Chapter 54: Claiming the Crown

Little Lazy poked out its pink little tongue and burrowed back into the cloth bag to sleep. Its mission was accomplished; its duty was to protect her, and only once her affairs were settled could it manage to survive. Thinking back to that night, it still couldn't help shivering slightly at the memory.

The young eunuch inscribed the names of the five contestants onto the stones they had chosen and summoned the stone-cutting master to perform the cutting on the spot.

"Qian Liu, the test assignment: a crimson primordial essence crystal weighing five catties and two liang. The extracted crimson primordial essence crystal weighs three catties and one liang."

"Song Wu, the test assignment: a crimson primordial essence crystal weighing five catties and two liang. The extracted crimson primordial essence crystal weighs four catties and seven liang."

"Sun Si, the test assignment: a crimson primordial essence crystal weighing five catties and two liang. The extracted crimson primordial essence crystal weighs two catties and nine liang."

"Li San, the test assignment: a crimson primordial essence crystal weighing five catties and two liang. The extracted crimson primordial essence crystal weighs four catties and eight liang."

What the hell, everyone had been given the exact same assignment?! Then what was the point of drawing lots in the first place?!

As things stood, Li San's primordial essence crystal was the closest in weight. If the crystal cut by Zhao Erdong turned out to be lighter than four catties and eight liang, she would have to pack up and leave today.

"Zhao Erdong, the test assignment: a crimson primordial essence crystal weighing five catties and two liang. The extracted crimson primordial essence crystal weighs... four catties and nine liang."

When the young eunuch finished reading, he cast a sympathetic glance at Li San and Sun Si, lamenting that they had lost to a young girl by such a razor-thin margin.

Upon hearing the name Zhao Erdong, Yue Moli visibly froze. Could this Zhao Erdong share the exact same name as the disowned legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Zhao?

Prime Minister Zhao Tianjiang's legitimate daughter was a notoriously useless good-for-nothing, utterly devoid of beauty and thoroughly despised by Zhao Tianjiang—this was common knowledge to all!

A few months ago, Zhao Tianjiang had submitted a petition to the emperor, claiming that Zhao Erdong had plotted to murder her eldest sister, Zhao Erqin. He requested an imperial decree to strip Zhao Erdong of her status as a legitimate daughter, loudly proclaiming his intention to banish her from the Zhao residence and sever all ties of father and daughter.

Yet, looking at the young woman before him, though her features could not be called peerless, she was exceptionally refined and clear-faced. An aura of innate nobility flickered faintly around her. Even as she smiled continuously, her demeanor remained graceful and poised, leaving not the slightest room for fault.

A woman like this was definitely no ordinary commoner from the streets.

In the imperial capital, there were many who bore the surname Zhao; perhaps it was merely a coincidence of names. After all, he had seen Zhao Tianjiang's Zhao Erdong with his own eyes, and she was worlds apart from the person before him—the difference between clouds and mud.

"Your Highness, Your Highness," the young eunuch whispered from beside Yue Moli, pulling him back from his wandering thoughts. "Your Highness, it is time to announce the results." He handed the imperial parchment bearing the results to Yue Moli, secretly and helplessly wondering what was wrong with the Fourth Prince. Always so meticulous and decisive in his actions, why had he been zoning out so frequently today?

Yue Moli collected his thoughts, accepted the imperial parchment from the young eunuch Yuanxi, and read aloud in a ringing voice, "The primordial essence crystal cut by Zhao Erdong is the closest to five catties and two liang. She is the victor and is hereby bestowed the position of First-Rank Treasure Appraiser of the Great Yue Imperial Court, entitled to a first-rank salary, along with a mansion located near the Yuanguang Gate of the imperial capital and a first-rank court attire. Tomorrow, she shall follow this Prince into the court to have an audience with the Emperor."

Yue Moli personally handed the bright yellow imperial decree to Zhao Erdong, and she accepted it with delight.

Having finished his duties, Yue Moli turned around, intending to leave with Yuanxi. After taking a few steps, he paused, turned back to look at Zhao Erdong, and asked, "Zhao Erdong, have you ever drowned in water?"

Zhao Erdong raised her gaze to meet his, the smile on her face undiminished, though she deliberately feigned a blank and bewildered expression, as if she could not comprehend his meaning.

Seeing her reaction, Yue Moli shook his head, said nothing more, and walked away.

Not until Yue Moli's figure vanished from sight did the smile instantly vanish from Zhao Erdong's face. This fellow... had he recognized her?

The master of the Spirit Stone Palace came forward to offer his congratulations, and Zhao Erdong seized the opportunity to ask him what duties a First-Rank Treasure Appraiser was expected to perform on a daily basis.