Chapter 50 After finishing her makeup, Green Hat Number One whispered to her husband, "How deep is my eyebrow makeup...?"

Autumn clouds swirled several times over the Meng residence, contrasting beautifully with the melodious sound of the sheng (a type of reed pipe instrument) under the clear sky, creating a harmonious blend of sky, people, and scenery.

Le Jin, dressed in layers of dazzling gowns, followed behind Madam Meng, curtsying and smiling at every noble lady and young lady she saw, like a lucky cat placed in the hotel lobby.

The fervent anticipation was shattered by reality on the day of the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet. Le Jin chuckled bitterly to herself: This was hardly a "spring outing," it was clearly being treated like a welcoming hostess.

The extravagant lady was nothing more than someone who was "working" under a different name...

Fortunately, Madam Meng is still the primary mistress of the Meng household. She only makes a brief appearance and doesn't need to actually socialize or pander to those elegant women. With Madam Meng chatting and laughing with others in front, Le Jin can focus on quietly searching for the person who is truly waiting for her.

Beneath the winding path of pine and cypress trees in the distance, Madam Zhang and her close friend Madam Wu were enjoying tea and admiring the flowers, chatting and laughing just as they had when they were at Huayan Temple.

She had originally intended to visit them, but it seemed that the closer she got to home, the more hesitant she became. It was as if her feet were glued to the ground, and she couldn't move forward no matter what she did.

What's the point of going? Should I put on a "lucky cat" smile and say, "What a beautiful day!" or watch them treat me with the same superficial politeness as the other ladies and noblewomen present, while actually trying to avoid me like the plague?

The damp, dejected atmosphere was like a bone that a wild dog kept nibbling at, impossible to shake off. Le Jin took a deep breath, looked at the two ladies, Zhang and Wu, with lingering reluctance, and finally decided to let them go and let herself go. She said "Change clothes" and then took Bao Yin to the Water Pavilion to eat fragrant fruit.

"Have you decided?"

Madam Zhang put down her teacup and turned to ask the maid beside her.

The maid withdrew her gaze from the elegant and beautiful woman and nodded: "I just wanted to come and see her, even just a glimpse from afar is enough."

She bowed to the two ladies, Zhang and Wu, and said, "Yingyun thanks you ladies for helping me enter the mansion today."

Madam Zhang sighed, a mixture of helplessness and deep regret in her voice. "No need for thanks, it was just a small favor. But why did this Lady Le, now Madam Meng, do something so foolish?"

Hearing her express such regret, Madam Wu recalled the words Yue Jin had spoken at Huayan Temple: if her husband truly harbored disloyalty, she would certainly stand by her side. What a spirited young lady! But…

"But I think there might be some unspeakable reason behind it."

If Yuan Jingming heard her say this, he would probably cry foul for his childhood friend again. But Jiang Yingyun really thought so. She came today because she was worried about Le Jin.

Although they weren't close, Jiang Yingyun knew better than anyone that things in the world weren't simply black and white. Just one glance was enough to show that she was doing well, and that was fine with her.

A cool autumn breeze blew past Jiang Yingyun's ears, causing ripples on the water's surface. The swaying light and shadow reflected on Le Jin, making her look like a radiant peony in a waterside pavilion.

"My wife, it's not that I'm being picky, but this Meng residence is really boring!"

While eating her snacks, Baoyin muttered, "How wonderful it was to play with those young masters at Qingyue Pavilion and Linxian Tower back then!"

Those girls were all lovely, beautiful, and had great figures; they knew all sorts of ways to make their wives happy. Yet, after ten days or half a month in the Meng household, the wife hadn't smiled once. The son-in-law's godlike looks were all for nothing!

Le Jin was still chewing on her snacks when her heart pounded. She did agree that the Meng family was boring, but she wasn't bored enough to think about having an affair.

She pursed her lips and nodded awkwardly, hoping Baoyin would quickly change the subject, but suddenly a voice came from somewhere.

"The lady's eyebrows were heavy with sorrow; she was beautiful but her spirit was low, which was a real pity."

Bao Yin immediately realized what was happening and protected Le Jin, "Who?"

The master and servant peered cautiously out of the water pavilion and saw a young man in green leaning against a rock nearby.

Her eyebrows were long and light, her eyes were bright and shining, and there was a small vermilion mole at the corner of one eye. Her nose was straight and her lips were thin. She had a very simple and quiet appearance, but she was so beautiful that people couldn't take their eyes off her.

He bowed deeply to Yue Jin from a distance, saying, "I am a painter from the Imperial Painting Academy. I was commissioned by the wife of the Vice Minister of War to paint the auspicious occasion of you noble ladies enjoying chrysanthemums today. However, I got lost when I first entered the Meng residence and happened to bump into you, Madam."

It was indeed their first time here, and they didn't even know she was the young mistress of this mansion, and kept calling her "wife".

But this unexpected moment allowed Le Jin to escape the constraints of being Meng Shutai's wife. As if by some strange twist of fate, she was able to catch her breath and suddenly felt more relaxed, so she no longer wanted to correct him.

He moved closer to Yue Jin, his eyes fixed on her, pure and natural: "If you were to paint a picture of melancholy, it would clash with the harmonious atmosphere of today. As the painter, I would like to know if your melancholy should be altered, or if you should retain it?"

Oh, this person is a dedicated art fanatic.

Baoyin stared in disbelief, then blurted out, "How utterly rude of you! Our lady is..."

"Hey!" Le Jin quickly patted her lightly, winked at her, and then turned back to the green-clad painter with a polite smile, "Painter, do whatever you feel comfortable with, I have no objections."

Le Jin doesn't understand painting; professional matters should be left to professionals.

The artist nodded after receiving her reply, thanked her, and left.

The green-clad figure gradually disappeared into the distance. Just as Le Jin was about to turn back and sit back in the pavilion, the familiar mechanical voice in her mind, of all times, rang out:

[Character Action Point: Flirting and flirting with the artist]

!!

Her mission!

Le Jin slapped her thigh and whirled around towards the figure, shouting, "Hey! You—what's your name...?"

He focused his breath in his dantian and tried to speak, but as soon as the words came out, they were as weak and feeble as a dying patient lying in bed.

Oh dear... what a mess!

Le Jin was sweating profusely, pacing anxiously. In the original story, this guy was actually hooking up with rich men on Meng family territory?! Truly audacious and skillful… but she had no idea how to do that!

Ambiguous? What constitutes ambiguity? To what extent? An artist shouldn't be able to help her bring down Meng Shutai, right?

Bao Yin was at a loss, watching her mistress suddenly erupt in anger, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, Jin Qiao, who was by Madam Meng's side, came over to invite her, "Young Madam, all the guests have already taken their seats at the banquet, you should go over there too."

——

The banquet for appreciating flowers is about elegance and nature. The distinguished guests are seated by a winding stream, amidst the scenic rocks, where the guests echo each other and each has its own unique charm. Everyone is happy and joyful.

Only Yuejin.

While others are blessed with love from the heavens, she was blessed with a lover. The key point is that it seems, perhaps, maybe, that she had to practically throw herself at this lover to win him over, because he left her with no feelings for her, only focusing on his painting.

She was so worried...

Just as she was feeling lost and disoriented, Madam Meng's shout suddenly startled her.

"Ah Jin, I've called you four or five times, why don't you respond?" Madam Meng said with slight displeasure, raising her hand to indicate the person not far from Le Jin:

"The Song Dynasty painter from the inner court is here painting today. You can tell him your preferences first."

Speak of the devil, and he appears. Yue Jin's gaze fell upon the man, and there he was—the young man in green!

Her muscles went weak, and she could barely stand. But Madam Meng, still thinking she was just a shy new bride, insisted on comforting her, "Go on, go on, it's nothing."

Several young and lively noble ladies were already chattering and making requests of the painter Song.

"Painter Song, please add another royal blue shawl for me!"

"You already have one, do you want more?"

“My aunt wore two overlapping sashes, she looked so beautiful, but unfortunately I saw her when she had already left home.”

"And us! Painter Song, please paint our floral decorations the same."

The young man in green agreed to each request, but when it came to Le Jin, before she could speak, he suddenly looked up and smiled:

“My name is Song Chengzhi. I had already taken my leave at the pavilion and it was inconvenient for me to return to answer your question, Madam.”

It turned out he had heard it.

Le Jin forced herself to calm down and tried her best not to tremble: "I'll remember it, Song Chengzhi, what a good name."

Song Chengzhi, well, she only remembers good names.

"The Song painter asked me what kind of expression I wanted to capture in the painting. I didn't have an answer before, but I do now."

Her heart was pounding so hard she felt like she was going crazy. Le Jin subconsciously licked her lips and whispered, "I want to be the most beautiful version of myself in your eyes for the painting."

For some reason, the woman before me had a shy and timid expression, her chin lowered, her face slightly protruding, her long eyelashes curled, and she possessed a charming, somewhat childlike beauty. Her earlobes and cheeks were flushed pink, and her lips were moist and glossy, alluring with every movement.

Is she the most beautiful? She already is.

"I understand, and I will certainly not fail in my wife's expectations."

After this woman arrived, the previous women all left, and no one else came. Song Chengzhi felt a little smug. Taking advantage of the fact that they were alone, he boldly asked, "Where does the lady live? Once the scroll is finished, may I show it to her?"

As if pricked by a sharp needle, Le Jin's skin tightened with pain in a certain spot.

“I…I live in the Meng family’s house. Yes, I’m a relative staying at the Meng family’s house. You can call me Jinniang.”

She made a firm decision: let the beautiful mistake continue to be a mistake!

——

After a busy day, Le Jin took a relaxing bath in the evening and almost fell asleep in the tub.

She got up from the pool, still soaking wet, and had just wrapped her robe around herself when a maid came in and told her, "Young mistress, the master has returned."

Meng Shutai went to discuss matters with the Ministry of Works with her father today and was away from home all day. She even said she would lie in bed and pretend to be asleep so she wouldn't see him too much, but he just happened to come back at this time.

enemy.

Le Jin was so tired that her eyelids kept drooping, and she kept yawning when she returned to her room.

"Did you get exhausted from organizing the banquet? I advised you not to go, but you insisted on pushing yourself."

He took off his black cloak and handed it to Qisheng, then looked at Lejin with his watery eyes.

Night had fallen. She had just finished bathing and was wearing only a plain white water dress. Her skin, which had been steamed with hot water mixed with rose juice, was translucent and fair. She walked past him with a sweet fragrance.

"No, it's my mother who's tired. I didn't do much."

Le Jin sat on the bed, tilting her head to dry her wet hair, revealing a small ear and a smooth, rounded neck and shoulder line. Meng Shutai stared at her for a while, then quietly walked behind Le Jin, took the soft towel from her hand, supported her long hair with one hand, and carefully pressed the strands of hair with the other.

"At three-quarters past dawn today, my father and I entered Xuande Gate together. At two-quarters past noon, we met with the Minister of Works and discussed the construction of the Buddha Relic Pagoda with him until noon. At 1 p.m., we went to inspect the several locations selected by the Ministry of Works..."

Le Jin was drowsy, but she vaguely realized that he was reporting to her.

It was very cozy, but she didn't want it at all.

"It's alright, I'm not worried about your important business." She said this with feigned consideration, then turned to take back the soft towel to dry her hair, but Meng Shutai wouldn't give it to her.

"Is it that you're not worried, or that you don't care?"

He was still somewhat gentle when reporting official business, but his tone suddenly turned cold when he asked this question. Le Jin's drowsiness vanished completely, her tongue lolling behind her teeth, unable to utter a single syllable.

The two remained silent for a moment, when suddenly a soft sigh came from behind them.

Meng Shutai continued, taking hair oil and pouring it into her palm. While applying it to her hair, she used her fingers to gently comb through her long hair.

"Fine, since you don't want to hear what I have to say, then tell me what you did today, okay? I care."

Thinking about what happened today, Le Jin's neck veins bulged, and her heart pounded painfully. Damn it… Right here in this room, she promised him she would only play with him and wouldn't be distracted, but who knew the cuckold would show up so quickly?

She forced herself to pretend nothing had happened, saying, "It was just that I met a lot of people with my mother, laughed a lot, a lot, and then ate and drank. It was pretty boring."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Baoyin burst in, carrying something with a beaming smile:

"My lady, look! A thrush! It was sent by the painter Song..."

"A Song Dynasty painter?"

Bao Yin's face froze, and she stood still. "Young Master..." In her hand she was carrying a birdcage, inside which a lively thrush was chirping.

Meng Shutai's eyes fixed on the birdcage and curved slightly. "Let me see."

Le Jin's neck turned red with nervousness. "It's that painter Song from the inner court. A lady invited him here, saying he'd paint for us."

Enjoying flowers, strolling in gardens, and painting are all elegant and interesting pursuits; he has no reason to doubt anything.

The bird fluttered around in its cage, making Meng Shutai's smile deepen. "It's a lovely thing. Why did he send this?"

"Uh..." Le Jin was already out of breath, and gave an awkward laugh: "I don't know, maybe it's a thank you?"

Meng Shutai understood, then turned to Baoyin and asked, "The painter only sent the birds and didn't say anything else?"

Baoyin shook her head frantically, "No, there's nothing more."

Actually, there really is one. Song Chengzhi has studied painting for many years, and no one's expression, no matter how subtle, can escape his eyes. When he saw Le Jin at the Water Pavilion, she was clearly melancholy and lost, yet she forced a smile in front of him.

But that didn't stop Song Chengzhi from thinking that her smile was very beautiful.

Staying at the Meng residence was like living under someone else's roof. Song Chengzhi had a similar experience when he was learning to paint in his early years, and he unknowingly developed pity for Le Jin.

After he returned home, he sent this thrush to his beloved, hoping that its melodious song would bring a smile to her face.

These precious words, of course, dare not be spoken.

The birdcage was exquisite; it could be held in one hand. Before Le Jin could say anything, Meng Shutai seemed quite fond of it.

"Hang it by the window in the warm room, take good care of it, and you'll be happy just looking at it."

It turned out to be a close call, but no real danger.

Le Jin breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a thrilling day. She buried her face in the blanket and fell asleep soon after.

The moon was bright and the wind was gentle tonight. It was quiet and peaceful. The girl on the bed was breathing heavily and slowly. Meng Shutai sat beside her pillow, occasionally pinching her soft, cool earlobe.

When she returned to the manor, someone reported that the young mistress had met the painter Song Chengzhi at the Water Pavilion that day, and had chatted with him alone for a long time during the banquet. However, she said that she was bored today and did not do anything.

Meng Shutai narrowed his phoenix eyes, a dark emotion surging within them.

After finishing her makeup, she whispered to her husband, "Is my eyebrow makeup fashionable?"... The thrush symbolizes love.

Exhaling a long, hot breath, Meng Shutai leaned back against the tent curtain, his fingertips playing with Le Jin's earlobe, his mind still unsettled.

Lie to me, lie to me...

I rose and walked lightly to the warm pavilion. Under the moonlight, the caged bird slept peacefully, curled up in a small ball, its downy feathers rising and falling with the expansion and contraction of its chest.

A delicate hand opened the cage, and when it grasped the thrush, it suddenly squeezed it fiercely. Before the bird could even cry out, blood and internal organs gushed from its mouth... The sound of bones breaking and being squeezed was very soft, no different from the sound of withered leaves being crushed.

...

Upon hearing the door open, the servant guarding outside immediately ran over.

"It's late at night, what are your orders, my lord?"

"Find me one exactly the same as this, but don't disturb the young mistress."

The servant repeatedly said "yes," bowed his head, and reached out to receive "this thing" from his master. A cool, damp, and sticky lump fell into his palm. The servant looked closely by the moonlight and almost vomited.

What the young man gave him was a wrecked thrush that had been crushed to death.

-----------------------

Author's Note: Meng Shutai: The thrush symbolizes love, blah blah blah...

Le Jin: I'm sorry, I didn't even graduate from junior high school.

(I was criticized for writing too short, like I was being accused of being cold and indifferent [noob], so I angrily wrote 4000 words to prove my innocence [pathetic])