Chapter 621 - 252 second
Yueyao’s days at the manor were leisurely, as news in the countryside was somewhat insular. Since Yueyao hadn’t participated in the competition and was in the countryside, she didn’t pay much attention to this competition.
However, during this period, the Qingfeng Bookhouse had organized an art contest that was exceptionally lively. This competition had minimal requirements, allowing for broad participation.
Within ten days, Qingfeng Bookhouse received thousands of paintings. These would first go through a selection process, followed by preliminary and semifinal rounds, eventually narrowing down to fifty paintings. Finally, three top masters of the painting circle would determine the top three among these fifty.
Unbeknownst to Yueyao, the competition had reached its final stages, and the judges were indecisive between two paintings, unsure of which to declare the first.
These two paintings, one was Yueyao’s "Cold Plum and Lady Painting," and the other was a "Bamboo Forest Painting" by someone named Zhou Zijin. Yueyao’s painting closely resonated with life, while Zhou Zijin’s "Wind and Snow Bamboo Forest Painting" highlighted the noble character of bamboo under the harsh, cold winds.
The judges were in a deadlock, so the Store Manager of Qingfeng Bookhouse went to seek Mr. Yu Shan. Mr. Yu Shan declined due to ill health, but the main reason was that he did not want to appear biased. After all, Yueyao’s identity would someday become known as the creator of this painting.
In the end, Qingfeng Bookhouse invited Prince Duan to make a judgment. Prince Duan, an Imperial Uncle of His Majesty, held a noble status and was deeply immersed in the Six Arts, finding great pleasure in them.
Prince Duan compared the two paintings but struggled to declare a winner. The technique and skill in both paintings were impeccable, yet they conveyed different artistic conceptions. Looking at Yueyao’s "Cold Plum and Lady Painting," he asked, "Who is the author of this painting? Find him and let him compete with Zhou Zijin once more."
The staff of Qingfeng Bookhouse shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know. It was indeed strange; logically, once the painting reached the top fifty, the artist should have confirmed their identity. But now, with the situation drawing widespread attention, the owner of the painting remained absent. Without a full name and only a pseudonym, finding the person was difficult.
After some thought, Prince Duan said, "Three days. If he doesn’t show up in three days, the first place will go to Zhou Zijin."
Three days later, the Hermit in the Wild still hadn’t appeared, and the first place went to Zhou Zijin, with the Hermit in the Wild taking second place. Everyone had hoped for a thrilling contest but was disappointed by the outcome, expressing their regrets.
Zhou Zijin was the most disappointed, as this wasn’t the victory he had wanted. However, once Prince Duan had spoken, he couldn’t offer any objections.