Chapter 79: It Should Have Been Zhi Wan Who Was Humiliated

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: It Should Have Been Zhi Wan Who Was Humiliated

Now, all eyes were on Zhi Wan.

Some gazes were sympathetic, others held schadenfreude, and a few, of course, were filled with worry for her.

Lu Lan bit her lip and tugged on Lu Jinglan’s sleeve. "Aunt, what are we going to do?" she asked anxiously. "Sister Zhi Wan will have to get on her knees and bark like a dog soon..." But a hint of a smile hid in her eyes. ’This is going to be fun.’

Lu Jinglan also wore an anxious expression and couldn’t help but plead, "Commandery Princess, Zhi Wan has never been well-read. It’s only natural for her to lose to Yanran. Could you please change the terms of the bet? Kneeling and barking like a dog... that’s too cruel to Zhi Wan."

Ouyang Zhenzhu was naturally burning with anxiety as well, but when she heard what the two were saying, she couldn’t help but mutter, "You didn’t help stop it earlier, but you’re pleading for her now. So hypocritical."

As expected, Xuanyuan Jing snapped angrily, "You had no objections just now, did you? Besides, Zhi Wan herself didn’t protest. What gives you the right to meddle?"

Lu Jinglan and Lu Lan both looked at Zhi Wan with feigned shame. "We did our best..."

Zhi Wan ignored them. She picked up the poem she had written and slowly recited, "I pray the morning sun brings the warmth of spring; my heartfelt wishes are expressed in these words. With civil and military prowess, you chart a grand future; elegant and beautiful, your ambitions soar. Born in the warm season of the fourth month, a day when friends and family present their gifts. Quickly light the birthday candles; may a joyous path of starlight be your future."

The moment her voice faded, the scene fell silent.

The poem was quite good. Moreover, its words were filled with beautiful wishes for the person whose birthday it was, making it very appropriate for the occasion.

Xuanyuan Jing was stunned for a moment before saying, "This poem isn’t bad, but it’s still a far cry from the one Wang Yanran composed."

The others were just about to chime in with their agreement when a cool, aloof voice cut in. "My little niece has always been an ignorant good-for-nothing. Having hardly studied a day in her life, how would she know good poetry from bad? *I*, on the other hand, think this latter poem is far superior to Wang Yanran’s!"

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Jing’s expression changed, and the others jumped in fright.

Turning to look, they saw a graceful and noble young woman standing just outside the water pavilion. No one knew how long she had been there.

"Little Aunt!" Xuanyuan Jing’s eye twitched, and she dropped to her knees.

"Greetings, Princess Chang Le!" The others followed suit, kneeling.

Zhi Wan froze for a second before she realized what was happening and knelt as well.

The newcomer was none other than Princess Chang Le, the current Emperor’s youngest daughter.

Only when everyone was kneeling did she stroll leisurely into the water pavilion.

She then picked up the two pages of poetry from the table and began her critique.

"The two poems might sound evenly matched, but I prefer the second one. This poem is filled with the composer’s sincere wishes for the birthday girl." After speaking, she handed the two papers to Xuanyuan Jing. "What do you think, little niece?"

Xuanyuan Jing was furious enough to die, but meeting her aunt’s cold eyes, she could only suppress her anger. She selected the poem Zhi Wan had written and said through gritted teeth, reluctantly, "This niece... naturally thinks the same as Little Aunt."

"Good. I am very pleased. It seems I haven’t doted on you for nothing." Princess Chang Le’s face was full of gratification. "In that case, I declare that this time..." She tilted her head toward Zhi Wan. "What’s your name?"

"My name is Zhi Wan," Zhi Wan replied.

"Your surname is Zhi? That’s an unusual one." Princess Chang Le nodded. "I declare that in this poetry competition, Zhi Wan’s poem is the winner. Wang Yanran’s is slightly inferior."

Wang Yanran’s face went white, and she collapsed to the floor.

Ouyang Zhenzhu was both shocked and delighted. She grabbed Zhi Wan’s hand. "You won."

Zhi Wan was a little dazed.

She knew her poem was no worse than Wang Yanran’s, but with Xuanyuan Jing interfering, she was bound to lose. Even if she fought with all her might, the best she could have hoped for was a draw.

’I never thought that as soon as this Princess Chang Le arrived, she would directly declare my poem the winner.’

The others also stared at her blankly.

Lu Jinglan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

As for Lu Lan, a flash of jealous hatred crossed her downcast eyes. ’Zhi Wan’s luck is just too good!’

Zhi Wan’s loss had been a foregone conclusion. Who would have thought that the Princess’s arrival would lead to her poem winning?

"Princess Chang Le is wise and decisive, with a perception as sharp as a torch. This servant is full of admiration!" Ouyang Zhenzhu praised.

Princess Chang Le shot her a look. "As if I needed you to tell me."

Ouyang Zhenzhu wasn’t the least bit afraid of her. Instead, she just giggled.

"All of you, rise." Princess Chang Le flicked her sleeve and sat down in a chair.

The others rose to their feet.

"You. Kneel. Let’s hear you bark like a dog," Princess Chang Le said nonchalantly, pointing at Wang Yanran, who was trying to hide in the crowd.

Wang Yanran’s face instantly turned the color of pig’s liver. Her earlier smugness was long gone as she stammered, "This servant... This servant..." Then, with a THUD, she knelt. "I beg Your Highness to retract the command."

"Your Highness, please retract your command," the noble lady from before knelt and pleaded for her as well.

Lu Jinglan also hurried to her knees. "Your Highness, that was just a joke on the Commandery Princess’s part. Please pardon Yanran."

"Oh? I wasn’t the one who made this bet. When Xuanyuan Jing announced the terms earlier, none of you objected. Why are you trying to go back on your word now that you’ve lost?" Princess Chang Le looked at the three in mock surprise. "If Zhi Wan had lost today, I imagine you wouldn’t be pleading for her. You’d probably just be gloating, right?"

The three of them choked on their words.

Of course, they would never have pleaded for Zhi Wan.

"Enough nonsense. If you make a bet, you accept the loss. Hurry up and let me hear you bark. I’ve never heard a grown person bark like a dog before. It’s your honor to offer your first time to me. Besides, think of it as entertainment for the Commandery Princess’s birthday." Princess Chang Le’s tone was now laced with impatience.

A eunuch immediately stepped forward and forced Wang Yanran down.

Wang Yanran had been determined to resist to the death, but after the eunuch’s ministrations, her face was ashen as she let out two pathetic "WOOF, WOOF"s.

Ouyang Zhenzhu burst out laughing with a PFFT. "It sounds surprisingly nice!"

But Princess Chang Le waved her hand in disgust. "It sounds awful!"

The eunuch released Wang Yanran.

Wang Yanran remained sprawled on the ground, all life drained from her.

Today, she had lost everything—both her reputation and her dignity.

’The one who should have been humiliated was Zhi Wan!’

At this thought, she turned her head resentfully and glared at Zhi Wan.

"What are you glaring at her for? It was Xuanyuan Jing who proposed this bet, and didn’t you agree to it? And *I’m* the one making you follow through! No wonder they say people always pick on the weakest ones. You don’t dare offend me or Xuanyuan Jing, so you can only take your anger out on Zhi Wan. You’re a real coward!" Princess Chang Le said with contempt.

Wang Yanran’s face alternated between green and red. She had no face to stay any longer and ran out, crying.

Princess Chang Le paid her no mind and announced, "How can the Commandery Princess’s birthday be so gloomy? Music!"

The musicians immediately began to play.

Xuanyuan Jing was fuming internally, but she didn’t dare act out in front of her aunt.

"Oh, that’s right, little niece. The loser had to kneel and bark like a dog. But for the winner, didn’t you promise a ruby head ornament as the prize? Why haven’t you brought it out yet?" Princess Chang Le spoke again, her voice leisurely.