When the servant from the Stormy Waves Courtyard went to look for Fuzhou to fetch the military books, Ji Lingchuan sat upright there. Although his eyes were looking elsewhere, Song Yihuan had a feeling of being locked onto by him.
It was as if she were prey locked onto by a fierce beast. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn't escape. She was doomed.
In fact, she felt a bit helpless deep down. If she could, she didn't want to provoke Ji Lingchuan.
But fate was just so unfair. The Princess of Ningqin happened to invite her and her younger brother over to talk today, and Ji Lingchuan happened to show up here at the Princess of Ningqin's place.
Before long, Fuzhou rushed into the Pine and Crane Courtyard with several military books in her arms. Out of breath, she handed them to Ji Lingchuan. "My lord, I've fetched the books from your study."
Ji Lingchuan took out a copy of *Strategies of a Gentleman* with his long and broad palm and offered it to Song Yihuan.
"This is a military book written personally by a general from the previous dynasty. There's only one copy in the world. Be careful not to damage it."
Song Yihuan took the military book carefully. The indifferent voice of Ji Lingchuan came to her ears.
"Song Yihuan, I'll give you the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to memorize all the content from page 28 to page 38. If you can recite it word for word, I'll believe that you truly have a photographic memory. Otherwise, I'll expel you from the mansion on the grounds of deceiving the Princess of Ningqin, and you'll never be allowed to step into the Mansion of Ningqin again."
The hand of the Princess of Ningqin that was holding the teacup paused for a moment. She looked at Ji Lingchuan in surprise.
Only then did she realize that her son seemed to have a prejudice against this concubine daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an.
Hearing Ji Lingchuan's words, Song Yihuan unconsciously tightened her grip on the book.
The time it takes to drink a cup of tea to memorize ten pages of content. What else could this be but a blatant attempt to make things difficult for her?
The teacup beside her was filled with water. Ji Lingchuan's eyes swept across the tense corners of the young girl's lips. He tapped the rim of his teacup lightly and said, "Let's begin."
Ten pages? So be it. Song Yihuan was just the kind of person who never gave in. She was willing to take the bet!
Song Yihuan closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her deer - like eyes were clear and focused. She opened the military book in her hand to page 28 and started to read intently.
Song Yixuan huddled in the arms of the Princess of Ningqin. He looked at Ji Lingchuan and then at his sister. His face was full of worry.
For a moment, the Pine and Crane Courtyard fell into silence. The only sound was the occasional turning of pages.
At this moment, everyone's eyes were on Song Yihuan. She had a graceful figure and delicate features. Sitting there and flipping through the book in her hand, she looked as beautiful as a painting.
She only had the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, but there was no sign of impatience in her actions. It made people feel that she was confident.
Ji Lingchuan squinted slightly. Undeniably, there was a faint sense of anticipation in his heart.
The tea in his cup was almost gone. Just as Ji Lingchuan was about to remind her, Song Yihuan across from him raised her head and handed back the book in her hand. "I've finished reading the content from page 28 to page 38."
The Princess of Ningqin quickly said, "Quickly, bring me the military book. Let me take a look."
Ji Lingchuan's eyes were fixed on her. "Then start reciting."
Everyone looked at Song Yihuan standing in front.
Song Yixuan even unconsciously held his breath and quietly tightened his grip on the Princess of Ningqin's sleeve.
He was a sensitive child. He could feel that Ji Lingchuan was making things difficult for Song Yihuan. Naturally, he was worried about his sister.
They saw Song Yihuan on the other side think for a moment and then start to recite.
"The general is the life - line of the state. If the general can achieve victory, the state will be stable..."
Ji Lingchuan listened extremely attentively. The more he listened, the more surprised he became.
He had flipped through this military book several times and knew the content by heart. That was why he knew that she was reciting it without a single mistake!
There was only one copy of this military book in the world. She couldn't have read it in advance. This could only prove that, just as the princess had said, she truly had a photographic memory.
He had thought she was just putting on an act. Finding that things were different from what he had thought, Ji Lingchuan unconsciously tightened his palm.
"... If the enemy attacks from the outside and the people loot from the inside, the army is bound to collapse."
After Song Yihuan finished reciting the last sentence, she looked up at Ji Lingchuan. Her deer - like eyes were clear and honest, showing no hint of coquetry but rather straightforwardness.
Her back was straight, showing a bit of unbowed spirit.
"My lord, I've recited all the content from page 28 to page 38 of the book. I wonder if I made a single mistake?" She slightly raised the corners of her lips and asked.
Before Ji Lingchuan could answer, the Princess of Ningqin said, "No mistakes, no mistakes. I checked carefully against the book. Miss Huan recited it perfectly, not a single word wrong. Chuan'er, are you still going to drive her out of the mansion now?"
The Princess of Ningqin had a teasing smile on her lips as she looked at Ji Lingchuan, as if she was watching him make a fool of himself. Song Yixuan also looked at Ji Lingchuan nervously, waiting anxiously for his answer.
Ji Lingchuan suddenly felt that the words he had said just now were like digging a hole for himself.
Song Yihuan had proven that she had a photographic memory, and he had lost the chance to drive her away.
If he insisted on making her leave, it would only make him seem petty and pushy.
"I misunderstood you just now. I apologize." He looked at Song Yihuan and said in a deep voice, "You can stay."
"That's right. We're all family. Why make things so tense?" The Princess of Ningqin laughed.
Family? I'm afraid Ji Lingchuan didn't think of them as family in his heart.
Thinking this way, Song Yihuan looked at Ji Lingchuan and, as expected, met the man's sharp and cold eyes.
She sighed softly in her heart. Just then, she saw Song Yixuan secretly yawn. Taking this opportunity, Song Yihuan said,
"We've bothered the princess for a long time today. It's getting late. I won't bother the princess to rest anymore."
The Princess of Ningqin also saw Song Yixuan's secretive action. She let go of her hand and pinched the new - grown flesh on Song Yixuan's face. Finally, she let the siblings leave.
After they had walked far away, Ji Lingchuan looked at the Princess of Ningqin, who was holding Buddhist beads, and asked in a deep voice, "Mother, why did you suddenly decide to see them today?"
The Princess of Ningqin played with the Buddhist beads in her hand. Her tone lost the warmth from before. "We've lived in the mansion for so long. We should know what they're thinking. If they have other motives for staying, we should send them away as soon as possible. The Mansion of Ningqin won't raise two idle people for no reason."
"However, it seems that they're quite well - behaved."
Well - behaved? Ji Lingchuan sneered at the corner of his lips.
If she were well - behaved, why would she say those things in the Embracing Fragrance Garden?
Noticing that Ji Lingchuan was still sitting there upright with a solemn expression, the Princess of Ningqin clearly sensed that he had something to say. "If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you still being so evasive with me?"
Ji Lingchuan looked up at her. "I went to the palace today. The Empress Dowager mentioned my marriage to the future princess. It was only then that I found out that it was you, Mother, who asked the Empress Dowager to arrange this marriage, and that's how the imperial edict of betrothal came about."