It turns out it was for Situ Zhi's painting.

"Yes."

Xiao Qingyin replied to her.

He then glanced in the direction of Situ Zhi, who was chatting happily with a scholar.

I guess we won't be able to take care of this girl for a while.

Then you should call the shopkeeper.

But then the girl exclaimed in surprise, "Sister, what are you doing here?"

She paused involuntarily.

It turned out to be Situ Zhi's half-sister who arrived?

Out of curiosity, she took a closer look.

The girl was dressed in extremely gorgeous clothes, but her appearance and temperament were quite ordinary, making it hard to imagine that she was the musician known as a child prodigy.

It is said that the beautiful piece "Yangchun Baixue" that she heard at the New Year's Eve palace banquet was played by her.

It seems that appearances can be deceiving.

When Situ Zhi heard someone calling her, she turned her head and saw her father, his wife, and daughter. A look of panic flashed across her eyes.

"Father, Aunt Qin, Sister Yan, what are you doing here?"

"We've come to buy paintings by Tianxin Jushi."

Tan Ruoyan said as she walked over.

His gaze passed over Situ Zhi and landed on the scholar behind her.

"Young Master Tang, you're here too? What a coincidence."

Tang Xihong nodded slightly.

"Young Master Tang, did you paint that picture in your hand?"

"No, it belongs to Layman Tianxin."

"Can I take a look?"

Tang Xihong gave Situ Zhi a look.

Situ Zhi shook her head almost imperceptibly.

Tang Xihong then refused.

"Sorry, no."

Tan Ruoyan's outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

She paused, then casually withdrew her hand.

"That's such a pity, I really like this painting."

She glanced around the shop and, not seeing any other paintings, asked the shopkeeper, "Do you still have any paintings by Tianxin Jushi?"

The shopkeeper shook his head: "Not at the moment."

Can I make a reservation?

Having just received instructions from Situ Zhi, the shopkeeper replied, "I'm sorry, the reservations are full."

Tan Ruoyan turned to Tang Xihong with a regretful expression and said, "It seems that Young Master Tang is luckier than me."

Tang Xihong smiled slightly.

The painting in his hand wasn't actually sold to him by Situ Zhi. It was created after Situ Zhi incorporated some suggestions he gave Situ Zhi at the last gathering.

He was invited to see the paintings today.

Situ Zhi truly lived up to her reputation as a gifted individual favored by the headmaster; she made rapid progress after receiving only a little guidance.

Given time, she will surely shine brightly.

He didn't speak, and Tan Ruoyan couldn't continue talking to herself, so she could only talk to Situ Zhi.

"Sister, does your mother still force you to practice the piano?"

"there is none left."

"She pressured you like that, it was so cruel of her. Sister, you have to be kinder to yourself... Wait, what did you just say? She stopped pressuring you to practice the piano?"

Situ Zhi nodded: "Yes."

Tan Ruoyan was momentarily speechless.

After a while, she finally found her voice: "That's great! Sister, you can finally get rid of learning the piano and do what you want to do."

"Yes, I'm very happy every day now."

When Shunyi, who was standing to the side, heard her words, he was quite incredulous.

"I never thought your mother would have such a positive outlook."

Qin chuckled, "I told you long ago that His Highness would come to his senses sooner or later, and now it's come true."

Uncle Shunyi nodded: "You have more foresight than I do."

He offered a few words of comfort to Situ Zhi, then left with Qin Shi and Tan Ruoyan.

After watching them disappear down the street, Situ Zhi asked Tang Xihong, "I remember you said you really liked the piece my sister played, so why were you so cold to her?"

"Is it cold?"

Tang Xihong chuckled.

"Your perception is indeed very keen. I like listening to her play music, but I don't really like her as a person."

He felt a certain disconnect between Tan Ruoyan as a person and her music.

Situ Zhi deeply agreed.

She only likes the music, not the people.

Although Aunt Qin and her younger sister Yan spoke very gently, unlike her mother who was always full of rage and anger, she just couldn't bring herself to like them.

She used to think it was because she was jealous of her younger sister's musical talent while she herself did not.

She's let go of everything now, but she still doesn't like it.

Perhaps it's just a clash of personalities.

Situ Zhi didn't take seeing them to heart and continued to immerse herself in her creative work every day.

Tang Xihong, however, sent her a message through someone.

It is said that a rumor suddenly spread in the circle that her paintings were not painted by herself, but were bought from a down-on-his-luck scholar named He Chunsheng.

Many people believed it to be true and condemned her everywhere.

Situ Zhi was so angry she was trembling.

Before she could confront that scholar He, he went to Baibaozhai.

He demanded that she return all his paintings.

Accompanying He Shizi was a large group of scholars from various academies.

Some came to support He Shizi, while others were just there to watch the spectacle.

He Shizi was tall and thin, like a bamboo pole. He wore a faded blue cloth long gown, his sideburns were somewhat messy, and he had a tuft of messy beard on his chin.

He exuded an aura of poverty and destitution.

In contrast, Situ Zhi was dressed in silk and satin, exuding an ethereal beauty.

Although she only used a jade hairpin to hold her hair up and had no other decorations besides a jade bracelet, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that both her hairpin and bracelet were carved from the finest jade.

It is priceless.

Those scholars who came from poor backgrounds like He Shizi immediately sided with He Shizi.

"You rich and powerful ladies are not content with just having money and power, you even want to plunder other people's talents, have you no shame!"

"Quickly return He Shizi's painting to him!"

"Apologize to He Shizi and restore his honor!"

"..."

Hearing these accusations, Situ Zhi involuntarily took two steps back.

Xiao Qingyin pressed down on her shoulder and gave her an encouraging look.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Situ Zhi immediately felt reassured, and her eyes became firm.

She gritted her teeth, walked up to He Shizi, and asked him, "What makes you say these paintings are yours? Do you have any proof?"

He Shizi held his head high and puffed out his chest, looking arrogant: "Of course I have it, the painting I did on the spot is enough to prove it."

Situ Zhi was stunned.

"Drawing on the spot?"

He Shizi replied, "That's right! As long as I can paint the same picture, wouldn't that prove that I painted them?"

"What if I could draw too?"

He Shizi glanced at her and said disdainfully, "You could never paint like that. A young lady like you, who only cares about petty love and romance, could never paint such a carefree picture."

Situ Zhiqi laughed.

"Then let's have a competition and see who is the rightful owner of the painting."

He Shizi agreed.

Xiao Qingyin had a table moved and the Four Treasures of the Study brought out.

Situ Zhi and He Shizi began painting at the same time.

He Shizi was confident.

He was a master of copying, and his copies were so good that even the original artists couldn't tell the difference.

Before coming, he practiced imitations and was sure he could paint an impeccable "painting by Tianxin Jushi".