Male superiority and female superiority: forced love

The time of one stick of incense is coming soon.

The two put down their brushes and displayed their works one by one.

Cao Ranyue created a painting called "Fish Playing in the Water".

In the lotus pond, a group of koi fish swim leisurely among the lotus leaves. It seems that the sound of gurgling water is really echoing in the ears, and a group of fish really appear in front of the eyes, chasing and playing happily.

This painting also includes elements such as water plants, fish and insects. The use of bright colors is not vulgar, and the brushstrokes are powerful and dramatic, depicting the "postures" of each koi fish vividly and full of vitality.

Looking at Cai Lei's "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate", it is much bolder than Cao Ranyue's in both composition and color.

A school of koi swims upstream from the stream. The first, bearing the brunt of the flow, soars into the air like an arrow, attempting to leap onto the crimson sun high in the sky. The slender lines of its tail, like a ribbon, frame its graceful, sinuous form. A few splashes of water to the left and right seem to passionately demonstrate its indomitable spirit.

Both works are excellent, but the second one is obviously more popular.

Therefore, in this competition, Cai Lei won the first place without any suspense.

Emperor Dayong's eyes were full of smiles, and he kept nodding in praise.

As expected of the daughter of the greatest scholar, she possesses a strong grasp of painting techniques and insights. This is likely the result of years of hard work, demonstrating the depth of her dedication.

Many young men present were amazed, and some who were initially concerned about her height could not help but take a few more glances.

Although she was not tall, she had a pretty face, clear eyes, and a lot of spirit. She was also a good painter, so it was hard not to notice her.

Jiang Wenzhou raised his eyes slightly and nodded, a rare gesture. True talent and learning were rare among the ladies of high rank. Cai Lei's ability to possess such a foundation was truly exceptional. She was truly outstanding.

Emperor Yong noticed the prince's actions, and the smile in his eyes became even brighter. Then he said with great joy, "Lord Cai, you have given birth to a wonderful daughter!"

Then, he rewarded her with a gold bracelet with pearls.

Of course, although Cao Ranyue was defeated, she still won honor and also got a small gold-inlaid Ruyi hairpin.

Cai Zhiyuan quickly stood up and stood with his daughter to thank the Lord for his grace.

Sitting down, Duke Cao saw Cao Ranyue standing on the stage like a log, motionless. He was so anxious that he was sweating profusely. He quickly stepped forward and pulled her over to bow and express his gratitude.

Even after returning to her position, she still had not come out of the shadow of failure. She knew that from today on, the reputation of being the most talented woman in Songshan Academy no longer belonged to her.

As if unable to bear the blow, she burst into tears. Duke Cao tried to cover her tears but it was too late, so he quickly led her out of the hall.

Three crows flew over Cai Lei's head. She'd clearly won by her own merit, but why was she acting like she was bullying her?

Those noble ladies who were unable to play because of Cao Ranyue all looked very relieved.

Haven't you heard that there are mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people?

However, after this competition, the audience suddenly became quiet and no one dared to go on stage to challenge.

Just as Cai Lei was about to leave, Lu Yinnian smiled faintly at Sun Wanning, and then a sweet and soft voice rose high and high: "Your Majesty, Qinghe is willing to compete with this noble lady Cai in a competition of talents."

Sun Wanning stood up gracefully and cast a seductive glance at Jiang Wenzhou, captivating his heart.

Jiang Chenfeng knew her intentions, but he couldn't help but feel his heart flutter. Li Chanjuan had been ill recently, and it had been quite some time since he'd slept with her. Sun Wanning's smooth skin, voluptuous figure, striking attire, and soft, tender voice all stirred within him, and he couldn't wait to get her on the bed and pamper her every day.

He has never been a man of great desires, so after his wife passed away, there was only one successor in the harem.

Now that the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and the crops are plentiful, she no longer needs to work so hard and be so busy as she did in her youth. With more free time, she thought about making up for the Empress, but who knew her health would deteriorate day by day.

The Princess Qinghe was a rare beauty, and she was in her prime. Her every frown and smile captivated his heart. She was simply a little goblin, making him feel itchy.

"It's great that Princess Qinghe is willing to perform. I also want to see the princess's grace." Jiang Chenfeng's eyes were very suggestive, which made Jiang Wenzhou and Jiang Xuanzhou secretly startled.

Emperor Dayong has not yet reached the age of knowing his destiny. If he really wants to have another son, the power in the court will be reshuffled.

Could it be that Lu Yinnian’s target for this mission is his father?

The expressions of the two men suddenly became serious.

Ruan Chuyin noticed that the wine glass that Jiang Xuanzhou brought to his lips was still hovering, so she leaned over to his ear and whispered inquiries.

"Nothing." After he finished speaking, he hugged her again and drank the jade liquid in his hand.

Lu Yinnian hadn't expected the Great Yong Emperor to have such thoughts, but it did open up a new perspective for him. Whether or not Sun Wanning could catch Jiang Wenzhou's eye today, the Great Yong Emperor had his back.

But Sun Wanning didn't think it was a good idea. Having her spend every day with a man old enough to be her father, what difference was there between that and howling in the cold night? Suddenly, she was stunned, her legs a little unsteady.

"Qinghe, don't let me down." Lu Yinnian reminded in a low voice, with a strong warning in his eyes.

Just a chess piece, if it doesn't make a difference, then I'll just give it up.

The whole place was silent, waiting for the next competition.

Princess Qinghe of Beiyue State suggested continuing their painting competition, using the same theme as before—"Koi Carp." This meant that Cai Lei didn't need to pick up her brush again; she could only wait patiently for her to finish.

Sun Wanning pondered for a moment, then started to paint a picture of "Hibiscus Carp".

The composition is very simple: a school of koi fish swims freely in a small pond three feet below. Two or three of them poke their heads out slightly, trying to pick a hibiscus flower adorning a curved branch.

The winning edge of this picture lies precisely in that flower.

Her painting skills were taught by Lu Yinian, and over the past ten years, she had learned seven-tenths of his true skills through her own understanding. His greatest skill was painting flowers and plants.

Although the theme of the competition is koi, from the perspective of composition, Sun Wanning cleverly avoided "overshadowing the main subject" and maximized the visual effect.

Someone in the audience started clapping, and soon the applause spread like wildfire.

Emperor Yong gifted her with a Dongzhu necklace. Studded with 108 pearls of varying sizes, it was priceless. The profound meaning and favoritism evident in this necklace were self-evident. Even if her results weren't announced at this point, it wouldn't affect her chances of winning the title.

"Wenzhou, what do you think of the painting "Hibiscus Carp" by Princess Qinghe?" Jiang Chenfeng suddenly asked.