His bright yellow brocade robe accentuated his noble status, and his languid posture could not conceal his royal domineering aura. Soon, this man would become the most honored man in the Great Zhou Dynasty and would be the new emperor. If she won this competition, she would solidify her title as the most talented woman in the capital. At that time, with her father's help, she would definitely be admitted to the Crown Prince's residence. In the future, when His Highness the Crown Prince ascended the throne, with her reputation, the Ye family's background, and the teacher-student relationship between her father and the Crown Prince, she would surely be made one of the four imperial concubines.
Ye Xiuying grew happier and happier, and the audience below the stage was also extremely excited...
---Aside---
My dears, Xiaoxiao keeps her word and is back at midnight. Because I had something to do today, I wrote this last night and am now presenting it to you...
Chapter 43 A Bet's a Bet
Hai Ling smiled, leisurely watching the lively crowd in the hall. As expected, these women were all waiting to see her make a fool of herself. She just didn't know whose fool it was. However, she had a plan in mind to make the Crown Prince hate her even more. She just hoped that he couldn't stand her like this and would quickly break off the engagement.
Hai Ling stood up, and the atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly tense, with voices rising in waves.
At this point, everyone forgot to pay attention to the Crown Prince and the others, and the Crown Prince neither stopped them nor showed any displeasure.
Qingyun, the headmistress of Jiaoyuan Academy, saw that the Crown Prince had agreed to this matter. Although she was afraid that the Crown Princess would lose, she did not dare to say anything and instructed a head nun to oversee the matter.
The headmaster stepped onto the stage and announced that Miss Ye and the Crown Princess would begin their talent competition. The first item was to compose poems. Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they had to compose two poems about lotus flowers. The poems could be about lotus flowers, lotus leaves, or lotus roots, as long as they were related to lotus flowers.
As soon as the headmaster finished speaking, servants from the Banana Garden Study carried out a table, prepared writing brushes, ink, and paper, and even set up an incense table.
The arena fell silent. Just as the duel between the two was about to begin, a sweet voice suddenly rang out from below the hall: "I also wish to participate in this duel. I wonder if Her Highness the Crown Princess would approve?"
Everyone looked over in surprise, only to find that the person who stood up and spoke was none other than Jiang Feixue, the Crown Princess's older sister.
Jiang Feixue watched as Ye Xiuying was about to overpower Hailing on stage. If she won this match, Ye Xiuying would become the most talented woman in Kyoto tomorrow.
The thought of Ye Xiuying becoming the most talented woman in the capital made Jiang Feixue unwilling. Moreover, the Crown Prince was right in front of her. If Ye Xiuying were to truly shine, the Crown Prince would definitely take a liking to her. She was superior to Ye Xiuying in every aspect, so how could she lose to her in this? Therefore, Jiang Feixue could no longer care about anything else and stood up and shouted.
Hai Ling stood gracefully on the high platform, smiling softly as she looked down at Jiang Feixue. She knew Jiang Feixue's thoughts all too well. Both women wanted to use her as a stepping stone to become the most talented woman in the capital and then climb into the Crown Prince's mansion. Unfortunately, she didn't like to use others as stepping stones, not even for the sake of breaking off an engagement.
"Okay, but if you lose, will you have to bark like a dog too?"
Hai Ling spoke jokingly, and Jiang Feixue was stunned. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, but she wore a smug smile on her face. This woman was talking nonsense. It was really funny that she would lose to her.
"You have to accept the consequences of your bet."
Without hesitation, Jiang Feixue spoke up, and Hailing nodded. The headmaster behind her then agreed to let Miss Jiang participate in the talent competition.
The stage became even more lively, with everyone in the audience standing up and watching the platform intently.
Jiang Feixue gracefully walked onto the platform. This woman was tall and slender, with captivating manners. Today, she wore a silver-red long dress with a sky-blue bow tied around her waist. As she walked, the ribbons swayed gently, exuding an indescribable noble beauty. She truly possessed the air of an empress, which many people below the stage thought about.
Jiang Feixue went up to the high platform, and the headmaster aunt repeated the questions for the first round of the competition. Then, servants from the Banana Garden Study carried up a table.
The competition was about to begin. Hai Ling raised her eyebrows and glanced at the sect leader, then looked at Ye Xiuya and Jiang Feixue, and spoke calmly.
"It's a pleasure for us to have this opportunity to exchange skills today. It's truly fate. And since Miss Ye enjoys unique things, why don't we have a more enjoyable exchange?"
Ye Xiuying and Jiang Feixue were taken aback, wondering what Hailing meant. However, both of them considered themselves the most talented, and knowing that Hailing had no talent at all, they were not afraid and spoke with a smile.
"Your Highness, please speak."
"In the time it takes to burn an incense stick, compose five lotus poems like these, and then write them down."
As soon as Hai Ling finished speaking, Jiang Feixue and Ye Xiuying were stunned, and everyone in the hall was stunned.
Crown Prince Feng Zixiao, who was at the front, frowned, his eyes thoughtful. Was this woman truly capable, or was she just messing around? At a time like this, she still had to pull this stunt.
Princess Chang Le's lips twitched, and she felt an urge to scream. Hai Ling was so calm, she was clearly confident. Could she be hiding something? That would be terrifying.
Who knows, this move today might make her the most talented woman in Kyoto tomorrow.
This is wonderful! Just thinking about it makes me realize that my bright eyes are fixed on the platform without blinking.
The Left Prime Minister, Xi Lingfeng, who was sitting beside the Crown Prince, had dark eyes that gleamed with a mysterious light. With a slight smile, his ordinary face suddenly became dazzling and radiant. He was no longer ordinary at all; he was truly charming. The young ladies sitting in the row behind him couldn't help but swallow their saliva as they looked at him. This Left Prime Minister was truly someone whose smile was captivating.
However, the Seventh Prince Feng Zihe, who was standing next to the Left Prime Minister Xi Lingfeng, was very nervous. He was simple-minded and didn't think too much. At this moment, he was full of worries, afraid that Hai Ling would lose and might actually bark like a dog. He thought he would bark for her. Although he was a prince, he was still a man. As a friend, a man should help a woman.
The seventh prince was nervously churning inside, torn between helping his friend and saving face.
The imperial censor Wei Lin, who was on patrol in the capital, was not an incompetent person. Seeing how certain the Crown Princess was, he must have the ability. However, writing five lotus poems in one incense stick's time was no easy task.
First, you need to think about composing five poems, and then you need to write five more. Even for someone with quick wit, it would probably take the time it takes to burn two incense sticks.
This is really crazy, everyone thinks so.
Hai Ling, standing on the high platform, stared directly at Jiang Feixue and Ye Xiuying. Weren't these two women showing off their abilities? She would let them show off.
She had nothing to worry about, because being born in modern times, writing five lotus poems was a piece of cake for her. She already had them in her mind, so all she had to do was write them down. But what about these women?
Hai Ling glanced indifferently at Ye Xiuying and Jiang Feixue, who were hesitating opposite her.
Seeing the unease in their eyes, I couldn't help but laugh. They were scared now, but it was too late.
Hai Ling spoke softly, "Miss Ye, are you scared? If you admit defeat, that's fine, but the dog must bark."
As the Crown Princess, she was deeply astonished that they dared to make such a bet, so she naturally had to bear the consequences.
However, as soon as Hai Ling finished speaking, Ye Xiuying and Jiang Feixue's faces darkened. In front of so many people, how could they easily admit defeat? Moreover, they did not believe that this woman could compose five lotus poems in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and write them down. Therefore, she was just using trickery. Perhaps she couldn't even write one poem. So what were they afraid of?
With that thought, Ye Xiuying smiled again and said gently, "Okay, let's begin."
"Okay, let's begin."
Upon hearing this, the head nun immediately gave an order to begin lighting incense.
Incense was lit, and the three women on the stage walked to their respective desks.