The attendant was perplexed by his young master's words.
It was natural for young ladies from esteemed families to possess a hint of arrogance, given their excellence. Why then did his master always seem to dislike them? For any one of these heavenly daughters pursuing him, to even glance his way would be enough to satisfy him for a lifetime.
Young Master Cui, the sixth son of the Cui family, was unaware of his attendant's thoughts. His own bright countenance was clouded with worry. He lowered his head to look at the book in his hands.
If only he could experience such genuine love…
Anyone looking at the book's cover would have seen the prominent characters:
A Rich Young Master and a Poor Scholar
The book, "A Rich Young Master and a Poor Scholar," told the story of a wealthy young master who defied familial expectations to fall in love with a penniless, humble student. Throughout their journey, they faced numerous obstacles, including the master's parents, his admirers, and the judgment of society. Yet, the poor scholar, undeterred by hardship, overcame each challenge, ultimately leading to the lovers' happy union.
Upon its release in the market of Great Yue, the book was met with fervent adoration from young masters and even swept across the entire Great Yue, creating a sales legend for novels. This also established the book as the progenitor of romance novels in Great Yue, a classic that would be passed down through generations.
…
At this moment, Nian Jiaojiao had already taken her seat.
A total of five families participated in the familial competition: the Luo family, the Qiu family, the Cui family, the Yu family, and the Shangguan family. The family that emerged victorious would receive more "resources." Most of these resources were unusable by the common folk, being priceless, extraordinary items. The primary beneficiaries were the elders within the families who possessed the ability to wield extraordinary power. Of course, for the younger generation who helped them secure victory, these elders would bestow their own "generous rewards."
…
Approximately a hundred young individuals were present. Due to the large number, the first round was an indiscriminate preliminary selection, disregarding familial affiliations. The thirty individuals who advanced from the preliminaries would then proceed to the familial competitions. Therefore, the first round's success hinged on the number of individuals a family managed to keep.
A palpable tension filled the venue, everyone wore solemn expressions as they awaited the announcement of the test question. Meanwhile, in the opposite pavilion, sat the eligible young masters from the five great families. They widened their beautiful eyes, eager to find their destined consorts among the participants.
"Heh, some people claim to look down on everyone, saying 'I don't fancy them,' yet here they are!"
The young master who spoke had a refined appearance, but in comparison to Young Master Cui the Sixth, he paled significantly. He was currently addressing Young Master Cui with a sarcastic tone. The reason for this was none other than his own sister and his beloved being devoted admirers of Young Master Cui. His gaze towards Young Master Cui was filled with jealousy and resentment.
Cui Qingluo frowned. He didn't wish to be here, but he couldn't refuse his father and had no choice but to attend. He recognized the young master who was confronting him; it was Luo Jin, the young master of the Luo family, and his sister, Luo Hua, was the person he loathed the most. Despite his repeated rejections, she persistently pursued him, and her brother harbored extreme animosity towards him. This was precisely why he disliked these noble families so much.
At this moment, Yu Huan, the young master of the Yu family, stepped in as a peacemaker.
"Alright, alright, everyone, quickly look below. The young ladies are composing poetry. I wonder how many ladies from our families will make it into the top thirty."
His words diverted Luo Jin's attention, and he quickly found his beloved among the ladies, gazing at her intently, lost in thought. Cui Qingluo shook his head, observing Luo Jin's behavior. What love could exist between nobles? It was merely a union of interests.
…
Meanwhile, with Nian Jiaojiao.
The topic presented was "Righteousness in the World." She held her calligraphy brush, feeling hesitant. This was her first time writing poetry, and it couldn't be too good, but it also couldn't be too bad. Writing too well might attract attention prematurely. Writing too poorly, however, she feared she wouldn't make it into the top thirty. "Hmm, this is a bit difficult," she mused. "I wonder what everyone else's skill level is."
Finally, Nian Jiaojiao dipped her brush and began to write:
"My being embodies the five elements of righteousness, this heart is like a mirror reflecting time."
"I do not ask for age from cranes or turtles."
…
This poem, from an anonymous work titled "Xijiang Yue" during the Song Dynasty, should be just right for this occasion, Nian Jiaojiao estimated. She finished writing the lines in one go, then paused and set down her brush. The allotted time for composing a poem was one stick of incense. Nian Jiaojiao had spent more than half of that time selecting the poem. By the time she stopped writing, only a small segment of the incense stick remained. Thus, she was not the first to finish; already, half of the participants had put down their brushes and closed their eyes, awaiting the collection of their papers.
After a while, the incense stick burned out, and the attendants emerged to collect the papers. No one worried about tampering, for in Great Yue, books were sacred, and no one dared to violate this sanctity.
"Thank you all for your hard work. I have arranged resting and relaxation areas for you. The real competition will officially begin in the afternoon." The patriarch of the Cui family, with his portly frame, spoke words that made everyone feel as if bathed in spring breeze. There was no trace of the arrogance often associated with the heads of noble families.
Nian Jiaojiao followed the crowd into a grand hall that could easily accommodate over two hundred people. Tables were already laden with food, awaiting their enjoyment. Of course, wine was not included. As they were to participate in the competition that afternoon, it would have seemed ill-intentioned for the host, the Cui family, to provide alcohol. Everyone took their seats behind the tables on the right side. The reason was simple: the tables opposite were reserved for the young masters of the five great families.
At this moment, about twenty young masters, their faces veiled with light silk, entered. The ladies present all turned their gazes towards these young masters.
"Mother, I've found love."
"Fortunately, I qualified for this competition. Young Master Cui the Sixth, which one is Young Master Cui the Sixth?"
"Hey! You in the front! Lower your head a bit, you're blocking everyone!"
"Oh, how unlucky. I really should have fought for a front seat. I miscalculated!"
"I'm definitely not getting into the top thirty. Could someone ahead, a kind elder sister, please switch seats with me?"
As soon as this lady spoke, the ladies behind her began to clamor. After all, once the results were announced, the ladies eliminated would not even have the chance to observe and would be immediately sent home. Nian Jiaojiao, at this moment, was seated right in the middle, not too close to the front, nor too far back. However, she was quite satisfied with her current position. Generally, those who attracted attention were either the most outstanding or the worst. The ordinary people in the middle, neither here nor there, were the easiest to be overlooked.
Cui Qingluo, who had already taken his seat, revealed a mocking smile beneath his veil. "Look, this is how noble ladies are. In the face of beauty, they are even worse than common folk."
At this moment, a young lady, unable to restrain herself any longer, rushed to the center and declared her affections towards the young masters: "Young Master Cui Qingluo, I am deeply fond of you. If I am fortunate enough to enter the top thirty, can you give me a chance to pursue you?"
Nian Jiaojiao's hand, holding a wine cup, paused. She abruptly looked forward. Cui Qingluo!?