Chapter 34

  "Huh, what's going on?" Indeed, the queen slightly furrowed her brow, softly exclaimed, and at the same time, a pair of eyes also looked at Meng Cuiying with a hint of mockery.

  "What's wrong?" The emperor looked at her with some surprise, his voice was stern, what was in these poems that made her so shocked.

  "Returning to the Emperor, Meng Fu Ying unexpectedly copied Xue Er's poem." The Empress naturally also detected the dissatisfaction in the Emperor's voice and handed him two pieces of paper with the same content.

  Something like this happened, she can't hide it even if she wants to, and besides, she doesn't want to hide it either.

  Without asking any questions, with just one sentence, Meng Fu Ying's guilt was subjectively determined.

  As soon as this remark came out, the originally quiet grand hall suddenly boiled over.

  "She was originally a fool, afraid that she didn't even recognize a single character. Being able to copy it out is already not bad." someone chuckled quietly.

  "Can't even write your own stuff, so you plagiarize others. How shameless." A furious insult.

  "Hum, a fool, or an ugly-to-death fool, what good can he do." More vicious curses.

  In Meng Ruxue's eyes, a hint of triumphant smile flashed by. This ending was within her expectations. After all, she was the number one talented woman of the Xuan Yuan dynasty, while Meng Fuying had always been foolish. Under these circumstances, everyone would naturally believe her.

  At this moment, Meng Fu Ying still had a calm face, as if all these things had nothing to do with her. She even casually picked up a pastry from the table and savored it slowly.

  Meng Ruxue's eyes flickered, gazing at her with some incredulity, unable to understand how she could still act as if nothing was wrong. A hint of cold smile flashed in her eyes again, humph, she wanted to see just how long she could keep up this act.

  Xuanyuan's long fingers lightly tapped the desktop, but his eyes were slightly narrowed, and his long eyelashes hid what little emotion he originally had.

  Bai Yichen looked at Meng Wuying and slightly furrowed his brow, but in the depths of his eyes, a hint of delight seemed to flash by.

  In this grand ceremony, copying others will result in disqualification. In that case, she won't be chosen.

  "Meng Fu Ying, you tell me, what's going on here?" The emperor glanced at the poem in his hand and then looked at Meng Fu Ying, asking in a low voice. His eyes didn't have much severity, but instead had an unusual appreciation. This lass, she actually wrote a good hand, the flying colors of her handwriting had a bit of a man's spirit.

  He believes this girl wouldn't go so far as to copy others.

  "Replying to Your Majesty, that poem was indeed not written by me." Upon hearing the emperor's inquiry, Meng Fu Ying slowly stood up, with a calm expression and a very natural tone.

  The entire hall was once again in an uproar.

  "Hmph, how dare you say that. You're really shameless."

  Curses rose again.

  "I've seen thick-skinned people before, but I've never seen anyone with skin as thick as yours. You even plagiarize others' work and yet you have the nerve to act like it's nothing out of the ordinary." Xuan Yuan Mo also cursed with a face full of disdain.

  "She indeed dares to do and bear the consequences." Xuan Yuan's lips, however, curved into a faint smile, his eyes showing no hint of mockery, but rather an added layer of unusualness.

  Xuanyuan Ye's hand moved again, but those eyes still slightly drooped, without moving at all.

  "Your Majesty, according to the rules, in such a grand ceremony, once plagiarism of other contestants is discovered, one's qualification will be cancelled and they will also receive punishment by caning." The Empress heard Meng Fu Ying admit it herself, then looked at the Emperor again and said softly.

  Thumb screw, an ancient form of torture, used a rope through five small wooden sticks, wrapped around the fingers, and tightened with force.

  Meng Fu Ying's lips curled up again in a cold smile, it seems the Empress is getting impatient.

  "Your Majesty, Meng Fu is also innocent, please spare her." Meng Ruxue immediately stood up and pleaded for Meng Fuying with a look of urgency.

  Have to admit, Meng Ruxue is indeed very good at acting, but she wants to see how long she can keep up the act.

  "She copies you, and yet you still protect her. You're such a good child." The queen gazed at Meng Ruxue with a satisfied gentle smile.

  Just then, looking at Meng Bufei again, the smile on his face instantly disappeared, replaced by a stern expression. In a cold voice, he said, "But this rule cannot be broken. Meng Bufei, do you know your crime?"

  "On page 132 of 'Hua Yun Lu', line 8, line 11." Meng Cu Ying's eyes slightly sank, her red lips moved slowly, and she spoke word by word, this answer was clearly evasive.

  Everyone was stunned and didn't understand what she meant by that.

  "I'm asking you a question, and you're giving me a bunch of nonsense." The empress's eyes narrowed, her voice low and menacing.

  Xuanyuan Ye's eyebrows slightly raised, his hand suddenly lifted, and he gently waved at the Speedy Wind behind him.

  "Yes." Fortunately, Speedy reacted extremely quickly and instantly understood his meaning, wanting to head out, but suddenly remembered that this was the Imperial Palace, not the Wang Mansion. How could he possibly let him privately go to the imperial study?

  But if we go back to the Wang Fu, it will take a lot of time to come and go.

  He hesitantly whispered, "Your Highness..."

  "My study has that book, go and fetch it." At this time the emperor also reacted, saying to a guard behind him.

  However, when her eyes gazed at Xuan Yuan Ye, they quickly flashed with a hint of abnormality.

  Is Yan'er helping that girl? If so, this would be the second time he's helped her, counting the last time at Prince Hou's residence.

  And that girl can actually read that kind of book and even remembers which poem is on which page and which line?

  It wasn't until then that everyone finally understood, and when they looked at Meng Cuo again, their gazes were different.

  Especially Xuan Yuanfan, after being shocked, seemed to have a few more unusual expressions. Now, who dares to say she is stupid?

  Meng Ruxue's face suddenly stiffened, and her eyes flashed with a few moments of panic, especially when she saw Xuan Yang helping Meng Dianying again, her heart was filled with hatred to the extreme, and also feared to the extreme.