After Chen Miao left the plum forest, Gu Yu and Jing Zhe, who were guarding, both breathed a sigh of relief. Jing Zhe looked inside, but saw no one. He was a little puzzled: "Why is there no one?"

Shen Miao also glanced back. The plum trees were lush and green, swaying gently in the wind. There was no sign of anyone. Xie Jingxing was a martial artist, so he probably disappeared by leaping over the eaves and walls.

She said, "Let's go."

After returning to the table, Feng An Ning hurried over and complained, "Didn't I tell you to wait for me? As soon as I turned around, you disappeared. And when I came back, you weren't here either. Where did you go?"

"Look at the chrysanthemums blooming beautifully, take a leisurely walk." Shen Miao raised her eyes to look at the stage: "Has it started yet?"

"You've been there for a long time, and you've already passed the men's group draw." Feng Anning curled her lips and said, "Now it's time for the men's group selection."

The young men on the stage were competing. The first round of "drawing" had already passed, and Shen Miao didn't care about the results. The second round was "selection", where they chose the subject they were good at.

Shen Miao's gaze fell on the young man in lake green clothes sitting on the far left of the table opposite.

This young man was dark and strong, his features otherwise fine, but his overly sturdy frame made him appear rather heavy-set. He chose to wear green, which only accentuated his complexion. Furthermore, he wore his hair in a high bun and a bamboo hairpin inlaid with jade. Perhaps he was trying to emulate the elegance of an ancient gentleman, but his reluctance to dress in a luxurious manner made him appear somewhat out of place. In short, despite his ardent attempts to appear aloof and detached from the world, his imitation of others could not conceal his vulgarity.

This was Gao Yan, the imperial historian. Gao Yan was still young, only sixteen, and still immature. It wasn't until Fu Xiuyi ascended the throne that Gao Yan, riding on Gao Jin's influence, rose to prominence. He bullied men and women in Dingjing, even daring to covet Wanyu—truly audacious.

Whenever Shen Miao thought of Wanyu being teased by Gao Yan in the palace, she became furious. She stared at Gao Yan from afar, as if watching prey leaping into a trap.

Gao Yan didn't know what he was thinking at the moment, with a happy look on his face, he was talking to Gao Jin.

He was naturally delighted to have received such a uniquely written essay. He had just drawn the classics in the draw, and his performance had been mediocre. But in the next selection, if he presented this essay, it would surely shock the whole audience.

Shen Miao sneered in her heart, Go, take this policy paper and go to Fu Xiuyi! Enter the official career before Gao Jin is promoted. I believe that with Gao Yan's means, he will be able to personally destroy the entire Jing Dianshi with his own hands.

This was her great gift to the Imperial Court.

As for Pei Lang, she glanced at the man in green sitting not far from Fu Xiuyi. From now on, you will slowly begin to repay the debt you owed in the past!

"Chen Miao, after the men's group, it's the women's group's turn to 'choose'. Will you choose?"

“No.” Shen Miao replied.

During the exam, every student must draw a lottery. Choosing is a matter of personal choice; students are free to choose if they prefer. Therefore, rather than viewing the "choosing" as a single step in the exam, it's more likely to be the part that best showcases one's strengths. If one possesses a particular strength, this can naturally be showcased in the "choosing" step. Consequently, students are more enthusiastic about the "choosing" step than the "drawing" step.

Because the "selection" shows that one is very sure of something. But if one has no strengths like Shen Miao in the past, then it is better not to participate in the "selection", because going will only make a fool of oneself.

"Why?" Feng Anning was a little disappointed. She said, "You're pretty good at drawing now, aren't you? You should have strengths in other areas as well. Why don't you just show them off?"

"No need." Shen Miao started fiddling with the chess game on the table again. Without even looking up, she replied to Feng An Ning, "Whether I'm in the spotlight or not, it doesn't matter to me. Besides, I'm not good at anything like playing the piano, chess, calligraphy, or painting. It was just a fluke."

"You..." Feng Anning was furious: "How could anyone say that about themselves?"

"Fifth sister." A voice interrupted their conversation. Shen Yue had stood in front of them without them noticing. She said with a worried look on her face, "Fifth sister, are you really not going to participate in the next 'election'?"

“Second sister, do you want me to participate?” Shen Miao asked back.

Chen Yue was choked by what she said. She didn't know why, but Shen Miao seemed determined to break off relations with her. She was completely baffled. Could it be that the Second and Third Houses were taking their anger out on her over the drowning incident? Although she was puzzled, she was already simmering with anger at Shen Miao's repeated indifference. Chen Yue bit her lip, seeming somewhat aggrieved, and whispered, "Of course I hope Fifth Sister will participate. The painting she did just now was excellent. Since Fifth Sister has such great talent, why not continue with 'painting' next time to avoid being talked about behind her back? If she can paint well again, the rumors will be self-defeating."

Shen Yue's voice was high, and the ladies surrounding her naturally heard every word clearly. While seemingly insignificant, it clearly expressed everyone's suspicions. Shen Miao's painting of white chrysanthemums had won first place, but she had been a fool for so many years, and people's impression of her wouldn't change easily. Of course, they wouldn't believe she was the artist. They thought perhaps someone had been guiding her.

Shen Yue also thought so in her heart, so she thought that as long as Shen Miao drew another picture in the second round, without the guidance of others, how could she draw anything good? She would definitely make a fool of herself.

Feng An Ning understood what was going on and immediately sneered back, "That's easy for Second Miss Shen to say. Painting also requires careful attention to composition. Even if Second Miss painted by herself, it would be impossible for her to paint two paintings in a row." Shen Miao was just a student, not a master of calligraphy or painting.

"I'm asking this because I see that Fifth Sister has made great progress," Chen Yue smiled gently. "If you can draw such a good painting just now, why can't you draw another one?"

Shen Miao never raised her head from beginning to end. She simply picked up a chess piece and placed it on the chessboard, saying, "I'm not interested. Sorry for the trouble."

Chen Yue hadn't expected that in front of so many people, Shen Miao would dare to give such a lukewarm response, and for a moment her face felt a little embarrassed. Perhaps the most infuriating thing in the world is laying a trap, but the other party simply refuses to take it.

Even in the face of everyone's suspicion, Shen Miao refused to accept her provocation, which made Shen Yue even more certain that the painting's meaning was not what Shen Miao had imagined. The desire to embarrass Shen Miao became even more deeply rooted in her heart. She paused, then suddenly continued to smile: "Since Fifth Sister insists, then I can't say anything more." She turned and returned to her seat.

At the men's table, Cai Lin had been secretly looking at Chen Yue, but suddenly saw Chen Yue looking at him from a distance and smiled at him gently.

Cai Lin was startled, then agitated. However, he saw Chen Yue lower her head again, looking a little sad.

He suddenly became nervous.