USWHC -Chapter 510 Alliance (Part 10)

“Princess, the imperial results you wanted, I had someone copy them for you—every single word is accurate!” Wan Yue said, winking forcefully as she spoke.

Zhu Jie was momentarily stunned and reached out to take it. Just as she was about to open it, Wan Yue quickly steadied her with a hand, wearing a completely ingratiating expression. “Princess, maybe you should sit down first before opening it?”

“Why?” Zhu Jie asked, puzzled.

Wan Yue mischievously stuck out her tongue and laughed. “I’m afraid you’ll be so happy you’ll faint!”

“Faint from happiness? What… did Ji Yi make it?” At the mention of his name, Zhu Jie couldn’t help but ask in disbelief.

Wan Yue smiled mysteriously and pointed at the paper. “Why don’t you see for yourself, Princess?” she said playfully.

Hearing that, Zhu Jie felt a little anxious. Her hands holding the paper started trembling, bringing back the same tension she’d felt during exams in the past.

She swallowed hard and, feeling slightly weak, asked, “Since you’ve seen it, can you tell me… do I read it from the top down or from the bottom up?”

Wan Yue thought for a moment, then replied very seriously, “Better read it from the bottom up!”

Hearing this, Zhu Jie felt a tiny pang of disappointment. So the results weren’t that great after all! Probably there was only a minor entry at the bottom, which even no one bothered to report—no wonder Ji Yi misunderstood.

Zhu Jie opened the sheet, and indeed, as Wan Yue had said, she read it from the bottom up. It didn’t make her faint with joy, but her eyes did start to feel dizzy.

The paper was densely filled with hundreds of names, all written in tiny, neat characters, each one as small as a speck. Zhu Jie strained to look at the last ones carefully, but no matter how hard she tried, she still hadn’t found him.

“Are you sure I’m supposed to read from the bottom? I’ve gone through more than half already, how come he’s still not here?” Zhu Jie asked anxiously.

“Perhaps you just haven’t seen it yet! Keep looking, Princess!” Wan Yue whispered, covering her mouth.

“Keep looking? That would be the top of the list, right? Weren’t the results supposed to be poor? Could there be anything good at the top?” Zhu Jie muttered, flipping through the names while complaining. “I’ve almost finished all the second-tier names—nothing!”

“Then look at the first tier!” Wan Yue giggled.

At that, Zhu Jie felt her heart leap violently. The first tier? That would only be the top three! Those were practically the guaranteed scholars!

Impossible. Wan Yue must be teasing her. Even now, Zhu Jie tried to calm herself, but her blood was rushing, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest.

Finally, her gaze involuntarily darted to the first three names. When she saw them, she was both shocked and furious. “Wan Yue, are you joking with me?”

Seeing her expression, Wan Yue shivered slightly. Did she read the names wrong earlier? She hurried over and pointed to the first name on the first row. “Isn’t this Mr. Ji? Ji Yi, right?”

“Then why did you have me read from the bottom?” Zhu Jie suddenly stood up. “Be careful, or I’ll strangle you!”

Though she spoke harshly, a smile was already spreading across her face, and she could no longer contain her laughter. “He made it! He really made it! I knew it! My eyes never fail me!” she exclaimed proudly.

Wan Yue, knowing she was just scaring herself, relaxed and laughed along. “Yes, Princess has the best eyes! Mr. Ji is clearly destined to be a top scholar!”

Zhu Jie glanced at Ji Yi, still asleep on the bed, with satisfaction, but soon asked in surprise, “If he did so well, then why is he still so drunk, crying that he didn’t pass?”

Wan Yue explained with a smile, “I checked carefully. The top three names were usually asked in advance by Ministry of Rites officials before the official announcement. These were the guaranteed top scholars, so their results were kept at the very end. Ji Yi, not knowing this tradition, probably assumed he hadn’t passed and drank alone out of sorrow.”

Hearing this, Zhu Jie smirked mischievously. “Then let’s not tell him for now—let’s see what he says when he wakes up.”

“Oh, Princess, you want to tease him! Aren’t you afraid he’ll really faint from crying?” Wan Yue laughed mischievously as well, and the two of them giggled together.

Meanwhile, Ji Yi on the bed remained in a drunken, despairing stupor, completely unaware that he was being played.