"What... what kind of painting is this?" Bai Yutang, renowned as the greatest painter in Great Qi, couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment as he stepped forward. "In my decades of painting, I’ve never seen such a technique—the figures look so lifelike and vivid!"
"A prodigy! Truly a prodigy!"
Gu Mingzhu was showered with effusive praise, leaving her momentarily dazed. A stray lock of hair at her forehead curled upward. She... she knew her painting was good, but Bai Yutang’s fervent admiration...
It made her feel a little embarrassed.
"I’ve also never seen such an expressive painting," Shen Qingping chimed in. "Can the Second Miss Gu paint anyone she’s seen?"
Gu Mingzhu quickly shook her head.
Her hand would fall off if she tried!
"I can only paint those close to me. Only when I’m intimately familiar with their expressions and gestures can I capture them on paper."
She pointed at the figure of Song Shihuan on the painting. "This was when the Fuan County Princess first visited the Gu family, sitting on the swing my father made. At that moment, I thought the princess was the most beautiful noble lady in all of Great Qi."
"That’s why I could paint her today."
A single painting, priceless beyond measure!
Realizing the implication of Gu Mingzhu’s words, the eager glint in the onlookers' eyes gradually dimmed. Who wouldn’t want such a lifelike portrait?
What a shame.
Shen Qingping seemed to grasp something and smirked. "I see. I’ll give Second Miss Gu full marks. A painting so divine it defies the heavens—it would be unjust not to award full marks."
And so, Gu Mingzhu claimed the top prize with a flawless score.
When her victory was announced, the deafening sound of drums and gongs erupted, shaking everyone present to their core.
Only Gu Mingzhu broke into a radiant smile.
It was the princess!
The princess had promised that when she won first place, she would have people beat drums and gongs to welcome her back in grand style.
Carefully rolling up the painting, Gu Mingzhu dashed toward the Qin Prince's Mansion.
Now that she had won the top prize, she was the most worthy person in all of Great Qi to be the princess’s closest confidante.
Qin Prince's Mansion.
Song Shihuan stared at the painting before her, unable to tear her gaze away.
"This... this is me?"
"It doesn’t capture even a fraction of the princess’s beauty."
Gu Mingzhu tilted her head. "If the princess likes it, I’ll paint more and spread them beyond the capital, so all of Great Qi can admire your grace."
"What about my heroic visage?"
Song Yu held the painting with rare reverence. "Little Mingzhu, what about me—"
"Your Highness is dashing and noble, but I can’t capture your unique aura."
Song Yu’s lips pursed. Wasn’t this just a roundabout way of rejecting him?
"One painting is enough, Mingzhu. If others ask you to paint, remember to refuse," Song Shihuan said, her tone turning serious as she carefully stored the scroll away. "Otherwise, it could bring trouble."
Before Gu Mingzhu could respond, Song Yu called for Liuxi outside:
"Liuxi, spread the word that even I, the prince, was turned down when I asked Mingzhu to paint for me."
That ought to deter others from making requests.
Having played the hero, Song Yu turned to Gu Mingzhu, expecting her to gaze at him in admiration. But instead, she was staring fixedly at Song Shihuan.
"One isn’t enough. I’ll paint more for the princess."
Song Yu: "..."
He shouldn’t have been in this room at all.
He should have been under the carriage.
......
News of the painting reached the imperial palace, and the ever-curious Emperor Yuanyou summoned Gu Mingzhu for an audience.
Stepping into the Purple Palace Hall for the first time, Gu Mingzhu shrank fearfully behind Song Shihuan.
Her father had warned her—the emperor was the Son of Heaven. A single wrong word could mean execution. She had to cling tightly to the princess.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Rise. Little Gu girl, I hear you’ve painted something extraordinary today?" Emperor Yuanyou cut straight to the point. "I’m most curious—let me see."
Trembling, Gu Mingzhu handed the painting to Wu Qi, who presented it to the emperor. Emperor Yuanyou was stunned into silence for a long moment.
"It’s exquisite."
He gently traced the painting with his fingers. "Paint more of A’huan. I’ll have them sent beyond the capital so all can see how beautiful my A’huan is."
Gu Mingzhu nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at rice. The emperor’s words aligned perfectly with her own wishes.
"Imperial Grandfather—"
"A’huan, this will also let all of Great Qi know of Mingzhu’s divine skill." Emperor Yuanyou was aware that Gu Mingzhu could only paint those she knew well. "As for Mingzhu, I’ll assign guards to protect her. Such talent deserves safeguarding."
Song Shihuan was at a loss for words.
"I also want to paint the princess when she won last year’s competition."
"And when she taught me calligraphy."
"And when we hid under my sister and brother-in-law’s wedding bed—"
"Ahem!"
Song Shihuan coughed loudly, her fair cheeks flushing visibly.
Mingzhu, must you say everything?!
Emperor Yuanyou caught on and burst into laughter.
"What a mischievous girl."
......
Thanks to a single painting, Gu Mingzhu’s name spread like wildfire across Great Qi. The capital buzzed with excitement over the competition—except for the Ping Prince's Mansion, which remained as still as stagnant water.
"The Qin Prince's Mansion is truly fortunate, with people clamoring to flatter them."
Shen Hua'er’s eyes burned with envy. "Gu Mingzhu is spineless too—every benefit she gets, she drags Song Shihuan into it."
"My lady, though we can’t force Song Shihuan back to the Ping Prince's Mansion, we can tarnish her reputation."
Song Yanzheng smiled cruelly. "With Father’s matter, we didn’t plan well enough. Even when he fell gravely ill and passed, Song Shihuan neglected her filial duties, yet no stain touched her."
"This time, we’ll plan carefully."
Shen Hua'er’s expression shifted. "Yanzheng, she is your mother."
"In name, you are my legal mother."
A chill ran down Shen Hua'er’s spine at his words. If he could treat his own mother this way, what would happen if she ever faced hardship?
"With six imperial matrons in the mansion now, we must act cautiously. If the plan isn’t flawless, we shouldn’t move recklessly."
After a pause, she made her choice. If Lady Chang died, she would be the only mistress of the Ping Prince's Mansion.
"You’re right. We’ll take our time—no need to rush."
Song Yanzheng smirked coldly. He feared the Qin Prince's Mansion too much to force Song Shihuan back directly, but he had other methods.
One way or another, he, Song Yanzheng, would never accept being second to the Qin Prince's Mansion.
