"Dream on," Loran said without hesitation. "Didn't I just say it? This one's for my son."
He then gave a dry smile. "Actually, I think that plum blossom painting suits me pretty well too."
"You shameless thing!" Dongran and the other three spoke in perfect sync. They no longer fought over the paintings and waited for all four to be completed before dividing them.
The second one was Orchid in the Valley. The flower was like white jade, its color light and fragrance clear, standing apart from the world. The inscription read, "I love the quiet orchid among all flowers, not charming spring with beauty. In the deep forest under autumn frost and western winds, even if unnoticed, it remains noble."
When they saw it, they understood Loran's feelings. They all wanted it, but could only choose one, none willing to let go, it was truly frustrating.
Xylira ignored them and quietly continued painting. The third was Bamboo After Rain, its stalks long and upright, its leaves graceful and elegant, noble and crisp. She wrote a poem, "Clinging to the green mountain without letting go, roots planted deep in broken cliffs. Weathered through countless trials and strikes, unshaken by winds from any direction."
Now, the four of them were even more conflicted. Thankfully, only one painting was left, the final piece.
It was Autumn Chrysanthemum, pure and beautiful, resilient and unyielding, content in solitude. Alongside it was a verse, "Autumn clusters around the home like Tao's garden, spreading along the fence as the sun sets. It's not that I favor chrysanthemums among flowers, but once this blooms, no others compare."
"You can choose for yourselves," Xylira put down her brush and rubbed her sore wrist. "The best isn't always the right one. The one that suits you is truly the best."
Leaving those words, she sat on a chair nearby and leisurely drank tea.
As soon as she spoke, everyone began to reflect. Then their eyes lit up. As expected, their leader truly had insight.
This gathering could be considered a great success. Dennis might be timid, but his zither music was calming and refreshing, washing away exhaustion.
Each of the others had their unique talents. Dongran and Loran's chess game left Xylira on edge.
The others' poetry wasn't any less impressive than her own, even though hers came from the wealth of five thousand years of cultural inheritance.
This realization made Xylira feel grateful for her family's dedicated training. Without them, she wouldn't have mastered so many skills.
As night fell and they parted, everyone felt reluctant to leave. They agreed to meet again after the palace examination.
"Caelen, what are you doing here?" Because of her special circumstances, Xylira was the first to leave.
She had just waved off the young guards when a hand pulled her into an alley. "It's late. I couldn't rest easy." Caelen spoke with his usual serious tone.
"You didn't wait here all this time, did you? Did you eat dinner?" Her hands were held tightly in his dry, warm palms.
Xylira felt slightly uncomfortable but didn't pull away. She wondered if this man had followed her straight from the exam venue.
"I ate," Caelen genuinely wanted to hold her small figure close. "Xylira, you were amazing today. The competition was brilliant."
He held back his emotions and spoke from the heart. "Hehe, it was just luck." Xylira chuckled lightly.
"I didn't expect things to go so smoothly. Even now I'm not sure if it's good or bad. I attracted some attention, and surely the royal family noticed."
Only when someone was there for her did Xylira realize she hadn't been as confident as she seemed.
She was only eighteen. Even though she had long known this road would be difficult, the moment she let down her guard, she felt completely drained.
"You've already done very well." Caelen didn't like scheming like civil officials, but that didn't mean he didn't understand.
"The Emperor is a rare wise ruler. He won't overthink it. Once you rank in the top three and enter court service, we'll see each other every day."
"Hmm," why did this man steer the conversation this way? "In just a few months, I'll be marrying you anyway. Won't we be seeing each other daily then?"
"Yes." Ever since his heart was captured by Xylira, the not-so-grand general's manor felt increasingly empty.
Hearing her say that, he finally understood. What was missing was a mistress of the house.
Just imagining a life shared with her filled his heart with joy.
The next day, Xylira rested at home, finishing the promised paintings for the other four. She planned to give them away next time they met.
Little did she know how much attention their actions from the previous day had stirred.
Though General Renyu and Yarith were upset, they quickly remembered that even a proud noble like Prince Ziyan had been bested by Xyl.
They didn't care as much anymore, knowing the upcoming palace exam was the real test.
"Ziyan, still angry?" Seeing his gloomy nephew seated nearby, Zhaoye smiled gently, a mix of indulgence and affection.
"Winning and losing is part of life. How can you still not accept that after a whole night?"
"Uncle, do you really think I'm that petty?" Ziyan said, dissatisfied. But facing Zhaoye's knowing gaze, he added, "Uncle, this isn't a personal grudge. Do you really think someone with Xyl's bearing was born an orphan?"
"Didn't you investigate that yourself? What, doubting your own ability now?" Zhaoye didn't answer him directly.
Watching his usually proud nephew suffer a setback gave him quiet pleasure.
"I suspect someone tampered with the records," Ziyan said with near certainty. "Still, he is talented. But getting him to slip up isn't impossible."
"You're not thinking he's a spy, are you?" Even Zhaoye hadn't gone that far.
Xyl indeed had secrets, appearing almost out of nowhere.
But he was the Emperor. How could someone like that have escaped his notice?
"I can give you a hint. Caelen? Xiyan?"
"What do you mean by that, Uncle?" Ziyan was stunned. "Didn't you say Caelen was completely loyal? You even let him keep command because of it."
"I never said Caelen had no ambitions. So, even if Xyl hides part of his identity, he can't be a spy. Ziyan, you're overthinking it."
Zhaoye felt a little heavy-hearted. After all, Ziyan still couldn't let go of his royal father's death.
"Of course, whatever you choose to do, I won't stop you."
If Ziyan really held a grudge, he should let it out. As for Xyl, if things got rough, Zhaoye would compensate him later.
"Uncle, you said it," Ziyan smirked coldly. "That Xyl's performance yesterday was flawless, but no one's perfect. I found a fatal weakness."
See, this wasn't about justice. As the heir of Prince Kang, he was clearly targeting Xyl as a rival.
Zhaoye was even more eager for the palace exam now. Still, on the surface, he followed up, "What weakness?"
"He has no inner force." Ziyan's eyes gleamed with pride as he said it.
"No inner force?" Zhaoye frowned. That level of riding and archery skill without inner energy? That would take enormous willpower.
And he was right. Xylira had trained in modern methods from age five, enduring countless injuries and hardships to master it.
Zhaoye now held Xyl in even higher regard. "What do you plan to do?"
"What's the point of more riding contests? If he's a man, let's have a real match. Uncle, you'll support me, right?"
Ziyan stared at him, speaking with the same firm tone Xylira often used, showing his determination.
"Ziyan." Zhaoye wanted to say this had never been done in the exams. But looking at his face, so much like his late brother's, he couldn't say no.
Fine, Ziyan had always been measured. He wouldn't endanger national matters. Let him go wild this once.
"Don't go too far. Just let off steam. Understand, he's a rare talent."
"Uncle, I just want to force him to slip up. This isn't revenge."
But in front of Zhaoye, Ziyan's words lacked conviction.
Still, he felt satisfied inside. Hmph, let's see how arrogant Xyl can be now.
The day of the palace exam arrived as scheduled. It was held again at the royal examination hall.
Last time, there were more candidates than officials. This time, it was the opposite.
The Emperor, Empress, princes, princesses, and royal relatives were all present, along with all court officials seated in their respective places.
Everything was perfectly orderly.
Seated near the front, Caelen watched Xylira like everyone else.
Even in such a grand setting, her calm smile didn't falter.
Pride and heartache filled him. Even though he changed the subject that night, he couldn't forget her tired face in the moonlight.
This time, the Emperor placed the riding and archery tests last. He said he wanted a new twist.
Though nervous, no one objected.
Each group had ten examinees.
Apart from the required proctors, most officials remained seated to watch.
The first ten competitors were impressive.
One subject after another, Xyl steadily moved up in rank.
When it came to mathematics, even facing the top scholar from the Three Academies, the result was instant.
The difference was clear. In a flash, Xyl shot to first place.
He won with ease.
Ziyan's expression, already bad, turned even worse.
The blow was heavy.
Even with Zhaoye watching him, General Renyu and Yarith didn't look any better.
The other three from the West Academy, however, remained calm.
They had been beaten before.
Scores weren't the issue.
It was the speed.
They were supposed to be elite talents.
Loran had once taken pride in his math skills.
But this exam overturned everything he thought he knew.
They were deeply curious about Xyl's mind.
Ten problems. Normally, they'd still be on question two or three.
Meanwhile, he'd already submitted his answers.
This time was even more extreme.
Loran had just written the answer to the first question.
His leader had already handed in the whole test.
Truly, he understood the feelings of those three.
Because he had been crushed just the same way.