The Feat Contest
Second month of Summer...
'Euurgh, it got hotter now. Who'd be out in this heat?' Beiyue winced as they left for school.
Clothes are much lighter now, solely all silk. Boys began wearing trousers and not robes. Girls wore shorter skirts or their battle dresses. Given how Beiyue's first class is Mount Archery, she wears a battle dress first thing in the morning, and a casual dress after a quick shower.
In the palace, the Emperor ordered cooling and wind enchantments be applied all over the palace so the palace's many departments and dorms for servants can run efficiently despite the season.
So while their home is cool, outside is NOT.
Thankfully, classrooms and even the hallways are cool.
Just that, training areas aren't.
It sure made Mount Archery class somewhat unbearable~but she pushed on if she didn't want bad grades. The only thing she was grateful for is that her classes are in the mornings. She didn't envy the poor sods whose classes are around 10 am onwards.
For anyone who has Mt. Archery, they have a small time gap in their schedules...a time gap of twenty minutes for a short bath and getting changed. Students are obligated to bring their own toiletry and spare clothes, of course. That included getting to their next class on time. All in under those 20 mins.
So as a cheat, their next classes are often near the Mount Archery Field. And her next class is Literature.
But there were many talks lately.
About cousin Jing returning to school with his future consort Lin Wanyi whom everyone calls Jing-wangfei.
They took leave off school to cultivate for their upcoming Graduation Exams. That, and by winter close to New Year, they'll get married.
That's what she heard.
And then there's the upcoming Feat Contest...?
No sane man will let her join. After all, with a reputation like hers? Yeeeeah...even if she is well enough to use Ki now and devoured as much as the Jade can offer her so she can cultivate. However, she still has no idea why some disappears. So she often has to overwhelm the consumer by flooding her dantian with Ki.
Cultivation.
Once people can cultivate, no matter how much they drain themselves, they can recover afterward.
But for Huang Beiyue whose cultivation wings were clipped at a young age by her predicament, all attempts are lost. She hasn't even a Foundation that she can never recover. And since discovering the Jade AND experimenting on herself, she now has a full-functioning Foundation, recover what ki she loses to her still-unknown condition and currently on her way to reaching Bronze Levels in strength. She also can finally use ki, but she has no foundational element. Yet she defied the stereotype that only Earth Elements can become Alchemists and Pharmacists. After all, she made pills, no?
She wondered what ELSE, can she defy.
Oh yes, time itself.
For children who had just begun cultivating after obtaining their Spirit Foundation, they start with Rainbow Levels at childhood.
The herbs needed for a breakthrough were all stolen by her for her and Dongling's sakes. So in the one year they were alone in Xiao Estate, they rose quickly enough.
The reason it takes time, is because of MONEY.
Cultivation goods costs by ingots. Not by coin.
Money, they don't have at the time, so naturally, it's 'foraged for', a reason everyone accepted as nobody expected anything from children at the time. Children who had to make do because the one who has money, was stolen from and exploited. Nobody can dream that they actually stole them from Buji'er Bazaar...until she found the Jade that made their lives a lot easier. Using it to rob Linhua City and Misty Forest of Ki in the air, for their own use in cultivational rise, but Beiyue still needs goods to break through, unlike Dongling who's reliant on her Summon.
Now that she was at peak levels, she'll be a Bronze C soon enough.
And people participating are mostly Silvers and Golds. Sure she has skill and experience, but power, even in the hands of an unskilled person, plays a deciding factor too. So she dares not until she's at least, a Silver Class herself. And since gaining her money back through her grandma, she now has to do things the legal way.
Herbs at childhood, pills come the metal levels...sooo yes, she got on Prince Xiaoyao's good side for this reason.
One fiefdom alone, is enough to pay for her till Gold levels, and two fiefdoms to reach War God status. She also has her sponsoreds to deal with as well. Two are Summoners and everyone else, Warriors. Though its mostly grandma talking to them...
Whatever.
Her bronze pill will be ready soon. Bronzes are typical for her age anyway.
xxx
'Here you go.' Prince Xiaoyao gave her, her first pill set for Bronze Levels which she paid for in full by using up 80% of her Miyang Income. 'First by curing that poison by yourself and now finding a way around your unknown problem...you're one amazing girl.' he said as he was enjoying the Siberia Cake she made for him...not that she told him what its name was, he wouldn't know what Siberia is!
'Its still tough to accomplish.' said Beiyue, consuming her pill needed to break through to Bronze level C. 'But I must do what I must do if I wanted to live long.'
They talked some more till late into the night...
xxx
Feat Contest came.
By then, thanks to the Jade which is actually her inheritance from her true father, she was a full Bronze C in just a matter of weeks. That even her family can feel her level now as a sign that she worked hard to be on levels of peers her age.
Well, her mom slept with two men in her life. Her lover and her uncle. One out of love, the other to save him from poison. There was no way of knowing who the real father is at the time, but given the timing, suppose she can't blame her mother for the misconception.
Because the only way to access the Jade is if you're the owner and if you're blood-related to said owner. Its why the Jade was blood-locked.
Her father created the Jade as his personal tool to make his life as a cultivator easier that made him feared for his long life. And since having her mother, he blood-locked it to his descendants, and buried the jade near Linhua City...for his child to find. He no longer needed it, but his child would. And given her mother's situation, it was all he could do for his maybe-child as even he had no idea if Huang Beiyue is his, or that man he hated, Xiao Yuancheng's for tying Huiwen to him yet cheats on her.
And how he dearly hoped that she was his, even if he couldn't be there for her and her mother. If she was his, the jade would blood lock to her and he would know if he was still alive by the time she finds it as he had a spell linking to him.
But he never came. Really dead.
So Huang Beiyue moved on and she was watching the show with her relatives and to her left, was Prince Xiaoyao and Prince Lianyi. Prince Jing didn't bother to participate for the Autumn Camping as he was too strong for that now and neither did Zhanye. Third Prince is a Pharmacist and has no reason to put himself in danger. Yingye is the one participating as she needed the camp. Her royal uncle and grandmother took work off and so did working parents to watch the Feat Contest Week.
Dongling participated in the Summoner's Division as right now, she is a 4-star Summoner after some hard work to reap the benefits of being contracted to Rank 12 Tree Lizard. Being plant-like in nature gave Dongling more options in fighting than Rock Ape did. She wore a forest-green Summoner's Dress with gold rose prints. And her spirit weapon was...what looks like a weapon launcher wrapped around her right arm that never ran out of ammo and she can shoot at will. But she prefers showing off her battle skills before she shoots them.
And it shoots seeds the size of plums, so getting hit by them is the equivalent of long-distance punching.
Even better? If it hits you OR your summon, it instantly grows, feeding on your ki and drain you to unconsciousness, and the seed that fed off you will grow into a plant or tree that matches the personality of what it fed from...so teachers often had to deal with unknown plants after her fights. Either harvest or destroy it! So yeah, people don't wanna face Dongling!
It was amusing.
Yingye was in the Warrior's Division the next day as is that Jing-wangfei.
However, Beiyue noted the half-assed movements of who she faces.
'Hey Jing.' Jing stiffened as the Mad Cousin spoke to him. 'Did Lin Wanyi pay them off?' such accusation however, startled him. Her words also astonished the other princes, the Emperor and the Grandqueen.
'Wanyi would never do that.' said Jing. 'I've known her for years.'
'I wish I can say the same. Pay attention to the movements of her opponents as well as their expression, then look at Lin Wanyi. You will see what is obvious.'
So the royals watched to see if Beiyue's accusations was true...but the closer they watched...
'Oh wow.' Lianyi was astonished. How did Beiyue see through this? Wasn't she supposed to be an inexperienced beginner in regards to martial arts as she focused more on being a doctor, cook and artisan? 'Now that I looked closer, the discrepancy is obvious.'
'Of all the nerve.' Prince Xiaoyao scowled. 'What dishonesty! She seriously cannot join the royal family.'
'Bring Lin Wanyi's past opponents here, now.' Jing ordered an aide, not really liking what he is seeing. 'I need the truth.' the aide quickly ran out, seeing the darkening moods of the Emperor and Princes after confirming Beiyue's words.
'Did she seriously think that being your wangfei she can get away with such dishonor?' the Emperor wasn't too happy. 'Perhaps her true colors are showing, son, now that you will soon marry her. I wouldn't want her in the family.' Jing can only bury his face in his hands. 'Perhaps, you didn't know her enough, my boy. You'll find a better woman soon, its best you discover this now than too late.' he consoled his dismayed eldest. 'You'll find a more virtuous lady for sure.'
Soon, the aide was back with a nervous woman and three men...
xxx
An aide whispered to Principal Cang He who looked stunned, before looking furious. 'I see.' he then stood up. 'I have a last minute announcement to make!' he made it clear how angry he was. 'We will have a re-match to do due to incongruent results.' that got the crowd whispering. 'Lin Wanyi VS Cheng Yin!' before, she was nervous, but now, she was braver when she came out.
Lin Wanyi was wondering why there's a rematch. 'Sir, I won against Cheng Yin didn't I? Why is there a rematch?'
'I believe you know better than we do.' said Cang He coldly. 'Did you seriously think people would not notice what is going on?' Lin Wanyi got nervous now and silence ensued from a stunned audience.
'You lied to me Lin Wanyi!' Cheng Yin spat in anger, pointing at her rudely. 'Prince Jing was a nicer person than you are now that I got to talk to him in person when the royal family noticed what was wrong in our match, there is justice indeed!' this got Wanyi anxious now. When did she had the nerve...? 'How dare you use his name and influence in threatening my father's position in court if I didn't let you win!' she cried shrilly in rage.
'What?!'
Everybody gasped at this. Everybody looked to where the royal family was and they were gazing down coldly in contempt, and Jing looked furious and the people looked questioningly at Minister Lin and his family who were like deer caught in headlights.
'Same with us as well!' Si Lanlei, Ke Chuli and Rong Ren came out, looking livid.
'Just because you're engaged to his highness and your father's position in court is superior to ours, you have no right! We got the truth you dishonorable wench!' Ke Chuli snarled angrily.
'Oh yes, make that ex-fiancee, his highness wisely dumped you when he heard our tale. Princess Beiyue noticed how wrong our movements are and apparently, our staged acting is easily noticeable from above while nobody would notice the truth watching from the seats. It was how you were found out.' Rong Ren sneered snidely. His words were a double-surprise too. 'He deserves better.' Lin Wanyi sank on her knees, stunned at how she was exposed so soon and in public no less! 'Now then, are you brave enough to face our real skill, without cheats and threats this time now that we have the full backing of Prince Jing himself?'
Needless to say, what came next was humiliation as Lin Wanyi was less skilled than them in combat.
The residence of Minister Lin has lost face with Lin Wanyi's actions and lost support. Instead of a grand awards ceremony for the Warrior's Division, it was as somber as a funeral!
xxx
'People say that Prince Jing locked himself up in his room, upset.' said Yingye as she visited Beiyue and munching on Anpan. 'He wondered for how much was real and how much was he played with. The woman he knew for years was fake and he began doubting his ability to judge people. I can't believe you saw that though.'
'Lin Wanyi was far too smug as if she already won. That was the first hint.' Beiyue smiled cruelly. 'The second hint was the deliberate staggering and slowing down of her opponents, and allowed themselves to be hit when they could have easily dodged it. And their fight looks staged with one-sided hitting. Even a monkey can do better.'
'Well I'm glad she's not gonna be our relative any time soon...if she married into our family, dear god, corruption will occur.' Yingye scowled. 'AND give my brother trouble when father retires! I won't have any of that nonsense! Father is talking to Consort Xue now and he'll deal with the Lin Family tomorrow along with the threatened officials Lin Wanyi used to threaten her opponents with. Tomorrow's gonna be hilarious and you'll be the star of the show!'
Beiyue can only look weary as she would have to intimidate to put more power into her persona at this rate...
Next day, was politics hell Beiyue would rather do without, but she got into this in the first place as the match personally-offended her as a master swordswoman, a master of three Breaths(Water, Flower, and Insect), Iaido and Battojutsu. The performance angered her as such performance gets you killed against Oni.
She hasn't forgotten her sister and her three successors. She dearly hoped Kanao survives as surviving means she won against Doma.
Now she has a fifth successor in Dongling. She taught Dongling the entire Breath of Flower set except for that eye technique as unlike in Japan where people will care for you, here, no one will if they get separated. The strongest move is a double-edged sword after all.
She maintained her mentally-unstable persona, combined with well-timed palpable malicious projection.
xxx
Next day...was for sorcerers next. This time, everyone has an unspoken warning.
No foul play this time, or else!
When the Contest Week ended, the atmosphere in Lingyang changed. The Lins still attended school, but they lost so much face people were jeering at Lin Wanyi when before, she was so revered and respected, the envy of all girls in school and now she lost everything!
All because of that Mad Princess, Huang Beiyue! She lost her status and prestige because of her! Moreover her identity is that of Jing-wangfei! Her identity is more significant and now all is lost! Her father is so furious with her!
It makes Xue Meng's vicious prank rumors earlier in the year pale in comparison!
Many people aspired to be royal consorts and she was the first one in her generation and now instead of respect, she gets disrespect!
Huang Beiyue...!
People found out who saw the foul play from the nearly-swindled warriors, thus they got the chance to truly show their mettle after getting their much-deserved second chance.
Apparently, she found their stage play insulting as she took swordsmanship seriously and Lin Wanyi was too smug, giving herself away. Mad she may be but she was impartial and neutral, thus has no qualms outing her to her cousin who wasn't too happy when he got wind what his wangfei, of all people, did.
'It goes without saying never perform a stage play where she can see it.' she grew to love swordsmanship so she takes her lessons seriously. Making a mockery of it? Just ask Lin Wanyi. Stupid woman got a little...too excited with her new...powers.