Chapter 129 Merchants and Painters

The merchant's surname was Gu. Old Master Gu was in the tea business and had accumulated a lot of wealth in Yizhou. In addition, he had connections with officials in the capital, who agreed to introduce him to a noble person. If everything went well, he could become an imperial merchant, which would bring him wealth for generations.

The Gu family had a son, the second child in the family. He was good at writing poetry and painting, and he became famous when he was in Yizhou. In order to prepare for the family to move to Beijing, the old man publicized his son's excellent painting skills to a great extent, and he should have made some name for himself in the capital.

There are many aristocratic families in the capital who like to recite poetry, paint, and indulge in romantic pursuits. If they can help their sons make friends with more dignitaries, it will definitely be beneficial to their family's development, so the money spent on bribery is worth it.

But Old Master never thought it was worth it!!

God knows how excited the Gu family was when they received the invitation from Prince Yong's Mansion.

Mr. Gu's hands were shaking, and Mrs. Gu was laughing so hard that she couldn't stop, but she was also nervous:

"Master, this invitation can't be fake."

They were already happy enough to be able to become sixth or seventh rank officials in the capital. After all, in the capital, knowing more people has only benefits and no harm.

But Prince Yong’s Mansion…that’s the prince, His Majesty’s younger brother, someone they dare not even think about!

"How could it be fake? I think the servants from the palace have different demeanors from ordinary people!"

"Besides, that's Prince Yong's Mansion. Who is His Royal Highness Prince Yong? He's a royal family member. Who would dare to use the prince's name if he didn't care about his head?" Old Master Gu's heart was pounding.

He said that he had made the right decision to come to the capital!

If he could get to know His Royal Highness Prince Yong, his Gu family would be able to make a big comeback.

The old man walked left and right, wandering back and forth.

"Tingfeng, you must take this seriously. Be careful with your words and don't offend the prince. Whether our Gu family can gain a foothold in the capital in the future depends on you."

"Dad, don't be so happy too soon. I heard that His Royal Highness Prince Yong seems to have hired a lot of painters in the palace recently. How could he possibly remember all the painters? Prince Yong's palace can't be so easy to get into. There's nothing special about our family. I will just honestly paint a picture for His Royal Highness Prince Yong."

He did think that his painting skills were good, but this was the capital, and there were many people who painted better than him.

The Master Mu whom he admired most was in the capital. He had seen imitations of Master Mu's paintings, which were all lifelike and vivid, a level that he might never be able to reach in his lifetime.

Now that my family has moved to the capital, if I could have the good fortune to meet Master Mu, I would have no regrets in my life.

Taifu Mu's talent and paintings are well-known throughout the world, and His Royal Highness Prince Yong must have known about it. However, no one knows why, with such a gem before him, His Royal Highness Prince Yong invited a group of "clay-clad people" like them to paint for him.

Given the power and status of His Royal Highness Prince Yong, Grand Tutor Mu would definitely give him face.

"Hey, don't talk about that. His Royal Highness Prince Yong hired so many painters, he must be dissatisfied with their works. Be more confident, I think you can do it!"

“…”

The next day, Gu Tingfeng arrived at Prince Yong's Mansion.

Including him, there were ten painters in total who entered Prince Yong's Palace together.

Gu Tingfeng was cautious and just silently looked at the spacious and beautiful Prince Yong's Mansion.

It's really eye-opening.

Then continue to follow the team like a quail.

When they arrived at the main hall, Prince Yong was sitting high in the first seat, his hair half draped behind him, a wine glass in his hand, leaning lazily on the back of the chair, his cold eyebrows and eyes stained with a hint of drunkenness, but the royal majesty still made people dare not look directly at him.

"Don't be nervous, everyone. I'm here to ask you to paint. No matter how the painting is, there will be a reward. If the painting satisfies me, there will be a generous reward." Ling Yu spoke in an approachable manner, but his voice was filled with fatigue and deep sadness.

"Just what I saw in the palace today, I have to keep it to myself. Not a single word can be uttered to anyone. If I find out who has left the palace and spread something that shouldn't be spread, I will be in trouble."

"Then you never have to speak."

"Don't worry, I will pay you enough hush money, so if you feel you can't control your mouth, leave quickly and don't endanger your life." Ling Yu kindly reminded.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, we will keep our mouths shut!"

No one moved. Ling Yu nodded and gave a look to the guards beside him.

Then three pictures of beauties appeared in front of everyone.

Some of the people below opened their mouths wide, because it was none other than Princess Tangning, whose death was reported a few days ago.

They understood why His Royal Highness Prince Yong did not allow anyone to tell anyone about what happened today.

His Royal Highness Prince Yong actually... actually has such thoughts about Princess Tangning.

Then, a note appeared in front of the desks of several people, with their painting requirements written on it. They were asked to paint the scene of a beautiful woman in red riding a horse and drawing a bow on the peak of Qingluan Mountain.

Ling Yu has been looking for someone who can completely draw the scene in his mind these days.

He was afraid that time would blur his memory and that he would never be able to clearly recall the wind in the mountains that day.

He deeply regretted not learning to paint before. When he was young, he liked to wield swords and guns, and always felt that reciting poems and painting were such romantic things that were sour. But at this moment, he realized the importance of being able to paint well.

He was the only one who had seen the scene that day, and it was difficult to accurately depict the scene of that day just by describing it.

Ah, there is one person who can.

Mu envied him.

He really did come to the door and beg for help without holding any grudges.

Then what did Mu Xianzhi say?

Mu Xianzhi stood in front of the mansion, dressed neatly.

——Your Highness thinks more and more beautifully as he grows older. Princess Tangning is my student. Your Highness has disregarded human ethics and blasphemed my student like this, and asked me to be an accomplice. I am sorry that I cannot obey your order.

Mu Xianzhi felt that it was a blasphemy for him to own his niece's paintings.

They also said that he disregarded human ethics, but what's wrong with him?

What a beast in human clothing, he is not worthy of being a teacher!

Is it so great to be able to paint? He just doesn't believe it. He can't find a painter who suits his taste!

So painters came to Prince Yong's Mansion one after another.

Even though the others were shocked, they had already started painting. Only one person remained in his seat, his pupils wide open, his eyes fixed on the paintings.

"I know Tang Ning is very beautiful, and I know you will be shocked, but aren't you a little too shocked?"

He stood out so much that it was hard for Ling Yu not to notice him.

Ling Yu's cold eyes fell on Gu Tingfeng. Just sitting in a high position, he could give people invisible oppression with just a glance.

Gu Tingfeng immediately stood up and apologized.

"Your Highness, please forgive me! I did not mean to disturb your interest." Gu Tingfeng was worried. He stood in the middle and knelt down, looking at the painting again.

The other painters who came in with him were all worried for him.

"It's just that I saw the woman in the painting in Yizhou some time ago. I was so shocked for a moment that I looked at her a few more times." Although Gu Tingfeng's voice was shaking, his tone was quite firm.

He was definitely not mistaken. The female customer who bought his house some time ago was the person in the painting!

With a "bang", the wine glass in Ling Yu's hand fell to the ground, and the wine spilled on him, but he seemed not to see it.

The drunkenness in his eyes seemed to disappear all of a sudden, and his gaze was fixed on Gu Tingfeng.

"What did you say?"