The Vice Chancellor was secretly elated nearby, while Sacrificial Officer Guo shook his head after examining the half-poem that Feng Bailing had written.
Seeing that Feng Bailing was now surely defeated, Noble Consort Dugu feigned regret as she said,
"What a pity that Princess Consort Wu is still slightly inferior. But it’s not the fault of Princess Consort Wu, after all, eting two such demanding conditions within a quarter of an hour is extrely harsh. Princess Consort Wu’s learning is indeed a bit less profound."
"It’s breathtaking, truly breathtaking. That re half-poem is already so astonishing,"
Sacrificial Officer Guo lanted, continually shaking his head.
"Brilliant, truly brilliant. Seventh Prince, please let have a mont with you. Just look at this writing, this poetry. Didn’t you just tell earlier that you wanted to challenge both of them in calligraphy for this third round?"
Dongfang Li nodded.
"Indeed, that was my intention."
Earlier on, Sacrificial Officer Guo and Dongfang Li had been discussing quietly, with Dongfang Li expressing that for the third round, he wanted to judge them based on their calligraphy.
Upon closer inspection, Dongfang Li was also stunned, murmuring to himself,
"It seems that there’s no need to compete in the third round after all; the outco has already been decided."
His expression complex, he looked toward Feng Bailing.
"Princess Consort Wu, I truly feel inferior to you. I am in awe, your poetry bears a man’s bold spirit although you are a woman. Such a half-poem is indeed a masterpiece."
After Sacrificial Officer Guo spoke, he forcefully unfolded the piece of poetry in his hand, bringing Feng Bailing’s half-poem into everyone’s view.
"In Taohua Village lies Taohua Temple,
Beneath the temple lives the Taohua Immortal.
The Taohua Immortal plants peach trees,
And picks peach blossoms to exchange for wine money.
Awake, he sits before the flowers, while drunk, he sleeps beneath them.
Half-drunk and half-awake, day after day, year after year,
Flowers fall and bloom.
Only wishing to die among wine and flowers,
Refusing to bow before carriages and horses,
For rich n delight in chariot dust and horse tracks,
While a hermit’s fate is tied to wine cups and flower boughs..."
Knowing that Dongfang Mosheng beside him couldn’t see, Dongfang Li quietly read it in his ear.
Noble Consort Dugu’s gaze sharpened upon seeing, and upon hearing that poem, she couldn’t help but grow pale.
Then, upon seeing the characters that Feng Bailing had written, her complexion completely changed, and even the Vice Chancellor was incredulously shocked.
She had never imagined that Feng Bailing could have truly composed such a half-poem in such a short ti; although it was only a half-poem, it contained several ’flower’ characters, that writing...
"But to die old amidst wine and flowers,
Not to bow infront of carriages and horses,
As the rich find charm in the dust of chariots and the tread of horse feet,
A recluse finds fate in wine cups and branches of flowers."
The sound of Dongfang Li’s voice lingered in his ear, but Dongfang Mosheng was shocked to the core.
Although Feng Bailing was a woman, the poem was filled with a man’s boldness.
Dongfang Li clicked his tongue in amazent,
"Ninth, it’s a pity you cannot see. The writing by Feng Bailing, I never realized before that she could wield such skillful brushwork."
Dongfang Li may not excel in poetry as a royal scion, but with his noble upbringing under famous tutors, he could write beautifully.
Feng Bailing’s poem, though only half-done, was already full of artistic conception. However, in the process of writing that poem, she wrote it with such splendid vigor and flowing grace; that style of writing might well be unrivaled throughout the world!
Feng Bailing gently cleared her throat twice, she really had guessed correctly.
She had guessed early on that calligraphy might be the focus of the third round of Dongfang Li’s exam, which is why she had spared no effort in copying the calligraphy of the Book Saint Wang Xizhi.
The reason Dongfang Li and Feng Xiangxue could form a connection was largely because Feng Xiangxue wrote beautiful characters and often sought advice from Dongfang Li, which delighted him.
Seeing everyone praising Feng Bailing’s poetry and calligraphy to no end, Dongfang Li felt sowhat gloomy.
His late father used to say that Dugu Wu and his group had beco much stronger, which he had disdainfully disregarded. But now it seed that Dugu indeed surpassed him, at least in judging won. Dugu Wu was much better than him. How could he have failed to notice just how extraordinary Feng Bailing was?
"Princess Consort Wu is truly amazing. Who taught you such exceptional calligraphy? Lady Nan Shiu is not skilled in calligraphy," Noble Consort Dugu coyly remarked.
"Of course, I was taught by my teacher, the dical Buddha. He, the venerable one, is also proficient in playing the zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting," Feng Bailing responded straightforwardly, bestowing a great honor on "dical Buddha."
After all, they would never et this dical Buddha in their lifetis.
"It is indeed the dical Buddha again. The old master is truly a divine being," Sacrificial Officer Guo sighed. He really wanted to et the dical Buddha.
But the dical Buddha was elusive, and it was said that even Emperor Yongye had sought audience with him multiple tis without success.
"Princess Consort Wu, may I have this piece of calligraphy?" Sacrificial Officer Guo cherished the calligraphy as if it were a treasure and refused to let go.
"Hey, Sacrificial Officer Guo, you barely have space to display your collection of calligraphy and paintings. Maybe you should give this piece to instead," Dongfang Li said, also admiring the calligraphy. The two of them, one insisting and the other refusing to yield, completely forgot about the competition.
In the end, Feng Bailing sold her half-completed poem for one thousand gold taels to Dongfang Li.
The deputy dean stood by with a darkened face, feeling utterly humiliated, realizing she couldn’t match Feng Bailing in any respect.
The complexion of Noble Consort Dugu beca even more somber. The deputy dean was hoping for Noble Consort Dugu to speak on her behalf again, but Noble Consort Dugu simply glanced at her coldly and uttered two words.
"Useless."
The deputy dean knew there was no hope left for her. Noble Consort Dugu had completely given up on her. She could only dejectedly pack up and leave.
After three rounds of competition, Feng Bailing’s prestige at Yuxiu Academy surged greatly, and every female student and female teacher no longer dared to question her position as headmistress.
After the deputy dean left, Feng Bailing got down to properly reorganize Yuxiu Academy.
Feng Bailing had just finished discussing matters with several female teachers, and as she was about to find Sacrificial Officer Guo and others waiting outside, she saw Feng Zhanlian standing by.
"Princess Consort Wu, may I speak with you for a mont?"
When Feng Zhanlian saw Feng Bailing, he hurriedly approached, seemingly having waited for quite so ti.
Feng Bailing frowned slightly, speaking annoyedly.
"Feng Zhanlian, I have already told you, we have no ties anymore."
"Don’t misunderstand, Princess Consort Wu. I know there is no father-daughter affection between us. I just want to ask if you know about the Seventh Sense."
As Feng Zhanlian made this inquiry, Feng Bailing’s expression drastically changed. She didn’t expect anyone other than herself to know about the Seventh Sense.
"I don’t know what you are talking about."
Feng Bailing didn’t have ti for more talk and turned to leave.
Feng Zhanlian called out from behind.
"Princess Consort Wu, Chu City is on the cusp of change. Please take care. Although we lack father-daughter affection, blood ties an we are ultimately parent and child. If there cos a day when you have nowhere to turn and you need , you can find at the Imperial Academy. I, Feng Zhanlian, intend to reform myself and from now on, will no longer participate in the officialdom."
Feng Zhanlian’s voice echoed behind her, and Feng Bailing’s heart was in turmoil, several tis she wanted to turn around, but in the end, she never looked back.
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