Chapter 18: Collapse of the Image

The crowd exploded with excitement, as many recognized the young Master Xu. He was the successful scholar from three years ago, someone who had achieved the highest rank in the imperial exams. Later, it was rumored that he had fallen ill and returned to his hometown, never to be heard from again. At the time, many lamented his untapped literary talent.

Some were skeptical and insisted on going to the Sun family’s estate to check. Naturally, Sun Yulan refused. She cried, her face as sorrowful as a wilted flower, pleading with Zhuang Xiaoyu, asking why she was tarnishing her reputation. Was she trying to drive her to death?

“When you exposed that I couldn’t write poetry, you were so righteous. But when I dared to admit it, you wouldn’t. Coward,” Zhuang Xiaoyu sneered.

The Grand Princess had intended to enjoy a quiet banquet, but Zhuang Xiaoyu’s outburst had turned it into a chaotic scene.

The Grand Princess slammed the table in frustration, visibly angered.

She had never liked Sun Yulan because of the way she had treated Murong Xiao, claiming that he had purposely seduced her. So, with the truth now coming to light, she was more than ready to investigate. She ordered her guards to fetch the person who had written those poems and bring him here.

Sun Yulan fainted at the thought of what was coming.

The crowd quickly realized the truth. Those who had just been defending Sun Yulan now fell silent, their faces filled with embarrassment and anxiety, waiting for the truth to unfold.

Murong Xiao, filled with anger at Zhuang Xiaoyu for exposing Sun Yulan, was contemplating how to eliminate her. However, he suddenly hesitated, realizing that her final words were likely meant to protect his own reputation. So, for the time being, he decided to spare her life.

The guards returned quickly, and the poet, Xu Yunzi, was brought before the crowd, still dazed from his earlier shock. Upon seeing him, Sun Yulan, who had just regained consciousness, fainted again.

The Grand Princess wasted no time. “Xu Yunzi, tell us. Over the years, have you been the one writing poems for Sun Yulan?”

Xu Yunzi was stunned. This was the moment of exposure. He looked at Sun Yulan, hoping for some sign of explanation, but she was too unconscious to help.

“I… I don’t understand what Your Highness is referring to,” he stammered.

“Don’t dare lie in front of so many people. Do you want to die?” the Grand Princess demanded.

The crowd began to murmur, recognizing him as the same Xu Yunzi who had disappeared from the capital three years ago.

“Yes,” he admitted, his voice heavy with guilt. “For the past three years, I’ve been writing poems for Miss Sun. She memorized them and then presented them at various banquets, all to appear more brilliant.”

“No wonder she went from being mediocre to a literary prodigy in such a short time,” someone whispered. “She’s a fraud.”

“How could this happen? How could she do this…”

One of the young masters who had earlier defended Sun Yulan now appeared deeply disturbed. He had always believed in her talent, and had even been in awe of her literary skills. To find out that she had been a fraud all along shattered his image of her.

Sun Yulan’s carefully cultivated persona as the capital’s first talented woman crumbled in an instant. The truth was as scandalous as the recent news about the deposed crown prince.

Zhuang Xiaoyu laughed, a wild expression on her face. “Hahaha… Anyone who goes against me deserves to die.”

The crowd stared at her as if she were a madwoman. Even though she had won, she was acting a bit too excessively.

“I don’t want to oppose anyone. I just wish for a harmonious society. But some people keep bringing chaos to me, what else can I do?” she mocked.

Hmph, she thought. It’s just because her father is the prime minister. When she makes trouble, someone cleans up after her. How arrogant.

Sun Yulan had no idea how she made it back home. Her reputation and dignity were gone. Her life was essentially over.

On the way back in the carriage,

“How did you know Sun Yulan was stealing someone else’s poetry?” her younger sister asked.

“I calculated it, and sure enough, I was right.”

“You’re lying to me again.”

Zhang Shi suddenly asked, “Xiaoyu, are your martial skills really that high?”

“My master said that I can walk through the entire Great Zhou unchallenged.”

“Why didn’t you tell us when you returned? Then we wouldn’t have worried about you.”

“I thought this society was peaceful and wouldn’t require me to use martial arts. Who knew so many people would be causing trouble?”

“Xiaoyu, you’ve really suffered.”

“It’s fine. Yesterday’s troubles are over. Tomorrow will be better.”

Zhang Shi smiled, thinking about how to properly teach her daughter manners and etiquette. Maybe being crazy wasn’t all bad. After all, Xiaoyu had the talent for it.

The next day, just as Zhuang Xiaoyu finished breakfast, the Grand Princess’s people arrived to take her to learn proper etiquette.

Zhuang Furen casually gave her some parting advice and sent her off in the carriage. She wasn’t worried about her safety anymore. She hoped the Grand Princess would be able to handle her well.

“Mother, will Sister suffer?” her younger sister asked.

“No, she won’t.”

Zhuang Furen was sure of it. With Xiaoyu’s martial arts skills, she’d likely make them all regret it.

Zhuang Xiaoyu entered the Grand Princess’s residence and immediately yawned. The Grand Princess, not daring to openly teach her manners, clearly wasn’t intending to take her life. There was an apple on the table, and Zhuang Xiaoyu casually picked it up and took a bite.

“Impudent! You have no manners! Were you given permission to eat that?” an angry woman with a broad face scolded.

“Was it for decoration?” Zhuang Xiaoyu retorted.

“That’s not for you to eat!” the woman snapped.

“Oh, I get it. It’s probably placed here as an offering to the heavens. Don’t worry, I’ll eat it for the gods,” Zhuang Xiaoyu quipped.

“Stop talking nonsense! That’s for the Grand Princess,” the woman said sharply.

“I’m learning the rules, but the Grand Princess still needs to supervise me? How embarrassing,” Zhuang Xiaoyu replied.

“Stand properly. As a woman, you must stand and sit with proper decorum. You can’t be casual about it,” the woman instructed.

“I know all that. Old Zhuang taught me. Say something I haven’t heard before,” Zhuang Xiaoyu responded.

“Take this bowl of water and balance it on your head. You can’t let it fall for two hours. If it does, you’ll be punished,” the woman ordered as she handed Zhuang Xiaoyu a bowl full of water.

“What kind of ritual is this? Do I walk around with a bowl of water on my head to offer it to guests?” Zhuang Xiaoyu asked.

“Just balance it! The Grand Princess will be inspecting soon, and you can’t spill a single drop,” the woman insisted.

“Fine, it’s just a bowl of water. I could balance a whole barrel,” Zhuang Xiaoyu muttered.

This naïve woman really thought she could intimidate her. If only the Empress had told her who she really was—what rank she held.

If only ancient news could travel more efficiently. With a video call, the Grand Princess would never dare to pull such childish tricks on her.

She placed the bowl on her head and continued to munch on the apple, crunching away loudly.

“No more eating!” the woman barked, growing angrier. She had come to torment Zhuang Xiaoyu, but it seemed like Zhuang Xiaoyu was enjoying herself.

Zhuang Xiaoyu quickly finished the apple, tossing the core aside. It hit the woman squarely on the forehead. Without a sound, the woman collapsed, unconscious.

There were oranges on the table, too—rarely seen on the streets, indicating that they were probably special to the Grand Princess’s residence. Zhuang Xiaoyu peeled one and was about to eat it when a harsh voice suddenly rang out.

“How dare you, lowly servant, be so impudent? Don’t you have any respect for the Grand Princess?”

Another large and angry woman appeared, holding a whip.

“I’m balancing the bowl. I haven’t spilled any water,” Zhuang Xiaoyu replied calmly.

“Put that down and walk from here to there,” the woman commanded.

Zhuang Xiaoyu stuffed the orange into her mouth and placed the peel down, striding quickly to the other side of the room and then back again. Not a drop of water was spilled from the bowl. She grabbed another orange.

“No more eating! Those are for the Grand Princess!” the woman scolded.

“Please understand. I had a salty breakfast and didn’t have time to drink water. I’m just eating an orange to moisten my throat,” Zhuang Xiaoyu explained.

“You… you are completely without manners! What have you done to Old Lady Zhu?” the woman fumed.

“Oh, that old lady? She got heatstroke and fainted,” Zhuang Xiaoyu said casually.

“Heatstroke in autumn? How is that possible?” the woman snapped.

“Is it autumn already? I didn’t realize… so it must be the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Zhuang Xiaoyu shrugged.

“Stop eating! Stop at once!” the woman screamed, raising the whip to strike her.

Before the whip could reach Zhuang Xiaoyu, the peel from her orange flew through the air, striking the woman squarely on the forehead. The woman didn’t even make a sound before she collapsed to the ground.

Zhuang Xiaoyu finished off the entire plate of oranges, enjoying their sweet and tangy taste.

Finally, the Grand Princess arrived. She had originally planned for the two women to deliberately make things difficult for Zhuang Xiaoyu. But before they could even act, Zhuang Xiaoyu had already taken care of them.

“Zhuang Xiaoyu, you have some nerve, injuring people in the Grand Princess’s residence!” the Grand Princess scolded.

“The Grand Princess has no proof. You can’t just accuse me. They’ve had heatstroke,” Zhuang Xiaoyu defended herself.

“What do you mean by ‘heatstroke’?” the Grand Princess asked, confused.

“Isn’t heatstroke what happens in the summer? Since it’s now autumn, it must be the Mid-Autumn Festival,” Zhuang Xiaoyu replied with a sly grin.

“…You really know how to feign madness. Guards, slap her!”