Chapter 113 Extra: Huang Yuanying vs. Lin Miaomiao

Uncle Huang Yuanying is known for his loyalty, righteousness, and talent. When he entered the Imperial Academy, he became close friends with Prince Xian, who used his connections to help Bai Mucheng gather a lot of information.

When the Shi Zi Xin bookstore published the latest edition of “Strange Tales,” it became a huge sensation in the capital. Talented scholars and young ladies from the city would queue up to snatch a copy.

Before the book even reached the bookstore, Huang Yuanying would often bring a copy for his friends, even sending them to the teachers, making them extremely happy.

One day, when he was sitting in a corner of the teahouse with a stack of books, sharing them with a few friends, four young ladies on the second floor of a private room, enjoying tea and snacks, spotted him. Their eyes widened in surprise when they saw the latest edition of “Strange Tales” — it hadn’t even been released yet!

One of the young ladies, with a look of youthful vigor, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with bright eyes, was none other than Lin Miaomiao, the daughter of the General of the West, who had caught the attention of the Second Prince.

Her eyes lit up, and she immediately thought of a good idea. She gestured for her friends to gather around to discuss, and soon the four of them huddled together in a whispered conversation.

After a bit of discussion, the other three girls were stifling their laughter, nodding vigorously in support of her plan.

Then, Lin Miaomiao slammed the table and pointed at a girl across from her, saying, “Fang Fuqing, what did you say? Did you think the young lady would give you face?”

Fang Fuqing, not one to back down, replied, “What do you mean, you don’t understand? You want me to give you face? Keep it for yourself, so you won’t lose your own face. Hmph!”

The other two girls tried to mediate, and the people in the teahouse watched in confusion as the girls suddenly began arguing.

Lin Miaomiao’s face turned red with anger, and she picked up the teapot to throw it at Fang Fuqing. Fang Fuqing pushed her hand, and the teapot flew through the air, perfectly hitting the stack of books on the table below, soaking them with tea.

The girls immediately stopped arguing, their faces full of regret. They quickly rushed over to apologize. “Ah! I’m really sorry, sorry, gentlemen!”

The four of them, with sincere and proper attitudes, apologized repeatedly, leaving no room for reproach.

Lin Miaomiao hurriedly said, “Please don’t worry, gentlemen, we’ll pay for the damage — double the amount.”

She took out twenty taels of silver from her purse and respectfully placed it on the table. She grabbed the soaked books and hurriedly left.

By the time Huang Yuanying and the others realized what had happened, the girls had already fled.

Looking at their retreating figures, Huang Yuanying smiled helplessly, “Do they think we’re fools?”

It was only then that Prince Xian reacted and rushed to the door, shouting, “Lin Miaomiao, you bandit, give it back!”

But the girls had already run far away.

Huang Yuanying sighed, “Zixian, forget it!”

The young ladies of the capital certainly had their ways. They even thought of this plan, and they paid in silver. It wasn’t exactly theft!

It was the first time Huang Yuanying had been outwitted by Lin Miaomiao.

After Bai Mucheng had sent medical supplies and doctors to the northwest army, the elderly Marquis of Zhenxi and his wife had become very grateful to the royal family. The old Marquis knew there was discord between the civil and military officials in the court, and he hoped to mediate between them.

As his birthday approached, he decided to host a grand banquet and invited his civil and military friends to his residence. He even sent an invitation to the Duke of Ding Wang’s household.

Bai Mucheng knew it was a gesture of goodwill and didn’t refuse, asking his officers and their families to attend the celebration.

The birthday fell during the harsh winter, when everything was withered. Luckily, the red plums were in full bloom, adding a splash of color to the cold season. The entire Zhenxi Marquis residence was filled with a festive atmosphere, thanks to the various lanterns hanging around.

Lin Miaomiao, full of vitality, had grown up in the capital and had good relationships with various families. The scholars often criticized her for being too boisterous and not ladylike. She couldn’t win at horseback riding or ball games against them, but she knew that several young ladies from military families, who were also good at sports, would be there today.

Hehe! Finally, someone was going to help her reclaim her honor.

When the Lin sisters arrived, she immediately went up to warmly welcome them. She then scolded the noble young men for underestimating girls, urging the two sisters to form a female team to play polo and reclaim their dignity. Lin Miaomiao herself would be the first to challenge the male team — count her in!

Uncle Huang Yuanying was a man of loyalty and integrity, with impressive talents. When he entered the national academy, he quickly became friends with Prince Xian. Through Prince Xian’s connections, Huang Yuanying helped Bai Mucheng gather much valuable information.

At the time when “The Scholar’s Heart Bookstore” was booming with its famous collection of bizarre tales, scholars and young ladies from the capital often queued up for hours to snatch the latest edition, competing fiercely.

Huang Yuanying, however, would get his hands on a printed edition and carefully bind the books, often giving a few copies to his friends before they even made it to the bookstore. He even sent copies to his teachers to please them.

One day, while he was sitting at a corner table in a teahouse, sharing these books with a few companions, four young ladies in an upstairs private room were enjoying tea, eating sunflower seeds, and chatting. As soon as they spotted him, their eyes widened in surprise. “The latest edition of Bizarre Tales!” they exclaimed. “It hasn’t even been released yet!”

Among them was a young lady with a radiant demeanor, about twenty years old, her eyes full of energy. She was Lin Miaomiao, the daughter of the Marquis of Zhenxi, and she had caught the attention of the second prince.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she thought of a clever idea. She immediately waved to her companions to gather around and discuss. After a brief discussion, the three other girls couldn’t help but laugh, nodding in support of her plan.

Without further delay, Lin Miaomiao slammed her hand on the table and pointed at the girl across from her, saying, “Fang Fuqing, what did you just say? Are you trying to provoke me?”

Fang Fuqing, not one to back down, retorted, “What did I say? You heard it, didn’t you? If anyone should be ashamed, it’s you. Keep your pride, so you don’t lose face, hmph!”

The other two girls tried to mediate, but the tea house’s patrons were all staring at the scene, puzzled by how these young ladies had suddenly turned their banter into a squabble.

Lin Miaomiao’s face turned bright red with anger. She grabbed the teapot from the table, ready to throw it at Fang Fuqing, but Fang Fuqing quickly pushed her hand away, and the teapot flew through the air. Miraculously, it landed right on the stack of books on Huang Yuanying’s table, splashing tea all over them.

The young ladies immediately stopped arguing, their faces filled with regret for causing trouble. They rushed over to apologize, bowing deeply. “Ah! Sorry, really sorry, gentlemen,” they said sincerely.

Their apology was so genuine that no one could fault them for it.

Lin Miaomiao stepped forward, her face full of remorse, and said, “Gentlemen, please don’t be upset. We’ll pay for the damages, double the cost.”

She quickly pulled out twenty taels of silver from her purse and placed it respectfully on their table, then hurriedly took the damp books and left.

By the time Huang Yuanying and the others realized what had happened, the girls had already fled.

Looking at their retreating backs, Huang Yuanying couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do they think we’re fools?”

Only then did Prince Xian realize what had happened. He rushed to the door, shouting, “Lin Miaomiao, you bandit, give it back!”

But the girls were already long gone.

Huang Yuanying sighed and said to Prince Xian, “It’s fine. These girls are clever. They even knew to pay silver. It wasn’t theft!”

This was the first time Huang Yuanying met Lin Miaomiao, and she had already outsmarted him.

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A Royal Birthday Feast

Since Bai Mucheng had sent military doctors and supplies to the northwest army, the Marquis and his wife were extremely grateful to the royal family. The old marquis also understood the tension between the civil and military officials in the imperial court and hoped to mediate.

As the marquis’s birthday approached, he decided to host a grand banquet and invited his friends from both the civil and military circles to his home. He even sent invitations to the royal palace.

Bai Mucheng, understanding the gesture, accepted the invitation and sent representatives from the military to congratulate the marquis on his birthday.

The birthday celebration took place in the dead of winter, when everything appeared bleak. Fortunately, the red plum blossoms were in full bloom, adding a burst of color to the cold season. Various lanterns illuminated the Marquis’s residence, creating a festive atmosphere.

Lin Miaomiao was a lively young lady. Having grown up in the capital, she had strong connections with many families. The scholars often teased her for being too lively and not ladylike enough, but she didn’t mind. Today, she knew there would be several young ladies with good skills in horseback riding and polo, so she was eager to show them her abilities.

As soon as Lin Miaomiao and her sisters arrived, they enthusiastically greeted the guests. The old lady, seeing them, asked kindly, “Why are you back so soon? Aren’t you playing with your friends?”

Lin Yu Jing looked at Lin Miaomiao with a pitiful expression and said, “We came to ask the Princess of the Kingdom to help us.”

When they had gone to challenge the boys’ polo team, they had found themselves behind in the score. One of the girls had even fallen from her horse, though she wasn’t seriously injured—just a sprained ankle.

The boys mocked them, saying, “Ah, someone’s hurt! Maybe we should call it quits. Don’t want to hear that we’re bullying you.”

Not willing to give up, Lin Miaomiao rallied her team. “We won’t let this go,” she said confidently.

Just as the old lady was about to speak, the Princess of the Kingdom stood up.

“Old lady, Your Highness, please chat for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

The old lady and the empress were stunned. The Princess had no airs at all!

Excited, they followed her to the polo field to watch how the young girls were playing.

Though she wasn’t particularly skilled at socializing, she had been taught by Bai Mucheng how to play polo, so she wasn’t worried. She put on her knight’s attire, exuding confidence and elegance.

When she appeared on horseback, the boys were momentarily stunned. Who could have expected the Princess to join the game?

With the mallet in hand, she rode gracefully onto the field, her movements smooth and precise. As she expertly maneuvered her horse, she swiftly evaded the opposing team’s attempts to block her, moving toward the ball.

When the mallet struck the ball, it sped toward the opponent’s goal. The boys scrambled to block it, but it was too late. The ball sailed past them and scored.

The crowd cheered, and the girls ran to embrace her in excitement. The boys, though defeated, couldn’t help but applaud in admiration for such a thrilling match.

Breathing heavily, the Princess dismounted with a radiant smile. She looked across the crowd, meeting the approving gaze of Huang Yuanying and the surprised, admiring look from the empress. Filled with a sense of accomplishment, she thought to herself, Not bad, I’ve brought honor to the royal family!

The second part of the side story featuring Huang Yuanying vs. Lin Miaomiao continues with a lively and competitive atmosphere at the banquet. The male team members are in awe of Tan Mi’s identity as the Princess of the Crown, and her impressive performance in the polo match, which had everyone talking.

The banquet’s atmosphere is charged with excitement, especially after such a thrilling match. The old marquis, a meticulous man, wanted to foster mutual respect and camaraderie between the different parties involved. He suggested a poetry competition, with a prize for the winner: a fine set of four treasures for calligraphy. The theme chosen for the poetry was the plum blossom, symbolizing resilience in the face of harsh winter, aligning with the snowy scenery around them.

Tan Mi, not wishing to steal the spotlight after her triumph in the match, stepped back, allowing others to shine. The young talents in the room, including those from the Jia family, were eager to display their skills. Jia Yun Tang and others were careful to remain low-key due to recent family issues but were determined to make a statement with their talent.

As the group strolled through the plum garden, Lin Miaomiao, who wasn’t familiar with poetry but loved joining the fun, approached Huang Yuanying and Wang Zi Xian, teasing them about their progress. Huang Yuanying, inspired by the plum blossoms and the marquis’s intentions, quickly composed a poem that resonated with everyone:

“Plum snow contends for spring, not willing to bow,
Poets’ pens cost much in their efforts to praise,
The plum must yield three parts white to snow,
Yet snow pales in comparison to the plum’s fragrance.”

This beautiful piece was met with admiration, and the marquis himself was impressed. His praise was genuine, as the poem perfectly encapsulated the theme of enduring beauty despite adversity, which was exactly the sentiment he wished to convey through the event.

Huang Yuanying, ever humble, acknowledged the applause, stating that he only wished to share his thoughts with everyone. His words earned even more respect, with the marquis applauding his wisdom and talent.

By the end of the banquet, Huang Yuanying had earned a reputation for his talent, especially as he was revealed to be the younger brother of the Crown Prince’s wife, Tan Mi. This event had not only showcased the guests’ talents but also helped strengthen the bonds between the families.

The following year, Huang Yuanying’s hard work finally paid off, and on the day the imperial examination results were announced, he achieved the highest honor, being named first in the palace exam. This was a cause for celebration among everyone!

However, things took an unexpected turn. In the capital, there was a custom where families would sometimes “capture a son-in-law” when the exam results were announced, but no one had dared to target the Crown Prince’s wife’s younger brother, Huang Yuanying! Tan Mi and the others had not personally gone to check the results, confident that he would pass, and had sent someone from the family to accompany him to the announcement.

When Huang Yuanying’s name was called as the top scholar, it instantly sparked a rush of families attempting to “capture” him as a potential son-in-law. This startled the two guards accompanying him, who quickly shouted, “How dare you! This is the relative of the Crown Prince’s wife!”

At first, two families were involved in the scramble, but soon another family joined the fray. Huang Yuanying was so frightened that he tried to escape, but was swiftly caught and carried away in a sedan chair.

The families who tried to snatch him away were all well-educated, but there was a sense of insecurity among many prominent families in the capital, as the Jia family had recently lost influence. They thought that forming an alliance through marriage with the military families would be a good option. Given that there was a tradition of “capturing a son-in-law” on the day of the exams, they thought it would be ideal to marry the Crown Prince’s wife’s younger brother. They had seen him at the banquet, and he was young, handsome, and exceptionally talented — a perfect match.

Just as Huang Yuanying was desperate to jump out of the sedan chair, it suddenly stopped. Lin Miaomiao, with her guards, appeared and chased off the would-be captors. Huang Yuanying quickly got out and thanked her repeatedly.

However, Lin Miaomiao, with a mischievous smile, knocked him out with a swift strike and placed him back into her own sedan chair. “Trying to snatch a husband? Who could possibly compete with me, the daughter of the Marquis of Zhenxi?” she thought.

Tan Mi soon heard the news that her younger brother was being “captured.” She was furious. “Is this how arrogant the people in the capital are? The Crown Prince should be the one to deal with this!”

However, since it wasn’t appropriate for the Marquis of Zhenxi’s army to intervene directly, Tan Mi decided to take matters into her own hands and quietly infiltrated the Marquis of Zhenxi’s residence to find Huang Yuanying. She found him happily eating and drinking, showing no signs of being in any distress.

Surprised to see Tan Mi at the window, Huang Yuanying asked, “What are you doing here?”

Tan Mi, dumbfounded, replied, “I’m here to rescue you!”

Huang Yuanying, munching on a chicken leg, casually responded, “I’m fine. Go back, really. I’m getting married today. I’ll invite you to the wedding feast later. Just go, don’t delay anything.”

Tan Mi stepped outside, and Huang Yuanying hurriedly closed the window. Soon, Tan Mi heard Lin Miaomiao’s voice from inside, “Husband, are you hungry? Eat some more, I’ve brought you some good wine.”

Huang Yuanying’s voice came in response, “Stop calling me that! I’m not your husband, nothing has happened between us!”

Tan Mi quietly laughed to herself. This was the true master of the hunt!

Thus, the choice for the “sister-in-law” was settled!

A few days later, at the palace examination, Huang Yuanying not only passed but became the top scholar. He had achieved both his place on the prestigious list and secured a marriage, completing his journey from fame to the wedding night.