Chapter 10 - Context (1/2)
Lei Xing walked to the center of the platform and bowed, and then her sheet was spread open, the empress dowager creased her brows and was visibly taken aback, while the emperor narrowed his eyes as if trying to decipher the work. As they paraded her work, Lei Xing could feel the confused and baffled stares been sent her way. Her embroidery piece was a collection of four round seemingly identical objects, with one big one seemingly in the center, and the other three small ones flanking it at the sides, two at the top and one on the bottom left. The round objects looked...interesting.
The outer lining of the objects was gold rimmed with spaces in between the threading, the inside of them were covered with black small connecting lines in a haphazard manner spread over the space, then on the left side there was another set of red haphazard connecting lines on top of the black lines, while on the right there was another set of blue haphazard connecting lines; diving up the inside into three seemingly three compartments, save for the black lines encroaching into the territory of the other two. The three smaller objects were smaller versions of the big one, and were connected to the big centre object with silver lines.
...Haah, here goes nothing...
Lei Xing confidently and calmly explained, ”This embroidery piece is an embodiment of the world, the Connecting lines represent the intersections of life, the black lines represent the people who together make a nation, the blue lines represent the merchants who fuel the thriving marketplace of the nation, the red lines represent the ministers who assist in the governance of the nation, and the gold outer circle represents the emperor who rules and holds the nation up and watches over all the people. The other smaller objects on the side represent that of other nations and the silver thread connecting them the gold outer circles, represent the linking bridge connecting other nations to ours.”
When Lei Xing finished, she waited for feedback with her head slightly bowed. After waiting for a while, there was still no response, her eyes darted around a bit nervous.
...silence is good too...
She bowed and was about to turn to step down.
”Isn't this just attaching extravagant words to a bunch of meaningless lines?” Said a calm voice
Lei Xing stopped and looked towards the left.
...who the hell is-...oh shoot, it's this a**hole again -_-)...
The voice came from the refined scholar Lei Xing had encountered the day before. He seated right below the Emperor's platform, holding a wine cup and was looking at Lei Xing with an eyebrow raised and a slight smirk.
...*scoff* Is this supposed to be payback?...
Lei Xing blinked once when she saw him, but maintained her calm demeanor, faced forward and with an added layer of indifference and flatly said, ”Words are what provide the context by which we are supposed to understand and appreciate things, just like how you can tell the rank of a person based on their official clothing, and even more so from their title, you can tell the value of a work by the vision it embodies.”
Prince Yi frowned slightly after hearing her words.
...Is she scolding me for not introducing myself?...
”Your words are very insightful, but what Prince Yi said is not wrong either, a piece of work should have its own intricate value....” The empress dowager finally found her words again.
Lei Xing's ears perked up.
...Prince? that explains his rudeness -_-)...
”...Is this considered your most valuable work?” The empress dowager finished.
”It may not be the most valuable work, but it is my most meaningful work.” Lei Xing calmly replied while bowing slightly towards the empress dowager.
”Hm...you can go back.”
Lei Xing finally stepped down and walked to the back of the line and took her place and quietly heaved a sigh of relief. The next lady was called forward and the others followed after, their work were all exquisite, containing mountainous views, deities blessing people, more flowers, more dragons e.t.c In total, there were 23 presentations.
After all of the girls had finished presenting their work, they went forward and bowed towards the front again.
”You have all done well and shown your skills exquisitely... mostly.” The empress dowager said.
Lei Xing narrowed her eyes.
...mostly? She is referring to my masterpiece, isn't she? ...
”Tomorrow will be the Art test”
The candidates all bowed and chorused again, ”Thanking the empress dowager and the emperor for your grace.”
After that, they all got up and followed behind the old palace lady and left the hall, with the maids trailing behind them. They walked for a while until they arrived at the inner palace. Then the old palace lady stopped, faced them and spoke, ”This is the inner palace, my name is Ling mama and I will be in charge of all your needs during your stay, the maids who assisted you during the test will also serve as your personal maids for this period. You will be assigned to various courtyards in small groups, you must not wander about and stay within your courtyards. The Imperial palace is a strict place, you must adhere to the rules. If you break the rules, you will be punished accordingly. Some of you here are familiar with each other and it is fine to continue your friendship, but you must also remember not to discuss or disclose your identities with anyone, if anyone is caught doing that, you will be immediately expelled from the palace.” She said as she narrowed her eyes and scanned the faces of the candidates.
...she seems to be enjoying this, it's not every time a maid gets to boss around Imperial wives...well, prospective wives...I hope for her sake, no one takes it personal hahahaha...
The palace lady finished her stare down and continued, ”All that you require has been provided in your courtyards, should you require anything else tell your maids. That is all, now your maids will lead you to your assigned courtyards.”
The maids walked to their candidates and led the way to their courtyards and the crowd dispersed in different directions in groups.
Lei Xing was heading in the same direction with a few of the candidates, as they were walking, one of them walked closer to Lei Xing and quietly said, ”Jiejie, how come you ended up doing that instead?”
”En?” Lei Xing looked at the other girl skeptically.
”Ah? Jiejie, don't you recognize me, it's You'er.” She quietly said. ”Ah, but for now it's Lady Lian.”
”Ah, of course, you know it's just been such a tiring day.” Lei Xing said with a nervous laugh.
Lady Lian sighed and said, ”It has...How come you ended up doing that? didn't you say you were going to do a butterfly garden of flowers? Why didn't you tell me you changed it?”
...Wait, isn't that what she did? Oh, so I told you I was going to do that and so you did it...isn't this directly trying to compete with me?...
”Ohh, and that's what you ended up doing?” Lei Xing asked with a raised eyebrow.
Lady Lian blinked and became fl.u.s.tered, ”Ah, I really couldn't think of anything so I just...”
”I was just saying, it's fine...I didn't do it anyway. You did well.”