After lunch, Ye Shangzhou, holding a military treatise, asked casually, "What did Ye Huaijin say to you today?"

Qiao Zhen didn't hide anything. "It's because of Young Master Ming. He came to thank me. And..." She paused for a moment, her voice noticeably softer, "And I've heard that Young Master Jin has a retainer in his household named Xun Yin, whose painting skills are superb. Countless women in the capital pay high prices to have him paint for them."

Ye Shangzhou became interested and asked, "Then do you know why he is so skilled at painting?"

Qiao Zhen couldn't stand his obviously gloating look. "Your Majesty, I don't recognize the words on your book." She took the book, turned it around, and put it back in Ye Shangzhou's hands. "As expected of Your Majesty, your way of reading is beyond the reach of ordinary people."

Ye Shangzhou was absent-minded, still thinking about how Ye Huaijin had held the book upside down without realizing it when he came to Yishui Pavilion. Now that Qiao Zhen had pointed it out, he felt a bit embarrassed and annoyed. "It's good that you know."

Qiao Zhen smiled at Ye Shangzhou, and only when he showed signs of anger did she bring the topic back, "I've heard that Xun Yin can draw a perfect likeness for anyone, no matter who they are. I'm itching to do the same."

She served the tea she had brewed earlier to Ye Shangzhou.

Ye Shangzhou picked up his teacup. "I think Madam is perfect enough. What is Madam dissatisfied with?" As he said this, his eyes involuntarily drifted towards Qiao Zhen's chest.

Qiao Zhen felt a surge of indignation at the stare, but instead of getting angry, she laughed and said, "I don't have big breasts."

"Pfft—" Ye Shangzhou spat out a mouthful of tea, not expecting Qiao Zhen's answer to be so straightforward.

Qiao Zhen continued speaking as if she didn't notice, "His Majesty said he didn't care, but every time he touched it, he couldn't help but pinch it a couple of times, as if he could make it bigger."

"Cough cough cough cough cough..." Ye Shangzhou coughed a series of times.