Chapter 303 - 303: Xiaoxiao’s Strength
Chapter 303: Xiaoxiao’s Strength
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“Why did she come in Princess Jingning’s sedan chair?”
“That’s right! What right does a country b.u.mpkin have?”
“Did Princess Jingning lend her the sedan chair because she couldn’t bear to see her alone?”
“I think she most likely complained to Princess Jingning herself!”
“She’s really lucky to meet Princess Jingning…”
The discussion made Su Xiaoxiao the focus of everyone again.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Su Xiaoxiao, who was being pointed at, did not show any nervousness.
It had to be known that many daughters of families who were entering the palace for the first time could not be as calm as her.
“Is she stupid?”
A young lady asked softly.
The others burst out laughing.
A young lady who was quite familiar with Qin Yanran tugged at her sleeve.
“Miss Qin.”
“Why did she come in Princess Jingning’s sedan chair?”
“That’s right! What right does a country b.u.mpkin have?”
“Did Princess Jingning lend her the sedan chair because she couldn’t bear to see her alone?”
“I think she most likely complained to Princess Jingning herself!”
“She’s really lucky to meet Princess Jingning…’
The discussion made Su Xiaoxiao the focus of everyone again.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Su Xiaoxiao, who was being pointed at, did not show any nervousness.
It had to be known that many daughters of families who were entering the palace for the first time could not be as calm as her.
“Is she stupid?”
A young lady asked softly.
The others burst out laughing.
A young lady who was quite familiar with Qin Yanran tugged at her sleeve.
“Miss Qin.”
Qin Yanran raised her hand and gently touched the shark pearl on her head.
The young lady asked, “She’s from your Qin family. Is she usually so silly?”
Qin Yanran’s expression froze as she said calmly, “Miss Hong, please be careful with your words. ”
Miss Hong curled her lips and went to talk to others.
Qin Yanran had extraordinary looks and talent. She should have been the focus of today, but Su Xiaoxiao’s appearance made everyone’s eyes fall on her.
Not long after, a palace nanny who looked experienced brought them to an open-air garden.
The surroundings were filled with green plants and flowers. In the center was an emerald green lawn.
There was already a table and futon on the lawn.
The nanny dragged out her tone and said, “Please take a seat.”
Everyone found suitable seats and sat down.
When it came to Su Xiaoxiao, there was only a single table in the last row.
Su Xiaoxiao walked over and sat down.
The little fat girl was alone again.
Qin Yanran sat in the first row.
Generally speaking, it took some courage to sit in this position.
Qin Yanran’s strength was outstanding and she was unafraid of any test, so she naturally dared to sit in the first row.
On both sides of her were the daughters of the Leng family and the Jing family.
Su Xiaoxiao looked up. The back of the heads was shining under the sunlight, making her dizzy.
The first a.s.sessment was the written test.
Choosing a companion for the princess was not as strict as the imperial examination. The main test was the basic skills of the daughters.
The test paper was divided into two parts: silent book and poetry.
The content of the silent book came from the four books and five scriptures. Every test paper was different, so there was no plagiarism.
The poem was written with spring as the theme. There was no restriction on the use of words, but it had to be original.
Su Xiaoxiao had learned a lot of words from Wei Ting in the countryside. On the way to the capital, she continued to learn from Physician Fu. Now, it was no longer a problem for her to read.
After reading the densely packed test papers, she only sighed. It was not easy for the daughters of ancient times.
After an hour, the eunuchs came over to collect the papers.
“How did you do?” a young lady asked.
“There are two questions that I didn’t answer.”
“Only two questions? I don’t know anything else… Miss w.a.n.g, I think you filled them all.”
The daughter of the w.a.n.g family smiled. “I wrote it randomly.”
Su Xiaoxiao crossed her arms. She was so familiar with the post-test scene.
The second a.s.sessment was painting a peony that the eunuchs had moved over.
Su Xiaoxiao’s performance was average. When others looked at paintings, she looked at them too. When others moved their brushes, she also moved hers.
The invigilator in the corner had noticed her since the last round. However, he was in front at that time and was only switched to the back in the second round.
He saw Su Xiaoxiao writing quickly and majestically. He thought to himself that this girl looked low-key and was most likely an expert.
Then, he couldn’t help but crane his neck to look at Su Xiaoxiao’s painting.
Heavens!
He staggered and almost fell!
Next, they tested music and chess.
Music was an instrument chosen by the daughters who were good at it. They played it live and the musicians of the palace recorded their results.
The results were not announced on the spot.
With Master Zhang’s guidance, Qin Yanran’s zither skills improved by leaps and bounds. Her song “Otherworldly Flying Immortal” stunned everyone.
The pipa of the daughter of the Leng family and the Luanzheng of the daughter of the Jing family also attracted the attention of the musicians.
It was Su Xiaoxiao’s turn.
Su Xiaoxiao asked, “Can I play anything?”
The palace nanny nodded. “Yes.”
Su Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and said seriously, “Then, should I play cotton for everyone?”
Everyone was speechless.
After a day of a.s.sessment, the person who was the most outstanding in music was Qin Yanran. No one could see the results of the written test and painting, so they could not know. However, from their past reputation, Qin Yanran was in the top three even if she was not first.
Among the top three places, the daughter of the Leng family should have a spot.
Chess was decided by drawing lots.
Qin Yanran drew the daughter of the Leng family.
A few chess masters who had come to be the referees surrounded the two of them.
Obviously, their game was the most antic.i.p.ated.
Su Xiaoxiao picked Miss Hong.
Miss Hong did not take a girl who grew up in the countryside seriously.
She said arrogantly, ‘You can go first. I’ll let you go first!”
“Oh.” Su Xiaoxiao casually picked up a black piece and placed it in the middle of the chessboard.
Miss Hong sneered. “Do you know how to play chess? Don’t tell me you’re in the countryside and have never seen what Go looks like?”
The first step was usually to take the star position and occupy one of the four more valuable corners, followed by the side.
Otherwise, why would there be a golden horn and silver lining?
The place where this girl placed her piece was terrible.
To be honest, her chess skills were not too superb. Previously, she was worried that she would draw a powerful opponent, but she did not expect to encounter this girl.
Ha.
She might as well draw a powerful one.
It was unfair to win against such a person.
Miss Hong despised her.
She played a piece. Hmph, she would finish the country b.u.mpkin within ten moves!
Ten moves later.
Su Xiaoxiao rested her chin on one hand.
Miss Hong sneered and said, “Why aren’t you playing anymore? If you don’t know how to, I’ll teach you and let you last a few more moves in my hands.”
Su Xiaoxiao sighed. “I’m hungry.”
They had not eaten for the entire day.
Did these young ladies not need to eat?
She was so hungry that she was panicking.
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t care anymore. She took out a snack from her pouch and ate it leisurely.
Miss Hong said coldly, “Hey! Are you here to play chess or eat? Can you be more serious? If you continue like this, you might as well forfeit!” Su Xiaoxiao tapped the chessboard with her other hand.
Miss Hong looked down and was shocked.
She was about to win just now. Why did this girl break out all of a sudden?
“How… how did you… get down here?”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “Can’t I go down here? Then I’ll go somewhere else.”
“You can’t back out!” said the eunuch beside them. “Oh.” Su Xiaoxiao put the chess piece back.
Miss Hong glanced at Su Xiaoxiao.
She didn’t even know the rules of chess. She had most likely hit the jackpot. The two of them continued to play.
Every time Miss Hong saw that she was about to win, Su Xiaoxiao could break
UUL.
More and more chess games were decided. In the end, only her table, the daughter of the Leng family, and Qin Yanran’s table were left.
It was normal for the two of them to not be able to determine the outcome. After all, the two of them were experts at chess.
But she was facing a girl who had grown up in the countryside!
“Hey, why isn’t Miss Hong done yet?”
“Could it be that she can’t even win against a little village girl? I didn’t believe it when I heard that her chess skills were poor…”
“Shh, lower your voice. She’s the legitimate daughter of the Qin family. It’s not strange that Miss Hong can’t win…”
Everyone’s soft mockery fell into Miss Hong’s ears. She was furious and pointed at Su Xiaoxiao’s nose. “You broke the rules!”
Su Xiaoxiao looked confused. “What rule did I break?”
Miss Hong said, “Eat!”
Su Xiaoxiao looked at the invigilating eunuch. “Is there a rule that you can’t
The eunuch said, “Uh… no.”
It was mainly because they did not expect anyone to be able to eat…
On the other side, Qin Yanran and the daughter of the Leng family decided the victor.
Qin Yanran narrowly won.
The two of them stood up and bowed to each other.
Only Miss Hong and Su Xiaoxiao were left.
Miss Hong broke out in cold sweat.
This was because she belatedly realized that although she seemed to have won all the way, she had actually been captured to death.
How could this be?
Didn’t this girl not know how to play chess?
Why did she still..
Su Xiaoxiao raised the black chess piece and found a place on the chessboard seriously.
Miss Hong stared at her flaw and broke out in cold sweat.
Don’t go down there, don’t go down there…
Su Xiaoxiao’s piece paused above. Miss Hong almost fainted.
“Here!”
Su Xiaoxiao’s piece landed at the side.
Miss Hong instantly recovered and locked her situation!
“White, win.”
Miss Hong let out a long sigh.
At this point, the last round of the a.s.sessment was over.
The chess masters left one after another.
They had mainly gone to watch Qin Yanran play with the daughter of the Leng family just now and paid very little attention to other chess games, especially Su Xiaoxiao and Miss Hong.
When they pa.s.sed by the two of them, a chess master casually glanced at them.
When he was about to take a second look, the eunuch had already put away the chessboard.
“What’s wrong?” his companion asked.
Master said, “Ah, just now… I seem to have seen an impressive chess game.”
His companion asked the eunuch, “Who was playing chess here just now?”
The eunuch replied, “Miss Hong and Miss Su?” His companion asked, “Which Miss Su?”
The eunuch said, “That daughter of the Duke who grew up among the commoners who has yet to pay respects to her ancestors. She used her name from the countryside.”
His companion looked at the chess master and smiled. “Did you see wrongly? I’ve never heard of Miss Hong’s chess skills.”
There was even less of a need to mention that daughter from the countryside.
The chess master nodded. “Perhaps.”
Even he could not guarantee that he could play such a game..