The black-clad woman gave a meaningful smile, looked up at her opponent, and said unhurriedly,
"Since the young lady has suggested it, let's have a competition in embroidery."
Then, to everyone's surprise, the two very different women sat down steadily and began to embroider in front of everyone with calm expressions.
Surprisingly, the black-clad woman was very skillful at threading the needle and stitching.
Chu Qing patiently watched the two women embroider.
Thankfully, both of them were very quick and didn't keep others waiting for too long. Before everyone lost their patience, they finished their works one after another.
Then, they both held up their works to show to everyone.
The delicate young woman embroidered a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water.
The black-clad woman, on the other hand, embroidered a彼岸花 (a red spider lily).
At first glance, both of their embroideries were vivid and lifelike.
But Chu Qing examined them carefully and then said firmly, "This time, the black-clad girl still wins."
"Oh?" Wei Ying was a bit puzzled, and his voice rose slightly.
Seeing something that could puzzle Wei Ying, Chu Qing curled her lips self - satisfiedly and said, "Because the black-clad girl embroidered a double-sided embroidery."
"Double-sided embroidery?" Wei Ying raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. Double-sided embroidery is much more difficult than single-sided embroidery. So, if the judge is fair, the winner is still the black-clad girl."
"Qingqing~"
"Hmm?" Chu Qing thought Wei Ying was going to praise her.
"Why do you like to call those young girls or little girls so much? They might be about the same age as you. This will make people who don't know think you're much older." If Wei Ying hadn't looked so seriously puzzled, Chu Qing would have thought he had discovered something.
To be honest, she really hadn't paid much attention to this.
It was just a habit. Every time she saw these young girls, she always felt like she was still a respected elder as before...
Well...
Chu Qing paused, then looked up at Wei Ying seriously and said,
"I think it'll make me seem more steady."
Hearing this answer, Wei Ying's expression became very complicated.
Steady?
Calling others little girls to seem more steady...
Such a lame excuse...
It was really unnecessary...
Forget it. If Qingqing didn't want to say, then don't ask.
Chu Qing, who thought Wei Ying would expose her, was a bit restless. However, unexpectedly, Wei Ying just nodded and didn't ask further.
Well...
Was he stupid or was she stupid...
Seeing Chu Qing staring blankly at him all the time, Wei Ying helplessly rubbed her hair and said in a gentle tone, "Tell me when you're willing to. Let's continue watching the competition~"
An indescribable feeling welled up in Chu Qing's heart.
It felt like a fine, itchy net was binding her uncomfortably.
When could she tell him?
Tell him that she was the reincarnation of the Grand Empress Dowager?
Would he find it terrifying? Would he feel... disgusted...
Chu Qing didn't dare to try.
She was afraid of losing what she cherished most now...
...
The Flower - Inserting Festival was still in full swing. Undoubtedly, the black-clad woman won again just now.
Maybe the delicate young woman had given others inspiration. After that, both men and women came on stage to compete. Without exception, they competed in almost all aspects of the four arts of the Chinese literati (music, chess, calligraphy, and painting).
Even the absent - minded Chu Qing was attracted.
This black-clad girl was incredibly outstanding!
She was proficient in all the four arts!
Just when Chu Qing thought this girl might stand on the stage until the end, a rather jovial middle - aged man swaggered onto the stage.
"Little girl! Let's have a competition in knife skills!" the man grinned.
The black-clad woman asked in surprise, "Knife skills? How are we going to compete?"
The jovial man continued to grin, showing his big white teeth, "See who can quickly carve a flower out of tofu!"
"Um..."
The black-clad woman stiffened and her expression became solemn.
She could use a knife to fight, and she could also use a needle to embroider. But carving a flower on tofu with a knife???
Tofu was different from other things. It was so soft that it would break easily if one wasn't careful...
Just when everyone was looking at the black-clad woman expectantly, waiting for her to win this competition,
the black-clad woman waved her hand very boldly and said loudly, "Uncle, I admit defeat in this competition."
After saying that, the woman directly jumped off the stage and left gracefully.
Everyone was in an uproar.
Chu Qing was also quite shocked.
"She just admitted defeat?"
"The man on stage now should be a cook. Unless someone has specially practiced, it's impossible for ordinary people to carve a flower out of tofu. Even if they do, it might be... unsightly." Wei Ying replied patiently.
"But..." Chu Qing felt a bit sorry for the black-clad girl just now.
She had won so many competitions, but lost on this one.
Thinking of this, Chu Qing frowned and said, "If someone is very outstanding, but finally loses to a carpenter or someone else... That would be so pity."
It wasn't that she looked down on carpenters, but she thought this kind of competition was unfair.
For example, if a person was proficient in martial arts, literature, and the four arts, but finally lost to someone in embroidery, carpentry, or carving, wouldn't it be a great loss?
It was impossible for someone to be both resourceful and military - skilled and also proficient in all other aspects.
If there was such a person, the possibility was too small.
Seeing this, Wei Ying curled his lips and continued, "If someone is lucky enough to be about to win in the end, then... someone from their court will intervene."
"Do you mean that the person who finally wins might originally be from the court? Because they would never let an ordinary cook or embroiderer win the competition?"
"More or less."
"That's really boring!" Chu Qing pouted.
Wei Ying smiled and said, "It's not as dirty as you think. Those truly talented people have already been discovered by the people sent by their court. They secretly contact those people to see if they're willing to work for the court."
"So, in the end, the Flower - Inserting Festival is just for the Dongyi court."
"Yes."
Just when Chu Qing was about to say something else, she heard the voices outside become even more enthusiastic than before.
It turned out that after the black-clad woman left, a tall and thin man walked onto the stage and wanted to compete in swordsmanship with the jovial man.
The jovial man still smiled brightly, but the words he said made everyone look different:
"I admit defeat in this competition! Remember to come to Qingfeng Restaurant to support me later!"
After saying that, the jovial man quickly got off the stage.
Chu Qing looked blank, then turned to Wei Ying stiffly and said, "This... This is too much of a farce!"
Wei Ying smiled and then shrugged.
The thin man sneered at the back of the jovial man, then stood his sword on the stage and said in a somewhat shrill voice, "Do you have anything else you want to compete in?"