From cute to empress

Chapter 15 The Bloom of Talent

The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating the room. I rolled out of bed, my anticipation like the rising sun, fervent and full of hope. Zhen Youcai had been playing tricks last night, promising to secure the support of Minister Liu and General Li. I had no idea what he was up to.

"What are you thinking about? You look so engrossed." Zhen Youcai walked into the room with breakfast, saw me staring out the window, and asked with a smile.

I came to my senses and told him my doubts. He just smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't worry, you'll know soon."

After breakfast, I followed Zhen Youcai's lead to a quiet courtyard with a trepidation. The courtyard was shaded by green trees, with birds singing and flowers blooming. The rockery and flowing water exuded a quiet and elegant atmosphere.

"Where is this..." I looked at Zhen Youcai in confusion.

"This is Minister Liu's villa. General Li is also here today." Zhen Youcai explained, "Follow me."

He led me through a winding corridor and arrived at an antique study. The door was ajar, and I could faintly hear bursts of laughter coming from inside.

"Lord Liu, General Li, and Miss Niu are here." Zhen Youcai knocked on the door gently and said respectfully.

I took a deep breath, calmed my nervous mood, and followed Zhen Youcai into the study.

In the study, Minister Liu and General Li sat opposite each other, sipping tea and playing chess. Both men were accomplished in both civil and military matters, their every move exuding a certain dignity.

"Miss Niu, please sit down." Minister Liu put down the teacup in his hand and asked me to sit down with a smile.

I sat down as I was told, but my heart was growing increasingly uneasy. I wondered why they had invited me here today.

After exchanging pleasantries, Minister Liu put down the chess piece in his hand, looked at me with a sharp gaze, and said straight to the point: "Miss Niu, I invited you here today to test your knowledge."

I was startled, but quickly calmed down. I knew this might be my chance to prove myself.

"Master Liu, please speak." I took a deep breath and looked at him firmly.

Minister Liu nodded slightly and began to ask me a series of questions about military, political, and economic issues. These questions were tricky and involved a wide range of topics. Without a certain amount of knowledge, it would be impossible to answer them.

I didn't dare to be negligent. I thought about each question calmly and calmly, and shared the knowledge and insights I learned from the intelligent magic circle.

My answer was clear and logical, with citations from classics and extensive references, which made Minister Liu and General Li nod their heads frequently with admiration in their eyes.

… (You can add specific questions and answers here as needed to showcase Niu Mengmeng's knowledge and wisdom) …

Before I knew it, a long time had passed. A fine layer of sweat oozed out of my forehead, but my heart was filled with confidence and joy.

"Miss Niu is truly talented and admirable," General Li clapped his hands in admiration.

Minister Liu also smiled and nodded, his eyes full of approval.

I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that I had successfully passed the test.

At this moment, the study door was pushed open again, and a middle-aged man in official uniform walked in. He had a thin face, three long strands of beard, and a pair of deep and sharp eyes, which made him look majestic without being angry.

"Prime Minister Zhang." Minister Liu and General Li quickly stood up and saluted.

I was shocked. This person turned out to be the Prime Minister Zhang! How could he suddenly appear here?

"No need to be so polite." Prime Minister Zhang waved his hand, his eyes fell on me, and a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "This must be Miss Niu, right?"

I stood up, somewhat flattered, and knelt to salute: "I am Niu Mengmeng, a commoner, and I am honored to meet Prime Minister Zhang."

Prime Minister Zhang's gaze lingered on me for a moment, a look of scrutiny in his eyes. He then turned to Minister Liu and General Li, his tone tinged with admiration, "I heard you two were testing a remarkable woman today, and I couldn't resist my curiosity, so I came to see for myself."

Minister Liu and General Li exchanged a glance, both smiling with satisfaction. General Li stepped forward and introduced her to Prime Minister Zhang, saying, "Your Excellency, this Miss Niu may have a humble background, but she is incredibly intelligent and has unique insights. She is truly impressive."

After hearing this, Prime Minister Zhang asked with great interest, "Oh? I wonder where Miss Niu's teacher came from?"

My heart tightened. How should I answer this question? I couldn't possibly say I learned it from an intelligent magic circle, could I? Just as I was hesitating about how to respond, Minister Liu smiled and came to my rescue, saying, "Miss Niu has been well-read and thoughtful since childhood. She has learned a lot, and she didn't learn from any famous teacher."

After hearing this, Prime Minister Zhang did not delve into it. He just looked at me meaningfully and said nothing more.

Afterwards, I stood up to say goodbye, and Minister Liu and General Li personally escorted me to the door. I turned around and saluted them, my heart filled with gratitude. I knew that my performance today had been recognized by them, which was undoubtedly a huge step forward for me.

I was about to leave when a lady of elegant attire, surrounded by a group of maids, walked in. Her features were picturesque, with a faint smile on her lips, and her every move exuded the grace of a noble lady.

"Mrs. Wu." Minister Liu and General Li hurried forward to pay their respects.

Mrs. Wu nodded slightly, her eyes fell on me, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "Who is this girl?"

"Madam, this is Miss Niu." Minister Liu quickly introduced my identity to Madam Wu.

After hearing this, Mrs. Wu smiled kindly. She walked up to me, took my hand affectionately, and said, "I've long heard that Miss Niu is very talented. Seeing her today, I can see that she's truly worthy of her reputation. I have a small gift for you. I hope Miss Niu won't despise it."

As she spoke, the maid beside her came up holding an exquisite brocade box. I was flattered and quickly declined, saying, "Madam, you are too polite. How can I accept this..."

"Miss Niu, you don't have to be polite. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it." Mrs. Wu said as she stuffed the brocade box into my hands.

I couldn't refuse, so I had to thank Mrs. Wu. I had a vague feeling that Mrs. Wu's actions today seemed to have a deeper meaning, but what was her purpose?

I held the brocade box Mrs. Wu had gifted me, feeling a mixture of emotions. This gift was incredibly valuable, but I also understood that it wasn't just a gift; it was a recognition of my abilities, a gesture of goodwill. Tears of gratitude welled up in my eyes, knowing that my success was inseparable from the support and help of these influential figures.

After saying goodbye to Mrs. Wu, I hurried out of the study and saw Zhen Youcai pacing anxiously from a distance. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on him, making his figure look particularly slender.

"Meng Meng!" He saw me come out and rushed over to me in two steps, looking me up and down. "How was it? Did they give you any trouble?"

I smiled and shook my head, then raised the brocade box in my hand and said, "Look, this is a gift from Mrs. Wu."

Zhen Youcai finally breathed a sigh of relief, a pleased smile on his face: "I knew you could do it! Didn't you see, after you went in, I was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan!"

I was amused by his exaggerated tone, and the tension in my heart dissipated a lot. I handed him the box and said, "Open it and see what's inside."

Zhen Youcai took the brocade box and opened it carefully. Inside was a jade hairpin that was completely green. The head of the hairpin was carved with a lifelike peony flower, and the petals were dotted with crystal clear dewdrops. Under the setting sun, it emitted a soft light.

"How beautiful!" I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"Yes, she's really beautiful, just as beautiful as you." Zhen Youcai looked at me with tenderness in his eyes.

I felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, so I quickly changed the subject: "Let's go back, it's getting late."

"Okay." Zhen Youcai responded and handed me the brocade box. "Let me help you put it on."

I nodded and lowered my head slightly. Zhen Youcai picked up the jade hairpin and gently inserted it into my bun. His movements were very gentle, as if he was treating a treasure.

"Okay." He stepped back, admired my bun, and nodded with satisfaction, "It looks great."

I touched the lily of the valley hairpin on my head, and a warm feeling welled up in my heart. I knew that this was not just a lily of the valley hairpin, but also Zhen Youcai's love and support for me.

We walked out of the palace side by side, the setting sun stretching our shadows far and wide. I know our journey in the palace is still long, filled with unknown challenges and opportunities, but I believe that as long as we work together, we will be able to overcome all difficulties and achieve our goals.

However, just as we were immersed in joy and hope, a shadow quietly loomed over us...

I clutched the brocade box tightly in my hand, my fingertips feeling the warmth of the jade hairpin, but my heart was uneasy. Madam Wu's kindness was genuine, but the palace was a complex place, and how could a few gifts alone test its waters? Zhen Youcai and I exchanged a glance, each seeing the solemnity in the other's eyes.

"Mengmeng, don't worry. We will be able to get through this safely." Zhen Youcai shook my hand with a firm tone.

I nodded, trying to suppress the uneasiness in my heart. Yes, I am not alone. I have Zhen Youcai and that mysterious intelligent magic circle. I am not without support.

When I returned to my residence, before I had time to catch my breath, I received an oral order from the Imperial Study: The Emperor wants to summon me!

My heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicable sense of nervousness washed over me. The Emperor summoned me—this had never happened before! Could it be because of my behavior in front of Madam Wu?

Without having time to think, I hurriedly changed into a plain dress, and under Zhen Youcai's worried gaze, I followed the eunuch who came to convey the imperial edict, all the way to the solemn and mysterious imperial study.

The imperial study was filled with a faint scent of ambergris, and the shelves were filled with various books and scrolls, exuding a strong scholarly atmosphere. The emperor sat upright behind his desk, his head bent over reviewing memorials, his majestic gaze making it difficult to look directly at him.

"I, the commoner Niu Mengmeng, pay my respects to the emperor. Long live the emperor." I knelt down and saluted, my voice trembling slightly.

"Stand up." The emperor's voice was low and magnetic.

I stood up and secretly looked up at the emperor. The emperor looked to be in his early thirties, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes. He was intimidating without even being angry, and his every move exuded the majesty of an emperor.

"I heard that you performed well and were quite insightful in front of Madam Wu today?" The emperor put down the memorial in his hand and looked at me sharply.

My heart trembled, knowing the test was coming. I took a deep breath and tried to keep my tone calm: "Your Majesty, I have only contributed my humble efforts and dare not take credit for them."

"Oh? Then tell me, what did you do?" The emperor seemed to be interested and leaned forward slightly.

I dared not conceal anything and told her everything that had happened in Mrs. Wu's study today, as well as my own views on state affairs. I tried to use concise and clear language, avoiding sensitive topics while still retaining my own opinions and insights.

The emperor listened attentively, nodding frequently and occasionally asking questions, which I answered one by one. I could sense that the emperor's eyes were getting brighter and brighter, as if he was very satisfied with my answers.

At this moment, the door of the imperial study was gently pushed open, and a eunuch walked in and whispered a few words in the emperor's ear. After the emperor heard it, a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"It seems that your talent is far more than this..."

There was a subtle, yet profound, meaning in the emperor's words, and my heart couldn't help but surge with anxiety...