Chapter 340: Hell Hath No Fury

Chapter 340: The Most Venomous Woman's Heart

Madam Meng's expression visibly soured.

She was about to scold Ji Qingqing for being inconsiderate when Ji Qingqing suddenly grabbed her hand and said in a low voice, "Mother, don't worry. I might still have a way."

Madam Meng asked, "What way?"

A glint flickered in Ji Qingqing's eyes. "Third Brother is in the imperial prison, where Eldest Brother is. We don't need to worry about his safety."

"Although I can't free Third Brother from the prison today, we can find a way to get Ji Yuntang's results disqualified."

"That way, she won't be able to win the top prize, and the blame on Third Brother will be shifted onto her. The damage to our Marquis Yongning estate will be much less."

Madam Meng was startled. Could there really be such a stroke of luck?

She quickly said, "Qingqing, but Ji Yuntang has already ranked first in three subjects. It's nearly impossible to invalidate her results. Can your plan actually work?"

A knowing smile curled at the corner of Ji Qingqing's lips.

"Mother, don't forget about Mu Rongyue."

Madam Meng thought for a moment before recalling who Mu Rongyue was.

She said disdainfully, "You mean that Third Miss Murong who publicly hung a banner at the Royal Academy gate declaring her love for your Third Brother?"

"She's just a lovesick fool who clings to your Third Brother all day and hurt Hang'er's grades. With a brain like hers, how could she ever outwit Ji Yuntang?"

The more Madam Meng spoke, the angrier she became. She slammed the table and stood up.

"Just mentioning her makes my blood boil! This time, Hang'er didn't do well, and Mu Rongyue deserves a lot of the blame. I suspect she's a spy Ji Yuntang sent to lurk around Hang'er and distract him, causing him to fail."

"I've never seen such a brazen woman. Mu Rongyue only got in because you recommended her, Qingqing, yet today she had the nerve to advance ahead of your Third Brother. Does she think that just because she scored a few more points than him in the woodworking exam, she can snatch the top prize from Ji Yuntang?"

Seeing Madam Meng getting angrier, Ji Qingqing got off the bed and poured her a cup of tea.

"Mother, calm down. Mu Rongyue may be dumb, but if we play our cards right, she can be the pawn that drags Ji Yuntang down."

"Whether Ji Yuntang's results get invalidated tomorrow all depends on her."

In Ji Qingqing's view, only those who are weak-willed and not too bright are the easiest to manipulate.

And Mu Rongyue just happened to be exactly that kind of person.

She figured she was at least a bit smarter than Mu Rongyue.

Madam Meng took a sip of tea, and her anger cooled down quite a bit.

She asked, "Qingqing, so what do you plan to do?"

Ji Qingqing said, "Mu Rongyue's eldest brother works as an editor at the Hanlin Academy, so he must have had a hand in recommending the calligraphy exam topic. So he probably knows what tomorrow's calligraphy exam question is."

"As long as Mu Rongyue can steal the exam paper and publicly accuse Ji Yuntang of cheating tomorrow, with solid evidence, Ji Yuntang's results will definitely be invalidated."

A look of confusion crossed Madam Meng's face. Though she didn't get the details, she knew the calligraphy test was about understanding political and historical essays.

Since it was about writing essays, everyone's content would naturally be different.

How could Ji Qingqing possibly frame Ji Yuntang for cheating?

"Qingqing, but the essay is written by Ji Yuntang herself. How can you have Mu Rongyue accuse her of cheating?"

Ji Qingqing said quietly, "Doesn't she like turning in her paper early?"

"Just have someone switch out her exam paper!"

"As far as I know, for the calligraphy exam, the Hanlin Academy writes three model answers in advance—the sample essays."

"Later, when grading, the examiners score based on how closely the essays match the structure and content of those three samples."

"If Ji Yuntang's essay is exactly the same as the sample essay, then Mother, do you think that counts as cheating?"

The word "cheating" carried a lot of weight, especially in a big talent selection competition like this. It was the most hated offense.

Once someone was caught cheating, they'd be condemned by everyone.

Even if Ji Yuntang had a hundred mouths, she'd find it hard to defend herself.

Ji Qingqing's words really tempted Madam Meng. She dreamed of getting Ji Yuntang's results invalidated.

Her Hang'er was so outstanding, always at the top of his class at the Royal Academy. Why couldn't he win the top prize, but Ji Yuntang could?

In the end, wasn't it all because that bitch Ji Yuntang had ruined Ji Zihang?

He clearly had the chance to keep competing, yet he was locked up in the imperial prison.

Why was Ji Yuntang so evil? Why couldn't she just leave Ji Zihang alone?

Madam Meng was seething with resentment. She gritted her teeth and said, "Qingqing, let's do as you say. Leave Mu Rongyue to you!"

"Once Ji Yuntang's results are invalidated, I'll give you anything you want."

Ji Qingqing gave a coy smile. "Mother, don't worry. Your daughter will handle it."

Neither of them noticed a figure in red darting past the window.

Hua Feixue returned to her courtyard, a gorgeous smile curling on her red lips as she clicked her tongue twice.

"Tsk, tsk. This noble estate is really something. 'The most venomous woman's heart'—truly well-deserved."

"I just wonder who's so unlucky as to be targeted by these two black-hearted women and framed for cheating on an exam. How pitiful."

She muttered to herself but had no intention of getting involved.

Since she didn't want to blow her cover or stir up trouble, she figured she'd just coast along, eating and drinking well.

Occasionally, Ji Qingfeng would buy her little trinkets to keep her entertained.

But with Ji Qingqing not coming around to bother her, Hua Feixue's days were really boring.

She wished Ji Qingqing would come and make trouble for her again.

Little did Ji Qingqing know that she had just become Hua Feixue's source of entertainment.

At that moment, Ji Qingqing was folding two sheets of rice paper, putting them into envelopes, and handing them to Cui Liu.

"Take these to Third Miss Murong personally. After she reads them, watch her burn the letters yourself. Make sure no evidence of mine is left behind."

"The other one is a prescription in Ji Yuntang's own handwriting. That one doesn't need to be burned. Tell Third Miss Murong to find someone good at imitating handwriting to copy Ji Yuntang's script from the prescription, so everything is foolproof tomorrow."

"If she does this well, I'll consider letting Third Brother marry her and make her his lawful wife."

"If she refuses, tell her that Third Brother's arrest was just a setup by Ji Yuntang. Once I go beg the Crown Prince tomorrow, Third Brother will definitely be released."

"Marrying into the marquis estate is a step up for her—the best she could ever hope for. Whether she gets to enter this household depends on whether she seizes this chance!"

"Yes, Second Miss. I'll go right away." Cui Liu took the letters, acknowledged the order, and hurried off.

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