The Western Palace is usually quiet. The only noise that could be heard would be either from the birds chirping or the occasional laughter from the inhabitants of the place. There are also times when maids causes some stepping sounds, or the clanking of tea cups when the Empress Dowager has a visitor. Loud noises will only come when the Emperor requests an audience, or when there are special events like today. The usual silence of the Western Palace was filled with chatter and sounds of guqin being played by a musician.

The center of the music is from the best player of the Harem, the tenth concubine Bai Ai. Her hands fiddled through the string majestically creating a pleasant tune to the ears. The music is lively yet possesses a hint of naivety that is befitting to Bai Ai's character. Clad in blue robes, the maiden continued her play as the other concubines listened around her.

The cause of this special celebration is from the events that happened earlier. Turning back time, six hours before the current setting...

[SIX HOURS EARLIER...]

"May the Emperor live and reign for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand of ten thousand years!"

The crowd greeted the usual praise for their emperor. Yu XueQin sat on his throne, executing the usual meeting with the officials. The people inside the court listened as the officials discussed about the affairs of their realm and the stuffs related to agriculture and military. Each of the officials needed to report their progress daily to ensure that they are doing their job properly.

The only different in today's Imperial Court meeting is the twenty-one flower arrangements displayed in between the long flight of stairs and the bowing concubines. Each of the flowers has their designated numbers. Lang Yuan had his displayed in front of him earning glances to those who weren't able to witness the contest personally.

After a long while, the meeting is done. The officials retreated on their seats and the following event flowed flawlessly. Zhong Song, as the one who oversees the competition, carried a scroll again holding the total scores for the flower arrangement. The five judges are on the sides revealing no smiles to the expectant people on the court.

Zhong Song opened the scrolls and read the contents. There are no emotions from his eyes as he looked at the scores objectively. Clearing his throat, he announced the winners of the competition with the respected points that each will receive.

"The competition completed the five-hour cycle thus resulting to wonderful works of art. Each of the candidates presented their creativity, showcasing their expertise to the field of flower arranging as well as showing their selves in a disciplined manner. The following names are the winners of this competition. The first five winners will receive two points, while those who belong to top ten and up will get one point. Any candidate belonging to the lower ten will not receive any point."

This point system was decided base on the judges' review and to the spectators' value. The first five that gathered the highest points from the judges will receive one point. Their standing from the spectators' value will also give them another point if they managed to gather enough votes; this means that those who received two points are favored by both the judges and the people. While those who only have one point are either favored by any of the judges or the people.

Of course, there will be a chance that two candidates will have both points. Then the ranking will be decided to the number of votes and scores that was tallied. It means that the one who will get the top score managed to gather the highest score from the judges and the highest votes from the people. If one managed to get the highest score from the judges but wasn't able to convince a vote from the people, then the candidate will fall from the sixth place up to ten. Again, if all have scores, it would be dependent on the number that they received.

"I will be reading from the fifth place to the top," Zhong Song cleared his throat. "On the fifth place, Lady Bai. Fourth Place, Lady Sun Shuang. On the third place, Lady Ma RouLan. On the second place, Lady Ye WenQian. And on the first place..."

Zhong Song purposely halted, glancing to the side of the concubines and to Lang Yuan. He continued.

"On the first place... Lady Lou MuLan."

[BACK TO THE PRESENT]

The concubines congratulated their sister. Winning the first place is not an easy feat. They should be feeling bad or remorse, but letting Lou MuLan win is better than to have Lang Yuan. At least, Lou MuLan will protect them. Unlike the Empress Candidate who is only new to them.

Lady Kang, the empress dowager, is not present with the celebration. She is, after all, an important figure that can affect the competition so the Lady stayed on her room to rest. Lady Kang already saw their arrangements and was proud to have daughters with talents. She is not biased with the ladies so she retired earlier.

The fourth concubine, Sun Shuang, served a tea to Lou MuLan. After tasting Lang Yuan's tea, Lou MuLan thought that Sun Shuang's desserts are bland. But she didn't voice it out and just drinks it. She didn't want to tarnish her relationship with her sisters just because someone new has arrived.

"This sister is happy that you got the first place," Sun Shuang said.

"Thank you. I am also happy that you received the fourth place. It seems that we will be fighting the competition until the end," Lou MuLan commented.

"I will do my best to not disappoint Older Sister," Sun Shuang said in a determined voice. Then she looks at the playing maiden on the center of the hall. "Though, it seems that Sister Ai will score the best on the third competition."

"The third competition is still far. We should prepare for the next contest."

"I agree, older sister."

After all, the next competition would be arithmetic. It is a subject that not all are good at. Maybe the ladies knows how to use the abacus and calculate. Though, their efficiency is a bit slow than the scholars inside the court. They know that Lang Yuan has not attended any school in his life however; it doesn't mean that he's stupid.

Lou MuLan's view of Lang Yuan changed from that time when they crossed their paths and had tea with the Empress Dowager. And also the time when the last part of the first competition happened. Maybe Lou MuLan managed to balance her scores from the judges and the votes from the people. But there's no telling that she really did won the contest.

If the scoring is only based on the judges, Lang Yuan is no doubt the winner of the competition.

[BACK TO SIX HOURS AGO. THE CONTINUATION...]

The first competition is done. The called concubines are now aligned in front of the uncalled members to emphasize their achievement. Lou MuLan raised her head up with pride, smiling from ear to ear to show her brilliance. The four who followed behind her did the same, smiling as they managed to gather enough scores. One more wins and they will make it to the final fourth and fifth round.

JiDan looked restlessly from the throne. His mother did not make it to the first round. Lang Yuan still has his head lowered like the other concubines. He wondered if his mother is sad about the results. After all, he was expecting Lang Yuan to win.

Zhong Song cleared his throat again.

"Now, I will announce the people who earned the credit of the highest scores from the judges and the crowd. This means that the next five will be named based on the eighty percent score from the judges and twenty from the crowd. Keep in mind that the scores between the candidates are very close with a point zero-zero-one difference."

It means that the difference between the tenth place and the first place is only 0.001. If there are any change of votes, a score from the bottom can become the top for the next rounds.

"The highest garnered score from the judges holding the sixth place... is the Empress Candidate, Lang Yuan. The next..."

Eh? E-eh?

Lang Yuan looked up for the first time after having his name called. Eh? How? Why? Those are the questions that's been playing on his mind. He knows that he somehow flunked the flower arrangement by breaking the pot. Even though he did manage to create one, adding and subtracting the points from his unrefined behavior and unreadiness... he should at least receive a score of zero after cancelling the positives by negatives.

He is ready to receive the lowest score that's why he's not worried. He might look like worrying because he is bowing his head earlier, but thinking for the next matches, it is something that he can do. But to get the sixth place, and on top of that garnering the top scores from the judges...?

Unbelievable.

The youth is too focused on his thoughts that he didn't notice Zhong Song closing the first competition. His thoughts were only disturbed when one of the five judges stood up from their place. All of the attention was focused on a woman with a voluptuous body. She has her face covered with red veil, only showing her wonderful cerulean eyes. Her name is Tang Niu, an expert in flower arrangement from the other realm.

"Your Honor," Lady Tang cupped her hands whilst bowing facing the emperor. "This guest permits your Honor's permission to speak."

"Accepted," Yu XueQin replied.

"This guest is grateful," and Tang Niu faced the crowd again.

The beauty of this woman is enough to capture the hearts of the men. If most of the concubines inside the Imperial Harem wear thick robes decorated with the best colors and fabrics, their conservative appearance makes any men want to protect them. This 'innocence' makes them beautiful, like a flower covered with a cloth. However, Tang Niu is different. Not only does she wear the most provocative clothes but also her voice is very alluring. It is as if she is a predator making all men her prey.

Thanks to her concern of covering her face or else all men will start a war fighting for her.

Tang Niu walked down from her seat headed towards Lang Yuan's direction. Lang Yuan is wearing white robes with a bluish shade of clouds. These clothes made him look young, like an apprentice going to a cultivation trip. Tang Niu stopped at the front of the youth with a smile on her face. Lang Yuan's appearance made Tang Niu think of the 'real innocence' that's been lingering around him.

"Empress Candidate, I am Tang Niu from the realm of Andromeda, an Imperial Florist. I am impressed by your work that I gave you a perfect score in this contest. If the emperor permits, I would like to invite you in my garden to discuss about flowers and such. Your presence will be welcomed with the greatest honor as credit to my recognition for your talent," Tang Niu kneeled and bowed before Lang Yuan.

Everyone is speechless. Tang Niu is a prideful woman; on top of that, she is not from this realm. To bow before a human from the other realm means that she recognized Lang Yuan as the real winner of this contest.

Both JiDan and Zhong Song can't help but to look at each other as an uncle and niece with an approving smile on their face. Indeed, Lang Yuan created a wonderful creation in this round. His talent is not something that people can easily understand. One reason why he received small evaluation from the people is that his work is 'new'. And when there are 'new' things, nobody knows the criteria or level that it can be scored.

Not all 'new' are beautiful; however, it is fascinating enough to attract attention. Lang Yuan's work is beyond expectation that the score of one hundred is not enough to give, so the people did not give any score and placed their votes to the concubines. Yes, the reason why Lang Yuan only placed the sixth on this contest is that he received zero votes from the people.

Lang Yuan did not know what to do. He wanted to raise Tang Niu up but he didn't know the proper way of doing it. So he looked up in the throne and searched for the emperor's eyes. Incidentally, Yu XueQin is also watching him (from the time he entered until now). With a nod, the emperor gave him the permission to move.

"Lady Tang, it's my pleasure to receive your recognition. I will expect this event to happen in the near future," Lang Yuan answered.

Tang Niu smiled and raised her head up. This answer is expected.

"This guest hopes your victory in this competition. We will meet again," and Tang Niu excused herself and returned to her seat.

[BACK TO THE PRESENT...]

There's no way that Lang Yuan will win the contest if he didn't have the talent. By presenting him the defective goods, he will eventually take the last place. But it seems that his ability to adapt is far more better than they expected.

Bai Ai finished her playing. Some other concubine started playing for her turn. The maiden retreated to her group of friends and chatted. Lou MuLan only watched them with a bitter smile. After all, she's the only one who knows about changing the contents of the wooden boxes.

A shadow flickered on the side of the hall. The first concubine noticed it. She finished drinking her tea, told her sisters that she is tired, and will be back on her room to rest. The other concubines also did the same and finished their celebration. The ladies returned to their rooms leaving traces of the used cups and uneaten desserts. The cleaning maids tidied the place. 

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Yay! Another Update! Oooooh!

I'm planning to have at least a 100 chapters for this story. HA HA HA, I hope you won't get tired reading ha ha ha!