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Chapter 442: Chapter 442: The Last Unfairness

Ling'er gently picked up the thick book Zhong Shan had made.

It was a bound book with a title on the cover.

"The Adventures of Zhong Shan and Ling'er"

Seeing this title, the two women found it odd. Below the title was a small illustration—very peculiar, with two small figures that didn't look quite human, but somehow felt like they represented two people.

A man and a woman, both drawn very cutely with exaggeratedly large eyes, vaguely resembling Zhong Shan and Ling'er, but not quite. The style was unusual—clearly, these were cartoon characters!

Tian Ling'er looked at the illustrations with curiosity. They were very peculiar yet interesting. She gently opened the first page.

Inside the first page, there wasn't any elaborate prose but rather a series of simple drawings, each telling a story in sequence.

It was the same story Zhong Shan had told not long ago!

The illustrations exuded a sense of familiarity.

"Sister, look, this is Little Nanzi, haha, this is Little Nanzi when he's flustered. Look, his eyes are bulging out," Tian Ling'er exclaimed excitedly.

In the drawings, Nan Batian—referred to as Little Nanzi by Tian Ling'er—had his eyes comically popping out in an exaggerated expression that wouldn't be possible in reality. This exaggerated style elicited laughter from everyone.

In the casino scene, the villain winning a large amount of silver notes from 'Tian Ling'er' was followed by Zhong Shan's dramatic comeback. The other 'characters' showed exaggeratedly large mouths in shock, making Tian Ling'er and Nie Qingqing laugh uncontrollably.

The amusing style captivated Tian Ling'er, making it impossible for her to look away.

As Tian Ling'er flipped through the 'comic book,' engrossed in its charm, Nie Qingqing couldn't help but smile wryly. Zhong Shan's new ideas were endless. Just these past two months, she had encountered more novelty than she had seen in a century. Zhong Shan was truly a remarkable person.

While Tian Ling'er was fully absorbed in the 'comic book,' Nie Qingqing turned to look at the other three masterpieces.

Shao Feihou's work was a lifelike painting, incredibly vivid, with the figure of Tian Ling'er almost stepping out of the canvas. Zhao Tiansha's essay was filled with a powerful sense of explosiveness. Xiaoyao Hou's ghostwritten essay was the most awe-inspiring, offering profound insights at a glance.

Among the three, Xiaoyao Hou's ghostwritten piece was the most impressive. If this were an imperial exam, it would unquestionably take first place. Shao Feihou's painting was unconventional and highly innovative for a civil test. However, it fell slightly short compared to the Emperor's essay. Zhao Tiansha's essay, though extraordinary, couldn't match the Emperor's power or Shao Feihou's originality.

In Nie Qingqing's mind, of the three essays, the Emperor's was the strongest, and Zhao Tiansha's was the weakest.

However, Tian Ling'er seemed to have forgotten about the three masterpieces, engrossed in her comic book, laughing gleefully.

Nie Qingqing turned to look at Tian Ling'er, finding the situation peculiar. Zhong Shan's comic book could never be considered high art. It could be imitated by anyone, unlike the three masterpieces, which contained the 'intent, spirit, and realm' of three great masters, unique in the world.

Now, how could this be explained?

Tian Ling'er was completely engrossed in the comic book, ignoring the earth-shattering essays. Nie Qingqing found it absurd. What was it about this book that captivated Ling'er so?

The cute drawings, the exaggerated expressions, and the rollercoaster storyline resonated deeply with Tian Ling'er, giving the comic book an inexplicable allure that called to her.

Tian Ling'er was utterly absorbed in the comic book. When Zhong Shan had told the story, it was just a vague mental image, but now it was a tangible comic.

As she read, Tian Ling'er felt as if she were living the story, completely forgetting about the three essays awaiting her judgment.

When she saw 'Zhong Shan' sacrificing himself to save 'Tian Ling'er,' she felt her own tension rise.

Nie Qingqing shook her head, looking through the palace door at Zhong Shan outside. She was filled with admiration. Zhong Shan's understanding of human nature was extraordinary.

Tian Ling'er, despite her exceptional talent, didn't care for the sophisticated phrases that scholars admired. She valued what resonated with her heart. So, no matter how well-written the essays were, even the Emperor's, they couldn't compare to the storybook, the comic book, in Tian Ling'er's eyes.

Thus, Zhong Shan deliberately abandoned the advantage of writing an essay, choosing instead to directly target Ling'er's soft spot, captivating her completely. Writing skillfully didn't compare to writing cleverly. Realizing this, Nie Qingqing gave Zhong Shan another deep look of admiration.

"Sister, look! This is you, Zhong Shan drew you!" Tian Ling'er pointed at a picture of a beautiful woman riding a giant blue luan.

Nie Qingqing immediately came over to look. Seeing her own likeness in the comic, she felt a sense of amusement. The little beauty in the drawing looked so endearing.

The two women spent nearly an hour reading the comic book. When they finished, Tian Ling'er let out a long sigh of satisfaction, then, still craving more, wanted to read it again.

Seeing this, Nie Qingqing knew the winner was clear. Tian Ling'er was wholly captivated by Zhong Shan's comic, more than any grand essay could achieve. This clever approach had won her heart, making the decision unmistakable.

As the session concluded, Nie Qingqing finally addressed the gathered men, "The civil test is over. Based on Princess Ling'er's judgment, the winner is Zhong Shan."

The announcement caused a stir among the participants, but looking at Tian Ling'er's joyful expression as she clutched the comic book, it was evident that Zhong Shan's unconventional strategy had triumphed.