Long Live the Empress

Chapter 163 1 Color Painting

Although the poetry reading was still going on, due to Ning Baihao's excellent performance, the following poems were not very impressive, so everyone lost interest.

Hua Xiangrong remembered that Yue Jinghong had handed in a blank paper for the exam at Fengzhuo Academy, so her eyes flickered and she took Yue Jinghong's arm affectionately, "Miss Yue, everyone says that Miss Yue is the most talented woman in the capital. Why don't we take this opportunity to show everyone that we women are no weaker than men, what do you think?"

Hua Xiangrong's words were immediately echoed by Gu Ziwei. "That's right! Besides, Miss Yue lost her strength at Fengzhuo Academy last time, and some gentlemen laughed at her for a long time. Why don't you take this opportunity to clear your name!"

Yue Jinghong looked at the two people singing in unison and nodded slightly. She took a step forward, bowed slightly and said, "I am not very knowledgeable, so please forgive me if I don't do it well."

Everyone waved their hands quickly, "No, no, Miss Yue, just do it!"

Yue Jinghong picked up her pen and looked around the garden, then wrote:

Since ancient times, autumn has brought sadness and loneliness.

I say autumn is better than spring.

The sky is full of cranes,

Then it brings poetry to the blue sky.

Regardless of the content of the poem, everyone couldn't help but admire Yue Jinghong's beautiful hairpin-shaped small calligraphy.

Ning Bohao also walked closer to take a look, and was even more satisfied with Yue Jinghong. He didn't expect Yue Jinghong to be so beautiful and her handwriting was so beautiful. Anyway, Ning Bohao had never seen a woman who wrote better than Yue Jinghong.

Reading this poem again, I find that the whole poem is vigorous and magnificent in artistic conception. It integrates emotion, scenery and reason into one, showing a high spirit and broad mind.

Everyone was stunned for a long time before they came to their senses from Ning Baihao's applause and started clapping as well.

"Good! Good! Good! Miss Yue is indeed the most talented lady in the capital!"

"That's right! From now on, if anyone says that Miss Yue doesn't live up to her reputation, I'll get angry with them!"

"..."

Yue Jinghong gently put down the brush in her hand under everyone's praise. "My humble daughter is showing off her ugliness..."

Hua Xiangrong didn't expect that Yue Jinghong's poem would be so brilliant, so she reluctantly applauded along with everyone.

Gu Ziwei took Yue Jinghong's hand and walked to the table, pointing at the pile of items and said, "Miss Yue, which item do you want to choose?"

Yue Jinghong took a look, and under Ning Bohao's expectant eyes, she picked up a pair of earrings and said, "I really like Sister Gu's earrings!"

Gu Ziwei clapped her hands happily and said, "I knew Miss Yue liked my things the most! Come, let me put them on Miss Yue!"

Ning Baihao took a look at the black jade pendant lying quietly on the tray and felt very disappointed.

Hua Xiangrong, who had been paying attention to Ning Baihao, bit her lip and said, "Everyone has written poems, so let's paint! The scenery here is so picturesque, wouldn't it be a pity if we don't paint it?"

If Yue Jinghong hadn't made such a stunning poem, everyone would have wanted to leave. Now, after hearing Hua Xiangrong's suggestion, they immediately became interested again, "Miss Hua's suggestion is very good, someone quickly prepare ink... and colored ink."

Hua Xiangrong waved her hand and said, "Don't worry, claps!"

Hua Xiangrong clapped her hands twice, and a maid brought a box. When it was opened, a fragrance wafted out of the box.

Everyone gathered around curiously and asked, "Miss Hua, what is this?"

Hua Xiangrong proudly picked up a bottle of ink and said, "Each bottle of ink is made from petals that I picked myself. Everyone, smell it. Doesn't it smell good?"

Everyone passed the ink around, and after smelling it, they all nodded, feeling very surprised.

"If we use this ink to paint, will the painting also have a scent?"

Hua Xiangrong nodded and said, "That's right! If you paint a certain flower, you use ink made from that flower... wouldn't the painting look like the real thing?"

Some people couldn't wait any longer, so they rubbed their hands and ordered their servants to spread the paper and grind it quickly.

Hua Xiangrong walked up to Ning Bohao carrying the box of ink and said, "Mr. Ning, please choose first."

Ning Bohao looked down at the ink and shook his head. "Let others use it first! I haven't decided what to draw yet."

Hua Xiangrong was just slightly startled, then smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll put it here first, and Master Ning can take it when he wants to use it~"

Ning Baihao nodded and bowed to express his gratitude to Hua Xiangrong.

Hua Xiangrong didn't excel in the poetry contest just now, so she secretly made up her mind to draw the most amazing painting today! The ink she developed just now has been recognized by some people. If she can use that ink to draw a beautiful painting again...

Hua Xiangrong glanced at Yue Jinghong who was in a daze, and then moved closer to Yue Jinghong, "Miss Yue, what do you want to draw?"

Yue Jinghong lowered her head in shame, and said a little embarrassedly: "It's okay for me to write a poem, but as for painting... Miss Hua, you should paint first, I need to think for a while!"

Hua Xiangrong showed a determined smile in her eyes, "Okay then! I'll go paint first! If Miss Yue needs anything, please let me know!"

Yue Jinghong bowed to Hua Xiangrong gratefully, and put herself in a very humble manner, "Thank you first, Miss Hua!"

Hua Xiangrong started to paint on the paper. It is true that the ink developed by Hua Xiangrong is really good! The plum blossoms she painted have the fragrance of plum blossoms, and the chrysanthemums she painted have the fragrance of chrysanthemums...

As they were painting, everyone was amazed at Hua Xiangrong's intelligence, and Hua Xiangrong felt even more proud!

After half an hour, some people put down their pens and watched others paint.

Gradually, Hua Xiangrong noticed that there were fewer and fewer people on her side. Looking back, she saw that everyone had gathered around Yue Jinghong.

Hua Xiangrong quickly took out her seal and moved closer to Yue Jinghong.

There are no other colors in Yue Jinghong's painting, only black ink is used to paint the cranes in the pond: one crane is looking for food with its head down, one crane is using its beak to comb its feathers, and another crane is flying into the sky...

A single color can create such a vivid scene. How can we not be amazed?