The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 46

Qingyan naturally didn't think that Chunyuan would say something like that. After all, it wasn't proper to sit next to the Princess. Even if she really wanted to sit by her side at that moment, she could only decline her kind offer with a smile, "Thank you for your Highness's kind offer, but Yan'er is one of the conference candidates. If I were to sit by Princess's side, it wouldn't be proper. If Yan'er takes first place in this conference today, then afterwards I can openly sit by Princess's side."

Chunyuan gazed at Qingyan and once again compared her to Qilian Qingyan in her mind. Especially that confide smile of hers, it was all too similar. But she also knows that this girl before her isn't the already deceased Xianyi Empress.

Chunyuan held her hand and spoke in a clear voice, "Alright alright! If Yan'er takes first place here today, then I will ask the Emperor for an imperial edict to bestow you the honorary title of 'Princess', and let you and Min'er can be equals."

Qingyan didn't think Chunyuan would make such an attractive offer. She look to Chunyuan grinning, "Thank you your Highness. If Yan'er is lucky enough to take first place, then your Highness's trust in me won't be in vain."

Hearing Qingyan boasting so shamelessly, some of the people below began to feel unsatisfied. They all whispered to one another, 'Su Qingyan was only talking big, how could she become the winner, that's practically dreaming. She was the laughing stock of the talent conference year after year.'

"Jingxuan, is this the girl the Su fourth miss you mentioned today?" Xuanyuan Yuzhen twirled his jade ring as he turned to ask Murong Jingxuan.

Murong Jingxuan patted Xuanyuan Yuzhen on the shoulder and smirked, "She's mine, don't you dare try to steal her."

"I don't see how this girl is all that impressive!" Xuanyuan Yukai looked to Su Qingyan and reluctantly shrugged his shoulders, "Jingxuan, just what do you see in her?"

Murong Jingxuan turn to Xuanyuan Yukai and shook his head with a 'can't say' look, "When the time comes, you'll understand why she's impressive."

The so called talent conference was just battle of talents among women, archery and riding competition among men, and literary debate. And for the princes, through this they can gather various talents or select their own consort.

Aside from the Crown Prince having already married, the rest have yet to marry. Although they all have their own manors, and concubines in those manors, but the position of the princess consort is still empty.

"Second brother, isn't that girl the one that embarrassed herself in front of you last year, Dingguo Duke's daughter? Yet now, she has become so bright and clever." Xuanyuan Yuze sneered at Xuanyuan Yufan. "And seeing second brother's look now, could it be that you're regretful?"

"Heh." Xuanyuan Yufan coldly snorted, "Where did such words come from, elder brother? I merely thought it was interesting, that's all."

Xuanyuan Yufan stared at the Su Qingyan sitting next Chunyuan, a malicious intent coming from his eyes. At last year's talent conference, unknown as to who she listened to, she kept coyly combing her hair in front of him. As a result, in the end, not only did it let him lose face, but it also made her become the laughing stock of the entire conference. He just didn't believe that in only a year's time, she could now take first place in this conference.

That's just a pipe dream.

The heavy curtains of the talent conference opened under the sound of a sharp voice. For the girls team, it was mainly a competition of qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. And through lots, decide which talent to test in. If one were to draw a category one is not skilled in, then they'll definitely fall behind the others.

After finish drawing lots, Su Qingyuan drew chess, something she was not good in. As for Su Qingwen, she was lucky enough to get calligraphy in which she was skilled in.

When Su Qingyan opened the slip of paper, the words 'Gu Qin' reflected in her eyes in astonishment. After scanning the paper, she spread the slip flat out on the tray. Although she wasn't skilled in guqin, but if she performed [Thousand Beasts and Phoenix] using that guqin, it'll still be more than enough. Plus, she also wanted to see Liu Shang's reaction.

"It seems fourth sister drew the qin. But I've never heard fourth sister play the qin before." Su Qingyuan sneered at Su Qingyan, "When the time comes, don't let it be interesting only when you pluck off the strings."

"Yuan'er, could it be that you've seen Su Qingyan pluck loose the strings on the qin before?" Du Yulin look to Su Qingyan in disdain.

"No, but didn't you know that fourth sister is from a family of generals. That qin string will just snap with a single light pluck." Su Qingwen also joined in on making fun of Qingyan.

In contrast, Qingyan look to them with an uncaring look, "If you have time to make fun of me, why don't you go think about how you're going perform when it's your turn."

As soon as Qingyan's words came out, they glared at Qingyan before turning to leave. However, when Su Qingyuan and Su Qingwen turned to leave, they gave Qingyan a look of contempt.

It was as if they've already decided to see Su Qingyan make a fool of herself.

"Yan'er, you drew the guqin?" Luo Yixin walked up to her with a worried look, "How about you trade with me? I got painting."

Luo Yixin was implying that painting was easier. No matter what is drawn, it won't be laughed at. But if it's as what Su Qingyuan and Su Qingwen said, the string really gets plucked loose, then it'd really become a laughing matter.

"Xin'er, why say that?" Su Qingyan looked towards Luo Yixin with a smirk, "No need to worry, I naturally have a way to win."

Seeing Su Qingyan's confident look, Luo Yixin obviously couldn't say how she truly felt. However, she really has never seen Su Qingyan play the qin before. What would happen if she really were to embarrass herself when the time came?

Murong Jingxuan secretly rejoiced in his heart when he saw that confident smile on Su Qingyan. That girl surely won't let him be disappointed. Although, starting from the first day they met, when has she ever disappointed him?

"Brother Jingxuan, does that girl really not know how to play the qin? She won't really break the strings on the qin, will she?" Xuanyuan Yuning asked in surprised, "I feel it's best not to trust what that girl says."

"That's what I think too. After all, she did embarrass herself at the talent conference last year, becoming the laughing stock among the princes." Xuanyuan Yukai look to Su Qingyan and recalled the scene at last year's talent conference. That spectacle was simply unforgettable.

"How about we make a bet?" Xuanyuan Yuzhen and Murong Jingxuan's voice sounded at the same time.

Murong Jingxuan look to Xuanyuan Yuzhen with an unsatisfied expression, "Didn't I already say that girl is mine, you can't steal her from me."

Xuanyuan Yuzhen twisted the jade ring on his thumb, "Since it's someone Jingxuan is interested in, I naturally will need to think it over. Though now it seems I should obviously go head to head with you to see who's better."

"Che." Murong Jingxuan look to him in disdain, "What do you want to bet?"