After receiving the order, the palace maid went straight to Luo Lan, picked up the rice paper on the table in front of her, and then displayed it in front of everyone.
When everyone saw what she wrote, they began to discuss it. One of them asked in surprise:
"What kind of font is this? These words... these words look really strange."
"This...this writing isn't strange. It looks square and clear."
"Yes, it's not only clear, but also easy to understand. However, this is the first time I've seen such handwriting."
Everyone present heard the discussion, and the emperor looked at her in surprise, questioning with doubt:
"Princess Yu, please explain a little. What did you write? And what font is this?"
Luo Lan thought to himself helplessly that these ancient people had long assumed that they had never seen regular script, and now it seemed that this was indeed the case.
She lifted her skirt and stood up, then slowly walked to the middle of the crowd. She looked at the words she had just written and slowly said:
"In reply to Your Majesty, the font of my calligraphy is regular script. This type of calligraphy has straight horizontal and vertical lines, allowing people to intuitively see the number and shape of each stroke and the writing method. The font size should be consistent, the top and bottom should be straight, the front and back should be even, and the left and right should be balanced. If you look closely, you will find that the running script written by the Prince of Zhennan is derived from this regular script. Therefore, the regular script I write can be said to be the grandfather of these running scripts, the grandfather of the grandfather of the grandfather... I can also be called the ancestor."
"Hahaha……"
Her words made everyone laugh. Leng Zian's face suddenly turned ashen. He suddenly snorted coldly and roared:
"Is Princess Yu scolding me? This is outrageous."
Seeing this, Luo Lan blinked cunningly and explained:
"What I mean is that all handwriting evolved from regular script. Look carefully. The character 'Wen' in 'Wen Gu Er Zhi Xin' written by the emperor's uncle is the same as the character 'Wen' in 'Wen Nuan Ru Yu' written by me. It's just that one is a little more sloppy and the other is a little more neat."
After hearing her say this, everyone looked at the two words carefully. After identification, they found that the two words were exactly the same, but Luo Lan's writing was clearer and easier to recognize.
At this time, Liu Dechang, who had been carefully observing the two characters, nodded and praised:
"Well, these square characters look more majestic. Someone who can write so neatly is truly extraordinary. Your Majesty, I believe that children in academies should learn this kind of characters, as they are easy to learn, recognize, and remember."
As soon as he said this, Huang Shixiong, Yu Shiming and several other ministers also echoed him.
"Yes, it would be a great blessing if all the children in Daning could learn to write such neat characters."
On the other side, Leng Zian's face was gloomy, and the Wu family's father and son also looked unhappy. The emperor was a little embarrassed. It was really difficult to decide who would win and who would lose in this competition.
After a moment of silence, the Emperor spoke solemnly:
"The calligraphy of Prince Zhennan and Princess Yu each has its own merits. No one in Daning Kingdom can match them, so this competition is a draw!"
After hearing this, although Feng Zian was dissatisfied, he knew that he could not say anything more. After all, the handwriting of Princess Yu was indeed clear and refreshing. He knew that it was useless to quibble any further, so he could only give up.
The Emperor looked at Yu Shiming again and instructed him:
"Master Yu, have the officials from the Ministry of Rites admire Princess Yu's... this regular script style and see if it can be implemented in the schools of the capital. If so, have Princess Yu publish a complete handbook of calligraphy for the children in the schools to learn from."
Yu Shiming clasped his fists and replied:
"I obey your order."
In three consecutive games, Luo Lan won two and tied one. It seemed that there was not much point in continuing this competition.
Everyone sighed and couldn't believe what happened today.
The emperor glanced at everyone, and finally his eyes fell on Wu Hong, and he slowly said:
"Princess Yu won the game of qin and chess, but tied in calligraphy. Is there anyone else who wants to compete in calligraphy and painting?"
Wu Hong's eyes darkened and his brows furrowed. Seeing this, Wu Yuanzhang raised his fist and said:
"Your Majesty, of course we must compete. I have just sent for the capital's foremost painter, Wang Yuanzheng. I wonder if Princess Yu is willing to compete with him?"
Hearing this, Leng Xi, who was sitting next to Wu Yuanzhang, frowned somewhat unhappily and said directly in a hateful voice:
"Is Grand Tutor Wu coming prepared? But I think this is really unfair. Everyone knows the name of Wang Yuanzheng, the best painter in the capital. You want the Empress Dowager to compete with him? This is too much!"
After he finished speaking, he looked towards the emperor, clasped his fists and saluted, saying:
"Father, we've played four games. My sister-in-law has won two and tied one. The outcome has already been determined. There's no point in playing any further."
Hearing Leng Xi say this, Leng Yu frowned. He looked at Luo Lan with deep affection in his eyes, his face showing no surprise or joy, as calm as water.
He suddenly felt that his wife was omnipotent, like a fairy who had descended from heaven. Something unexpected might happen to her. He even believed that his wife would definitely win even if she competed with the number one painter in the capital.
The emperor's eyes darkened, he turned to look at Luo Lan, and asked in a deep voice:
"Princess Yu, do you still want to compete? Now you have already won. If you don't compete, others will have nothing to say."
Luo Lan didn't expect that the emperor would speak for her in front of so many people. Although her face was calm, she felt a little touched in her heart.
She glanced at Leng Yu, and in his eyes, she saw his trust in her. She smiled softly at him, then bowed to the emperor and said:
"Your Majesty, Luo Lan doesn't know much about calligraphy and painting. How dare he compete with the best painter in the capital?"
"How can that be possible?"
Wu Hong looked at her unwillingly when he saw this.
"Since we're competing, we need to complete it. If Princess Yu can still win in calligraphy and painting, then she will truly deserve the title of the most talented woman in Daning Kingdom..."
The meaning of his words was obvious: even if Luo Lan was very capable, he could not win the title of the number one painter in the capital.
But Luo Lan really had no intention of becoming the most talented woman in Daning Kingdom. She just wanted to be the Princess Yu in peace. She couldn't do anything like trying to be in the spotlight.
So, she gently refused:
"Luo Lan is just a commoner. It's really unexpected that she could be by Prince Yu's side. I really don't deserve the title of the most talented woman in Daning Kingdom. Thank you General Wu for the compliment. This time, let's just consider Luo Lan as the loser!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Wu Hong snorted coldly, staring and muttering,
"Give up? That would require you to bark like a dog. Princess Yu, are you willing?"
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