Volume One, Chapter 16: Changing One Word, the Mastermind Meets Disaster Behind the Scenes
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The people of the academy were still gathered around the portrait, discussing it animatedly, when a voice suddenly came from behind them.
“Before Fu Chuner came to the academy, she had not only received no formal education—she was also a shameless little thief!”
As the words rang out, everyone turned around. Jiang Rongrong was approaching with several of her close friends.
“Jiang Rongrong, why would you say that?”
“Exactly. You cannot make such accusations without proof. The academy might expel her over something like this.”
Although they appeared to be defending Fu Chuner, the excitement on their faces was impossible to conceal. They were all eager for gossip.
Jiang Rongrong walked to the portrait and raised the letters in her hand for everyone to see. “Of course I have proof! Here are two letters. One contains the utterly nonsensical poems Fu Chuner wrote, and the other is a warning letter sent after she secretly attended classes at the academy while living in the countryside, only to be discovered by the teacher and refuse to pay tuition!”
“What? That is disgraceful. She went there to steal an education without paying tuition?”
“I thought she was truly a talented woman. It turns out she cannot even compose a poem.”
“Am I the only one who thinks… Fu Chuner simply wanted to study? Her behavior was inappropriate, but still…”
“You are the only one. At her age, how could she possibly be unable to afford the tuition? She must have hidden the money away and spent it all herself.”
“So Fu Chuner really did intend to attract Yin Lingxiao’s attention by presenting him with a difficult problem. Ugh, how revolting.”
Seeing how heatedly everyone was discussing the matter, Jiang Rongrong smiled in satisfaction.
If the culprit had truly been a child, people might have blamed her parents for neglecting her, pitied Fu Chuner, and even praised her for possessing such a strong desire to study from an early age. Unfortunately, both letters she had received were brand-new, and the handwriting on them was identical to Fu Chuner’s. It was obvious that the events had taken place recently.
The commotion grew larger and larger. Someone even went to fetch the academy head to demand justice. A student from the Imperial College, who had just returned from leave and happened to be passing by, heard what had happened and immediately hurried back to tell his classmate, Fu Heng.
“Brother Fu, your elder sister is in trouble at White Deer Academy. You should go and see her at once!”
Fu Heng had been reading an examination essay with Shangguan Hao. At those words, his expression changed instantly.
“Brother Shangguan, please inform the Libationer for me. Tell him there is an urgent matter at home and that I need to request a day’s leave.” Fu Heng was already rushing away when Shangguan Hao heard that Fu Chuner was involved. He suddenly spoke.
“I will go with you.”
Fu Heng thought of something and nodded. “Good!”
If Shangguan Hao was willing to stand up for his elder sister, the two of them would grow closer much faster.
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Meanwhile, someone summoned the academy head. Yin Lingxiao came with him.
The young man seemed to have just returned from outside. A sword still hung at his waist, and his handsome face was tinged with impatience. A cold, fierce aura clung to him, making everyone hesitate to approach.
Even so, those present could not restrain their excitement. Jiang Rongrong had never expected him to appear so suddenly. Her eyes lit up, and she carefully stepped forward to hand the two letters to the academy head. Then she turned and said sweetly, “Brother Lingxiao, you came to see me expose Fu Chuner too, didn’t you? She deceived you before and deliberately tried to attract your attention. In truth, her character is terrible.”
Yin Lingxiao’s face remained cold. He ignored Jiang Rongrong and watched as the academy head opened the envelopes and read their contents. To everyone’s surprise, they were exactly as Jiang Rongrong had described.
Those with sharp eyesight also managed to read the contents and began whispering among themselves. Gradually, everyone’s expression turned indignant.
“Academy Head, White Deer Academy does not accept just anyone. Fu Chuner came to study here before she had even received a basic education, which was already an exception. And now we learn that she has an unsavory past in the countryside. Would such conduct not damage the reputation of our academy?”
Everyone immediately echoed him. “Exactly! What if this affects our chances in the imperial examinations? Someone like her cannot remain at our academy!”
Throughout the imperial examinations, examiners had always taken a scholar’s reputation into consideration when grading papers. If a scholar’s reputation was excellent, even an ordinary essay might receive additional favor. But if a scholar’s reputation was too poor, then no matter how splendidly written the essay, it would be rejected. In more serious cases, the scholar might even be forbidden from entering the examination hall.
Hidden in the shadows, Fu Xiaolian watched the scene and gave a cold laugh.
“Fu Chuner, let us see how you will fight me this time!”
…
Fu Chuner had just finished reciting an essay.
[Congratulations, Host. You have completed the task and obtained one use of the Single-Character Revision Authority. Would you like to activate the plot?]
The system was secretly brimming with excitement.
[Friendly reminder: The current plot is extremely thrilling.]
At that very moment, someone pushed open the door.
“Fu Chuner, the academy head wishes to see you.”
Fu Chuner raised her delicate brows. The book before her, shimmering faintly, flew into the air and immediately displayed the current plot.
After scanning through it, Fu Chuner understood the situation.
In her previous life, when she was five years old, she had indeed listened to classes at the academy for several days. But she had not gone there to steal an education, as Jiang Rongrong claimed.
Mei Niang was acquainted with people at the academy. Whenever she visited, she would let Fu Chuner play there. Once, while Fu Chuner was playing with mud in a corner, she accidentally overheard a teacher giving a lesson and casually imitated a poem.
Later, the teacher discovered her. Although he found the poem immature, he thought it possessed considerable charm and personally wrote a letter to Mei Niang, asking her to pay the tuition and bring Fu Chuner to the academy to study.
At the time, however, the two of them were living in difficult circumstances, and the matter came to nothing.
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The handwriting and paper clearly showed that the letters had been written many years ago, whereas the ones in Jiang Rongrong’s hands were brand-new. It was not difficult to imagine that someone had tampered with them.
Fu Chuner did not need to guess who that person was. It had certainly been arranged by her half-sister, Fu Xiaolian. Fu Xiaolian had always hidden behind others, letting them take the lead and shoulder the blame. Jiang Rongrong was merely a knife in her hands.
Fu Chuner slowly rose and followed the messenger outside. At the same time, she moved the brush with her consciousness until it came to rest on a particular word in the script.
The original text read: “Fu Xiaolian hid smugly behind the crowd, thinking: With that idiot Jiang Rongrong taking the blame, no one will ever learn the truth!”
“System, may I erase a word without adding anything?”
[You may.]
Fu Chuner smiled faintly and erased the word “not.”
Now the real show could begin.
*
Yin Lingxiao furrowed his brows. “Where did you get these two letters?”
Seeing that Yin Lingxiao was finally speaking to her, Jiang Rongrong became excited.
“I do not know who placed them on my desk. I thought I could not conceal this matter. Otherwise, would that not bring shame upon our academy? Academy Head, please expel Fu Chuner. If you do not, none of us will be able to continue studying here.”
“Yes! Expel her!” everyone shouted.
Yin Lingxiao’s eyes were still and cold, deep and icy. He slowly examined the two sheets of paper, and then his gaze sharpened. He had suddenly noticed something.
At that moment, the crowd erupted into a commotion.
“Fu Chuner is here!” someone shouted.
Yin Lingxiao’s gaze swiftly shifted in that direction.
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