In this solemn and magnificent palace, the glazed teapot rests securely in my palm. A subtle coolness seeps through the walls, as if carrying the tranquility of time. The hairline-thin gap at the spout, like a mysterious passage hidden in light and shadow, slowly drips the lustrous amber tea. I lower my eyes slightly, my gaze focused on the snow-white rice paper before me, as if gazing upon a pure world awaiting the infusion of souls. The tassels of the red gold and kingfisher phoenix hairpin on my wrist tremble gently with my breathing and movements, like the fluttering of ethereal wings. The radiant ruby on the hairpin's head, like a burning flame, reflects the soft light emanating from the 360 ram-horn lanterns within the palace, dyeing the flowing tea into a brilliant hue, like flowing gold foil.
As the character "百鸟" (hundred birds) gradually took shape on the rice paper, each stroke resembled nimble birds perching and dancing across the paper. Within the hall, a pin drop could be heard, the only sound lingering amidst the carved beams and painted buildings, weaving a dreamlike, wondrous atmosphere. It was as if the entire world had stood still to witness this artistic presentation.
"Excellent!" The Queen Mother's resounding, commanding cheer, like a thunderclap, suddenly shattered the silence. The twelve oriental pearl tassels on her phoenix coronet trembled with the cheer, like a string of dancing musical notes. The shimmering light even shone on the emerald headband at her temples, adding a touch of dignity and majesty. "In my sixty-eight years, I have never seen such exquisite calligraphy, as fine as iron and silver, produced when pouring tea!" The Queen Mother's voice was filled with wonder and admiration, as if she had opened a door to a new and wonderful world.
Instantly, thunderous applause erupted from the back of the hall like a tidal wave, sweeping across the golden brick floor like a surging wave, engulfing the entire palace in a passionate atmosphere. I slowly raised my eyes and saw that Liu's hand, which had been clinging to the pillar, had suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning white beneath her lotus-embroidered sleeves. It was as if she had used all her strength to grasp something, yet felt so powerless. Beside her, Lin Wanyue clutched the hem of her plain white skirt, leaving deep wrinkles on it, reflecting the panic and twisted state of her heart.
In his window seat in the second row, Jiang Yan had already stood up excitedly. The folding fan he held, once painted with a twisted sugar dragon, had been replaced with an exquisite sugar phoenix. The translucent sugar threads trembled slightly under the light, just like the smile in his eyes, filled with pride and admiration for me, as if I were the brightest star in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, be wise!" Lin Wanyue suddenly rushed forward recklessly, like a frightened deer. The hem of her white skirt dragged a harsh sound on the golden bricks, startling the canary that had been peacefully perched on the beam and causing it to flutter into flight, its wings flapping, shattering the brief moment of peace. She eagerly unfolded the scroll in her hands, and the jade-inlaid scroll accidentally struck the nearby bronze crane incense burner with a crisp clang, which was particularly abrupt in the silent hall. "Su Jinli's tricks are just a few. How can they compare to this painstakingly created painting, 'Yaochi Offering Longevity Picture'!" Her voice was sharp and urgent, with a hint of unwillingness and struggle, trying to save the situation at this last moment.
As the portrait of the Queen Mother of the West slowly unfolded beneath the palace lanterns, the ripples of the Yaochi River in the painting were as stiff as rigid lines, devoid of any sense of movement. The corner of the Queen Mother's mouth was even tilted to one side, appearing comical and laughable. I stared intently at the twisted auspicious cloud pattern in the corner of the scroll, and my thoughts instantly returned to the painting studio account book my eldest sister had handed me last night. It clearly recorded that three days earlier, Lin Wanyue had purchased the apprentice Wang Er's draft of "Peach Banquet" for ten taels of silver. Every detail was etched in my mind like a brand.
"Ms. Lin's painting," I took half a step forward calmly, my fingertips lightly hovering three inches above the ripples on the Yaochi water, as if touching the veins of truth, "is seven points similar to the 'Peach Banquet' exhibited last month at the 'Qingfeng Painting Studio' in the west of the city. Especially the way the water ripples are drawn," I paused slightly, looking at Lin Wanyue, whose face was already as pale as paper, with a sharp gaze, and said word by word, "It is exactly the same as the 'Zhe Lu Miao' that apprentice Wang Er usually uses." My voice was firm and clear, like a heavy hammer hitting the vital point, peeling off Lin Wanyue's hypocritical mask bit by bit.
"You're slandering me!" Lin Wanyue screamed and retreated in panic, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her steps stumbled, and she accidentally knocked over the flower stand behind her. A pot of beautiful black orchids instantly shattered, petals scattering to the ground, just like her shattered disguise. Seeing this, Liu Shi hurried forward to block it, but the Queen Mother's icy gaze, like a sword, pinned her to the ground, leaving her unable to move.
"Are you insulting me?" the Empress Dowager slowly raised her hand, silencing Liu's hesitation. Her eyes shifted slightly, resting on the glass teapot in my hand, a gaze that seemed to see through everything. "I'd like to hear what the owner of Qingfeng Art Studio has to say." Her voice was steady and commanding, like a god in control of everything. The eunuch in charge beside her immediately understood, gently waving his whisk and shouting, "Send the owner of Qingfeng Art Studio!"
I was handing the glass teapot to Mo Zhu just as Lin Wanyue collapsed to her knees with a thud. The remaining tea at the bottom of the pot glowed softly under the light, reminiscent of the empress dowager's flickering, unpredictable gaze. A moment later, the studio owner came running in breathlessly. The moment he saw Lin Wanyue, his expression suddenly changed. He slumped to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling as he spoke, "Empress Dowager! Three days ago, this Miss Lin did buy Wang Er's drawings from our shop, and she even said...she wanted to use them for 'reference'!"
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