Chapter 9: The Goddess of Painting
Zheng Sirui left in a hurry without a word, making Yanru's school life even more lonely and deepening her attachment to Ji Mingxiu. She didn't want to be alone and wanted to stick to Ji Mingxiu all the time, clamoring for him to spend more time with her. That night, she stayed in Cunyu Hall. As soon as Ji Mingxiu finished washing up and lay down on the bed, Yanru immediately turned over, passed her slender arms through Ji Mingxiu's armpits, and gently wrapped her arms around his chest. Ji Mingxiu saw through her flattery and asked lightly, "What's going on? Which shop has new rouge?"
"Why do you say that to me?" Yanru rested her chin on Ji Mingxiu's shoulder, which was between thick and fat, and whispered to him, "Xiu Lang, Si Rui is not here, and there is no one to play with me. It's so boring. We always meet here, it's boring. The day after tomorrow is the month-long holiday, can you take me out?"
Ji Mingxiu refused: "That won't work. I have an appointment the day after tomorrow. A good friend is hosting a banquet at a pavilion near the Wuguan Temple."
A banquet?! Yanru was excited, her arms tightening around him, her voice so sweet that even a bee would find it suffocating. "Okay, then take me with you. I haven't met your best friends yet. When we first met, you invited me to have tea with them, but unfortunately, I didn't go because of the rules between men and women. Now that we're so close, we should go meet them."
Ji Mingxiu seemed to be trying to evade the invitation. "Our banquet isn't just about drinking and tea. They asked me to bring my latest painting so we can all enjoy it together. We've been busy all day and forgot when to eat. I'm afraid you can't stand it. You must be hungry and feel uncomfortable."
"Hmph!" Yanru dropped the coquettish look on her face, let go, turned her back to him, and pouted angrily. "If you don't want me to go, just say so. Xiulang, such an excuse is too far-fetched. The portraits they've been painting lately are all of me, so why can't I go? If I go and stand in front of the paintings, they'll look at me and then at the paintings, and they'll even praise your painting skills for being able to make the portraits look like the real people."
Ji Mingxiu was helpless. He had originally planned to go with his old lover from Jinmengfang, but now Yanru was in a bad mood. If he didn't agree, he would have to buy her things to appease her. Alas, when they first got together, he was impressed by Yanru's gentleness and well-behaved nature. In his arms, she was like a little doll that he could do whatever he wanted. As they spent more time together, Yanru's flaws gradually became apparent. If she was not satisfied, she would throw a tantrum and ask him to coax her. He had to buy her good things to coax her. As soon as he received the things, the clouds on her face immediately disappeared, and she became bright and clear, calling him "Xiulang" in a sweet voice. Ji Mingxiu was tired of these little tricks. He thought about taking the lover from Jinmengfang with him. He would pay the madam one fee and give Yanru a gift another. If he took Yanru with him, he would not charge a penny. This man was as good at calculating money as he was at painting. After a little consideration, he made a decisive choice: "Okay, okay, I just care about you. You are so pretentious. Just go. It's no big deal."
Upon hearing this, Yanru immediately turned over and hugged Ji Mingxiu: "I knew that I love Xiulang the most, and Xiulang can't bear to see me sad."
To facilitate her makeup routine, Yanru slept in her own bedroom. She'd barely finished her shifts in the sky when she'd already gotten up and was fiddling with her face. Yanru thought, "Everyone wants to see his paintings. I'm the one in them, so I have to dress as I would in the painting." First, she combed her hair. Ji Mingxiu didn't like her previous bun, so he usually had her comb all her loose hair up, revealing her large, smooth forehead. She used bronze ink to smooth her eyebrows, dark at the beginning, fading gradually toward the temples. She didn't apply forehead rouge, but only a touch of honey-pink rouge, sweeping from her cheeks to her ears. Perfect! Satisfied, Yanru executed a few graceful yet girlish movements, happily packed her things, and left.
On the day of the holiday, the classmates left one by one, preparing to go back home. Yi Bin, who was a good friend, saw Yanru about to fly out like a butterfly, smiled and greeted her, and walked with her: "Yanru, you are dressed so... gorgeously today, do you want to go out and play?"
Yanru was in a good mood: "Yes, we are going to a very interesting place."
Yi Bin smiled: "Ah, your rouge looks really nice today, like a peach, but without the cheesy look of peach blossoms. Where did you buy it? I'm tired of all the rouge in my house and I'm thinking of getting a new one."
Yanru was about to respond when she suddenly remembered Xuegu's advice to her the other day to "keep it hidden" and not show it off. And what if she told him that Yibin had bought it and brought it to the academy, and it looked better than her? So Yanru quickly replied, "Oh, this is the color I mixed myself. I used the oleander color from Xiangnai Pavilion and mixed it with a color from another store they sold last year. But there's no point telling me which store it is from; they no longer sell it, so you can't buy it."
"Oh? Really? Thank you so much," Yi Bin said sarcastically. As they reached the academy gate, Yanru, smiling, jumped into a paved carriage. Yi Bin's driver hadn't arrived yet, so she stood at the gate with her maid, waiting. Suddenly, someone patted her shoulder. It was Gan Yao. "I wanted to call you just now, but when I saw you were with You Yanru, I didn't bother to come up."
"Haha." Yi Bin rolled his eyes and repeated Yanru's words, "Look at her being so pretentious. I thought Si Rui was gone and she felt sorry for having no one to talk to, so I said hello to her out of good intentions. Bah, why is she showing off to me?"
Gan Yao laughed at her for trying too hard and said, "I told you before, you're the only honest person willing to talk to her. Hey, look, the carriage she's riding in today is more luxurious than usual... Hey, why does it look familiar to me?"
"Really?" Yi Bin looked at the back of the carriage that was moving away, and suddenly realized, "Ah! Yes! It's Teacher Ji's!"
The two girls looked at each other with expressions of surprise and joy.
The two horses rode side by side. Even though the distance between Wuguang Temple and Qiushui Academy was far, they arrived in about two incense sticks. Thinking that the people outside were all celebrities from Jinling, Yanru's heart beat violently. She pretended to be calm and slowly got off the carriage with the support of Ji Mingxiu. At the feet, purple and blue flowers that could not be named were neatly planted, extending all the way along the stone-paved path. The temporary decoration of the pavilion was elegant. On the table in the middle, incense was burning and tea was being brewed. Behind a light green bead curtain in the corner, a beautiful woman was playing the piano. Seven or eight men and three or two beautiful women were sitting around waiting for Ji Mingxiu to arrive late. When they saw him, they all put down their teacups, stood up and bowed warmly. One of them saw Yanru and asked in confusion: "Huh? Who is this?"
Ji Mingxiu introduced her gracefully, "This is Miss You from Qiushui Academy."
"Ah—it's a girl from Qiushui Academy." Many of those present were Confucian scholars who had shared a drink with Ji Mingxiu at the elegant gathering that day. Upon hearing this, they all exchanged glances, a playful expression of hidden humor. A curious person pinched the waist of the blue-dressed woman beside him and said with a smile, "She's truly worthy of being the elegant lady of Qiushui Academy. Du Fu wrote of a beauty beyond compare, living in seclusion in an empty valley. If I were to say, it's more like this: a beauty beyond compare, reciting poetry in the autumn water. Yun'er, don't blame us for being partial; you can't compare."
Yun Er concealed her disgusted look without leaving any trace, and said with a charming smile: "I was just drinking tea, how can you still say such drunken words? How can we compare with Miss You?"
Yanru looked at everyone's attitude and felt sincerely that everyone was praising her extraordinary temperament. Yun'er was pretty and pretended to be a pure and innocent girl by wearing a light green dress, but she was nothing but a vulgar woman in front of her.
In the space of half a cup of tea, the long table and screen for viewing paintings were set up outside under the camphor tree. Yanru rose with the others and saw Ji Mingxiu's recent paintings laid out one by one, mostly depicting girls with broad faces. Only one large scroll, a full ten feet long, was hung, depicting the entire Han Dynasty palace, rising from the ground like the wings of a thorn, the thorns of an arrow, and the leather of a bird. The most eye-catching scene was a high platform, where two bronze sparrows were cast and dozens of dancers danced to drums—it was the painting "Bronze Sparrow Locking Spring." Everyone present was moved by the majestic scene and praised Ji Mingxiu's technique and vision. Once this painting was released, it was sure to make a big splash in the art world of our dynasty.
Yanru couldn't see from the side, so everyone praised this and that, but not the dancers who wore Yanru's face. This made her feel regretful and lonely. After all, last night, she had imagined herself dressed up for the banquet today, and the guests admiring her beauty and temperament in Ji Mingxiu's paintings, praising her and Ji Mingxiu's talent and beauty, and their perfect match and love. Yun'er saw through her. Standing by the long table, pointing at the little-noticed Danqing portrait, she exclaimed in surprise: "Oh, the person in this painting, could it be Miss You? Oh, the third dancer on the left in the large painting in front of us also looks like Miss You."
"Ah, you actually discovered it. It's true. Teacher Ji's recent paintings are all based on my likeness." Yanru was proud, and she pretended to be shy in a clumsy way. She couldn't help but show off the private words that Ji Mingxiu used to whisper to her between the beds. "Teacher Ji said that after meeting me, his talent was like a spurt. Don't look at the corner where I stand on that big painting. I am his goddess of painting. I used to guide him in his dreams. Now that he knows me, he had to look at me to paint this "Bronze Sparrow Locking Spring"."
"Hmm..." Years of experience in singing, tactfully and flattering everyone, had allowed Yun'er to clap her hands even when she heard something amusing. "Oh my, the Goddess of Painting? The story of Miss You and Mr. Ji is truly more interesting than Yuefu poetry or popular legends. When I get back, I must find a talented scholar to compose a song about the story of Miss You and Mr. Ji, add lyrics, and sing it well, so that it will be remembered forever."
雲兒的吹噓與掌聲，鼓吹得嫣如身體裏某個部位迅速膨脹起來，好似飛上雲端飄飄然，再聽着周遭人誇贊嵇明修，字字句句。竟如誇的是自己一般。這個涉世未深的小姑娘，在莫須有的虛榮中忘了一件事情：名氣和本領并不能經過雲雨之情，從修郎傳遞到她身上。
不過無所謂，總之今日以後，丹青神女的名號，也算響徹金陵城。
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
