Chapter 341 Selection

With the sound of a gong, only the subtle sounds of brushstrokes remained in the flower hall as the artist painted.

The ladies of high rank sat on the outer perimeter, each with an expectant look on their faces, nervously watching their daughters inside.

For women from aristocratic families, painting and calligraphy were usually learned from a young age. Dou Wenyi, however, was not particularly skilled in this art; she devoted herself entirely to medicine and naturally had no time or inclination for it.

It is anyone's guess who might possess unparalleled painting skills, surpassing all the noble ladies present.

On the surface, this competition is about paintings, but behind it all lies a complex web of human relationships and social dynamics.

Dou Wenyi sat upright at the top, her expression serene. Her gaze occasionally swept over Xu Yujiao, and seeing that Xu Yujiao's writing was steady, she knew that Xu Yujiao had lived up to expectations and had been prepared all along.

As Xu Yujiao calmly painted, she kept an eye on her surroundings. Xu Zhiyi, who was next to her, naturally caught her attention.

She had a pebble in her hand, and her painting movements were elegant and skillful. The reeds that landed on the paper were very beautiful, clearly showing that she was a master.

Xu Yujiao frowned slightly, feeling increasingly uneasy.

As the incense burned out, one painting after another was presented.

Dou Wenyi invited famous painters from the palace, as well as several Hanlin scholars, to judge the works together with the ladies of the imperial family.

After a fierce competition, Xu Yujiao's painting "Living Up to Expectations" stood out.

One of the scholars nodded in praise, saying, "This painting of twin lotus blossoms is superbly done, with lofty aspirations. It is indeed full of vitality, carries a beautiful meaning, and reflects a calm and insightful mind. I would recommend this painting as the best."

Upon hearing him speak like this, several wives of relatives immediately chimed in.

Xu Yujiao smiled, forcibly suppressing the joy in her heart.

Madam Xu glanced at the scholar without showing any emotion, secretly thinking: the money was well spent. At this moment, she only hoped that her daughter could also have a smooth meeting with the Emperor.

At this point, some people held a different opinion, saying, "This painting of reeds and rocks is clearly superior in both its artistic conception and brushwork..."

Dou Wenyi glanced sideways, her gaze gentle. "Oh?"

Her earnest gaze fell on the painting, and she paused slightly, momentarily stunned.

The painting uses extremely delicate brushstrokes to depict a large expanse of reeds by the lake. The rising sun casts a rosy glow on the shimmering lake water, where the sky and water blend seamlessly. Beside a light ochre rock, two cranes perch, perfectly integrated, one still and one in motion, like the finishing touch to a painting, or a silent whisper and companionship.

The brushstrokes in the painting are clean and crisp, the colors are vibrant, and the painting conveys a delicate and warm sentiment. The whitish reed catkins drifting towards the rock further enhance the hazy and beautiful effect of the entire painting.

The moment this painting appeared, the image of twin lotus flowers paled in comparison, appearing dull and uninteresting.

"You shall be like a rock, and I like a reed; the reed may be as pliable as silk, but the rock will never move." The idea is indeed excellent. Who painted this picture?

Lin Zhiyi slowly rose to her feet. "Your Majesty, it was painted by this humble woman."

"Indeed excellent, I like it very much." Dou Wenyi's eyes showed relief, knowing that Zhiyi was gradually emerging from the gloom in her own way.

"This painting style... seems to have inherited the true essence of the great painter Yan Gong?" One of the old scholars, his eyes shining, held the scroll with great delight.

"May I ask who your teacher is, young lady?"

“Yan Gongzheng is my maternal grandfather.”

"I see. No wonder she is Lord Yan's granddaughter. She has surpassed her master! I recommend this painting as the best."

For a moment, many noblewomen cast admiring glances at Lin Zhiyi. After all, Master Yan was a renowned artist, and now that he was dead, his paintings would only become more and more valuable in the future.

Lin Zhiyi was poised and humbly answered their various questions, but when she mentioned her recently deceased maternal grandfather, she couldn't help but feel a little sad.

Hearing the constant praises from all around, Xu Yuqiao's face turned extremely ugly, and a fierce anger rose in her heart. She clenched her hands tightly. Originally, she should have been the one being surrounded by admirers, but unexpectedly, Lin Zhiyi appeared out of nowhere!

It's likely that she was Dou Wenyi's chosen concubine, someone deliberately brought here to compete with her.

Next up was the "Scent and Meaning" competition. Fragrances were no stranger to noble ladies, but Dou Wenyi deliberately added a few medicinal herbs. Those who truly understand fragrance are actually quite familiar with medicinal herbs.

This move caught the noble ladies completely off guard. Many of them had never even seen medicinal herbs before, let alone how to prepare spices based on them.

Xu Yujiao's performance was also unsatisfactory, but she made it to the third round of the competition only because of her score in the previous round.

After this selection process, fewer than six people remained.

Surrounded by the crowd, Dou Wenyi turned back to look at the dejected Xu Yujiao, stopped deliberately, and smiled.

"Miss Xu, don't be discouraged. Those who have made it to the final round of the competition are already very outstanding. His Majesty has not said how many will be selected to enter the palace, so there is still a chance."

Madam Xu looked embarrassed, but put on a forced smile and said, "Thank you for your encouragement, Your Highness."

Xu Yujiao's face flushed red and then turned pale. She could clearly hear the veiled sarcasm in her words, and she was speechless for a long time.

Dou Wenyi looked away, pretending not to see her hand that was almost clenched into a fist.

Most people guessed that Xu Yujiao must have gotten the questions in advance. She failed to win the championship by cheating, which is really useless.

Everyone had their own thoughts, and one of the ladies couldn't help but sneer, "She came to participate in the competition just for fun. My good-for-nothing daughter was eliminated in the first round. Victory and defeat are common in war. Fortunately, she has a good attitude and isn't a sore loser. Crying is what's truly pathetic!"

Dou Wenyi sighed. The young girl was simple-minded and easily showed her emotions; she couldn't hide them at all. These successive setbacks had already deeply affected her.

They moved to the painted boat and waited for a while before the emperor's figure finally appeared in everyone's sight.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

With a whoosh, everyone knelt down, and Dou Wenyi slightly curtsied in greeting.

Xu Yujiao mustered her courage and secretly looked up.

No need for formalities.

The emperor, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, stood tall and straight, his robes fluttering in the breeze. His face was as radiant as the stars, and his bearing was majestic and awe-inspiring. His tone was calm, yet it carried a suffocating imperial authority.

Pei Siyan's sharp gaze swept over the kneeling crowd, and he strode over, grasped Dou Wenyi's hand, and smiled, "Yi'er, you've worked hard!"

That smile was so beautiful and graceful that it made the world pale in comparison.

"It's no trouble at all. It's my honor to be able to share His Majesty's burdens," Dou Wenyi said with a faint smile.

When Eunuch Anxi noticed someone spying on her, his sharp gaze shot over. Xu Yuqiao hurriedly lowered her eyes, her ambition growing wildly and instantly becoming overwhelming.

She wanted to take his place, to stand by his side!

Pei Siyan carefully took her hand, and the two sat down side by side.

Having received a signal from the Emperor, Consort Zhang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, the remaining few were all carefully selected by us. Let's see if any of them meet your standards."