After all the votes were collected, the eunuch read the results aloud. In the end, Lanqin's painting was ranked first. Only the paintings of a few juniors, such as Hongshi and Hongli, received a few votes. All the votes were cast for Lanqin.
Everyone understood without saying a word; this outcome pleased the Fourth Master.
The Fourth Prince looked at Lanqin with doting eyes and said, "Consort Xi's painting is undoubtedly the best..."
Lady Nian was far from satisfied with the outcome. She hadn't expected the Fourth Prince to praise the paintings of the Fifth, Seventh, and Tenth Princes; even if things had gone badly, they wouldn't have lost every single one of their votes. Lady Nian glared at Lanqin with disgust, then glanced at the audience, finding that no one seemed to doubt Lanqin's victory.
Lady Nian was even more furious, but she couldn't vent her anger in front of the Fourth Prince. She cursed inwardly, "That vile woman, she actually managed to coax the Emperor and make everyone fawn over her..."
Although unwilling, Nian still smiled and said to Lanqin, "Congratulations on winning, sister. Your painting skills are outstanding. I am ashamed of myself. I hope you will teach me more in the future..." After saying that, she stared at Lanqin meaningfully.
Lanqin didn't care; she had already expected this outcome. Everyone was smart enough to see that the Fourth Master's commentary wasn't truly based on good or bad. To avoid disobeying the Fourth Master, casting their vote for Lanqin was the wisest choice.
Lanqin knew that Nian was unwilling to accept defeat, but since she couldn't see the reason behind it, she could only smile and say, "Thank you for your praise, sister. I only won by luck, and I really dare not teach you..."
To reward Lanqin, the Fourth Prince bestowed upon her a jade cabbage before the banquet officially began.
A huge dragon boat arrived from Fuhai, carrying rows of palace maids and eunuchs, each carrying a food box. Led by a head chef, they delivered meals to Penglai Island's Jade Terrace. As delicious dishes were placed on each table, everyone relaxed.
Just then, Fourth Master suddenly spoke up: "My uncle's family on the western grasslands has started asking for a princess from the Qing Dynasty again. I wonder what the brothers think?"
Upon hearing this, all the princes and princesses present felt a jolt in their hearts, and the princesses under the eaves around them were even more on edge, putting down their chopsticks and nervously staring inside, because none of them wanted to go to the Mongolian grasslands for a political marriage.
For a moment, the relatives fell silent and were displeased, while Fourth Master casually ate a few bites of food and noticed the sudden change in the atmosphere.
"I know that marriage alliances have always been the last thing our imperial relatives want, but for the sake of the stability of the Qing Dynasty, I have no choice but to make this decision..." After saying this, the Fourth Prince's eyes swept over everyone.
The Thirteenth Prince raised his wine cup to the Fourth Prince and said, "Your Majesty, since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, all the princesses sent for marriage alliances have been from the imperial family. Marriage alliances are the best way to ensure long-term peace and stability without losing a single soldier. This time, it is even my uncle who has personally come to propose marriage; I'm sure the princess will have a good life after marrying into the family..."
The Thirteenth Prince's words clearly favored the Fourth Prince, and the others began to whisper among themselves: The Thirteenth Prince has no princess of marriageable age, so it's easy for him to talk about marriage alliances without any real understanding of the situation. They were quite dissatisfied with the Thirteenth Prince.
However, the Thirteenth Prince didn't care at all and waited for others' reactions. Sure enough, some of the timid princesses had already begun to sob in fear, and the wives also looked at their prince with unease.
After a long pause, the Fourth Prince said, "My daughters are almost all married, and even the last one who hasn't married yet, Princess Duoluo, is engaged. This marriage alliance with the grasslands is really giving me a headache..."
The Fourth Prince's words were quite clear: a princess must be chosen from among the imperial clan to be sent abroad as a marriage alliance. The imperial clan members panicked even more, secretly making plans for their own daughters…
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