When Shen Miao emerged from the plum forest, Guyu and Jingzhe, who had been keeping watch, both sighed with relief. Jingzhe looked back into the forest, saw no one, and asked with confusion: “How is he no longer there?”

Shen Miao also glanced back. The plum forest branches were lush and verdant, swaying gently in the wind, with no sign of anyone. Xie Jingxing was skilled in martial arts, likely having disappeared by leaping across eaves and walls.

She said: “Let’s go.”

Upon returning to her seat, Feng Anning hurriedly ran over, complaining: “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me? I turned my head and couldn’t see you. When I came back, you weren’t here either. Where did you go?”

“The chrysanthemums were blooming beautifully, so I walked around a bit.” Shen Miao looked up at the stage. “Has it already begun?”

“You were gone for a long time. The ‘Drawing’ round for the male group has already passed,” Feng Anning pouted. “Now it’s the ‘Selection’ round for the male group.”

The young men on stage were competing. The first round of “Drawing” had already passed, but Shen Miao wasn’t interested in those results. The second round was “Selection,” where students chose their area of expertise.

Shen Miao’s gaze fell on a young man in lake-green clothes sitting at the far left of the opposite seats.

This young man was dark and robust. His features weren’t bad, but his bulky physique made him appear somewhat rough. Yet he insisted on wearing green clothes, which made his skin look even darker. Not only that, but he wore his hair in a high topknot with a jade-inlaid bamboo hairpin, perhaps trying to emulate the ancient gentlemen’s style, but his reluctance to abandon luxurious ornaments made him look somewhat inappropriate. In short, despite his efforts to appear refined and otherworldly, his imitation couldn’t conceal the vulgarity that pervaded his being.

This was Gao Yan of the Jing Dianshi family. Gao Yan was still young, only sixteen, and his influence had not yet fully developed. It wasn’t until later, after Fu Xiuyi ascended the throne, that Gao Yan’s status rose by riding on Gao Jin’s coattails. He bullied men and harassed women in the capital, and even dared to covet Wanyu—truly the height of audacity.

Just thinking about how Wanyu had once endured Gao Yan’s verbal harassment in the palace made Shen Miao furious. She stared at Gao Yan from a distance, as if watching prey happily walking into a trap.

At this moment, Gao Yan was thinking of something that made him look delighted, discussing something with Gao Jin.

He was naturally pleased. Having obtained such a uniquely worded policy essay, he had just drawn the topic of classical interpretation in the “Drawing” round and performed mediocrely. But in the upcoming “Selection” round, if he presented this policy essay, he would surely shock everyone present.

Shen Miao inwardly sneered. Go ahead, take this policy essay and go to Fu Xiuyi’s side! By entering officialdom before Gao Jin’s promotion, with Gao Yan’s methods, he would surely personally bring down the entire Jing Dianshi family.

This was her grand gift to the Jing Dianshi family.

As for Pei Lang, she glanced at the blue-robed man sitting not far from Fu Xiuyi. From this moment in this life, you will begin to slowly repay the debt you incurred in the past!

“Shen Miao, after the male group, it will be the female group’s ‘Selection’ round. Will you participate?” Feng Anning asked.

“No,” Shen Miao answered.

In the examination, “Drawing” was mandatory for every student. “Selection” was based on one’s own will—if one didn’t wish to participate, they didn’t have to. So rather than saying “Selection” was part of the examination, it was more accurate to say it was the part where one could best showcase their strengths. If someone had something they excelled at, they could naturally display it in the “Selection” segment. So compared to “Drawing,” people showed more enthusiasm for “Selection.”

Because what was displayed in “Selection” was something one was confident in. But for someone like Shen Miao had been previously, with no particular talents, it was better not to participate in “Selection,” as it would only result in embarrassment.

“Why not?” Feng Anning was somewhat disappointed. She said: “Aren’t you good at painting now? You must have strengths in other categories as well. Why not simply show them off?”

“There’s no need,” Shen Miao began to fiddle with the chess set on the table. Without looking up, she responded to Feng Anning: “Whether I stand out or not makes no difference to me. Besides, I’m truly not skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting—earlier was just luck.”

“You…” Feng Anning was exasperated. “Who talks about themselves like that?”

“Fifth Sister,” a voice interrupted their conversation. Shen Yue had somehow appeared before them, saying with concern: “Fifth Sister, will you not participate in the next ‘Selection’ round?”

“Does Second Sister wish for me to participate?” Shen Miao asked in return.

Shen Yue was at a loss for words. For some reason, Shen Miao seemed determined to be at odds with her, which Shen Yue couldn’t understand. Could it be resentment toward the Second and Third branches because of the drowning incident? Though puzzled, Shen Yue had already accumulated anger toward Shen Miao’s repeated ingratitude. Shen Yue bit her lip, appearing somewhat aggrieved, and said softly: “Of course, I hope Fifth Sister will participate. Your painting earlier was excellent. Since Fifth Sister has such great talent, why not continue to choose ‘painting’ in the next round, to prevent others from gossiping behind your back? If you paint well again, the rumors will naturally dispel themselves.”

Shen Yue’s voice wasn’t low, and the surrounding ladies and madams heard every word. Though seemingly innocuous, her words boldly voiced the doubts in everyone’s minds. Shen Miao’s white chrysanthemum painting earlier had ranked first, but having been known as incompetent for so many years, people’s impressions wouldn’t easily change. They certainly wouldn’t believe the painting was her work, thinking perhaps someone had guided her.

Shen Yue thought the same, so she reasoned that if Shen Miao painted another picture in the second round, without anyone’s guidance, how could she produce something good? She would surely embarrass herself.

Feng Anning heard the implication and immediately mocked back: “Shen Second Young Lady speaks as if it’s so easy. Painting requires conceptualization—even if Second Young Lady herself were to paint, would it be possible to create two consecutive pieces?” Shen Miao was just a student, not a painting master.

“I’m only asking because I see Fifth Sister has made great progress,” Shen Yue smiled gently. “Since you could create such a fine painting earlier, what’s wrong with painting another?”

From beginning to end, Shen Miao never looked up. She merely placed a chess piece on the board and said: “Not interested. Thanks for your concern.”

Shen Yue hadn’t expected Shen Miao to respond so coldly in front of so many people, and her expression became somewhat awkward. Perhaps the most infuriating thing in the world is setting a trap, only for the target to refuse to take the bait.

The fact that Shen Miao wouldn’t accept her provocation even in the face of everyone’s suspicion made Shen Yue more certain that the concept of the painting wasn’t Shen Miao’s idea. The thought of humiliating Shen Miao became even more deeply rooted in her mind. She paused, then suddenly continued with a smile: “Since Fifth Sister insists, I won’t say any more.” She turned and returned to her seat.

In the men’s section, Cai Lin had been secretly watching Shen Yue and noticed her suddenly looking over from a distance, seemingly smiling gently at him.

Cai Lin was startled, then became somewhat excited. But then he saw Shen Yue lower her head again, appearing somewhat distressed.

He suddenly became anxious.