Still Taking Lessons?

Xiao Lingyan nodded. "Yes. My martial arts master is one of the top experts in the Great Jin. My brother and I both have a talent for martial arts, and we were forced to practice since we were young, so we're not bad. Although I haven't sparred with many people, I have sparred with a few Imperial Guards. My martial arts master said that my level is among the top, but I lack some practical combat experience."

His gaze towards Zhao Ruxi was full of envy. "You didn't have to suffer at all, and you were able to fight me to a draw. Truly, a golden finger is indeed a golden finger."

"Of course," Zhao Ruxi said smugly, tilting her chin up. "The female lead's halo is a must."

She now has the same system as Zhao Ruyu. Although her system has its limitations, it also shows that she has gone from cannon fodder to the female lead.

Otherwise, how could some random nobody, mere cannon fodder, have the nerve to possess a system? Can't you see this guy in front of you doesn't even have one?

Although he didn't have any special abilities, his girlfriend did, and she even spent her points to buy him the Taste Discerning Pill, which made Xiao Lingyan very satisfied.

He asked, "How did it feel to spar with me just now? Tell me in detail, and I'll analyze it for you. Maybe you can even improve."

Zhao Ruxi told him how she felt.

Xiao Lingyan stroked his chin, puzzled, and asked, "Since you saw through the flaw, why didn't you fight back?"

Zhao Ruxi scratched her cheek. "I was afraid I'd accidentally knock you away and hurt you."

Xiao Lingyan: "..."

Seeing Xiao Lingyan's shocked and bewildered expression, Zhao Ruxi looked around and spotted a fist-sized stone under a tree. She picked it up, crushed it in her palm, and it turned into powder.

Xiao Lingyan: "..." Shocked!

"I took two kinds of pills. The first one increases agility; this one increases strength," Zhao Ruxi explained.

Xiao Lingyan was immediately filled with envy.

He instinctively wanted to ask Zhao Ruxi if she could buy him two of these pills, but remembering what Zhao Ruxi had said about the difficulty of earning points, he swallowed his words.

Since pills are hard to come by, they should be spent where they are most needed.

As a prince, he could never be alone; he was always protected by Imperial Guards and assassins. While his high level of martial arts was a guarantee of his life, being even more skilled wouldn't make much difference.

However, the conspiracies and schemes targeting him and Xiao Lingpu are endless, making it impossible to guard against them. The Taste Discerning Pill that Zhao Ruxi bought for him are the most suitable for him.

Zhao Ruxi was the opposite. She had no martial arts skills and no capable guards; but there weren't many people targeting her. At most, some people were jealous of her, or like Princess Pingyang, they couldn't stand her and used some underhanded methods against her.

With the Agility Pill and the Great Strength Pill, she became a martial arts master, and she was able to protect herself when she encountered danger.

The most effective way to use the points you've worked so hard to earn is to use them where they're most needed.

He said, "If there's anything I can do to help with scoring, just let me know."

Zhao Ruxi waved her hand. "You can't help with this, and nobody can."

Xiao Lingyan was very disappointed.

He thought for a moment and said, "You have quick reflexes and great strength, but you can't use them well, which is a complete waste. When I have time, I will draw my martial arts moves for you, and you can learn by looking at them. Once you have learned them by imitation, I will give you some pointers in person a couple of times. Although this won't help you master your martial arts, it will be better than what you are now."

"In addition, you should also control your strength well and try to apply it to your martial arts moves," he added.

Zhao Ruxi nodded. "Okay."

Although she felt she wouldn't have many opportunities to use her martial arts skills, having an extra skill to save her life was still very necessary. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so eager to buy Agility Pill and Great Strength Pill in the first place.

Seeing that there was still some time, Xiao Lingyan demonstrated the boxing technique to her twice, explained the method, and carefully analyzed it in light of Zhao Ruxi's characteristics. Only when Wang Tong couldn't help but urge him did Xiao Lingyan leave.

He still had business to attend to at his office.

After Xiao Lingyan left, Zhao Ruxi stayed in the house for a while before leaving.

She arrived on horseback, disguised.

After circling around Beining City a few times to make sure no one was following her, she went into a house to change her clothes and took a carriage that was there back to Green Plantain Courtyard.

She disembarked from the carriage in front of the Green Plantain Courtyard, but instead of going inside, she led Qingfeng and Lady Luo to the academy.

When Madam Cui saw Zhao Ruxi, her face lit up with joy. "I was just saying I'd find some time to visit you. And here you are!"

"Is something the matter? If you need anything, you could just send someone to call me. There's no need for you to come all this way," Zhao Ruxi said.

The affairs of the academy were already enough to keep Madam Cui busy; now, with the addition of the newspaper business, Madam Cui is even busier than before.

However, she enjoyed it and didn't want others to share the burden, so she ended up being the one doing the work.

Madam Cui did not speak, but led Zhao Ruxi to the courtyard where she was resting.

After they sat down, she asked, "Have you not been to the Imperial Academy these past few days?"

Zhao Ruxi knew exactly what she was asking about.

She nodded. "Yes. I haven't been there since I took the provincial examination."

Ten days have passed since the results of the provincial examination were announced. In these ten days, Zhao Ruxi did visit the Imperial Academy once, bringing generous gifts to thank the teachers who had guided her, but she did not seek their advice on her writing again.

Madam Cui became serious. "Grand Princess Shangde asked me to ask you if those teachers were implying that you shouldn't go anymore?"

Zhao Ruxi quickly waved her hand. "No, no. But they didn't tell me to go again. I wanted to rest for a while, so I didn't go."

Upon hearing that she would "rest for a while," Madam Cui finally felt a little relieved.

Actually, she wasn't asking about the teachers at the Imperial Academy, but rather whether Zhao Ruxi would continue to participate in the provincial examination. However, she didn't want to ask directly, unwilling to give Zhao Ruxi a chance to refuse.

Zhao Ruxi is so talented in studying, and she doesn't want Zhao Ruxi to waste this gift bestowed upon her by heaven and stop at the provincial examination.

"If you wish to continue receiving their guidance, Grand Princess Shangde said she would plead with the Emperor again," she said.

Zhao Ruxi frowned. "I do need guidance, but the teachers at the Imperial Academy have their own things to do. The fact that they could take time out of their busy schedules to guide me in the first two months is already an extra favor."

"There are still six months until the imperial examination. It's definitely inappropriate for them to continue teaching me like this. Besides, I've already become the top scholar in the provincial examination, and some people have already made veiled criticisms of my teachers. How can I let them be subjected to public condemnation because of my own actions? Therefore, this course absolutely cannot continue."

Zhao Ruxi achieved the highest rank in the provincial examination. Many who were unwilling to be outshone by a woman dared not accuse her of cheating in the examinations. Instead, they criticized the teachers at the Imperial Academy, asking why they had so much energy to teach Imperial Academy Zhao Zhiwei instead of properly nurturing their own students. Wasn't it a waste of resources to carefully cultivate a woman about to be married?