The Orchid Courtyard's young ladies had been taught the Moon Dance for a long time. Therefore, even Xia Yayun was not perfect while performing it. However, she would score high. Even the teachers nodded in satisfaction.
The few teachers graded after she performed.
The grading system was divided into three grades and nine levels.
There were Excellent, Intermediate, and Low grades and each grade would divide into three levels. Therefore, the nine grades and levels were Excellent/Excellent, Excellent/Intermediate, Excellent/Low, Intermediate/Excellent, Intermediate/Intermediate, Intermediate/Low, Low/Excellent, Low/Intermediate, and Low/Low.
The result usually would not differ too much when the few teachers graded together.
The teacher had informed everyone how long they had just learned the Moon Dance.. Therefore, they should be much looser with the grading this time.
Xie Qiao thought to herself, 'Even if Xia Yayun cannot get an excellent grade for her performance, she will definitely get Intermediate/Excellent.'
"Xiao Qiao, you'd get a low grade at most!" Xia Yayun whispered to Xie Qiao as soon as she got off the platform.
Before Xie Qiao could speak, they heard a question from where the teachers were sitting. "Why did you whisper?"
Xia Yayun stumbled when she heard the voice.
Zhao Xuanjing's eyes were burning. "The teachers are here. What did you whisper?"
The few teachers' eyelids twitched when they heard what the Crown Prince said.
The Crown Prince was still the old him.
It was inevitable that the young ladies would cheer for each other when they were together. It should not matter whether they chatted, right?
"She said I'd get a low grade," replied Xie Qiao, looking honest.
Xia Yayun's expression changed immediately, and she said in a panic, "I-I was just telling her that she can't master this dance just by learning it for a day. She merely looked at it for a while today. She'll definitely perform poorly in the test. She might only get a low grade—"
"I saw that you said merely a few words. You looked fierce, not kind." Zhao Xuanjing's eyes looked grim when he said that. It was uncertain whether he was smiling.
Xia Yayun shivered.
Many young ladies looked at her with sympathy.
If it was the Fourth Imperial Highness, even if he realized something was wrong with what she said, he would not question it directly.
However, this was the Crown Prince…
Xia Yayun was having bad luck today.
"Your Highness, this lady is young. She said something wrong. Please forgive her," the teacher said immediately.
Nobody kneeled in the academy. The teacher only bowed and cupped her fists, looking sincere.
"The thing that she said wasn't targeted at me. It has nothing to do with me whether I forgive her or not. It's just that I don't like her lying. What grade did she get?"
"Excellent/Low," the teacher said after checking the other teachers' grading.
Xie Qiaor raised her brows slightly. She did not expect the teachers to be so loose with the grading.
'Her mediocre performance got an excellent grade?'
"The sword is meant for gentlemen. Your behavior and character are questionable, so we should amend the grade," added Zhao Xuanjing.
Xie Qiao nodded slowly. He was right.
The sword was the king of weapons—it was elegant. However, Xia Yayun… did not measure up in this aspect.
At that moment, Xia Yuyan's eyes were red.
She dared not argue with what the Crown Prince said. The emperor doted on him, and the Crown Prince was always a bully. Whatever the Crown Prince said, even if it did not make perfect sense, the result would remain the same.
The few teachers sighed. One of them asked while looking at Xie Qiao, "Young lady, do you think we should lower Young Lady Xia's grade?"
It would not matter if the grade was the only thing that was lowered.
However, each grade would be recorded. They would definitely write down Xia Yayun's personal provocation as well.
Moreover, her reputation might be ruined for a while for being pointed out by the Crown Prince in public.