Hearing about the poetry competition two days later!
The next day, Qin Yuanzhang ordered rich nutritional meals prepared and packed into food boxes, sending them to Qin Yun via a servant!
Even knowing Qin Yun was not skilled in poetry, Qin Yuanzhang still cared for his son!
When Qin Yun received the food boxes, she knew it was Qin Yuanzhang's well-intentioned gesture, and felt deeply touched!
Upon opening the lid of the food box, a wave of savory aroma wafted out!
Sniffing… sniffing…
Qin Yun frowned deeply!
There was something wrong with the ingredients!
To verify her suspicions, Qin Yun picked up the food tray and began to smell it carefully!
The deeper she smelled, the colder Qin Yun's heart became!
If she wasn't mistaken, the ingredients had been poisoned with a powder made from venomous insects!
Previously, someone had poisoned her clothes; this time, it was the food.
The scent of the vermilion grass poison on her clothes!
And the insect powder within the food!
Thinking of this! Qin Yun touched her face!
She had a general idea of how to detoxify herself now!
Previously, she had only taken medicine to control the spread of the poison within her body!
Although the red spots on her face had faded slightly, the effect was not significant!
Qin Yun curled her lips and went to her desk, picking up paper and pen to write out the antidote formula!
As for why the food sent by Qin Yuanzhang was poisoned, it was likely that someone in the kitchen received news and, using Qin Yuanzhang's name, administered the poison.
This way, they wouldn't be suspected, and the poison could be administered smoothly!
She had to thank the person operating behind the scenes, who couldn't wait any longer.
She had expected to take some more time to identify the second poison, but she had discovered it so quickly! Qin Yun was overjoyed!
With the antidote, she wouldn't have to wait two months; she could recover in as little as ten days!
Although she didn't care about her own appearance!
Some things were not as she wished them to be; in any era, this was a world that judged by looks!
The next day!
Early in the morning, the Blue Mountain Academy was filled with students!
The poetry competition commenced soon after!
This competition was divided into three rounds!
The first round involved solving riddles. Only students who correctly solved the riddles could proceed to the Blue Mountain Academy!
Even students already enrolled in the academy had to participate; those who failed to solve the riddles could not proceed to the second round of the competition!
The second round was couplets, where opponents would be determined by drawing lots!
The third round was impromptu poetry, with the judges setting the theme. Only students who passed the second round could participate in the third round of the competition!
And the third round was the most crucial competition, as the judges would select ten of the most outstanding poems from these works. These ten poems would then be presented to the Emperor, who would finally rank them!
The first round, solving riddles, eliminated half of the students!
Qin Yun easily passed the first stage. Those who had intended to see her make a fool of herself could only shut their mouths upon seeing Qin Yun solve the riddles correctly!
The second round was for couplets!
Qin Yun remained calm and composed, her heart steady!
For the second round's lot drawing, Qin Yun casually picked a slip of paper and opened it.
Su Qingwen?
Qin Yun smiled!
It truly was a case of enemies meeting on a narrow road!
This Su Qingwen was Su Man'er's elder brother. She hadn't expected to encounter him in the second competition.
As far as she knew! Su Qingwen had been very well-trained by Su Tai and was accomplished in both literature and martial arts!
Many people in the capital were discussing that the top scholar two months from now would undoubtedly be Su Qingwen!
The top scholar, Su Qingwen?
To conclude so early was perhaps too premature!
Someone, without anyone noticing, glanced at the slip of paper in Qin Yun's hand. Upon seeing that Qin Yun was matched against the talented Su Qingwen, who was proficient in both literature and martial arts, they began to boast loudly in the crowd!
"Do you know who that ugly freak Qin Yun drew?" a random student asked mysteriously.
"No matter who it is! Qin Yun definitely won't pass this second round!" another student mocked.
"Qin Yun drew Su Qingwen; she's in deep trouble now!" the first student chuckled sinisterly.
Upon hearing that Su Qingwen was pitted against Qin Yun!
The entire assembly cast looks of "good luck to yourself" at Qin Yun!
It was as if the matter was settled; a duel between Qin Yun and Su Qingwen was practically seeking death!
Soon!
The rumors reached Su Qingwen's ears!
Qin Yun?
Heh heh! Does this person even deserve to compete with him?
It was clear that Su Qingwen did not take Qin Yun seriously at all!
Su Man'er, standing beside him, heard that Qin Yun was about to compete against her elder brother, Su Qingwen, and her heart bloomed with joy!
Wasn't this like an egg hitting a rock?
She had brought this upon herself!
"Brother, let Qin Yun taste what a crushing defeat is later!" Su Man'er said confidently. Her brother was accomplished in both literature and martial arts; competing in literary talent with a good-for-nothing like Qin Yun was truly demeaning to her brother.
"Don't worry, second sister; big brother won't disappoint you!"
"Man'er believes in big brother!" Su Man'er said proudly, constantly provoking Qin Yun from a distance.
Qin Yun shook her head speechlessly. These people were perhaps too confident!
Making conclusions before the competition even started, weren't they afraid of being slapped in the face?
However, something even more unexpected was yet to come for Qin Yun.
The students had secretly placed bets!
The vast majority bet on Su Qingwen to win and Qin Yun to lose!
Unaware of this, Qin Yun was suddenly bewildered by the appearance of Xie Jing'an right in front of her!
"Second Prince? You're competing too?" Qin Yun raised an eyebrow. She didn't believe this person was here for the poetry competition; he was definitely here to mock her!
"Qin Yun, do you know what everyone is saying about you behind your back? You're so carefree, still having the leisure to enjoy the scenery?" Xie Jing'an's face was darkened with frustration.
It was truly a case of the Emperor not being anxious, but the eunuch was!
Seeing Xie Jing'an's worried expression, Qin Yun suddenly burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Second Prince, let others say whatever they want, why worry so much?"
Looking at Qin Yun smiling happily, Xie Jing'an suddenly froze!
This young man was truly handsome when he smiled. If not for the red spots on his face, he would have been exceptionally beautiful!
Seeing Qin Yun's bright smile, Xie Jing'an couldn't help but curl his lips, perhaps not realizing that he was being infected by Qin Yun's smile.
"You're truly heartless. For all this prince's worrying about you!" Xie Jing'an complained.
Worrying about her?
She wouldn't believe this little tyrant had any conscience!
"When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth. There's no need to worry about this!"
Xie Jing'an's lips twitched. This person was truly confident. "Do you know who you're facing? Don't think you're so triumphant just because you solved the riddle and passed the first round. You'll be facing Su Qingwen shortly!"
Fearing that Qin Yun wouldn't take it seriously, Xie Jing'an repeated, "It's Su Qingwen, do you understand? He's hailed as the foremost talent in our Great Zhou Kingdom!"
Qin Yun picked at her ear, saying impatiently, "I understand, I understand. I'm so nervous my heart is about to jump out!" After speaking, she also asked Xie Jing'an, "Should my expression be like this to be correct?"
"Forget it, forget it. Do whatever you want!" Xie Jing'an suddenly leaned closer to Qin Yun and said, "Do you know that people are betting on you and Su Qingwen in private? They are all betting on Su Qingwen to advance, and you to be eliminated!"
Because he was close, Xie Jing'an smelled a faint fragrance on Qin Yun and exclaimed, "So fragrant…"