The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 43

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 place as the stage for the talent conference.

(*TN: The emperor's posthumous title; it roughly translates 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 become 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 great lakes 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 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 become the one that would command 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 become the laughing 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 accessories, 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 is last every time. Why bother saying it like that, anyways isn't good that there's someone to take last place for you all." Cui Hanqun look to them laughing 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 people laugh 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 relationship after all.

"Big sister, do you really think that big sister Qingyan won't become the laughing stock again this year." Luo Yili curiously asked.

"Lili, don't worry, Yan'er has become different than before." Luo Yixin look to her with a warm smile.

Previously, because Yiniang's relative 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.