Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

Zhao Wan'er lowered her head and chuckled, saying in a gentle voice: "In fact, it's just my experience. We learn these skills every day, and the most important thing is to understand how to cultivate our own character through them."

The woman nodded thoughtfully, and couldn't help but sigh, "I was just anxious to pursue the color of the tea soup, but ignored the most basic details. Sister is really thoughtful, no wonder she was praised by the female official."

After hearing this, Zhao Wan'er looked up at the sunlight in the courtyard with a calm and profound gaze: "Whether it's making tea or being a person, only by keeping a calm heart can we truly see the direction. Everything we have now is nothing more than a test on the road to the future."

In the corner, Wang Yueru seemed out of place. She sat at the table, impatiently rummaging through the tea sets, her movements random and without any rules.

She picked up a coarse porcelain pot, grabbed a handful of tea leaves from the tea can, and threw them directly into the pot. The coarse tea leaves were scattered all over the table, making it look messy. She frowned slightly, with a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone: "What's so difficult about this tea ceremony? Isn't it just pouring water to make tea?"

The woman sitting next to her couldn't stand it anymore and whispered, "Sister Yueru, if you make tea this way, the tea leaves may be too hot and taste astringent."

Wang Yueru turned her head and glanced at her, sneering: "Isn't it just like that to brew tea? It's just a test, what's the fuss about?"

The woman was slightly startled, then lowered her head and said no more, obviously feeling helpless about her attitude.

Wang Yueru picked up the kettle and poured hot water directly into the teapot. The water flowed fast and the tea leaves were tumbling around. The boiling water quickly made the water in the teapot boil, and the tea leaves appeared messy in the pot. The tea soup, which should have been fragrant, became turbid.

She picked up the teapot carelessly and poured the tea into the cup, not even caring whether the water level was even. She wiped the tabletop casually, looking perfunctory.

At this time, a female official in dark green palace dress slowly walked to her table, glanced at the teapot and teacup, and her face instantly darkened.

"Wang Yueru." The female official's voice was low and cold, with a hint of unquestionable majesty, "The most important thing when brewing tea is to have a peaceful mind. If you are so careless, how can the tea bring out its original flavor?"

Wang Yueru's face changed slightly when she heard this, but she quickly raised her head and said disapprovingly, "Your Excellency is right. I was a little impatient just now. I will pay more attention next time."

The female official looked at her coldly, her eyes revealing dissatisfaction: "Impatient? The tea ceremony is all about calmness and attentiveness. If you don't even have this little bit of patience, how can you be competent for the important responsibilities in the future?"

Wang Yueru gritted her teeth, obviously dissatisfied, but she didn't dare to contradict the female official. She lowered her head and whispered, "Your Excellency is right, I will remember it."

The female official snorted coldly and pushed the teacup in front of her aside: "If you are so casual, why waste this fine tea? The art of brewing tea is not only a reflection of skill, but also a display of the human heart."

After the female official left, the woman sitting next to Wang Yueru couldn't help but whispered, "Sister Yueru, the female official is right. You were indeed a little casual just now."

Wang Yueru smiled coldly, with a hint of disdain in her tone: "It's just making tea, not going to war, why be so serious? Anyway, who the ladies like is not just based on this one time."

The woman was stunned for a moment, and then she retorted in a low voice: "But since we are taking part in the assessment, we should do our best. Regardless of success or failure, we can't just do it perfunctorily."

Wang Yueru waved her hand impatiently: "Just take your time making your tea. I'm not here just to get their praise."

After saying that, she pushed the teapot aside, leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked as if it had nothing to do with her.

On the other side, Zhao Wan'er saw this scene and couldn't help but sigh softly: "Some people always fail to understand that the attitude in the details can determine the final result."

Gu Qingping smiled slightly when she heard this, her eyes calm and she said, "Everyone has their own aspirations, we just need to focus on our own things."

In the courtyard, the aroma of tea gradually diffused, and the assessment was coming to an end.

Zhao Wan'er tidied the tea set on the table, her movements gentle and meticulous. She gently placed the last tea leaf into the teacup and covered it with a lid, her eyes gentle, as if she was looking at a treasure. She whispered to herself, "No matter what, you have to do your best, so that you won't have any regrets."

Gu Qingping passed by and heard her whisper. She couldn't help but stop and smiled: "Sister Wan'er, every time I hear you say these words, I feel much more at ease. You always make people feel a kind of quiet power."

Zhao Wan'er turned to look at her, a gentle smile on her lips: "Sister Qingping, true strength is not shown on the outside, but hidden in the heart. Every step we go through in this selection is to sharpen our character."

Gu Qingping nodded, looked at the female officials in the distance, and whispered, "Indeed. Although those critical eyes make us nervous, they also force us to examine ourselves. I believe that this is also the true meaning of the selection of the Crown Princess."

The two were talking when Su Jinyun came over from the other side. She held a cup of tea in her hand, with a confident look in her eyes: "Qingping, Wan'er, have you finished brewing your tea?"

Zhao Wan'er nodded and replied in a gentle voice: "It has been completed, but compared with Sister Jinyun's skills, I am afraid that my tea ceremony has many shortcomings."

Su Jinyun raised her chin slightly, her eyes gentle but confident: "Tea ceremony is not a competition of skills, but a kind of inner cultivation. Wan'er, your delicacy and Qingping's steadiness each have their own charm. I believe that the ladies can see our intentions."

Gu Qingping smiled lightly, with a thoughtful look in her eyes: "Sister Jinyun is right. However, I always feel that the real focus of the assessment is more than that."

After hearing this, Su Jinyun raised his eyebrows and asked in a low voice: "You mean, they are still observing our performance in other aspects?"

Gu Qingping nodded, a hint of deep meaning flashed in her eyes: "Maybe. Tea ceremony, calligraphy, cooking, and even speech and behavior are all to see whether our hearts are firm enough. This position requires not only talent, but also the courage to take responsibility."

Zhao Wan'er was slightly startled, and said softly: "Sister Qingping really sees further. I just want to do the things in front of me well, but I didn't think about these deeper meanings."

Su Jinyun lifted up the teacup and blew gently, with a hint of contemplation in his tone: "Perhaps, this is the most difficult part of this selection. We must not only show our own strengths, but also show our inner strength in every detail."

Unlike the other three, Wang Yueru sat in a corner, looking at her teacup with a complicated expression. The tea had already cooled down, and the tea leaves were floating on top, looking particularly messy.

She whispered to herself, "What a nuisance! What on earth are these people looking at? Isn't it just making some tea?"

The woman next to him asked cautiously, "Sister Yueru, what the lady-in-waiting just said to you... do you really not care?"

Wang Yueru turned around and glared at her, her tone revealing a hint of impatience: "So what if they care? Can they really eliminate me directly?"

The woman hesitated to speak, and finally just lowered her head to tidy up her tea set. After the tea ceremony test, Zhu Han and Zhu Biao walked and talked in the corridor. Zhu Biao held a record sheet in his hand, on which the female officials' evaluation of each woman was written.

"Uncle, although Wan'er is not quick, her tea is full of peaceful meaning. The female officials gave her high praise." Zhu Biao said in a low voice with a hint of approval in his tone.

Zhu Han nodded, his eyes deep: "She is indeed a gentle and delicate person, suitable for reconciling conflicts in the complex palace. However, whether she is qualified for the important task of the Crown Princess still needs more tests."

Zhu Biao continued to look through the records, frowning slightly: "As for Wang Yueru, her attitude... is simply shaking my head. The female officials almost unanimously agreed that she is impatient and unsuitable for this position."

After hearing this, Zhu Han snorted with a hint of coldness in his eyes: "If she is perfunctory even in such a small matter as making tea, then she doesn't deserve to enter the next round. Such people will be eliminated by themselves sooner or later."

Zhu Biao nodded in agreement, but then mentioned: "There is also Su Jinyun. Her tea skills are perfect. Although the female official pointed out that she was a little hasty, the overall evaluation is still very high."

Zhu Han smiled slightly: "Su Jinyun is a smart person. She knows how to show herself and how to hide her edge. But intelligence is not necessarily the most important thing. We also need to look at her patience and determination."

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment, and finally said: "Uncle, I always feel that although Qingping's performance is not ostentatious, she is the most stable. Her tea makes people feel at ease. Perhaps this is exactly the quality that the Crown Princess needs."

Ever since the women entered the palace, their seemingly peaceful lives have actually been turbulent.

Everyone is carefully dealing with daily assessments, while also observing the actions of those around them. Even in their free time, it seems difficult to truly relax.

In the afternoon, the sun shines on the stone path of the palace garden. Several women gather in a quiet study. They are practicing calligraphy, which is one of the daily compulsory courses. Gu Qingping lowers her head and concentrates on copying a small regular script. Her expression is calm, and her pen tip is smooth and steady.

Not far away, Zhao Wan'er was copying the "Lanting Preface". Her movements were gentle and her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was very attentive to every stroke. Occasionally, she looked up at Gu Qingping and couldn't help but whispered, "Sister Qingping, your handwriting seems to be getting better and better."

Gu Qingping smiled slightly and put down the brush in her hand: "Calligraphy requires a calm mind. If you practice more, you will naturally improve. Wan'er, your handwriting is also very good, especially the ending of this stroke, which is very artistic."

Zhao Wan'er's cheeks blushed slightly, and she said softly: "Thanks to my sister's guidance, I know that I should pay attention to the structure."

Su Jinyun, who was standing by, raised her head and said jokingly, "Qingping is such a good teacher. Wan'er, you are so serious, be careful that you will be better than your sister in the future."

Gu Qingping smiled faintly, with a look of tolerance in her eyes: "Jinyun, your handwriting is also very good, fluent and sharp, but sometimes it is too hasty, it would be better if it were a little slower."

Su Jinyun raised her eyebrows and said cheerfully, "Qingping, you are always so patient. I think that being too meticulous can sometimes make you fall into a quagmire."

Zhao Wan'er quickly tried to smooth things over: "Actually, everyone has a different style, and that's what makes it interesting."

As night fell, after dinner, the women gathered in groups of three or four to stroll in the courtyard. Several palace lanterns swayed slightly in the wind, casting mottled light and shadows.

Yurong took Gu Qingping's hand and asked in a low voice: "Sister Qingping, what do you think the next round of assessment will be?"

Gu Qingping shook her head and looked at the rockery in the distance: "No one can tell for sure, but no matter what it is, we must do it with all our heart."

Su Jinyun came from behind and heard the conversation between the two. She interrupted and said, "The next round of assessment will probably be more difficult. Have you noticed that the female officials have been secretly observing our daily words and deeds these days?"

Zhao Wan'er nodded, with a hint of worry in her tone: "I noticed it too. They even watched the details of how we eat and walk."

Gu Qingping said softly, "This is normal. We should not only show our talents, but also let them see whether our temperament is upright enough."

Yurong sighed a little discouraged: "These days are so tiring. I feel like I'm being scrutinized all the time."

Su Jinyun sneered: "Who asked us to come here for the selection of the Crown Princess? Those who don't want to be scrutinized should have gone home long ago."

This sentence made Yurong blush slightly, and she lowered her head and stopped talking. Zhao Waner comforted her softly, "Sister Yurong, Jinyun just speaks directly, don't mind it. In fact, it's not easy for each of us, but everyone's way of speaking is different."

Gu Qingping glanced at Su Jinyun, her tone still calm: "Jinyun is right, this road is indeed not easy to walk. But no matter what, we should support each other instead of making things difficult for each other."

After hearing this, Su Jinyun's eyes flashed slightly, and he didn't say anything more.

Unlike these peaceful conversations, Wang Yueru's life did not seem to be easy. She had an impetuous personality and often inadvertently revealed her disdain for others, which gradually isolated her from those around her.

"Sister Yueru, the female official just said that your gait needs improvement. You won't be angry, right?" a timid woman asked cautiously.

Wang Yueru rolled her eyes, her tone full of sarcasm: "They are just looking for trouble. Who would keep an eye on your walking posture every day?"

The woman whispered, "But this is an assessment. Every detail is important."

Wang Yueru sneered: "Important? I think you are all too cautious, just like thieves. It's better to go home and live in peace than to live like this."

After she said this, the women around her avoided her and dared not talk to her any more.

In the corridor in the distance, Zhu Han and Zhu Biao were hiding in the shadows, watching everything in the courtyard. Zhu Biao whispered, "Uncle, among these women, Qingping's steadiness makes me feel at ease, but Jinyun's confidence is also very attractive."

Zhu Han chuckled, with a hint of teasing in his tone: "You looked carefully. What do you think of Wan'er?"

Zhu Biao pondered for a moment and said, "She is gentle and delicate, and has a good temperament, but whether she can cope with the complex court life remains to be seen." (End of this chapter)