Chapter 372: Unless You Can Defeat Me

When she heard it was for Class B, Qin Ying smiled. "That’s simple. I’m quite sure I can get a spot in Class B."

Gu Fei raised an eyebrow. "Does that mean you agree, Miss Qin?"

Qin Ying snorted. "You wish."

"I can give you the spot, but only if you can defeat me!"

Gu Fei frowned. ’I had originally thought that as long as I could get the spot, what’s the harm in playing along with this Miss Qin? It’s not like I care about winning or losing.’

’But defeating Qin Ying in the four arts—zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting—that’s impossible.’

Gu Fei sighed. "Never mind. It doesn’t seem like you’re being sincere, Miss Qin."

"I’m just a farm girl. I’ve had to struggle to make a living since I was young. How could I compare to you, Miss, who was learning characters at three and reading by five? My family couldn’t even afford paper and brushes, let alone the money for a zither."

"So how could I have ever learned the four arts?"

Qin Ying was taken aback. She’d never imagined someone could be too poor to even afford paper and brushes.

She, on the other hand, was very particular. Her ink had to be the pine-soot variety from Huizhou, her paper the Jade Plate kind from Xuanzhou. She owned several famous inkstones, and her brush holder was stuffed full of brushes of all sizes, made from wolf, goat, and rabbit hair.

Hearing the melancholy in Gu Fei’s voice, a strange feeling washed over her.

She felt she ought to pity the woman before her, but this woman was as beautiful as a painting—so beautiful, in fact, that Qin Ying was wildly jealous. She just couldn’t bring herself to feel any pity.

Qin Ying pushed aside these pointless thoughts and refocused. Gu Fei had finally agreed to a competition, and there was no way she would let this opportunity slip by.

She would defeat her fair and square, in front of everyone!

She would prove that her title as the most talented woman in Ping’an City was no empty boast.

She would show Young Master Su who was truly the woman of both talent and beauty, the one worthy of his heart!

Qin Ying thought for a moment. "I never said we had to compete in all four arts. You only need to choose one of them. I can see you know how to write and compose poetry, Miss Gu. Surely that’s acceptable?"

Gu Fei’s eyebrow shot up. "Are you saying, Miss Qin, that out of the four arts—zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting—I can choose any one I like?"

Qin Ying lifted her chin proudly. "That’s right. Any one of them."

’In the four arts, she might not have reached the level of a true master, but compared to other girls her age, she was a standout in every single one. Her grandfather himself said her calligraphy had the air of a great master.’

’She had practiced the zither without fail for over ten years.’

’She had studied painting under a famous master since childhood and had already developed her own unique style.’

’Her skill in Go was perhaps a bit weaker than the others, but she had few rivals among her peers. Not only were there instructors at the academy who couldn’t beat her, but even the highly skilled Su Chen had once lost to her.’

’She refused to believe she couldn’t win against a mere farm girl who couldn’t even afford paper and brushes!’

Gu Fei lowered her head, pondering for a moment. "Alright. We’ll compete in one of the four arts."

’If I win, I get a spot for free. If I lose, there’s no penalty. What’s not to like?’

"But what if, by some stroke of luck, I win? You won’t go back on your word, will you, Miss Qin?"

Before Qin Ying could speak, the maid beside her finally couldn’t hold back. "What kind of person do you take our mistress for?"

Gu Fei glanced at the maid, a smile playing on her lips. "Well, I don’t know your mistress, do I? It’s only natural that I ask a few questions."

Qin Ying was also a little irked. "Rest assured, Miss Gu. I, Qin Ying, am not someone who goes back on her word. If you win, I will do everything in my power to get you a spot in Class B."