Chapter 43 The Talent Conference II
Today''s talent conference was set up at one of Bogu Hall''s buildings, the Xiexiu Hall. It''s said that this
hall was built by a foreign princess that married over in the previous dynasty. After the princess passed
away, Hongjia* Emperor was unwilling to let the scenery here wither away, thus he used the ce as
the stage for the talent conference.
(*TN: The emperor''s posthumous title; it roughly trantes to ''Very Excellent''.)
It''s said that this princess loved plum blossoms very much, that''s why deep within the Xiexiu Hall was a
plum orchard. Every winter, it would be a aromatic sea of snow.
The so called ''aromatic sea of snow'' is called such because the plum orchard spread as far as the eye
can see.
Qingdai watched Qingyan staring out the window and said with a smile, "Miss, what are you thinking
about?"
Qingyan gazed into the distance and shook her head, "If there could be a day where all the beautiful
sceneries in the world could be obtained in hand, how great would that be."
She once thought of traversing the greatkes and mountains of the four kingdoms one day with
Weisheng Junmo, but ever since she became the empress, she could no longer fulfill those dreams.
Weisheng Junyan wasn''t considered a bright ruler, but towards governing the country, he still had some
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merits. However, because of the previous emperor dying from illness, Nanchen was gradually declining
in power. It was already impossible for them to unite the four kingdoms.
And right now, she only wants to select a bright ruler to help him be the one that wouldmand
the unification of the four kingdoms. But she doesn''t know if she''ll have the chance to meet this bright
ruler.
Weisheng Junyan, if one day, I can stand before you once again, then I will definitely pull you down
from your high throne, and let you have a taste of human suffering.
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The talent conference was just a disguised form of entertainment. The ones that attended were
basically all students of Bogu Hall. And they knew that every time, it was Su Qingyan that would
be theughing stock of the conference.
"Say, what do you think Su Qingyan will wear for the talent conference this time?" Du Yulin look to them
and sneered, "Last year she wore a crimson dress with various gold essories, tsk tsk tsk, it''s too
pitiful to even think about."
"Lin''er, you don''t need to say it like that. At least, every time it''s Su Qingyan that cushions the bottom
for us, saves us from losing face." Cui Hanxue look to Du Yulin also sneering.
"Su Qingyan isst every time. Why bother saying it like that, anyways isn''t good that there''s someone
to takest ce for you all." Cui Hanqun look to themughing as well.
"That''s right, it''s Su Qingyan that''s the most embarrassed every time. To think that the Su manor would
have a daughter like that; it''s really just letting peopleugh at them.
"You''re missing the point, if Su Qingyan isn''t there to pad the bottom for Su Qingyuan and Su Qingwen,
then who could offset their talents!" Luo Yixin had hit the nail on its head.
In their eyes, Su Qingyan''s existence was entirely for offsetting Su Qingyuan and Su Qingwen''s talents.
Luo Yixin and Luo Yili didn''t participate in their conversations. In their eyes, although Qingyan wasn''t
likable, their two families still had a sisterly rtionship after all.
"Big sister, do you really think that big sister Qingyan won''t be theughing stock again this year."
Luo Yili curiously asked.
"Lili, don''t worry, Yan''er has be different than before." Luo Yixin look to her with a warm smile.
Previously, because Yiniang''s rtive was ill, Luo Yili returned with Zhao Yiniang to their old home in
Taizhou. And during the time in Taizhou, Luo Yili seems to have also matured quite a bit.
"You all say big sister Yan''er has changed, but I really hope she has. After all, Su manor is quite
"Lili, you sure have grown quite a bit." Luo Yixin look to Luo Yili with a faint smile. "As for Yan''er''s
changes, you''ll know once she arrives."
Luo Yili happily nodded in return.
At that moment, someone called out, "Look, the people of the Su manor has arrived."
The one leading was Ning Siyao, as she slowly entered Xiexiu Hall with Su Qingyuan. Ning Siyao wore
a custom sujin* dress from head to toe. The attire beautifully showed off her slender figure. Even
though she was already over thirty, because she properly maintained her beauty, she looked as if she
was 25.
(*TN: A type of embroidered silk fabric)
And next to her, Su Qingyuan wore a long pink dress that trailed along the floor. She carried a gentle
smile on her face as she walked towards the crowd. In an instant, she became the focal point of the
entire ce.
Following after them was Chai Yiyun. She was wearing a long blue dress, and although her figure was
slightly inferior to Ning Siyao, the long dress made her look like a young maiden. As she walked next to
Su Qingwen, it looked as if they were sisters.
Like Su Qingyuan, when Su Qingwen walked into the Hall, she became the focal point of the ce, and
the two of them very much enjoyed the attention.
Su Qingyan didn''t walk with them. Together with Qingdai and Chishao, she went to the plum orchard.
Although the plum flowers have yet to blossom in November, she could still imagine what that beautiful
scenery was like.
"Today is the talent conference, are you not going to go see?"
As they walked in, an unfamiliar voice sounded. Qingyan stopped in her tracks and look towards the
figure standing deep in the orchard.
"It''s just games among children, why should I join in on the fun." An elderly voice sounded.
Hearing this voice, Qingyan felt it was unexpectedly familiar. It was as if she''d once known this voice.
"Grand Princess*, if you keep living in the past, I think if Xianyi* Empress knew, she would definitely be
sad for you." The man''s honest voice sounded, "At the time, Xianyi Empress protected you so that you
could live more happily, not to let you sink into self me."
(*TN: Title usually refers to daughters of previous emperors, thus usually sisters or aunts of the current
emperor; Xianyi - posthumous title meaning virtuous.)
"Liu Shang, did you know that I treated Yan''er as if she was my own daughter."
When she heard that name, Qingyan took a step forward. She cover her mouth in shock. It seems this
person wasn''t a stranger, but was precisely the wife of the previous Nanchen Emperor, Chunyuan*
Grand Princess who had married over from Donghe. After Qingyan married Weisheng Junyan, in order
to fulfill Chunyuan Grand Princess''s request, she arranged for the grand princess to return to Donghe
from Nanchen.
(*TN: Her honorary title/name meaning pure or innocent)
She''d never thought that Xiexiu Hall was actually the Grand Princess''s manor in the past. And next to
her was Liu Shang, who just happened to be one of the Thousand Beast Pavilion''s four great
guardians, the ck Tortoise.
"Your Highness, if Xianyi Empress knew you were like this, she would definitely be unhappy." The man
called Liu Shang reluctantly replied to her, "You promised Xianyi Empress that you would properly live
out the rest of your life."
"Liu Shang, she''s dead. She died full of regrets." Grand Princess look to Liu Shang and dryly spoke, "If
I''d known she would end up like that, I would''ve rather never returned here."
Qingyan was unable to continue listening. Just when she was about to turn to leave, she identally
knocked over a vase of scarlet lilies. Hearing this sound, that voice called out, "Who is it? Who''s
there?"