However, the more difficult it was for me to enter, the more difficult it was for others as well. Those who made it were generally the social elites or from powerful, wealthy families.
但是我越难进入这里学习，就解释其他的人也越难进，末了能进来的基本都是社会精英，纵然不是精英人士，也是家族背景深厚，富可敌国之辈。
This was where I first met Zhang Guoying.
这也是我初次碰着张国英的地方。
Upon our first encounter, I was struck by his handsome face.
At the time, I was disguised as a boy to pursue my studies, and he was a handsome, elegant young man.
初见时，惊鸿一壁。
那时的我女扮男装来求学，遇上了那个翩翩公子颜如玉的他。
一壁惊鸿，一见倾城。
Growing up immersed in politics, I had a keen mind for the chaos of the times. The extraordinary Zhang Guoying could possibly become the future crown prince.
从小耳濡目染的我有着政治头脑，浊世中，群雄四起。而这个精彩绝伦的他，很可能便是未来太子。
When I met him, his father had already amassed military power and was beginning to make a name for himself.
由于在我认识他的时候，他的父亲已经是集兵权于一身，开始有了崭露锋芒之势。
So, for the sake of my family and to secure a future for my family and myself, I had to approach him and assume the title of his beloved cunningly.
所以为了自己的家族，为了给家族谋后路，也为给自己谋后路。我只有处心积虑地靠近他，并且冠上了自己是他的心上人的头衔。
"Zhang Guoying, I like you!"
“张国英，我喜好你！
”
"Zhang Guoying, I love you!"
“张国英，我爱你！
”
"Zhang Guoying, I am destined to marry you!"
“张国英，我嫁定你了！
”
"Zhang Guoying, in this lifetime, I will marry no one but you!"
“张国英，我这辈子非你不嫁！
”
……
I pursued him, ran after him, shouted to him, declared to him, and swore… I embarked on the long journey of winning his heart.
我向他追着，向他跑着，向他喊着，向他发布着，向他赌咒……开始了漫漫追夫之路。
Back then, he was solely focused on his studies, harboring ambitions for the world, and had no interest in romantic affairs. He disregarded my antics, paid no attention to them, and even ignored me completely.
那时候的他，齐心专心专于学业，心怀天下，无心儿女情长。对付我的胡闹他都置之不理，不问不管，乃至忽略。
And so, despite the widespread rumors about us, everyone in the Imperial Academy knew that a girl named Cui Yu was in love with a young man named Zhang Guoying, and she pursued him every day, sticking to him with unrequited, passionate love.
以是任她和他的传言传得人尽皆知，全体京师学堂的所有人都知道有一个叫做崔玉的姑娘爱上了一个叫张国英的男子，并且每天追着该男子，每天粘着该男子，一份单相思，一份单方面轰轰烈烈的感情。
The daughter of the noble Cui family, Cui Yu, gained a reputation as a notorious, lovesick fool. Everyone knew she was fascinated with Zhang Guoying, but he never responded.
名门之女崔家的千金小姐崔玉的名声成了有名的大花痴，所有的人都知道她爱上了张国英，可是张国英却并没有给她任何回答。
Blessed with exceptional intelligence, she knew well that her role as his beloved was nothing more than a charade, just as her love for him was fabricated.
资质聪颖的她清楚自己这个心上人是假的，可是自己爱上他也是假的。
Her ultimate goal was to secure a potential backup plan for the future while ensuring her presence in his life, making it impossible for him to forget her.
不过是为自己谋取一条很可能往后会用到的后路而已，同时也是想在他面前刷存在感，让他这辈子记住她，并且永久也无法忘却她。
If she couldn't leave a good impression on him, a bad one would do just as well, as long as he remembered her. Only then could their story develop into something more, and only then could she use their connection.
如果自己不能在贰心目中留下好印象，那么坏的印象也可以呀，只有能让对方能记住她，只有记住了她未来才有可能会发展成为其他的故事，才有可能为自己所用。
