However, the young lady then proceeded to dance with the ten small wine cups balanced on her fingertips, and throughout her entire performance, not a single cup fell. It made one wonder if the cups were somehow glued to her fingers.
But her subsequent movements proved this idea wrong. She tossed all ten cups into the air at once and, with dazzlingly swift motions, caught them between her fingers and the gaps of her hands. From start to finish, not a single cup dropped, and her movements were so fast that it was impossible to see how she managed it. Everyone present couldn’t help but gasp in amazement, and even the Old Princess Consort perked up, watching with great interest.
Finally, the young lady flicked her sleeves, and the ten wine cups suddenly vanished without a trace. Then, with a turn of her hands, a large bowl appeared in each palm, filled to about eighty percent with tea. No one could tell how she had done it—if the bowl of tea had been hidden in her wide sleeves earlier, how could it not have spilled at all during her performance? Once again, the audience marveled at this seemingly miraculous feat.
The young lady smiled sweetly, stepped onto the stage with the bowl in both hands, and offered it to Ren Yaoqi. "Master Ren, please have some tea." Though she smiled, there was a hint of challenge in her eyes, as if to say, "Do you dare drink this tea from my hands?"
Naturally, Ren Yaoqi had no desire to drink something of unknown origin. However, not wanting to lose face, she still smiled and accepted the bowl from the young lady. She lowered her head to smell it—it was ordinary scented tea, still warm. Just as she was about to say something to dismiss the young lady, who was still staring at her, Xiao Jinglin stood up and walked over. Pretending to be curious, she took the bowl from Ren Yaoqi’s hands without waiting for permission. "This looks fascinating. Let me try it."
Ren Yaoqi thought she meant to drink it and was about to stop her when she saw Xiao Jinglin mimic the young lady’s earlier gesture, turning her hands over. Instantly, the bowl that had been in her hands disappeared. Everyone was stunned for a moment, then burst into applause for Xiao Jinglin.
The young lady who had performed the trick looked displeased. "Commandery Princess, that bowl is a family heirloom. Please return it to me." There was no such thing as magic in this world—her tricks might seem mysterious and dazzling, but they relied on simple props.
Xiao Jinglin raised her eyes and smiled calmly. Suddenly, she imitated the young lady’s earlier motion, flicking her sleeves. Though her sleeves were not as wide and the movement not as graceful, it still drew gasps from the audience. Because in Xiao Jinglin’s hands appeared the ten wine cups that had vanished earlier.
With an expressionless face, Xiao Jinglin handed the cups back to her. "Here, I’ve returned them. I helped you bring them back!"
The young lady who performed the trick: "..."
These aren’t something you conjured—you stole them from me! she thought indignantly. Unfortunately, Xiao Jinglin had already returned to her seat, resuming her aloof and dignified demeanor as a Commandery Princess, and paid her no further attention.
In the end, the young lady left the stage with red-rimmed eyes, seething with anger.No one noticed that after Xiao Jinglin sat down, she winked at Ren Yaoqi. Only Ren Yaoqi could see the playful delight in her eyes after pulling off a prank.
Xiao Jinglin thought to herself, Serves you right for showing off with that broken bowl and forcing people to drink whatever random stuff you came up with. Asking for trouble!
Perhaps feeling that Princess Xiao was too bored, the fourth and fifth young ladies performed archery and sword dancing. However, the archer somehow kept missing the target, while the sword dancer completed her routine smoothly and quite pleasingly. Yet, when she struck a beautiful finishing pose and asked "Master Ren" for guidance, her shoe flew off, leaving her blushing in embarrassment.
From the sixth young lady onward, the competition returned to literary arts.
The sixth participant, Miss Li, showcased painting. Influenced by the capital's trends, these young ladies often favored eye-catching gimmicks in their calligraphy and painting. Miss Li was no exception—she refused to paint conventionally. She set up two blank screens and painted with both hands simultaneously while dancing, completing a flower-and-bird painting and a snowscape in an impressively short time. Her technique was decent, but art demands purity of heart. Too many flashy tricks can strip away authenticity, and painting with such a mindset inevitably lends a mechanical quality, lacking in spiritual depth.
As Ren Shimin’s daughter and having studied under Pei Zhiyan for years in the art of appreciation, Ren Yaoqi’s discerning eye far surpassed the ordinary. Setting aside the gimmicks, she offered a detailed critique of Miss Li’s work. An expert’s touch reveals true skill—anyone knowledgeable in painting and appreciation could tell from Ren Yaoqi’s critique that she possessed genuine talent. Even the elder ladies seated with Lady Xu, who were well-versed in painting, sincerely admired this "Master Ren."
Those who had been waiting to see Ren Yaoqi embarrassed fell silent. No wonder the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion dared to appoint the young Ren Yaoqi as a tutor. If only Yanbei’s young ladies had participated in the Thousand Gold Banquet, Ren Yaoqi’s outstanding performance might have been dismissed as the mansion’s effort to bolster her reputation before marrying into the family. However, those who specifically requested "Master Ren’s" guidance today were sent by the Empress Dowager to undermine the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. No one could suspect prior collusion—her talent was undeniable.
The seventh and eighth participants, Miss Tan and Miss Zhuang, appeared together. Miss Tan excelled at composing poetry and couplets, while Miss Zhuang was skilled at composing melodies and singing. Miss Tan invited the tutors to propose themes for her to improvise poems, while Miss Zhuang set them to music and sang. Miss Tan’s literary wit was sharp, and Miss Zhuang’s voice was soft, clear, and melodious. Their collaboration was exceptionally harmonious, offering a refreshing experience.
Ren Yaoqi was not particularly adept at poetry or couplets, but having studied under Imperial Tutor Pei, she had read and learned all that was required. Mimicking the style, she could critique poetry and songs using sophisticated terminology. Coupled with her previous flawless performance and her consistently calm, confident demeanor, she created an illusion of omniscience. Thus, after her critique, no one found anything amiss. Fortunately, she was only asked to comment, not to compose poetry on the spot to compete with Miss Tan.After the first eight young ladies had taken their turns, only Yan Ningshuang and Zhao Yingqiu remained.
Everyone's attention had been captivated by the contest between these capital beauties and Ren Yaoqi. The young ladies from Yanbei who had come to participate in the Thousand Gold Banquet had become mere ornaments, taking the stage briefly before hastily retreating. Everyone knew the grand finale was saved for last, so when it was finally the turn of these two young ladies, all those present perked up to watch the battle.
Yan Ningshuang and Zhao Yingqiu exchanged a glance, and in the end, Zhao Yingqiu rose first to take the stage.
Just then, someone approached the Princess Consort and whispered a few words in her ear. The Princess Consort seemed somewhat surprised upon hearing this. After a moment's thought, she nodded and then addressed the gathering with a smile: "The officials sent by the court have arrived. Although our Yanbei Thousand Gold Banquet has never had men in attendance, these gentlemen are all highly learned and respected elders who represent the court and the Empress Dowager. There should be no issue with their presence."
Since the Princess Consort had spoken thus, naturally no one dared to voice any objections.
The three officials were soon led in. Apart from Pei Zhiyan, who walked at the rear, the other two gentlemen appeared rather awkward.
The matrons sent by the Empress Dowager, having watched the young ladies fall one by one to Ren Yaoqi, grew anxious and insisted on inviting these officials to preside, fearing that the Yanbei Prince's Mansion might secretly manipulate matters to their disadvantage. However, the officials themselves felt quite uneasy amidst this gathering of women.
The Princess Consort ordered that the three officials be seated on the eastern side of the high platform, opposite Lady Xu and her party.
Once everyone was seated again, Zhao Yingqiu stepped forward and made a graceful bow toward the upper seats, saying softly, "This humble girl has little talent and few skills. After much thought, I believe only my chess ability is somewhat presentable." Her gaze swept over the faces of those on the platform before finally settling on Ren Yaoqi's. With a hint of apology in her eyes, she asked, "I wonder if 'Teacher Ren' would be willing to play a game with me?"
Generally, when young ladies wished to demonstrate their chess skills at the Thousand Gold Banquet, a skilled teacher would be arranged to play against them. Since Ren Yaoqi was now serving as a teacher, it was only natural for Zhao Yingqiu to challenge her—unless Ren Yaoqi admitted her own lack of skill and conceded defeat.
However, Ren Yaoqi had been placed in the spotlight by the Yanbei Prince's Mansion and would not easily admit defeat. In chess, victory or defeat is never certain. Ren Yaoqi did not know the depth of this Miss Zhao's skill and was not so arrogant as to believe she could defeat all opponents. Still, she was not afraid of losing.
Ren Yaoqi rose and gave a polite nod to Zhao Yingqiu before walking toward the chessboard. As she passed the Princess Consort, the Princess Consort smiled and said to her, "Just relax and play. There's no shame in losing—after all, no one can be a master of all things."
Ren Yaoqi nodded, acknowledged the words, and then took her seat opposite Zhao Yingqiu.
The two drew lots to determine colors, and Zhao Yingqiu took black, moving first.
As Ren Yaoqi observed Zhao Yingqiu's style, she considered her moves carefully before placing each stone slowly. From the opening, it was clear that Zhao Yingqiu was a skilled player among women who played chess. Her style was difficult to discern, even appearing somewhat scattered—like striking here and there without clear focus—making it hard to find openings for counterplay.Fortunately, Ren Yaoqi possessed a remarkably steady temperament. She had faced off against many true masters of the time, such as Pei Zhiyan and Xiao Jingxi. Especially with Pei Zhiyan—back when Mr. Pei had been demoted and spent his days idle, the two of them would often set up a game, playing for half a day at a time.
So, whether Zhao Yingqiu’s actions were deliberately meant to disrupt her opponent’s train of thought or not, Ren Yaoqi remained unfazed.
The two of them played on in a rather uneventful manner for the time it took to finish a cup of tea. Zhao Yingqiu was in no hurry, and Ren Yaoqi was even less so. The spectators, who had initially anticipated an exciting battle, were nearly dozing off.
Just as everyone thought the match would continue in this dull fashion to the end, Zhao Yingqiu’s playing style suddenly changed. With a few moves, the situation on the board was turned upside down in an instant. Nearly all of Ren Yaoqi’s pieces in the lower-left corner were wiped out.
The onlookers suddenly perked up. Some sighed in disappointment, while others secretly cheered for Zhao Yingqiu. There were also those who thought, "Indeed, no one is perfect in all things. Ren Yaoqi isn’t exceptional in everything either," finding some comfort in this realization.
In contrast, Ren Yaoqi, who had lost half her territory, remained calm and composed. She didn’t even alter her playing strategy, continuing in her unhurried, steady manner, refusing to let Zhao Yingqiu’s sudden aggression throw her off balance.
As a result, Zhao Yingqiu found it difficult to maintain her sharp offensive momentum. The pace of the game slowed down again, with Ren Yaoqi methodically reclaiming her lost ground step by step. Though the progress was slow, she had regained control of the rhythm.
Zhao Yingqiu couldn’t help but glance at Ren Yaoqi. "Miss Ren, you have remarkable composure."
Hearing this, Ren Yaoqi smiled at her and calmly placed another piece.
In truth, Ren Yaoqi had been analyzing Zhao Yingqiu’s playing style in her mind for quite some time. When Zhao Yingqiu hadn’t made any aggressive moves, it was fine, but when she set up the trap to capture half of Ren Yaoqi’s territory, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t shake the feeling that Zhao Yingqiu’s style held a strangely familiar, almost eerie resemblance.
At first, she couldn’t quite pinpoint it, so she deliberately sacrificed the pieces in her lower-left corner to get a clearer look at Zhao Yingqiu’s tactics. The more she observed, the more astonished she became—Zhao Yingqiu’s playing style bore an uncanny resemblance to Pei Zhiyan’s. Ren Yaoqi thought it over carefully. Zhao Yingqiu shouldn’t have any connection to the Pei family, so she must have studied Pei Zhiyan’s games extensively, mastering about fifty to sixty percent of his style. For instance, when setting traps to lure the opponent, she had learned Pei Zhiyan’s penchant for unconventional and unexpected moves. It had to be said that Zhao Yingqiu was truly clever. If Ren Yaoqi hadn’t been so familiar with her teacher’s style, she might very well have been deceived by Zhao Yingqiu’s feints.
However, Zhao Yingqiu was, after all, not Pei Zhiyan. Limited by her perspective, experience, and knowledge, no matter how closely she imitated him, it was merely an imitation.
Seated at the head of the room, Pei Zhiyan glanced at the board a few times, raised an eyebrow, and chuckled lightly. But after observing for a while, he gradually grew more serious, a flicker of interest appearing in his eyes.Ren Yaoqi's playing style remained as steady as ever, even though she was slightly at a disadvantage. However, the situation did not remain deadlocked for long. Just as Ren Yaoqi was on the verge of collapse, her style suddenly shifted, radiating a fierce and decisive killing intent. Zhao Yingqiu was caught off guard, and her rhythm was unconsciously disrupted, allowing Ren Yaoqi to turn the tables in a careless moment.
Apart from Pei Zhiyan, who watched with great interest from above, Lady Xu was also astonished at this point. The move Ren Yaoqi had just used to defeat Zhao Yingqiu was clearly the same killing move Xiao Jingxi had employed against Pei Zhiyan during their match on the boat last time.
Ren Yaoqi had mastered Xiao Jingxi's technique to perfection, but Zhao Yingqiu was no match for Pei Zhiyan. While Pei Zhiyan had gritted his teeth and withstood Xiao Jingxi's killing move, Zhao Yingqiu could not withstand Ren Yaoqi's.
Ren Yaoqi had indeed used Xiao Jingxi's technique. When she saw Zhao Yingqiu imitating Pei Zhiyan's playing style, she couldn't help but recall the match on the boat, her palms itching with anticipation. Moreover, Ren Yaoqi understood Pei Zhiyan's strategies even better than Xiao Jingxi did, so she navigated Zhao Yingqiu's intricate traps as if walking on flat ground.
From then on, Zhao Yingqiu's defeat was swift and overwhelming. Ren Yaoqi had no intention of prolonging the game and used the most direct, simple, and brutal method to annihilate Zhao Yingqiu completely. From this perspective, Ren Yaoqi truly deserved to be the daughter-in-law of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion. Like attracts like, and the Prince of Yanbei would surely have been pleased had he been present.
When the final, sharp, and decisive killing move was executed without hesitation, Pei Zhiyan, seated at the head of the room, lightly tapped the table and exclaimed, "Excellent!"
Who was Pei Zhiyan? A man of illustrious background, a top scholar in his youth, the emperor's teacher, and a figure revered by scholars across the land. His exclamation of praise brought Ren Yaoqi great honor, and even the Princess Consort couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.
In truth, what Pei Zhiyan had wanted to express was: "What a brilliant student, able to infer three things from one!"
But since the praise had already been uttered, what he intended to convey no longer mattered. Everyone only needed to know that Mr. Pei greatly admired the talents of the Ren Family's young lady.
Zhao Yingqiu's face paled slightly. She lowered her head to examine the board, forced a smile, and conceded defeat by placing her pieces down.
After Zhao Yingqiu stepped down, the last to take the stage was Yan Ningshuang.
Yan Ningshuang's expression was also uneasy. The Empress Dowager had sent ten young ladies to Yanbei, yet none of the previous nine had gained any advantage. The pressure on her, as the last to perform, was imaginable. However, seeing Ren Yaoqi standing on the stage, radiant and basking in the admiring gazes of the crowd, Yan Ningshuang bit her lip, took a deep breath, and rose to her feet.
"What talent does Miss Yan wish to showcase?" Lady Xu asked, noticing that Yan Ningshuang had stepped forward empty-handed, with no maids preparing musical instruments, paper, brushes, or the like.
Yan Ningshuang straightened her back and stood in the center of the room, smiling faintly. "I shall compete in 'books.'"
"Books?"
Those present were curious upon hearing this. Yan Ningshuang held no book in her hands, so how would this "books" competition proceed?
Yan Ningshuang looked directly at Ren Yaoqi and pointed to her own head as she addressed the crowd. "My books are all here. I have long heard of Miss Ren's extensive knowledge and remarkable memory and cannot resist seeking her guidance."The crowd erupted in murmurs at these words. How arrogant of Miss Yan to claim she had memorized all the books in her head, and now she wanted to compete with Miss Ren to see who was more knowledgeable?
Ren Yaoqi was also surprised. She hadn’t expected Yan Ningshuang to challenge her to this. She couldn’t help but ask, “How does Miss Yan propose we compete?”
Yan Ningshuang seemed well-prepared and replied calmly, “I will say a random sentence, and Miss Ren will identify its source. Then Miss Ren will say a sentence, and I will point out its origin. How does that sound?”
This method was simple, direct, and relatively fair. However, anyone who proposed such a challenge must have immense confidence in themselves. Ren Yaoqi was also curious about Miss Yan’s abilities.
“But…” Yan Ningshuang suddenly changed her tone. When everyone’s attention shifted to her, she smiled slightly. “I have an additional wager. I wonder if Miss Ren dares to accept?”
Her words carried undisguised provocation, and the crowd turned their gazes back to Ren Yaoqi.
Ren Yaoqi refused to take the bait and smiled. “Today, I am only here to judge, not to participate in the competition.” Yet everyone seemed to have forgotten this.
Yan Ningshuang curved her lips, her tone confident and tinged with disdain. “You’re afraid!”
Ren Yaoqi wasn’t angered, only curious. “What additional wager does Miss Yan have in mind?”
Yan Ningshuang glanced at her. “If you lose, you must accompany me to the capital for three years!”
The crowd gasped in shock. The Princess Consort and Xiao Jinglin both frowned.
Ren Yaoqi raised an eyebrow. This Miss Yan was truly direct. Everyone knew her marriage to Xiao Jingxi was set for August. Following her to the capital would mean breaking off the engagement, wouldn’t it? Moreover, there was no guarantee she could return from the capital if she went!
A young lady from Yanbei retorted indignantly, “And what if you lose?”
Yan Ningshuang smiled proudly. “If I lose, she may deal with me as she pleases!”
Ren Yaoqi shook her head with a smile and teased, “Miss Yan, you are an honored guest sent by the Empress Dowager. Even if I win, I cannot deal with you as I please. So why not just say you’d like to invite me to your home as a guest?”
The crowd caught on. Whether she won or lost, Miss Yan wouldn’t lose out! But who did she think she was? Why should everything go her way?
Someone in the audience muttered sarcastically, “Is she still dreaming? Does she think this is her own backyard?”
Yan Ningshuang didn’t believe she would lose to Ren Yaoqi, so she had spoken without thinking earlier. Now, hearing herself criticized like this, she couldn’t help but blush.
Just then, the Old Princess Consort, seated at the head of the room, spoke nonchalantly, “If you want to compete, then compete. Lacking the courage for even this would disgrace Yanbei.”
No one knew what the Old Princess Consort’s intentions were, but her words clearly indicated her approval of the competition. The hall fell silent again as everyone watched the Princess Consort and Ren Yaoqi for their reactions.
The Princess Consort was inwardly annoyed and was about to speak when Consort Dowager Yun, who had been sitting quietly on the side, spoke up. “What sense is there in a teacher competing with a student? That would truly disgrace Yanbei. It’s getting late. The sooner Miss Yan displays her talents, the sooner the Thousand Gold Banquet can conclude. Princess Consort, let us begin.”Consort Dowager Yun spoke with a calm yet imposing tone that left no room for doubt, completely overshadowing the Old Princess Consort's presence. She paid no heed to how livid the Old Princess Consort looked.
The Old Princess Consort's face flushed red and then paled. Ever since Consort Dowager Yun's arrival today, she had repeatedly been humiliated and made to lose face in front of everyone. She wanted to lash out but couldn't bring herself to do so, knowing she had no chance of overpowering Consort Dowager Yun. The frustration left her nearly breathless.
With Consort Dowager Yun's decisive intervention, the farce was forced to an end. Though Yan Ningshuang was unwilling, she dared not contradict Consort Dowager Yun, and even the Old Princess Consort fell silent.
Ren Yaoqi looked up in surprise at Consort Dowager Yun, who had come to her aid. Consort Dowager Yun glanced at her briefly before calmly shifting her gaze away.
The Princess Consort signaled to Lady Xu with her eyes, and Lady Xu stepped forward unhurriedly to announce the continuation of the competition.
Yan Ningshuang looked at Ren Yaoqi, vowing silently in her heart that no matter what, she must win this round.
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