Chapter 39: Competition Scene, Memory Flashback
During the finals, Pei Heng, with the halo of being Lin Qingyuan and Yan Ke's closed disciple, plus his own solid foundation, was able to win with great momentum.
Pei Heng's name has also become famous among newcomers in the calligraphy world.
Many people in the industry privately commented that their carefully trained students always seemed to lack something in comparison to Pei Heng's works.
On the day of the finals, the lights in the venue were focused, cameras were everywhere, and the tense atmosphere of the live broadcast was silently filled.
The host introduced the respected faces on the judges' panel one by one. Among them, the chief judge sitting in the middle had the loudest voice and the longest introduction.
Shen Shi sat in the front row of the audience, scanning the judges' seats calmly.
When the chief judge was introduced, Shen Shi couldn't help but take a second look. The chief judge seemed to have exchanged too much eyes with a contestant in the competition booth.
Shen Shi is most sensitive to these.
He tilted his head slightly and listened to Ling Yue, who had already researched the competition, say, "The chief judge is the son-in-law of the master who contributed the Prince's calligraphy. People in the industry say he is the most suitable person to inherit the master's legacy."
Shen Shi nodded slightly, his eyes resting on the chief judge for just a moment, feeling something was amiss. "Keep a close eye on him; there can't be any mistakes."
Ling Yue nodded silently.
Lin Qingyuan and Yan Ke, who were beside Chen Shi, had just arrived this morning. They declined all invitations from the associations and went straight to the competition venue.
Yan Ke asked Shen Shi, "Master, has Your Highness been practicing well these past few days? Are you nervous?"
Shen Shi said there was no need to worry, his expression was relaxed, and he said calmly: “Things that originally belonged to His Highness will return to his hands.”
Shen Shi has already seen the previews of all the contestants' entries in advance. As long as nothing unexpected happens, his Highness will definitely win first place.
Yan Ke also nodded, "That's true."
On the stage, the competition officially began.
As expected, the topic of the final was closely related to the set of calligraphy works by the Prince of Pei State that was awarded as a prize. The theme focused on the history and culture of the Pei State, with profound intentions, almost a discussion of national policy.
Pei Heng concentrated his mind and calmed his spirit, picked up his brush and dipped it in ink.
However, I did not use known historical quotes as I did during practice. Instead, a strange feeling came to me the moment I put pen to paper.
The tip of the pen moves across the rice paper, and the fragrance of ink is lingering.
Pei Heng's mind gradually sank into a mysterious state.
In a trance, some scenes that I had never seen before appeared in my mind.
In the towering palace, beneath the green bricks and red tiles, a high-ranking official whose face could not be seen was wearing an intricate dragon robe and slammed the table in anger.
"Heng'er knows nothing about governing a country, and is even less adept at political strategies. He's fine as a crown prince, but he's unfit to be the ruler of a country!"
"He has a sophisticated mind, is a noble, and has the destiny of a true dragon. How can he not be able to do it? Why not? If he can't do it, who else dares to take on this task!"
This was a deeper, colder voice.
During the struggle, countless blurry scenes flashed by.
The final definition is just the word "monarch" in history books.
Pei Heng suddenly woke up and a thin layer of sweat broke out on his back.
He subconsciously lowered his head to look at his pen and found that he had poured out his feelings on paper in a moment of distraction, and the last thing he wrote ended with the monarch's rule of the country.
Compared with daily practice, the handwriting has an unprecedented strength and power, the edge is restrained yet majestic, as if it has accumulated the grace of thousands of years.
Pei Heng gently put down the pen, his fingertips trembling slightly, and he was surprised to realize that he had just performed exceptionally well.
He stood on the stage, rarely absent-minded for a moment, until his eyes turned to the audience and met Shen Shi's, and then his mind slowly calmed down.
Suddenly hearing some movement beside him, Pei Heng looked sideways in confusion.
There was a good distance between the competition tables, so there was no need to worry about seeing other people's works. However, the contestant at the next table was a little too nervous.
At this moment, she noticed Pei Heng's gaze, and she trembled violently. She hurriedly tried to hold the rice paper that was about to fall. Then she quickly lowered her head, almost burying it in the table, and dared not look at Pei Heng again.
Pei Heng raised his eyebrows slightly, thinking that this person's reaction was a bit strange.
But I didn't think much about it, just thinking that the other party was under too much pressure.
At the end of the competition, all entries were projected onto a giant screen in turn for the judges and the audience to examine.
The host announced the start of the live selection, and the results will be announced in two hours. The selection process will still be broadcast live, and the contestants can temporarily leave to rest and have a meal.
Yan Ke and Lin Qingyuan had already seen the works displayed by Pei Heng. They looked at each other and felt relieved.
They accepted the invitation and prepared to observe the selection process up close.
Pei Heng went straight to the audience seats, threw himself into Chen Shi's arms, buried his face in his neck, and took a deep breath to dispel the chaotic and heavy images in his mind.
Shen Shi gently hugged him, patting his back soothingly with his palm, and keenly noticed that Pei Heng was a little depressed.
"What's wrong? Not in a good mood?" he asked in a low voice.
Pei Heng said, "No."
He raised his head and pinched Shen Shi's soft earlobe before standing up straight and looking around, "Where's Ling Yue?"
Shen Shi glanced towards the judges' table and whispered, "I asked him to go backstage to check some things. Let's go. Teacher Yan has prepared lunch for us in the private room next door. We don't have to squeeze into the cafeteria."
Pei Heng was indeed hungry, so he nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
Two hours seemed so long while waiting.
When Pei Heng returned to the competition stage, the results of the selection had already been announced.
The third prize winners will be announced in order.
"After the final evaluation by the jury, the winner of the special prize in this National College Students Calligraphy Competition is Pei Heng."
"The first place winner deserves the reward!"
Pei Heng's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he didn't look too disappointed.
It’s over, Xiao Pei lost.
He was thinking whether he could negotiate with the first place winner and let Old Pei spend some money to buy the jade ring.
Pei Heng looked over and saw the young man who seemed extremely nervous during the competition.
Then he looked at the works displayed on the big screen.
That calligraphy...
Pei Heng frowned slightly, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.
In the audience below the stage, Shen Shi’s brows were deeply furrowed.
He saw things more clearly than Pei Heng and was more frightened.
The calligraphy that Ying Gong offered was 99% similar to the handwriting that His Highness had written in his previous life as he remembered.
You have to know that even when copying the original, everyone's brushstrokes will be unique due to differences in temperament, wrist strength, and habits.
What's more, the authentic works handed down from His Highness's previous life are rare, and most of them are unique copies.
Although Pei Heng's handwriting in this life also bears the shadow of his previous life, there are some differences due to the different environment and state of mind.
The words for the offerings looked as if they were copied using a ruler from the handwriting of His Majesty in the previous life. They were too deliberate and seemed weird.
Shen Shi glanced sharply at the judges' table, and seeing Lin Qingyuan's steady eyes, he nodded at him, signaling him to be patient.
Shen Shi's heartstrings finally relaxed a little, it seemed that the teacher had made preparations.
Before Pei Heng on the stage could react, an indignant voice suddenly rang out.
"I report it! I report number 13 for cheating!"
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