Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

"This brush is simply torture!" Wang Yueru muttered softly, frowning, "It's not easy to control at all. I really don't know how those famous calligraphers can write beautiful calligraphy with this thing."

The team member next to her reminded: "Sister Yueru, don't use too much force when you use the pen. Use a little more lightness, and it will be easier to control."

"Lighter?" Wang Yueru glanced at her with disdain. "Even if it's lighter, this thing is still very difficult to use. There's really no need to waste time on these trivial matters."

After hearing this, the team members shook their heads helplessly and stopped trying to persuade her. Wang Yueru continued to scribble on the paper, not caring at all whether the female official would be dissatisfied.

The older female official first came to Su Jinyun's desk, carefully looked at her calligraphy works, raised her eyebrows slightly, and showed a look of satisfaction.

"Miss Jinyun, your handwriting is indeed beautiful, with agile strokes and vivid charm. It seems that you have really put your heart into it." There was some appreciation in her tone.

Su Jinyun smiled slightly and bowed: "Thank you for the compliment, sir."

The female official nodded and came to Gu Qingping's desk again. She lowered her head to observe for a moment, and said slowly: "Miss Qingping, your handwriting is not gorgeous, but the strokes are neat and reveal a calm aura. Such a temperament is rare."

Gu Qingping stopped writing and replied softly, "Thank you, sir. I believe that calligraphy is about truth and correctness, and I dare not be perfunctory."

The female official nodded with satisfaction.

When she walked to Zhao Wan'er's desk, her eyes were more inquiring. Although Zhao Wan'er's handwriting was plain and simple, it was well-structured and showed a tenacity.

"Ms. Wan'er, your handwriting does not have many techniques, but it is rare and authentic. Your concentration is worthy of recognition." The female official said in a calm tone.

Zhao Wan'er stood up and bowed: "Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Finally, the female official came to Wang Yueru's desk. When she saw the rice paper covered with ink, her face suddenly darkened.

"Wang Yueru," the female official said with a hint of coldness in her tone, "Not only is your handwriting sloppy, the strokes are messy, and even the shape of the characters is not correct. With such a casual attitude, do you think you can pass the test?"

Wang Yueru's face darkened, and she gritted her teeth and said, "Sir, I am really not good at calligraphy..."

"Whether you are good at it or not is not the key," the female official said coldly, "the key is attitude. Every assessment for the selection of the Crown Princess should not be taken lightly. If you don't even have this little patience, how can you take on the responsibility of the Crown Princess?"

Wang Yueru bit her lips and dared not say anything more.

After the competition, the women packed up their pens and inks but were in no rush to leave. Instead, they gathered in groups of three or four, discussing the calligraphy competition in low voices.

A petite woman looked up at Su Jinyun, her tone full of admiration: "Sister Jinyun's handwriting is so beautiful, every stroke is so smooth, as if it jumped out of the painting."

Another woman in a light green dress also echoed, "Yes, when the female official praised her just now, I couldn't help but applaud. Sister Jinyun's calligraphy is truly worthy of the style of a lady from a noble family."

After hearing this, Su Jinyun smiled slightly, and said modestly with a bit of confidence: "You are too kind, it's just that I have practiced more since I was young, so I am a little more proficient. In fact, everyone's handwriting has its own advantages."

"Sister Jinyun, you said it very well," the petite girl exclaimed, "but compared to your elegance, my handwriting seems much more clumsy. If I spend more time practicing, maybe I can catch up with you."

Su Jinyun smiled softly, turned her gaze to Gu Qingping who was standing not far away, and suddenly asked: "Miss Qingping didn't seem to say much, but it made me curious. Just now the female official spoke highly of you, saying that your calligraphy is 'plain and unadorned but intriguing', what do you think?"

Gu Qingping was sorting out the rice paper with her head down. When she heard Su Jinyun's question, she paused for a moment before looking up and said calmly, "The lady's words are an encouragement to me. But the way to calligraphy is to calm your mind. It doesn't really matter whether I write well or not. What matters is whether I have a clear conscience."

When these words came out, everyone was stunned. The petite girl spoke first: "Sister Qingping, you have a really good attitude. If it were me, I would be happy for several days after hearing the praise from the lady-in-waiting."

Gu Qingping smiled faintly and did not say anything else. Instead, she handed the neatly written pen and ink to Yurong beside her.

Yurong was still a little uneasy. She asked Gu Qingping in a low voice: "Sister Qingping, do you think my handwriting will be disliked by the ladies-in-waiting? Although you taught me some techniques, I always feel that it is... not good enough."

Gu Qingping patted her hands gently and said soothingly, "Yurong, just do your best. This selection looks at the overall performance, not just calligraphy. You have made a lot of progress."

Yurong bit her lip, but couldn't help but ask in a low voice: "But I heard that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Prince Jing were watching in the corridor today. With so many outstanding people, how could I be noticed?"

Gu Qingping paused after hearing this, and turned her eyes slightly to the corridor outside the courtyard, and whispered: "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has a broader vision than we imagined, and His Royal Highness Prince Jing is even more unfathomable. Instead of worrying about their eyes, it is better to focus on the present. One day, your efforts will be noticed."

Yurong pursed her lips and nodded, but she was obviously still a little uneasy.

On the other side, Zhao Wan'er was whispering with several women.

"Sister Wan'er, don't you think your handwriting is too simple?" a woman asked in a low voice, a little puzzled. "Although the female official praised you for being real, we are selecting a crown princess after all. Is such a handwriting... really competitive?"

After hearing this, Zhao Wan'er smiled calmly: "Calligraphy is for expression, not for competition. I just want to show my truest side. As for whether it can be recognized, that is the adults' business."

The woman was obviously shocked by these words. She was stunned for a moment before she murmured, "Sister, you have a really good attitude. I have been thinking about how to stand out, but I have forgotten my original intention."

Zhao Wan'er shook her head gently: "The girls who can persist until now are all excellent. But remember, no matter what the result is, as long as you have a clear conscience, you don't have to regret it."

Zhu Han and Zhu Biao still stood side by side, watching the women's every move. Although the calligraphy competition was over, their words and actions were obviously also part of their observation.

"Uncle, Su Jinyun's talent is indeed outstanding, but you mentioned before that her edge may not be a good thing. Looking at it again today, I do understand it a little bit." Zhu Biao said softly, his eyes resting on Su Jinyun's back.

Zhu Han smiled, but his eyes fell on Gu Qingping: "Biao'er, the sharpness is not the problem, the problem is whether the sharpness can be restrained. Su Jinyun may be an excellent assistant to you, but she may not be able to shoulder the responsibility of being the mother of the country."

Zhu Biao seemed to be thinking about something, and then he looked at Gu Qingping: "What about Qingping? She is introverted, and although her handwriting is simple, it has a rare steadiness."

Zhu Han nodded: "Qingping is indeed a candidate worthy of attention. She knows when to advance and retreat, and can comfort those around her. This kind of temperament is exactly what the Crown Princess needs." "What about Zhao Wan'er?" Zhu Biao suddenly asked, "Although her handwriting is simple, it makes me feel very real."

Zhu Han smiled even more: "You're right. Zhao Wan'er is a person who is content with being ordinary but still tenacious. This kind of person may not amaze people in a short period of time, but her inner strength can make people around her feel at ease."

After hearing this, Zhu Biao nodded slightly, his eyes gradually becoming deeper: "Uncle, I will remember your words. Among these women, someone will eventually be able to accompany me to go further."

The next morning, the atmosphere in the courtyard was particularly tense. The female officials had already arranged the long table and stove, and each woman had various ingredients and utensils placed in front of her. Today's assessment was to test their cooking skills.

The older female official stood in the middle of the courtyard, her voice clear and majestic: "The theme of today's assessment is cooking, which tests your understanding and care for food. Cooking is not only about skills, but also about taste and intention. Each of you must complete a dish within two hours, and it must take into account the color, aroma, taste and shape."

She paused, glanced at everyone, and continued, "Please remember, the Crown Princess shoulders the important task of assisting the harem. If you can't even do a small thing like cooking, how can you manage the harem and appease everyone?"

The women responded in unison, "Yes, sir."

Su Jinyun stood in front of her seat, her eyes fixed on the neatly arranged ingredients, her eyes as calm as water. She raised her hand and gently rolled up her sleeves, her movements elegant and calm, her whole person exuding a confident temperament.

She picked up the sea bass from the chopping board, gently pinched the fish body with her delicate fingertips, and nodded with satisfaction after confirming the elasticity of the fish meat.

"Sister Jinyun, what dish are you planning to cook?" A woman standing next to her couldn't help but ask, with a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Su Jinyun turned her head slightly, a faint smile appeared on her lips: "Steamed fish."

"Steamed?" The woman was a little surprised. "This dish requires a very high heat. If you are not careful, the fish will become tough. Sister is really courageous."

Su Jinyun nodded slightly, and her eyes returned to the fish in her hand again: "Steamed fish is difficult, but it requires respect for the original taste of the ingredients. Instead of spending time making some fancy dishes, it is better to focus on presenting the most original flavor."

The woman nodded and couldn't help but sigh: "Sister, you are so calm, I'm afraid none of us can match you."

Su Jinyun smiled slightly and said nothing more, instead concentrating on processing the sea bass.

Su Jinyun put the perch into clean water and gently stroked the fish body with her hands to ensure that every scale was clean. Then, she gently cut open the fish belly with a knife, took out the internal organs bit by bit, and carefully cleaned the blood in the fish cavity.

The woman next to her couldn't help but praise: "Sister Jinyun, even your movements in handling fish are so graceful, it's like you're painting."

Su Jinyun lowered her head and worked attentively, and replied: "Cooking is like being a person, details determine success or failure. Only by doing every little detail to the extreme can you truly show your heart."

After cleaning, she wiped the fish dry with a clean cloth and then made a few shallow cuts on the fish's back to make it easier for the fish to absorb flavor when steaming.

Su Jinyun picked a few fresh shallots and cut them into neat sections, then took out slices of ginger and shredded red pepper and placed them on both sides of the fish. Her movements were gentle and delicate, as if she was completing a work of art.

The woman at the side couldn't help but ask, "Sister Jinyun, why did you only add these seasonings? Why not add a little more cooking wine and sauce?"

Su Jinyun shook her head and said firmly: "The essence of steamed fish is to keep the original flavor of the fish. Too much seasoning will only cover up its deliciousness. Simple scallions and ginger can remove the fishy smell and enhance the taste."

As she spoke, she used a small spoon to evenly pour the clear chicken soup over the fish, and finally gently covered it with a piece of gauze to prevent the water vapor from directly contacting the fish meat.

After placing the fish dish in the steamer, Su Jinyun adjusted the heat until the water in the pot was just boiling and steam was rising. She stood in front of the stove calmly, her eyes fixed on the steam on the pot lid.

The woman at the side couldn't help but ask, "Sister Jinyun, why don't you go and prepare something else right away? Don't you have to keep an eye on it when the fish is steaming?"

Su Jinyun smiled slightly, her eyes showing calmness: "The key to steaming is the heat. Once the time is exceeded, the fish will become tough. Only by controlling the whole process can we ensure the best taste."

After hearing this, the woman showed admiration in her eyes and stopped asking questions.

About ten minutes later, Su Jinyun gently lifted the lid of the pot with a cloth, and instantly a strong aroma hit her face. She carefully brought out the fish dish and quickly poured hot oil on the fish. The "sizzling" sound made when the oil and seasoning came into contact added the finishing touch to the whole dish.

Finally, she picked up a few sprigs of fresh coriander and dotted them between the fish head and tail, giving the whole dish a fresh and natural beauty.

The female official behind her came closer, lowered her head to observe for a moment, nodded and said: "Miss Jinyun, this steamed fish is delicious, especially the seasoning and the control of the heat, it is perfect."

Su Jinyun smiled calmly and bowed: "Thank you for the compliment, sir."

The female official nodded slightly and left with satisfaction.

The women gathered around and couldn't help but admire: "Sister Jinyun, your dish is really amazing. Not only does it taste good, but the presentation is like a painting."

Su Jinyun smiled calmly: "Thank you for the compliments. In fact, this dish is not complicated. As long as you put your heart into it, everyone can make it well."

Another woman said enviously, "Sister is so modest. Someone like me who can't stand the smell of fish can't learn from you."

The sunlight in the courtyard shone on the long table, casting mottled shadows. Gu Qingping stood in front of the stove assigned to her, with various ingredients placed in front of her.

She did not rush to start like the other women, but stood quietly, her eyes wandering among the ingredients on the table.

She gently touched each ingredient with her fingertips, from the fresh fish to the green vegetables, then picked up the tofu and pressed it hard to feel its toughness.

Finally, she selected tofu, shrimp and eggs and decided to make a light dish of lotus tofu.

"Sister Qingping!" Yurong, who was standing beside her, couldn't help but ask, "There are so many complicated dishes to choose from here, why did you choose tofu?" (End of this chapter)