Liu Ye’er nodded, thinking it would be an easy task, but she returned fuming, “This Su Qingci is simply outrageous! He doesn’t understand gratitude at all and even dares to have designs on Miss.”
It turned out that when Liu Ye’er asked Su Qingci to write a poem, he refused, saying he needed inspiration. For example, if he could see Ji Cheng, his inspiration might just come out.
“Miss, don’t go see him. He’s asking for trouble. I have a way to make him never dare speak like that again,” Liu Ye’er said.
Ji Cheng waved her hand, “You can’t force it out of him. If pushed too hard, he’ll just give you something perfunctory. I’m going to Teacher Yu’s place to learn painting today. After that, I’ll stop by Orchid Lane.”
When Su Qingci saw Ji Cheng again, the excitement in his heart was indescribable. He used to think descriptions like “fish sink and geese alight, moon hides and flowers shy” were exaggerated, but now seeing Ji Cheng, he felt the ancients weren’t exaggerating enough.
“This humble one thanks Miss for her help that day. Originally, I shouldn’t have refused Miss’s request, but composing poetry truly isn’t something that can be done locked in a room,” Su Qingci said politely.
However, Su Qingci’s manner of bowing looked awkward to Ji Cheng. Whether it was the height at which he raised his hands or the distance between his sleeves and wrists, it was all problematic. It was clear he wasn’t from a noble family and didn’t even seem to have attended school. However, this person’s mind wasn’t bad.
“Sir misunderstands. I had no intention of restricting your freedom. The verses you compose are truly brilliant, enough to echo in the rafters for three days if sung. Now, with the Zhongtan Arts Selection approaching, I hope sir can wait a few more days. Your talent shouldn’t be buried,” Ji Cheng said.
Su Qingci inwardly clicked his tongue. Look at that, this was the difference between a noble young lady and a maid. Her words were as comfortable to hear as eating ice cream in summer.
“Oh, I see. It seems I’ve misjudged you with a petty person’s heart. Please forgive me, Miss,” Su Qingci said.
“It was my maid who didn’t explain clearly. How could I blame you, sir? I just hope you can understand. For this Zhongtan Arts Selection, we’re seeking novelty and uniqueness, so we have to keep you here for a few days,” Ji Cheng said.
“I understand, I understand.” Su Qingci understood perfectly. They were afraid he’d go out and blab about the poems, ruining everything. “Miss has shown me kindness in rescuing me and appreciating my talent. I’m not one to be ungrateful. Any poem I write for Miss, I absolutely won’t give to anyone else.”
Ji Cheng was starting to like Su Qingci now. It was indeed easier to communicate with intelligent people. “Then I thank you, sir.”
By the time Ji Cheng received Su Qingci’s newly written poem, it was very close to the 26th of the sixth month. When she took Su Qingci’s poem to find Shen Cui, she wondered whether it was her good fortune or Shen Cui’s that they had met Su Qingci at just the right time.
So, sometimes people do need luck.
Shen Cui looked at the floral paper in Ji Cheng’s hand and read “Breaking Through the Enemy Lines” once. “Where did this come from?”
“A scholar I recently met. He’s very poor, but I think his poems are excellent. He must be a dragon trapped in shallow waters,” Ji Cheng said.
Shen Cui recited the poem again, “Drunk, I hoist the lamp to look at my sword, In dreams, I return to hear the bugle in linked camps. Eight hundred li under my command to roast meat, Fifty strings play beyond the frontier…”
Shen Cui naturally knew it was a good poem, but they rarely sang this kind of verse. It always made people think of the bloody and desolate frontier, which was too distant for young ladies like them. “Why did he write such a poem?” she complained a bit, wishing it were more tender and charming.
Ji Cheng said, “If you want to beat Sister Yun, you need to do something unexpected. Now everyone likes to sing those soft and charming poems. If you sing this one, especially at a polo match, you’ll surely get the Qibao League’s attention. When they hear one, they’ll want to know if you’ll have even better poems on the day of the Zhongtan performance.”
Shen Cui narrowed her eyes and looked at Ji Cheng suspiciously, “How did you know I chose singing?”
Ji Cheng had anticipated Shen Cui would ask this, so she laughed awkwardly, “I secretly followed you and overheard.”
Shen Cui slapped the table and pointed at Ji Cheng, “I knew you would peek!”
Ji Cheng rubbed her nose and said, “I was curious too.”
Shen Cui coldly snorted a few times, wanting to refuse Ji Cheng’s goodwill but also reluctant to give up this excellent poem. So she said awkwardly, “Do you think I can win if I use this poem?”
Ji Cheng didn’t dare guarantee this, only saying, “At least the chances are better.”
Shen Cui tried humming the poem titled “Breaking Through the Enemy Lines,” but it felt very awkward. Although the lyrics seemed novel, they didn’t match the Great Qin’s tune patterns. “Why doesn’t this poem fit the melody?”
Ji Cheng hadn’t noticed this point. When Shen Cui pointed it out, she hummed a few lines to herself and realized it was indeed awkward. However, this didn’t stump Ji Cheng, “Let’s go find Aunt Hanbi and have her try.”
Ji Cheng thought it would be better if they couldn’t match a tune. Who knew where Su Qingci was from, with his strange ways? The characters he wrote were similar yet different from their Great Qin, and even the poems he composed were alike yet unlike.
Few things in Shen Cui’s room could escape Ji Lan’s notice, so she quickly heard about Ji Cheng helping her. She called Ji Cheng over behind Shen Cui’s back.
“You’ve gone to a lot of trouble for Acui this time,” Ji Lan said.
“Aunt, we’re family. Helping Fifth Sister is what I should do,” Ji Cheng said.
The speaker might have been unintentional, but the listener was attentive. When Ji Lan heard Ji Cheng’s words, she felt there was a hint of sarcasm. Indeed, Ji Cheng had been in the capital for over three months, and she, as her aunt, hadn’t helped with her marriage prospects. But who could be blamed for this? She had pointed out the right path, but Ji Cheng refused to take it.
Ji Lan smiled, “Well said. We are family and should help each other. Acui is a bit thoughtless, so she’ll have to rely on you to look after her in the future.”
“I will, Aunt,” Ji Cheng knew how to say pleasant things too.
On the 26th of the sixth month, the Colorful Ball District where the Qibao League was located was bustling with activity, filled with carriages and noble visitors. Ji Cheng accompanied Ji Lan in the carriage, waiting for Shen Cui.
This Qibao League was truly remarkable. Despite so many noble ladies accompanying their daughters or nieces to the selection, they refused to receive them.
Non-participants were not allowed inside, which everyone felt was very fair.
So even someone like Ji Lan could only wait in the carriage to see her daughter’s selection results.
Ji Cheng looked at the Qibao League’s sign and then at Ji Lan. This time, whether she could grasp Ji Lan’s throat depended entirely on whether Shen Cui could win.
However, Ji Cheng’s worries were far fewer than Ji Lan’s. After all, Ji Lan had only bribed two Qibao League officials, while Ji Cheng had privately done her a big favor by using Hao Ren to bribe the Qibao League leader Xiao Rumeng and another official.
There shouldn’t be much uncertainty, but no one could be 100% sure. It still depended on Shen Cui’s performance. Ji Cheng had practiced with Shen Cui, and Shen Cui’s voice was very suitable for singing “Breaking Through the Enemy Lines.” It even surprised Ji Cheng. If she weren’t the fifth daughter of the Shen family, she might have had a chance as a singing courtesan.
When Shen Cui came out, Ji Lan hurriedly asked her how it went.
Shen Cui impatiently waved her hand, “Who knows? We’ll have to wait for the results to be posted.”
Ji Lan knew her question was superfluous, “Do you want to go back and wait, or wait at the teahouse across the street?” Opposite the Qibao League street was a long row of teahouses and taverns, all doing business off the Qibao League. On a grand occasion like today, they were naturally full, but the Shen family had reserved seats in advance.
“Let’s go to the teahouse. Sister Yun is scheduled after me and hasn’t come out yet,” Shen Cui said.
“All right, it won’t be long anyway.” The selection was divided into three sessions, and today’s selection on the 26th of the sixth month was specifically for young ladies from noble families. The Qibao League was always efficient, and the results of today’s Zhongtan selection would be out before evening, allowing the young ladies to set their minds at ease early.
The number of participants in this year’s selection was similar to previous years, about thirty people. So Ji Cheng and the others didn’t wait long before they saw Su Yun, Wang Yueniang, and others come out.
When Su Yun entered the private room upstairs, everyone was surprised to see Wang Yueniang follow her in.
“It’s boring waiting for the results. I happened to run into Sister Yun, so I shamelessly followed. Third Madam won’t mind, will she?” Wang Yueniang said with a radiant smile.
“What are you saying, Yueniang? It’s good for you girls to spend time together. Having an elder like me here might make you uncomfortable,” Ji Lan said with a smile. “Why haven’t I seen your fourth sister today?”
Wang Yueniang said somewhat proudly, “It’s not a big deal. She couldn’t help even if she came.”
These words were a direct slap in Shen Cui’s face. She was participating in a selection, and even Ji Lan had come along. If Old Madam Su’s legs weren’t weak, she would have come today too.
Ji Lan’s smile was barely maintained, and Shen Cui immediately frowned, wanting to explode but feeling somewhat restrained.
“What did Cui-er choose today?” Wang Yueniang asked again. Because the Zhongtan selection was closed, other participants couldn’t see what their competitors had chosen.
“Singing,” Shen Cui said.
Wang Yueniang giggled, “Cui-er’s everyday speech is like a lark’s song. Her singing must be even more beautiful.” Her words and expression didn’t quite match.
Ji Cheng thought, how can someone be so detestable? But what can you do if you dislike her? She’s Wang Yueniang after all—Wang Shuifei’s sister.
Ji Cheng felt an impulse, thinking that just for the Wang sisters’ character if she had a way, she should prevent Wang Shuifei from rising to power.
Shen Cui was shaking with anger from Wang Yueniang’s words and was about to explode, but was suppressed by Ji Lan’s gaze. Shen Cui inwardly fumed at Ji Lan, resenting her cowardice. Every time they encountered the Wang sisters, she always made her endure.
Ji Lan wasn’t being cowardly; she was just afraid Shen Cui would offend the Wang sisters and be secretly harmed by them. A mother’s heart was something Shen Cui couldn’t fully understand.
After teasing Shen Cui, Wang Yueniang turned to Ji Cheng and said, “Why didn’t Cheng-jie participate in the Zhongtan selection? Did someone prevent you from registering?” Shen Cui’s pettiness was well-known, and Wang Yueniang’s implication was too obvious.
Even Ji Lan felt that Wang Yueniang’s mouth was too provocative.
Ji Cheng smiled and said, “With Miss Wang participating this year, even if I registered, I’d surely lose. So I gave up that thought.”
Wang Yueniang looked at Ji Cheng suspiciously, not expecting Ji Cheng to flatter her. It was truly amusing, but hearing this, Wang Yueniang stopped picking on Ji Cheng.
Shen Cui, however, couldn’t stand it. She rolled her eyes at Ji Cheng and mouthed: “Bootlicker.”
Ji Cheng remained calm. So what if she was a bootlicker?
When the results were posted, many people were greatly surprised to see “Fifth Miss of the Shen family from Iron Hat Lane” written on the board. Perhaps only Ji Cheng and Ji Lan were the least surprised.
After a moment of stunned disbelief, Shen Cui immediately broke into a smile, with tears of joy in the corners of her eyes. Wang Yueniang’s face, on the other hand, turned blacker than the bottom of a pot.
“How is this possible?!” Wang Yueniang couldn’t believe it. She turned to her maid and said, “Let’s go.”