Song Chuyu smiled faintly. Shangjing City had never lacked women with discerning taste.
Jiang Zheng noticed it too, taking a deliberate look before tugging at the Princess's sleeve in surprise: "It's Elder Sister Meng's flower."
Song Chuyu nodded. Meng Jiaoniang, eldest daughter of General Meng, was well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, her talent comparable to any man's. She was also the noble lady who underwent the most dramatic transformation before and after marriage.
Though General Meng came from a military family, he disliked his daughter practicing martial arts and had always kept her sheltered in the women's quarters. Meng Jiaoniang proved worthy of this upbringing, never seen without a book in hand, excelling in both intellect and appearance.
Yet her marital journey was fraught with hardship. Her husband passed away less than five years after their wedding, and his family accused her of causing his death, demanding she be buried alive with him.
She resisted to the death, and the matter was brought before the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager intervened, uncovering the Chen family's marriage fraud, thus sparing Meng Jiaoniang. Later, she went south to avoid further trouble, where she met Lin Qingyuan and began her career as a bloodless black widow.
It was true that Lin Qingyuan was rebellious—he employed female officials.
Or rather, he didn't discriminate by gender; capability was all that mattered!
Meng Jiaoniang ranked among his Ten Claws.
This title was bestowed upon them by Shangjing City. Song Chuyu felt it was both a nickname and recognition of her abilities.
It seemed Miss Meng had always possessed excellent judgment.
If not for their difference in status, Song Chuyu would have considered matchmaking, hoping to bring marital happiness and abundant offspring to someone who would safeguard Great Xia's peace for a century.
"Princess, that kite also has many flowers on it."
"Where?" Seeing it was Kang Rui's kite, Song Chuyu immediately averted her gaze. Wouldn't it be better to enjoy the scenery?
…
The men's competition tested more than poetry—it included riding, archery, etiquette, and music.
The vast riding ground was already bustling with noise.
Yan Shizi, adorned in a jade crown and brocade robes, emerged leading his horse, surrounded by his entourage. His eyes immediately fell on his rival's follower, Kang Rui: "Brother Kang's horsemanship must be exceptional, otherwise Brother Jiang wouldn't have claimed you could take the King of Flowers."
Jiang Huaiming frowned. Everyone present knew Kang Rui came from humble origins and had never even kept a horse, let alone mastered horsemanship: "Is Yan Shizi unwilling to accept defeat in poetry?"
"Speaking of defeat is premature. Have you seen the outcome?"
The two factions stood opposed, neither yielding an inch.
Cao Zhao comfortably watched from the sidelines, unafraid of Lin Qingyuan causing trouble, as he was certain Lin Qingyuan couldn't ride or shoot either. Given Lin Qingyuan's family background, he couldn't afford a horse, much less archery—at most, he might have slaughtered a donkey or sheep.
Lin Qingyuan indeed lacked such skills, so he stood behind Cao Zhao as if dead, showing no intention of participating.
"Brother Kang, why aren't you speaking?"
All eyes fell on the new Number One Scholar.
Kang Rui remained unmoved. Every stray cat and dog dared jump before him now.
In his previous life, he naturally wouldn't have dared compete with scions of noble families in riding and archery at this point.
But after marriage…
The neighboring riding ground belonged to the Princess—and thus to him. How could he neglect such skills? Moreover, he later went to battle—these people combined might not be his match.
He simply couldn't be bothered to put them in their place.
"Does Brother Kang find the riding ground too small?"
"Brother Kang doesn't seem unskilled in this area. What does Jiang Shizi think?"
Watching Kang Rui standing among the aristocratic families, Cao Zhao suddenly felt inspired: "Qingyuan, he should thank you." Though he was being challenged.
But who wouldn't want such an opportunity to be challenged? It meant he had made a name for himself in Shangjing City. Many here wished for such challenges but couldn't find the opportunity: "Hey, hey, are you listening to me?"
"Be quiet."
If it weren't for their own brethren disrupting the imperial examination landscape, the Eight Great Academies would never allow others to share their Number One Scholar: "Is the Number One Scholar about to embarrass himself?"
Lin Qingyuan thought of poetry that soared far beyond.
"Brother Kang, won't you join the competition?" There were plenty eager to stand up for Yan Shizi.
"Who says Brother Kang isn't competing."
Cao Zhao watched the drama unfold with enthusiasm, here it comes, here it comes.
Lin Qingyuan was abruptly dragged closer by him.
"The Number One Scholar is joining the fray." Don't fall off the horse, then we'll have quite the spectacle.
Lin Qingyuan pried his hand away.
"Guess how many laps before the Number One Scholar falls."
How idle he must be to guess such things.
Kang Rui also thought these people had too much time on their hands—was the equestrian grounds not vast enough to contain them?
A mocking voice chimed in: "Why trouble the Number One Scholar? He spends most of his time on scholarly pursuits—how else could he have earned the title?"
"Haha, well said."
Cao Zhao joined in the laughter.
Suddenly, Cao Zhao was singled out: "Cao Zhao, show the Number One Scholar how it's done." As a fellow jinshi graduate, it was enough to humiliate the top scholar.
"Me?" Cao Zhao hadn't expected to be involved—he was just a bystander: "No, no, my horsemanship is poor." He tried to slip away.
But those behind him blocked his escape ruthlessly.
Lin Qingyuan now found amusement in watching the drama unfold, especially when it involved his own 'employer.'
"Brother Cao is too modest—you're unmatched at street-side horse parades."
"Exactly."
"Not just Brother Cao—I'd say even his servant could mount and shoot."
Cao Zhao hurriedly interjected: "Just target me, leave the servant out of it." Please don't bring him up—exposing weaknesses is unfair. What if he poisons all the horses later?
"Number One Scholar, how about a round with our Magistrate Cao?"
"You wouldn't look down on our Magistrate Cao, would you?"
Cao Zhao tried to flee but was repeatedly shoved back: You're still watching? Save me.
Lin Qingyuan: This teaches you not to crowd around spectacles.
Cao Zhao: Big brother, please.
"Brother Kang wouldn't actually want to compete with Brother Cao's servant, would he?"
"Let's make way for Brother Kang—how about he races the servant?"
"Fine, but I fear Brother Kang might not agree." A round of raucous laughter followed.
"How about competing with me instead?" A woman's voice, clear and melodious, carried through the air, her gaze tranquil yet dazzling as it swept over them.
All heads turned at once to see the woman's pale fingers slowly coiling a rope woven from Jiaojin, the black strands twisting around her delicate hands—white stark against dark, profound and intense.
Song Chuyu leaned forward slightly, a vision of harmony and beauty—the noble steed and the fair maiden.