The cousin is beautiful but ruthless.

Chapter 78 Book and Music Competition

The students of Fuyou Academy recognized those who had issued the challenge; their calligraphy had all been praised by the dean.

This time, the people appreciating their calligraphy were the princess and the third prince, which shows that Fuyao Academy is quite open and aboveboard in its actions.

Several girls went up, and Wei Ming stood in the middle, waiting for them to spread out the paper and ink.

Lin Qiao, who had just gone to the arithmetic class with Shen Hanyu, came to Shen Hanyu's side and said shyly, "Could you explain to me how to solve the second problem?"

Shen Hanyu looked at her, then nodded and told her the solution steps.

Lin Qiao listened very attentively, and only left Shen Hanyu's side after she had completely understood.

The calligraphy competition had already begun. They each wrote two lines of their favorite poem and then handed them to Princess Yongning and the others.

As the dean said, it was just a friendly exchange, but the students were secretly competing with each other.

Princess Yongning sat there watching, clearly very satisfied with their performance.

The dean bowed to Princess Yongning.

"It seems that the princess's school for girls is actually quite good now."

Princess Yongning smiled.

"Hmph, didn't they say that thirteen people participated in the preliminary examination? I hope they all fail. It would be a laughing stock and a waste of so much money and manpower."

The person who spoke was very impolite, and his tone was full of disdain for female students.

Princess Yongning knew this person; when she impeached her, Sun Mingyang was one of the main figures involved.

"Lord Sun, it's not the last moment yet. Why don't you wait a few more months until the results are out before you speak?"

It wasn't Princess Yongning who confronted Sun Mingyang, but rather Li Huaijiang, who had remained silent throughout.

Princess Yongning glanced at Li Huaijiang, wondering why she had suddenly spoken up for her.

Li Huaijiang had always acted as if it were none of her business regarding the girls' school.

Now, not only have people gone to the girls' school, but they are also speaking up for it.

Sun Mingyang's face was grim. Seeing that it was Li Huaijiang who spoke, he muttered under his breath, "She's just an unimportant princess. She doesn't understand anything and can only be led around by the nose."

Li Huaijiang, with his sharp hearing and keen eyesight, simply smiled at Sun Mingyang's words.

"No matter how little I am valued, I am still a princess of the country. Since Lord Sun looks down on me and the imperial power, I have no choice but to speak to my father."

Sun Mingyang's expression changed drastically, and his knees buckled as he knelt before Li Huaijiang.

Everyone else looked over. This was the first time that Li Huaijiang, who was usually sickly and timid, had used her power to suppress others, and her aura was no less imposing than that of her brothers and sisters.

Princess Yongning and Li Jun exchanged a glance; Li Huaijiang's performance today was quite unexpected.

"Your Majesty, I am guilty and beg you to show leniency."

Sun Mingyang lay prostrate on the ground, completely losing his previous arrogant demeanor.

Li Huaijiang coughed and said, "Lord Sun looks down on imperial power. I can't stand people like you, so I'll definitely have to talk to Father Emperor about it."

Sun Mingyang broke out in a cold sweat, his lips trembling, and could only beg for mercy.

"Your Highness, these people's thinking cannot be changed overnight. Some people are always too extreme. It would be better to give them a small punishment as a warning and let it go."

It was Zhao Yu who spoke. She had no choice. Sun Mingyang was one of Zhao Wanfu's men, but this time his ideas were completely opposite to Zhao Wanfu's, so their relationship was a bit strained. Zhao Yu wanted to ease the tension.

Li Huaijiang looked at Zhao Yu.

“Sister-in-law, you are kind-hearted and do not know the intricacies of this matter. The girls’ school is at a critical juncture. If we allow Lord Sun to spread rumors like this, it will not be good for the school. Besides, the Crown Prince supports the girls’ school, and I believe you do too, right?”

Zhao Yu was speechless and could only nod, no longer pleading for Sun Mingyang.

"Sister, do you think I did the right thing?"

Li Huaijiang asked Princess Yongning.

Princess Yongning naturally felt that Li Huaijiang was right. Putting aside Sun Mingyang's attitude towards the girls' school, just the words he said were enough to cost him several heads.

What an idiot.

This is Princess Yongning's evaluation of Sun Mingyang.

Li Huaijiang waved his hand, and Sun Mingyang was taken away.

"Let's see what they wrote."

Princess Yongning eased the tension.

Several people presented their two lines of poetry, with Wang Yan's being the first to be handed to them.

"Several early orioles vie for the warm trees, while new swallows peck at the spring mud." Princess Yongning smiled, "Indeed, it suits the season perfectly. Your small seal script is truly beautiful."

Princess Yongning handed the invitation to Li Jun, who nodded.

"No wonder he is a disciple of the renowned Master Liu."

Wang Yan smiled somewhat shyly.

The post was passed around among the group. Li Huaijiang didn't read it, but Zhao Yu took it, glanced at it, and offered a few words of praise.

The dean couldn't help but sigh, "It's definitely better written than those other kids."

The students, who hadn't yet shown the post to Princess Yongning, blushed.

"Please, Your Highness, take a look."

They stepped forward and handed the post over.

Wei Ming wasn't in a hurry and waited in the back.

Each person's calligraphy has its own merits, so it's really hard to say who is first and second.

Princess Yongning was quite knowledgeable about calligraphy and gave very fair evaluations of everyone.

The few who were initially unconvinced also extinguished their anger.

The dean looked at them and thought that it was definitely the right thing to do to send the female students to compete this time, and it also gave him quite a surprise.

These girls are indeed no less capable than his students.

Wei Ming took the calligraphy copybook.

Princess Yongning unfolded it and took a look.

The spring breeze is proud of horseshoe disease, seeing Chang'an flowers in one day.

The calligraphy is fluent and has its own unique style. At first glance, one can feel a sense of pride and grandeur.

Princess Yongning's eyes lit up; she had no idea Wei Ming had this trick up her sleeve.

Wei Ming was bedridden for many years and kept a low profile, so Princess Yongning didn't know much about her.

Wei Ming's calligraphy copybook was examined by several people, and everyone praised it without exception.

The calligraphy copybook was returned to the students, who carefully examined it and ultimately couldn't say anything negative about it.

Wei Ming walked back with her hands on her hips, her face full of pride.

Shen Hanyu gave a thumbs up.

"sharp."

Wei Ming chuckled twice.

She had been staying at home all along, practicing these things.

They had already had two matches, and they would discuss the next one together. A frail-looking man carrying a zither came out.

"Your Highness, let's have a zither competition this time."

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, the dean paused for a moment.

"Aren't you feeling unwell today?"

Yu Qi gave a gentle smile.

"The academy hasn't been this lively in a long time. I was curious, so I came."

Upon hearing the name Yu Qi, Shen Hanyu immediately raised her head. Yu Qi was the most outstanding student at Fuyao Academy, the top scholar in the imperial examination a year later, and a renowned and elegant scholar known throughout Chang'an.

Later, he performed a stunning piece at a palace banquet, and Li Jiangui rewarded him with a phoenix-tail zither.

Even Shen Hanyu, who was locked up in the Guangning Marquis's mansion, had heard about this, which shows how famous Yu Qi was.

Yu Qi only had a simple guqin in his hand; it was not yet time for Li Jiangui to bestow upon him the phoenix-tail guqin.

"Do you know him?" Wei Ming asked, noticing something was off about Shen Hanyu's expression.

Shen Hanyu gave a soft "hmm": "I've heard of it, but I don't know much about it."