Chapter 16 Competition

Shen Anan suddenly felt a cold wind blowing across her back, frowned and looked back, "Strange, why do I feel a little cold all of a sudden?"

"Maybe it's windy by the lake, why don't you go back to the banquet hall."

"Yeah, that's fine." Shen Anan stood up and turned back from the direction she came from.

When we returned to the banquet hall, most of the girls had returned.

Duan Mengmeng glanced at Shen Anan's feet and a mocking smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

"Miss Chen, are you back to participate in the painting competition set by the princess?" The girl next to Duan Mengmeng said with a smile.

Everyone in the capital knew that the third daughter of the Duan family had excellent painting skills, comparable to the fourth prince. This question was clearly meant to embarrass Shen Anan.

"Yeah, how did Miss Li know that?" Shen Anan smiled.

Miss Li's face froze. She never thought that Shen Anan would dare to answer. After all, she was a country girl who grew up in the countryside. How could she know what was happening in the capital?

“Miss Duan San, it seems that you have a rival for this chrysanthemum banquet.” Although she said that, Miss Li’s face was full of ridicule, and it was clear that she looked down on Shen Anan.

Duan Mengmeng smiled softly and spoke softly, "It's just a small competition. There's no such thing as an opponent. We are all friends."

Oh. Shen Anan glared at her coldly.

In her previous life, what she admired most about her was her ability to pretend and act, but she was envious of her because that was something she could never learn in front of Xiao Yuan.

"Miss Duan San, you can't fail to hear that Miss Li is complimenting you by saying this, right? You really dare to respond. Could it be that Miss San is confident that she can win the championship before the competition even begins?"

Shen Anan also imitated her and spoke softly, but her words made Duan Mengmeng's face change suddenly.

Is she saying that she thinks highly of herself?

Duan Mengmeng raised her eyes and looked at the smiling Shen Anan, her narrow eyes containing cold anger.

At this time, Miss Li spoke up, "Everyone in the capital knows that Meng Meng is the most talented woman and has great painting skills. Only a country bumpkin like you doesn't know and you're still being sarcastic."

"Okay." Duan Mengmeng interrupted Miss Li softly, "Miss Shen is right. The competition hasn't started yet, so don't talk nonsense. What if... Miss Shen is hiding her true strength? My little tricks will only bring shame upon myself."

"Tsk." Several people sneered, as if they had heard a joke.

"Did the Third Miss forget about the Sun Palace Banquet? Miss Shen couldn't even show off a single talent."

He is so skilled that he can barely show his abilities.

Duan Mengmeng smiled and said nothing.

She also thought that if Shen Anan had some ability, how could she not show her talent and become famous at the palace banquet, and also lose the marriage decree with the Fourth Prince.

When she thought of this, Duan Mengmeng felt uncomfortable.

Who does she think she is? Just because she has an imperial concubine as her aunt, does she have to snatch her childhood sweetheart from her?

Shen Anan glanced at the girl who had just spoken, "Of course I can't show it. After all, that day... you were there, how could I show my talent to someone who was just trying to catch a rat."

"..." The young lady blushed with anger and wanted to argue, but Shen Anan had already walked away leisurely.

There's no point in wasting time talking to a bunch of dogs that can only bark.

"What did you talk about with those girls?" Mrs. Shen asked, holding her hand.

Shen Anan curled her lips, "Nothing much, just a few pleasantries and mentioned the painting competition that will be held later."

"Yes." Madam Shen nodded and smiled, "I heard that the princess has set a prize this year. It is guaranteed to be something that all the ladies would love to have. I don't know what it is."

"Girls like silks, satins, rouge, powder, gold, silver and jade ornaments." And... men.

"That's probably right. But what the princess can bring out must not be ordinary things. Maybe it's something she brought out from the palace. But whether the things are expensive or not is secondary. What the girls want is reputation."

There are many young men from aristocratic families attending the chrysanthemum viewing banquet today. If one can gain a good reputation, it will be very beneficial for his marriage.

The most important things for a woman are reputation and talent.

"Does An An want to try it?" Mrs. Shen asked.

"Of course I have to try. Even if I don't win, I can't keep being called a fool. It would be embarrassing for my mother."

Madam Shen poked her forehead and laughed, “You kid.”

But it was exactly what she wanted, and she also wanted to take this opportunity to pick a suitable husband for her.

As they were talking, everyone suddenly looked towards the door. Shen Anan also followed the crowd's line of sight and saw a gentle and lovely girl walking in with lotus steps.

"This is the eldest princess's youngest daughter, Princess Huasheng."

"Yeah." Shen Anan's eyes fell on her and never moved away.

Of course she knew that Hua Sheng, a poor woman who was caught up in the vortex of power, was the only person who treated her well besides her family.

It’s a pity that she is not capable enough to protect her friend.

"Mother." Hua Sheng bowed to the eldest princess, and every movement was incredibly gentle.

"Get up, the girls are waiting for you."

Hua Sheng smiled embarrassedly, "Some things delayed me, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Someone immediately responded that it was not a problem, and everyone surrounded Hua Sheng and praised her as if she were not a human being.

Hua Sheng smiled, his lips slightly pursed.

Shen Anan knew that she had an impatient expression.

"Okay, sit down quickly, the banquet is about to begin, and there will be a talent show later, I'm sure the girls must be anxious."

"Yes." Hua Sheng bowed and sat down below the eldest princess.

She glanced around the room, and when she saw Shen Anan, she was suddenly touched by her friendly smile, and Hua Sheng smiled back.

She seemed to like that girl, but it was clearly the first time she had seen her.

Putting aside their thoughts, the maids had already filed in and served the dishes. The ladies spontaneously stopped talking and started eating.

"It is said that men love to sing and dance, today we women should enjoy it too. How can we enjoy delicious food and wine without the company of beautiful women?"

The eldest princess jokingly said this and clapped her hands. Immediately, a group of singing girls came in with their long sleeves dancing, adding some liveliness to the quiet banquet.

The ladies of each family watched carefully, wondering in their hearts why their men loved singing and dancing so much. No, it should be the women who liked dancing.

Fruit wine was prepared for the banquet, but the girls did not move, preparing for the talent competition in a while.

After all, the prizes that the eldest princess can offer are symbols of status and honor.

And Shen Anan was really singing and dancing.

The fruit wine, with its refreshing fruity aroma, seeps into the mouth and slides down the throat, accompanied by the graceful dance of the beauty in the hall, is extremely enjoyable.

Hua Sheng also liked fruit wine, but as soon as she poured the second glass, the nanny beside the eldest princess came over and stopped her.

She put down the wine jug angrily, her eyes moving around and falling on Shen Anan.

That girl is likable no matter how you look at her.

She called a maid over and asked quietly, "Whose girl is that?"

The maid followed her gaze and said, "It's the eldest daughter of the Shen family who just returned from Jiangnan."

"Oh?" Hua Sheng was surprised. She thought it was a cousin of the Shen family.

Isn’t it said that the girl from the Shen family is a fool and has a crude appearance?

This woman is seriously inconsistent with the rumors.

Shen Anan's eyes gradually darkened, as if she noticed the gaze behind her. She tilted her head and smiled at Hua Sheng who was in the upper position.

Hua Sheng was stunned.

Not to mention the man, even she was almost bewitched by Miss Shen at that moment.

"What a pity! It would be great if she could fall in love with my fourth cousin."

If not, you can marry his brother.

“……” The maid’s eyelids seemed to twitch.

Listen to what my princess is saying. The Fourth Prince is so noble and dignified. When would a girl be picky about him?

The princess's temper of serving dishes to please others was getting worse.

What Hua Sheng was thinking was that if she married such a beautiful sister-in-law home, she would definitely look at her every day and her mood would be much better.

At this time, a maid walked through the crowd to the eldest princess and said in a low voice, "Princess, the competition for the male guests has ended."

"Well." The eldest princess turned her eyes away from the dancers and asked, "Who won the championship?"

"Princess, neither the Fourth Prince nor the Crown Prince attended. The outstanding candidate was a Jinshi from a humble family named Zhang Yeyang."

A satisfied smile appeared on the eldest princess' lips and she glanced at Hua Sheng standing beside her.

"Got it, you can leave now."

"Yes." Nanny left quietly.

Hua Sheng no longer had the heart to enjoy the singing and dancing.

She lowered her head as if looking at the food on the table, or as if she was in a daze, and did not move for a long time.

After half an hour, the banquet was finally over, and the eldest princess led everyone to the back garden, where tables, chairs and painting supplies had already been prepared.

Shen Anan's face was flushed, but her eyes were very clear.

Madam Shen was worried, "I told you not to drink so much. Look at your blushing face. If you can't do it, don't participate. I'm going back to the princess. Let's go back to the mansion first."

"It's okay, don't worry, mother." Shen Anan smiled.

At this moment, a maid suddenly approached her with a tray, "Miss Shen, this is the hangover soup my princess prepared for you, drink some, it will refresh you."

Shen Anan was stunned, and looked around the crowd, but did not see Hua Sheng.

"Where is your princess?"

"My princess is ill and has gone back to rest."

Shen Anan responded. She was not there in the talent competition in the previous life, so none of this happened.

"Thank your princess for me." She reached out to take the bowl of soup, drank it all and put it back on the tray.

The little maid bowed her knees and left.

Madam Shen asked curiously, "An An, do you have any connection with the princess? Why is she so nice to you?"

Shen Anan came back to her senses and smiled, "Maybe we hit it off at first sight, so you like me."

In the previous life, Hua Sheng liked her very much, but it was not the kind of liking that started as soon as they met, but after she married Xiao Yuan.

Everyone, including her family, was not optimistic about this marriage. Later, even she herself began to doubt and regret whether she had made the wrong choice and should not have been so stubborn.

Only Hua Sheng.

She said that she envied her determination and courage to do anything for the one she loved, but unfortunately she had too much to bear and did not have the courage or ruthlessness.

I don’t know whether Hua Sheng was willing to accept her tragic ending.

Facts have proved that people always feel that the roads they have not walked on are full of flowers and regret their original choices.

Only by walking through it can you know the thorns along the way.

"First match, Miss Chen and Miss Li."

While I was in a trance, the painting competition had already begun.

There were many tables and chairs set up in the open space of the garden for the ladies to perform. The ladies of each family stared at their daughters without blinking, with expectant looks on their faces.

“Don’t feel burdened. Winning or losing doesn’t matter. It’s enough for you to tell everyone that you are not completely incompetent.” Mrs. Shen comforted Shen Anan.

After the palace banquet, there were many malicious rumors, which Madam Shen had heard about a long time ago.

"Don't worry, mother."

Duan Mengmeng's painting skills were at best upper-middle level, and she really didn't take them seriously.

The girls from each family came on stage one by one, and the criticism was given by the eldest princess and the wife of an official from the Hanlin Academy.

At first, one or two of the girls were still able to stay, but when Duan Mengmeng came on stage, her painting of blooming autumn chrysanthemums won the eldest princess's favor, and she remained the only one until the end.

"It seems that Miss Duan San will be the winner again this time." The eldest princess said with a smile.

"There are still people who haven't played yet. Meng Meng doesn't dare to take the lead."

"Hmm?" The eldest princess looked at her with gentle eyes.

For some reason, Duan Mengmeng always felt that the eldest princess treated her especially well today.

"Which other girl?"

"besides…"

Before Duan Mengmeng could speak, Shen Anan stood up and said, "Princess, there are still ministers here."

The eldest princess's eyebrows seemed to jump, and then she smiled, "Miss Shen wants to try it too?"

"I didn't plan to do it originally, but since the princess offered a prize, An An wanted to give it a try."

The eldest princess nodded, "Okay, let's get started."

Immediately, a maid spread out paper and started grinding ink.

Shen Anan paced over, seemed to think for a moment, then picked up the pen and began to paint.

The table was some distance away from the ladies, so they couldn't see what Shen Anan was drawing. They just felt that she was very casual in picking up the pen and putting it down.

There was a look of nonchalance on her pretty little face. She tilted her head and scribbled casually on the paper.

Mrs. Shen's heart beat faster, because her daughter's technique was so familiar, it was exactly the same as her mother-in-law's back then.

Obviously, the eldest princess also noticed it, and her indifferent expression gradually turned into solemnity.

She tilted her head to glance at Duan Mengmeng, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she was a little conflicted.

Should she be fair and just, or should she fulfill her fourth nephew's wish and give the prize to Miss Duan San?

Although he didn't say it explicitly, since he brought the prize personally, it must be for Miss Duan San.

While he was struggling with his conscience, the maid had already presented Shen Anan with the ink painting she had done.

The eldest princess stared at the painting for a long while, putting all the messy thoughts out of her mind.

Neither can her fourth nephew. She wants fairness and justice.

It may seem exaggerated to say that it is immersive, but it is indeed lifelike, especially the butterfly resting on the chrysanthemum, which is the finishing touch.

Although both are paintings of chrysanthemums, the one by Miss Duan San instantly overshadowed it and became nothing more than the tip of the iceberg.

"This is... Madam Shen's method." The official's wife sighed, "She is truly better than her master. She is worthy of being the granddaughter she trained."

"Well, not bad." The eldest princess nodded in agreement and told the maid to hold it up for the ladies to see.

The ladies kept on praising him, but the girls opened their eyes wide in disbelief and their faces darkened.

The most colorful one is Duan Mengmeng.

She stared at the painting for a long time, and did not take her eyes away until the maid left.

I always thought that the reputation of Mrs. Shen as a talented woman was just an exaggeration by my mother's generation...

But if she had such talent, why didn't she show it off at the palace banquet that day?

She stared at Shen Anan with a fierce look in her eyes.

The eldest princess glanced at Duan Mengmeng, frowned slightly, and then looked away.

It turns out that boy also has bad vision sometimes. Well, I'll explain it to him later.

The eldest princess announced Shen Anan's victory, and the noble ladies immediately surrounded Madam Shen.

Madam Shen listened to the praises from the ladies, smiling from ear to ear, and pulled Shen Anan to respond modestly.

For a while, many more people inquired about Shen Anan's marriage. After all, who wouldn't be tempted by a woman with both talent and beauty and a good family background?