Shi Qingxue just picked up the pen and put it down again.
She raised her head, ignored Shi Baoning's triumphant gaze, and responded in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, Qingxue admits defeat on this question."
"What?"
Ling Ruiyin stood up from the couch in surprise and was about to speak when he caught a glimpse of Shi Baoning's eager eyes and sat back down again.
She clenched her fists and announced calmly: "Since Qingxue abstains from this round, Princess Baoning wins."
Shi Baoning said anxiously: "Empress, please ask the next question!"
However, Ling Ruiyin said: "It's getting late today, and Aijia still needs to think carefully about the remaining topics, so you should go back first!
Set a time for the competition tomorrow! "
Shi Baoning was a little unwilling to be interrupted when his vigorous work was interrupted, and secretly thought that Ling Ruiyin was partial, but he had no choice but to leave with Dong Hui.
Before leaving, Shi Baoning deliberately walked to Shi Qingxue and paused, with pride in his eyes, as if to say: Is this what you said you can win against me
Shi Qingxue raised her head and looked at Shi Baoning as if aware.
There was a chilling air in her expression, as if it could freeze people.
Shi Baoning's breath froze.
Then I heard Shi Qingxue say coldly: "Sister, I don't owe you anything."
This voice was frank, and rather than speaking to Shi Baoning, it was more of a warning to herself.
Shi Baoning didn't understand what Shi Qingxue's words meant at all, so he subconsciously wanted to refute.
But Ling Ruiyin was present, so Shi Baoning didn't dare to say anything. He just glared at Shi Qingxue and left.
Ling Ruiyin waved back, and only she and Shi Qingxue were left in the ear room.
She just waved to Shi Qingxue, "Child, come here."
Shi Qingxue walked over and meekly sat down on the footrest.
"Child, the Ai family is asking you. You didn't answer anything just now, but are you asking Shi Baoning?" Ling Ruiyin asked softly while stroking Shi Qingxue's hair.
When Shi Qingxue heard this, her expression became a little dazed.
But this time she quickly came to her senses, smiled at Ling Ruiyin, shook her head, "No."
"You don't need to lie to the Ai family. The Ai family still remembers that when your grandfather was still alive, he brought your childhood work to the palace to show off to the late emperor, and said that your family had a successor.
If Ai Jia remembers correctly, the title of your essay was He Zong Lian Heng. After so many years, even if there is no rapid progress, it is not impossible to write even the most basic discussion. "
Ling Ruiyin grasped the key point so accurately that even though Shi Qingxue's tongue was as bright as a lotus flower, she couldn't even think of a good word to say.
Qingxue smiled bitterly and said flatteringly: "My dear, your memory is really good!"
Ling Ruiyin actually remembered things that she had almost forgotten.
Ling Ruiyin looked at her with a tigerish face and said nothing.
Shi Qingxue racked her brains and simply changed the topic half-jokingly: "You know that Qingxue has done this question before, but you still ask this question. Could it be that you did it to me on purpose?"
Unexpectedly, Ling Ruiyin nodded honestly, "Yes, the Ai family has indeed considered this."
Shi Qingxue's smile froze, and she heard Ling Ruiyin continue to say quietly: "I just didn't expect you to let Shi Baoning."
Moreover, Jean was very unskilled and even abstained from voting. Ling Ruiyin could not even pretend not to know.
Ling Ruiyin stared at Shi Qingxue and lectured seriously: "Qingxue, the Ai family knows that you and Shi Baoning have a close relationship. Maybe they don't want this competition to ruin your 'sisterhood'."
When the word 'sisterhood' was mentioned, Ling Ruiyin deliberately looked at Shi Qingxue with that meaningful look, only to make her face warm, and then continued: "The Ai family will not judge your so-called sisterhood. Well, just talking about competitions... you must know that some competitions cannot be given up!"
Shi Qingxue was so ashamed that she couldn't raise her head at first. Finally, when she heard Ling Ruiyin keep emphasizing 'can't give in', she felt that she still needed to explain.
"My dear, listen to me, I'm not actually asking for help from my eldest sister."
Ling Ruiyin glanced at her, as if to say: Tell me, what kind of flowers can you name
Shi Qingxue swallowed her saliva and explained softly: "You also said that my grandfather had already given me the test question for 'He Zong Lian Heng' when I was young. Did you know that my eldest sister was also present at the time."
"Oh?" Ling Ruiyin became a little more interested, and she carefully recalled the scene at that time.
He suddenly realized, "No wonder you all had that expression just now."
Shi Qingxue: "At that time, the eldest sister was still very weak, almost to the point where she could hardly take a step without taking a breath, but she was also very strong, studying military books hard, and refused to let herself fall behind others.
On the contrary, I, relying on my natural capital, don’t like staying at home the most. I am always running around. My grandfather and father never took care of me. Instead, they encouraged me to go to the military camp to exercise more. "
She laughed at herself before continuing: "So on the day of the theory test, I played too crazy and was anxious to prepare for the next winter hunt, so I wrote a few sentences and handed it over."
"Is this possible?"
Ling Ruiyin was really surprised this time. At that time, Shi Qingxue was only a child of six or seven years old. How could he get Shi Lei's approval for just writing a policy
Could it be that Shi Qingxue was really a born general
Shi Qingxue smiled bitterly and said helplessly: "Of course not! After my grandfather read my strategy, Lei Lei was furious and canceled my winter hunting. He also grounded me and asked me to study the military classics at home. When will the strategy be published? Write down when you can go out.
At that time, I almost died of suffocation. I read all the military books at home and wrote four or five strategies before I finally passed the test. "
Ling Ruiyin didn't expect that Shi Qingxue would have such an interesting experience in his childhood. He was both funny and helpless at the same time, "Then you must be familiar with the topic 'He Zong Lian Heng'. Why didn't you say a word this time?" Write?"
Shi Qingxue: "I just suddenly remembered that the scene at that time was similar to now. My sister and I each occupied a desk, and the elders were surrounding us. My sister was writing seriously, and coughed twice from time to time, which was inexplicably disturbing. It sounds sad.
I vaguely remember that my mother quietly walked up to me at that time, and she whispered to me: "Your sister is sick, you have to let her go."
Speaking of which, I don’t know how many times my mother told me similar things when I was young. I was in a hurry to play and didn’t think much about it. Since my sister wanted to win, let her win... "
The scene at that time was so similar to the one now that Shi Qingxue was still in a trance at first and did not come back to her senses.
She finally figured out why in her previous life, Shi Baoning was obviously her biological sister, but she was not very familiar with him. Instead, she had a closer relationship with Shi Baochun, who was in the third room.
In other families, the older sister would give way to the younger one, but her mother had always told her to give birth to Shi Baoning when she was young.
Although he was not dissatisfied, he still subconsciously chose to distance himself.
It wasn't until now that she finally figured it out.
She never owed Shi Baoning anything!
No matter Shi Baoning was frail and sick, or who was favored more than whom.
These are not matters that Shi Qingxue can decide. She does not need and should not take all the responsibilities on herself.
Shi Baoning had no reason to make things difficult for her.
Ling Ruiyin didn't expect that there would be such twists and turns, secretly thinking that Madam Shi was really biased, and asked: "Since you have already given in to her once before, why do you have to give in to her this time?"
Shi Qingxue saw that Ling Ruiyin had a serious misunderstanding, so she quickly explained: "No! I really didn't let her go on purpose.
I just suddenly remembered the past, and if I were asked to write a better policy essay on the same topic than before, I really couldn't.
In this case, it is better not to write! "
Ling Ruiyin: "..."
This excuse was so outrageous that Ling Ruiyin couldn't find any words to refute for a while. In the end, she could only smile helplessly, "You! You are sharp-tongued and sharp-tongued. You are right no matter what. The Ai family can't defeat you!"
Shi Qingxue smiled in a hurry and said, "If anything, it's not because the queen loves Qingxue and gives way to Qingxue."
Then, she returned to her serious expression and said seriously: "Don't worry, this time is definitely due to special reasons. Qingxue promises that this situation will not happen again in the next two competitions."
"I hope so!" Ling Ruiyin sighed softly.
I thought to myself: I hope everything goes smoothly, otherwise it will be a big trouble!
On the second day, Ling Ruiyin had already thought of an offensive and defensive question to test the two generals' ability to attack and defend the city.
However, before she could get into position, news came from the Duke Shi's Mansion that Shi Baoning had caught a cold due to the wind yesterday and begged Ling Ruiyin to set the competition indoors.
If you don't get sick sooner or later, if you suddenly fall ill at this time, there is no way for people to avoid suspicion.
But it was useless to doubt. Seeing Shi Baoning's angry appearance, Ling Ruiyin couldn't force him to go outside to enjoy the breeze in the cold winter of the twelfth lunar month, right
"Then what does Baoning think your second competition is better for?" Ling Ruiyin didn't think about it anymore and simply asked Shi Baoning for his opinion.
Shi Baoning smiled obediently and said gently: "Father once said that a person's chess skills can test his talent and ability. Therefore, I boldly suggested that we test our chess skills in the second round."
As soon as he said this, everyone else looked at Shi Baoning in surprise.
Everyone here knows that Shi Qingxue is the worst at chess among the four arts because of his impatience. Didn't Shi Baoning make it clear that he uses his own strengths to attack the other's weaknesses
Although it is theoretically possible, this 'operation' seems a bit despicable.
However, Shi Baoning wanted to win and couldn't care less. He just looked at Shi Qingxue without changing his expression, "Do you dare to compete with me?"
Shi Qingxue sneered in her heart: Shi Baoning even used provoking skills. Wouldn't it be too boring if she didn't support him
"good."
"Qingxue, you don't have to..." Ling Ruiyin felt that this competition was too unfair and couldn't help but persuade her.
Shi Qingxue smiled and declined politely, "It doesn't matter. Dad did say that. It's reasonable to compete with each other with chess skills."
Shi Baoning was extremely happy and hurriedly urged his servants to prepare.
Seeing the two people sitting opposite each other, Ling Ruiyin felt anxious in her heart, but could not say anything.
Shi Baoning looked at the two chess boxes, black and white, and pretended to be generous: "Don't say that I am bullying my sister. We don't have to draw lots. I will give the black piece to you."
Shi Qingxue raised her eyes and glanced at Shi Baoning, then lowered her head and silently moved the chess box containing the black chess pieces to her side.
Then slowly it landed on Tianyuan.