Cold Encounter with a Madman - Chapter 9

Inside the Xianxian Pavilion, eight or nine out of every ten pairs of eyes were drawn to Yan Zhi’an. While the various noble families of Jinling spoke with grand reputations, the actual political power of Jinling was not in their hands. Not even the Old Master of the Yan family had touched it. Without power, whatever you said was merely an illusion.

Yan Zhi’an’s attitude was very clear. If you want to become famous or prosperous, that is your own business. I will not stop you, but do not provoke me. Especially not by stepping on the reputation of the Yan family’s Young Mistress to climb higher. What kind of person do you think you are?

Wang Mingqing’s expression changed abruptly. Everyone was watching her. Just then, someone interjected: “Ninth Daughter, it is normal for young people to exchange pointers. Why make it look so ugly? The Yan family and the Wang family are connected by marriage after all.”

A daughter of the Wang family had married a son of the Yan family, and a daughter of the Yan family had also become a daughter-in-law of the Wang family.

Xun Qi looked over. It was the Fifth Concubine again. This woman had a truly foul temper. She pinched the embroidery on her sleeve. Seeing that the two sisters were about to argue, she took a deep breath, smiled, and held her mother’s hand, saying: “I can try.”

The other noble families watched to see how things would unfold. After Xun Qi spoke, everyone could not help but stare. The young girl was frail, her skin pale, and Yan Zhi’an beside her carried an air of scholarly refinement that overshadowed her, making her appear completely unremarkable. In all honesty, no one could stand before Yan Zhi’an without being overshadowed. How could the light of a firefly compete with a bright pearl?

Xun Qi’s response excited Wang Mingqing. She was not targeting Xun Qi out of malice; today was simply her opportunity. If she missed today, her family would arrange for her to be married off. She wanted to emulate Yan Zhi’an and control her own destiny.

Xun Qi stood up and performed a greeting for peers. Yet, Yan Fifth Concubine was dissatisfied: “Her sister married the Third Son, so she counts as your aunt. This greeting is incorrect.”

“Indeed, the seniority is wrong. So, Miss Wang, are you intending to bully the young with your seniority?” Yan Zhi’an asked with a faint, cold smile. “If my child wins against you, it would be considered bullying an elder. How is this to be counted?”

“No matter, I will leave the Aunt some leeway,” Xun Qi answered her mother’s question boldly.

Yan Zhi’an: “Do you even hear what you are saying?”

Wang Mingqing was considered a talent among the younger generation of the Wang family. What was Xun Qi? A girl raised in the wilderness. You want to beat her? Dream on!

Yan Zhi’an was infuriated. She gave a cold laugh and could not help but grip the girl’s wrist: “Stop spouting nonsense.”

“Oh, then I will do my best,” Xun Qi felt her mother’s strength and frowned slightly in pain, but she dared not resist. She said: “The Madwoman taught me much.”

“Hmm?” Yan Zhi’an found this somewhat interesting and lazily loosened her grip. “Winning is fine. If you lose, go home and kneel on an abacus.”

Xun Qi raised her brows and gave her a plaintive look. Why was she just like the Madwoman, making her kneel on an abacus again?

Wang Mingqing stared at the thin girl before her for a long time and said impatiently: “Young Mistress Yan, shall we compete?”

“Compete in what?” Xun Qi answered immediately. This person was aggressive and truly annoying.

She opened her eyes wide and looked at her. Wang Mingqing said: “Poetry. There are bamboo slips over there. Pick one, and each of us will write a poem to be judged by everyone present.”

“Deal.” Xun Qi agreed as if she were a simpleton. As long as it was not painting, she was fine. The Madwoman had taught her poetry, calligraphy, and painting, but she truly had no talent for painting. She could not learn it, wasting a lot of paper instead, which angered the Madwoman into picking up a bamboo stick to chase and beat her. After the beating, the Madwoman would sigh: “What is the use of reciting poetry? You should learn to paint so you can at least feed yourself later. Who is going to listen to you recite poetry?” If her painting skills were good, she could make a living, but what did reciting poetry count for? The Madwoman often sighed to the heavens: “When I am dead, what will you do? Alone and miserable, anyone can bully you.”

Xun Qi clenched her fists and looked up at Wang Mingqing: “Fine. You go draw the slip.”

The Wang and Yan families began to compete. One side was Yan Zhi’an’s daughter. Yan Zhi’an had become famous in her youth, praised for her first-rate chess and painting skills and countless poems. In the blink of an eye, her daughter was already this big.

Everyone watched the spectacle. Wang Mingqing walked to a wall where dozens of scrolls wrapped in gold-powdered paper were pasted. Each contained a title, and it was up to the skill of the families to write a poem based on the theme. Wang Mingqing glanced at them and pointed: “The second row, the second slip.”

Xianxian Pavilion was full of Yan family members. Hearing this, the servants looked at Yan Zhi’an. Yan Zhi’an laughed coldly: “The second row, the second slip. The eternal runner-up.”

Wang Mingqing was so ashamed her face turned red. Xun Qi snorted with laughter. Wang Mingqing dared not act out, endured it, and urged the servants: “Hurry up.”

Seeing this, the servants used a pole to stick the letter down. They showed it to everyone, the seal was already closed, and they handed it to Yan Zhi’an. Yan Zhi’an did not touch it: “Give it to the Head of the Wang family. In case my family wins, someone will say I cheated and secretly changed the topic.”

The servant handed it to the Head of the Wang family, but he refused to open it. Yan Fifth Concubine stepped forward: “I will open it. Under everyone’s eyes, how could it be secretly changed?” She tore it open publicly and displayed it: “Peony.”

Yan Zhi’an frowned. Xun Qi had never even seen a peony, how could she write a poem? Wang Mingqing’s face lit up with a smile. Who did not know that peonies could be seen in the Wang family’s garden in winter? This topic was most to her liking. Meanwhile, Xun Qi frowned slightly and looked at her mother subconsciously. Similarly, Yan Zhi’an looked at her. Someone who usually kept her emotions hidden behind a poker face was now frowning while looking at her.

Yan Zhi’an stared at the little troublemaker, wanting to drag her back and scold her: “Do you even know what a peony is? You have caused a great disaster.”

However, Xun Qi glanced at Wang Mingqing, who was already writing. She walked slowly to the desk, suddenly remembering one thing: her handwriting was incredibly ugly. She peeked at Wang Mingqing. Wow, her handwriting is so beautiful. She was going to make a fool of herself.

She looked at her mother in a predicament and muttered softly: “My handwriting is too ugly.” It was all the Madwoman’s fault. The Madwoman insisted on her practicing painting, so she did not have money to practice calligraphy.

Xun Qi’s look fell into Yan Zhi’an’s eyes. Yan Zhi’an was speechless and rubbed her forehead; she let her act so arrogant.

Suddenly, Xun Qi looked at the Seventeenth Concubine: “Seventeenth Aunt, my hand hurts and I cannot write. Can I dictate and you write for me?”

Yan Seventeenth was just watching the fun. Suddenly hearing her words, she subconsciously shrank back: “My hand hurts too.” That was Wang Mingqing, a girl who was a master of calligraphy and painting among the younger generation. She was not going.

“Seventeenth Concubine,” Yan Zhi’an called out.

“Sigh, my hand is fine again. Little niece, wait for me, I am coming right away.” Yan Seventeenth stood up, weeping.

Two young girls stood together. Xun Qi smiled brightly, pulled her Seventeenth Aunt over, and said: “I speak, you write.”

Wang Mingqing glanced at the two of them and quickly dropped the last word, proudly saying: “My poem is ready.”

“It is over.” Yan Seventeenth regretted it: “You have kicked an iron plate.”

Wang Mingqing handed her work to the Head of the family and looked at Xun Qi with disdain. Xun Qi looked blank, not appearing very clever.

The Head of the Wang family took the poem and nodded repeatedly, then handed it to the Old Master of the Yan family. The Old Master had seen countless people, but after one glance, he gasped and reluctantly handed it to Yan Zhi’an. Yan Zhi’an did not take it, but after a glance, she praised: “To have such accomplishments at such a young age is very good.”

The Wang family started laughing. Yan Fifth Concubine wanted to mock her, but suddenly someone covered her mouth from behind and quietly dragged her away. Yan Zhi’an took a leisurely look at her: Seeking death. Arguments between sisters were a small matter, but when facing outsiders, they should be united, not smearing the Yan family for their own selfish desires.

Yan Fifth Concubine was dealt with silently. The knowing members of the Yan family pretended not to see it. Yan Zhi’an’s gaze fell on Xun Qi.

The young girl was still in a daze, having not moved a single word. Yan Zhi’an felt a sense of helplessness. She had agreed so crisply just now, and now she was struggling. She had lived for so many years, and all the face she had accumulated was lost at this moment.

And this child was not even born by her! She was the future emperor.

The people of the Wang family waited leisurely for Xun Qi, but she just stood there. Wang Mingqing was certain of victory: “Young Mistress Yan, the incense is about to run out.” One incense stick was the limit; they would not let her stall for time.

Xun Qi glanced at her, then urged Seventeenth Concubine to write: “I thought of one, write quickly.” The Madwoman had written so many poems that were unknown; she would burn them after finishing. It would not hurt to borrow one.

She spoke, and Yan Seventeenth wrote. A glow appeared on Yan Seventeenth’s troubled face. Yan Zhi’an noticed the change in her and became curious, walking over first to take a look. Xun Qi saw her coming and asked hurriedly: “Is it okay? If not, I have plenty more.”

Yan Zhi’an stared, glanced at her: “Have you ever seen a peony flower?”

“Is the one in your room not a peony?” Xun Qi was surprised. “Later, it was moved to my room.”

Yan Zhi’an: “I forgot to tell you, that is a Chinese rose.”

Xun Qi: “…”

“Why did you not remind me?”

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

“Who does not love the peony flower? It claims all the beauty in the city. Suspected to be the work of the Goddess of the Luo River, a thousand charms and poses break the morning glow.”

Yan Zhi’an pursed her lips, and the smile in her eyes could not be concealed. She handed it back to Yan Seventeenth: “Show it to the Wang family.”

Wang Mingqing saw the smile on the Left Chancellor’s face and thought to herself: This is bad. She walked over in three steps, grabbed the poem, and looked at it, staring at Xun Qi in disbelief: “You are so dull, how could you possibly…”

“Am, am I very dull?” Xun Qi was stunned, rubbed her cheeks, and looked toward her mother: “Why, why am I dull?”

“No need to pay attention, let us go home, do not delay other people’s time.” Yan Zhi’an was in a great mood. She raised her hand and flicked her forehead lightly. The Emperor would surely be extremely happy.

Suddenly, she once again took a liking to the daughter before her. She had to thank Wang Mingqing for making a name for Xun Qi. She looked at Wang Mingqing and said: “If you go to the capital, I, the Chancellor, will recommend you.”

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

After speaking, Yan Zhi’an took Xun Qi’s hand: “Going home.”

“Why going home? It has not even started yet.”

Yan Zhi’an: “Going home to kneel on your abacus.”

Xun Qi: “What are you talking about?”