Chapter 186 Seizing the Opportunity, Strike Hard in One Strike

Consort Wang covered her mouth in surprise.

"Oh, the first place goes to Miss Li!"

Empress Xue's smile froze instantly, her pupils widened, and her face turned extremely ugly.

How is that possible?

Xue Ting seemed to have been struck by lightning, stunned for a moment, then screamed instantly.

"Impossible! How could it be Li Nanke?"

"Your Highness, you must be mistaken!"

Consort Wang's smile faded slightly. She turned the paper in her hand over, showing everyone the page with the name written on it.

The six characters on the paper were written exceptionally neatly and powerfully.

First place: Li Nanke!

The first place goes to Li Nanke!

Li Nanke is number one!

The hall was silent for a moment, then erupted into an uproar!

All the young girls looked at Li Nanke with disbelief in their eyes.

How could Li Nanke be number one?

Wasn't Li Nanke supposed to be mischievous and dislike studying?

Didn't they say that the Marquis of Anping's mansion was in decline and they couldn't even afford a tutor for her?

These days, you can be this amazing without even reading books?

Li Nanke himself was stunned.

Didn't Wang Tongyun say that she only got the first sentence right?

Can you really win first place just by having good handwriting? Does the content even matter?

She looked at Wang Tongyun with a puzzled expression.

Wang Tongyun was also in a state of extreme shock, so shocked that she jumped up and rushed to Consort Wang's side.

He snatched the paper from Consort Wang's hand and examined it carefully.

Then he rushed back and hugged Li Nanke tightly.

"Hahaha, Ke'er, you really are number one! You're amazing!"

"I knew it! How could you possibly be last!"

Amidst the gasps of shock, someone exclaimed, "Li Nanke is first place, so the last place must be...?"

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Xue Ting.

Originally, only Li Nanke and Xue Ting's rankings were yet to be announced, but now Li Nanke is in first place.

Without a doubt, Xue Ting came in last place!

Xue Ting's face flushed red, and she shrieked, "No... impossible! I absolutely cannot be last!"

She screamed and lunged at the palace maid carrying the tray.

There was only one paper tube left on the tray.

Xue Ting opened the paper tube, trying to take out the paper inside, but she was too anxious, and the more anxious she was, the more her hands trembled, making it even harder to take out the paper from the tube.

In a fit of anger, she flung the paper tube upside down, and a piece of paper fell out and landed on the ground.

The paper was unfolded, and it read: 21st place: Xue Ting

The words "twenty-one" above were particularly glaring, as if a loud slap had been delivered to her face.

Xue Ting's face turned as red as an eggplant. She bent down, picked up the paper from the ground, and tore it to shreds.

"Impossible! There must be some mistake. I can't possibly be last!"

She turned to look at Empress Xue and burst into tears, feeling wronged.

"Aunt, what's going on? How could I be last?"

Didn't her aunt switch her answer sheet?

Empress Xue's face was extremely pale.

She had already ordered her trusted confidants to replace Xue Ting's answer sheet; the answer sheet that Xue Ting had placed in the paper tube was one that she had carefully copied by her maids.

Whether it's the completeness of the evaluation content or the handwriting, Xue Ting will definitely be number one!

How did he become Li Nanke?

In an instant, countless guesses flashed through Empress Xue's mind, but she glared at Xue Ting with a displeased expression.

“If you feel wronged, just say it. Why are you crying and shouting? It makes people think that the Xue family girls are ill-mannered.”

Xue Ting sniffed, no longer daring to cry, and insisted, "There must be something wrong with this ranking. I am not convinced. It must be that Li Nanke bribed the lecturer."

"This humble woman requests to see Li Nanke's answer sheet."

Empress Xue frowned slightly, her gaze sweeping over the tray placed below her.

The tray was neatly stacked with rows of paper tubes, each labeled with a person's name and containing their answer sheet.

The intact seal on the paper tube meant that the lecturer had sealed it after the evaluation and no one had torn it open.

Did someone tamper with the results before the evaluation?

She remained silent, lost in thought.

Consort Wang smiled and said, "I also think this ranking is a bit strange. Miss Xue comes from the Duke of Xue's mansion and started her studies at a young age."

How could they not even know the Precepts for Women? Your Majesty, I think we should open and examine the answer sheets of Miss Xue and Miss Li.”

Empress Xue thought for a moment and agreed, instructing the head maid to open the paper tubes containing Li Nanke and Xue Ting's papers.

We can't let Li Nanke secure first place!

We absolutely cannot let Xue Ting secure last place!

The Xue family can't afford to lose face like this!

The head maid first found Xue Ting's paper tube, took out the answer sheet inside, and handed it to Empress Xue.

Two thin sheets of paper emerged from inside. She pursed her lips and opened them, but when she saw what was on them, her vision went black.

The contents of the paper were not at all the content of the "Admonitions for Women".

The entire thing is Xue Ting's rambling nonsense!

Consort Wang peeked over and let out a low gasp of surprise.

"Oh my, Miss Xue's handwriting is still as neat as before, but the content... wait, what is this?"

"Today, strange curses exist in the world, and today I will..."

Empress Xue's expression changed, and she quickly crumpled the paper into a ball, but she still couldn't stop the sharp-eyed Consort Wang from reading out two sentences.

Empress Xue's face turned ashen.

"There must be a mistake, Ting'er, she..."

Clang!

The sudden noise interrupted Empress Xue's words.

She frowned and looked over, only to see Li Nanke suddenly jump up, knocking over the inkstone on the table in his haste.

The inkstone fell to the ground with a loud thud.

Li Nanke, his face contorted with rage, pointed at Xue Ting, his voice shrill.

"Oh, Xue Ting, you even cursed and insulted me on the answer sheet. You planned to bully me all along!"

No wonder you were so certain I'd be last in the garden! I...you come with me to His Majesty and we'll get to the bottom of this!"

As he spoke, he grabbed Xue Ting's arm and dragged her away forcefully.

Xue Ting turned pale with fright and blurted out.

"I...I didn't curse you. I was just writing it for fun, it wasn't intentional..."

"Shut up!"

Empress Xue suddenly shouted a stern rebuke to stop them!

But it was too late!

Xue Ting's words are tantamount to admitting that she wrote those two pieces of paper herself.

It was too late for her to make amends!

idiot!

Empress Xue closed her eyes in frustration, feeling extremely remorseful.

I should have known better than to let Xue Ting participate in the selection.

Consort Wang gave Li Nanke a deep look, a smile flashing in her eyes.

That little girl from the Li family is interesting. She only threw out the first move, but the little girl was able to seize the opportunity and strike right at the right time, completely securing Xue Ting's last place!

Consort Wang concealed the emotions in her eyes and sighed, "Miss Xue was just slapped on the hand before the exam, so it's understandable that she's angry."

She didn't write the content of the "Admonitions for Women" out of spite. I believe this is definitely not Xue San's true level, right?

Miss Xue was renowned for her talent; she could recite the Classic of Filial Piety and the Admonitions for Women from memory.

Consort Wang rose and curtsied to Empress Xue.

"Your Majesty, I dare to plead for Miss Xue. Perhaps we could have her recite the first volume of the 'Admonitions for Women' on the spot."

If Miss Xue memorizes it, then her twenty-first place ranking will naturally not count.

Empress Xue's eyes flickered slightly.

If Xue Ting could recite the "Admonitions for Women" on the spot, it would mean that she had actually learned it, but just didn't answer seriously.

This is currently the only chance to salvage the Xue family's reputation!

She subtly winked at Xue Ting and softened her voice.

"You silly girl, an exam is an exam. How can you write something randomly out of spite? Since the Imperial Concubine has pleaded for you, you can recite the first chapter of the 'Admonitions for Women' right here."