A few weeks later, madame Feng tells her that there is a customer who wants a painting to be done on a full scale and is paying 1,000 taels than the usual price. Song Ning who hear this is eager to pick up the job. With so much taels, they can move to a bigger better house.
"The customer will be wearing clothes, right?"
"Hmm no. He wants a nude picture of himself."
"What? I only paint females! You know that!"
"But Painter Hong, he is paying so much! It's easy job for you!"
"Yes but… i don't…"
"Look i already state the condition to the customer. He agree everything that i said."
"What is …"
"The usual that we always tell the customers."
"Add a few more conditions."
"What conditions?"
"He shall not talk to me. He shall do whatever i instructed. He will do this painting in your brothel. I will not go to wherever his home maybe. He shall not cross any boundary between male and female."
Madame Feng look at Painter Hong and fan herself slowly.
"Hmm i have note all that down. I will inform him and let him know of this."
After a week, madame Feng send message that the customer have agree to all the conditions. Painter Hong ask madame Feng to arrange the setting in the room.
The day arrives and Painter Hong dress in black robe and a veil hat that cover her face. She enters the quiet room with the servant of madame Feng showing her the way. A table have laid down with all the color tools that she needs. A huge paper lay on the table. She sit down and adjust her dress and veil hat. The Servant knock the door of the other room and he slowly slide the door. The other room is set up in a casual bed on the floor with a colorful folding screen at the back. On the sides are flower vase and books. Cushions and pillows are place around casually. She look at the room and think nothing unusual about it but a man in white robe walks in. His servant assist to arrange the blanket and pillow for his master to lay on. Painter Hong look at the young man's back which is facing her. His long hair is exceedingly long reaching the bottom of his butt. His servants run up to him and help his master to remove the white robe. Soon the man is naked. His muscular back is shown to Painter Hong. She feel that her face is getting hot. She look to her left and point to the window. The servant of madame Feng hurry to push open the window to allow the wind to blow in. Painter Hong look in front of her to see a naked man showing off his manhood in all glory. He now sits on the bed with the blanket casually drop around one of his leg. While the other leg is bend up. His body is facing her. She try not to stare at his manhood and look at his face. A proud aristocrat look he have. A high long nose, dark eye brows with heavy dense lashes. His eyes are like an eagle, sharp and piercing. His face is pale and his chin looks like it can cut through papers. His long arms are pale and thus his veins are showing. His long fingers are somehow enchanting like his features on his face.
For a long time there is no sound from anyone. Occasionally only the sound of footsteps from the servants. Painter Hong keep drawing without interruption. The wind that blows in is welcoming as the heat that is building up is annoying her. She look at him and try to capture everything that she see. However such a big scale of painting is not possible to finish within a day.
His servant occasionally brings the tea and some small bites for his master to eat. He even massage the muscles of his master. His master eat with elegance and look at the fully cover master in front of him. Whoever the wind blows, the veil on the hat will open to show a small feature of her face. Her almond shape eyes looks attractive and her eyes sparkles when she look at him. He even notice there is a mole near her eyes. He lick his lips and she see that. Painter Hong quickly look down and continue her work. The long he stays in the same room with this mysterious painter the harder it gets for him. Soon his servant notice that his master is fully sexually aroused. He look at the painter who doesn't seems to notice that. He wonder if he should cover for the master. Before he can do anything, he see his master reaching down to touch his manhood and he master look at him sharply. Immediately he look down knowing not to do anything. While Painter Hong keep drawing and occasionally drink her tea. She did not notice anything till she look up to see her subject touching himself. Her brush remain in the air as she stare. She see his fair hands rubbing his manhood and touching his testicles. His face have an ecstasy that she did not understand. Like an ice frozen in place, she did not move for a long time. He sit up and continue to touch himself. His release his hand from his manhood while sitting on his legs that are pry open wide. Suddenly he see her standing up. Without a word, she walk out. Painter Hong walk fast out of the room. She feel dizzy at what she have seen. She ask the servant to show her another room to rest. While inside the room, the young man walk to the table and look at what she have draw. She have drawn a detail feature of his face. She have capture the arrogant look of him. He smile.
"She is indeed a very good painter. Ah Ding, go tell the madame that i will go home for today. I am tired. I will come back the same timing as today. After that get my clothes."
"Yes your highness."
The second day, Painter Hong wears the same outfit. Everything is the same but the subject after awhile of sitting down, he moves around by stretching. Painter Hong have already remember so much about him. Thus she just draw as much as she wants and color will be apply after the whole picture is complete. After a long time he stands up. He look at his servant and signal to him that he wants his outer garment. His servant hurry to assist to put on the outer garment. The young man walk towards the painter without fixing the garment. He walk behind Painter Hong and look at what where she have progress to. Her hat is big thus he actually sit next to her so that he can see what she is doing. Painter Hong stop and look at the man sitting next to her. She is thinking at least he have an outer garment on. At that moment, he look at her through her veil.He move closer and give a smug smile. He reach out to touch her hand that is holding her brush. She retract her hand and look at him with dislike.
"I am not that bad when you get to know me."
Immediately she stands up and look at madame Feng's servant. She wants to walk out but her subject stands up and grab her wrist. His eyes is fill with anger. Painter Hong is afraid yet she act she is unconcerned with his attitude.
"Speak!"
She ignore him and shake his hands off. She walk out of the room. The servant follow behind in a hurry.
"Your highness… please don't be angry…"
He turn to stare at his servant. He slowly gets up and he raise his arms up. His servant hurry over to dress up his master.
That evening, Painter Hong removes her hat and tells madame Feng that the male customer have broken the rules. She will not continue the painting. Madame Feng fan herself slow and pour the tea into the cups. She place one in front of Painter Hong.
"Then according to the rules, you have to pay double the penalty."
Painter Hong suddenly realise that she have forgotten this rule. She look down.
"Look Painter Hong, this is a small matter. Continue the painting without the subject. I believe you have drawn all the details that you need. The rest is to be color. So there is nothing to it. I will inform … him that he doesn't need to come in. The painting will complete in seven days time. What do you think?"
Painter Hong sits there quietly without a word. She takes a sip and nod her head. For the next few days, she spend her days painting and applying on colors in the quiet courtyard. Madame Feng allow a servant to assist whenever Painter Hong needs help. By the sixth day, she complete everything. She hangs up the painting and wait for it to dry. Feeling satisfied, she spin around the courtyard with her arms open wide. Her head lay back and she smile with her eyes close. Soon she will have a lot of money. Soon she can move away with all the heartache.
Meanwhile her subject is loitering around in the background watching her in the upper deck as he sip his tea. Everyday he watch the painter working on his painting. He wonder what does it takes for her to talk to him.
"Her voice must be as wonderful as how she looks… don't you think so eunuch Ding?"
"I dare not to say your highness… However i have to remind you that we have only …"
"I know i know… just go and find out about Painter Hong. As much as you can."
Eunuch Ding bow and walk out of the room. While he continue to watch Painter Hong from the upper deck. He smile as he watch her hum a song under her breath.
"How will she sound … under me?"
His phoenix eyes sparkles with excitement. His full lips wet with excitement as he look at the face of the woman that excites him.