Quickly wear a child, the villain is more favored, who wants the male protagonist?

"Minister of Revenue? Is that Liu Mei, the one who embezzled the disaster relief funds for Yongzhou?"

"Yes."

Ye Yin's face turned cold. It turned out to be Liu Mei's daughter...

The flower viewing banquet began soon. Every banquet begins with poetry writing, and today's theme is spring.

There is no restriction on gender, men compete with men, women compete with women, anyone who wants to participate can come and compete. There are many young ladies from aristocratic families who can write poetry, although their works are average, but many of them participate.

Xia Xizhi didn't know how to do that, so she just sat quietly sipping tea and appreciating the flowers.

Just when no one was paying attention to her, a figure suddenly appeared behind her, stuffed a note into her hand, and turned and left quickly.

Xia Xizhi was stunned for a moment before realizing it was Fei Ze. She almost didn't recognize him. He had changed into the silver-white brocade gown she had given him, and he looked like a completely different person. He was graceful and elegant, and his temperament was no less than Fei Zhen's.

Unfolding the paper, Xia Xizhi raised his eyebrows and curled the corners of his mouth slightly. It turned out to be a poem that had been written, and it was written quite elegantly.

Her investment was really worth it, it paid off in just a few days...

In the center of the stage, Liu Ruolan came on stage and delivered a poem, which won the applause of the whole audience.

"As expected of the most talented woman in the Imperial City, what a wonderful poem!"

"It's a pity that she was implicated by her family. Otherwise, with her talent, she would have been able to enter a prominent family. What a pity..."

"It is truly remarkable that a girl in the boudoir could write such a beautiful poem..."

Except for a few people who felt sorry for her family's decline, the rest of the audience were cheering and praising her. Liu Ruolan raised her chin slightly, and a look of pride flashed across her face.

Then, pretending to be modest, she said, "Thank you all for your praise. I am truly humbled and unworthy of the title of the number one woman in the Imperial City."

He suddenly changed the subject and looked at Xia Xizhi, saying with a smile, "Xizhi, why don't you write one too? Don't you like poetry too? Don't be so modest, come up quickly."

Her words drew everyone's attention to Xia Xizhi, who was calmly sipping tea.

Someone burst out laughing, "She? She can write poetry?"

The sound was not loud, but because it was quiet, everyone in the audience heard it.

Xia Xizhi smiled and stood up, looking at the woman who mocked her, "I really can't write poetry. My talent is limited, so I don't mind my ugliness."

She had no intention of using the poem Fei Ze had given her. She didn't care if she couldn't write poetry. The original owner had been ridiculed because she was self-conscious and had fallen for Liu Ruolan's tricks. Her restraint and self-esteem were the reason these people looked down on her.

In fact, not all girls can write good poems, so there is no need to feel inferior.

Xia Xizhi's graceful and elegant demeanor made those who were about to mock her swallow their words.

The woman who had laughed at her just now also felt ashamed, her face turned slightly red, and she closed her mouth in embarrassment.

Fei Zhen showed a hint of admiration for Xia Xizhi's generosity and propriety. She had thought she would be timid, but she didn't expect her to be so decent.

Seeing this, Liu Ruolan didn't want to insist, but a calculating look flashed across her face.

She could get away with writing poetry for Xia Xizhi this time, but she couldn't possibly skip all the painting and musical instruments later on...

There will always be times when she makes a fool of herself.

The second competition started soon. The second round was painting, also with the theme of spring.

Liu Ruolan's eyes flashed, and she stepped forward, pulling Xia Xizhi close and saying, "Xizhi, don't you like painting too? It doesn't matter if you're not good at it, the important thing is to participate. If you don't want to write poetry, then you have to participate in painting, otherwise it will be a real bummer."

"Okay, it's tiring to sit all the time. I'll stretch my arms and legs and count me in as a participant." Xia Xizhi stood up with a smile.

Liu Ruolan paused. Why did Xia Xizhi seem so confident? Could it be that she could paint?

Impossible. She can't accomplish anything with her stupid brain. She is just self-righteous and confident. She will be embarrassed later.

Fei Zhen looked a little unhappy. Didn't she know her own worth? Ruoyun later said that she had seen the painting in Yuejian Pavilion. It was definitely not her painting, but he didn't expose her.

This time she actually dared to go up and compete. If she went up and embarrassed herself, she would not only bring shame upon herself, but also upon the entire Marquis' Mansion.

Fei Zhen's admiration for Xia Xizhi disappeared in an instant.

In half an hour, the painting was completed.

Most of the paintings by the ladies in the boudoir were of spring scenery, nothing special.

When it was Liu Ruolan's turn to paint, the eyes of the people around her suddenly lit up, and they praised her with words of admiration.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful!"

"Miss Liu is truly talented... How could she come up with such a brilliant idea..."

Liu Ruolan painted a galloping horse with butterflies chasing after its hooves, and inscribed it with the words, "Returning from the flowers, the horse's hooves are fragrant..."

“First, I think this is the first place today!”

“I also think it’s number one…”

Everyone was praising her, and Liu Ruolan was filled with pride. "We haven't seen Xizhi's paintings yet, so don't jump to conclusions. Let's see what Xizhi has painted."

Everyone felt that there was no need to look at Xia Xizhi's paintings, but Liu Ruolan directly picked up the paintings on Xia Xizhi's desk.

When everyone saw Xia Xizhi's paintings, they fell silent...it seemed as if one could hear a pin drop.

"Sorry for the poor presentation." Xia Xizhi said with a smile.

Fei Zhen thought Xia Xizhi's painting was too embarrassing and frowned.

I thought she was well behaved before, but I didn't expect her to be so tactless. It seems I have to teach her a lesson when I get back.

At this time, a young man from an aristocratic family was the first to exclaim, "This, this...this painting is too amazing!"

Others followed suit, saying, "Absolute! This is truly incredible!"

"To think of using a young girl's love affair to represent spring... That's brilliant! Even better than the horse hoof fragrance just now."

“The painting skills are also excellent. There is no girl in the painting, but outside the painting I seem to see a girl holding a brush and painting shyly...”

Fei Zhen paused and looked at Xia Xizhi's painting. Suddenly, she felt her heart stop beating temporarily.

This was how he looked four years ago, when he won the third place in the palace examination, wearing a big red flower and riding a horse around the city.

In the painting, young girls throw flowers at a young man wearing a big red flower and riding a horse. The flowers cover the entire piece of paper, looking so lifelike that they seem to be overflowing.

The angle of the picture is a bird's-eye view of the restaurant. From the picture, we can see that the painter is feeling amorous for the person in the painting, and it seems that the flowers in the painting have become so beautiful that they are about to jump out of the paper.

Fei Zhen suppressed the throbbing in his chest and raised his eyes to look at Xia Xizhi, just in time to meet Xia Xizhi's blushing face as she looked at him. When she noticed that he was also looking at her, Xia Xizhi hurriedly turned her head away.

Fei Zhen's heart couldn't help but beat violently, and looking at Xia Xizhi's back, her heart gradually softened...

There was no dispute, Xia Xizhi won first place in this game.

Ye Yin's face suddenly darkened in the viewing tower. Judging from the painting, this little devil had someone he loved... a dashing young man, much younger than him...

Although he was still unsure if it was her that night, he suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Zhu Yin smiled and said, "This year has seen so many talented people. I never thought that even among the boudoirs there would be two people of such talent. They are quite remarkable. Your Majesty, which painting do you think is the best?"

Ye Yin's tone was dark, and he snorted coldly.

"So frivolous, so unrestrained, and not at all like a young lady from a noble family."

Zhu Yin paused: ...What's going on? Why does it feel like His Majesty is a bit weird today?

Could it be related to that Miss Liu?

Zhu Yin looked at Liu Ruolan and his mind moved.

Liu Ruolan gritted her teeth in anger. How come she never knew that Xia Xizhi could paint? Damn it, she was the one who stole the limelight!