Rebirth and Reversal of Fortune

Chapter 467 Judging the Controversy

The court talent competition was in full swing, but unexpected controversies arose during the judging process.

As the competition neared its end, the judges began evaluating and scoring each contestant's performance. Everything was proceeding smoothly until a serious disagreement arose among the judges regarding the scores of two contestants.

One is a highly regarded noblewoman whose musical skills are superb, her playing flowing smoothly and expressing emotions with delicate subtlety. The other is a palace maid of humble origins whose dance is full of innovation and vitality, bringing a fresh visual impact.

The judges held differing opinions and argued endlessly.

"The young lady's piano skills are impeccable; she deserves to win," one of the judges said.

“But the palace maids’ dance was more creative and captivating, and should be given a higher score,” another judge countered.

The emperor and empress were also caught in a dilemma, unsure of what to do.

At this moment, everyone's eyes turned to Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling, hoping that they could make a fair judgment and quell the controversy.

Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling knew the weight of their responsibility, so they decided to carefully review the performances of the two contestants and make a fair judgment.

They first watched the noble lady's piano performance again, and Xiao Ling nodded slightly: "This lady's piano skills are indeed superb, and her technique is skillful."

Su Jinxiu said, "But the expression of emotions seems to be slightly lacking, and it lacks a bit of soul."

Next, they reviewed the palace maids' dance.

A hint of appreciation flashed in Xiao Ling's eyes: "This dance is full of vitality and is a rare innovative work."

Su Jinxiu also agreed: "Moreover, the passion and effort she showed in the dance were truly moving."

However, making a final ruling is no easy task.

Various factions within the palace also began to operate covertly, attempting to influence Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling's decisions.

The noble lady's family sent people to pressure Xiao Ling: "General, if you can help the lady win the championship, you will be richly rewarded in the future."

Xiao Ling firmly refused: "This matter concerns fairness, and I will never show favoritism."

On the palace maid's side, some of her supporters pleaded with Su Jinxiu: "Madam, palace maids come from humble backgrounds. It would be very difficult for them to rise to prominence through this opportunity. We hope that you will grant our request."

Su Jinxiu said firmly, "Fairness resides in the hearts of the people, and I will definitely make a fair judgment."

Under immense pressure, Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling repeatedly discussed and weighed the pros and cons.

“My lord, we cannot be swayed by external factors; we must judge based on the contestants’ actual performance,” Su Jinxiu said.

Xiao Ling nodded: "What you say is absolutely right, Madam. We must uphold justice."

Ultimately, they made a decision.

Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Su Jinxiu stepped onto the stage, cleared her throat, and announced, "After careful evaluation, the champion of this talent competition is... the palace maid!"

These words caused an uproar in the audience.

The noblewoman's family was furious, while those who supported the palace maid cheered.

However, Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling were not swayed by these voices; they explained in detail the basis and reasons for their judgment.

"The palace maids' dance not only showcased their superb skills, but more importantly, their innovation and enthusiasm brought us a completely new experience. While the noble ladies' musical skills were excellent, they were slightly inferior in conveying emotions," Xiao Ling said.

Their explanations were reasonable and well-founded, and gradually, people began to understand and accept the result.

However, the controversy did not end there.

The noblewoman harbored resentment and decided to seek revenge when the opportunity arose.

"Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling, you have made me lose face. I will not let this go."

The palace maids, on the other hand, were deeply grateful to Su Jinxiu and Xiao Ling and became their loyal supporters.

The situation in the court became more complicated and delicate because of this controversy over the judgment.