Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback

At the moment Zhan Xuerou was surprised, Zhan Lan had already answered six couplets in succession!

Under everyone's gaze, Zhan Lan saw fit to stop while she was ahead and did not answer anymore.

The examiner with the small eyes almost popped his eyes out, sinking deep into self-doubt, wondering if his questions had been leaked!

Impossible!

He had written them down only this morning and had kept them on him at all times, never leaving his side!

Actually, Zhan Lan's calm demeanor was because in her previous life, she was afraid Si Jun would despise her crudeness.

She not only rigorously studied the classics but also memorized all the couplet poems from past years' Book Forest Conferences, learning from others to compensate for her shortcomings!

Si Jun hurt her deeply, but it also led her to become a better version of herself!

Zhan Lan saw Zhan Xuerou's displeased profile because, at that moment, Si Jun's gaze had moved past Zhan Xuerou and towards her!

However, her target today was not Si Jun!

But rather Wang Qingchen, who was casting curious glances her way, who in a past life was one of Si Jun's most trusted strategists!

A strategist who was indispensable in Si Jun's rise from an illegitimate son to the throne step by step.

Finally, after Zhan Lan gave others a chance, the last four couplets were completed.

Next, it was time for the poetry round.

The examiner announced, "Everyone, today's theme is the character 'Autumn'. Please write a poem within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Whoever finishes first may raise their sign to indicate they are done."

Most people began to think over their verses, picking up paper and ink from the nanmu tables.

Just as Zhan Xuerou was about to confidently write down her first line, she heard the examiner say, "Miss, are you sure you don't want to think it over a bit more before you start writing the poem?"

Under everyone's astonished gazes, Zhan Lan put down the red wooden sign, nodding and loudly said, "'Autumn Water Ode' A lone leaf floats and falls upon the withered lotus, given over to the autumn breeze to strike a song..."

Listening to Zhan Lan's verses, Zhan Xuerou trembled as she held her pen, struck as if by lightning, her eyes wide.

The poem she had just contemplated in her mind had been voiced by Zhan Lan, and Zhan Lan's imagery surpassed hers!

She felt as though she was cursed, a cold sweat climbing up her back.

Impossible!

How could there be such uncanny occurrences in this world!

After Zhan Lan finished reciting, she slowly sat down amid applause from the audience.

The Qingfeng Scholar looked up, his wise gaze fixed on Zhan Lan, then turned sideways to speak to someone behind the screen, "What do you think, Shangjia, what does Mu Seal Keeper think?"

Behind the screen, a man in a black robe adorned with red patterns, a simple jade hairpin holding up his long black hair rested his left arm on the sandalwood chair, hand propping his cheek, his features striking and eyes piercing, a small black mole at the corner adding a hint of wicked charm. Peering through a corner of the screen, he looked towards Zhan Lan.

He curled his thin lips, tossing out carelessly, "This girl seems familiar, I wonder if we have shared a spring night together."

Dean Qingfeng straightened his body, nearly passing out.

Why on earth was he discussing this with Mu Yan, it was utterly self-inflicting!

Fortunately, their position was far enough from the audience below that no one overheard.

Otherwise, what would become of that young lady's reputation!

Today, for some unknown reason, this Seal Keeper decided to attend the Book Forest Conference.

Dean Qingfeng rubbed his temples with a headache, as the Xingtian Department was directly managed by Emperor Xuanwu.

Whether it was solving cases, apprehending corrupt officials, or assisting the court in collecting taxes, the Xingtian Department was an incredibly formidable entity.

The Ministry of Justice belonged to the Xingtian Department, now largely stripped of its powers, having become merely a place for detaining criminals.

Mu Yan was a figure of immense authority, second only to none under Emperor Xuanwu; as long as he advised Emperor Xuanwu, there was hardly anything he couldn't accomplish.

The great ministers and influential families both feared and despised this Mu Seal Keeper, thus he had also become known as the grand villain of Nanjin.

No one dares to offend!

It's also strange, why does Emperor Xuanwu, knowing full well that Mu Yan is debauched and brutal, still indulges him so!

No one noticed the conversation behind the screen, everyone's eyes were on Zhan Lan, and Zhan Xuerou felt emptiness inside, that was clearly like her poetry!

She hated Zhan Lan to the extreme. Why could an adopted daughter outshine her here?

Just before Zhan Lan spoke, she had already prepared her poem, and with a little more time, she could have written it on the rice paper.

But, she hadn't!

Thinking about it again was useless, her artistic conception couldn't match Zhan Lan's poem!

Her gaze met Zhan Lan's eyes, which were filled with calmness and confidence.

In her former life, Zhan Lan had heard Zhan Xuerou's famous "Autumn Water Ode" so many times it was ingrained in her ears.

The entire General Mansion's servants were all singing its praises.

Of course, it was widely known in Ding'an City too. Some people flattered the General's daughter, so the "Autumn Water Ode" was quite famous at the time.

Zhan Lan saw that Zhan Xuerou's usually gentle expression could no longer hold.

Zhan Xuerou's eyes darkened, listening to poem after poem, none stirring much excitement.

She no longer cared about the outcome of this round. The third contest was the most important, for which she was well-prepared to come out on top and become a disciple of Dean Qingfeng.

Finally, the third round of the contest began. After the bespectacled examiner announced the start, one brilliant piece after another emerged.

Since this was a segment that could be prepared in advance, everyone performed better than in the last round with assigned topics.

As expected, Wang Qingchen's "Wang Sai" and Zhan Xuerou's "Farewell Poem" impressed Dean Qingfeng.

And Young Master Si Jun's "Spring River Night" was even more outstanding!

On the contrary, Zhan Lan, who had performed excellently in the previous two rounds, remained silent, just quietly listening.

Cui Ying leaned towards Zhan Liluo and said, "I told you, it was just that adopted daughter's good luck, now the brute is showing her true colors, isn't she!"

Zhan Liluo chuckled and said, "It's not too much for sister Lan to try to stand out and prove herself, given her unfortunate background."

Zhan Liluo was the legitimate daughter of the second branch; she inherently looked down on illegitimate daughters, let alone an adopted one!

Compared to her, Zhan Xuerou, even in public, still defended Zhan Lan, displaying a deep sisterly bond.

Zhan Xuerou looked at Zhan Liluo next to her and softly rebuked, "Older sister shouldn't misunderstand Lan, I admire her diligence and eagerness to learn, being skilled both in literature and martial arts."

After saying that, she covered her cherry lips and coughed softly, attracting the attention of several young masters.

Zhan Liluo gave an embarrassed smile, unable to retort, since her father was Deputy General Zhan Beicang, and there was a clear distinction between legitimate and illegitimate offspring.

Zhan Beicang was the family's legitimate son, his birth mother passed away after giving birth to him, and later, Old General Zhan remarried Mrs. Wang, who gave birth to Zhan Liluo's father, Zhan Xincheng.

Although she was the legitimate daughter of the second branch, she was still considered inferior compared to the main branch.

Thus, she disliked Zhan Xuerou even more than Zhan Lan, but she couldn't show it.

Zhan Lan, sitting diagonally opposite the two, witnessed their covert rivalry.

There was longstanding enmity between the two, and Zhan Liluo extremely despised Zhan Xuerou, with Zhan Xincheng also being discontented under Zhan Beicang.

However, the conflict had not fully erupted, maintaining a superficial calm.

Eventually, in the past life, Zhan Xincheng and his son forged evidence of Zhan Beicang's rebellion, and people from the second branch including grandmother Mrs. Wang all turned against him.

People from the second branch, not one would be spared by Zhan Lan!

The bespectacled examiner looked around, his eyes landing on Zhan Lan, he loudly asked, "Ladies and gentlemen, is there any more..."

Cui Ying looked towards Zhan Lan, her disdainful voice reached Zhan Lan, "Oh, isn't the adopted daughter of the General Mansion very formidable? What now, has she run out of talent or just exposed her incompetence?"

"Yes, I guess that's all she's capable of. Should she, like in previous years, perform some spear techniques to entertain us all?" Bai Lu, a lady from another influential family next to Cui Ying said.

A wave of mocking laughter arose among the crowd.