Zi Lingling smiled.
When sleepiness comes, a pillow is delivered. How could she not smile?
She knew Ye Moyuan would play tricks, but she didn't expect him to play them so... cute.
Ye Lingyuan smiled.
He had already seen Ye Moyuan's darkened expression.
Why did Ye Moyuan miscalculate?
Military strategy?
Let alone anything else, the Sun Tzu's Art of War and Thirty-Six Stratagems that his Lin'er had given to Mu Qingyan were enough for the generals present to study for a lifetime.
Ye Moyuan's attention had been focused on the two of them.
Seeing the smiles on their faces, his heart skipped a beat.
No way?
She even understood military leadership?
How could this be possible?
What kind of woman would study the art of war?
Moreover, Zi Lingling was considered a good-for-nothing by everyone just six months ago!
Could it be... those twelve years of biding her time were precisely for learning statecraft and strategy?
If that were the case, had the Zi family been coveting the Ye family's empire long ago?
Ye Moyuan's mind was overwhelmed by a series of questions, making him breathless.
If Zi Lingling knew Ye Moyuan's thoughts, she would probably admire his imagination.
Not everyone desired power and the throne!
What's more, as a spiritual practitioner, her ambition was not limited to these small Three Kingdoms.
She needed a broader horizon to soar like a bird in the sky and swim like a fish in the sea.
Furthermore, when Zi Wenchang vaguely revealed Zi Guochang's whereabouts last time, Zi Lingling had a premonition: the day she left Tianqi was not far away.
This was also the reason why she had been accelerating her pace and dealing with certain matters recently.
No matter what, Tianqi Kingdom was her rear base.
She did not want to face any trouble at home after she went to the Four Great Empires.
For now, she had to deal with the current matters.
To quell his unease, Ye Moyuan spoke, "Who will go first?"
"Any order!" Zi Lingling stretched lazily.
It didn't matter who went first; the outcome would be the same!
This was her true thought.
After all, her mind contained five thousand years of civilization from the Yan Kingdom of her previous world.
Shi Kelang smiled bitterly.
The more nonchalant Zi Lingling was, the more he felt he was going to lose.
Instead of showing off in front of an expert, it was better to admit defeat after hearing Zi Lingling's brilliant insights.
Thus, he forced out a smile uglier than crying and said, "This old man would prefer to hear the Zi family head's high opinions first."
Zi Lingling said faintly, "If this family head finishes speaking, the Imperial Tutor will have no chance! So, Imperial Tutor, are you sure this family head should go first?"
Shi Kelang nodded and said, "If, after listening, I realize I cannot surpass it, I will naturally not boast and make a fool of myself."
Zi Lingling smiled faintly and said, "If that is truly the case, the Imperial Tutor will have to retire. Is the Imperial Tutor willing?"
Shi Kelang laughed heartily and said, "If that is truly the case, it is fate! And this old man, at his age, should enjoy some peace and comfort."
"Since that is the case! This family head will not decline!"
Zi Lingling sat up straight and spoke slowly:
"Warfare is of paramount importance to the state; it is a matter of life and death, the survival or ruin of the territory, and therefore cannot be disregarded."
"Hence, it is examined by means of five factors, and by means of calculations..."
...
"Warfare is the way of deception."
"Thus, when able, show that you are unable..."
"When profitable, entice them..."
...
"He will conquer who has first measured and calculated in the temple." (From Sun Tzu's Art of War)
After Zi Lingling finished speaking, everyone in the court had eyes that shone.
Not only the military officials but also the civil officials.
For a moment, the court fell silent again, entering the same eerie atmosphere as before.
Ye Moyuan savored every word Zi Lingling spoke, and shock after shock flashed in his eyes.
Ye Lingyuan remained very quiet.
Mu Qingyan had presented this copy of Sun Tzu's Art of War to him for perusal after he obtained it.
The first time he saw it, his reaction was not much better than that of the people in the court.
Shi Kelang was so shocked that his jaw dropped.
This twelve-year-old girl before him was simply a jack-of-all-trades.
He truly couldn't guess what else Zi Lingling didn't know.
A master who could fight across higher cultivation levels among spiritual practitioners, a physician, an alchemist, a master of statecraft...
Such a woman could be described as a human treasure trove.
Pity the Crown Prince Ye Yuanhao, with his clouded eyes, rejected such a remarkable woman and instead entangled himself with her cousin, ultimately suffering the fate of a broken engagement.
Pity the Emperor's judgment was not as good as the King of Hell's, as he actually tacitly approved the Crown Prince's broken engagement.
Shi Kelang now began to suspect whether the Jin Xia Kingdom, under the guise of the Imperial Zi family, was trying to eliminate Zi Lingling and weaken Tianqi's destiny.
No! This won't do!
Such a talented woman must absolutely not be handed over to the Jin Xia Kingdom or the Imperial Zi family.
Thinking of this, Shi Kelang suddenly stood up, faced Ye Moyuan, and knelt down with a "thump."
"Your Majesty, this old subject has sinned!"
The people in the court, engrossed in Sun Tzu's Art of War, were instantly jolted awake, not understanding what their Imperial Tutor was doing.
Even if he lost the competition, it was not his wish, so why confess his sins?
Moreover, among those present, including the Emperor and the King of Hell, who could possibly defeat Zi Lingling?
"Imperial Tutor, what are you doing?"
Although Ye Moyuan was displeased with Shi Kelang's loss, as everyone thought, faced with such a talented Zi Lingling, even he himself would have inevitably lost.
Therefore, he could not blame Shi Kelang, at least not on the spot, as that would dishearten the ministers.
Xue Lang, having followed Ye Moyuan for so long, naturally understood his intentions.
Thus, he explained, "Imperial Tutor, Your Majesty does not blame you. Why do you insist on doing this?"
Other court officials also chimed in.
"Imperial Tutor, victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare. You need not blame yourself too much!"
"Yes, Imperial Tutor, even if all of us went up together, the result would still be the same."
"Imperial Tutor, it is not shameful to lose to the Zi family head's astounding talent!"
...
Zi Lingling was also slightly surprised.
Having the victory in hand, she naturally understood that Ye Moyuan, in order to win over people's hearts, would not do anything to Shi Kelang on the spot.
So, what was Shi Kelang doing?
She looked at Ye Lingyuan, who was sitting calmly, and noticed he showed no surprise.
She transmitted telepathically, "You know?"
Ye Lingyuan's eyes curved upwards, and he transmitted, "Know what?"
Zi Lingling gestured with her chin towards Shi Kelang, who was kneeling on the ground, and transmitted, "Know why!"
Ye Lingyuan nodded and transmitted, "I guessed some of it. He is likely pleading for you!"
"Pleading for me?"
Zi Lingling looked surprised and transmitted, "Why?"
Ye Lingyuan smiled faintly and transmitted, "He probably thinks you are a treasure and should not be handed over to the Imperial Zi family!"
Zi Lingling: "..."
Ye Lingyuan said, "He is subdued by you!"