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墨書 Inktalez
When the He Family arrived, they saw the girls seriously working on their paintings.
She came late, and there was hardly any space left around. Spotting an empty spot in the corner, she sat down.
After smoothing her clothes and adjusting her hair, the He Family looked around and noticed that she was sitting next to a lady dressed in Qiu Xiang-colored attire.
On such occasions, it was common for nearby women, whether acquainted or not, to engage in small talk. The people beside her were doing just that.
However, this particular lady appeared cold and unapproachable. The He Family considered this and decided against initiating conversation, instead lifting her head to look at the girls.
Just then, the time had come, and the girls began to present their paintings, which were placed in the center by servants arranged by the Shen Residence.
The He Family had not noticed which one belonged to Qing Wu earlier and hurriedly searched for it.
The stands were lined up on the north side of the courtyard, right next to the exterior of the house. The closer ones were easy to see, with signatures clearly visible. For those further away, she had to squint to make them out.
As she anxiously scanned back and forth, she suddenly heard the person beside her exclaim, "That girl with the surname Liu is quite good."
Surname Liu?
Could it be Qing Wu?
Following her gaze, the He Family indeed found Qing Wu's name over there. She thought about saying, "That's my daughter," but then reconsidered. Earlier, she had heard this lady praise Qing Wu first before initiating conversation. Now hearing another compliment after a long pause felt a bit awkward.
Just as she hesitated on whether to clarify their relationship immediately, she heard the person beside her exclaim in surprise, "How could this be?"
The He Family abandoned her previous thought and looked over at the stands.
She saw that the girls had already been invited into the open room. The boys who had been sitting on the north side were now stepping forward one by one, placing their willow branches into a basket.
In the basket beneath Qing Wu's painting, there were many willow branches. However, one person's collection exceeded hers.
It belongs to Zhu Minran.
"Although the technique is skilled, it is too conventional and lacks brilliance. In contrast, Liu Young Lady's work uses bold colors; even with silk, she can still manipulate it with ease." The lady in Qiu Xiang's colorful attire could not hide her confusion and said, "Why is the best work only ranked second? Has the judgment of the people in Capital City already diminished?"
The women beside her were all from Capital City. Her voice was not loud due to her surprise, but others certainly heard her clearly.
Someone nearby mocked, "The current first place, Miss Zhu, is the one who won the championship at the previous Floral Banquet. She is the granddaughter of Zhu Ge Lao; how could she possibly be inferior to some unknown wild girl!"
"Exactly. She refused to admit defeat last time, and now she still ranks lower. Let's see how proud the Liu Family remains!"
"When has the Liu Family ever been proud?" He Family could not help but respond when they heard someone belittling Qing Wu. "Mr. Wang also praised Qing Wu's paintings. You are being quite unjust."
She was naturally gentle, and even though she felt angry inside, she couldn't raise her voice too high during the argument. Amidst the laughter, it didn't stir up much of a commotion.
However, the lady beside her heard it and pondered aloud, "Floral Banquet? The surname Zhu?"
In an instant, a smile crept onto her lips as she said, "I see now. I see."
He Family was about to argue again in indignation when she felt a coolness on her hand; someone had placed their palm over her hand. Turning to look, she realized it was the lady beside her.
"The Zhu Family and Zheng Family are about to become in-laws. Both families have extensive connections in Capital City, and their relationships are intertwined; it would be easy for people to vote for that Zhu girl. I heard earlier that someone was causing trouble at the Floral Banquet; I wasn't sure then, but now I understand." With a sigh, she continued, "What a pity. Originally, the Former Emperor allowed for the Floral Banquet to be held at the Palace out of goodwill, but who would have thought that those organizing it would have such corrupt intentions and resort to various means..."
Her words were quiet but drew many curious glances from those around.
"Those from lesser households are so short-sighted that they dare speak recklessly. The Zheng Family and Zhu Family actually dare to speak ill privately." Someone mocked, "You must not be from the capital."
"I am from Yanghuai. I came here because I heard there was a painting competition."
Yi Zhenglian cast a faint glance at the other person with cold eyes and said icily, "I just learned for the first time that Yi Family is considered 'a household' in others' eyes."
"Yanghuai? Yi Family?"
The one who had been the fiercest in rebutting her suddenly remembered something, and his face turned pale as he murmured, “Yanghuai... Yi Family?”
“Yes.” Yi Zhenglian glanced at him with a half-smile.
The other person's face instantly turned ashen.
Some in the crowd realized what was happening and quickly fell silent. When they looked back at Yi Zhenglian, their expressions shifted between uncertainty and fear.
A few who were still confused wanted to argue further, but seeing that the highest-ranking individuals had already closed their mouths and showed no willingness to debate, they hesitated, even though they felt suspicious, and dared not say another word.
What had been a heated argument just moments ago had suddenly turned into the quietest place.
In this strange silence, everyone heard a light laugh coming from the entrance of the courtyard.
They looked up to see someone stepping inside.
A figure in dark clothing flashed before them, and after the light laughter, he raised his voice to ask, “Marquis, I acquired a painting these past two days. I wonder if it is good or bad. How about you give it an appraisal?”
His words successfully drew everyone's attention in the courtyard.
Although the girls were inside the house, the door was wide open, allowing everyone to see Qin Shuying suddenly appearing in the center of the courtyard.
Seeing a familiar friend, Qing Wu instinctively smiled. Just as she was about to say a few words to Shen Shuihua beside her, she noticed several girls around her were tense and on guard, looking quite nervous.
Qing Wu hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong? Is something amiss?”
“General Qin. That is General Qin,” Zou Kefen whispered. “Taught by Grand General himself, he took up arms at nine and fought alongside Former Emperor and the great general during chaotic times. After the great general's passing, his methods have become increasingly ruthless. If it weren't for Former Emperor summoning him back to the capital to protect His Majesty during his illness, he would have likely expanded the northern territories by now…”
Qing Wu gasped in disbelief as she looked at the man with a smile on his lips.
Could it really be her familiar Qin Shuying!
Zou Kefen turned around and said to Qing Wu, "He is indeed a killing god on the battlefield."
At this moment, Lu Pingting, who was nearby, also joined the conversation.
Lu Pingting, who usually loved to smile with her lips slightly curled, had a tense expression now, her face pale as she said, "Compared to him, I am even more afraid of His Majesty. I heard that His Majesty received the true teachings from the Former Emperor and is exceptionally skilled. At the age of eight, he beheaded an enemy general who attempted to ambush him in his tent."
She pressed her slightly pale lips together and looked blankly at everyone. "Just think about it; after all, Lord Qin still smiles. But His Majesty..."
No one had ever seen him smile.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Only Qing Wu remained tense, unsure of what expression to wear.
The easels displaying Qing Wu's and Zhu Minran's paintings were set up, one near the far west and the other near the far east. The girls couldn't see how many paintings were on either side through the Door, but Qin Shuying stood in the middle and could see everything clearly.
He glanced at the Willow Branch on Qing Wu's side and then coolly looked at Zhu Minran's basket before bringing what he held to Master Wen and said, "Please give your judgment."
Master Wen had already heard about the events at the Floral Banquet, where Zheng An had used his "skills" to ensure that Zhu Minran won over Qing Wu. Now seeing the situation before him, he understood everything.
He had originally invited the esteemed Mr. Zhou to judge. However, upon seeing Yi Zhenglian arrive, he felt delighted, knowing that his plan was already halfway successful. Regardless of whether Qing Wu could win this time or whether Mr. Zhou would come forward to assist her, Zheng An's scheme to have Zhu Minran take first place at the Floral Banquet was certainly thwarted.
However...
It was still unpleasant for him that his granddaughter had been schemed against by someone.
Master Wen was thinking about how to encourage Yi Zhenglian to speak up for Qing Wu. After all, a word from the Head of the Yi Family would be more convincing than Mr. Zhou's lengthy discourse.
Unexpectedly, at this critical moment, Qin Shuying arrived.
Even though Master Wen already had plans in mind, he was somewhat caught off guard and hesitantly asked, "General Qin, what is this you have brought...?"
He appeared to be hesitating, but his fingers were impatiently tapping on the scroll. Those who understood him knew the meaning was quite clear.
——Qin Zi Are you here to disrupt? Today is the perfect time for my beloved granddaughter to make her name. Don't interrupt!
Qin Shuying smiled gently and said nothing more. She slightly turned her hand holding the scroll, revealing a few characters in her palm.
Master Wen felt a twitch in the corner of his eye. When he looked again at Second, Qin Shuying had already closed her palm and turned it back.
Master Wen expressionlessly thought for a moment, then raised his chin and squeezed out a seemingly reluctant response: “Hmm.”
As soon as he spoke, Qin Shuying gestured towards Wen Qingyue beside her.
Wen Qingyue nodded slightly.
Qin Shuying flicked her wrist, and the scroll opened up. She suddenly slapped the place where the scroll was unfurling, causing the edge to fly sideways with force.
Wen Qingyue instantly raised his hand to catch the scroll in front of him. He then relaxed his grip, and together with Qin Shuying, they firmly held the edges of the scroll, presenting it flatly before the old man.
The room was filled with occasional exclamations of admiration, noting that these two had indeed impressive skills.
Master Wen, however, remained unmoved and didn't even glance at them. He observed the painting closely for a moment before asking Qin Shuying: “Where did this come from?”
“A gift from a friend,” Qin Shuying replied with a smile. “I don't know how good this painting is. Since Marquis has invited many experts today, I thought I would bring it here for everyone to help identify it.”
As soon as Zhenyuan Marquis was mentioned, many people were eager to try their hand.
Master Wen, however, ignored those hopeful gazes, scanning the room with sharp eyes before pointing to two individuals: “How about you two?”
He pointed inside the room and then outside. Before long, Zhu Minran and Zheng Young Master stepped forward under everyone's expectant gaze.
The Zhu Family and Zheng Family held great prestige. The younger generation from these two families was quite well-known among their peers.
Now he has caught the attention of the Zhenyuan Marquis...
The two of them couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Standing side by side in front of the painting, they focused intently on it.
Before long, they were secretly admiring it.
This was a painting depicting the charm of mountains and forests. Under the bright sunlight, as the shadows of the trees swayed, several animals were gathered together playing.
The cat was cute and clumsy, the rabbit was adorable, and the chickens and ducks were amusing.
Only a large dog was staring fiercely into the distance. Over there, a tiger's paw could be seen peeking out from behind a rock, barely visible.
Every detail was meticulously captured, showcasing true artistry.
It was truly lifelike...
Master Wen shook his head reluctantly and sighed, "I think this painting is just average."
Zhu Minran glanced at Qin Shuying, who appeared neither sad nor happy, and smiled, "The Marquis usually only concerns himself with warfare, so he naturally doesn't understand the intricacies of this painting. I, on the other hand, find this painting quite excellent. I feel inferior in comparison."
Zheng Young Master also chimed in from the side, "The creator of this painting must be a renowned master." However, he had yet to figure out exactly who it was based on the brushwork.
Master Wen nodded and asked Zheng Young Master, "Are you saying that this painting must be the work of a master artist?"
"Exactly," Zheng Young Master affirmed confidently. "Among all the people here, I doubt anyone's work can compare."
"Oh..." The old man nodded and then asked Zhu Minran, "So you mean to say that you can't replicate this style?"
Zhu Minran smiled with pursed lips, "Even if you give me ten more years, I still might not be able to reach that level."
"I see..."
Master Wen paused and laughed heartily, "It seems that today's contest has already determined the victor. Very good, very good."
Zhu Minran's face showed delight, but he still said, "Willow Branch has not finished yet. It is better to see the Competition through to the end."
Zheng Young Master also laughed, "Although the Marquis wishes to announce Miss Zhu as the champion early, since it is a Competition, it is best to proceed to the final step."
"Miss Zhu? Champion? In front of such an artist, you dare to claim to be the best..." Qin Shuying raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Could it be that you are dreaming?"
He called out loudly, uncontrollably summoning Qing Wu, pointing at the painting and asking with a laugh, "Do you know who painted this?"
Qing Wu had seen it earlier in the room. She was embarrassed then, and now standing face to face, she felt even more shy.
...This painting was done by her during her free time in the palace. She hadn't even had a chance to color it.
How did it end up here?!
Could it be that what Huo Yun'ai handed over to Qin Shuying before was this...
The girl’s face turned red and she couldn't speak, but Qin Shuying smiled and fully unrolled the scroll he was holding. He exchanged a glance with Wen Qingyue, and together they turned the scroll towards the crowd.
Those nearby took a glance and were instantly stunned.
The signature clearly bore Qing Wu's name!
Zheng Young Master and Zhu Minran also noticed.
The former's face turned bright red and then gradually faded to gray.
—Just moments ago, he had admitted that among all these people, no one could match this person's level.
"This is impossible!" Zhu Minran exclaimed after a moment of shock, screaming, "You are deliberately deceiving me! Deliberately showing favoritism! Deliberately making me say things I don't mean!"
As soon as she spoke these words, many who initially wanted to help her couldn't help but shake their heads in disdain.
Earlier, she had clearly admitted that even after ten years, she wouldn't be able to create such a painting. If she had honestly acknowledged her lack of skill, even if she couldn't win, she would at least have earned the praise of being "open-minded."
Now, however, she had fallen to a lower position.
Under the knowing gazes of the crowd, Zhu Minran's expression grew increasingly grim. Zheng Young Master pulled her back towards the crowd, but she refused and angrily shook off his hand, glaring at Qing Wu with resentment. She spat, "Today is the banquet hosted by the Marquis. I don't know what methods you used to gain his favoritism. I can only say that when it comes to schemes, I am no match for you. Even if I cannot defeat you today, it is because of your malicious intent!"
"The Marquis merely echoed your conclusions with a few words; how is that favoritism?"
With a light sigh, Yi Zhenglian stepped out from the crowd and glanced at the hairpin on Qing Wu's head.
"This child, if I'm not mistaken, should be the master of the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion, right? The Marquis has been fair all this time and hasn't protected his granddaughter or said a word in her favor. Now he merely repeats what you from the Zheng Family and Zhu Family have concluded, and that has turned into 'favoritism'..."
She ignored the shocked and incredulous expressions of those who realized Qing Wu's true identity, a smirk playing on her lips as she lightly scoffed.
"The 'justice' in your hearts is truly cheap."
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