often lingering on Lin Shiya’s paper. At first, they acted out of routine, but as they read her answers, they paused, faces showing astonishment. They gathered, whispering, nodding, unable to hide their admiration; some even murmured praises.

These examiners, well-read and learned, recognized her extraordinary talent. Her insights in every line dazzled them.

Those candidates who had hoped to see her fail now could only regret their scorn, swallowing bitterness they could not spit out.

Outside the hall, Qin the bodyguard stood tall as a pine, silently keeping watch.

His eyes were sharp, scanning everything, missing no suspicious figure.

Though surrounded by noise, he was ever alert to the happenings inside the hall.

Whenever Lin Shiya remembered his presence, a sense of comfort arose within her—like a ray of sunlight in winter, warm and steadfast, so she never felt alone on the path of the imperial examination.

Lin Shiya paid no heed to the commotion and scrutiny around her; in her world, only her pen and her exam paper existed.

She was utterly absorbed, her thoughts streaming forth, answers flowing across the page like clouds and water; it was as if she were not merely answering questions, but creating masterpieces.

“Master…” an examiner, gazing at her paper, seemed about to speak.

“Well?” another asked quietly.

“This one… is remarkable,” the examiner said with awe.

“Indeed, if she could… then…” the other nodded in praise.

They exchanged glances, seeing both astonishment and expectation in each other’s eyes.

Though their voices were low, they reached certain ears nonetheless…

Lin Shiya’s brush moved in wild, elegant strokes, and as the final mark fell, her completed exam unfolded before her like a magnificent scroll.

She put down her pen, exhaled deeply, and a confident smile touched her lips.

She carefully reviewed her answers, ensuring every word was precise, every sentence logical, every essay lofty in its purpose.

Satisfied, Lin Shiya stood and calmly handed her paper to the examiner.

The examiner took it, his gaze lingering for a moment, admiration in his eyes.

Lin Shiya nodded slightly and left the hall.

Her steps were light, as if wind carried her, sunlight streaming through the windows, bathing her in a golden glow.

Inside, the other candidates looked up, their eyes following her; some whispered, some shook their heads in regret, others gripped their pens and redoubled their efforts.

Lin Shiya had become the center of attention.

Stepping out into the fresh air, she drew a deep breath, feeling an immense sense of ease and delight.

She looked up at the blue sky, clear and bright, full of promise.

Yet Lin Shiya had not forgotten: this was only the provincial examination. Ahead lay the palace examination, and more challenges.

She did not know how the examiners would ultimately judge her, nor whether she would emerge victorious, her name inscribed among the laureates.

As she waited for the results, her heart was filled with both anticipation and nervousness.

Sometimes she wandered the garden, admiring the blooming flowers; sometimes she sat in her study, immersed in classic texts; sometimes she recalled the obstacles she had faced on the path of the imperial examination, her vigilance undiminished.

“Miss, someone has delivered a letter…” Qin’s voice broke her reverie.

Lin Shiya took the letter, unfolded it—and her expression changed abruptly… “This…”