"Ode to lotus?" Qin Xiyue was the first to question, "Isn't it September now? Where did you get lotus flowers?"

Hearing that the poem wasn't what she had imagined, she felt indignant, thinking that Xu Gongzi should have gotten first place.

However, the young master Xu, who was Qin Xiyue's number one choice, was overjoyed at this moment.

Upon hearing the results announced by Ling Hua, he knew that the poem must have been written by Yun Qing.

Although it was unexpected that she won first place, Xu Qingyun was still extremely excited, a hundred times happier than if she had won herself.

Ling Hua naturally felt the same way. Seeing that Qin Xiyue seemed unconvinced, he handed her the poem in his hand.

"The rules you just announced yourself state that there are no restrictions on the topic, so writing about lotus flowers is of course fine. As for the quality of the poems, you are free to judge for yourself and see how your conclusion differs from everyone else's."

Having been publicly humiliated by Ling Hua, Qin Xiyue felt somewhat embarrassed.

But since she had raised objections, she was determined to stick to it, even if it meant gritting her teeth.

Qin Xiyue went directly to the poem "Ode to the Lotus," where it read:

Straight stems and spreading leaves do not flatter.

Light red and deep green, yet graceful and elegant.

Why waste your time on self-pity?

In June, who wouldn't envy you?

(This was just something a mediocre author wrote casually, so please don't take it too seriously; just enjoy it for fun.)

To be honest, the poem's diction and rhythm are not particularly outstanding, but what is rare is its inspiration and profound meaning, which gives people a refreshing feeling.

Strictly speaking, it's not a particularly brilliant poem.

However, being ranked first at a recreational poetry gathering is acceptable.

Especially among a collection of works full of embellishment and craftsmanship, and poetry, it truly stands out.

After comparing Xu Qingyun's work, even if Qin Xiyue was unwilling, she couldn't lie and say that his was better; they could only be considered to have their own merits.

"I was too naive. This poem, 'Ode to the Lotus,' is indeed very elegant and spirited. I wonder whose masterpiece it is?"

Qin Xiyue's praise made Yun Qing feel embarrassed. She paused slightly, but still stepped forward to claim it.

"Miss Qin, you flatter me. This was just something I wrote on a whim and it doesn't deserve to be called a masterpiece."

It was Yun Qing! Qin Xiyue's eyes widened slightly, her face showing undisguised shock.

Influenced by her aunt, she had been secretly keeping an eye on Yun Qing and her daughter, but had never heard of her having any talent or reputation.

Unexpectedly, I underestimated her, which indirectly led to me losing face in public today.

Qin Xiyue quickly regained her composure, but secretly she held a grudge against Yun Qing, vowing to settle the score someday.

To be fair, Linghua also had the other poets read Yunqing's poems, and they all had no objection to the result.

Seeing this, Ling Hua nodded in satisfaction.

"In that case, today's prize belongs to Miss Yun Qing, cough, Miss Yun."

As he spoke, he picked up the warm jade from the table and personally handed it to Yun Qing.

Yun Qing reached out to take it, but accidentally touched Ling Hua's fingertips, and quickly blushed and moved away.

Feeling the soft touch, Linghua's heart warmed. She grabbed the flustered little hand in front of her and placed the warm jade into her palm.

"Here you go, you won this with your own skill, so don't break it."

Yun Qing nodded hesitantly, "Thank you, Your Highness."

Upon hearing her address, Ling Hua's slightly upturned lips fell again: "How many times have I told you not to call me so formally? Just call me by my courtesy name, like Qingyun does."

Yun Qing lowered her head shyly, her voice barely audible: "Brother Ziyue, thank you."

At that moment, Ling Hua seemed to hear the sound of flowers blooming, and a rare hint of silliness appeared on his usually cold and stern face.

...

After the poetry gathering, Yunqing did not go out for a long time.

Her fame had spread throughout the capital, so now was the time for her to gracefully withdraw from the limelight and to be cautious in her words and actions.

Compared to the noble ladies of the capital, her status was already at a disadvantage. If she were to frequently appear in public, her and her mother's intentions would become obvious.

No matter how low-key she tried to be, Yun Qing had reached the age for marriage, and Pang Yue was getting really anxious.

"Qingqing, is there a young master you like? As long as he's not from a noble family, I'll make it happen for you."

"The one you like?" Yun Qing repeated these three words, smiling shyly, "I don't have anyone in my heart, I'll leave everything to Mother's decision."

Hearing her say that, Pang Yue breathed a sigh of relief.

In fact, she already had a good candidate in mind, namely her nephew Xu Qingyun.

Xu Qingyun's father is the Crown Prince's tutor, and he himself was the top scholar in the imperial examination last year. He is currently working in the Ministry of Works and can be said to have a bright future.

Most importantly, he was in love with Yun Qing.

Pang Yue came to the capital with the intention of finding a good marriage for her daughter, but over the years, Yun Qing has not had many opportunities to meet men outside the family.

The only two people he was familiar with were Xu Qingyun and the heir of Prince An.

Although Ling Hua seemed to have feelings for Yun Qing, Pang Yue did not consider him.

Her past with Prince An was common knowledge in the capital. If Yun Qing were to marry into the Prince's mansion, she would inevitably be the subject of gossip.

Furthermore, Princess An is not someone to be trifled with. She has never given Pang Xinhui a kind look over the years. How can we expect her to be good to Yun Qing?

Pang Yue didn't plan to tell Yun Qing about these things. As long as Yun Qing was willing to marry Xu Qingyun, she didn't need to worry about anything else.

A few days after the conversation, the Xu family sent someone to propose marriage.

When Ling Hua heard the news, she was riding a horse in the suburbs.

My friend mentioned it in a gossipy manner, but I didn't get a response for a long time.

Turning around, Ling Hua stood there, looking lost and disoriented. She slipped and almost fell off her horse.

"Ziyue, what's wrong? Did you hear what I just told you? If you ask me, Qingyun is really lucky. We all saw it at your residence that day. Miss Yun truly deserves the title of a peerless beauty."

The words her friend spoke gradually faded from Linghua's ears.

Of course he knew how good Yun Qing was, and he was more jealous of Xu Qingyun than anyone else, jealous that he could legitimately care for her and be close to her.

I thought the last poetry gathering was a good start, but I never imagined it would be the end.

No, Linghua was unwilling. Yun Qing's voice and smile from that day were still vivid in his mind. She had clearly called him Brother Ziyue, so how could she be so cruel as to cut off his hope?

With that thought, his gaze hardened again. He turned his horse around and sped towards the Pang family.

Baolan Garden.

Yunqing stood in front of the mirror with her arms outstretched as the tailor took her measurements.

Looking at her young mistress's slender figure, Xiaohe kept praising her: "Miss, with such a great figure, you'll definitely make Young Master Biao completely infatuated on your wedding day."

Yun Qing casually gave her a flirtatious wink: "You little rascal, you just know how to fool me."

"Miss, I'm telling the truth. Please don't wrong me."

The master and servant were joking around in the room when the maid guarding the door suddenly came in to report.

"Miss, the Prince An's son has arrived and says he wants to see you."