After giving birth to twins, the princess became pregnant again, and the royal uncle took care of he

At this moment, a eunuch stepped forward and announced loudly: "Attention all contestants! This talent show is divided into three rounds..."

Arranged in the following order:

The first round was about poetry, calligraphy, and painting;

The second round is a musical performance, where any instrument can be used;

The third round is a dance showcase, where all types of dances are welcome to participate.

Now, let's officially begin the first round – a competition of poetry, calligraphy, and painting!

All participants, please give full play to your talents in the next hour!

As soon as the eunuch finished speaking, the entire room fell silent, and everyone turned their attention to the young ladies who were about to show off their skills.

Chu Xingyao pondered to herself:

"Hmph, let's see how you all react when I reveal this modern realist painting technique!"

After saying this, she cleverly used her wide sleeves to cover herself when no one was paying attention.

Without anyone noticing, they retrieved all the materials needed for realistic painting from the mysterious space.

However, after witnessing the large, seemingly random pile of items she pulled out, the onlookers couldn't help but shake their heads and sigh, expressing their incomprehension.

Chu Xingyao, however, paid no attention to the opinions of those around her. She calmly began to work on her own artwork.

During the painting process, she would sometimes concentrate on the lines and colors under her brush, and at other times she would look up and slowly scan each person present with her gaze.

Seeing this, everyone assumed that Chu Xingyao might not understand painting at all, and thus she kept glancing at them, probably intending to ask for help from those present.

Time slips away quietly, and before we know it, an hour has passed.

At this moment, the Emperor and Empress held the paintings submitted by the contestants and examined them carefully.

They would shift the scroll slightly to the left and then rotate it a little to the right, comparing and appreciating it repeatedly.

Finally, after much deliberation, the Emperor and Empress smiled at each other.

Then, it was solemnly announced that the first place in this calligraphy and painting competition belonged to Chu Xingyao, while Mu Qinyu's landscape painting came in second place.

The announcement of this result was like a bolt from the blue, instantly shocking everyone present!

Their eyes widened, their mouths gaped open enough to fit an egg, and their faces were filled with disbelief.

Immediately afterwards, this shock quickly turned into deep confusion and doubt, as if shrouded in a fog, making it impossible to see the truth of the matter.

As a result, the crowd began to stir, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

Someone couldn't help but shout, "We want to see for ourselves what's so special about these two award-winning works!"

This call spread like wildfire, and more and more people echoed it:

"Yes, yes, let us see!"

In an instant, requests rose and fell, echoing throughout the entire venue.

Just then, the Empress waved her hand gently, and the eunuch beside her hurriedly and respectfully picked up Mu Qinyu's landscape painting and carefully presented it to everyone.

Everyone looked closely and the landscape painting was simply wonderful! The towering mountains in the painting stood majestically, piercing the clouds; the streams in the mountains flowed gently, their waters crystal clear.

Viewers feel as if they are actually there, able to feel the mountain breeze on their face and hear the sound of water.

Everyone present was captivated by the exquisite painting skills and exclaimed in amazement.

"This painting is so well done! It's absolutely wonderful!" someone couldn't help but exclaim.

"Yes, such profound artistic conception, I never expected that someone so young could have such skill."

Another person chimed in.

"As expected of the daughter of the Prime Minister's family, you should know that her father was a brilliant scholar who passed the imperial examinations in three consecutive years!"

Another person sighed.

Immediately, praise arose one after another. However, some people raised questions:

"I really can't understand how such an outstanding painting could only be ranked second? What kind of masterpiece could be in first place?"

Hearing this, everyone's curiosity was piqued, and they shouted in unison:

"We want to see the first place winner! Quickly show us the first place winner's work!"

Then, the eunuch quickly unfurled a scroll. When this painting, titled "New Year's Eve Banquet," was revealed to everyone, the previously noisy scene instantly fell silent.

The civil and military officials, these wise men and nobles who were used to seeing the world's splendor, were now staring at this unprecedented painting in astonishment as innocent children.

At the center of the painting are the Emperor, Empress, and Empress Dowager, who sit on high thrones, wearing dragon and phoenix robes woven with gold thread, and crowns that gleam brightly. Their faces are filled with festive joy and majestic demeanor.

The Emperor's gaze was deep and resolute, the Empress's was kind and dignified, and the Empress Dowager's was even more kind, with a gleam of wisdom in her eyes.

Standing to the side was Consort Su, whose gorgeous dress was embroidered with exquisite peony patterns, and whose headdress shone brightly under the lamplight.

Her posture was elegant, and she wore a smile, but her eyes revealed a hint of ambition and calculation that was not easily detected.

In the picture, Jun Jiuxiao, the God of War of Dongjing Kingdom, cannot hide his innate nobility and domineering aura even with Buddhist beads on his wrist.

His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, as if they could see through everything, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, carrying a hint of barely perceptible ferocity that made people afraid to look him in the eye.

The princes and princesses sat at the table, some chatting and laughing, others deep in thought, each revealing a different personality and emotion on their faces.

The civil and military officials, dressed in their court robes, were seen drinking and chatting amongst themselves; every action and expression was captured vividly.

The ladies and young women were dressed in gorgeous clothes, with gold and jade hairpins in their hair and cloaks embroidered with exquisite patterns.

Their faces displayed a complex mix of emotions—joy, curiosity, envy, and jealousy—creating a vivid picture.

The expressions of resentment and anger on Ye Qin and Chu Xinglan's faces were also clearly depicted.

Ye Qin, in particular, had her brows furrowed, her eyes seemed to spit fire, and her hand gripped the wine glass tightly, as if she were about to crush it at any moment.

The heavy snow outside contrasted sharply with the glowing charcoal stove inside the hall; one side was the cold and purity of winter, while the other was the warmth and excitement of a festival.

The snowflakes in the painting seemed to be falling, and the charcoal fire seemed to be burning; the realistic effect left everyone present in disbelief.