EES - Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Song Ling remained furious all the way back from their casual chat, seething with rage. A fire seemed to burn in her chest, driving her to desperately want to do something.

So the moment she returned, she asked, "Tell me, what excuse could I use to get out of the palace for a few days?"

Her roommate, Shan Lanze, looked over in confusion. "Do you have some urgent matter that requires leaving the palace?"

"Urgent. Very urgent. Extremely urgent!"

Shan Lanze pondered for a moment. "Then try sending a message home and have them say there is a matter requiring your return."

...Ah, well.

The nearly visible little flames dancing in Song Ling's eyes flickered and died. Song Ling, who was completely unfamiliar with the original Song Ling's family and whose own memories were hazy and intermittent, choked on the suggestion.

She had absolutely no confidence she could bluff her way past the Song family. What kind of person was the original 'Song Ling'? All Song Ling knew from historical records was that she was among the first women to become palace officials, a renowned talent versed in poetry, prose, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Pretending to be her would be far too difficult.

But Shan Lanze's suggestion was indeed the simplest method. Moreover, Song Ling's grandfather was Grand Secretary Song Jinyuan. If she intended to confront that plagiarist, crush him, clear her idol's name, and vindicate other stolen authors, leveraging the Song family's status in the literary world would certainly make things easier.

But... sigh.

"Then... is there any other way?" Song Ling wiped her face and asked bravely.

"In that case, you might try requesting an audience with Your Majesty," Shan Lanze said with a smile, though her eyes held a hint of calculation.

Song Ling let out an 'uh', her expression growing even more conflicted.

She thought: I might as well try the Song family route. At least with the Song family, she could find some excuse like being injured and temporarily losing her memory. But Emperor Xuanming was depicted in official histories almost as a deified figure. If Song Ling had the confidence to deceive him, she wouldn't have been wandering the palace for so long without ever bothering to glance at what the real Emperor Xuanming looked like.

After all, Emperor Xuanming Junming was actually someone she admired and looked up to.

It was only because of her innate reverence for a sovereign of such historic stature that she hadn't called out to Yang Sheng and Qi Donghan as her idols quite so frequently.

Then again, if she went straight to Emperor Xuanming, revealed her origins, and explained which literati's poems and essays that Mr. Liu had plagiarized, would he believe her? Other emperors would likely dismiss her claims as mystical nonsense and brand her a jianghu charlatan. But this was Emperor Xuanming!

Song Ling pinched her fingertips, lost in troubled contemplation, unaware of when Shan Lanze had risen and left.

Frowning as she thought, Song Ling suddenly heard the crisp, decisive footsteps of the military commander's daughter returning from practice in the next room. Her eyes lit up!

Right! How could she have forgotten!

Although she dared not approach Emperor Xuanming directly, she could now access the future Empress, Ji Wanshuang!

If she compiled the truth about Liu Guanglin the plagiarist with solid evidence and presented it to Ji Wanshuang, given Empress Wude's iron-fisted style of crushing dissent with force at the slightest provocation, surely they could team up to deal with the plagiarist transmigrator together?

Furthermore, given Emperor Xuanming's profound love for his empress, he would surely take notice once he learned she was involved. That would secure everything!

Song Ling's expression instantly lightened and brightened. She considered herself a brilliant little genius and could wait not a moment longer. She immediately set off for the training ground to find the empress.

However, upon arriving at the training ground, she learned Ji Wanshuang had only stayed briefly before departing for the riding arena. Song Ling hurriedly lifted her skirt and rushed over to the arena.

Before she even caught sight of the fence outside the arena, she smelled the grass carried on the wind and heard the faint clatter of hooves.

After running into the arena, she bent over, hands on her knees, catching her breath. She smoothed her slightly disheveled hair, chatted with the palace guards stationed at the gate, gained entry, and scanned the area left and right for Ji Wanshuang.

She noticed the horses in the stables were somewhat restless, pawing at the ground. One stable door stood open. Looking further into the distance, she saw a small black dot approaching rapidly. The closer it got, the clearer it became to Song Ling.

The figure closing in was Ji Wanshuang, who had come to practice horsemanship today. She wore practical riding attire, leaning slightly forward on her saddle with a steady gaze ahead. As she guided her mount toward the fence, she pulled the reins, causing the black steed to leap gracefully over the barrier. Her waist, sharply defined by the tight riding clothes, complemented the dark horse perfectly, resembling a taut, powerful bow.

Only after clearing the fence and nearing the stables did Ji Wanshuang gradually slow her pace. Finally, she tugged the reins to halt the horse, turned her head to look at Song Ling, who had appeared in a full-length dress, and asked, "I heard you were looking for me. What is it?"

Song Ling opened her mouth but spoke nothing, staring blankly with wide eyes.

Ji Wanshuang: "?"

Under Ji Wanshuang's puzzled expression, Song Ling snapped back to reality. Her first reaction was to take a deep breath and press a hand to her chest. Her face flushed, and she stammered, "I-I have a matter to discuss. Do you have a moment, Miss Ji?"

Admittedly, those two images of Ji Wanshuang leaping over the fence on horseback and pulling the reins to turn back had genuinely stunned Song Ling. Her heart had pounded extra hard, skipping several beats.

It wasn't that her orientation had changed, but rather pure excitement.

Come on, beautiful older sisters riding horses are incredibly cool, okay? Especially since Ji Wanshuang's appearance fit the aloof, delicate, sickly beauty archetype. Who would have guessed her combat strength was so overwhelmingly high? This contrast was absolutely perfect! If one had to describe it in a single phrase, it would be: Lin Daiyu riding alone across a thousand miles.

This was precisely the heroine archetype from Song Ling's dreams.

An Lin had no idea what the second transmigrator, currently staring blankly nearby, was thinking. Hearing Song Ling speak, she grew curious about why she had sought her out specifically. With a clean motion, An Lin swung her leg over the saddle and dismounted, adopting an attentive posture to listen closely.

She then heard Song Ling beat around the bush, claiming she had seen those poems and essays written by Liu Guanglin elsewhere before, insisting they were not his work and that the true author was someone else, alleging Liu Guanglin's sources were improper, and so on. Song Ling then looked at her with expectant eyes, clearly hoping she would step forward to take down Liu Guanglin.

A bit naive, but judging by her character, she was better than the previous transmigrator.

An Lin evaluated her silently. On Ji Wanshuang's cover, her expression remained utterly serious. "Although what you say has some merit, poetic and literary styles naturally evolve. Your word alone cannot prove that the young scholar surnamed Liu truly obtained those works through improper means. Unless you can locate the actual authors, correct?"

An Lin looked at Song Ling with encouraging eyes.

Exactly! Quickly help Us find these talents!

Alternatively, she could consider compiling poetry and essay collections, aging them artificially to discredit Transmigrator One. Ideally, when reciting the works, she should remember to attribute them with both the poet's name and dynasty. That way, she would effectively possess a roster of talented individuals.

Earlier, when she had drunk Liu Guanglin under the table, he had mentioned several names. An Lin, desperate for talent, had naturally ordered searches upon her return. However, aside from her beloved minister Qiancai, the names Fang Shiyuan, Zhong Chongshan, Jiang Jujing, and Wei Yin all yielded no results. They likely hadn't been born yet.

That was unacceptable.

An Lin had originally planned to extract Liu Guanglin's utility value as quickly as possible before interrogating him for a list of talents. But now that Song Ling, another transmigrator indignant over Liu's plagiarism, had arrived, it would be convenient enough to obtain the list from her instead.

Pondering this, An Lin suddenly broke Song Ling's contemplation with a question. "Would you like to see the emperor?"

Song Ling jumped in surprise. "See His Majesty? Now? Is that even allowed??"

"I can take you to see him," An Lin said without blinking.

"N-no, let's hold off for now. I'm completely unprepared mentally to meet His Majesty!" Song Ling panicked thoroughly, unsure where to put her hands and feet.

"Aren't you trying to expose that despicable plagiarist? If you gain the emperor's trust, it will be a simple matter," An Lin said, offering a meaningful smile. "Do not fear. Once you demonstrate your worth, he will be the most accommodating man. He has always favored capable individuals."

Song Ling believed this. Emperor Xuanming's meritocratic approach and his particular esteem for capable ministers were well-documented in historical records.

She was just nervous.

But she would finally meet the legendary Emperor Xuanming! With such an opportunity suddenly placed before her, claiming she wasn't tempted would be a lie. Moreover, since Emperor Xuanming valued merit, as a transmigrator, she remembered certain technologies from later eras. With those, could she not, like the protagonists in countless transmigration novels, secure a position as a state preceptor or divine maiden?

Song Ling absolutely loved novels of that type.

Harboring this delightful little anticipation, Song Ling ultimately agreed to see the emperor, albeit with half-hearted reluctance.

Ji Wanshuang, clad in her riding gear, said nothing further. She led Song Ling away from the area where the consort candidates gathered and headed toward the study.

They did not go unrecognized along the way. Palace attendants initially moved to intercept them, but An Lin had long instructed that Ji Wanshuang's identity granted unrestricted passage through the palace. Once they recognized her, the attendants bowed and stepped aside. Upon reaching the exterior of the study, Wang Xiuwen spotted Ji Wanshuang arriving and called out in mild surprise, "Miss Ji?"

Instead of explaining through Ji Wanshuang's cover, An Lin simply used the emperor's voice from within the study. "Xiuwen, let them in."

Receiving the order, Wang Xiuwen respectfully acknowledged it, then smiled as he pulled open the study door for Ji Wanshuang.

Song Ling quietly gasped in awe inside her mind.

Truly the treatment reserved for a true love. This was the designated empress!

The endless online speculation from later ages regarding how Emperor Xuanming fell in love with Empress Wude could finally be resolved. Some had confidently analyzed that they only met and fell in love after she entered the palace through the selection process. This attitude hardly suggested they had only met after her entrance. Clearly, they had known and loved each other long before!

Song Ling secretly turned her head to glance at Ji Wanshuang's calm, beautiful profile, which bore a faint smile. She mentally cheered, Shipping confirmed!

...

However, as she followed Ji Wanshuang inside and saw the young emperor seated beside the writing desk, all those scattered thoughts vanished instantly.

The first thing she noticed were the desks piled high with memorials, both on the main writing desk and the low table beside it. These stacks of documents represented the entire operation of the Xuan Kingdom. The emperor himself was propping his cheek with one hand, casually scribbling a few characters on a memorial with the other. Suddenly, he seemed to spot something amusing on the page and let out a short, snorting chuckle.

Subconsciously keeping her gaze lowered to avoid staring, Song Ling bowed according to the etiquette she had absorbed from historical dramas. "This subject is Song Ling. I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

"I recall you are..." An Lin cast her gaze over, feigning a moment of recollection. "The granddaughter of Minister Song. Song Ling, is it not?"

"Yes," Song Ling replied cautiously.

An Lin smiled and casually brought up the matter in a conversational tone. "We have often heard Minister Song praise his granddaughter's excellent character and scholarship, noting she surpasses even his own children and grandchildren. We have long wished to meet her. How have you been faring in the palace lately? Have you reviewed the county gazetteers in the archives? Did you notice anything noteworthy?"

Upon hearing "We have long wished to meet her," Song Ling's heart instinctively jumped, wondering Could he be interested in her? But she quickly recalled Emperor Xuanming's romantic history and public reputation. The thought immediately shifted away from romance, leading her to guess that the emperor was merely eager to recruit the talent known as 'Song Ling'.

Realizing this, Song Ling felt a pang of guilt.

Emperor Xuanming expected to meet the original 'Song Ling', one of the first female officials and a renowned talent. But she had transmigrated here, and the promised genius was gone.

Song Ling stealthily raised her gaze to observe Emperor Xuanming's expression. Just as she prepared to speak, she watched Ji Wanshuang, without saying a word, walk directly toward the desk, take a seat in another chair within the study, and casually pull a memorial from the very top of the stack to read.

The words Song Ling had been about to say stuck in her throat. She stared blankly at Ji Wanshuang reading the memorial so naturally, then glanced at Emperor Xuanming, who still smiled at her and showed absolutely no reaction to the breach of protocol.

E-even though she was the future empress, she hadn't been formally invested yet! Was it really alright for her to read memorials directly?! If the censors found out, they would undoubtedly launch a frantic barrage of remonstrances! Was this truly information she was supposed to know?

Seeing Song Ling stare blankly at her alternate identity, An Lin opened her mouth to say she need not worry, but had only uttered "No need..." when Song Ling's pupils dilated in shock and she quickly bowed her head. "Your Majesty, I saw nothing!"

An Lin had merely been multitasking today due to the heavy workload, unwilling to let divided attention slow her processing of memorials. "...Actually, it is fine if you saw them."

"You and Wanshuang came to see Us today for a reason, did you not?" Realizing that waiting for Song Ling to bring it up might waste considerable time, An Lin decided to steer the conversation back to business directly. "Speak freely."

Composing herself, Song Ling described Liu Guanglin's plagiarism once again.

This time, her description was far more detailed. She cited several poems, recounted the circumstances the true authors had experienced when composing them, and, to be safe, recited a few highly famous pieces that Liu Guanglin had not yet plagiarized to serve as evidence.

"Since these poems and essays were not authored by Liu Guanglin but by others, you may write down the names of the original creators one by one. We will send agents to locate them and arrange a confrontation," An Lin guided.

"Um, Your Majesty... several of those I just mentioned have already passed away," Song Ling hastily interjected, noting that several examples were poets from later dynasties. "But several others he plagiarized are still alive. There is Yang Sheng, and also..."

As she attempted to utter the second name, Song Ling opened her mouth but suddenly found she could not recall any other famous literati from the Xuan dynasty, no matter how hard she tried. Her sentence trailed off.

What was happening? She had clearly remembered them just moments ago. She had even silently rehearsed the names in her mind right before speaking. How could she suddenly forget them all??

Under Emperor Xuanming's expectant gaze, Song Ling opened her mouth several times to speak, but forgot the instant she did. Cold sweat trickled down her back.

Why couldn't she speak? Was there some force preventing her from saying it, refusing to let her alter history?

Yet why could she distinctly say Yang Sheng's name?

Song Ling tried several times. An Lin watched her actions, noticing she seemingly could not proceed, and formed a slight suspicion in her mind.

After a brief pause, An Lin deliberately fixed Song Ling with an inquiring gaze, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "What prevents you from speaking?"

"We recall Minister Song's family has resided in Qiong'an for over forty years. You should never have left Qiong'an since birth. How, then, did you encounter the true authors of these works elsewhere, Song Ling?"

"We are quite curious whether you are the genuine Song Ling," An Lin said, her smile exerting immense pressure on Song Ling. "Speak. Who sent you?"

Sensing the timing was right, An Lin decided to push Song Ling until she was forced to reveal her identity as a transmigrator. This way, An Lin could later confidently command Song Ling to utilize her knowledge from the future.

As for Song Ling, following a series of mental thuds, by the time she heard Emperor Xuanming's final question, "Are you the genuine Song Ling?", she had grown numb to the shocks. A thought arose in her mind: As expected, I cannot hide from Emperor Xuanming.

Accompanied by this feeling of finally, she actually felt a wave of relief. Her whole body relaxed, and deciding to throw caution to the wind, she confessed outright, "Yes, I am indeed not the original Song Ling. I come from the future, a thousand years hence."

With this opening, the rest flowed easily. To convince Emperor Xuanming, Song Ling listed several policies he should have been planning to implement at this stage but had not yet enacted. "It may sound absurd, but I know Your Majesty intends to have Yang Sheng propose and enact the equal-field system, to audit and register all hidden fields and households across the realm. You also plan to send several consorts candidates from Resting-Crane Hall to Yunzhou Prefecture to reclaim control over it. Furthermore, you intend to establish Universal Schools in Qiong'an first, and subsequently open local branches in every county..."

After Song Ling finished in one breath, An Lin, who was not surprised in the slightest, deliberately acted taken aback. She transitioned from initial skepticism to dawning suspicion that her predictions were coming true. This shift in demeanor, coupled with probing questions for Song Ling to answer, served to bolster the credibility of her claims.

An Lin was overjoyed inwardly.

Judging by Song Ling's understanding of her upcoming decrees, her grasp of history was quite solid. In that case, she would be far more useful than Liu Guanglin.

Coincidentally, Song Ling added one more thing after finishing. "That Liu Guanglin is actually just like me. Because good poems and essays survived into the millennium ahead, he plagiarized them in exactly that manner."

An Lin neither confirmed nor denied belief. After a moment's thought, she asked, "Since you repeatedly claim to come from a thousand years in the future, what knowledge or items do you possess that do not exist in the present?"

Song Ling thought about what she knew. Naturally, the first things that came to mind were the essential wealth-building tools common in transmigration novels. "I can make soap, a substance applied to the hands for cleaning. I can make lipstick, which is another form of lip rouge. And glass..."

She ticked off each skill on her fingers, thoughtfully providing descriptions, entirely oblivious to the emperor's increasingly speechless expression.

An Lin: Are these two transmigrators from the same training class? Why do you keep fixating on soap, lipstick, and glass?

[Image: Emperor speechless]

Fortunately, Song Ling went on to list methods for producing cement, refined salt, sugar, and liquor, along with several dishes that could enrich the current diet of Xuan's commoners, such as braised pork intestines with tofu skin. These were still usable and did not completely overlap with Transmigrator One's skill set.

Once Song Ling finished listing her capabilities, An Lin nodded to acknowledge it and dismissed her, allowing her to return.

Song Ling's face showed immense relief. She cautiously glanced at Ji Wanshuang, who was still seated. With matters concluded, An Lin simply gestured for Ji Wanshuang to rise so they could return to Resting-Crane Hall together.

After Song Ling departed, An Lin flipped open a memorial, tapped the simulator panel, and once the chibi emperor avatar appeared, she asked directly, "Why was that transmigrator unable to name the talents of this era?"

The chibi emperor's gaze drifted toward the chair where Ji Wanshuang's cover had sat, and he answered promptly. "That system stated that the mere existence of the simulator is already cheating. If they allow people from later eras to simply report all the talent names, the game becomes unplayable. So they applied a patch. From now on, they can only name individuals who have already appeared before you. Those who haven't appeared yet cannot be voluntarily named."

So it really was the simulator's doing.

In that case, she would either have to wait for the annual imperial examinations or venture out herself to scout and recruit talent.

An Lin sighed. "Your system is truly a pain in the neck."

Oh well. She would treat it as a minor stratagem by the game designers to enhance playability. If they silenced them, then so be it.

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