The First Jasmine - Chapter 26
Chapter 26: The Champion of the Hundred Flowers
"In that case, Ye Li shall make a fool of herself."
"Ah-Li..." Qin Zheng spoke with deep concern, while Murong Ting and Hua Tianxiang also looked at her anxiously. Ye Li blinked at them, offered a small smile, and shook her head. Seeing that her smile was not at all forced, Qin Zheng felt her heart ease slightly. On second thought, Ah-Li’s mother had been the Number One Talented Woman of the Capital back then, and her maternal grandfather was the leader of the world’s pure scholars. Even if she usually kept a low profile, she must have learned everything she was supposed to learn.
Under the collective gaze of the crowd, Ye Li walked toward the long table where the brushes and ink still remained. After pondering for a brief moment, she lifted the brush and began to move it across the premium Xuan paper.
Up on the high stage, Feng Zhiyao watched the green-robed young lady who was currently lowering her head to paint with great interest, nodding imperceptibly. Seated beside him, Yaoji glanced at him and laughed softly in a low voice: "Does Third Young Master Feng think highly of Third Miss Ye?" Feng Zhiyao rubbed his nose and smiled. "She is very interesting, is she not? At the very least, she isn't as mediocre as the rumors claim. This attitude of remaining unperturbed in the face of unexpected changes alone is enough to make me look at her with a fraction of respect. Not to mention, Mo Jingli suffered a silent grievance at her hands just a while ago. Perhaps Ah-Yao is truly going to marry quite a fine princess consort this time."
The Heir of the Marquis of Muyang also seemed to possess a fair amount of interest in their topic of conversation. "Third Young Master Feng knows Third Miss Ye?"
Feng Zhiyao shook his head. "You just returned to the capital, so you don't know? She is the future Prince Ding Consort."
"Mo Xiuyao?" Mu Yang knit his brows. He had shared some acquaintance with Mo Xiuyao during his youth, but ever since Mo Xiuyao met with his accident, they had never met again.
Feng Zhiyao nodded and said, "Exactly. What do you think?"
Mu Yang arched his brows. "Mo Jingli is blind."
Yaoji could not help but let out a soft laugh, covering her lips as she smiled. "It seems both Third Young Master Feng and Young Master Mu think rather highly of Third Miss Ye."
The two men did not answer, merely casting their gazes once more toward the green-robed young lady who was currently lifting her brush to write rapidly. Both originating from prominent and eminent clans, they naturally understood each other's meaning. It had nothing to do with appearance or talent; rather, compared to Ye Ying, Ye Li was far more suited to be the main mistress of a great clan or a prince's estate. One truly wondered whether Mo Jingli, despite his royal birth, had been thoroughly spoiled by the Empress Dowager and the Grand Dowager Consort, or if this Ye Ying truly possessed extraordinary capabilities that remained unknown to outsiders.
The wait for the crowd did not even last the time it took for a single stick of incense to burn before Ye Li halted her brush. The Grand Princess instructed the attendants to her left and right to retrieve Ye Li's work. As the Xuan paper was lifted from the tabletop, the crowd could vaguely discern that it seemed to be a painting of peonies. Qin Zheng and the other two also let out a soft sigh of relief. Regardless of whether she could obtain a rank, to be able to complete a not-too-shabby painting of peonies in such a short amount of time meant that Ye Li, at the very least, would not lose face. The painting was first presented to the six individuals on the judging panel for appreciation. Old Master Su Zhe, who was the first to see the painting, knit his brows. He raised his head to cast a glance at the green-robed young lady who still stood peacefully by the table, then lowered his head to continue looking for a while before passing it to Mo Jian, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel beside him. Mo Jian likewise knit his brows and looked up at Ye Li from time to time, and only after quite a long while did he pass it to the person next to him.
The unusual reactions of the judges caused the young ladies below the stage to look at Ye Li continuously, while simultaneously feeling intensely curious about what exactly Ye Li's work looked like.
When Feng Zhiyao, who was the last to finish viewing, handed the scroll to the maidservant beside him to present to Grand Princess Zhaoyang, the others had also discussed and arrived at a conclusion. Su Zhe announced on their behalf: "Miss Ye Li, daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is first in calligraphy, first in poetry and lyrics, and fourth in painting."
"Ah-Li!" Hearing the result, Murong Ting called out in sheer delight. The others also cast astonished looks toward Ye Li. Ye Li offered a slight dip of her body to the people on the stage to pay her respects before turning around to return to her seat. Murong Ting raised her hand and clapped her on the shoulder with a laugh. "And here you said you were no good at these things; it turns out you were hiding your light under a bushel." Ye Li smiled wryly. "It was merely taking advantage of a shortcut." Hua Tianxiang laughed and said, "No matter what, we should still be happy. Ah-Li, congratulations." Qin Zheng pursed her lips and nodded to her with a smile, and Ye Li returned the smile.
Princess Qixia's face instantly changed upon hearing Su Zhe's words. Disregarding etiquette, she walked straight to Grand Princess Zhaoyang's side to look at Ye Li's painting. Only after quite a long while did she raise her head to cast a glance at Ye Li with a complex expression, speaking no further. The maidservant beside the Grand Princess brought the scroll down to pass it around among the seated young ladies for their perusal. After all, because Ye Li's work had altered the already established competition rankings, it was necessary to make everyone thoroughly convinced. The young lady who had originally won first place in poetry and lyrics also hailed from a scholarly family and was exceptionally sensible. After looking at Ye Li's painting, she rose and said with a smile: "To lose to a descendant of Mr. Qingyun is a defeat with honor." Her fine upbringing and poise caused people to look upon her with a few more measures of respect instead. The moment Murong Ting obtained the painting, she hastily unrolled it to appreciate it together with her good friends. Qin Zheng let out a gasp of admiration and praised: "Excellent poetry."
Only when the fading red has fallen does it begin to spit its fragrance,
Its beautiful name is hailed as the King of a Hundred Flowers.
They compete to boast of a peerless beauty unmatched beneath heaven,
Standing independent in the human realm as the number one scent.
Hua Tianxiang laughed and said, "The poetry is excellent, and the calligraphy is also excellent. Ah-Li, from whom did you learn this hand of calligraphy? I want to pay respects to that master as well."
Ye Li smiled softly. "When I was young, I encountered a master surnamed Liu who gave me some copybooks. After writing for so many years, it can finally be considered viewable." In her past life, she had begun her enlightenment at the age of six and later learned the Liu style. Adding this lifetime to that, it amounted to more than twenty years before and after. If it still could not be considered viewable, then it truly could only prove that her natural talent was dull and slow.
Qin Zheng was also someone obsessed with calligraphy and painting, and she felt boundless envy. "What wonderful luck. Ah-Li, it's a deal then—when you return, you must gift a copybook to me."
Ye Li nodded. "The original copybook is no longer here. Is it alright if I write one myself?"
"It's a deal. I will wait for yours."
"I want one too..." Hua Tianxiang and Murong Ting also refused to be left behind. Only after Ye Li agreed to gift each of them a copy did the matter count as settled.
"I concede as well!" The others had all accepted the judges' results, so even if Princess Qixia felt unwilling in her heart, she could only grit her teeth and accept it. Looking at Princess Qixia's reluctant appearance, Grand Princess Zhaoyang let out a soft sigh, drawing the girl to her front and patting her consolingly. Qixia had only just arrived in Great Chu, yet she was young, impetuous, and incapable of accepting defeat; one simply did not know whether this temperament was good or bad.
"Since that is the case, then... the champion of this year's Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering is the Third Miss Ye of the Minister of Revenue's Manor." Given that no one harbored any objections, Old Master Su Zhe announced the final results of this year's competition on behalf of the several judges involved.
Feng Zhiyao followed up with a line, his smile like a spring breeze, "Of course, if there is anyone who remains unconvinced, you may also continue to challenge Third Miss Ye. I believe Third Miss Ye would also be very delighted to accept the challenges. Is that not so?" Ye Li raised her head, happening to see Feng Zhiyao blink at her. Although he possessed a thoroughly frivolous appearance, one could feel that he harbored no malice whatsoever.
As the champion of the new year's Hundred Flowers Grand Gathering, Ye Li slowly ascended the high stage under the urging of Qin Zheng and the others. With her own hands, she received this year's prizes from the Grand Princess: the Retaining Radiance Pearl, the Purple Jade Hairpin, and the Xueyin Qin, which were dreamed of by every beautiful woman. Regarding winning the prizes in a manner that could almost be considered cheating, Ye Li did not possess any feelings of guilt or self-reproach, nor, of course, did she have anything to be proud of. Choosing between losing face and taking advantage of a shortcut, she would naturally choose the side that was more advantageous to herself.
"Third Miss Ye, this BenGong did not expect Minister Ye to possess such an outstanding daughter." The Grand Princess looked upon the green-robed young lady before her, her expression somewhat melancholic as she stared at Ye Li. "Back then, this BenGong also shared some acquaintance with your mother. If you have leisure in the future, you might as well visit the Grand Princess's Manor."
Ye Li offered a respectful and appropriate smile. "Many thanks to the Grand Princess. To receive an invitation from the Grand Princess is Ye Li's fortune."
"Good child, go on." The Grand Princess let out a soft sigh, speaking to Ye Li.
Ye Li paid her respects to the Grand Princess, turned to offer a slight dip of her body to the several judges, and only then did she turn around and depart while holding the gifts.