Exquisite Peonies

After Ouyang Xiangmei finished her painting, more and more people looked over at the end product to offer their compliments.

Ouyang Xiangmei wore pink, exuded a dignified charm, and let her black hair down. She had a pretty oval face and wore a smile upon her face which attracted a fair share of noble sons.

Two eunuchs picked up the finished painting and brought it out for the audience to admire.

There were several peonies painted on the scroll. The shape of the flowers were plentiful, they were colourful, large and looked beautifully fresh. They were stately and full of life.

People in the hall nodded in approval.

Ouyang Xiangmei was delighted deep down inside by the audience's reaction.

The imperial concubine looked incredibly pleased with her daughter, as she wore a beaming smile on her face.

Ouyang Xiu knew that this was a masterpiece and chuckled loudly. "Good! Good!" He exclaimed.

Thereafter, he turned his head towards Han Moze and asked, "What does the Emperor of Beiming think of this painting?"

Han Moze turned his gaze back to take a look, but felt that it was excessively beautiful.

When he looked up at the people in the hall, all he saw were satisfied stares.

He smiled and shook his head helplessly. Were his tastes too bland? If one of these peonies were white, then perhaps he would take a few more glances. With a dull smile, he spoke with an extremely flat voice. "Not bad!"

Ouyang Xiu's gaze instantly sank drearily.

Those two words reignited everyone's conversations in the hall.

Ouyang Xiangmei looked like she'd been hard done by, as she gritted her teeth.

Liu Rushuang heard Han Moze's magnetic voice and raised her gaze up in the direction of the painting. The eight or nine peonies were very pretty and enchanting.

She glanced over at Ouyang Xiangmei whose hands balled into tight fists with a slightly dejected expression.

Liu Rushuang wore a faint smile. These ladies really were obsessed with the Emperor of Beiming!

She shot a glance up at Ouyang Xiu who was facing Han Moze.

Although he remained completely silently, he exuded a strong, proud, yet ruthlessly cold and killer aura.

It was an aura of someone who had a habit of killing people.

She was quite interested in people like him.

Not because of his unusually handsome looks, but because of his strength.

In the seat of honour, Ouyang Xiu's dreary eyes stared at Han Moze and questioned him with a deep voice. "I wonder, Emperor Beiming, what do you find unsatisfactory about this painting?"

Han Moze put on a fake smile and said, "Because it doesn't have the white peonies that I love."

A look of sudden realisation came over the people in the great hall.

So the Emperor of Beiming liked white peonies...

It looked like there was no hope for Ouyang Xiangmei to be chosen.

Ouyang Xiu and the imperial concubines looked a little disheartened.

The Emperor of Beiming sure is picky!

The Empress smiled emotionlessly. It was time for her own daughter to have her turn.

Actually, no matter what the outcome may be, her daughter will be chosen in the end because she had the crown prince and Minister Liu behind her. What's more, the Emperor listened to her quite often.

As her cold gaze glared at the carefree Liu Rushuang, her elegant brows furrowed slightly and a trace of killer intent flashed across her face.

From experience, she figured that Liu Rushuang must have met the Emperor of Beiming outside the imperial palace.

And, she must have used some kind of trick to seduce him.

Otherwise, no man would be interested in such an ordinary-looking woman with no skills.

Liu Rushuang must be hiding something!

For her to be able to take the Empress' seat, it can't be because of her background but her ability to manipulate people.

Liu Rushuang felt the killer aura from the seat of honor, and helplessly twitched her lips.

Yet another person wants to kill her!

Ouyang Xiu's shady gaze turned to Han Moze, as he gritted his teeth and spoke with a deep voice. "May the next lady please step forward to perform."