Understanding

The discussion was still going on. The examiner on the stage had already shown the painted scrolls to everyone to prove the fairness of the result.

Fan Liu'er and Zhao Yan's paintings were of the same style. They both depicted the blooming chrysanthemums in the garden in autumn. To be fair, they were quite beautiful, but the artistic conception was too ordinary, like a plain - Jane dress without any fancy embroidery. So they naturally got the lower rankings.

Qin Qing painted a "Red Fairy", a large chrysanthemum. This was probably a type of chrysanthemum she was familiar with. In the scroll, only this single chrysanthemum was depicted, with every detail clearly shown, as if it were about to jump out of the paper. She took a different approach, completely leaving aside the talk of artistic conception and charm, and simply showing off her painting skills. A "Red Fairy" was vividly presented on the paper, and it was truly beautiful. But the assessment wasn't just about painting skills; it also tested the artistic conception. So no matter how beautiful this chrysanthemum was, it could only get the third place.

Soon, it was Ye Amy's turn. Ye Amy bit her lip and sat upright next to Chen Ruoqiu. She tried to maintain a smile on her face, but her fists were clenched tightly. In the past, at this time, she would have been smiling gracefully, accepting everyone's sincere praise and envy. But now, this "second - class B" was like a sharp slap in the face, making her feel that everyone was looking at her with mockery and ridicule.

Ye Amy painted a withered chrysanthemum. In the howling wind and rain, many petals of the chrysanthemum in the courtyard had fallen, but the remaining few petals were still firmly attached to the branches, standing straight, just like a noble and upright person with great integrity. And there were two lines of poetry written beside it: "Rather die with fragrance in the branches, never be blown down by the north wind."

This painting could be said to have a lofty concept. Generally speaking, from the painting to the person, the withered chrysanthemum in the painting had a noble quality, and the painter must also be seen as an upright and noble - minded person. The chief examiner, the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Zhong Ziqi, loved such talented and noble - character people the most. If Ye Amy's painting couldn't get the "first - class", it was really hard to imagine what Ye Lily had painted.

"The painting is so good? Why is it only second - class B?" Bai Wei exclaimed. "I really don't understand."

Chen Ruoqiu also couldn't figure it out. At first, she thought Ye Amy was a bit nervous today and had taken the wrong path. But when the painting was taken out, she knew her daughter hadn't made a mistake. Just like in previous assessments, it was indeed worthy of the first - class. But why was the result different?

Ren Wanyun was gloating. Ye Amy was talented and always outshone Ye Xin in the assessments. Now that Ye Amy was having a hard time, although she wasn't happy that Ye Lily had won the first place, since it had nothing to do with her, she was more than happy to watch the show.

The examiner on the stage asked two young boys to unfold the scroll, and the commotion suddenly stopped.

The painting paper was large, but Ye Lily's painting had a lot of blank space. Her painting skills were not outstanding. So she just roughly painted a distant view, but unexpectedly, it had a magnificent and grand atmosphere, like a vast ocean stretching to the horizon.

On the scroll, there were boundless yellow sands, a setting sun spouting blood - red light, a broken sword standing in the loess, and a bunch of white chrysanthemums under the sword.

Here, the chrysanthemums seemed to be just a small ornament, so small that you could hardly see the veins of the petals. But in this painting, it was like the finishing touch of a dragon - painting, with a desolate and sad feeling bursting out.

Everyone present was quiet for a moment. Through the paper and brush, they seemed to be able to feel the desolation, tragedy, and the helpless struggle.

It was war.

Chen Ruoqiu and Ye Amy both trembled. After seeing clearly what was painted on the scroll, they knew there was no chance of turning the situation around.

Yes, Ye Amy was indeed elegant in taste and her style was not vulgar. She could show both character and nobility. But Ye Lily's painting completely transcended the "individual". If Ye Amy was using chrysanthemums to praise people, Ye Lily was using flowers to express her aspirations. How could the emotions of an individual compare with the cruelty of war?

No wonder the examiners had been arguing and couldn't come to a conclusion for a long time. They probably never expected such a magnificent and powerful painting to come from the so - called "blockhead" Ye Lily.

The chief examiner, Zhong Ziqi, said, "Student Ye Lily, come up and tell us why you painted this picture."

Every student who got the "first - class" had to talk about their feelings about winning. But today, asking Ye Lily to talk about the reason for painting was naturally because everyone didn't believe she could create this painting. They thought she might have gotten the idea from somewhere else.

Ye Xin smiled and whispered to Yi Peilan beside her, "Now she's going to be exposed."

"But is this really not her painting?" Yi Peilan was a bit confused. "We all saw it just now. She painted it stroke by stroke herself."

"Her painting skills are not outstanding, and as for the artistic conception, who knows if someone gave her pointers." Ye Xin looked disdainfully at Ye Lily, who was walking onto the stage. "I've lived with her for so many years. I know what she can do. Academician Zhong asking her to explain the reason for painting, I'm afraid she won't be able to say anything and will lose all her face again."

Yi Peilan smiled when she heard this. "I said so. There's no way she could become a talented woman so quickly. She probably invited an expert to give her advice in order to attract that -" Her eyes glanced ambiguously at the direction of Prince Ding in the male relatives' seats. "Ye Lily has really gone to great lengths for him."

Ye Xin's face stiffened. She suppressed her unhappiness and said, "Let's just wait and see."

On the stage, Ye Lily looked quietly at the unfolded scroll. She slowly stretched out her hand and, under the surprised eyes of everyone, stroked the painting.

"The reason I painted this picture is that I heard my father say that every year on the battlefield, how many heroic young men die in the line of duty, their bodies wrapped in horsehide and buried in the yellow sand. And because the journey is so far, they can only be buried on the battlefield. At that time, there are no chrysanthemums in the deserts of the northwest or the grasslands of the northern border. Chrysanthemums bloom in the warm south and in the prosperous capital city. Here, there is peace and prosperity, and people don't have to worry about food and clothing, but it comes at the cost of the lives of the border soldiers."

The discussion gradually stopped, and everyone's eyes were focused on the purple - clothed girl.

Her eyes were calm, and she told the story as if she were a bard singing a ballad. "My father once said that the soldiers who died in the war couldn't even have a bunch of white chrysanthemums after their sacrifice. There are no flowers blooming on the battlefield, and the soldiers never even experienced a proper mourning. And their wives and children can only wear white chrysanthemums on their heads and offer them from afar in their hometown."

"I thought that all of you here can enjoy the chrysanthemums in peace because the brave young men are guarding the border. Unfortunately, I can't do much for them. All I can do is paint a bunch of white chrysanthemums in front of a pile of loess on the scroll to comfort the heroic souls."

The girl stood in the wind, her eyes clear. Her words were sonorous and forceful, as if her voice was the only clear and pleasant sound in the world, like the morning bell and evening drum, striking everyone's hearts.

Ye Lily slightly lowered her eyes.

The royal family of Mingqi wants to deal with the noble families, especially the Ye family, doesn't it? But the world is big, and people have eyes to see and ears to hear. Blocking people's mouths is more difficult than blocking a river. Since the royal family wants to target the General's Mansion, she will let the whole world see.

Look, the meritorious deeds the Ye family has won with their lives, the city walls of Mingqi that the Ye family has guarded with their lives. Now, you noble children are enjoying peace and prosperity in the capital, all built on the flesh and blood of the soldiers on the battlefield!

Treading on the blood of the soldiers, does the royal family of Mingqi still dare to openly suppress the Ye family?

If you dare, don't be afraid of the eyes of the world!