The examiners responsible for the evaluation had already taken their positions on the stage. The female instructor who had held the lot container earlier was recording everyone’s assigned categories, as they would be evaluated in groups.
The women’s group would go first, testing in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Among the students of Guangwen Hall, those in Nation Class One were exempt from evaluation; only those in Nation Classes Two and Three would be tested. Nation Class Three would be in the next round, while this round of Nation Class Two had only about twenty people.
The female students at Guangwen Hall were all daughters from high-ranking families in the capital. Concubine-born daughters naturally weren’t qualified, and among the legitimate daughters, many had private tutors who came to teach at their homes. Moreover, Guangwen Hall’s threshold wasn’t low—the annual fee alone was one thousand taels of silver.
Shen Xin hadn’t minded these material concerns back then and had sent all three daughters from the Shen household to Guangwen Hall. Ren Wanyun was somewhat dissatisfied with this, but with a wave of Shen Xin’s hand, she dared not argue further. After all, that confiscated silver was all from the Emperor’s rewards to Shen Xin for his military achievements.
Twenty-two people were divided into four groups. More people were assigned to the “zither” category, seven in total—young ladies always liked things that could showcase their charm. The remaining three categories each had five people.
In Shen Miao’s painting group were Shen Yue, the legitimate daughter of the Left Censor-in-Chief, Qin Qing; the daughter of the Prefect of Fengtian Prefecture, Fan Liuer; and the daughter of the Left Vice Minister, Zhao Yan.
Fan Liuer and Zhao Yan were both somewhat disappointed. Fan Liuer excelled at the zither, while Zhao Yan was skilled at chess. Not everyone was like Shen Yue, proficient in every category. Having not drawn their strengths, in front of the male attendees, Fan Liuer and Zhao Yan weren’t very pleased. Qin Qing, however, maintained her usual arrogance. Qin Qing was beautiful, perhaps the only one in Guangwen Hall who could rival Shen Yue, though not because of her talents. Although Shen Yue also had a gentle beauty, Qin Qing’s striking looks could effortlessly overshadow her.
Shen Miao’s gaze fell on Qin Qing. Today she wore a blue wide-sleeved cotton embroidered robe with a goose-yellow belt at her waist, accentuating her slender waist that seemed less than a handful. With her flowing garments, she had quite the ethereal air about her. Compared to the soft and delicate Shen Yue, she was more like a pure lotus.
Yet this proud and beautiful young woman, after the late Emperor began purging the great noble families and the Left Censor-in-Chief’s family fell, would become a military prostitute. Later, it was heard that she took a knife and perished together with a minor general in the military camp.
As if sensing Shen Miao’s gaze, Qin Qing looked over, seeming somewhat surprised, then turned away with disgust, as if unwilling to look at Shen Miao a moment longer.
Shen Miao didn’t take offense. Instead, Feng Anning, standing beside her, tugged at her sleeve: “When the time comes, just draw whatever you want. Don’t overthink it.”
Feng Anning thought simply—since embarrassment was inevitable, facing it openly would make those people find it boring. But if Shen Miao tried to prove herself and did something outrageous on stage, that would truly be disastrous.
Shen Miao nodded. Just then, the ceremonial official on stage struck the drum heavily, and the evaluation officially began.
The first category to be evaluated was “zither.”
Feng Anning was fortunate—the female students who drew “zither” today were all of mediocre skill. Those who usually played best hadn’t been assigned this category, giving Feng Anning an unexpected advantage.
Feng Anning had been practicing the zither diligently recently, and now her efforts weren’t wasted. When she sat properly, she had quite the air of a refined lady. Being attractive as well, her subtle zither notes, compared to the average performances before her, were like a fresh breeze, making people feel refreshed.
A young man in blue robes in the male attendees’ section said: “The sound lingers for three days.”
Hearing this, Cai Lin beside him kicked the youth in displeasure and said: “What’s so special about that? You haven’t heard Yue’er’s zither music. If Yue’er played a piece, even the celestial maidens of the ninth heaven couldn’t compare. How ignorant!”
Cai Lin always defended his sweetheart, but Su Minglang, who heard his words, curled his lips disdainfully, seeming to want to say something. Seeing his elder brother’s warning glance, he held back.
The “zither” category was quickly completed, and the examiners on stage began consulting each other for judgment. After the “zither” group finished, it was time for chess skills. The chess process was much simpler—the five contestants played against each other in pairs, with one match determining the winner, scored based on chess strategy and style. In this category, Yi Peilan emerged victorious.
After chess came “calligraphy.” Shen Qing, Bai Wei, and Jiang Xiaoxuan happened to be in the same group. These three were usually friends, but the atmosphere was quite tense at the evaluation site. This time, they were tasked with composing and writing a poem about chrysanthemums, judged both on calligraphy and literary talent. Shen Qing’s strength wasn’t in poetry but in chess and mathematics, yet unfortunately, mathematics was in the male group, and she hadn’t drawn chess.
But until the final results were announced, no one knew who would take first place in this category.
Finally, it was Shen Miao’s group’s turn.
Shen Yue glanced at Shen Miao, probably still resentful that Shen Miao had embarrassed her earlier. Shen Yue didn’t even maintain her facade of being a kind and good sister anymore. She smiled at Shen Miao and said, “When we’re on stage, Fifth Sister must hold back for your sister’s sake. You look so confident that I’m a bit scared.”
This was overheard by Fan Liuer, standing nearby, who couldn’t help but snicker: “Shen Yue, what are you talking about? What confidence? Could it be—does Shen Miao have some trick up her sleeve?”
“Now that you mention it, I’m also a bit curious,” Zhao Yan said gleefully. “I remember last year Shen Miao drew zither but managed to snap the strings of a perfectly good bamboo-scented zither. Perhaps she inherited General Shen’s valor. This year in painting, I hope she doesn’t break the brush.” As she spoke, she touched Shen Miao’s cheek: “Such a fair and delicate face—I wonder if she’ll end up with paint all over it.”
Shen Miao didn’t move, looking at her with cold eyes. Under that extremely cold gaze, Zhao Yan’s smile gradually froze. Fan Liuer also sensed Shen Miao’s hostility and suddenly felt an inexplicable fear in her heart. Involuntarily, she pulled back Zhao Yan’s hand.
Qin Qing seemed somewhat impatient and glanced at Shen Miao: “What are you squabbling about? If you want to bicker, do it on stage and let everyone see your true faces.”
At her words, although Zhao Yan and the others were dissatisfied, they said nothing more.
In the male attendees’ section, Cai Lin excitedly watched Shen Yue, while the little rice ball tugged at Su Mingfeng: “That beautiful sister is also there, Big Brother, look.”
Su Mingfeng was somewhat torn between laughter and tears, not understanding why his brother was so fixated on Shen Miao. He was already in Nation Class Three, and this was his first outing after feigning serious illness, still appearing quite weak, so he couldn’t participate in the evaluation. He knew of Shen Miao’s reputation—after all, everyone in the capital knew that the mighty general who dominated the battlefield had given birth to a useless daughter.
“She will win,” Su Minglang said, clenching his fist.
Su Mingfeng inwardly disagreed, thinking that today would surely see Shen Yue taking first place again.
Before going on stage, Shen Yue still couldn’t resist and provoked Shen Miao one more time: “Fifth Sister, don’t hold back at all later. Your sister is waiting for you.”
“Certainly,” Shen Miao replied.
She certainly wouldn’t hold back.