Everyone followed Princess Changping over to stand before Ling Jingshu’s poetry and painting.

Commandery Princess Fumin wore a cold, contemptuous smile and glanced at it with studied indifference.

The moment the painting and poem entered her line of sight, Commandery Princess Fumin’s pupils contracted sharply, and the color of her expression shifted without her realizing it.

Compared to the vivid, brilliantly colored lotus painting from before, the one before them now had not used any color at all — it was composed entirely of water-diluted ink, rendered in gradations of black and grey. Yet though it used only two tones, black and white, one felt as though the entire pond of lotus blossoms and leaves was swaying gently in the breeze, undulating with living grace, their beauty carried to its most exquisite extreme.

In the upper left corner, four lines of poetry were inscribed:

Rooted in the mud, yet untainted by the mud, White stems buried in the earth, unknown to all. Amid the living green and clear water, vitality thrives, No need to wait for the wind — fragrance already fills the pond.

The beauty and noble character of the lotus burst forth from these brief lines of verse with compelling force. The final line in particular — No need to wait for the wind — fragrance already fills the pond — was the most inspired stroke of all, the touch that brought the entire lotus painting to life and elevated it to another level entirely.

What a Ling Jingshu!

What a lotus painting!

Commandery Princess Fumin’s skill in poetry and painting was exceptional — she was certainly no uncouth, ignorant creature lacking in discernment. On the contrary, her ability to appreciate and evaluate art was decidedly above standard.

And it was precisely because of this that she saw at a single glance: Ling Jingshu’s painting and poem surpassed her own…

“No need to wait for the wind — fragrance already fills the pond,” Princess Changping repeated the line again and again, her face radiant with unrestrained admiration. “Exquisite! Absolutely exquisite — no need to wait for the wind — fragrance already fills the pond! The line is masterfully written — it is extraordinary!”

Su Ying’s eyes also lit up with a brilliant gleam. She fixed her gaze on Ling Jingshu as though she were seeing her truly for the first time: “Ninth Miss Ling completed this in one unbroken sweep in the time it takes to drink a single cup of tea — the painting is superb, and the poem even more so. It is genuinely admirable.”

Even she herself might not necessarily be able to produce such a fine work in so short a time.

Those with genuine learning and talent always command a measure of heightened respect.

Jiang Rongyue could not help but exclaim in praise as well: “The painting is truly beautiful, and the poem is written too beautifully as well.” She then turned to Su Ying with a playful wink and grinned, “Su elder sister is celebrated for poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and holds the reputation of the capital’s foremost talented young woman. It seems she has met her match today!”

Su Ying gave a gentle smile. “There is always someone more skilled beyond one’s sight. I have always walked with careful, humble steps — never daring to grow complacent. Today, having seen Ninth Miss Ling’s painting and poem, I find it greatly illuminating.”

Ling Jingshu smiled and smoothly joined in. “Third Miss Jiang and Second Miss Su, please, there is no need to praise me any further. I merely ventured humbly to display my modest work today, and never expected to draw such warm regard from everyone — my heart is truly overwhelmed with grateful apprehension.”

“Enough of your modesty.” Princess Changping smiled. “Since everyone speaks in unanimous praise, it is naturally because your painting and poem are genuinely fine. And what is even more remarkable is the speed at which you worked. To complete it in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea is truly astonishing.”

Ling Jingshu’s expression showed not a trace of arrogance or conceit, and she replied with humble grace: “This is a habit I cultivated from an early age. Before painting or composing poetry, I always draft it fully in my mind first. Only once I have thought everything through completely do I begin to put brush to paper.”

No wonder she alone had not moved when everyone else was occupied.

She had the entire work mapped out perfectly in her mind!

Princess Changping’s admiration deepened by several degrees, and she then cast a glance at Commandery Princess Fumin, whose complexion had drained to a pale, ashen grey.

Who was superior and who was inferior; who had won and who had lost — a single glance made it clear.

There was no need to speak it aloud. There was no need to say it — to spare face-conscious Fumin from suffering even further humiliation. Yet the wager had been made in plain hearing of all — now, what was the best way to bring this to a close?

The meaning of that one brief glance from Princess Changping was rather layered.

The distinguished young ladies present were all watching Commandery Princess Fumin’s every move. What they were thinking could only be one and the same question.

Given Commandery Princess Fumin’s proud and willful nature, would she actually honor her word and jump into the lake — or would she shamelessly renege?

Whatever her reaction, one thing was certain: today’s gathering promised to offer quite a spectacle!

Commandery Princess Fumin felt as though every pair of eyes was there to watch her make a fool of herself. The color of her pretty face shifted between red and white in rapid succession, a vivid display of shifting emotions.

Honor your wager in defeat!

It is merely jumping into a lake — then jump!

These words had surged all the way to the tip of her tongue — yet they refused to pass her lips.

Just then, Ling Jingshu’s voice rang out: “Your Highness, Commandery Princess Fumin’s poetry and painting are both outstanding — by rights, they surpass mine. Just now I called out to her and unsettled her concentration, causing an extra brushstroke that forced her to add another lotus leaf, which affected the overall composition and ideal of the painting. I shall speak boldly and say — shall we declare this wager between myself and Commandery Princess Fumin a draw?”

She gave Commandery Princess Fumin full face, and in doing so amply demonstrated her own magnanimous generosity.

Princess Changping had no desire whatsoever to see Commandery Princess Fumin jump into the lake — whatever else one might say, Commandery Princess Fumin was still her own cousin-sister. If such a grand loss of dignity were to happen right here in her own residence, not only would Fumin be mortified, but she herself, as both cousin-sister and hostess, would be left with a diminished reputation as well.

Now that Ling Jingshu had taken the initiative to step back and offer this graceful way out, it was the best possible outcome.

The admiration Princess Changping had already formed for Ling Jingshu instantly leapt from a few degrees to seven or eight. Toward Ling Jingshu she now felt a profound and genuine warmth. “Very well — since you put it this way, this Princess shall declare the two of you even.”

She finished, then looked at Commandery Princess Fumin with a meaningful gaze. “Fumin, what say you?”

This time, Commandery Princess Fumin had lost in both dignity and honor, down to the last.

The charity and pity coming from Ling Jingshu — she wanted no part of it!

But if she refused to nod her head, it meant she would have to jump into the lake… All those present were the most prominent daughters of the capital’s finest families. To have humiliated herself before them all — she, a Commandery Princess of noble standing — what face would she have left to show herself among them afterward?

Commandery Princess Fumin’s lips moved, and she finally pressed out a few words: “I defer to elder cousin-sister.”

For the habitually proud and willful Commandery Princess Fumin, this was nothing short of conceding and bowing her head in submission.

Ling Jingshu saw it all, and felt a surge of unbounded satisfaction deep within. Even so, she told herself it was best not to rub salt into the wound. Today she had come to attend a banquet — not to take on a mere Commandery Princess Fumin.

Her true objective had always been Princess Changping.

She wanted to leave a deep, indelible impression upon Princess Changping — a favorable impression, naturally. So that she might, in time, enter smoothly into Princess Changping’s circle and establish a presence near her.

The road of revenge was long. She needed to take the most important first step.

Ling Jingshu turned all this over quietly in her heart, her expression betraying not a single thing. She smiled and said, “Today I had the good fortune of receiving guidance from Commandery Princess Fumin’s poetry and painting — it was truly a blessing for me. I thank the Commandery Princess for the lesson.”

Commandery Princess Fumin, swallowing a stomach full of suppressed resentment, replied with the utmost reluctance: “Your poetry and painting were something of a revelation for this Commandery Princess as well. Should the opportunity arise in future, I will certainly come to seek further instruction.”

Next time she must not be so careless and underestimate her opponent — she would absolutely win back this round.

Ling Jingshu smiled. “If the Commandery Princess wishes, I am always ready to oblige. Though I fear that once today passes, there may not be many more occasions for the two of us to meet.”

Princess Changping said casually with a smile, “What difficulty is there in that? This Princess holds banquets frequently — from now on, I shall simply send you an invitation each time.”

Ling Jingshu had been waiting for precisely this, and she quickly smiled and expressed her thanks.

At one side, both Ling Jingyan and Jiang Rongyue’s mother were visibly far more excited and pleased than Ling Jingshu herself. Having made the proud Commandery Princess Fumin bow her head — A’Shu had truly given a brilliant performance today!

What a magnificent relief it had been!