The third item in the selection of concubines is calligraphy.
After the first two talent selections, many contestants were eliminated.
Although the remaining people passed the first two selections, many of them lacked talents in the latter few items. Now they were standing in Chuxiu Palace waiting for Aunt Rong, and they were extremely anxious.
Unfortunately, Aunt Rong, who is always punctual, has not arrived yet, and everyone is even more panicked.
"What's wrong with Aunt Rong today? Why hasn't she come yet when the time comes?"
"Yes, Aunt Rong is always punctual. She arrived earlier than us two days ago. How come she hasn't come yet at this time today?"
"Maybe he was delayed by something. Let's wait a little longer."
When Aunt Rong showed up for a long time, the concubines started talking in low voices.
In addition to being strict with others, Aunt Rong is also extremely strict with herself. She is not the kind of person who would do things on the spur of the moment.
As the selection time was approaching, a palace maid hurried in from outside the hall and stood in front of the beauties.
"There are some matters at the Music Bureau that need to be handled by Aunt Rong. Aunt Rong is currently busy, so she has asked this servant to come and tell you ladies that today's selection will begin as usual. Please take your seats."
The palace maid made a gesture of invitation, indicating that the palace maids present should take a seat.
After learning that Aunt Rong was indeed tied up in affairs, the concubines understood and sat down at the desk that had been placed beside them.
At this time, the palace maid spoke again at the right time: "Pen, ink, paper and inkstone have been prepared for you ladies. This selection will last for one stick of incense. Within one stick of incense, you ladies must fill the paper in front of you."
"After Aunt Rong finishes her work, she will come over to inspect it herself."
After the palace maid finished speaking, she stepped aside and lit the time-keeping incense in front of the hall.
As the timing incense was lit, the ladies picked up the brushes in their right hands, tapped the inkstone a few times, and then dropped the ink on the rice paper.
The young lady who was not good at calligraphy took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down her restless heart, and then picked up the brush and dipped it in ink.
On the other side, Aunt Rong, who did not arrive at Chuxiu Palace on time, was at the Jiaofangsi, standing opposite Eunuch Su.
"Thank you for your advice, Eunuch Su. Don't worry, Eunuch Su, I will never allow such a thing to happen."
Eunuch Su nodded and said, "I'll leave it at that. I hope Rong Jiaocheng will pay more attention to this. Although this palace banquet is similar to previous ones, now that His Majesty has mentioned this matter, it has become somewhat different from the past."
Aunt Rong bowed and said, "I will follow your father-in-law's instructions."
"In that case, I will take my leave now. I hope that Rong Jiaocheng's arrangements for the palace banquet will stand out and shine brilliantly."
Eunuch Su shook the whisk in his hand, turned around and walked out of the Jiaofangsi.
Looking at Eunuch Su's departing back, Aunt Rong narrowed her eyes slightly.
The fact that Eunuch Su came to the Jiaofangsi in person shows that His Majesty attaches great importance to this palace banquet.
If she choreographed the song and dance as usual, it would not be able to shine at the palace banquet. It seemed that she had to find time to replan the arrangements for this palace banquet.
Aunt Rong thought so and walked towards Chuxiu Palace.
Because Eunuch Su came to the Jiaofangsi to instruct on the palace banquet, which delayed the event for some time, when Aunt Rong arrived at Chuxiu Palace, the concubines had already filled half of the rice paper with writing.
After arriving at Chuxiu Palace, Aunt Rong didn't say anything, but walked straight from the last row to look around.
Wherever Aunt Rong passed, her clothes caught the eyes of the concubines.
The moment they saw Aunt Rong, the concubines all straightened up.
"oops."
In the hall where you could hear a pin drop, a voice of annoyance was heard, causing everyone to look back frequently.
Jiang Jingyu stood straight, without stopping her hands.
She was too familiar with this pretentious voice. Sister Shen Weining was about to start making trouble again.
Aunt Rong came to Shen Weining's desk and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"
Shen Weining looked up pitifully, held up her rice paper in front of Aunt Rong, her voice choked with sobs.
"Auntie, my ink accidentally dripped onto the rice paper."
Aunt Rong glanced indifferently at the rice paper held in front of her.
The fragrant trees are graceful and quiet like the breeze.
The words on the rice paper are excellent, but the ink that dripped onto it ruins the appearance of the entire paper.
Shen Weining lowered her head, the corners of her lips slightly raised, waiting for Aunt Rong's praise to come from above her head.
She has always known that her handwriting is good. She lost to Jiang Jingyu in the previous two selections, allowing Jiang Jingyu to steal the limelight in front of Aunt Rong.
This time, she is determined to take back everything that belongs to her!
So when she caught a glimpse of Aunt Rong out of the corner of her eye, she deliberately dropped ink on the rice paper in order to attract Aunt Rong's attention and let Aunt Rong praise her beautiful handwriting in front of everyone.
However, after waiting for a while, there was still no praise from Aunt Rong.
Shen Weining frowned and raised his head in confusion.
Her gaze met Aunt Rong's eyes that seemed to be able to see through everything. Shen Weining felt guilty for a moment and her eyes dodged.
Aunt Rong snorted inwardly, having seen through her little tricks long ago.
She walked away from Shen Weining's desk, leaving only one sentence.
"Since the paper is broken, let's rewrite it."
Shen Weining: “??!”
She used a little trick to get attention, but not only did she not receive any praise, she was actually asked to rewrite it?!
Aunt Rong came to the front of the hall and swept her eyes over everyone.
"It's already halfway through the hour. When the incense burns out, stop writing immediately, or you'll be eliminated. And listen carefully, I'm going to check only the rice paper that's filled. As for those who haven't filled it, just pack up and leave."
Shen Weining, who had just wasted half of the handwriting: "!!!"
Now she didn't have the heart to use those little tricks anymore, and hurriedly picked up another piece of rice paper and started writing!
Aunt Rong walked among the crowd and then sat in front of the hall.
Although Aunt Rong was in the process of selecting concubines, her mind had already been elsewhere.
At the palace banquet in a few days, what kind of dance should their Jiaofangsi choreograph to outshine all the other beauties and satisfy His Majesty?
Aunt Rong, who is usually calm, is a little anxious at this moment.
Especially as the palace banquet was getting closer, their previous plans were disrupted. How could it be easy to formulate a complete plan again in such a short time?
Aunt Rong collected her thoughts.
Forget it. Let her discuss this matter with other female officials of the Jiaofangsi after she returns.
She sighed and looked at the beauties in front of her again.
At this time, Jiang Jingyu had already filled the rice paper with writing. She habitually picked up the rice paper and blew on the ink that had not yet dried.
The rice paper swayed slightly as she blew on it. It was this slight movement that made Aunt Rong, who was frowning, brighten her eyes.
Got it!
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