Mu Zhuohua had taken Wang Yue's reminder to heart, and she was quick-witted besides. When she heard the emperor wanted an essay on ruling through non-action, she realized Wang Yue had discussed the very same topic with her before, even using Renzong as an example. She immediately picked up her brush and began writing from memory.
Unfortunately, although she finished early, the inkstone on her desk inexplicably toppled over. If she hadn't learned martial arts from Wang Yue and reacted quickly enough to catch it the instant it fell, the whole sheet might have been stained.
As it was, things weren't much better. She had already finished writing on her exam paper, so there was no way to start over on a fresh sheet.
And so Mu Zhuohua, who had earned the top place in the metropolitan examination, ended up with the blemish of having disgraced herself before the throne. Fortunately, the emperor was merciful. Seeing how young she was, he took her paper, which was stained over nearly half its length, and skimmed it. He was quite pleased with what he read, so he gave her the twenty-first place in the first rank—the very last place in that rank.
Still, he didn't appoint her to an official post right away. Instead, he sent Mu Zhuohua to serve at the Hanlin Academy for a few years, where she could learn and build her courage.
Wang Yue had long guessed that Mu Zhuohua would most likely be kept at the Hanlin Academy. What he hadn't expected was that it would be because of her disgrace before the throne.
He saw Mu Zhuohua looking downcast at the palace gates, so he deliberately put on a curious expression and asked, "Was the food at the Qionglin Banquet no good? Why the long face?"