Chapter 9: She Liked Her Daughter Again.

Inside Quxian Tower, nine out of ten gazes were drawn to Yan Zhi’an. The great families of Jinling had resounding reputations, but the real political power of Jinling wasn’t in their hands. Even Old Master Yan had never touched it. Without power, whatever you said was illusory.

Yan Zhi’an’s stance was clear: if you want to become famous, that’s your business. I won’t stop you, but don’t provoke me.

Especially by climbing up on the reputation of the Young Heir of the Yan Clan.

Who do you think you are?

Wang Mingqing’s face changed instantly. Everyone was looking at her. Suddenly, someone came to mediate. “Ninth Miss, it’s normal for young people to compete. Why make it so ugly? The Yan and Wang families are also related by marriage.”

A daughter of the Wang family had married a son of the Yan family, and a daughter of the Yan family had married into the Wang family.

Xunqi looked over. It was Fifth Aunt again. Her temper was terrible. She pinched the pattern on her cuff, watching the two sisters about to argue. She took a deep breath, smiled, and held her mother’s hand. “I can try.”

The other families watched to see what would happen. After Xunqi’s words, everyone looked at her.

The girl was frail, her skin pale. Beside her, Yan Zhi’an’s scholarly aura overshadowed her, making her seem unremarkable.

To be fair, anyone would be overshadowed by Yan Zhi’an. How could the light of a firefly compare to a pearl?

Xunqi’s answer excited Wang Mingqing. She wasn’t deliberately targeting Xunqi. Today was her chance. If she missed it, she would be arranged to marry by her family.

She wanted to be like Yan Zhi’an, to control her own destiny.

Xunqi stood up and performed the peer’s salute. But Fifth Miss Yan was displeased. “Her sister married Third Young Master. She’s your aunt. That salute is wrong.”

“Yes, the seniority is wrong. So, Miss Wang, are you going to bully the younger generation?” Yan Zhi’an smiled faintly. “If my daughter wins, it would be disrespecting an elder. How would that be settled?”

“It’s fine. I’ll leave some room for my aunt.” Xunqi answered her mother’s words casually.

Yan Zhi’an: “…” Do you hear yourself?

Wang Mingqing was one of the best of the younger generation of the Wang family. What was Xunqi? A girl who grew up in the countryside. You’ll beat her?

Dream on!

Yan Zhi’an was furious. She sneered and grabbed the girl’s wrist. “Stop talking nonsense.”

“Oh, then I’ll do my best.” Xunqi felt her mother’s strength, wincing slightly, but didn’t dare resist. She said, “The madwoman taught me a lot.”

“Hm?” Yan Zhi’an found it somewhat interesting. She lazily released her hand. “If you win, good. If you lose, go home and kneel on an abacus.”

Xunqi raised an eyebrow and gave her a resentful look. Just like the madwoman, kneeling on an abacus again…

Wang Mingqing stared at the frail girl before her for a long time. Impatiently, she said, “Young Heir Yan, are you ready to compete?”

“Compete in what?” Xunqi answered immediately. This person was too aggressive and annoying.

She widened her eyes and looked over. Wang Mingqing said, “Poetry. There are lots over there. Pick one, and we’ll each write a poem on that theme. Then we’ll let everyone judge.”

“Fine.” Xunqi agreed like a simpleton. As long as it wasn’t painting.

The madwoman had taught her poetry, calligraphy, and painting. But she had no talent for painting. She could never learn it, and it wasted a lot of paper. It made the madwoman so angry she chased her with a bamboo stick.

After beating her, the madwoman would sigh. “What’s the use of being able to recite poetry? Better to learn painting. At least you can make a living later. Who’s going to listen to you recite poetry?”

If her painting was good, she could make a living. But what was reciting poetry? The madwoman often sighed at the sky. “When I die, what will you do? Alone and helpless, anyone can bully you.”

Xunqi clenched her fist and looked up at Wang Mingqing. “Fine. You draw.”

The Wang and Yan families were competing, and one side was Yan Zhi’an’s daughter. Yan Zhi’an had become famous young, praised for her chess, painting, and countless poems. Now, her daughter was already so old.

Everyone watched the excitement. Wang Mingqing walked to a wall covered with dozens of gold-dusted envelopes. Each contained a poem title, which would be the theme to test their skills.

Wang Mingqing glanced at them and pointed. “Row two, column two.”

Everyone in Quxian Tower was from the Yan family. Upon hearing this, the servant looked at Yan Zhi’an.

Yan Zhi’an sneered. “Row two, column two. The eternal second.”

Wang Mingqing’s face flushed with shame. Xunqi burst out laughing. Wang Mingqing didn’t dare act up. She endured it and urged the servant. “Hurry up.”

The servant quickly used a pole to take down the envelope, showed it to everyone present, and then handed it to Yan Zhi’an.

Yan Zhi’an didn’t touch it. “Give it to the Head of the Wang family. If my family wins, someone might say I cheated and secretly changed the poem title.”

The servant handed it to the Head of the Wang family, who also refused to open it. Fifth Miss Yan stepped forward. “I’ll open it. How could anyone secretly swap it in front of everyone?”

She tore it open in public and displayed it. “Peony.”

Yan Zhi’an frowned. Xunqi had never even seen a peony. How could she write a poem about it?

A smile appeared on Wang Mingqing’s face. Everyone knew that peonies could be seen in the Wang family even in winter. This theme suited her perfectly. Xunqi, meanwhile, frowned slightly and instinctively looked at her mother. Yan Zhi’an was looking at her too. The woman who usually never showed her emotions was frowning at her.

Yan Zhi’an stared at her little troublemaker, wanting to drag her back and scold her. “Do you even know what a peony is? You’ve gotten yourself into big trouble.”

However, Xunqi glanced at Wang Mingqing, who had already started writing. She slowly walked to the desk. She remembered something: her handwriting was atrocious.

She secretly glanced at Wang Mingqing. Eh, her handwriting was really nice. She was about to embarrass herself.

She looked at her mother with difficulty and muttered, “My handwriting is too ugly.” It was all the madwoman’s fault. She insisted on practicing painting, so Xunqi never had money to practice calligraphy.

Xunqi’s glance fell on Yan Zhi’an. Yan Zhi’an held her forehead in speechless frustration. You just had to act tough.

Suddenly, Xunqi looked at Seventeenth Miss. “Seventeenth Aunt, my hand hurts. I can’t write. I’ll dictate, and you write?”

Seventeenth Miss was watching the excitement. Hearing her words, she instinctively shrank back. “My hand hurts too.”

That was Wang Mingqing, the young woman with the best calligraphy and painting of her generation. She wasn’t going.

“Seventeenth Miss.” Yan Zhi’an called out.

“Ah, my hand is better now. Little niece, wait for me, I’m coming.” Seventeenth Miss stood up, crying and laughing.

The two girls stood together. Xunqi beamed, pulled her Seventeenth Aunt over, and said, “I’ll dictate, you write.”

Wang Mingqing glanced at the two of them and quickly wrote her last character. She said proudly, “My poem is done.”

“We’re doomed.” Seventeenth Miss regretted it. “You’ve hit an iron wall.”

Wang Mingqing handed her poem to the Head of the Family, casting a contemptuous glance at Xunqi. Xunqi looked dazed, not seeming very smart.

The Head of the Wang family took the poem, nodded repeatedly, then handed it to Old Master Yan. The Old Master had seen many people. After one look, he drew in a sharp breath and reluctantly handed it to Yan Zhi’an.

Yan Zhi’an didn’t take it. She glanced at it and praised, “At such a young age, to have such skill. Very good.”

The Wang family all smiled. Fifth Miss Yan wanted to mock, but suddenly someone covered her mouth from behind and quietly dragged her away. Yan Zhi’an slowly glanced at her. Asking for death.

Squabbles between sisters were minor matters. But when facing outsiders, they should unite against a common enemy, not smear the Yan family for personal gain.

Fifth Miss Yan was dealt with quietly. Those in the Yan family who knew pretended not to see. Yan Zhi’an’s gaze fell on Xunqi.

The girl was still spacing out, not a single word written.

A wave of helplessness washed over Yan Zhi’an. She had agreed so readily, and now she was stuck. All the face she had saved over the years was lost in this moment.

And this child wasn’t even hers! She was the future emperor.

The Wang family waited leisurely for Xunqi, but she just stood there. Wang Mingqing was confident of victory. “Young Heir Yan, the incense is almost burned out.”

One stick of incense was the time limit. She wouldn’t be allowed to stall.

Xunqi glanced at her, then urged Seventeenth Miss to write. “I thought of one. Write it down quickly.”

The madwoman had written so many poems, all unknown, burned after writing. Borrowing one or two wouldn’t hurt.

She dictated, and Seventeenth Miss wrote. The troubled look on Seventeenth Miss’s face turned to brilliance. Yan Zhi’an noticed the change and, curious, walked over first to glance at the poem.

Seeing her come, Xunqi quickly asked, “Is it any good? If not, I have plenty more.”

Yan Zhi’an looked at her with a deep gaze. “Have you seen a peony before?”

“Aren’t those in your room peonies?” Xunqi was surprised. “They were moved to my room later.”

Yan Zhi’an said, “I forgot to tell you. Those were roses.”

Xunqi: “…”

“Why didn’t you remind me?”

“I forgot.” Yan Zhi’an felt guilty. Just then, Seventeenth Miss finished writing and handed the poem to her.

[Who doesn’t love the peony flower, monopolizing the city’s finest beauty. As if crafted by the Divine Maiden of the Luo River, a thousand charms breaking the morning glow.]

Yan Zhi’an pressed her lips together, unable to hide the smile in her eyes. She handed it back to Seventeenth Miss. “Show it to the Wang family.”

Wang Mingqing saw the smile on the Left Prime Minister’s face and knew something was wrong. She strode over, snatched the poem, and read it. She looked at Xunqi in disbelief. “You’re so dull, how could you…”

“I… am I dull?” Xunqi was dumbfounded. She rubbed her cheek and looked at her mother. “I… how am I dull?”

“Why bother with her? Let’s go. Don’t waste everyone’s time.” Yan Zhi’an was in a great mood. She reached out and flicked her forehead. Her Majesty would be overjoyed.

Suddenly, she liked her daughter again.

She had to thank Wang Mingqing for making Xunqi famous. She looked at Wang Mingqing. “If you go to the capital, I will recommend you.”

This time, it was Wang Mingqing’s turn to be stunned. She had lost, and she could still get a recommendation?

With that, Yan Zhi’an took Xunqi’s hand. “Let’s go home.”

“Why are we going home? It hasn’t even started yet.”

Yan Zhi’an said, “Go home and kneel on your abacus.”

Xunqi: “…” What are you talking about?