Chapter 26: Hundred Flowers First Place
"In this way, Ye Li shall present my incompetence."
"Li er[1] ......" Qin Zheng worriedly said. Murong Ting and Hua Tian Xiang also worriedly looked at Ye Li. Ye Li winked at her, slightly smiling as she shook her head. Qin Zheng saw how her smile wasn't at all force and loosened up a bit on the inside. On second thought, Li er's muqin[2] was the capital's number one talented girl that year and her waigong[3] was the head of Qing Liu beneath the heavens. Even if she ordinarily maintained her composure, she had surely learned all that she is required to learn.
In the attentive gaze of everyone, Ye Li walked towards the table with brush and ink placed as before. She merely contemplated for a moment before picking up the writing brush and started moving it over the top-notch xuan paper (rice paper).
宣纸 – xuanzhi – Xuan paper / rice paper / fine writing paper – Reference
On the high platform, Feng Zhi Yao looked with interest at the young woman dressed in nature-coloured clothing whose head was currently lowered as she painted, carelessly nodding his head. Yao Ji who was sitting at his side took a quick glance at him and softly spoke while laughing, "Feng third really thinks highly of Ye third xiaojie[4] ?"
Feng Zhi Yao rubbed his nose and laughed as he said, "She is very interesting, isn't she? At least she isn't as mediocre as was rumoured." It was this att.i.tude of remaining calm in the face of events that was enough to make Feng Zhi Yao regard highly of her at a glance. Not to mention, in the past several days, Mo Jing Li had been forced to suffer in silence at her hands. Maybe Ah Yao was really going to marry a pretty good w.a.n.gfei[5] this time.
Muyang hou's[6] heir seems to be also rather interested towards the two people's topic of conversation, "Is Feng third familiar with Ye third xiaojie?"
Feng Zhi Yao shook his head, "You just returned to the capital so you don't know? The future Ding w.a.n.gfei."
"Mo Xiu Yao?" Mu Yang frowned; he had had some friendly relations with Mo Xiu Yao in his early youth but ever since Mo Xiu Yao had the accident, he didn't see his face anymore.
Feng Zhi Yao nodded and said, "That's right. What do you think?"
Mu Yang's eyebrows were raised, "Mo Jing Li's eyes have gone blind."
Yao Ji couldn't help but chuckle out loud, covering her lips as she laughed and said, "It appears Feng third and Mu gongzi[7] both think quite highly of Ye third xiaojie."
The two people didn't answer, only once again turning their gaze towards the young lady in the nature-coloured clothing who was currently scribbling rapidly. They were the same in the fact they came from a n.o.ble family; they naturally understood one another's meaning. Nothing to do with one's appearance or talent, it was just that compared to Ye Ying, Ye Li was even more suited to be the zhumu[8] managing the household of a large family clan or perhaps a w.a.n.g[9] fu[10]. They didn't know if Mo Jing Li as someone from the imperial household in the end had been spoiled rotten by the empress dowager and taifei[11] , or if it was this Ye Ying's capability that was truly out of the ordinary and wasn't for outsiders to know about.
The time in which everyone waited hadn't even reached the duration of one incense stick when Ye Li had already stopped using the writing brush. Chang gongzhu[12] instructed the attendants to have Ye Li's work brought over, taking the xuan paper from the table. Everyone vaguely saw what distinctly appeared to be a picture of a tree peony. Qin Zheng and the other two also breathed a sigh of relief; regardless of whether it could get a ranking or not, to be able to finish a picture of a tree peony that could be considered not too bad in such a short period of time meant that at least Ye Li didn't lose face.
The painting was first handed to six judges in charge of reviewing at the banquet. Su Zhe laodaren[13] who was the very first to see the painting frowned and lifted his head to glance at that young lady dressed in nature-coloured clothing who was still standing at the side of the table. Once again he lowered his head to continue looking for a bit and only then pa.s.sed it onto the a.s.sistant minister of the Ministry of Appointments Mo Jian; Mo Jian was also the same in which he frowned and raised his head from time to time to look at Ye Li, only after awhile did he then pa.s.s it onto the person next to him.
The judges' unusual reaction caused the well-bred young ladies in the audience to be unable to stop sizing up Ye Li as well as made them very curious about what on earth Ye Li's work was like.
Waiting until Feng Zhi Yao finally finished taking a look at it and handing it over the maid at the side to give to Zhao Yang Chang gongzhu, the other individuals also discussed the results. It was left to Su Zhe to announce, "The Minister of Revenue's daughter Ye Li xiaojie ranks first in calligraphy, first in poetry, and fourth in painting."
((This translation is originally found on: h t t p : / / g u q i n t r a n s l a t i o n s . w o r d p r e s s . c o m))
"Ah Li!" Hearing the outcome, Murong Ting called out in delight. The others also cast looks of amazement towards Ye Li. Ye Li slightly curtsied in salutation towards the people on the platform and only then turned around to return to her own seat. Murong Ting raised her hands to clap for her and laughed as she said, "Even said that you're no good, so it turns out that you are the type to refrain from displaying your ability in front of others ah."
Ye Li smiled wryly, "It's just a cheap trick and nothing more."
Hua Tian Xiang laughed as she said, "Regardless of how you say it, it's only right that you still ought to be happy. Ah Li, congratulations." Qin Zheng pursed her lips into a smile and nodded at her. Ye Li smiled in return.
Xi Xia gongzhu's complexion immediately changed when she heard Su Zhe's words, also unable to deal with ceremony as she walked over to Zhao Yang Chang gongzhu's side to look at Ye Li's painting. It was only after awhile that she raised her head and glanced at Ye Li with a complicated expression and didn't say anything.
The maid at Chang gongzhu's side had the picture scroll sent down to be circulated among the well-bred young ladies present for their perusal. It was after all due to Ye Li's work that the already determined rankings in the compet.i.tion were to be changed, it was necessary to let everyone accept it wholeheartedly. The young lady who had originally already won first place in poetry was also from a family with a literary reputation; after looking at Ye Li's painting in a very much fair and reasonable way, she stood up and laughed as she said, "To lose to Qing Yun xiansheng's[14] descendant is a glorious defeat." The favourable upbringing and elegant demeanor actually made people to look even more highly upon it somewhat.
Murong Ting got the painting and promptly unfolded it to appreciate it together with her close friends. Qin Zheng exclaimed in admiration as she praised, "Good poem. Fallen, ended, waning; red begins to spew fragrance (other flowers have already wilted and only then does it bloom). Its beautiful name to be called as the king of a hundred flowers. Competing for praise with its incomparable colours beneath the heavens, standing alone as the number one fragrance within the human realm.[a]"
Hua Tian Xiang laughed as she said, "The poem is good, the characters are also good. Ah Li, from whom did you learn this handwriting of yours? I also want to formally become an apprentice for your master."
Ye Li shallowly laughed, "When I was little, I came across an invitation given by a xiansheng surnamed Liu. I've written for so many years and at long last, it's somewhat readable." In her previous life after she was enlightened at the age of six, she had learned the calligraphic style of Liu Gongquan; adding this lifetime, the before and after amounted to more than twenty years. If it was still illegible then that could truly only prove that she was naturally stupid.
Qin Zheng was also someone who was obsessed with painting and calligraphy, endlessly admiring, "Luck is truly good, Li er agrees then. Later you have to send a card to me."
Ye Li nodded, "I don't have anymore of the original cards. Is it okay if I write it?"
"It's a deal. I'll wait for you then."
"I also want..." Hua Tian Xiang and Murong Ting also didn't fall behind; Ye Li promised to send one to each person and only then was it considered finished.
"I also admit defeat!" The others had already conceded to the judges' results; even if Xi Xia gongzhu felt unwilling on the inside, she could only grit her teeth and acknowledge it. Zhao Yang Chang gongzhu looked at Xi Xia gongzhu's unwilling appearance and lightly sighed as she pulled her over in front of her to console her by patting her. It was Xi Xia's first time in Da Chu yet she had great arrogance at a young age and was unable to acknowledge defeat; also didn't know if this temper was good or bad.
"Since it's like this, then...this year's Hundred Flowers Event's champion is the Minister of Revenue's fu's Ye third xiaojie." Since everyone didn't have any objections, Su Zhe laodaren acted on the behalf of the other several partic.i.p.ating judges to announce the final results of this year's compet.i.tion.
Laughing like the spring breeze, Feng Zhi Yao followed by adding, "Of course, if there's someone who disagrees, they can also continue to challenge Ye third xiaojie, I believe Ye third xiaojie would also be very willing to accept the challenge. Isn't that right?" Ye Li raised her head and just managed to see Feng Zhi Yao winking at her; although it was a frivolous look, she could sense that he didn't at all have any malice.
The new champion of the Hundred Flowers Event for the year, Ye Li slowly ascended the tall platform at the urging of Qin Zheng and the others. She personally received this year's prizes from Chang gongzhu's hands. The Zhuyan pearl-shaped pill(s) that all beautiful women dreamed about, the purple jade hairpin, and the Xue Yin zither. Regarding the means which could almost be considered as cheating to be able to win the prizes, Ye Li didn't at all have any feelings of guilt and of course she also wasn't proud of herself for it in any way. Choosing between losing face and resorting to trickery, she would of course choose that which would be more advantageous to her.
"Ye third xiaojie, I didn't expect that Ye Shangshu[15] still had such a remarkable daughter." Chang gongzhu looked at the young woman dressed in nature-coloured clothing in front of her, her expression somewhat at a loss as she looked at Ye Li, "That year, bengong[16] and your muqin also had some friendly relations; from now on if you have the spare time, you may as well come to take a walk in the gongzhu fu."
Ye Li smiled respectfully and appropriately as she said, "Many thanks to Chang gongzhu, being able to get Chang gongzhu's invitation is Ye Li's blessing."
"Good child, you may go." Chang gongzhu softly sighed and spoke to Ye Li.
Ye Li made her salutations to Chang gongzhu as well as turned around to humbly bow in blessing towards the several judges, and only then turned around to go while holding the gifts.
Glossary: Er (儿 – term of endearment for one's child / child) Muqin (母亲 – respectful or intimate way of addressing mother) Waigong (外公 - maternal grandfather) Xiaojie (小姐 – Young miss / lady) w.a.n.gfei (王妃 – consort princess / wife of an imperial prince or "王 – w.a.n.g") Hou (侯 – marquis / n.o.bleman or high official) Gongzi (公子 – son of n.o.bility / young man) Zhumu (主母 – owner 'mother' / mother in charge of the household) w.a.n.g (王 – imperial prince) Fu (府 – official residence / family residence compound / household / term for family and home put together) Taifei (太妃 – imperial concubine of the previous emperor)
Gongzhu (公主 – imperial princess)
Laodaren (老 – old 大人 – adult / grownup / t.i.tle of respect toward superiors)
Xiansheng (先生 – mister / teacher)
Shangshu (尚書 – t.i.tle or position of official in charge of presenting memorials to the emperor and official correspondence)
Bengong (本宮 – a term used by female imperial family members or imperial consorts when referring to themselves)