Chapter 16 Heart Fluttering He couldn't deny that he was heart fluttering.

Xiao Luozhi composed himself, quickly stepped inside, and presented the emperor with a beautifully carved bow.

He smiled and said, "Greetings, Your Majesty. I mentioned last time that I had acquired a fine bow, and this is it. It is made of sandalwood and wrapped with rhinoceros horn and ox sinew, giving it excellent tension. When used on a horse, it will surely make the rider even more powerful. Your Majesty, would you like to take a look?"

He held the carved bow in both hands, a hint of eagerness in his eyes, wanting to show the emperor the bow's exquisite craftsmanship.

The current emperor is extremely skilled in archery and horsemanship. When he was a member of a noble family, he accompanied the princes and nobles of the previous dynasty.

At that time, Xiao Luozhi was only eleven or twelve years old. He once saw his elder brother's dashing figure as he went hunting in fine clothes.

Young men roam freely, riding silver horses and adorned with carved bows, accompanied by soaring eagles and roaming beasts, with servants following them back and forth. The sons of the imperial family are as rich and noble as clouds, yet they all pale in comparison to their elder brother, the emperor.

Many years later, Xiao Luozhi still vividly remembers the scene of his elder brother returning from a hunting trip, his horse's hooves thundering across the imperial street.

Xiao Luozhi, catering to his brother's tastes, presented him with a rare Buddhist scripture last time, and this fine bow this time, hoping to appease his most beloved elder brother's anger.

"Under the whole heaven, there is no one more worthy of this carved bow than my imperial brother. Your subject..."

Before he could finish speaking, the emperor asked, "Have you been to the Yuan family?"

Xiao Luozhi breathed heavily and said in a low voice, "I have seen her and apologized to Miss Yuan. As a person in a position, my actions can affect many forces. My impulsive actions can cause a lot of trouble for others. If the engagement is really broken off, Miss Yuan's situation in the Yuan family will be extremely difficult. These days, I often send people to send some silk and satin over."

“Speaking of which,” he finally raised his eyes, which had been lowered, “that second young lady was gentle and kind to everyone.”

The emperor looked at him with a strange expression.

"You like her?"

Xiao Luozhi pondered for a moment, "Your Majesty, I need to spend more time with her, and I need to... get to know her better."

As he spoke, he glanced down and saw a sachet lying quietly beside the inkstone on the table. It was a delicate pink color, embroidered with green leaves and red lotus flowers. It was a woman's item, and it seemed completely out of place with the elegant and graceful figure behind the table.

Suddenly, a memory flashed through Xiao Luozhi's mind: at dusk, as he was tidying his clothes outside the meditation room and checking his crossbows for the last time, he looked up and saw a young woman walking out of the main room.

The woman had slender shoulders and a narrow waist, with black hair like clouds. As she walked, her skirt swayed like flowing water, making her graceful and charming.

As the sun began to set, its blinding golden light forced him to squint. By the time his vision cleared, her figure had already disappeared at the end of the corridor.

"This bow..." He was lost in thought and was about to speak when he heard the emperor say, "Come see me again when you can draw this bow to five shi."

He looked up from the sachet and saw that his elder brother had been staring at him for quite some time.

"go."

Xiao Luozhi bowed his head and withdrew, saying, "Yes."

My elder brother has always been averse to women, and this place is his forbidden retreat. Even high-ranking officials in the court are not allowed to enter without a summons. Yet the woman in purple could come and go as she pleased.

Xiao Luozhi naturally understood the key to it, and his heart was filled with a great deal of emotion.

As they left the room, a cool evening breeze blew by. Ye Shu stepped forward and saw that the bow was still on his shoulder. He said in a low voice, "Your Highness, has the bow not been presented to His Majesty?"

“My brother wants me to practice with a bow with a strength of five stones before he will forgive me,” Xiao Luozhi said, looking at the carved bow on his back. “My brother says this because he hopes that I will not neglect my archery and horsemanship skills. I should practice more diligently these next few days.”

But just thinking about my elder brother's meaningful gaze...

Xiao Luozhi felt that something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. After taking a few steps, he stopped and asked, "Didn't the head of Tianzhen Pavilion say last time that he had acquired a new ancient painting from a previous dynasty?"

Ye Shu immediately understood, “Your Highness, it is an authentic work by Xin Daoyuan, a master of the previous dynasty. It was rumored to have been destroyed in the war, but unexpectedly someone brought it to pawn the other day. After being examined by several old gentlemen in the pavilion, it is indeed an authentic work. Would Your Highness like to take a look?”

The Prince of Yan said, "Prepare horses immediately and go to Tianzhen Tower."

**

"Tianzhenlou" was the most prestigious treasure pavilion in the world, located on the most bustling street in Luoyang. The three-story building was decorated with vermilion lacquer and gold plaques. It received guests who were either extremely wealthy merchants or noble scions of royal families.

At this moment, in the private room on the second floor, the owner of Tianzhen Pavilion bowed and presented a brocade box, subtly observing Xiao Luozhi's expression.

"Your Highness entrusted me to keep an eye on the paintings and calligraphy of the previous dynasty. As soon as I received this scroll, I came to present it to Your Highness."

On the table was a painting titled "Seeking the Way in the Night Rain of Longshan." As the scroll slowly unfurled, a vast and desolate scene came into view.

Seeing the Prince of Yan's intense gaze, the Pavilion Master had already made up his mind. He said regretfully, "This painting is undoubtedly a genuine work by Master Xin. It's just a pity that a corner of it was wet by the rain, leaving a flaw."

“It’s alright,” the Prince of Yan said, gently stroking the painting with his fingertips as he carefully observed every blade of grass and tree. He casually asked, “Who do you think presented this painting to?”

"It is a young lady surnamed Zhou. This painting is already by a famous artist, but she claims to have many more treasures. If she comes to present paintings again next time, I will naturally reserve them for His Highness Prince Yan."

The pavilion master raised his hand and pointed out the details of the painting to the Prince of Yan. During their conversation, a servant in green robes quickly walked in from outside the door, went to the pavilion master's side, and whispered a few words in his ear.

The pavilion master's expression changed slightly, and a glint appeared in his eyes.

"The young lady Zhou who presented the painting happens to be at Tianzhen Pavilion today, downstairs right now. Would Your Highness do me the honor of meeting her?"

The Prince of Yan raised his hand and laughed, "No need. If there are truly any treasures, you can present them to me next time."

The Pavilion Master readily agreed, for His Highness the Prince of Yan is extremely busy with state affairs; how could a commoner woman be allowed to approach him so easily?

He attentively attended to the prince, introducing the treasures as they descended the stairs: "We have acquired several more treasures in the pavilion. Would Your Highness like to take a closer look?"

The King of Yan was listless, his gaze never leaving the scroll in his hands.

As he passed the door, a young woman in a peach-colored dress stood in front of the counter. A gentle breeze blew, and her light gauze curtains drifted toward him like smoke. Xiao Luozhi dodged to the side, and in the instant they brushed past each other, he saw that she was holding a scroll of books and paintings in her arms.

"May I borrow your painting to take a look, young lady?" Xiao Luozhi stopped.

The young woman suddenly turned around, tilting her head back to look at him. The light veil obscured most of her face, making her features appear hazy. "Young master?"

It was a clear and melodious voice, tinged with a hint of confusion.

Xiao Luozhi smiled and said, "I find this painting by you to be truly extraordinary. May I have the pleasure of examining it closely?"

The young woman had a very good personality. Upon hearing this, she did not back down. She smiled and said, "Okay," and slowly unfurled the scroll.

Xiao Luozhi's heart felt as if a painting had been struck.

The painting depicts the Western Paradise, where Maitreya Buddha sits cross-legged on a lotus platform, with flying apsaras behind him, and jeweled trees shining brightly. Green pigments and vermilion cinnabar intertwine to depict compassionate bodhisattvas, and apsaras in colorful robes. The scene is magnificent and dreamlike.

The pavilion master's voice came from the side: "This young lady, Ms. Zhou, is the one who presented the painting earlier."

Xiao Luozhi then came to his senses, looked at the young woman in front of him, and gestured to the pavilion master not to reveal his identity. He said, "My surname is Lu. I came here today for the painting 'Seeking the Way in the Rainy Night of Longshan,' which you pawned some time ago. I didn't expect to meet you here. It's really fate. What is the name of this painting? It is so exquisitely painted that I have never seen anything like it in my life."

The young woman patiently explained: "This painting is the 'Western Paradise Transformation Picture,' which depicts a Buddhist story. It was painted by a painter from Northwest China, imitating the techniques of murals from the Western Regions. However, this style of painting, which blends Han and non-Han elements, carries too much of an exotic feel, and its circulation is limited."

Xiao Luozhi's gaze lingered on the painting, and he said, "I am truly captivated by this painting. May I invite you, young lady, to discuss it with me in detail and learn more about it?"

A clear laugh rang out from under the curtain: "Okay."

In the innermost private room on the second floor, wisps of smoke rose from a gilded incense burner. As the door opened, a young man and woman walked in and sat down opposite each other at the table.

Although the room appears simple and elegant, everything from the landscape paintings hanging on the walls and the celadon plum vase on the table to the chairs and tables exudes understated wealth and luxury.

Smoke slowly curled around their robes.

Xiao Luozhi spread the scroll on the table, stroking the delicate brushstrokes. Just as he was about to ask a question, he saw the young woman in front of him raise her wrist and remove the veil from her head.

Beneath the light veil, her face was radiant, her complexion as beautiful as peach blossoms.

His gaze was fixed on the painting for a moment, then he politely looked away without making a sound, and said, "The lines of this painting are so steady and the use of color is so skillful that it must be the work of a master. But the paint seems to be very new, so it must have been painted recently?"

Yuan Chaolu smiled and said, "Young master has a good eye. This painting was created by a Buddhist cave painter from the Longxi area. He was responsible for the restoration of the Dunhuang Buddhist caves and was most skilled at using ethereal lines to depict the figures of gods and Buddhas."

She spoke slowly and deliberately, pointing lightly to a spot in the painting with her fingertip, "Look here, it's painted with gold leaf, it's exquisite and extraordinary. She entrusted me to sell this painting not long after she finished it."

No.

This painting was created by Yuan Chaolu.

When she first arrived in Luoyang, she traveled to various pharmacies to find medicine for her elder sister, spending a huge amount of money. When she could no longer make ends meet, she thought of selling her paintings to support herself.

Although her words were somewhat exaggerated, she did indeed follow her father around in his childhood, visiting Buddhist caves and temples, and she could paint both the colored bricks and murals with great skill and lifelike detail.

In order to sell at a good price, one naturally has to elevate one's status.

Yuan Chaolu saw the admiration on his face, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

This person was dressed in fine clothes and spoke with proper manners. Moreover, he was treated with such respect by the master of Tianzhen Pavilion, so his status must be extremely noble.

She sighed, "It's just that these kinds of paintings that blend Han and non-Han styles use too much color and lack the freehand style of ink painting. Moreover, the lapis lazuli needed mostly comes from the Western Regions, so few painters in the Central Plains can learn it. The painter is over seventy years old and is not appreciated by collectors in the Central Plains. He has long been thinking about retiring and may stop painting in the future."

Xiao Luozhi's expression darkened, and he said, "Please tell that master that such exquisite craftsmanship should not be forgotten. If there is an opportunity, I hope you will introduce me to this person."

“Okay,” Yuan Chaolu leaned forward, her fragrance wafting towards Xiao Luo. Xiao Luo instinctively wanted to avoid her, but met her beautiful, smiling eyes.

"But now that no one cares, isn't it because you have a discerning eye, young master?"

Her eyes were so bright and captivating that they made his heart skip a beat.

"Don't worry, young master, I will definitely convey your gratitude to her. If she finds out, she will probably paint a few more paintings for you tonight."

Xiao Luozhi coughed, covered his lips with his hand, smiled, looked at the painting in front of him, and then asked a few more questions about calligraphy and painting. Yuan Chaolu answered them all.

Her voice was clear and melodious, like a spring oriole singing on a willow branch. She described the brushstrokes and artistic conception in the painting one by one, showing that she was well-versed in the art of painting.

Xiao Luozhi laughed loudly: "I had a very pleasant chat with you today, Miss. I never expected to find you so compatible. I really wish to consider you my confidante. This purchase list needs both of our names. May I ask your name, Miss? I will write it down. By the way, my name is Lu Yanzhou."

Yanzhou, a name bestowed upon it by the emperor himself, means that the nine provinces of the world are peaceful and prosperous.

He rarely had a woman he could talk to so freely, and he wanted to use the pretext of writing a shopping list to pretend that he didn't want to get her name, but he didn't want to reveal his identity or change the way he interacted with her.

The young woman laughed and said, "My name is Zhou Aju, just an unknown person."

As dusk settled outside the window, the two rose together. She adjusted the curtain, her slender fingers weaving through the ropes, but she couldn't tie it properly.

Xiao Luozhi leaned against the door, drinking tea and waiting for her. After quite a while, the two of them walked out together.

Xiao Luozhi's fingertips unconsciously caressed the jade pendant at his waist. After hesitating for a long time, he finally asked, "Where does Miss live? It's getting late. Will Miss be returning alone with any maids or attendants?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than footsteps came from the stairs ahead, and a young couple in fine clothes were talking as they climbed the stairs.

The young man looked up, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly went upstairs.

"This is not—"

Xiao Luozhi immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "Your subject pays respects to Prince Anle. I am here today admiring paintings, and I am surprised to have the honor of meeting Your Highness."

Prince Anle, Xiao Cunxu, had a strange look in his eyes, but he quickly laughed and patted Lu's shoulder, "So it's Young Master Lu."

The drawn-out tone held a hint of mockery: "Young Master Lu has quite the refined taste."

A subtle undercurrent flowed between them as their eyes met, a tacit understanding unspoken.

At this moment, a woman emerged from behind Prince Anle, her bright dress and golden shawl shimmering in the candlelight. "Greetings, Young Master Lu."

Xiao Luozhi smiled and said, "Miss Helan has also come to appreciate paintings with the Prince today?"

Helan Zhen smiled and nodded, her gaze passing over his shoulder and landing on the woman behind him wearing a veil.

Yuan Chaolu's knuckles stiffened slightly, and all the blood in his body rushed to his heart. Beneath the light veil, his eyes slowly lifted.

My old enemy is right in front of me.

The Helan family, who sold her into a ghost marriage, caused the death of her adoptive mother, the mysterious death of her adoptive father, and the disappearance of her adoptive brother's remains.

To think we'd meet here, in this way.

He Lanzhen narrowed his eyes: "May I ask, Young Master Lu, who is this gentleman?"

A note from the author:

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

The former Prince of Yan: Even if the Second Miss stood before me and pleased me in every way, I would not fall in love with her.

Now, the Prince of Yan says: "She's so different, so special, I really want to send her home."

The engaged couple met.