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墨書 Inktalez
Qing Wu did not know that Zheng Ning would also be coming. When she asked him about it, he only gave a vague answer, saying, "Maybe I'll go back." Even this morning when she asked him, he gave the same response.
Now seeing Zheng Ning, she was both surprised and delighted, instinctively wanting to walk towards him. However, before she could take a step, she was drawn over by the excited voice of a girl beside her.
"Sister Lu, Sister Zou, you’re here!"
She turned to look and saw two girls walking towards them, arm in arm.
The girl on the left had a round face and big eyes, already smiling before she spoke. Even from a distance, she was waving at the two of them. Earlier, Shen Shuihua had called out to her excitedly after seeing her greet them.
The girl on the right had delicate features but a slightly darker complexion and a cold expression that made her seem less approachable. Upon hearing Shen Shuihua's call, she nodded and quickened her pace slightly.
Qing Wu looked at them and then turned back to see Zheng Ning, but his figure was no longer in sight.
At that moment, Shen Shuihua called for Qing Wu to come over. Qing Wu paused for a moment before retracting her gaze and walking forward with her.
As soon as the round-faced girl saw Qing Wu, she let out a light exclamation and grabbed Qing Wu's hand to look her up and down. "Aren't you Lord Liu?" she exclaimed. Realizing that it was inappropriate to reveal someone's identity so abruptly, she quickly added, "I went to the previous Competition and saw you there."
Upon hearing this, Shen Shuihua frowned slightly and gently tugged at her sleeve. "What do you mean 'Lord'? Sister Lu has made Qing Wu sound seven years older. At first glance, it sounds just like my family’s Lords Shen—each one of them looks like a stern old scholar."
Her unique way of speaking made the other three unable to hold back their laughter. Even the girl with the cold expression showed a hint of a smile.
The girl named Lu Pingting held onto Qing Wu's hand tightly and turned to ask, "Then what should I call you?"
Shen Shuihua blinked and tilted her head to look at Qing Wu with a very cute expression. "What do you think?"
Qing Wu smiled and replied, "Why not just call me by my name?"
"That's very good." Zou Kefen nodded and said, "We are all of the same age. If we have to differentiate our titles, wouldn't that be troublesome?"
She is the daughter of General Zou, and influenced by him, she conducts herself very efficiently.
Lu Pingting smiled and said, "What you say is what you say; I won't listen." With a twist of her wrist, she linked arms with Qing Wu and walked forward.
Seeing the other two looking over, she leisurely said, "I will call out 'Sister Liu,' what can you do about it?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Shuihua realized that Lu Pingting was joking and stepped forward to join in the fun. Lu Pingting quickly released her hold on Qing Wu and kept dodging.
The two were happily playing around, while Zou Kefen and Qing Wu walked side by side.
Qing Wu, smiling as she watched Shen Shuihua and Lu Pingting, heard Zou Kefen speak lightly beside her: "I wonder... how is His Majesty's health these days?"
This sudden question caught Qing Wu off guard. After pondering for a moment, she replied, "It's fine." After a slight pause, unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked, "Why does Sister Zou ask this?"
Zou Kefen pondered for a moment and said, "In the past, when my father had matters to discuss with His Majesty, he would sometimes bring my brother and me to the palace. This year, my father returned to Beijing for work and has also gone to the palace several times. However, whenever I went with him, His Majesty was always too busy to meet. I was worried that His Majesty might be unwell, but my father and brother both said he was fine and thought I was overthinking it. I didn't believe them but didn't know who else to ask."
After speaking, she let out a light sigh and looked at Qing Wu with a hint of a smile. "Sister Liu serves in front of His Majesty; now that I've heard what Sister Liu said, I believe it."
However, when she said "believe it," her brows slightly furrowed, as if troubled by something.
Qing Wu knew that General Zou was a trusted aide of Huo Yun'ai, currently fighting on the battlefield and highly favored by the emperor. However, she did not know that the children of General Zou sometimes accompanied their father into the palace.
That young master Zou, if Qing Wu remembered correctly, currently held a position in the palace as a fourth-rank guard. Given his official rank, he would have little opportunity to see the emperor on ordinary days.
Originally, Miss Zou's words were nothing special. However, Qing Wu could still detect an unusual tone in her unnatural speech. She turned her head to look over, just as she was about to ponder it carefully, when Zou Kefen suddenly narrowed her eyes and shouted angrily, "Who is there!" Then she abruptly turned her head to look beside her.
A figure emerged from the shadows, walking slowly towards them.
He appeared to be in his early twenties, dressed in a blue brocade robe and wearing a white jade crown. He gently waved a folding fan in his hand, and his gaze swept over, landing on Qing Wu. His eyes were playful and filled with curiosity.
Qing Wu did not recognize him.
Seeing him like this, she felt a surge of dislike. She exchanged glances with Shen Shuihua, signaling her to leave quickly. Shen Shuihua decisively pulled Zou Kefen aside and moved away.
However, the man was unwilling to let them go. He took a few quick steps forward, closed his fan, and extended his arm to block Qing Wu's path.
Just as Qing Wu was about to question him, Zou Kefen lightly scoffed and raised her arm to sweep across, delivering a knife-hand strike directly to the man's ribs. Even though he hurriedly stepped back, he was still hit by the force. He coughed several times, unable to recover his breath.
Yet the hand holding the fan remained raised high, firmly blocking the way of the two.
Zou Kefen was annoyed and shouted, "Zhu Boran, what do you mean!"
The man named Zhu Boran covered his ribs and slowly straightened up, displeased. "You attacked me first, yet you question me."
Although Shen Shuihua had been laughing and joking with Lu Pingting earlier, she had been keeping an eye on Qing Wu's side. How could she not see Zhu Boran's actions? She immediately retorted, "Who struck first? Clearly, it was you who initiated trouble and tried to block her."
Lu Pingting had not noticed but echoed in support of her friend, saying repeatedly, "That's right."
Zhu Boran snorted lightly. "I just wanted to ask her a few questions. Now that you've intervened, it has turned into an unforgivable sin."
"I don't know if it's the 'Unforgivable Sin,' but based on Young Master Zhu's usual behavior, how many girls that you deliberately left behind would end up well?" Zou Kefen said coldly, "I don't care about your intentions towards others. Liu Young Lady is one of us; if you dare to touch her, I'll make you pay!"
Shen Shuihua added, "Exactly! This is the territory of the Minister's residence; if you're looking for trouble, you've come to the wrong place!"
It's no wonder Shen Shuihua was so cautious.
Zhu Boran is the direct grandson of Zhu Ge Lao and the biological elder brother of Zhu Minran.
As the head of the family and a high-ranking official, the Zhu family's code of conduct is quite strict. However, Zhu Boran is an exception. He disregards his elders' reprimands and warnings, stubbornly frequenting brothels and entertainment districts. It is said that half of Zhu Ge Lao's more than ten illnesses in the past three years were caused by him.
As for the other half...
They were caused by His Majesty's anger.
Now, Zhu Boran had intercepted Qing Wu before the event began, and his intentions were clear.
"If I wanted to cause her trouble, why would I show up when you are all here? Naturally, I would wait until she is alone."
Zhu Boran shook his head, snapped his folding fan shut, and tucked it into his waist. He glanced at the indignant young women around him and finally smirked as he asked Qing Wu, "So, are you going to participate in today's painting competition?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Pingting and Zou Kefen were puzzled. However, Qing Wu and Shen Shuihua exchanged knowing glances.
Earlier, when Shen Shuihua mentioned that there would be this event today, Zeng Mingxin had gone out to find Zhu Minran. It hadn't been long since then that Zhu Minran's brother came to inquire about it...
Qing Wu smiled lightly, "What if I participate? What if I don't?"
"If you don't participate, then that's good. If you insist on joining," Zhu Boran sighed, "I should really try to stop you."
"Stop me?"
Qing Wu nodded, her tone calm and understanding. "That's right. To avoid stealing the spotlight from your sister, I really should be held back. That stroke of good luck from that day probably won't happen again."
As soon as she said this, the three girls beside her couldn't help but laugh.
Zhu Boran's expression turned somewhat unpleasant as he scoffed, "It's truly rare to see a girl so unreserved."
"Unreserved?"
Qing Wu smiled gently, lowering her gaze to brush her sleeve. "If being reserved could win back the first place that was taken from me, I would consider it and put on an act."
"You..." Zhu Boran's face instantly turned pale with anger.
Seeing him so frustrated, the girls felt a sense of relief and all laughed together.
Zhu Boran clapped his hands in mockery, repeating the word "good" three times before sneering, "You certainly have confidence in yourself. You should take a look at your own painting and see what a mess it has become!"
Hearing his blatant sarcasm and seeing his exasperated expression, Qing Wu felt even more composed inside.
She knew her painting wasn't bad.
When she was judged as second place that day, she was still unsure about her own level. But with a teacher backing her up, Huo Yun'ai making a fuss for her, and Mr. Wang's affirming words...
If she doubts herself again, how can she live up to everyone's trust!
However, the Zhu Family members are all thinking about sending someone to stop her. Who knows if they will pull any other tricks during the event.
Qing Wu pondered this and was about to retort when she heard a short laugh from beside her. The laughter, though brief, made everyone present pause and turn to look in the direction of the sound.
A person strolled around the corner, moving leisurely with a relaxed demeanor. Although he appeared casually slouched, there was an air of nonchalance about him.
Who else could it be but Zheng Ning?
"Sir?" Qing Wu did not expect him to still be here. She said, "What are you..."
Zheng Ning had known her for many years and understood what she wanted. He lightly waved his hand to signal her not to ask further and said, "The event is about to start. I was going to hurry over, but I heard someone mention the Competition at the Floral Banquet, so I came to take a look. Who would have thought I would hear someone questioning your artwork from that day."
He crossed his arms and leaned against a nearby willow tree, casually curling his lips into a smirk. With narrowed eyes, he disdainfully glanced at Zhu Boran before lazily continuing.
"I didn't know that with my Ghost Hand Painter skills, my obedient student whom I taught hand-in-hand would actually be outdone by those nameless individuals brought out by others!"
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