Empress’ Game: Make-up Master Chapter 64 -  It Was a Contest of Talent

Seventeen or eighteen noble young ladies were there. Such a cluster of bright, delicate girls together was quite pleasing to the eye. They gathered in groups of three or five, chatting as if waiting for something.

When Wu Jinghua’s group arrived, they immediately drew everyone’s attention. The young ladies called out one after another, “Second Miss Wu, didn’t you say we were playing a game? It looks like almost every young lady has come. What are we playing?”

Wu Jinghua smiled. “Don’t be impatient. I went to call a few more people.”

On the grass, there was a girl who had met Wu Sheyue earlier. Seeing Wu Sheyue, she immediately greeted her. “Third Miss Wu, you came too.”

Her words surprised many people. At once, everyone noticed Wu Sheyue in water-blue standing at the back. Recently, rumors had been burning outside, and the residence had been buzzing too. Seeing Wu Sheyue looking like this, the young ladies began whispering among themselves.

“Really? This is that Miss Wu?”

“Without the birthmark, she’s actually so beautiful. Can it really be her?”

“I heard her foolish illness recovered too…”

“Oh, I heard it wasn’t an illness at all. There was a scheme behind it!”

These people whispered and pointed without the slightest restraint, but Wu Sheyue, who was being watched, did not shrink back.

She walked over openly, sat beside the girl who had greeted her, and said, “Yes. Second Sister said there weren’t enough people for the game. I didn’t expect there were already so many.”

The young ladies still could not help staring at her, both doubtful and curious.

Wu Jinghua was afraid she would refuse to play, so she quickly said, “It’s livelier with more people. In any case, there is still some time before the evening banquet. It would be boring if we didn’t play something.”

At this sentence, everyone’s attention was drawn back. Wu Sheyue sat below and gave a cold laugh, though the surroundings were noisy and no one heard. She would definitely play. Now even if they refused to let her play, she would not accept that.

Ning’er had originally wanted to advise Wu Sheyue, but after thinking about the current Third Miss, she realized there was no need.

Zhao Mo’er, who had been supporting Wu Jinghua all along, suggested, “How about pitch-pot? What do you all think?”

The others immediately teased her. “Oh, Miss Zhao, you’re the best at pitch-pot.”

“Yes. When have you not hit every throw?”

Zhao Mo’er giggled. “It’s not like we’ll only play that one game. Please indulge me and include pitch-pot too.”

Wu Jinghua immediately ordered a young servant pouring water to fetch the pot and arrows, then said, “We still have to wait for the pot, so while we’re waiting, let’s play something else. Mm, how about character-splitting? Or composing poetry? In any case, we can say it aloud, so it won’t be troublesome.”

Most of these boudoir young ladies had studied literature, especially the girls from noble households, who were quite confident in their literary talent. Naturally, they all agreed. A chorus of approval rose below.

“That’s good!”

“Whoever can’t answer has to drink fruit wine. We’ll see who gets punished the most.”

“That works too!”

Wu Jinghua could not help glancing sidelong at Wu Sheyue. She had someone bring over the paper and brush she had already prepared. “Come. Each person writes a character. Later, we’ll draw lots. Whatever character you draw, you must compose a line of poetry containing that character. How about it?”

This was not too difficult. Everyone agreed and went to write a character, fold the paper, and have Qingxing, who served Wu Jinghua, collect them. The young servants and maids gave each person a cup and poured date-red wine. The game began.

Qingxing placed the pile of paper balls on the table, and Wu Jinghua went over and stirred them with her hand. “This will do. Everyone can draw in order.”

Next, the noble young ladies went forward one by one according to how close they were seated. They took a paper slip, unfolded it to show everyone the character written on it, and began reciting poetry.

Although Wu Sheyue was not especially knowledgeable about poetry, her limited education was enough to let her participate, and she also heard quite a few lines that made her want to laugh and cry.

Everyone played enthusiastically. Soon, five or six young ladies had drawn characters and composed lines. Although some of the poems were rather ordinary, no one had been made to drink yet.

Wu Jinghua sat to the side. Every time someone went to pick a slip, she secretly looked at Wu Sheyue. Yet each time, she saw Wu Sheyue squinting up at the sky, looking relaxed and idle.

Wu Jinghua hated this inwardly. Let’s see how long you can stay so relaxed. You have not studied poetry for over ten years. Just wait to make a fool of yourself.

When the seventh young lady went to draw a slip, voices of men could be heard from far away, mixed with footsteps that gradually approached.

Hearing this, the young ladies all looked over. From the path came several young masters, probably official sons attending the banquet who happened to be passing by together.

The young lady who had just taken a paper slip but had not yet composed flushed at once. She stood in the open, lowered her voice, and softly said, “Oh dear.”

Seven or eight young gentlemen approached. They were all likely sons of officials who had come for the banquet, each dressed in fine brocade. The two leading them were especially handsome and most eye-catching.

One wore blue robes and was gentle and scholarly. The other wore white robes and looked as graceful as an immortal. Regardless of whether the other young masters were good-looking, these two alone were enough to make many of the young ladies’ hearts stir.

Wu Jinghua looked at them and suddenly blushed, not knowing what to do.

Wu Sheyue also fixed her eyes at once on the white-clad man among the crowd. She felt strange, as if he looked familiar, but she could not quite remember when she had seen him.

When the leading blue-robed man saw so many girls playing here, he tapped his head with his fan, blinked, and smiled. “Ah, my apologies. We were only passing through and have disturbed your enjoyment.”

Wu Jinghua, as someone from the host family, hurriedly rose and rushed to say, “Heir Han, you are too polite. We’re only playing a game. If you all don’t mind, you could sit and chat with us.”

Her voice was soft, delicate, and flirtatious. She was completely different from her usual straightforward self.

In ancient times, publicly inviting men to sit with them counted as very bold. Heir Han said to the white-clad man beside him, “Would this be too presumptuous? Yu Jing, what do you think?”

Hearing this, Wu Jinghua also timidly looked toward the white-clad man, terribly nervous.

However, the white-clad man called Yu Jing did not answer Han Yi. Instead, he suddenly turned to look at Wu Sheyue. In that instant, their gazes collided.

He stared into Wu Sheyue’s eyes and slowly curved his lips into a light smile. “After walking for so long, I am a little tired. Would you all mind if we watched from the side and had a cup of wine?”

When Wu Sheyue heard his voice, her heart jolted violently. Facing those star-fallen eyes that seemed to smile and not smile at once, Wu Sheyue suddenly remembered. She almost immediately straightened in her seat.