Chapter 104 - 52 Comparison 2

Words : 1152 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Chapter 104: Chapter 52 Comparison 2 Everyone then laughed, all remarking that only someone from a prominent and wealthy family like Mrs. Zhuang would say such a thing. Mrs. Wang’s heart instinctively tightened. Seeing Mrs. Zhuang was willing to offer such rare Western perfume as a prize showed her determination to win. She could only hope that Miss Wan would live up to the challenge! The young ladies proceeded with laughter to draw their flower slips, and each began to ponder and brainstorm in front of the long table, occasionally whispering and joking with those beside them. Only Sang Wan and Tang Yuzhen did not draw lots. While the ladies were wondering why, they heard Mrs. Zhuang say with a laugh, "It is said there are ’Twelve Masters’, ’Twelve Companions’, and ’Twelve Maidens’ among flowers. The flower slips drawn by the ladies just now are these ’Twelve Masters’. Miss Wan, Miss Tang, please use the ’Twelve Masters’ as your topic and compose your poems accordingly!" "Yes, madam!" Tang Yuzhen and Sang Wan exchanged glances and nodded with a smile. The madams were abuzz with private discussions, most having never heard of these ’Twelve Masters’ and ’Twelve Companions’, and found it rather fresh and interesting, eagerly inquiring about them. Some couldn’t help but look toward Sang Wan, spitefully thinking: If Miss Wan doesn’t even know what the ’Twelve Masters’ are, that would truly be a joke! Tang Yuzhen, being a guest of the Zhuang family, was obviously prone to suspicions of cheating. Mrs. Wang inwardly cursed, not expecting Mrs. Zhuang to be so cunning, and hurriedly looked at Sang Wan, only to see her still composed, which slightly eased her mind. Tang Yuzhen was aware that others would suspect her of cheating, so she kept an eye on Sang Wan, determined not to start writing before her, lest people would talk even more about her being prepared in advance. The so-called ’Twelve Masters’ among flowers refer to the twelve esteemed flowers: peony, orchid, plum blossom, chrysanthemum, osmanthus, lotus, peony, begonia, narcissus, wintersweet, rhododendron, magnolia. Each with its ancient charm or national beauty, when in full bloom, exhibits a thick and profound aura, a substantial and strict fragrance. Though for admiration, they evoke praise, yet they invoke such respect that no one dares to treat them lightly, spontaneously holding them in high esteem, thus named the ’Twelve Masters’. These twelve types of flowers frequently appear in the realm of poetry; to poets of past and present, they are commonplace subjects. Tang Yuzhen should find the topic easy, yet to gain an upper hand, one must excel in speed and the calligraphy in one’s hand! Sang Wan, having made up her mind, unfolded the fine paper, placed a white jade paperweight on it, picked up the wolf hair brush, dipped it in thick ink, rolled up her sleeve and began to write vigorously. Upon seeing this, Tang Yuzhen also revealed a slight smile and elegantly picked up the brush to start her writing. Both began writing swiftly, clearly harboring the same intentions. By now, several young ladies had finished and returned to their seats, watching the two compete with giggling smiles. Almost simultaneously, the two finished and laid down their brushes. Mrs. Zhuang, seeing this, said with a laugh, "Both of you are quick-witted indeed, but it’s hard to tell who has the upper hand!" She then ordered the maids to collect the writings for everyone to see. Mrs. Zhuang then turned to Sang Wan with a smile, "I’ve always heard your mother-in-law praising you as someone exceptional, and today’s test is indeed a pleasant surprise!" Her implication was that she wasn’t at all surprised by Tang Yuzhen’s facile brushwork and carefree attitude. "Madam flatters me," Sang Wan replied with a modest smile. However, Mrs. Wang couldn’t bear such remarks and snorted coldly, "My Miss Wan has always been outstanding and low-profile. It’s no surprise that Mrs. Zhuang doesn’t know about it!" Mrs. Zhuang smiled without a word and looked at the poems with everyone else. Among the seven or eight young ladies, totaling several dozen poems, the madams were really there for the excitement. They praised every single poem and couldn’t really tell who was better. Those of a mild temperament and belief in moderation praised both sides and called them good; those on good terms with Mrs. Zhuang or envious of the Shi family feted Tang Yuzhen unreservedly, while those who favored Sang Wan’s temperament and intended to please the Shi family then praised Sang Wan in return. For a time, it was a tie. Even if everyone’s motives and purposes varied, they couldn’t help but take a fresh look at Sang Wan, discarding their previous disdain. Initially, all had thought the Sang family was excessively fortunate to have married into the Shi family, but now they felt that Miss Sang of the Sang family did have some extraordinary qualities, compelling even those madams who had covertly chosen Shi Fengju as a prospective son-in-law for their daughters to concede inwardly. "Mrs. Li is well read and the most impartial of us, why don’t we listen to what Mrs. Li has to say!" a certain madam said with a smile. Mrs. Li, being the wife of Governor Li of Qingzhou, was deemed the fairest judge. Everyone agreed with laughter and turned to look at her. Both the Shi family and Zhuang family were prestigious households and maintained a close relationship with Governor Li. This put Mrs. Li in a tough spot, so she laughed and said, "How could one choose between them! It’s quite a coincidence that both have written exceptional chrysanthemum poems. Mrs. Shi’s lotus poem and Miss Tang’s plum blossom poem are somewhat lesser by comparison. However, Mrs. Shi’s calligraphy of strewing flowers in small script is delicate, graceful, and ethereal. It seems a lot of effort has been put into practicing it, hasn’t it?" Upon hearing this and comparing the handwriting of the two, it was apparent at once. Sang Wan’s writing was as smooth as flowing clouds and meticulously detailed, with each character on the page uniform in size, making for a very pleasurable visual experience. On the contrary, Tang Yuzhen’s writing was less fastidious, with her brushstrokes varying in pressure. In some places where the ink was not dry, it had smeared when passed around, forming blatant black blotches that were uncomfortable to look at. The young ladies couldn’t help but remark with a laugh, "Mrs. Li indeed has a discerning eye, Mrs. Shi’s handwriting is truly splendid!" Sang Wan modestly deflected the praise, yet her heart felt a slight sting. This handwriting was honed during her solitary confinement in a previous life, a pastime to while away the lonely hours! Reflecting on the past made her all the more melancholic and also fueled her determination: In this life, she was set on changing everything for the better!

Chapter 104 - 52 Comparison 2

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