Chapter 155 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 9.

As a drop of ink fell, solidifying into countless indistinguishable faces on the paper, Yu Shiqing put down his brush. His thoughts slowly emerged from the artistic conception of the painting. Almost instantly, the sounds of wind, birdsong, and human voices around him broke through the barriers and surged into his ears.

"This painting is devoid of people, yet it represents the pinnacle of painting in this region!"

"A sound arises in the silence, and emotion stirs in the stillness..."

"It perfectly matches the saying 'meaning beyond the brushstrokes, form beyond the image'! Brilliant, brilliant!"

Yu Shiqing vaguely noticed the students gathering from all directions while he was painting, but he was too preoccupied to pay attention. Only when he looked up did he realize that he had unknowingly attracted such attention.

He noticed that among the many students praising him, there were several who were clearly teachers, especially the old gentleman in white robes beside him, who was stroking his beard and smiling at the table, the very person who had exclaimed "Wonderful!"

Yu Shiqing smiled and was about to bow and speak when he saw the old gentleman, as if he loved the painting so much, bend down to examine it more closely, thus revealing the person who was hiding behind him.

As if sensing something, the man looked up at him at that moment.

Their eyes met.

The person in the painting is the one I think of; what I see is the soul of the painting.

Yu Shiqing felt a jolt in his heart, and his smile suddenly vanished.

Ye Zangxing seemed startled by the sudden eye contact with Yu Shiqing, and paused for a moment.

This moment of surprise caused the emotions flowing across his face to freeze abruptly. In Yu Shiqing's eyes, there was pain, regret, pity, hopelessness, and resentment—they stared back at him through a deep fog, and for a moment, they resembled the frost and snow painted on the emperor's brows during a long night in the deep palace.

He called him: Brother Yu, Danzhi, Shiqing, my dear minister, my beloved minister...

Yu Shiqing sat with him on the palace steps, gazing at the distant stars in the sky, his heart pounding erratically, his face showing helplessness.

"Does Your Majesty know the meaning of 'Qingqing'?"

"Having studied for many years, I naturally know that 'I love you dearly, therefore I call you my dear friend; if I don't call you my dear friend, who will?' Is that right?"

"Since you know this, then don't address me as 'your subject' in such a way. We, as ruler and subject, should not speak so frivolously..."

“Why not? You and I were young ruler and subject, sharing wealth and hardship, bound by life and death, no different from a young married couple. What's wrong with calling out to each other? Even if the Minister of Rites were here, I would still call out to him, ‘My love, my love, my love…’”

The newly enthroned emperor, wrapped in a fiery red cloak, ran off laughing.

Yu Shiqing shook his head and sighed, picked up the glass lamp that had fallen on the steps, and slowly followed after him.

The lamplight flickered, and the king's loneliness and joy were locked away in the deep palace, unknown to anyone.

Yu Shiqing gazed at Ye Zangxing, who seemed to be infected by the emotions in the painting and rarely showed such a complex expression. For a moment, he had the illusion that he was seeing a melancholy emperor in a cold palace.

Fortunately, it was just an illusion.

"Brother Yu...Brother Yu?"

As if from a distant past, yet also as if right before my eyes, Ye Zangxing's voice rang out.

"Hearing that the painting academy was holding its examination today, I came with Mr. Wen to take a look. I never expected to see Brother Yu, and to find such a work... full of intricate emotions and ethereal, secluded charm..."

"Brother Yu?"

Ye Zangxing's face moved a little closer.

Just then, a gust of wind came, and the ribbon that tied the boy's hair fluttered up and swayed in front of his eyes. Yu Shiqing looked up, and his hands reached out instinctively, grabbing the slender ribbon.

Ye Zangxing paused, his eyelashes froze, and then he trembled twice like a startled butterfly.

"Depressed..."

"Brother Ye, I apologize for my rudeness..." He was only stunned for a moment, and the moment the hair ribbon fell into his palm, he was jolted back to his senses. He immediately released his fingers, letting the hair ribbon flow through his fingers like willow branches and water. "It's been too long since we last met, and I forgot myself for a moment."

He looked at Ye Zangxing and explained earnestly.

Ye Zangxing turned his eyes away, no longer looking at him, "I thought Brother Yu had forgotten me..."

His agitated emotions had gradually calmed down. Yu Shiqing carefully concealed the deep, tender feelings in his eyes and smiled faintly: "Brother Ye is a man of exceptional talent and youthful spirit. How could I forget him?"

Ye Zangxing's eyes flickered slightly as she glanced at him.

"Four strokes of Feishui, bought them, at the inn." Yu Shiqing blinked.

Ye Zangxing smiled, his eyebrows raised, and he was about to say something when Mr. Wen in front of him had already finished admiring the painting. He straightened his back, swung his sleeves, and instantly separated Yu Shiqing and Ye Zangxing.

"Young friend, your surname is Yu? Judging from your age, are you Yu Danzhi, the top scholar in this year's provincial examination in Huai'an? Ah, your writing is excellent, and your painting is even better!"

Mr. Wen grabbed Yu Shiqing and his eyes lit up. “Young friend Yu, look at your painting! It’s incredibly skillful and full of emotion. How can you have such skill at such a young age? I’ve been longing for a fellow painter for many years. You’ve come at just the right time. Come, come, this way. Let’s go to the studio and appreciate this painting properly!”

"Oh right, do you have a title for this painting?"

Yu Shiqing's view was blocked by a smiling face with a white beard, so he could only wink helplessly at Ye Cangxing before replying to Mr. Wen: "Sir, you flatter me. I am Yu Shiqing, and I am here to study at the academy."

"As for this painting, it was merely inspired by the topic of the 'Examination of Painting and Calligraphy' at the Painting Academy, and was painted casually without a title..."

"Good, good, good! Untitled! It should be 'Untitled'!" Mr. Wen was even more delighted and grabbed the man, ready to run away.

Yu Shiqing had seen many madmen paint, so he wasn't surprised. Just as he was about to refuse, a dignified male voice came from behind him: "Mr. Wen, this painting by Scholar Yu has garnered such praise from you. In your painting academy, am I considered a 'student' or a 'teacher'?"

“‘Sir’! Of course, it’s ‘Sir’!” Mr. Wen answered without hesitation.

Ye Zangxing turned around upon hearing the sound: "Fourth Brother, you've come to join in the fun too!"

Fourth Brother?

Yu Shiqing paused, then followed Ye Cangxing's gaze and saw a group of people walking towards them on the small arched bridge outside the corridor. The leaders were a man and a woman, both elegant and noble, who were none other than the fourth prince, Prince Yong, Ye Boyang, and his princess Zhao Rong.

Seeing everyone looking at them, the two smiled slightly. Those who had seen Prince Yong before immediately changed color and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness! Greetings, Your Highness's Consort!"

Those in the courtyard, upon hearing the sound, snapped out of their daze and hurriedly bowed in response.

Prince Yong waved his hand: "When traveling incognito, why bother with so many formalities? Please rise, everyone."

The crowd responded and made way for Prince Yong and his consort as they approached.

The two first looked at the painting, then at Yu Shiqing, who stood quietly with his eyes lowered. After looking at it, the princess smiled and said, "This painting is skillful, but it is not bound by technique. Instead, it is close to the essence of the art and expresses the deepest emotions. It is truly rare. I have seen many famous paintings in the palace, both ancient and modern. This painting is not much different from them. It is truly remarkable that Yu Shiqing, at such a young age, has such talent."

As she spoke, her beautiful eyes darted towards Prince Yong: "Your Highness, didn't you say a few days ago that you wanted to hire a calligraphy and painting tutor for Afu and Awang? I wonder what this one is like?"

Prince Yong smiled and said, "His painting skills are not a problem, his character is excellent, and most importantly, he is young enough to get along with those two rascals. He is naturally an excellent candidate. I just wonder if Scholar Yu is willing?"

A calligrapher and painter?

This event never happened in my previous life.

Did this change stem from his prior acquaintance with Ye Zangxing, or from the little princess's strange rebirth?

Or is it simply because of that painting just now?

Yu Shiqing's brow twitched slightly, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness and Your Highness. I am afraid I am not up to the task of teaching the young princess and the young prince. Firstly, I am young and my foundation is shallow. Secondly, I have already planned to participate in the imperial examination next March."

"September is already halfway over, time is really tight, and I have very little free time. I am unable to be in two places at once, so I hope Your Highness and Your Highness will understand."

Upon hearing this, before Prince Yong could speak, the Princess Consort continued, "If this is what Scholar Yu is worried about, then rest assured. Age and foundation are nothing. In the art of calligraphy and painting, the accomplished are always the first to be recognized. The amazing paintings by Mr. Wen and the other students, and the reputation of being the top scholar in Huai'an, are all testaments to your abilities. There is no need to underestimate yourself."

"As for the time, there is no need to worry. Before the imperial examination, you can come and teach a lesson whenever you are free, no more than twice a month. The child is still young and does not need anything profound."

"When the Prince returns to the capital next spring, you may accompany us, which will save you a lot of trouble."

"In that case, would you agree, sir? Or is it that you are already worried about some kind of conflict and want to avoid it even before you have entered the court..."

The princess spoke her last words in an extremely low and soft voice, so that no one except those nearby could hear them.

Yu Shiqing looked up and saw the princess's smiling eyes, "Student..."

“Sister-in-law, Danzhi has already said he is too busy, so why do you insist on hiring him?” Ye Cangxing suddenly lifted her foot slightly, her willow-green hair ribbon fluttering, her slightly shorter figure half-blocking Yu Shiqing’s front. “As for the calligraphy and painting teachers Afu and Awang, once I persuade Mr. Wen, we will naturally have them.”

Princess paused, seemingly surprised that Ye Zangxing would speak like that. She glanced between him and Yu Shiqing and said, "Xuanshu, I remember you and Scholar Yu only met once, on the day the results of the provincial examination were announced? You only met once, yet you already have such a good relationship?"

Ye Zangxing's expression remained unchanged, and he smiled, "Brother Yu and I hit it off immediately."

"It felt like we'd known each other forever..." Prince Yong suddenly chuckled. "That's how young people are. Oh well..."

Before he could finish speaking, Prince Yong was about to leave when Yu Shiqing took a half step forward and gently pressed Ye Cangxing's wrist where no one could see him. Then he cupped his hands again and said, "Your Highness, please wait. What the Princess Consort said makes sense. If the young princess and the young prince are willing, I am willing to give it a try."

Ye Zangxing was startled, turned to look at him, and something flashed quickly in his eyes.

Prince Yong and his wife also paused, looking at him with some surprise.

Yu Shiqing lowered his eyebrows and lowered his eyes, his expression indifferent.

The princess's eyebrows curved slightly, and she was the first to smile: "Scholar Yu is interesting!"

Prince Yong said, "Then in a couple of days, I will send someone to invite you to my residence for a chat..."

"The students will wait patiently."

Yu Shiqing chuckled softly.

After several days of reflection and some details he had just observed, Yu Shiqing finally changed his mind the moment Prince Yong turned to leave.

These days, whenever he has a moment, he asks himself what he would want most in this second life.

To change Ye Zangxing's early death and to prevent the Great Qi from falling into the same turbulent situation as in the previous life.

Both of these events, whether the former or the latter, seem to be closely related to Emperor Tianxi's untimely death and the subsequent rebellion of Prince Yong.

In his previous life, he had little contact or understanding of Emperor Tianxi and Prince Yong, and was unaware of the crux of the matter. But now, a completely different opportunity was presented to him. Even though there were many dangers, he had to act under the noses of the young princess, who was also a reborn person, and the other members of Prince Yong's family, who were also quite strange. However, the gains he could reap were likely to be quite substantial.

He had been thinking about many plans lately, but none of them so blatantly labeled as shortcuts.

Currently, there are less than three years left before Emperor Tianxi appoints Ye Cangxing as crown prince...

Yu Shiqing doesn't consider himself a gambler, but in his previous life, he gambled quite a bit over the past forty-four years.

He only bets big.

After the Prince and Princess left, the students in the courtyard gradually dispersed. The painting examination ended, and Mr. Wen chatted with Yu Shiqing about painting for a while before going off to work. He was quite reluctant to part with him and invited him to come again another day.

As for Bao Shaojie, he had long since slipped away in the chaos.

At the painting table, only Yu Shiqing and Ye Zangxing remained for a moment.

"Brother Yu."

Ye Zangxing watched Yu Shiqing slowly roll up the painting, then suddenly spoke, asking in a low voice, "Is this painting... a tribute to your beloved?"

Author's Note:

Damn dry eye and conjunctivitis keep bothering me [laughing and crying with face covered]. After this is over, I need to avoid electronic products for a while, except for work.