Reborn to Become A Queen: The Real Heiress's Comeback
Chapter 162 First Rank Zhan Lan!

Chapter 162: Chapter 162 First Rank Zhan Lan!

Cui Hao looked back and saw Mu Yan, who was looking down at the examination papers. As he watched the papers, his brow furrowed just the same.

For Zhan Lan’s handwriting was simply too ugly!

It seemed that each character was recognizable, but it also felt somewhat unfamiliar.

She and Chu Yin really were good sisters; their handwriting was equally unappealing.

"Seal Keeper!" Cui Hao wanted to rise to greet him but was pushed back down by Mu Yan’s hand.

Mu Yan’s arrival immediately caught Cui Ying’s attention. Mu Yan’s perfect and handsome face, under the sunlight, exuded a noble aura, and his tall figure made people fall for him at first glance.

No one could resist Mu Yan’s supremely handsome features. Similarly infatuated, Zhan Liluo felt a rush of excitement, her breathing quickened, and a blush rose on her cheeks.

Madam Zhang noticed her daughter’s change in expression and immediately asked, "What’s wrong, Liluo?"

Zhan Liluo replied in an embarrassed tone, "Mother, the person behind Mr. Cui is Mu Yan."

After seeing Mu Yan, Madam Zhang smiled approvingly and said, "Indeed, he is of an extraordinary temperament. No wonder..."

Zhan Liluo affectionately took her mother’s arm and said shyly, "Mother, please don’t stare at him like that..."

Seeing her daughter’s coy expression, Madam Zhang patted Zhan Liluo’s hand and whispered, "It’s alright, I’ll help you."

Zhan Xuerou, sitting not far from them, followed the direction they were looking and was struck dumb; Mu Yan’s presence seemed to radiate light, making everyone around him dim in comparison.

That was the legendary Mu Yan; no wonder Zhan Liluo, nearing eighteen years of age, was still unmarried. If it were for Mu Yan, he would certainly be worth waiting for.

Zhan Xuerou couldn’t help but take a few more glances, but sadly, Mu Yan was too flirtatious. Unlike Si Jun, he was not someone she could control.

Moreover, Mu Yan had a bad reputation, was a traitor, and one couldn’t predict what the future held for him. She couldn’t gamble her future happiness on such a man.

With that thought, Zhan Xuerou quelled the restless thoughts in her heart.

Zhan Xuerou mockingly thought to herself, could Mu Yan possibly fancy Zhan Liluo?

What a joke, Zhan Liluo was only deluding herself!

A man like Mu Yan, unless he took a liking to you and made the first move, you’d only risk humiliating yourself.

Under Mu Yan’s gaze, Cui Hao, even in the winter’s chill, broke out in cold sweat.

He steadied his mind and wrote two characters on the examination paper: First Rank.

Mu Yan watched as Cui Hao returned the paper to the chief examiner. Not wanting to draw too much attention, he immediately left.

His brief appearance went unnoticed by Zhan Lan.

Zhan Lan, taking a break offstage, wiped her spear with a handkerchief while pondering: this competition had brought four individuals who shouldn’t have been there.

One was Huang Gun, and she had never seen the other three. However, she had recognized one of their identities when the chief examiner had called their names.

Ouyang Qingming!

He was the eldest son of the Heavenly Slaughter Sect, and also a man who colluded disgracefully with the Great Elder.

The Great Elder enjoyed toying with children and men, while this eldest son loved to play with women. Tired of them, he’d break their hands and feet, turning them into beauty pots for display.

How perverse!

How cruel!

Zhan Lan rubbed her fingers together. A person like Ouyang Qingming, who had done numerous evil deeds, disliked being constrained and cared even less for official positions. His appearance today surely had an unspeakable motive.

Xiao Chen also finished answering soon and came to stand next to Zhan Lan, who whispered lowly: "Be careful with Ouyang Qingming, all three of them must be from the Heavenly Slaughter Sect."

"Understood," Xiao Chen acknowledged.

Should a melee break out later, he would pay extra attention to these three.

More examinees submitted their papers one after another, and the deputy examiners divided to grade the papers, quickly eliminating those who were ignorant of military strategies.

The crowd below waited for the final results, Bai Lu spoke in a sarcastic tone: "Do you think Zhan Lan will pass?"

Cui Ying dared not join in, while Zhan Liluo thought bitterly: It would be best if she didn’t pass, it’d be good for her to face embarrassment.

Zhan Xuerou sneered inwardly at Bai Lu’s naivety; after all, Zhan Lan had been on the battlefield and had earned military merits. With a bit of thought, it was clear she could pass this round as well.

But the next round was hard to predict.

Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Zhang Zhao announced: "Today’s military strategy test ranking, third tier: Huang Gun, Liu He, Qi Ming, Hua Jiu, Lu Chuan; second tier: Ouyang Qingming, Xiao Chen."

Bai Lu was feeling smug when she heard this: "See, I told you Zhan Lan couldn’t possibly be first tier..."

Before she could finish, Zhang Zhao’s voice rose a notch: "First Rank Zhan Lan."

The audience below erupted in exclamations of admiration.

"Indeed fitting for the General Mansion’s Miss Zhan!"

The speaker stretched out a hand to the person next to them, "Come on, hand over ten silvers, you just bet that Miss Zhan was going to lose."

The person next to him, though pained, handed over the ten silvers, lamenting, "Ah, who would have thought she’d answer so quickly, she truly is strong, I misunderstood..."

Bai Lu’s smile froze on her face, and neither Zhan Xuerou nor Zhan Liluo was happy about Zhan Lan’s result.

But Zhan Xuerou knew how to feign, excitedly she said: "Lan is amazing!"

Qin Shuang and Zhan Beicang watched the stage, and the corners of their lips unknowingly curled up into smiles.

Zhan Liluo turned and rolled her eyes at Zhan Xuerou, she was really too good at pretending!

In the end, only eight remained for the Martial Arts Examination.

Zhan Lan glanced at Ouyang Qingming’s displeased expression and his followers who looked dejected and dared not to meet his gaze.

As expected, they were all in cahoots, now one man down, Ouyang Qingming’s certainty in assassinating her would be diminished.

Originally, it was already difficult to feign an accident in plain sight.

Now, with one less accomplice to cover him, Ouyang Qingming’s actions would surely be even more challenging.

Zhan Lan quickly surveyed the crowd below, certain that this wasn’t Zhan Xuerou’s doing because she had always looked down upon her, believing it was impossible for her to win and that she was here only to witness her embarrassment.

Finally, her gaze rested on Zhan Xincheng below, his health not yet fully recovered, yet he came to watch her match. According to Zhan Xincheng’s character, he would have no interest in the Martial Arts Examination.

If something’s odd, there’s a demon at play, Zhan Lan thought as she lowered her eyes, she already had a hunch.

The second branch of the family was preparing a strike against her.

No wonder, for Zhan Xincheng was a deeply malicious man in his past life, and he was the first to provide evidence of his elder brother’s rebellion when Zhan Beicang was in trouble.

It was likely because Zhan Xincheng had long been jealous and resentful of his legitimate elder brother’s military achievements and harbored harmful intent.

A few months ago, she, along with her father and grandfather, had executed familial justice in court, leading to such a tragic end for Zhan Feng.

Zhan Lan could imagine that with Zhan Xincheng’s scheming nature, he wouldn’t take action himself but would seize the right opportunity to eliminate each of them one by one.

At this moment, Zhan Xincheng, as if unintentionally, glanced at Ouyang Qingming.

He hoped that today he would succeed!

He had seen with his own eyes that Zhan Lan had signed the life-and-death agreement; this was the best opportunity to kill Zhan Lan!

In the future, only without Zhan Xinzhang at home taking charge and without Zhan Beicang overshadowing him, could he be seen by the Emperor and the world.

Only then would he truly be the master of the General Mansion.

...

A conspiracy was gradually tightening its noose around Zhan Lan.

After the military strategy test was over, with Zhang Zhao’s command, the eight candidates stood again in the Martial Arts Arena.

Zhan Lan was thrilled to see Huang Gun still among them.

The Minister of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, Cui Hao, before stepping onto the stage, respectfully ran over to Mu Yan, who was already below, and nodded: "The lower official is heading up to announce the competition rules!"

Mu Yan nodded slightly.

Cui Hao walked up proudly, his voice ringing with authority, "This official will introduce the rules; anyone who violates the rules will be handled by the Ministry of Justice!"