After Entering The Abusive Novel, I Became The Empress - Chapter 31

Time flew by, and the long-awaited imperial examination finally arrived.

“Princess, are you asleep?” Chun Tao’s nervous and uneasy voice came from outside the screen. “I can’t sleep, Princess.”

Qin Yuqing, with her hair loose and a cloak over her shoulders, stepped out and saw Chun Tao sitting gloomily at the table. She walked over and sat down with a faintly amused smile.

“Little Peach, you’re not the one taking the exam. Why are you sighing so much?”

“Princess, I’m nervous. Every time I close my eyes, I see you sitting in the examination hall.” Chun Tao said, pulling out another pile of books from under the table. “Princess, I think these might be tested too. Why don’t you go through them again?”

Looking at the stack upon stack of books, Qin Yuqing could only laugh helplessly. She tapped Chun Tao’s head lightly:

“You… don’t be nervous. Do you know who your princess is? Don’t worry.”

Chun Tao pouted. Hearing Qin Yuqing’s words, she sighed: “Then Princess should rest early. I’ll keep watch outside.”

Watching Chun Tao leave with three reluctant glances, Qin Yuqing suddenly thought of her best friend from the modern world. Her friend was one year ahead of her and, during the college entrance exams, had been even more nervous than the test-takers themselves—constantly fretting and nagging her.

How was her friend now? Had her parents realized she was gone? Were they worried about her?

With these thoughts, Qin Yuqing sighed. When will I be able to go home? She looked toward the moon outside the window—and froze.

A familiar figure stood there, expressionless, silently watching from beyond the window.

Qin Yuqing: “???”

Qin Yuqing: “General Lu, you’ve changed tactics? No more hanging upside down?”

She opened the window as she spoke, but Lu Jingchuan shook his head, refusing to enter.

“This would be improper.” His face was wooden as he spoke, before producing a thick stack of books from nowhere. “Newly collected classics.”

Qin Yuqing chuckled wryly at the mountain of books. Even with her photographic memory, it was impossible to finish them all in one night.

“Don’t worry. Even if the top laureate doesn’t fall to me, at the very least my name will be on the list.” She didn’t know what the exam questions would be, but she was confident.

“I’m worried,” Lu Jingchuan said simply.

Seeing the genuine worry in his eyes, Qin Yuqing’s heart skipped a beat.

From the very beginning, she had sensed that the young man’s feelings for her were different—deep, binding, and unwavering.

But she could not, and would not, respond. Because she knew she was not the one he was waiting for.

She was Qin Yuqing, a young entrepreneur from the modern world. This was only a novel’s world. She couldn’t allow herself to sink into it. She had far more important things to do—she had to find a way home.

“No need to worry.” Qin Yuqing smiled, lifting his chin with her slender fingers.

The boy’s eyes flickered with panic, his lips twitching upward only to be pressed down again. A flush of red crept over his neck and ears.

Though the gesture was intimate, her words were merciless:

“Rest assured. I won’t forget the promise I made to you.”

At that, the flush drained from Lu Jingchuan’s face. He looked at her in disbelief.

“After all, we are partners in cooperation.” Qin Yuqing’s voice was almost cruel. “You must understand—I will never betray a partner.”

“Only partners?” Lu Jingchuan staggered back, eyes shattering with heartbreak and mocking his own foolishness. But quickly, his expression returned to calm. Speaking rapidly, he said, “Tomorrow, Shen Yanqing will help you.”

Then he turned and fled without looking back.

Qin Yuqing let out a quiet sigh. Even if Lu Jingchuan was real, the two of them belonged to different worlds.

She didn’t sleep the entire night.

“Princess, later I’ll take you to walk across the Dragon Gate Bridge.”

“The Dragon Gate Bridge?” Qin Yuqing lifted the curtain of the carriage, peeking out.

Chun Tao explained as she drove: “It’s a place all examinees must pass before the exam. They say the earlier one crosses the Dragon Gate Bridge, the greater the chance of seeing one’s name on the honor roll.”

It was rather like the oath-taking rally before the college entrance exam. Qin Yuqing nodded in understanding, watching as countless students ran toward the same direction. Her gaze darkened.

Where there were many people, there was always danger.

“Chun Tao, has anyone ever fallen from the Dragon Gate Bridge?” Qin Yuqing asked, watching the guards blocking the bridge.

“Yes, every year some students fall into the water. That’s why soldiers are always stationed along the river.” As Chun Tao explained, Qin Yuqing noticed there were indeed many soldiers by the riverbank—this time, some were even women.

“Princess, be careful. If it doesn’t work, we can skip the bridge.” Chun Tao helped her down from the carriage anxiously.

Qin Yuqing shook her head. Since this was a traditional step for every imperial examination, refusing might give her enemies an excuse to attack her in court.

Better to guard against others than leave an opening.

“Don’t worry. Just remember to pick me up.” Qin Yuqing patted Chun Tao’s head before blending quietly into the crowd.

She studied the examinees. Everyone carried large bundles filled with food and daily necessities for the next several days.

“Let them through!” At someone’s command, the soldiers blocking the bridge parted. The students surged forward like a flood.

Slender as she was, Qin Yuqing was swept forward, shoved to one side of the bridge.

Suddenly, she felt herself shoved hard. She caught the person’s hand and yanked. A slip of paper tore free—it was covered in writing.

As expected. Her lips curled faintly as she saw the panic in his eyes. Using the momentum, she sidestepped and dragged the man toward the edge.

“Until next time.” With one hand gripping him, she shoved his back with the other. He toppled into the river with a splash.

She tossed the cheat sheet after him and looked down coldly. She recognized him—one of Second Prince Qin Junyi’s attendants.

So, the second prince fears change this much?

Smiling faintly, she grabbed another man’s hand in the crowd and murmured low:

“Tell your master—if he’s not afraid of mutual destruction, then let him bring whatever tricks he has to the exam.”

“Scram.”

At last, Qin Yuqing arrived at the examination courtyard. Just yesterday, the place had been crowded with vendors; today, they had all vanished.

“Students, I am this session’s chief examiner, Crown Prince Qin Youqian.” The crown prince came out, smiling as he stood high above.

“And I am this session’s overseeing inspector, Second Prince Qin Junyi.” Qin Junyi smiled with cultured grace, gesturing toward a basket not far away. “Place all cheat sheets inside, or, if caught inside with one, you’ll be banned from the examinations for life.”

“Please, proceed.” Qin Youqian turned and walked inside, with Qin Junyi following.

The crowd buzzed as they moved forward. By the time Qin Yuqing reached the basket—large enough for four or five people’s offerings—it was already half full. She clicked her tongue. She wondered how this compared to the inspection methods of the modern college exam.

After submitting her registry, she saw the courtyard prepared with four sections, each surrounded by cloth. Students entered, undressed, and let soldiers inspect them.

“Please.” A soldier opened a curtain. Inside stood two male soldiers, staring intently at her. Their gazes held no malice, but it was still improper.

This is bad. Qin Yuqing was a woman—she couldn’t possibly disrobe here in public. But if she refused the inspection, she would face slander even if she later succeeded in the exam.

The students waiting behind her grew impatient, mocking:

“What’s a woman doing at the exam? She should be home tending the household!”

“Exactly. How could a woman possibly pass? She probably can’t even read a word!”

“Go back home already, don’t get in the way here.”

Qin Yuqing ignored their taunts. She had to take this exam. Just as she was about to negotiate, Shen Yanqing suddenly appeared.

After bowing to the crown prince and second prince, she declared loudly:

“By His Majesty’s decree, I am to personally escort student Qin Yuqing to the side hall for inspection.”

Behind her followed three matrons and three female soldiers.

“I just spoke with the crown prince. We can’t have our sixth sister disrobing in public. General Shen’s timing is most fortunate.” Qin Junyi patted his chest in relief, as if a burden had been lifted.

Shen Yanqing only snorted coldly, ignoring him, and led Qin Yuqing away.

“Why is General Shen here today?” Qin Yuqing hadn’t told her anything about the exam. Judging from the female soldiers at the bridge, this must have been her arrangement too.

“All because of that brat Lu Jingchuan.” Shen Yanqing curled her lip, her tone full of disdain. “He showed up at my estate last night, lost in despair, bawling like a woman, saying you’d be searched today and it would be inconvenient for you. He begged me to step in.”

“Tell me, Sixth Princess—what happened to him? He seemed fine in the day, but by night he was completely wilted.”

Qin Yuqing only smiled without answering.

“I’ll tell you what, after he left, he went straight to the wine cellar. He hasn’t come out since. Probably drunk himself into a puddle. What on earth upset him so much?”

“Thank you, General Shen.” Qin Yuqing gave a slight curtsey. “But as for me, at this time I live for the people. Love is not what I seek. Please tell him that.”

With that, she entered the room with the matrons.

Outside, Shen Yanqing sighed. “Lu Jingchuan, I can’t help you there.” But then she nodded in approval. “This temperament—I like it. No wonder I took a liking to her.”

With Shen Yanqing’s help, all the arrangements went smoothly. Since Qin Yuqing was the first female examinee in years, she was accompanied throughout by female soldiers and palace matrons.

Though some examinees grumbled, they held back further complaints. After all, the results would speak for themselves. They were waiting to laugh at Qin Yuqing’s failure.

Taking her seat, Qin Yuqing received an envelope from a soldier. When the bell tolled, she opened it and pulled out the paper.

This time, the exam question had been written personally by the Emperor.

*“The rise and fall of the realm cannot rest upon me alone. It requires the scholars who govern at my side. Yet in recent years, I have seen disturbing signs. Night and day I cannot sleep in peace.

Though their ambitions are boundless, the scholars’ vision is shallow. They ignore the sufferings of the people and shut their ears to the world beyond their window.

I wish to rectify the spirit of the scholar-officials, so that the realm may flourish. What measures might accomplish this?”