After spending the entire morning painting, they returned to rest for a moment before it was time for lunch.
Yao Huang asked about the painting, "Why did Second Master delay painting my face?"
The last time he painted at the Prince's Manor, Prince Hui spent an entire afternoon painting her clothes, the Luohan bed, and the surrounding window scenery, leaving only her head to be painted at night. Later, with all the tossing and turning on the Luohan bed, Yao Huang guessed that he was deliberately delaying time to make her tired and sleepy so he could have his way.
Zhao Sui replied, "Too many eyes."
Standing on the bridge in full view of the public, a few lechers wouldn't dare to stare openly at the Princess. But once her face was on the painting, they could covet her beauty under the guise of admiring the artwork.
Yao Huang thought about it and smiled, "Then I really picked the right dress today."
Out of a wardrobe full of clothes, this blue top and white skirt set was the least conspicuous. Yao Huang thought that asking her husband to paint her outdoors was already unconventional enough. If her clothes were too bright, would the neighbors gather for Prince Hui's painting or for her? Her original intention was to dress plainly so the neighbors would focus entirely on His Highness.
She didn't expect to accidentally stumble upon His Highness's "pettiness."
Zhao Sui ate his meal slowly. When the Princess looked away and began to eat, he casually glanced at the light blue jacket she was wearing.
Usually, the Princess was as radiant as a peony. Today, the light blue tone suppressed some of her vibrancy, adding a quiet, clear, and gentle beauty like still water.
As lunch was ending, Zhao Sui asked, "When do you want to finish the rest?"
Yao Huang's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she said softly, "The brush is in Second Master's hands. I'll just follow your arrangement."
Zhao Sui looked out the window. Doctor Liao was in the west courtyard, waiting to finish his massage before going to the clinic.
"After a nap. Remember to wear this outfit again."
.
Zhao Sui's brushwork was skilled. He spent over four hours in the morning painting the stone bridge, long embankment, flowing water, and the distant houses, crops, and green hills, making them so lifelike that one felt immersed in the scene. Yet, when it came to depicting the Princess's facial features and expression on such a small face, he spent a full hour.
To recreate the Princess's expression on the bridge, Prince Hui had her stand on a chair under the magnolia tree in the backyard, holding onto the tree and bowing her head slightly. He sat cross-legged on a felt mat more than a dozen paces away, carefully sketching and coloring.
The gate of the east courtyard was bolted from the inside, and the two inner doors connecting the front and back courtyards to the west courtyard were also closed. Qingai and Feiquan stood guard at the doors of the west courtyard, preventing anyone, even little Jinbao, from disturbing them.
The courtyard was incredibly quiet. By the time Prince Hui finished painting with complete concentration, Yao Huang's legs were aching.
Jumping off the chair, Yao Huang ran over to sit next to Prince Hui on the felt mat to look at the painting on the rice paper.
She had already admired the scenery for a long time in the morning. Now, Yao Huang focused on herself in the painting. After looking for a while, she whispered, "It's clearly my features, but why does it feel unlike me?"
Zhao Sui said, "You usually smile, but today you deliberately put on a preoccupied look."
When she admired herself in the mirror, she was probably smiling too, so even she wasn't used to her expression in the painting.
Yao Huang nudged him gently, "Who's pretending? I really was preoccupied. With so many people chattering around you, I was afraid you'd be bothered by their sweat or annoyed by the noise, and then you'd get mad and leave me there, making me a laughingstock among the neighbors."
Hearing the Princess's explanation, Zhao Sui looked at his painting again and felt he had overemphasized her "preoccupation." It should have been more "restless."
"If you don't like it, I'll repaint it."
Yao Huang stopped Prince Hui from taking the painting, looking at it with satisfaction, "I like it. I didn't know I looked so pretty even when I'm preoccupied."
Zhao Sui: "..."
Leaving Prince Hui behind, Yao Huang carefully took the easel and laid it flat on the chair under the magnolia tree to slowly air dry.
After setting the painting down, Yao Huang turned around and saw that Prince Hui was already sitting in his wheelchair.
Yao Huang pushed him into the house to wash his face and hands.
Prince Hui didn't say a word, just kept looking at her. His gaze made Yao Huang's face grow hotter and her mouth drier.
After hanging up the towel, Yao Huang wanted to pour a bowl of water, but an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.
Yao Huang was terrified. He was sitting in a rattan chair now. Could it bear the weight of two people? How would she explain it to the servants if it broke?
"Let go, I'm thirsty!" Yao Huang nervously pulled at his arm.
Prince Hui didn't budge. His breath on her neck was hotter than the summer heat outside.
Yao Huang's feet were still on the ground. As she struggled, she actually pushed the rattan chair back and forth. The more it rolled, the more she feared it would fall apart. She had to bite the bullet and say, "Let me drink some water first, and then I'll... I'll push you inside."
Prince Hui then let go.
Yao Huang fled to the table, turning her back to Prince Hui and downing two bowls of cold water. Thinking he had been painting outside for so long, she kept her head down and handed him a bowl too.
After they had both drank, Yao Huang, annoyed by Prince Hui's fiery eyes, untied his belt and tied it around his eyes. It was broad daylight, and she felt uncomfortable.
Zhao Sui let the Princess do as she pleased.
Only when they were on the bed did he whisper in her ear, "So you chose to paint today specifically for this."
Yao Huang: "...Keep being stubborn, see if there's a next time!"
Prince Hui chuckled silently, only his breathing changing.
It wasn't until dusk, when the sound of Madam Zhu stir-frying vegetables in the kitchen came from the neighboring He family, that Yao Huang understood what Prince Hui's chuckle meant.
Out of breath, she begged for mercy, "There is, there is, as many times as you want, just stop now!"
.
When Squire Qi went to He Wenbin to ask for a painting, he had already prepared high-quality brushes, ink, and pigments that ordinary folks couldn't afford. Unfortunately, He Wenbin didn't want to delay his exam preparation and refused. Scholar He was willing to paint for Squire Qi on behalf of his son, but Squire Qi had seen Scholar He's paintings, and they weren't worth the ten taels of silver he was offering, so the matter was shelved.
If he hadn't seen the painting by the Scholar from the neighboring Liao family, Squire Qi would have given up on getting a painting. Fortunately, he got the Liao family Scholar's consent. Since his grandsons didn't have to study on the twentieth and were home all day, Squire Qi gave them some instructions, told them to put on new clothes early and sit properly in the main room, and told his wife and daughters-in-law to avoid the front and stay in the backyard. When everything was quiet, Squire Qi personally went to the Liao family to invite him.
When Squire Qi left the house, he had ten taels of silver in his pocket, two packets of tea in his left hand, and a basket in his right hand containing a fresh hind leg of pork.
His luck wasn't great; as soon as he stepped out, he bumped into Madam Zhu sweeping the front of her house. But Squire Qi had nothing to feel guilty about and casually went to knock on the door of the Liao family's east courtyard.
Feiquan knew the Princess hadn't woken up yet, so he ran to open the door as fast as he could, only to face a humble, respectful, and polite Squire Qi.
Squire Qi peeked inside and smiled, "It's the third brother, is your second brother here?"
Feiquan thought to himself, Because I do not know how to paint, you just call me Old Third, but since the Prince can paint and has an extraordinary bearing, you certainly know how to show respect!
"He is in, but my second brother prefers peace and quiet. Please lower your voice a bit, sir; there is no need to speak so loudly."
Squire Qi nodded repeatedly.
Feiquan asked him to wait in the courtyard for a moment and went to the study to push the Prince out. Squire Qi stepped forward carrying his gifts, stating that everything was prepared at his home. As long as it was convenient for his worthy nephew, he could go over and paint right now.
Squire Qi's birthday was only nine days away, and starting tomorrow, his grandsons would be returning to their private schools or academies to study. Squire Qi could not help but be anxious.
Small towns did not place much importance on strict etiquette to begin with, and Squire Qi was already sincere enough by bringing gifts and apologies. Since Zhao Sui had accepted the task, he did not mind these details. He said, "I am honored by your appreciation, sir. Since it is your sixtieth birthday, I would like to present this painting as a birthday gift to express my regards. Please waive the payment and gifts; take them back to entertain your guests."
How could Squire Qi take them back? He lifted the basket and tried to shove it into Feiquan's hands.
The hind leg of pork in the basket was truly fresh, with a thick scent of blood. Let alone His Highness the Prince of Hui, even Feiquan found the smell overpowering!
"Alright, I will accept the tea and pork on behalf of my second brother. But put the money away quickly, sir, or I will kick you out right now and we will pretend this painting business was never mentioned!"
Seeing that he was serious, Squire Qi finally gave up.
Hearing the commotion, Qingai hurried over. Knowing that he was already tainted with the smell of blood, Feiquan asked him to accompany the Prince to the Qi family's home.
Madam Zhu was still sweeping outside. Seeing Squire Qi, his face wrinkled with smiles, welcoming the Liao family's scholar to his home, she naturally understood what was going on and gripped her broom tightly in resentment. Ten taels of silver! How could she not be tempted? It was just that she knew Squire Qi could afford a reward of twenty, thirty, or even fifty taels, which was why she had her son decline it initially.
Squire Qi absolutely refused to mention increasing the price. Madam Zhu was furious and forbade her son from changing his mind, deciding instead to have her husband take on the job. However, the old man Qi disdained her husband's status as a scholar and just turned and left!
With the crippled Liao family scholar suddenly stepping in halfway, Madam Zhu knew that the Qi family's ten taels of silver had truly flown away. Feeling too stifled, Madam Zhu returned home and directed a barrage of sarcastic remarks toward the Liao family's courtyard. "Wenbin, let me tell you some good news. Your Uncle Qi has invited Scholar Liao to paint his birthday portrait. Now you do not have to feel guilty toward him anymore."
"This is quite nice. It did not delay your exam preparation, it fulfilled Uncle Qi's wish, and it allowed Scholar Liao to earn a fee. Sigh, he is not like you. With his legs ruined like that, his future is completely cut off. He can only rely on painting for others to support his family. So young, yet so pitiful."
The Prince of Hui and Qingai, who had gone to the Qi family, could not hear these words. However, Feiquan, who stayed behind in the front courtyard, heard them loud and clear. Even the Princess Consort of Hui, who had been sleeping soundly, was directly awakened by the noise.
Throwing on her outer robe, Yao Huang walked to the window, pushed it open, and said airily toward the He family's house, "It is so early in the morning, where is this long-tongued bird squawking and making such a racket?"
Madam Zhu, who was standing right at the base of the wall next door: "..."
He Wenbin, who had been nagged out by his mother, was startled by that slightly lazy voice, his heart skipping a beat. He did not want to offend Scholar Liao, and he especially did not want Scholar Liao's beautiful wife to misunderstand that he looked down on her husband just like his mother did. He hurriedly pulled his mother into the main hall and tried to talk some sense into her.
With her ears finally enjoying some peace and quiet, Yao Huang saw there was water in the room, washed her face, changed her clothes, and went to the front courtyard.
Feiquan was still holding a grudge against Madam Zhu. "Madam, do you want me to get someone to teach her a lesson?"
Yao Huang smiled and asked, "How would you teach her a lesson?"
Feiquan replied, "I will have Zhang Yue and Wang Dong corner her, wave their fists, and threaten her a bit. This time it will just be a scare. If she dares to make a racket a second time, we will get serious."
Yao Huang thought for a moment and said, "Do not corner her. Two men and one woman being caught together could easily cause a misunderstanding. Go corner her son. Just tell him that if there is a second time, we will break his legs so he can keep our Second Master company."
Feiquan: "..."
