Chapter 59: The Lady of Changning County

Chapter 59 - The Lady of Changning County Note: Don't Forget to join my Patreon.com/flokixy to get access to +40 Advance Chapters I have to stop if there is no support After the two rounds of music and chess competitions, it was time for the calligraphy and painting segment. A palace attendant stepped forward to set up brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Su Li returned to her seat and sat down gracefully. This time, Su Li's mother wasn't as tense as before, but she was still deeply shaken by what she had witnessed. Just as this round was about to begin, His Highness Jun Hui, the sixth prince, finally arrived, fashionably late. "Greetings to Your Majesty and Empress Dowager. Please forgive me, Father, for my tardiness." The emperor, in an excellent mood, chuckled warmly. "Rise quickly. You were delayed because of your duties—what fault is there? Take your seat." The crown prince was frail, and the third prince was obsessed with landscapes, spending less than a month of the year in the palace. Naturally, the responsibility of ensuring the safety of foreign envoys during this banquet fell to Jun Hui. In truth, Jun Hui had been outside the hall when Su Li was playing the guqin earlier. He had been overseeing the deployment of the imperial guards when he heard a celestial melody. When the piece ended, he came to his senses and inquired about the performer. Upon hearing that it was the eldest daughter of the Ministry of Rites, Su Li, he felt no surprise. It seemed fitting—after all, the memory of her stunning performance at the Hundred Flowers Festival lingered fresh in his mind. By the time he finished his arrangements and entered the hall, he caught sight of her solving a complex chess problem. There was an indescribable magnetism about her, drawing everyone's attention effortlessly. The only regret was that her beauty had been marred. If not for that, having such a remarkable woman by his side would have been a great fortune. After thanking the emperor and empress, Jun Hui took his seat. A palace maid promptly approached to pour him wine. Su Li could feel Jun Hui's gaze on her. Without revealing any reaction, she leaned over to whisper softly to Wei Yuan Yao and Meng Zhi Rou. Beneath her wide sleeves, however, her hands clenched into fists. Jun Hui was a prince—a cunning and calculating one at that. She couldn't afford to act rashly. At this moment, she was still too weak to contend with someone of his stature. Her priority now was to elevate her status and reputation. Until then, she had to endure! Thus, obtaining the title of county lady and the honorific "First Talented Woman of Tian Qi" was crucial. When it came to the calligraphy and painting competition, the empress was the first to ask if Su Li could continue participating. On one hand, she genuinely admired Su Li. On the other, if Su Li defeated Princess Wanyan Xue outright, it would be far more impressive than rotating competitors—even if others joined in, winning collectively might dilute the glory. Su Li naturally agreed. As she rose to take her place, the audience appeared much calmer compared to the previous two rounds. They had come to realize that Su Li was the kind of person who didn't act unless she intended to astonish. Su Li and Wanyan Xue stood on opposite sides, exchanging polite smiles and slight nods before picking up their brushes to begin painting. In the center of the opulent golden hall, two extraordinary women moved their brushes across the paper with grace and precision. One wore crimson robes, bold and striking, exuding confidence and pride. The other possessed an understated elegance, like a lotus emerging from clear water—natural and unadorned. Her long lashes fluttered subtly, her delicate frame swaying like a fragile lotus in the wind: seemingly vulnerable yet resilient. After the burning of a stick of incense, both laid down their brushes. "I'm finished." "So am I." Then, they exchanged another meaningful smile, acknowledging each other's work. Palace attendants stepped forward to display their paintings to the crowd. A murmur of astonishment rippled through the hall. "These are truly masterpieces!" "Princess Wanyan Xue's talent is unsurprising, but Miss Su's skills are unexpectedly breathtaking!" "In my opinion, these two works are evenly matched." ... Su Li gazed at Wanyan Xue's painting, her eyes flickering with admiration. Wanyan Xue had painted a breathtaking snowy mountain scene. Towering peaks blanketed in ice and snow stretched majestically into the night sky. The grandeur of the mountains was awe-inspiring, their outlines evoking a faint, lingering resonance. In the upper right corner, a poem accompanied the artwork: "Fog shrouds the clouds, its ethereal form piercing the heavens. Cold light gleams against the towering face—what a magnificent jade peak holding up the sky!" Both the painting and the poem were bold and perfectly complementary. Using black ink to depict snow showcased her exceptional skill. Wanyan Xue, in turn, examined Su Li's work and couldn't help but express admiration. On the rice paper, Su Li had captured a majestic landscape. Thick, imposing mountains were adorned with lush vegetation, cascading waterfalls flowing like silk ribbons into rivers that converged into a serene pond. Surrounding the shore were abundant plants, reds and greens intermingling to create a harmonious blend of natural beauty. On a platform to the left stood a few houses nestled amidst thriving greenery. A small bridge crossed the water, while dense pine trees painted in ink adorned nearby rocks. In the distance, a bright red sun hung high amidst auspicious clouds, completing the picturesque vista. The splendor of the scenery combined the vastness of northern landscapes, the gentleness of southern views, the grandeur of frontier fortresses, and the purity of Huangshan's sea of clouds—all leaving viewers entranced. "Wonderful!" Wanyan Xue exclaimed involuntarily. Su Li smiled gently. "Your Highness's artistic prowess is extraordinary. I am deeply impressed!" In a corner of the hall, Ji Huai Zhou was utterly awestruck by Su Li's talent. He patted Wei Yuan Ling on the shoulder and said earnestly, "As your friend, I must speak honestly—you're unworthy of Miss Su." Wei Yuan Ling swatted his hand away, glaring indignantly. "Shut up! How am I unworthy? Clearly, we're a perfect match!" Though he harbored no romantic feelings for his cousin and regarded her only as a sibling, he still needed to save face in front of Ji Huai Zhou. Jun Mo, who had remained silent until now, chimed in, "Ji San has a point." Wei Yuan Ling's eyes widened. "Zi Yan, you're unfair! Am I really that terrible? I'm tall, handsome, and charming—a veritable 'pear tree overshadowing begonias.'" Ji Huai Zhou snorted derisively. "Please. You're a martial arts fanatic. What do you have in common with Miss Su?" Wei Yuan Ling bristled. "Poetry and literature aren't difficult! I plan to take the civil service exam and win both the martial and civil scholar titles!" Jun Mo chuckled softly. "Ambitious indeed. Winning the martial scholar title might be possible, but don't come crying to me or Ji San if you fail the literary exams." Jun Mo glanced again at Su Li's landscape painting, thinking it would look perfect hanging in his study. The entire hall buzzed with disbelief, especially Su Li's father. He nearly leapt out of his seat. Th-this... was painted by his own daughter? His daughter was this talented? A wave of guilt washed over him. He had neglected her these past two years, completely unaware of how much she had grown. Amidst the accolades and flattery from his peers, his emotions swung between pride and remorse, ultimately settling on sheer joy. Already proud of his daughter beyond measure, he now believed no man in the world was worthy of her. Similarly astonished and delighted was Su Li's mother. This evening had tested her heart like never before in her life. Seeing the ongoing debate among the crowd, the emperor turned to Jun Hui. "Hui-er, which of these paintings do you think is better?" Jun Hui studied the two works. Though he personally found Su Li's painting superior, he hesitated to admit it. If Su Li won, the crown prince would receive the Boneflower. After a moment of contemplation, he replied, "Father, I only know the basics of painting. If Third Brother were here, he would surely discern which is better." At this point, several envoys stood up, loudly proclaiming that Princess Wanyan Xue's painting was superior. Ultimately, Wanyan Xue herself settled the matter with a wave of her hand. "I believe both paintings have their unique merits. Let's call it a tie. All things considered, Tian Qi wins overall. The Boneflower belongs to Tian Qi." The empress beamed with delight, her expression softening as she looked at Wanyan Xue. "Seventh Princess of Bei Yan, I adore your character. Allow me to thank you on behalf of the crown prince." She instructed a trusted palace maid to retrieve the Boneflower, expressing further gratitude. Of course, she didn't forget to acknowledge those who had contributed to securing the precious flower. "Your Majesty, since Miss Su has won the competition, shouldn't we bestow upon her the title of county lady? Perhaps we should also grant her a noble appellation?" the empress suggested, glancing at the emperor. Su Li shot the empress a grateful look. She had expected only the title of county lady, but the empress was advocating for an additional honorific. The difference between having or lacking an appellation was significant. For instance, though both Jun Hui and Jun Mo were princes, Jun Mo bore the title of Prince Jing, elevating his status considerably. The emperor nodded approvingly and announced in a loud voice, "Su Li, step forward to receive your decree!" Su Li stepped forward, kneeling gracefully with a clear and crisp voice. "Your humble servant is present." "The eldest daughter of Minister Su, Su Li, is intelligent, graceful, dignified, virtuous, gentle, and obedient. She has secured a valuable remedy for the crown prince. We hereby confer upon Su Li the title of Lady of Changning County, granting her a fief of a thousand households. So decreed!" "Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!" Su Li performed a deep bow. The empress smiled warmly. "Rise, child. Return to your mother's side and have something to eat. You haven't touched your food all evening." Su Li nodded respectfully. "Thank you, Your Majesty."