The Fourth Lady

"Min'er, what do you think of Yan'er's performance?" Chunyuan look to Mu Zhimin that was next to her and asked with a smile, "I very much like that girl."

Mu Zhimin casted her eyes on the not too distant Qingyan as she listened to what Chunyuan said. Qingyan's calm demeanor made her admire her a lot. She even was able to see on Qingyan some traces of Murong Jingxuan.

Murong Jingxuan was raised in Diqiu ever since he was young. Although on the surface he looked like a frivolous playboy, she couldn't be more clear to the talent he had behind him. After all, they were both gave off the feeling of 'people of the world's edge*. That feeling they had was definitely similar, and she did admire that kind of Murong Jingxuan.

(*TN: This is a verse from Bai Juyi's long poem 'Song of the Pipa Player'; it means people that have both wandered far from home brought closer together because of similar bitter experiences.)

But that was definitely not 'like'; she only revered and respected him. And in Qingyan she could see that kind of shadow on her.

"I also like that girl too." Mu Zhimin looked towards Chunyuan with a gentle smile. "Min'er thinks that a girl that brother Jingxuan is interested in must not be ordinary."

Xuanyuan Yufan stared at Qingyan from the start to finish of her performance. He'd never thought that in a year's time, Su Qingyan would have this much of a drastic change. Or rather it was more accurate to say he didn't understand why Su Qingyan would have this drastic of a change. She was completely different from the Su Qingyan in his memories.

"Jingxuan, do you think second brother is also interested in that girl now?" Xuanyuan Yuzhen saw the look in Yufan's eyes and turned his attention to Murong Jingxuan.

Murong Jingxuan smirked, "Naturally I'd be more than happy if a lot of people like that girl."

His girl should be this outstanding.

"Brother Jingxuan, don't regret it, if when the time comes, second brother steals that fourth miss away." Xuanyuan Yukai look to Murong Jingxuan laughing, as he teased him, and behind him Xuanyuan Yuning also nodded in agreement.

"That girl's standards are very high." Murong Jingxuan still had a confident look.

He clearly knew in his heart that, his girl, was only using this as an opportunity to greatly show off in front of these princes. As for who she liked, he thinks that that person definitely must be someone she could really rely on, and as of now, the only one she trusted was probably just him.

Su Qingyan didn't trust anyone. Even if she greeted everyone with a smile, he could still feel that Su Qingyan really didn't believe in anyone around her. Even those servant girls she had by her side, she'd still kept things from them. But he really wanted to know just how many more surprises could she bring him.

In qin Qingyan took first place, in chess a girl in pink got first place, in calligraphy it was some illegitimate daughter of a noble, and in painting Luo Yixin took first. And the most important thing right now was to decide on a winner among these four first placers. That way, that person would undisputedly be the number one.

The second round of this competition was composing poetry verses. The judges would give a theme and let them compete to see who was the best through composing poetry.

The theme this time was: Plum Blossom.

The girl in pink was not well versed in this kind of thing and could only half heartedly get by with a verse of 'Singing Plum Flower'. The other girl also barely got by with a verse of 'Sighing Flower'. Thus in the end, it became a battle between Su Qingyan and Luo Yixin.

Luo Yixin was already very good with this kind of thing, that's why when she saw the theme, she immediately composed a piece. Furthermore, her piece was very well received by the judges.

However, Qingyan who was sitting to the side had yet to moved her hand. And just when they thought Qingyan had already given up, they found that Qingyan had already picked up the brush and began to write.

'Singing Plum Flower'

The moonlight in the olden times several times brighter, Midnight qin sounds in the Yingshuang tower.

Deep in love, red plum blossoms burst;

Putting down the brush, the solitude of yearning for someone.

When the judges saw Su Qingyan's poem, they look to her with a bit of admiration in their gaze. This poetry piece seemed as if it had seen through all the joys and sorrows of the world. Lastly it also recounted the joys and sorrows of the mortal world.

Qingyan's piece, 'Singing Plum Flower', undoubtedly took first place. And when Luo Yixin saw this piece, she also couldn't help but to admire Qingyan's talent. She'd ever thought that in a short one year's time, Qingyan would have this big of an improvement in composing poetry.

Chunyuan beckoned Qingyan over to her side and sat her down, "Yan'er, you are undoubtedly the first place winner now, you should already be more than qualified to sit next to me now."

Qingyan smiled as she walked over and sat down in the empty seat next to Chunyuan, "Thank you your Highness for such kind affections, Yan'er is so underserving."

The talent conference was originally a place where Su Qingyan would embarrass herself, but now she was the only that was shining brightly. Seeing this, Su Qingyuan felt upmost unpleasant inside. Similarly, Su Qingwen also felt unpleasant. She'd never thought that Su Qingyan could shine this brightly, making them become her foil. How could they just stomach this?

The second portion of the talent conference was 'Selection'. In other words, in this portion, they could choose to perform a skill they were most talented in. And this was Su Qingyuan's chance to show off. Su Qingwen also picked her best subject, painting.

While the girls' matches was underway, the boys' were also conducting their matches. And naturally the one that won first place for the boys' team was Cui Hanqun. The boys team didn't have the 'Selection' portion; instead they were combined with the girls team for a last 'Battle' match.

In this battle, it wasn't where the boys would compete with the girls team, but rather through issuing a challenge to compete with someone.

In the selection match, Su Qingyan naturally became the target of everyone's envy. But with her playing the [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix], even if Su Qingyuan were to play [Gaoshang Liushui*], it was unable to raise the crowd's interest. In contrast, Su Qingwen's 'Scattered Plum Flower' painting had won the judges' good opinion.

(*TN: Literally translates to high mountain running water)

"Su Qingyuan was that good at playing the qin, why does it feel like no one is listening?" Cui Hanqun whispered softly to Cui Hanxue next to him.

Hearing her elder brother's words, Cui Hanxue directed her gaze at Su Qingyan, "You don't understand, just now Su Qingyan had already played the [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix], you have to know that all tunes would lose its splendor before this piece. That's why it's natural that everyone wouldn't be interested."

Cui Hanqun turned his gaze to the not to distant Su Qingyan who was lost in thoughts. He smirked.

He thought up a plan. Even though he didn't even exist in Su Qingyuan's eyes, if he could help her vent out her frustration through this, then why would he not do it?

The last portion 'Battle' matches started after the 'Selection' matches ended. Cui Hanqun was the first to stand; he pointed his finger at Su Qingyan and arrogantly spoke, "I want to challenge Su Qingyan, and the competing method will be horseback archery."

Hearing Cui Hanqun's words, they all turned their attention to Su Qingyan. They looked as if they were waiting for Su Qingyan's refusal. She calmly captured a black chess piece on the board. When she stood up she lightly raised her sleeve, messing up all the pieces on the chess board. She look to Cui Hanqun with a smirk, "I accept."☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐