Female Supremacy and Rise to Power: Lin Shu's Imperial Examination Adventures

Feng Rui looked up and met his gaze, a hint of infatuation in his eyes, then suddenly smiled:

"What? Does Your Highness really intend to kill me? You may not know, but even His Majesty cannot easily take my life!"

Ling Huanan frowned in disgust, then said, word by word, "Ha! You think you can scare me with your get-out-of-jail-free card?"

Before he could finish the sentence, "How could you...", Ling Huanan leaned down, wrapped a silk handkerchief around his chin, and mocked him:

"Just because you fooled me once or twice, you really think I'm a fool?"

Having said that, he pushed the person aside with force, and the silk handkerchief was then placed on Feng Rui's head, which was extremely comical, but Feng Rui didn't care about that.

Because Ling Huanan had thrown down a piece of paper, Feng Rui saw the words "letter of divorce" from afar. With trembling fingers, she picked it up and read it. Sure enough:

[Letter of Divorce: Lord Feng Rui, the Prince of Dingbei, is ruthless and cruel, and has failed to properly educate his daughter. He is truly unfit to be your wife and is hereby immediately returned to his clan...]

The date was also noted at the end, and Ling Huanan's personal seal was affixed.

As Feng Rui snapped out of his daze from the letter of divorce, Ling Huanan was already almost at the door. He quickly struggled to crawl over, grabbed Ling Huanan's clothes, and stopped him, saying:

"No, Ling Huanan, I am the late emperor's most beloved son, how dare you divorce me?"

Ling Huanan drew a sword from the waist of a nearby guard and cut off the corner of Feng Rui's clothes that was being held. Feng Rui was so frightened by this action that she shrank back.

Ling Huanan took a few steps closer to him, lifted his chin with his sword, and said coldly, "If you weren't a prince, I wouldn't mind the death of a lord."

After saying that, he instructed his deputy, "Send someone to throw him back to the Prince's residence, and also send someone to report this matter to His Majesty in detail!"

"Yes, sir." The lieutenant accepted the order.

After leaving the main courtyard, Ling Huanan first inquired about Ji Yan's condition. It was indeed poisoning, but fortunately it was a slow-acting poison, and the dosage was small each time. Moreover, it had been stopped since Ling Huanan returned, so it was not serious. The imperial physician had already detoxified him after administering acupuncture.

However, Ji Yan is getting on in years, and the damage has been severe; he will need careful care in the future.

Subsequently, Ling Huanan sold off all the new servants who had joined Feng Rui after her marriage, and then had Lin Dafeng summoned to the study with the account books.

study.

Ling Huanan sat on a carved sandalwood chair. Lin Dafeng pushed open the door and entered, holding several blue printed books in her hands. She approached cautiously, bowed obsequiously to Ling Huanan, and said:

"Sister...Sister!"

"The ledger." Ling Huanan said expressionlessly, but his tone left no room for argument.

Lin Dafeng didn't dare to hesitate and quickly stepped forward to hand over the account book, her heart filled with trepidation.

Ling Huanan flipped through the pages, and when he got to the last few pages, the scrawled handwriting made his lips twitch and his brows furrow.

"Your Highness, spare me!" Lin Dafeng had been secretly observing Ling Huanan, thinking that he had discovered her embezzlement of the storeroom funds. She quickly knelt down with a "thump," not even daring to call him "sister" anymore!

Ling Huanan was startled and secretly raised an eyebrow. There were indeed some discrepancies in the ledger. She continued looking at the ledger without looking up, saying casually:

"I've heard that you have a close relationship with my Awen?"

"Ah? Of course..." Lin Dafeng sensed that damned murderous aura again, and quickly changed the subject, waving her hands repeatedly, saying, "Uh... of course I don't know this young master, sister, don't listen to people's nonsense."

After saying that, she secretly looked up at Ling Huanan and saw that he looked satisfied. She breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, she understood that the Prince of Dingbei was giving her a warning.

As expected, Ling Huanan put down the ledger in his hand and did not pursue the discrepancy, but only silently uttered a few words:

"I have other arrangements for the steward. From now on, you only need to take good care of the old master. You may leave."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Dafeng was eager to leave. She had just opened the door when she heard a threatening voice behind her again:

"Watch your mouth."

Lin Dafeng nodded repeatedly, then ran off in a flash. Only after she had run quite a distance did she feel like she had come back to life. She patted her chest, thinking to herself: "That Ling Huanan truly lives up to his reputation as a living devil. How can anyone still be fighting over him? They really have no taste..."

Ling Huanan, standing by the window in the study, watched Lin Dafeng's every move and said to the air:

"Ling Yi".

"Master." Ling Yi quickly appeared and knelt down in front of Ling Huanan's back.

"Kill all those who know about Awen's affairs!" Ling Huanan said calmly, his eyes flashing coldly.

The implication was that anyone who knew Xue Wen had been Lin Dafeng's husband should be silenced. If she wanted to marry Xue Wen, she couldn't let him bear the stigma of her sister abandoning her husband.

"Yes, Master. But if Peach Blossom Village is wiped out, I'm afraid..." Ling Yi was worried that if the village were suddenly destroyed, it would cause controversy.

"Send someone to contact the local clans. If they can keep the secret, I can give them some benefits. But if not, I don't mind exterminating their clan."

"Yes."

After Ling Yi left, Ling Huanan stood in the empty study, looking in the direction of the Lin residence, a sense of anticipation suddenly rising in his heart.

……

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room.

Feng Han happened to be testing the three princesses and Feng Yu.

Feng Han had four daughters and three sons, but unfortunately one daughter and one son died young. His fifth son was married off to a prince. Now, only his three daughters, Feng Xin, Feng Zhao, and Feng Qing, and his youngest son, Feng Yu, are by his side. Therefore, he dotes on Feng Yu very much.

Just as Feng Yu was making light of the situation by not being able to answer, they heard that Vice Minister Ling Huanan was coming.

Although Feng Han found it a bit strange—what was the purpose of the ice so late—she still let the person in.

After the deputy general finished reporting the matter in detail and left, Feng Han slammed her hand angrily on the desk, exclaiming furiously, "How dare you!"

The eldest princess, thinking Feng Han was referring to Ling Huanan, immediately replied in a nonchalant tone:

"That's right, this Prince Dingbei simply doesn't respect Your Majesty at all. If you ask me, we should strip him of his military power and see how arrogant he can be then!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhao glanced at her carefree eldest sister, feeling that there was always a strong sense of contradiction in her words.

If the Empress Dowager were a suspicious person, then...

Feng Qing, standing nearby, had always looked down on her eldest sister, whose family was weak and who was ignorant and incompetent. She wouldn't even address her as "elder sister" and directly mocked her:

"Ha! Are you still drunk from last night? The Prince of Dingbei is not someone to be trifled with. You say you want military power, and you're just going to give it to him?"

Besides, this whole thing is your uncle's fault. I see you're always hanging out with that Ling Wanzhen, could it be..."

"enough!"

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Feng Han sternly stopped them, gave the eldest princess Feng Xin a complicated look, and then continued:

"The Prince of Dingbei handled this matter well, so let's leave it at that! It's getting late, let's head back now!"

"Yes. My son, please retire."

After everyone left, Feng Han rubbed her temples and looked up, only to find that the chubby little Feng Yu was still lying on the corner of the table, staring at her with his big eyes and a pleading look on his face.

"Queen Mother, I..."

"Stop... Little Stone, I'm tired. Let's talk another day!"

Before he could even open his mouth, Feng Han saw his hesitant manner and knew what he wanted to say—nothing more than marrying Lin Shu—so she quickly interrupted him.

"Alright then!" Seeing that Feng Han was indeed a bit listless, Feng Yu reluctantly pouted and left the Imperial Study.

Feng Han is also seriously considering the matter of Feng Yu and Lin Shu. Now she is not as opposed as before, but her most beloved prince must never be allowed to serve as someone else's concubine.

Thinking of this, she murmured to herself, "Never mind! My son is still young anyway, I might as well wait and see..."

But what she didn't know was that someone wouldn't give her a chance to consider it!

……

Prince Rui's Residence.

Since being brought back by Ling Huanan's men, Feng Rui has been lying motionless on the floor of the hall.

"Boom..." Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the sky, seemingly mocking him...

"squeak."

A very slight sound came from the door being pushed open, followed by soft footsteps.

The man was dressed entirely in a black cloak, completely concealed in the darkness. Only after approaching did he lower his voice and speak with regret:

"Tsk tsk. As the first prince of Fengming to be divorced, how pitiful!"

Seeing that Feng Rui remained motionless as if he hadn't heard anything, the voice came again:

"It's just a pity about your daughter. If Lin Shu were to become the Lady of the Heir Apparent, given what you did to her father, how could she possibly survive?"

"What...did you say?" Feng Rui asked in a hoarse voice.

The woman in the black cloak didn't answer, but continued speaking to herself, "This Seventh Prince is quite fond of Lin Shu! Given His Majesty's favor towards her, Lin Shu is probably..."

He hadn't finished speaking, but the meaning behind his words was quite clear.

Feng Rui cursed inwardly: "My Zhen'er has always been so attentive to this Seventh Prince, yet she's treated like trash. It's one thing for Xue Wen to compete with me, but why does his daughter also have to fight against my daughter at every turn…"

Since that's the case, then don't blame me; this Seventh Prince can only submit to my Zhen'er...

Seeing the change in his expression, the woman in the cloak knew her goal had been achieved, so she crouched down and whispered a reminder:

"In two months, at the New Emperor's Banquet, if it were held in front of such a large audience... even His Majesty would have to admit it."

"Boom..."

The words had barely left his mouth when another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Feng Rui stared in horror at the cloaked figure, looking at the person before him as if he had seen a ghost, and said in disbelief:

"You...it was you!"

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