Chapter 1 The First Round
The first round of matches concluded, with 15 individuals advancing. Following the principle of elimination, one person received a bye. Nian Jiaojiao, who always considered herself unlucky, became this fortunate soul.
Upon Nian Jiaojiao drawing the bye, the remaining fourteen people, besides feeling envious and jealous, mostly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thus, in the second round, Nian Jiaojiao once again became a spectator.
After observing the first round, Nian Jiaojiao realized that Shangguan Xi was likely the strongest among these fourteen people. Based on the strength she had displayed so far, she was a formidable cultivator at the peak of the Object Manipulation Realm.
However, Nian Jiaojiao had a nagging feeling that the other party was also hiding their true strength.
In the third round, eight people, including Nian Jiaojiao, advanced. The next stage was an eight-person knockout. Nian Jiaojiao was matched against a middle-aged scholar of advanced age.
Age made a difference; her opponent was experienced and resorted to various tricks.
"Scholar Nian, I've long admired your reputation. I never expected that someone as young as you would ascend this battle stage with me," the woman with a symmetrical face and a full forehead said with a smile, her words seemingly conveying good intentions.
Nian Jiaojiao disliked people who chattered incessantly before a fight. But as the saying goes, one shouldn't strike a smiling face; she replied politely, "Scholar Fan, you are too kind. Having watched your performance just now, you were quite brilliant as well."
Scholar Fan continued, "Indeed, the waves behind drive the waves before. I am old..."
Before she could finish the word "old," she suddenly launched an attack on Nian Jiaojiao.
If their strengths were evenly matched, Nian Jiaojiao might have fallen for her ploy.
However, the gap in their strength was too significant. Such a minor maneuver was perceived by Nian Jiaojiao as if it were happening in slow motion, making it impossible for her to miss.
Thus, with a few swift movements, she evaded her opponent's meticulously planned attack.
The ministers on the platform frowned one after another.
General Situ, in particular, felt her mouth itching again. "Heh, this sly old fox seems to be a disciple of your Prime Minister Huang, doesn't he? This is truly... what do you call it? Ah, birds of a feather flock together."
Prime Minister Huang's expression soured. He inwardly cursed Fan Yi for her stupidity. What kind of occasion was this? To survive in the court in the future, she was now leaving an impression of "insidiousness"... It would have been better to simply lose.
Fan Yi knew her tactics were less than honorable, but she was only one step away from the top three and refused to give up.
Nian Jiaojiao, holding her bone fan, said softly, "Ten years of honing a sword, its frost-kissed blade has never been tested."
Unlike before, Nian Jiaojiao did not hold back her strength too much this time. As a result, Fan Yi was quickly covered in blood. She lay helplessly on the ground, unable to move.
Those on the platform could naturally tell that Nian Jiaojiao had used considerable force, but no one found it inappropriate.
The Right Prime Minister couldn't help but remark, "This scholar named Nian Jiaojiao possesses some of the demeanor of this old minister when I was young."
Her remark drew complex looks of "hard to describe" from all around. This Right Prime Minister had entered officialdom at the age of 28, and many present had seen her appearance when she was young. While her youthful features were proper, she had a pair of very noticeable, full lips. The ministers of Great Yue did not know how to describe it, but if Nian Jiaojiao saw it, she would likely offer the assessment of "sausage lips."
Nian Jiaojiao had entered the top four. Now it was two by two, with the winners determining the first and second places. The third place would be decided among the losers.
Nian Jiaojiao was up against Lou Lan, a "cool sister" with a tanned complexion. Neither of them used poetry at the start, simply engaging in martial arts, exchanging blows with fists and feet. This provided much excitement for the spectators.
Every time Nian Jiaojiao's fist landed on Lou Lan's leg, she secretly marveled at the sister's excellent bone structure. Lou Lan, on the other hand, was inwardly shocked by the force transmitted through Nian Jiaojiao's fists and kicks, which made her heart pound. After retreating a few steps, she struggled to stabilize her unsteady qi and blood.
At this point, Nian Jiaojiao felt it was enough and ended the battle with a line of poetry. As she stepped down, Lou Lan cupped her fist towards Nian Jiaojiao in admiration, saying, "I am truly convinced." Nian Jiaojiao, who already had a good impression of Lou Lan, immediately returned the gesture.
In the second set of matches, Shangguan Xi was among them. In the final burst of strength, as Nian Jiaojiao had predicted, Shangguan Xi had reached the Object Manipulation Realm. Lou Lan emerged as the third-place winner among the losers.
Finally, Nian Jiaojiao and Shangguan Xi ascended the battle stage. Shangguan Xi looked at Nian Jiaojiao with confidence. She inwardly mused about Nian Jiaojiao's misfortune, as her own breakthrough to the Object Manipulation Realm had only happened a few days prior. Therefore, she was determined to win the championship!
After the announcement to begin, Shangguan Xi wasted no time and launched a series of fierce attacks on Nian Jiaojiao. Nian Jiaojiao narrowed her eyes and recited, "Fallen blossoms are not heartless things; they turn into spring mud to protect the flowers."
Instantly, countless petals formed a defensive wall before Nian Jiaojiao. No matter what poetry Shangguan Xi recited, it vanished without a trace the moment it touched the wall of flowers.
When her opponent appeared to be somewhat exhausted, Nian Jiaojiao lightly curved her lips and said, "Ten years of honing a sword, its frost-kissed blade has never been tested." Shangguan Xi also recited a defensive poem, but her defense was like paper in the face of the incoming cold light, pierced through. Of course, Nian Jiaojiao avoided vital points, ensuring no one lost their life.
The old eunuch in the viewing stands announced loudly, "Champion: Nian Jiaojiao!"
This final imperial examination officially concluded. The Empress on the platform mused, "Fallen blossoms are not heartless things; they turn into spring mud to protect the flowers.' What a beautiful poem..." Those on the platform were also savoring the moment.
At this point, the Right Prime Minister said, "Young Scholar Nian's two lines of poetry have deeply moved us. We are curious about the complete poem. Such a beautiful poem should be passed down, adding new verses to the 'Poetry Collection' used by the scholars of Great Yue!"
Everyone's eyes lit up, and they looked towards Nian Jiaojiao with great curiosity.
Meanwhile, the injured scholars below were receiving treatment with "qin music." Nian Jiaojiao watched from the side, not for any other reason but that she recognized the person playing. The cold-faced beautiful girl's expression softened upon meeting Nian Jiaojiao's gaze. She slightly parted her cherry lips, and though no sound came out, Nian Jiaojiao could read the meaning conveyed by the lip movements: Congratulations.
Nian Jiaojiao replied with lip movements: Thank you, Wushuang.
The people on the platform noticed that Nian Jiaojiao's attention was focused on the healer invited by Great Yue, seemingly oblivious to their eager gazes, which made them somewhat awkward. The Right Prime Minister coughed twice and said, "Your Majesty, there is a banquet tonight. Perhaps Young Scholar Nian could be asked to present the complete poems at the banquet."
The Empress pondered for a moment and then replied, "That would be excellent."