AUBTN -Chapter 101 Using Words to Elicit Information

Many of the noble ladies’ faces changed.

What they usually studied were embroidery, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—skills meant for managing a household, pleasing their husbands, and raising children.

When it came to the classics, history, philosophy, or composing poetry, except for a few with truly scholarly family backgrounds, most of them were just half-baked.

Lin Wan’er, in particular, was so nervous her handkerchief was practically being wrung to shreds.

She came from a military family; she could handle a sword, but reciting poetry? That was basically a death sentence!

“This is it… I’m going to make a fool of myself…” Lin Wan’er muttered softly, sweat beading across her forehead.

Standing behind her and arranging the dishes, Su Hewan didn’t even lift an eyelid.

Inside, she was completely calm—she even felt a little amused.

As a top student in history, this kind of situation was like a max-level expert returning to a beginner village to crush new players.

The Empress Dowager’s voice floated through the hall: “The previous dynasty’s Scholar Li once wrote: ‘Thinking of clothes, thinking of beauty,’ which I am particularly fond of. Today, we shall use ‘flowers’ as the theme. Which of you ladies can provide the following line, or compose a poem of similar sentiment?”

Silence fell over the hall.

Just as Lin Wan’er was about to burst into tears from nervousness, a soft voice whispered in her ear!

“Spring wind brushes the railing, dew glistening thick.”

Lin Wan’er froze, instinctively turning to glance at Su Hewan, who was pouring her wine.

Su Hewan’s expression remained calm; her lips barely moved, the sound faint as a mosquito yet perfectly clear: “Recite it. Don’t chicken out.”

Lin Wan’er drew a deep breath and shakily stood: “Your Majesty, this humble servant knows the following line… Spring wind brushes the railing, dew glistening thick.”

The hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in praise and whispered chatter.

“The parallelism is impeccable, and the imagery profound!”

“I never imagined Miss Lin had such talent!”

The Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction: “Well done, a reward.”

Lin Wan’er was so moved she nearly lost her balance. Once seated, she looked at Su Hewan with eyes that might as well have been worshiping a god.

The following segment completely turned into Su Hewan’s personal stage—albeit a hidden one.

Empress Dowager: “In the Rules for Women, it says…”

While refilling tea, Su Hewan passed by Miss Zhang of the Shangshu household and whispered: “Women’s virtue, women’s speech, women’s appearance, women’s skill.”

Miss Zhang immediately recited fluently, earning applause from the hall.

Empress Dowager: “This ancient painting from the previous dynasty—what scenery does it depict?”

Su Hewan, carrying a fruit tray, passed behind Miss Li of the Shilang household and quietly said: “Jinming Pool in Bianjing, a section of the Along the River During the Qingming Festival.”

Miss Li recited exactly, instantly earning limitless praise.

By the end of the round, those previously mediocre noble ladies seemed possessed by the God of Literature—each reciting with elegance, quoting classics, and delighting the Empress Dowager.

And the true hero behind it all remained completely hidden.

During the intermission, the side hall was in an uproar.

“My goodness! Miss Su, how much have you read?”

“You’re incredible! I didn’t even recognize that rare character fully, and you understood it at a glance!”

“Sob, sob… Su sister, from now on you are my true elder sister! Without you, I would have embarrassed myself before the Empress today!”

A group of usually haughty noble ladies now surrounded Su Hewan with total disregard for decorum, their eyes sparkling with admiration. Su Hewan, trapped in the middle, carried a teapot, her face wearing a professional fake smile.

【Basic tactics, nothing impressive.】

Su Hewan silently vented in her mind.

【The main problem is that your dynasty’s education system is too backward, and everyone’s always preoccupied with palace scheming—who has the time to study? But well, at least this round of favor points is maxed out.】

Seeing that the moment was ripe, Yu Qing, who had been playing the role of “atmosphere booster” the whole time, rolled her eyes and knew it was her turn to take the stage.

She squeezed into the crowd with a tray of delicate pastries, distributing them while pretending to gossip, lowering her voice:

“Ah, sisters, just now in the front hall, I think I saw that National Preceptor! You know… Zhao Shuo!”

At the mention of Zhao Shuo, all the noble ladies’ attention instantly shifted.

“National Preceptor Zhao? I saw him too! But that posture… tsk tsk tsk.”

“I heard he was personally invited back by the Empress Dowager. As soon as he arrived, he was appointed Guardian National Preceptor—his status is even higher than the Chancellor!”

Seeing this, Yu Qing immediately played up her flair for theatrics, cupping her face with both hands and acting lovestruck:

“Yes, yes! I just stole a glance, and that aura… he’s like a celestial being stepped right out of a painting! So handsome—doesn’t anyone feel their heart flutter?”

At these words, a few bolder ladies immediately flushed with pink, nodding shyly.

“Indeed… he carries himself extraordinarily.”

“If only one could marry someone like him…”

The atmosphere had reached a fever pitch.

Su Hewan calmly set down her teapot and let out a soft sigh.

A perceptive lady immediately noticed: “Miss Su, what’s wrong? Why the sigh?”

Su Hewan lifted her head, her gaze clear but tinged with concern, and said slowly:

“I merely feel that, although National Preceptor Zhao is exceptionally elegant and highly favored by the Empress Dowager, this is after all a matter of a lifetime… it’s a pity we know nothing of his family background, his ancestral home, or whether he has a wife. If we don’t even know where he comes from or what kind of person he is, then this…”

Though she didn’t finish the sentence, her meaning was already clear.

It was like modern matchmaking—what good is just looking at a face?

You need to know if they have a house, a carriage, if they’re a “phoenix man,” or if they have bad habits!

The noble ladies, who had just been daydreaming about romance, suddenly awoke as if from a dream.

“Yes! Miss Su is right! This National Preceptor Zhao seems to have appeared out of nowhere. I’ve never heard of such a figure before.”

“What if… what if he comes from a humble background, or is some kind of exile…”

Yu Qing almost burst out laughing, quickly chiming in: “Oh! That would be knowing a person’s face but not their heart! That’s terrifying!”

The ladies’ gossiping hearts instantly shifted from admiration to suspicion.

At this moment, Lin Wan’er, who had been completely impressed by Su Hewan and had her confidence boosted by the Empress Dowager’s reward for her poetry earlier, slammed her hand on the table and declared boldly:

“What’s so difficult about that!”

All eyes turned to her.

Lin Wan’er puffed out her chest: “Since he was recommended by the Empress Dowager, she must know his background! What use is it for us to speculate here? Instead, while everyone’s in such high spirits, why not ask the Empress Dowager directly?”

“Huh? Ask the Empress Dowager directly? That… doesn’t seem appropriate,” someone hesitated.

“What’s inappropriate! The Empress Dowager just praised our intelligence! We can just say we admire the National Preceptor’s talent and want to ask a question or two, while casually inquiring about his family background. That’s only natural! If the Empress Dowager truly cares for us, she’ll tell us!”

Su Hewan and Yu Qing exchanged a glance, seeing the cleverness of the plan reflected in each other’s eyes.

【This girl can handle it! She really dares to act!】

【This is what you call “asking through another mouth”… no, borrowing words to get answers. Once the Empress Dowager speaks, we can understand her thoughts.】

“Miss Lin is right!” Yu Qing immediately fanned the flames.

“Miss Lin has outshone all the beauties today. The Empress Dowager is pleased, she won’t blame us!”

“Exactly! Let’s all go together!”

Led by Lin Wan’er, the group of noble ladies, bustling and grand, adjusted their clothing and prepared to return to the front hall to give that mysterious National Preceptor a full “background check.”