CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 54: THE ENTIRE HAREM TAKES SIDES

All eyes were on Yun Jiao.

They observed her reaction, wanting to see the shame and indignation on her face after being insulted and ridiculed.

Yet, there was nothing.

She slightly opened her mouth, appearing as if she wanted to speak but then hesitated.

In the end, Yun Jiao only managed to say, "Concubine Jiang, why don’t we look at my work before drawing a conclusion?"

This birthday feast is truly splendid!

The concubines, who were previously somewhat sleepy after being half full, suddenly perked up. They wished for two pairs of eyes so they wouldn’t miss the changes in the expressions of the two parties.

Attendant Lady Xi made her move—let the work speak for itself!

Concubine Jiang raised an eyebrow, smiling nonchalantly.

Why was she so confident? Because their backgrounds were worlds apart, the circle of noble daughters in the capital was small, with limited entertainment. Often, they’d gather for flower or moon appreciation, invite opera troupes for performances, or admire famous paintings to expand their horizons and provide topics for conversation.

Concubine Jiang had never seen Yun Jiao at such gatherings.

No, before entering the palace, she didn’t even know such a person existed!

High art circulates only among a select few, suggesting Yun Jiao could hardly have any significant skill in painting. It was like asking a student who had never left the mountains to answer fluently in French about the prospects and risks of blockchain—a question set with an unattainable threshold from the outset.

Even if not so bluntly harsh, other concubines from noble families tacitly agreed...

Attendant Lady Xi’s painting couldn’t hold much value.

Concubine Jiang picked up her wine cup, took a sip, and said, "I don’t think there’s a need to see it."

Yun Jiao uttered a soft "ah": "Perhaps, my lady, you might want to take a look first?"

This Attendant Lady Xi, refusing to drink a toast, insists on drinking forfeited wine.

The concubines looked at Yun Jiao almost with sympathy.

"Oh? Then it seems I’m in the wrong, so why not unfurl Attendant Lady Xi’s painting, and let all of us here appraise it?"

Fine, she would let her fail openly!

Humiliating Attendant Lady Xi alone wasn’t enough for Concubine Jiang; she wanted all the concubines to evaluate the painting—not for critique, but to force them to choose sides.

When Concubine Jiang said this, Concubine Li couldn’t sit still. She coldly said, "We are here to celebrate a birthday, and any gift is a token of sincerity. Is Jingyang Palace so poor that it needs to exploit a birthday as an excuse to fleece guests?"

These words, spoken with conviction, resonated with many of the attendants and servant consorts present.

Concubine Jiang’s bullying had gone too far.

Yun Jiao also felt touched upon hearing this.

Concubine Li continued to question, "Grabbing hold of a poor, unsophisticated attendant on her birthday to bully—does that make you proud?!"

Yun Jiao: ...

She didn’t quite feel like being moved anymore.

Being publicly criticized, Concubine Jiang’s face turned a little ugly.

She looked at Concubine Li and said each word with emphasis: "But what if I insist on showing everyone Attendant Lady Xi’s birthday gift?"

Concubine Li was instantly angered.

The two were of equal rank among the concubines, and she couldn’t go too far.

Yun Jiao tugged at her, whispering, "Let her see it; I have confidence."

"But I don’t have confidence in you either," Concubine Li whispered back. "It’s one thing to fool outsiders, but do you have to fool those in our own palace?"

Seeing Yun Jiao’s persistence, Concubine Li couldn’t refuse her, so she sat down:

"Alright, alright, then let Concubine Jiang look!"

Concubine Jiang, seeing that Xianfu Palace was backing down, felt greatly pleased.

The palace maid slowly unfurled the painting.

...

How to put it?

The painting depicted a peach tree laden with large peaches, with a crane celebrating a birthday below.

The technique was quite ordinary.

Not particularly bad, nor particularly good, just the level of an untalented ordinary person practicing from a young age to a decent standard that can just about be described as "looks real." The composition and layout of the painting were not especially creative; it was the stereotypical kind of painting any ordinary household might have up during New Year or a birthday celebration.

Yun Jiao retained memories from a previous life.

Even if she wasn’t an active learner, she didn’t lack foundational skills, but they were just basic. After learning classic techniques for animals and landscapes from a lady tutor, she became complacent.

She didn’t aim to astonish; she just wanted not to embarrass herself.

The concubines had the same thought.

This was... just a very ordinary painting. Although not offensive, it had nothing special to offer, and it certainly wouldn’t impress Concubine Jiang, who was sure to ridicule its lack of worth in her high standards.

"Ha."

As expected, Concubine Jiang cast only a glance at the canvas before withdrawing her gaze with a mocking laugh.

Strangely, the room fell unusually quiet, with only her bell-like laughter echoing in everyone’s ears, particularly grating:

"This kind of painting, I could do at the age of six."

"Concubine Li, do you still dare say this is her heartfelt gesture? This is clearly the most ordinary Birthday Celebration Painting. I really can’t see any value in it; in terms of technique, intent, and layout, it’s totally worthless."

The banquet was silent, with only Concubine Jiang’s arrogant voice echoing.

Concubine Jiang’s gaze fixed on Yun Jiao, noticing that at such a tense moment, she actually ate another crab roe bun, igniting Concubine Jiang’s anger: "I remember that Concubine Wei, your elder sister, is traditionally adept at painting. Why not have Concubine Wei evaluate Attendant Lady Xi’s painting? Receiving a critique from Concubine Wei would indeed be a blessing for Attendant Lady Xi."

The most sharp-tongued in the palace was Concubine Wei.

Being called upon, Concubine Wei put down her wine cup and stammered, "Uh, it carries a bit of admirable spirit amidst its simplicity, it’s actually quite good, no, even more than that, it’s priceless."

After speaking, Concubine Jiang could hardly believe her ears!

Concubine Jiang wanted to shake her by the shoulders and ask if she was blinded by pig fat or bewitched by this seductress Attendant Lady Xi. Is this? And it’s priceless? Stunned for a moment, she suddenly realized: "Priceless, meaning worthless."

Concubine Wei: "Hold on, Concubine Jiang, don’t twist my words."

Concubine Jiang gave her a knowing smile: "I understand, with Princess Ruyi here, you couldn’t speak too harshly."

Concubine Wei glanced at the jade seal in the corner of the painting.

Enough, if Concubine Jiang wanted to court disaster, nobody could stop her.

At this moment, only Concubine Wei, Concubine Feng, Consort Xu, Consort Ji, and Attendant Lady Sun knew the truth. The others had never seen the Emperor’s treasured seal and naturally couldn’t understand why Concubine Wei’s attitude changed so drastically. Some even began to doubt themselves; perhaps Attendant Lady Xi’s painting did indeed have something extraordinary about it?

Concubine Li had seen it, but she didn’t remember it.

After all, she had no talent in the four arts; her strengths were in music and dance. The Emperor admired her bright face and dance skills, knowing her weaknesses, he seldom asked her to accompany him with scholarly pursuits.

Concubine Jiang named another person, this time it was Concubine Feng.

"Returning to simplicity, the intention is commendable."

Concubine Jiang, unwilling to give up, continued to call on another.

"The painting is well done; I am far inferior."

"The peaches, the crane, are truly lifelike."

The more people she named, the angrier she got; there were those who didn’t recognize the Emperor’s seal, but seeing others speak so, they dared not dissent. She ended up hearing praise after praise instead of words that would shame Attendant Lady Xi!

Concubine Jiang listened, growing doubtful of herself.

Could it be that unknowingly, the entire harem had sided with Attendant Lady Xi?!