Rebirth: Bai Xueyun's
50-Precious fan

Shallowly, a poetry exhibition is a gathering of married women and young women in the capital to share poetry and appreciate the beauty of flowers.

But basically, it was a social activity for wives to get to know young women who might become their daughter-in-law one day, and to help each other.

Although women are not allowed to interfere in politics, each wife has influence over her own husband. Therefore, if one needed something from a high-ranking official, he would take this opportunity to declare his need to the wife of the official and ask her to pass on the request.

This way, they will get what they want most. Moreover, it would not be accused of colluding. Therefore, it was supported by the husbands.

While Xueyun was looking for the source of that evil gaze, she saw Zhuo Meimei not far from there. A girl who was about fifteen years old and Zhuo Meimei stood next to him.

Xueyun knew this was the half-sister of the original owner of this body, Bai Meilan.

Zhuo Meimei looked at Xueyun as well. He looked at her sharply without hiding his disgust towards her.

Xueyun was not upset at all.  He even smiled politely at her.

Bai Meilan looked timid and only glanced at Xueyun at a glance.

The poetry exhibition was hosted by the daughter of the Minister of Religious Affairs, who did his job very well as he had long been accustomed to such events.

The poetry exhibition is divided into two sessions, and the first session is a poetry contest. This session is an opportunity for young unmarried women to show their talents, while married women usually do not stand out.

Each month, there will be a champion in a poetry contest, and the following month, another young woman will challenge a champion with a particular theme.

It just so happened that August, which was the beginning of autumn, so the theme of this contest was autumn.

The daughter of the religious minister, Ouyang Wanyan, introduced the theme briefly. And then, he fixed his gaze on Xueyun, saying with a smile, "This is the first time that prince Chen's empress has come. Let's start with him."

The women below echoed.

Xueyun looked up in shock. Ouyang Wanyan smiled at her gently, saying, "Your Majesty, please."

Xueyun was forced onto the stage, but she was not afraid at all. Waving the folding fan in his hand gently, he said with a smile, "Everyone present is extremely talented. I guess I better not show off in front of you. Miss Ouyang, please continue."

In any way he would never write a poem.

Ouyang Wanyan said in a joking tone, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. It's just for entertainment. No matter what poem you make, no one will judge."

"I'm sorry, but I'm not educated enough to write poetry."  Xueyun. He was honest and forthright, as if he did not see the sneering laughter coming from below.

Why would he come to a poetry salon if he didn't know how to write poetry?Isn't his reputation famous enough? Ouyang Wanyan did not expect Xueyun to be so easy, which made her feel awkward at the moment. Inadvertently, he looked at the folding fan in Xueyun's hand and found the painting style on the fan somewhat familiar.

"Your Majesty, may I see your folding fan?" The painting on the fan looked so familiar that Ouyang Wanyan could not help but ask.

Xueyun did not know why she was interested in the fan that Chen had painted, but she handed it to him anyway.

Ouyang Wanyan picked up the fan with both hands and looked for signatures and seals on the fan, but there was no sign of them. And then, he observed the painting carefully for a long time before exclaiming, "This is an authentic work of the Hermit on Mount Lantian!"

Li Hengyuan was puzzled, 'Why would Chen's painting be an authentic work of the Hermit on Mount Lantian?'

He knows nothing about painting. He did find this painting beautiful, but it never crossed his mind that it would be messed up as an authentic work of a famous artist.

"Young Miss Fu, please help to authenticate this." Not receiving an answer from Xueyun, Ouyang Wanyan asked Fu Huaran for help.

After hearing that, Xueyun turned her head to look at Fu Qingchen in confusion. After a while, she finally remembered that Fu Huaran used to be a famous talented woman in the capital.

Fu Huaran approached and asked Xueyun, "Your Majesty, may I see it?"

"Ms." Xueyun nodded.

Fu Huaran took the folding fan from Ouyang Wanyan with both hands. Xueyun noticed that Fu Huaran's eyes shone as she touched the folding fan.

His solitude and distant temperament were tinged with a hint of affection, which eventually made him seem mortal. When he was with the son of the Minister of Finance at the gate of Yunshu Park, he had a similar look.

Fu Huaran observed the folding fan carefully, and Xueyun could feel that she liked it very much.

About ten minutes later, Fu Hauran returned the folding fan to Xueyun, "Your Majesty, please bring it back."

As soon as the folding fan left his hand, the aloof and distant temperament found its way back to Fu Huaran, but his gaze was still fixed on the fan in Xueyun's hand involuntarily.

"Young Miss Fu, do you like her?"  Ask Xueyun.

Fu Huaran did not try to deny it at all. "The painting of the Hermit on Mount Lantian is very hard to come by. Of course, I like it."

"Well, then it's yours." Xueyun gave the folding fan to him and said. "Since this is a treasure, it should be in the hands of someone who likes it."

Fu Huaran hesitated for a long time before finally giving in to the desire in her heart and reaching out to take out the folding fan. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"But ..." Xueyun suddenly raised her voice.

Fu Huaran looked at him and held the folding fan louder involuntarily.

Sensing how much he cared about the folding fan, Xueyun smiled, saying, "But I want something in return. You need to write a poem for me. Since it's the opening poem, I can't let everyone down, can I?" With that, Xueyun even raised her eyebrows at Fu Huaran.

"Good." Fu Huaran saluted as she replied.

With that, Xueyun passed on her duties to Fu Huaran. Fu Huaran had truly lived up to her reputation as a famous talented woman in the capital. With an autumn theme, he composed a majestic and serene poem, which won applause and cheers from the audience.

After Fu Huaran and Xueyun went down, the women came to present their poems one after another.

However, Xueyun did not pay attention to what they were saying, as Fu Huaran's newly composed poem made her fall into contemplation.

In fact, any poem could reveal the inner world of its composer, and Fu Huaran's poetry was no exception. Although Fu Huaran tried very hard to suppress himself, as a person who had studied psychology and even obtained a psychotherapist certificate, Xueyun could feel the ambition hiding behind the poem.

Despite her solitude and distant temperament, Fu Huaran was actually rather ambitious, so she would not settle for being someone else's wife without accomplishing anything in her lifetime. Instead, he wanted to spread his wings and fly up into the sky like an eagle.

'This woman is contradictory and attractive.'  Xueyun thought to herself.

So, what and who held Fu Huaran's wings and stopped him from flying high?

.....