Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

As night falls, the hustle and bustle of the capital city gradually fades away.

The "Ink Rhyme Pavilion" was brightly lit, and the fragrant aroma of ink filled the air, attracting many literati, scholars, and dignitaries to gather together.

The colorful brocade robes shone brightly, and amidst quiet conversation, everyone gazed expectantly at the center of the hall, awaiting the start of the painting competition.

In front of the easel, Gu Jinyan and Gu Lanci stood one in front of the other, their expressions quite different.

Gu Jinyan, dressed in plain white robes with long sleeves, appeared calm and composed. She glanced at the audience, then slowly closed her eyes, seemingly preparing the painting she was about to create.

A resolute look emanated from her brows.

It seems like everything is under control.

Quran, on the other hand, was dressed in a gorgeous dress, with a confident smile and a hint of pride and disdain in his eyes, clearly confident in his skills.

The judging panel was already in place not far away, with several masters of the art world sitting solemnly in the seats of honor at the Moyun Pavilion.

Young Master Li remained calm, his hands clasped together, gazing into the distance, seemingly anticipating a thrilling duel.

Mr. Zhang, with a kind smile, nodded occasionally, as if encouraging the two young painters to unleash their talents.

Miss Su leaned forward slightly, her eyes revealing curiosity, clearly showing her interest in the painting competition.

Master Wang held a notebook of painting critiques in his hand, his expression focused and cautious.

With the ringing of a clear copper bell, the painting competition officially began.

Gu Jinyan and Quran both focused intently, and with a stroke of their brushes, they made the first stroke on the paper.

The expressions of both of them subtly changed the moment they put pen to paper.

It felt like entering a world that belonged only to myself.

With each stroke of her brush, Gu Jinyan's ink flows like water across the paper, creating delicate and fluid lines that gradually reveal a tranquil landscape.

The rolling green hills, shrouded in a thin mist, are dotted with a few thatched cottages, subtly revealing a tranquil atmosphere.

Every stroke of hers is extremely steady, possessing both the weight of mountains and the fluidity of water.

Viewers were gradually drawn to the artistic conception in her paintings, as if they were there, immersed in this tranquil landscape.

In contrast, her writing style is sharp and decisive, her lines are full of tension, and her subject matter is gorgeous flowers and birds.

The varying shades of ink vividly depict the vibrant life of the flowers and birds.

A cluster of peach blossoms is in full bloom, and several birds are perched on the branches, seemingly about to fly away from the flowers, creating a dynamic scene.

She would occasionally stop writing, take a few steps back to examine the paper closely, as if contemplating the direction of her next stroke.

Her paintings are vibrant and full of life, creating a striking contrast with the landscape of Gujinyan.

The two completed the painting almost simultaneously.

As Gu Jinyan finished writing, he gently blew away the ink that was not yet completely dry. His expression was calm. He took a small step back, examined his work, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

Quran, on the other hand, smiled smugly, raising his eyebrows slightly, seemingly quite satisfied with his work.

The atmosphere in the hall immediately became tense when the two paintings were presented to the judges.

Young Master Li was the first to step forward and observe. He lingered in front of Gu Jinyan's painting for a long time, nodding slightly, before turning to the painting of the Quran.

He paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Miss Gu Jinyan's landscape paintings are dynamic yet serene, with deep and steady ink tones, and have a distinctly ancient charm."

Miss Quran's flower-and-bird paintings, with their vibrant colors and lively spirit, are truly eye-catching. Both paintings are masterpieces.

Mr. Zhang lingered a while longer in front of Gu Jinyan's landscape painting, then turned to the crowd and said with a smile, "Jinyan's landscape painting has distinct layers, and the distant and near views are handled extremely naturally."

The tranquility of this landscape, like a secluded paradise, is truly refreshing and soothing.

After saying that, he turned to look at Quran's paintings, still smiling. "Quran's flower and bird paintings are very dynamic. Those birds seem to be about to leap out of the frame at any moment."

Although their styles are quite different, each has its own merits.

Miss Su stood in front of the two paintings, her brows furrowed slightly as she carefully observed the details.

Her gaze lingered on Gu Jinyan's painting for a moment before she suddenly said, "The winding stream in Miss Jinyan's painting has an extremely lively water quality, subtly revealing a cool and serene charm."

Though the mountains and waters are still, my heart is stirred.

Her gaze shifted to Qu Lanci's painting, and a hint of approval appeared on her face. "Miss Lanci's flower and bird paintings are also quite impressive, especially that cluster of peach blossoms, which are full of color and refreshing."

Master Wang stood aside, seemingly quite satisfied with both paintings. He stroked his beard and nodded slightly, saying, "In this duel, both of them displayed their strengths, which is truly admirable."

Landscapes and flowers and birds represent two completely different artistic conceptions, yet they each possess their own unique charm under the brushes of these two painters.

The audience members present were abuzz with discussion after hearing the judges' comments.

Some people are drawn to the tranquility of Gujin Rock's landscape, while others prefer the vibrant imagery of flowers and birds from the Quran. Gradually, two distinct voices of support emerged in the hall.

Just then, a soft gasp of surprise rang out, as several spectators seemed to have noticed a detail in Gu Jinyan's painting.

It turns out that in her seemingly tranquil landscape painting, a barely visible reflection of the setting sun is hidden beneath the thatched cottage in the foreground.

This meticulous detail adds a touch of dynamism to the entire scene, giving the originally tranquil landscape a warmer atmosphere.

Seeing this, many viewers couldn't help but admire it.

Upon seeing this, Quran's expression changed slightly, but he quickly concealed his emotions, stood calmly in front of the painting, and smiled slightly.

After the competition, everyone gathered around, and some couldn't help but exclaim, "Ms. Gu Jinyan's painting skills are truly exquisite! This reflection of the setting sun is simply wonderful!"

Other viewers preferred the Quranic painting, praising its vibrant colors and innovative composition.

Ultimately, after discussion, the judges unanimously agreed that both artists had their own strengths in terms of skill and declared the competition a draw.

However, Gu Jinyan won the "Detail Award" specifically mentioned by the judges because of its exquisite reflection of the setting sun, which convinced everyone present.

After the competition, Gu Jinyan quietly left the crowd and returned to a corner of the Moyun Pavilion, where he looked at his painting and sighed softly.

Quran stood before the painting, a smile on his face, but a hint of resentment in his eyes.

She instinctively gripped her paintbrush, secretly resolving that next time, she would never let Gu Jinyan gain the upper hand again.

As the art exhibition came to an end, everyone left, and Gu Jinyan and Gao Shi walked out of the Moyun Pavilion together.

Ms. Gao said softly, "Miss, you performed exceptionally well today. You make us all very proud."

"Thank you, wet nurse." Gu Jinyan smiled slightly, gaining a deeper understanding of her own efforts.