Transmigrated into a vicious female supporting role, reborn as a hostage to the paranoid male protag

System [Host, I don't blame you. After all, few can reach the level of Dongli Academy. Writing a policy essay about family and country is somewhat difficult for a university student like you who studies art. Moreover, Dongli Academy not only has a literary exam, but also the Six Arts exam. These are also very different from what you, a modern person, have learned.]

System [Host, you are not unskilled. You just learned something different from this ancient being from another world. If you had grown up here, and were someone of Su Yingxue's stature, you would be on par with Mo Yunsheng in terms of talent and learning.]

Zhang Susu pondered for a moment after hearing this. She asked the system in a puzzled voice, "If that's the case, why is there no mention of Su Yingxue in the original novel, who is so talented and intelligent?"

[Based on Su Yingxue's status, as the eldest princess of the Great Sheng Kingdom, given her noble status, she must have been enrolled in the official school, Juxian Yashe. If she had been mentored by renowned teachers at the Great Sheng Kingdom for many years, how could she have such a bad reputation?]

Upon hearing this, the system remained silent for a moment before whispering, "Su Yingxue hasn't attended Juxian Yashe for a single day since she was six. Data retrieved from the backup archives of another world indicates that, at age six, Su Yingxue clashed with the then-headmaster of Juxian Yashe. Her pampered and willful behavior caused the headmaster to vomit blood and collapse, and the matter was later brought to the attention of the emperor."

[Firstly, Su Yingxue explicitly stated that she did not want to study at the Juxian Yashe. Secondly, this incident alarmed the Censorate, which was filled with censors. Later, Su Qinhuai, as the ruler of the country, temporarily suspended Su Yingxue's student status, claiming that she had a hidden illness and needed to be confined to the palace for pampering.]

Upon hearing this, Zhang Susu felt that if what the system said was true, then this Su Yingxue was truly pathetic. How could a mere six-year-old child be so ruthless and violent as to cause such a tantrum? Could Su Yingxue really be as notorious as the rumors said?

Zhang Susu: "It seems that even if I were to assume Su Yingxue's identity right now, I'd only have a notorious reputation that Mo Yunsheng despises, and no talent at all. Even if I wanted to transfer to Dongli Academy, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get in with my current talent. It seems that becoming Mo Yunsheng's classmate and getting closer to him won't happen anytime soon. Everything needs to be considered carefully..."

System [Yes, host. In theory.]

Zhang Susu seemed lost in thought. Suddenly, she looked up, realizing something. With a gleam in her eyes, she asked the system, "System, it's not like other time-travel novels where you can use cheat codes and ultimate skills in the system. So, do you have a shortcut that can help me get into Dongli Academy?"

Zhang Susu [For example, could you help me steal the Dongli Academy entrance exam papers this year? I'll have a staff member from the Princess's Mansion do them for me and memorize the answers?]

Zhang Susu: "For example, what if you gave me a magical elixir or something that would double my memory in a few days, making me have a photographic memory, and instantly enhance my physical fitness, so that I could be smart and healthy enough to get into Dongli Academy with just a quick improvement in my abilities? That way, I could go find the second male lead and complete the strategy quest early, and I could return to the modern era earlier, and you could complete your quest earlier too? What's wrong with that?"

System [Host, how could you have such thoughts? I'm a serious guy and I can't give you shortcuts to cheat. My purpose is to provide you with appropriate answers to tasks, without violating moral justice or the regulations of the Space-Time Planning Bureau, and to help you complete your tasks, not to help you do something crooked.]

System [Host, please keep your feet on the ground, study hard, and strive for the exam. With your own ability and talent, you will be admitted to Dongli Academy. I don't have any special medicine or the ability to suddenly interfere with the rules of the NPCs in this other world. This other world is like a game with multiple options.]

To enhance the host's experience, the Spacetime Planning Bureau uses state-of-the-art AI algorithms to simulate host choices and drive the interactions between NPCs. Therefore, I cannot forcibly alter the rules and regulations of the alternate world, nor can I help you cheat. At most, I can help you plan, allowing you to approach Dongli Academy with your own true talents and hard work.

Zhang Susu sighed softly after hearing the system's words. She had never imagined that even a college graduate in the modern world would have to start all over again in another world, taking the entrance exam to Dongli Academy. Since she couldn't think of any crooked ideas, she could only rely on her own hard work to get in.

It seems that she will have to find a way to let Su Yingxue go back to Juxian Yashe to study first, so as to make up for her current academic gap. After she finishes her studies, she can transfer to Dongli Academy and take the entrance exam, which should not be much different.

Thinking of this, Zhang Susu's mind became clear. She asked the system for a bunch of Dongli Academy philosophy exam questions and copied them out based on her thoughts.

Then Su Yingxue called Qiu Shuang again and told her that she wanted to study. Since her current talent and knowledge were indeed far behind those of the students at Juxian Yashe, she suggested to Qiu Shuang that she should first find a reliable and capable staff member from the princess's mansion who was talented and knowledgeable to be her private tutor so that she could catch up with her lessons.

Qiu Shuang initially found the princess' words incredulous. After all, she had always been obsessed with pleasure and extravagance, never once considering learning. But now, after Su Yingxue's fall into the lake, not only had her temper calmed down, she seemed like a completely different person. She no longer liked to scold servants or palace maids, and now she had become eager to learn.

Qiu Shuang couldn't help but feel happy that Su Yingxue had become more sensible and mature, so she immediately agreed, turned around and smiled as she retreated to ask Eunuch Si Xia for instructions.

Though ostensibly a humble guard, Eunuch Si Xia was a man bequeathed to the eldest princess by the late imperial consort. He was a master of both the civil and military arts. While the four first-class maids serving as Su Yingxue's attendants were officially in charge of the Princess's residence, the actual person behind them was Eunuch Si Xia, a man of lower status than them.

Eunuch Si Xia always stays in the dark, making plans for the eldest princess, so every movement of the grass and trees in the eldest princess's mansion cannot be hidden from Eunuch Si Xia's eyes.

Sure enough, in just a cup of tea, Qiu Shuang brought back a loyal aide to Her Royal Highness the Princess, Mr. Qingming, from the Princess's residence outside the palace.

Qiu Shuang smiled and said, "Your Highness, from today on, Mr. Qingming will be your tutor and mentor. He will teach you and answer your questions. He will be here for three incense sticks a day."

Qiu Shuang clapped her hands, and several well-dressed and handsome men and women walked out and stood behind Mr. Qingming. Zhang Susu looked at them one by one, thinking that this must be the famous teacher who would teach her the Six Arts in the future.