Ten thousand taels of silver were in my hands for just two days. After three thousand taels were used to repair the house, a hundred taels were spent on entertaining the gate guards with wine, and the remaining money was all donated to the gambling house. For someone as clumsy at gambling as I am, losing money is much easier than winning it.
My ability to lose money made everyone at the gambling house feel ashamed. It wouldn't take long before this would spread all over the streets and alleys of Qin Capital.
Since I arrived in Qin Capital, I have been living a life of extravagance and debauchery, which has successfully eliminated Crown Prince Yan Yuanji's caution. The eight guards at the gate are no longer as strict as they were at first, and the three of us can come and go freely in the embassy. Yan Yuanji naturally wouldn't let me starve on his territory of the Great Qin, so the waiters from Linxian Building still deliver food to me every day. However, the quantity and quality of the food have 明显 decreased significantly, and can only be described as coarse and inferior.
I have been accustomed to a life of luxury in the palace, and trying this kind of life for the first time, I feel an unusual sense of novelty.
Watching me eat the coarse food sweetly, Sun San couldn't help but sigh and put down the bowl and chopsticks in his hand: "Cai Xue, go to the west 厢 and fetch some ginseng for Master to make a bowl of ginseng soup."
Cai Xue bit her lower lip lightly, looking melancholy: "The ginseng Master brought from Da Kang has been used up..."
Sun San was surprised: "There should be a lot, how could it..."
I smiled and explained, "I'm not used to the peculiar taste, so I gave the ginseng to the guards at the gate."
Sun San stared at me in shock, those ginseng roots were selected from the palace and were of the finest quality, with a minimum value of a thousand ounces of silver. I didn't expect to quietly give them all away. Even if I spent ten thousand ounces of silver, he wouldn't care, but for a physician, the value of these herbs cannot be measured in money.
Seeing Sun San's complex expression of anger at my lack of struggle and sorrow for his own misfortune, I secretly smiled. I have always wondered what could have made Sun San abandon everything to accompany me to Qin. I firmly believe he must have a good reason. Based on my understanding of Sun San over these days, if he doesn't want to talk, no one can get anything out of his mouth.
Sun San actually said something that made me feel guilty: "If you, the young master, don't like to eat it, that's fine. But Cai Xue is weak in constitution and needs to take tonics..." Ah! He heaved a long sigh.
Snow hurriedly said, "My body has long since recovered, Master Sun, there is no need for you to worry about me!" In her haste, she forgot to hide her daughter's identity, for in front of Sun Sanfen, there was no need to hide it. When he was treating Snow's injuries, he already knew her secret.
I looked at the pale Snow and then at the simple food on the table. I hadn't considered others' situations and feelings before doing my own thing.
I stood up.
Snow still thought that Sun Sanfen's words had made me truly angry. She said softly, "Master..."
I shouted, "Collect snow! Prepare ink, paper, brush, and inkstone for me, and I'll take you out for a stroll!"
Qixi Wang Yan Yuanzong has a meeting hall on the Wang Que Street in the eastern city of Qin capital. There is a natural earthen mound here, which the locals have given an elegant name, 'Zhu Ying 丘'. It is the highest point in the city of Qin, and Yan Yuanzong's meeting hall is located on top of this mound.
Yan Yuanzong is particularly fond of elegant pursuits, and he is proficient in playing the qin, playing chess, calligraphy, and painting. However, when it comes to mastery, he is far from it. In his leisure time, he would gather with his guests under the 'Zhu Ying 丘' to compose poems and paint. His passion for collecting famous people's calligraphy and paintings has almost reached an obsession. Under his influence, the area around 'Zhu Ying 丘' has become a treasure trove for literati and artists. Many people simply set up stalls and sell calligraphy and paintings here, hoping to catch the attention of Qixi Wang. If fortunate enough to become one of his guests, one could rise to fame overnight.
With my current status, I naturally have no chance to enter Yan Yuanzong's meeting hall. Cai Xue and I walked around the streets below the 'Zhu Ying 丘', and the calligraphy and paintings we saw were mostly of poor quality and shoddily made.
I stopped at a calligraphy and painting stall near the Qiwang Mansion, where the calligraphy and paintings were written with a round and smooth brush, with elegant and varied postures. The words were filled with the essence of books and scrolls, and among all the stalls, they should be considered the best. From the customers by the stall, it was clear that his business was the best. I said to the middle-aged student who was setting up the stall, "Give me a hundred taels of silver, and I'll write you a calligraphy for you!"
The student was taken aback by my sudden words, then burst into laughter and stood up to mock, "Are you crazy?"
I smiled faintly and said, "My calligraphy is worth at least a thousand taels of silver, don't you want to miss this great opportunity to make money?"
The student, seeing that I spoke clearly and seemed to be in his right mind, raised his eyebrows and said angrily, "Don't cause trouble here, be careful I have you arrested and taken to the officials!" You know, there are also many disputes among scholars, especially outside the Qiwang Mansion. There are at least a hundred people making a living through calligraphy and painting, and almost every day there are intrigues and intrigues between them.
The scholar's loud shout drew all the vendors around to our side.
I and Cai Xue were surrounded by everyone, instantly becoming the target of everyone's attention.
Cai Xue had never experienced such a situation before, her heart was startled as she said, "Master, let's leave quickly!"
I was not moved by the situation around me, pointing to the most outstanding painting on the book stall and asked, "If I'm not mistaken, is it marked as fifty taels of silver on it?"
The scholar turned around and couldn't help but show a look of pride on his face, thinking that the calligraphy was his own handwriting: "This calligraphy truly is worth fifty taels of silver!"
I laughed heartily, my eyes filled with disdain, and I loudly commented: "The brushwork is round and smooth, elegant and varied, and should be considered a fine piece."
The scholar, upon hearing this, his expression slightly softened, but then I turned the tables and said: "Unfortunately, the calligrapher is too obsessed with change, and the characters are filled with vulgar and artificial flourishes everywhere!"
The scholar's face turned bright red: "What do you know? Don't dare to make such remarks here."
I smiled and said, "There are three levels of artistic accomplishment in calligraphy: seeing a mountain as a mountain, seeing water as water, which is called the 'no-self realm'; borrowing the rules of the ancients to open up one's own path is called the 'self-reliant realm'; and when I follow the natural flow of my pen, the pen follows my will, that is the true 'forgetting-self realm'!"
I continued, and the literati and connoisseurs around me couldn't help but nod frequently. They deeply agreed with my insights. According to my explanation, it is natural that a calligrapher cannot reach any of the three levels.
That calligrapher still wasn't convinced, "I'm afraid that some people can talk about it but may not be able to do it!"
I knew he had already unknowingly fallen into the trap I had set, and I smiled slightly, "I have a little understanding of the way of calligraphy, please allow me to seek guidance from all of you!"
The crowd around burst into applause, of course, some were genuinely interested in watching me write, while others were just trying to cause a stir. The scholar's business was the best on the entire calligraphy and painting street. Rivalry among peers, some deliberately wanted to dampen his spirit, but the peers naturally welcomed this.
Two well-meaning people had already brought over the painting table, and I asked Cai Xue to place the ink, brush, paper, and inkstone on the table one by one. The crowd dispersed and formed a circle around me, just waiting for my performance.
I wiped my hands with a clean handkerchief, a habit I had developed since childhood. My calligraphy had not received any guidance from a master, but in the palace of Da Kang, there were always famous calligraphy treasures at hand. I started copying Yan Zhenqing's "Memorial to My Cousin" when I was five years old, and began to diligently copy Wang Xizhi's "Lanting 序" after my mother passed away. By the time I was twelve, my writing was almost indistinguishable from the original.
I picked up a wolf hair brush and wrote a line of large characters on the Xuan paper that was the same as the scroll he had hanging: 'The broken spear sinks into the sand, but the iron is not yet rusted; I will grind it and recognize the former dynasty.' I wrote straight and bold, with a grand demeanor and a strong, robust brushstroke, washing away the trivial and ornate elements in his writing. To know, the weakness of his writing lies in its frailty. The complex tends to be dense, dynamic, and intense; the simple tends to be sparse, serene, and subtle. The two complement and give rise to each other, evolving and spreading, with an endless depth of meaning.
The people around were mostly connoisseurs, and as I wrote with a flourish, finishing in a single stroke, there were continual exclamations of amazement from the crowd. The middle-aged scholar stared at the banner I had written for a long time, as the saying goes, "It's not that I don't know what's good, but that I'm afraid of comparing goods. He immediately realized that the gap between us was not just thousands or tens of thousands.
The middle-aged scholar stammered, "Is what you just said still valid?" What he referred to was naturally the matter of me exchanging my words for a hundred taels of fine silver with him.
I calmly smiled, "Sir, do you think there's still a chance?" The scholar blushed and lowered his head, then raised it again, biting his lower lip as if he had made up his mind, "I'll give you two hundred silver taels!"
I hadn't even had time to answer him when a clear voice from the crowd exclaimed, "Such fine calligraphy is not to be obtained for a thousand ounces of gold! I'll take it, three thousand ounces of silver!" There aren't many people with such courage in the capital, let alone in front of the pavilion of King Qi of Zhu Ying.
A faint smile played at the corner of my lips, but as I turned around, I managed to put on an expression of surprise and confusion.
This was my first time meeting Yan Yuangong, and the exquisite blue dragon embroidery on his brocade robe displayed his extraordinary power and status. The meticulous tailoring highlighted his imposing figure, and he possessed a near-perfect face that matched his dignified and luxurious demeanor quite harmoniously.
Yan Yuangong smiled as he approached me, with two burly retainers following behind him. One, a black-faced man with a full beard, handed me three silver notes worth a thousand taels each, and reached out to take the document from me.
"This brother is dignified and outstanding, I wonder why he would be here?" The Marquis Qi, as rumored, was eager to seek talent and was approachable.
I handed the silver note to Cai Xue: "A fallen person, not worth mentioning!" Telling Cai Xue to put away the ink and brush, I was about to leave.
King Qi blocked my path: "My club is right here. Sir, if you don't mind, would you like to stay for a moment?" I deliberately acted uninterested: "Thank you for your kindness, but I have an urgent matter at home. I can't make it today. If there's an opportunity, I'll visit another day!"
This is the most ordinary technique of "catching by letting go." With King Qi's obsession with calligraphy and painting, he definitely won't miss the opportunity to befriend me.
King Qi's face was filled with disappointment. The two guests by his side saw my indifferent attitude and became impatient immediately. The man with a mohawk beard angrily said, "Rascal! Do you know who you're talking to? The person in front of you is the Crown Prince Qi of today!"
The Marquis Xi's Yan Yuanzong glared fiercely at the man, clearly blaming him for causing trouble, and the man anxiously lowered his head. I respectfully bowed to Marquis Xi and turned around, leading Cai Xue away with a long stride. The more talented and learned a person is, the more aloof and proud they become. Since I am playing this role, I must perform it to the fullest.
Cai Xue followed me out of the 'Bamboo Shadow Hill' with a look of confusion. She had realized that I chose to sell my calligraphy at Marquis Xi's pavilion to attract his attention, but she was extremely puzzled by my refusal of his invitation.
Seeing no one around, she whispered, "Why did you refuse Marquis Xi's invitation?"
I calmly smiled, "If I had 主动 gone to seek him out, in his eyes, my position would be no different from that of an ordinary guest. The more difficult something is to obtain, the more valuable it becomes. If I'm not mistaken, his curiosity has been piqued, and he will soon come to visit!"
The three thousand silver notes did not stay in my pocket for long. At noon, I and Cai Xue had a grand feast at 'Xing Jingde' and bought some tonics like ginseng and yin 窝, donating the remaining silver to the gambling house.
Not long after returning to the prince's residence, I heard the guards call out at the door, "Prince Qi!" Cai Xue and I smiled at each other, put down the books in our hands, and slowly walked towards the door.
Yan Yuangong walked into the courtyard with a page boy carrying a delicate wooden box, smiling at a distance, "I thought who could possess such talent, it turns out to be Prince Ping!"
I was frightened and said, "A destitute person is not worthy of being called Your Highness."
Yan Yuangong immediately picked up the exclamation in my tone, smiled calmly, and gestured for the page boy to place the wooden box on the stone table in the courtyard.
It was early spring, and the flowers and trees in the courtyard were bursting with spots of green. The afternoon sun was warm and made one feel drowsy. Yan Yuangong and I sat down beside the stone table in the courtyard.
Yan Yuangong said, "Prince Ping is young yet has already deeply grasped the essence of calligraphy. Yuanzhong is truly in awe!"
I modestly replied, "It's just a trivial skill, Your Highness overpraised me!"
Snow gathered for us, bringing fragrant tea.
The pageboy of King Qi took out a scroll wrapped in silk from that wooden box, peeled off the three layers of silk on the outside, revealing the ancient scroll inside.
King Qi carefully handed the scroll to me: "This calligraphy was hard-won by the Yuan Emperor from the Great Han recently. Would King Ping help me authenticate its authenticity?"
Cai Xue called the pageboy to carry out a writing table together. I slowly unrolled the scroll. When I saw the scroll, a surge of joy surged through my heart. This scroll was actually the famous article "Looking at the Empty Mountain" by the eight-equal mountain person of the previous dynasty. I dare to say that this scroll is a hundred percent forgery. After all, the real "Looking at the Empty Mountain" was burned to ashes by my mother when I was seven years old.
I still went through the meticulous process of examining it several times, found several flaws, and then said to the Marquis: "This item is a forgery!"
"Oh!" Qi Wang showed little surprise, and there was even an appreciation in his gaze. A thought struck me, had he deliberately chosen a forgery to test my talent?
I loudly exclaimed: "The people of the Ba Jun Mountain are indifferent to fame and fortune, living in seclusion from the world. Their calligraphy naturally exudes a sense of ease, deeply understanding the essence of nature in their composition, as perilous and magnificent as landscapes, unrestrained and free-spirited, unmatched by anyone in the world; he has already reached the natural realm where he can skillfully insert willow branches with his brush, and pick them up at will!"
The King of Qi nodded repeatedly, and my gaze shifted to the forgery, "At a glance, this work already embodies the shape of the Ba Jun Shan style. If it were to imitate other ink works, it could pass as the real thing. However, this person actually chose the most proud 'Looking at Empty Mountain' by Ba Jun Shan. You see, this piece was created by Ba Jun Shan before he left the world to seek enlightenment, and the essence of the heavens and the earth is already gathered within the strokes. The spirit of the work is something that cannot be merely copied!"
The King of Qi's gaze had shifted from appreciation to admiration. How could he know that, if I had not seen the genuine "Gazing at Empty Mountain," I would not have been able to explain it so thoroughly.
I then asked the King of Qi to take his seat again. As we sipped fragrant tea, we discussed ancient and modern literature. The King's eyes kept flashing with a strange light. My insights and judgments often coincided with his, as we were both born into royal families. I felt almost as if I were experiencing his life firsthand. Understanding his thoughts was merely an easy task for me.
We talked on until the sun was setting. The King, Yan Yuanzong, was still in high spirits. His page whispered softly behind him, "Your Highness! You still have to attend the royal banquet tonight!"
The King then stood up, still not quite satisfied, and I hurriedly rose to see him off.
The King of Qi held my hands and said, "The Crown Prince and the Marquis of Ping are like old friends from the moment they met. If it weren't for the important matters I have to attend to today, I would definitely talk with you late into the night."
I feigned an excited expression: "Yin Kong and the Marquis of Qi share the same thoughts."
The King of Qi said, "Since that's the case, you should come to the Marquis of Qi's mansion at noon tomorrow. I have many calligraphy-related knowledge to seek from the Marquis of Ping."
I naturally had no reason to refuse, and happily agreed.
Since it was my first visit, I had to bring him some gifts. I had Cai Xue buy a white fan, on which I wrote a seven-character poem "Encounter" in the Xianjin style. Cai Xue lit the lamp for me beside me, and Sun San also came over to see the commotion. After I finished writing, he borrowed it and looked at it repeatedly, unable to help but 感叹道: "Your calligraphy is indeed a masterpiece of divine inspiration. No wonder King Qi was willing to spend three thousand taels of silver to seek your calligraphy."
I smiled and said, "If Mr. Sun wants me to help copy the prescription, I won't charge a single penny."
Sun Sanfen sighed wryly, "It seems that my prescription might be snatched up by the people of Qin Du!"
When I went to the Qi 王府, I did not take Cai Xue with me. The Qi 王府 has tens of thousands of guests, and there are countless talented and extraordinary individuals there. Although Cai Xue's disguise was clever, there was still a risk of being exposed. I changed into a green long robe and walked towards the Qi 王府 with a fan in hand. The Qi 王府 is located on the south side of the city, by the Yanzi Lake, and its architectural style is completely different from the Tai 子的 palace I visited before. The entire palace is built along the lake, hidden among the lake's light and water, making one feel as if they have arrived in the south of the Yangtze River. The main buildings are also not like the rough brick and tile structures in the Qin capital; most of them use wooden structures, with everywhere carved beams and painted columns, flying eaves and overlapping tiles, full of the softness and grace of the south of the Yangtze River. I then thought of his mother, Xiang Jing, who was originally a princess of the Han Dynasty, and it is likely that the selection and construction of this palace were influenced by her.
Arriving at the gate, I handed the greeting card I had prepared earlier to the gatekeeper, and not long after, I saw King Qi, dressed in a white Confucian robe, coming out from the mansion.
He smiled from a distance, "The King of Ping indeed keeps time, Yuan Zong was just about to go to the gate to wait for you, and it was a stroke of luck that you came!"
I smiled and said, "Yin Hong was eager to see King Qi, so he arrived early!"
The King Xi and I laughed out loud at each other.
Stepping into the palace gate, I realized the vastness of the Qi 王府. Amidst the lush woods, a crescent-shaped small lake appeared before my eyes. In the center of the lake, there is an oasis covering dozens of acres, with over a dozen elegant and exquisite small buildings on it. A long white jade bridge connects the shore to the oasis. Walking on the bridge feels like stepping into a beautiful landscape painting. The wind ruffles the clear water, the trees vie for brilliance, and the pavilions, terraces, and buildings on the oasis reflect with the lake's scenery. The small bridge and flowing water are hidden among the lush branches and leaves, with sparkling ripples and a resplendent variety of colors. After passing through a winding path lined with bamboo and two small rain shelters, we finally arrived at the open space in front of the small buildings.
I guessed from the surrounding layout that this palace's small lake must have been built by diverting the Yanzhi Lake outside the mansion, and it was indeed a brilliant idea to create a paradise with a lake within a lake in the mansion. I secretly praised it in my heart, even in the Great Kang, I have never seen such an elegant mansion.
In the flower bed in front of the small pavilion, several women dressed in white long skirts were pruning branches of flowers, each one as beautiful as jade, looking even more charming under the cover of fresh flowers. The two of them passed through the flower bushes and arrived in front of the small pavilion where the King of Qi usually read and studied. The small pavilion in front of them was entirely made of wood. Upon careful observation, I recognized that the material used for construction was a rare sandalwood from the Great Han. Half of the pavilion was grounded, while the other half hung over the lake. On the viewing platform in front of the pavilion, a thick rope was used to anchor a single-wood boat.
From the outside, the fragrant wood of this small building varies in thickness, but the arrangement and assembly are very orderly, retaining the natural beauty. Therefore, it appears uniform and has a unique style. Around the small building, there are many exotic flowers and herbs, emitting a fragrance that permeates the air, blending with the unique aroma of sandalwood emitted by the building itself, intoxicatingly so.
In front of the small pavilion, there are six circular wooden steps. Climbing the steps leads to the corridor, which directly leads to the entrance of the pavilion.
The corridor is designed with great ingenuity, appearing to be a pavilion corridor, but it subtly contains the unique principle of the "three bends and two curves, one bend and four corners" of the Xuan Gong diagram. The interior decoration and exterior of the building are extremely consistent, with the walls and floors made of wood, the curtain fabrics woven by hand, and the tables and chairs in the hall all being stumps of various sizes. Even the tea set on the table is made of wood, making the entire room simple and unadorned.
I looked around the four walls, and there were calligraphy works by famous artists from all dynasties hanging on the walls. Among them, there were some mediocre ones, of course, but also some masterpieces worth ten thousand taels. I saw a wild grass calligraphy by Zhang Xu and couldn't help but walk up to it and appreciate it carefully.
The King of Qi was very good at understanding others' thoughts. Seeing me immersed in the calligraphy, he did not disturb me, gestured for the maidservant to brew tea for me, and quietly waited beside me.
I naturally wouldn't let this opportunity to test his patience slip by, feigning a look of reluctance to leave, I indulged in the appreciation of the calligraphy for a full half an hour, until I could barely see due to the ache in my neck, at which point I sincerely exclaimed: "Excellent calligraphy!"
Yan Yuangong's face showed a look of satisfaction. His skill in calligraphy was far inferior to mine, which is why he had collected so many unevenly good calligraphies. Since I had shown him that beautiful piece of calligraphy in front of him, he had become quite convinced of my eyes, and my praise was the ultimate affirmation for him.
Yan Yuangong smiled and said, "Even though it is good calligraphy, it is still not even close to the level of the King of Ping's calligraphy!"
It was then that I took out the fan painting, offering it with both hands to Qi Wang and said, "Your Royal Highness, Yuan Kong wrote this fan painting for you last night. I hope you will accept it with a smile!"
Yanyuan Zong unfurled the fan, and an excited expression immediately appeared in his eyes. This fan is my focused work, and it is completely different in style from the impromptu scroll I painted yesterday.
"Excellent calligraphy! Excellent calligraphy!" Yan Yuanzong praised twice in succession, playing with the fan surface for a long time and not willing to put it down.
Yanyuan Zong's collection of books has reached a level of obsession. The works hanging on the wall are just a fraction of his numerous collections. This small building has five floors, each storing his books. If I were to go through them one by one and appraise them, it would be impossible to do so in a few months. Fortunately, he also had no intention of making me continue the appreciation, so he carefully folded up the fan and came with me to the pavilion in front of the building.
Four girls had already prepared the wine and food in the pavilion. As the weather grew warmer, the four girls all changed into light spring dresses, their youthful figures brimming with springtime vitality, causing one's heart to palpitate.
The maids under Yan Yuangzong were all exceptionally beautiful. Later, we learned that most of these maids were leftover beauties from the selection process. The current queen, Xiang Jing, out of her love for her son, bestowed them upon Qi Wang as slaves. In fact, she was afraid that Xuanlong Huang might be attracted to other women, threatening her position in the palace, so the maids under Yan Yuangzong were even more exquisite than the beauties within the palace. Imagine how Xiang Jing would not keep a woman of outstanding beauty in the palace, only to increase her own danger.
My gaze swept over the bosoms of the four young girls one by one. Seeing my discomposure, Yan Yuangzong couldn't help but smile slightly. He must have heard all sorts of rumors about me.
Yan Yuangzong pursued perfection in his life. Not only were the utensils he used for eating and drinking extremely exquisite, but he also sought perfection in the appearance of each dish. Watching these colorful dishes that looked like art treasures, I couldn't bear to put down my chopsticks.
Yan Yuangzong and I drank a cup together, saying, "As far as I know, the Prince Ping should be only sixteen this year, and his calligraphy skills are so profound. I wonder who his teacher is?"
I calmly smiled, "Yin Kong doesn't have a teacher; all his calligraphy skills come from copying the masterpieces of others!" There's no exaggeration in my words. Apart from my mother teaching me to read, I can almost be considered self-taught in calligraphy.
Yan Yuangong praised, "Prince Ping is indeed a talent that shocks the world!"
Yin Kong felt extremely ashamed, "Apart from being able to write a few strokes, I have no other talents. I'm afraid Marquis Qi will laugh at me!" I showed a look of shame.
Yan Yuangong laughed heartily, his gaze directed towards the lake. A melodious sound of the guqin drifted from afar. As I listened intently, the sound of the guqin seemed like the soft murmur of a young girl in love, or the sorrowful weeping of a young woman missing her husband far away. Each note seemed to penetrate into the hearts of others, causing one to feel melancholic and heartbroken.
I followed Yan Yuansong's gaze and saw a Mulan boat adorned with fresh flowers silently drifting towards us. At the bow, a young girl in white with long hair draped over her shoulders played the guqin with slender hands, as poetic and ethereal as a dream. As the boat drew closer, I noticed the girl was in her late teens or early twenties. Her graceful eyebrows were like a crescent moon, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a melancholic, graceful expression. Her skin was fairer than frost and whiter than snow, making all the surrounding beautiful scenery pale in comparison.
My gaze was fixated on the girl, almost forgetting where I was, until Yan Yuansong loudly called me, and I snapped back to reality, awkwardly smiling and saying, "This melody belongs only in heaven, and it's rare to hear it in the world! Yuan Kong has lost himself!"
Yan Yuansong laughed, "Her name is Yao Ru, she is a servant in my household. If the Prince of Ping likes her, I will send her to you!"
I hurriedly declined, "A gentleman does not take what belongs to another, Yuan Kong dares not!"
Yan Yuangong chuckled and did not persist, speaking as the boat had arrived in front of the pavilion. Two beautiful maids stepped forward to tie the boat to the shore. Yao Ru walked up the shore as if a fairy, and my gaze fell once more on her beautiful, unparalleled face. This woman truly was a peerless beauty, not to be outdone even compared to Cai Xue. How could Yan Yuangong spare such a celestial beauty and give her to me? The words he had just spoken were clearly a test. If I had not known when to stop and agreed, I might have become the laughingstock of others again.
Yan Yuangong said to Yao Ru, "Yao Ru! This is the Marquis of Da Kangping, the calligraphy scroll that has you praising endlessly is his masterpiece!"
Yao Ru's eyes betrayed a hint of admiration as she gracefully approached my side, her voice soft and melodious, "Maidservant Yao Ru pays homage to Marquis Pingwang!" Her voice was like a yellow oriole emerging from a valley, the tail end of her words slightly drawn out, yet it held a captivating charm. At such a close distance, I could clearly smell the faint fragrance of her delicate body, and my heartbeat accelerated involuntarily.
Yan Yuangong gave a nod, and Yao Ru picked up the wine jar, filling my cup and offering it with both hands, "Maidservant Yao Ru offers this cup to Marquis Pingwang!"
I took the glass, accidentally brushing against her delicate fingertips, and my heart was instantly stirred. Yao Ru seemed to notice my disarray, her beautiful eyes hiding a smile, and a trace of shyness rippled through her eyes.
Yan Yuanzong asked Yao Ru to sit beside me, and his words finally delved into the main topic: "Yuanzong has a favor to ask!" I hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, please command, and as long as Yin Kong can do it, I will go through fire and water, and would not hesitate to die a thousand deaths!" Perhaps because my words were too exaggerated, Yan Yuanzong and Yao Ru both smiled.
Yan Yuanzong laughed, "Prince Ping, you are too modest. The thing I want you to do is not too difficult! In three days, it will be my mother's thirty-fifth birthday, and I want you to paint a hundred-year-old portrait for her to celebrate her birthday!"
I nodded and said, "Your Highness, please be assured, Yin Kong will do his best to fulfill this task for you!"
Yan Yuanzong stood up excitedly. At this moment, a maid was accompanying a man with a thick beard to walk this way, who was the guest of Marquis Qi that I saw at the Bamboo Shadow Hill yesterday.
Yan Yuanzong sighed and shook his head, "It's really unfortunate. I'm afraid I still have to go out to do some things!"
I hurriedly got up to take my leave.
Unexpectedly, Yan Yuanzong said, "I have prepared a place for rest for King Ping, so King Ping will stay here for two days!"
I was taken aback in my heart; I never thought he would ask me to stay temporarily when I came.
Yanyuan Zong said, "I will send someone to explain at the Proton Mansion, so King Ping can rest assured." He turned to Yao Ru and said, "You take King Ping to rest at the Piao Miao Building."