“It’s been a while since I’ve paid my respects to Your Ladyship. You look increasingly spirited.” The woman speaking to Lady Jiang was Madam Li, whose husband also served in the Ministry of Justice and was a subordinate of Lady Jiang’s son, Li Guangyan.

“I’m getting old.”

“You’re not old at all. I see that Second Miss has become increasingly proper under your guidance. This year, the young ladies of the Li Residence will surely bring you honor.”

“Indeed, I remember last year the Buddhist scripture copied by your residence’s young lady caught the attention of an eminent monk,” someone chimed in.

Lady Jiang smiled with restraint, thinking to herself that, unfortunately, after Jiāojiāo’s copied Buddhist scripture was sent to Shuying Nunnery last year, there had been no further word. Instead, it was Seventh Miss Zhu from the Taining Marquis Residence and Fourth Miss Lu from the Rites Ministry’s Vice Minister’s family who received praise from that eldest princess at Shuying Nunnery. After those two young ladies gained their reputation, suitors nearly broke down their door thresholds. Seventh Miss Zhu, being still young, remained unengaged, while Fourth Miss Lu was betrothed to the eldest grandson of the Xu family, the current second assistant minister.

Sitting in the corner, chatting quietly with several young ladies she was familiar with, Li Jiǎo secretly clenched her fists upon hearing this.

If she had given her all last year, how could the Buddhist scripture sent from the Li Residence to Shuying Nunnery have failed to make even a ripple? In the end, it was all because Li Jiāo wasn’t capable! This year would be different. With her grandmother’s support, she no longer needed to avoid competing with Li Jiāo. Her calligraphy would surely catch that eldest princess’s eye.

Li Jiǎo had never seen that eldest princess who had seen through the vanity of worldly life, but from childhood, she had heard that the princess once held the reputation of the world’s foremost talented woman, making one’s heart yearn with admiration.

Li Jiāo, however, proudly lifted her chin upon hearing this.

Last year, only seven or eight residences had their Buddhist scriptures sent to Shuying Nunnery, and one of them was hers. Even without receiving praise from that eldest princess, it was still commendable. This past year, she had devoted herself to diligent practice without slacking off. Today, she would surely advance further.

The young ladies from other residences had various feelings upon hearing this.

At this moment, a discordant voice arose: “Your Ladyship, why don’t I see your residence’s Third Miss? I remember that child didn’t come last year either.”

In the small hall where Lady Jiang sat, there were seven or eight madams whose husbands served as civil officials. Friction in court inevitably extended to the inner quarters.

The speaker was Madam Wang, wife of the Supreme Court Minister. Due to some conflict between her husband and Vice Minister Li Guangyan of the Ministry of Justice, the womenfolk of both families inevitably clashed at various occasions.

Lady Jiang’s face darkened upon hearing this, secretly resentful that Third Miss Li had damaged the Li Residence’s reputation. However, she showed no weakness in her words: “There’s nothing to be done about it. Physician Li, who brought Third Girl home, advised that she has a weak constitution and needs more rest.”

The news of Physician Li entering the capital had spread throughout the court and the countryside. Countless households were eager to invite this deity-like physician to treat illnesses in their homes. Through everyone’s collective efforts, they finally discovered where Physician Li was staying.

It was Prince Rui’s residence!

When Prince Mu received this news while dining, he immediately overturned his dining table.

Those who had been restless with anticipation became even more subdued.

Since none of their ailments were immediately life-threatening, they decided to wait patiently.

Although Physician Li held no official position and lacked an illustrious background, his miraculous medical skills had deeply impressed people’s hearts. No one wanted to offend such a divine physician. Upon Lady Jiang’s explanation, Madam Wang tactfully stopped mentioning Third Miss Li’s abduction, but unwilling to retreat completely, she turned her attention to Li Jiǎo with a slight smile: “I thought your residence’s First Miss would stay home to keep Third Miss company.”

Lady Jiang nearly became so angry that her mouth twisted.

Li Jiǎo had just had her engagement broken off. Originally, Lady Jiang had wanted to remind Old Madam Deng of the West Residence to keep the eldest girl at home for such occasions, to avoid bringing her out for people to gossip about. However, after Second Girl had made her lose face before her sister-in-law that day, she naturally couldn’t bring up the matter again. Now, as expected, someone was using it as gossip.

Lady Jiang’s face darkened as she remained silent for a moment, making the atmosphere in the hall immediately awkward.

Li Jiǎo sat in the corner with her head half-lowered, feeling countless gazes falling upon her. She could only bite down hard on her silver teeth to avoid showing any unusual expression.

The quick-witted Madam Li smoothed things over: “My, how strange, the guest monk is much later than usual this year.”

With her comment, the madams in the hall all found it somewhat odd and began discussing among themselves, thus ending the confrontation between Lady Jiang and Madam Wang.

Afterward, the madams from various residences chatted idly until finally a servant keeping watch outside came in to report that they had seen the guest monk walking this way.

The madams maintained composed expressions while their hearts immediately tensed.

There were more than ten reception halls of various sizes here, and they wondered which ones the guest monk would enter.

Not only in the small hall where Lady Jiang sat, but the madams in other halls had also stationed servants outside to observe.

The footsteps approached and then receded. Each time the guest monk passed a hall door, the faces of those inside grew less pleasant.

Seeing that the guest monk had nearly reached the end, the madams in each hall shared the same question: Strange, could it be that this year the families who caught the eminent monk’s eye happened to be in the same hall?

“Quickly go see which hall the master entered!”

Soon, a servant reported back: “He entered Mingxin Hall!”

In one of the reception halls sat the womenfolk of the Taining Marquis Residence and the Guchang Earl Residence. Du Feixue couldn’t help but speak: “How is it possible that Cousin Yan isn’t included?”

The young lady whose name was mentioned was fourteen or fifteen years old, born with snow-white skin and flower-like beauty, with an elegant temperament. Upon hearing this, she said lightly, “Cousin Feixue, don’t speak nonsense. In literature, there is no first place; in martial arts, no second. There are many whose calligraphy is better than mine.”

Du Feixue was unconvinced: “Cousin Yan is just being modest. Last year, clearly only Lu Chuchu could match you, and you both received praise from the master of Shuying Nunnery together. This year, Lu Chuchu is engaged and didn’t come, so Cousin Yan’s calligraphy is the best among all of us. That Mingxin Hall—”

At this point, Du Feixue paused and exclaimed: “Oh my, I just remembered, Cousin Jiǎo is right there!”

She turned her head and pleaded with Madam Zhu, the Earl Guchang’s wife: “Mother, I want to go over there and see. Maybe Cousin Jiǎo took first place!”

Everyone in this hall was extremely curious. Madam Zhu thought that since the two families were related by marriage, it wouldn’t be inappropriate for her daughter to go over, so she nodded in agreement.

Du Feixue was delighted and pulled Zhu Yán’s hand: “Cousin Yan, let’s go!”

“I won’t go—”

“Cousin Yan, aren’t you curious about whose calligraphy is better than yours?”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yán couldn’t help but look at the Taining Marquis’s wife. Seeing her mother nod, she finally went with Du Feixue.

In Mingxin Hall, hearts were already stirring.

According to custom, each year five to ten families’ Buddhist scriptures would be selected and sent to Shuying Nunnery. Now this hall had seven or eight families total. Could it be that all of them had caught the eminent monks’ eyes?

Oh my, was it their own young ladies’ accumulated efforts finally paying off, or were the eminent monks having poor eyesight?

Several self-aware madams thought silently.

They couldn’t help but turn their gazes toward Lady Jiang.

That’s right, the Li Residence’s Second Miss had been selected last year, and reportedly First Miss’s calligraphy was also quite good.

The guest monk greeted everyone courteously, then walked to Lady Jiang and said something startling: “I wonder which young lady from your esteemed residence copied this scripture book. The master of Shuying Nunnery wishes to meet her.”