The painting of eight horses was never sent out.
These past few days, Shangguan Tianlin has been leaving early and returning late every day, completely avoiding Qin Yuwei's visits. It's unclear whether he's deliberately avoiding Qin Yuwei, but the two haven't run into each other at all.
Qin Yuwei must have sensed something was amiss, and feeling extremely annoyed, she turned around and complained to Madam Liu.
"I thought highly of him, which is why I humbled myself to visit him at his residence. Who would have thought he would be so ungrateful! He's only been in the limelight these past few days, and he's forgotten all his virtues!"
He was originally just a good-for-nothing who spent his days playing with cats and dogs and couldn't even pass the Imperial Academy exam, but now he's putting on airs.
Upon hearing this, Madam Liu gritted her teeth, feeling resentful towards the family as well!
Yuwei was one of the top performers at last year's Hundred Flowers Banquet; everyone would praise her for being both talented and beautiful! Countless scholars and gentlemen have worn down her doorstep, wanting to propose marriage.
If Shangguan Tianlin didn't rely on his father, he would be nothing more than a mere merchant. If it weren't for the trouble his family's business had run into and their urgent need for money, he would never have gotten a chance.
It's all the master's fault for being bewitched and getting into the business of smuggling warhorses in the southern part of the Gobi Desert. Unfortunately, he was unlucky and ran into a well-trained group of Turks. Two thousand warhorses were plundered, resulting in a devastating loss!
Such a life-threatening matter cannot be publicized. Even if one suffers a great loss, one can only swallow it silently as a bitter pill to swallow.
With little money left in their savings and a large family to support, they had no other choice but to make do with Yuwei for now.
Madam Liu stroked her face and comforted her, "My good daughter, just bear with it a little longer! That scoundrel hasn't even seen you yet. With my son's looks, I bet he'll be completely captivated by you when he sees you!"
Qin Yuwei blushed, clutching and twisting her handkerchief in her hands, but inwardly she still agreed with her mother's words. A secret resentment burned within her; she vowed to give him a good beating the next day when he obediently submitted, to avenge the neglect of the past few days!
Fortunately, Qin was unaware of their thoughts, otherwise she would have rolled her eyes to the heavens.
Tianlin spends all day looking at Yun'er's glamorous face. Compared to her, your daughter's appearance is so plain and simple. Who are you trying to bewitch?
Qin Yuwei, who firmly believed that Shangguan Tianlin would fall in love with her upon seeing her, patiently waited for several more days, but still failed to see him.
Left with no other choice, she listened to her mother and decided to start with Tianyun.
——
early morning.
The sky was only a pale, fish-belly white, and under the cover of frost, everything was shrouded in mist. Night dew dripped slowly from the petals, and the damp, cold air, accompanied by the cold wind, raged and penetrated straight into one's bones.
Inside the Lingyan Pavilion.
Aunt Liu and Qin Yuwei were led to the outer room by a maid. Tianyun heard the announcement and slowly walked in. She sat down on the rose chair with lingzhi pattern and goose down. Lingqi, who was standing to the side, promptly brought a hand warmer and placed it in her hands. The warm touch comforted her heart.
He then smiled and said, "I'm late. I've kept my aunt and cousin waiting. Lingqi, quickly brew a pot of Longjing tea to warm them up."
Despite the freezing weather, this cousin has been coming quite often. Judging from her daily visits, she's determined to win over my brother.
Qin Yuwei adjusted her posture, raising her head as always: "My mother and I have come today to make a deal with you." She was absolutely certain that Shangguan Tianyun would not refuse the conditions she offered.
This attitude doesn't seem like that of someone trying to make a deal; rather, it's more like a high-ranking nobleman giving alms to a ragged beggar on the roadside.
Tianyun placed the small hand warmer on her lap, pulled her moon-white feather-lined fox fur cloak tighter around her, and her small nose turned bright red from the cold.
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint my cousin. I have other matters to attend to that day, so I won't be able to keep you company."
"You mean you're not going?"
Qin Yuwei, losing her composure, raised her voice, her tone suddenly becoming incredulous, and then repeated herself: "What I just said was that I could take you to visit the Hall of Famous Paintings. If only you could help me meet your brother..."
Are you hard of hearing? You said you weren't going before you even heard me!
She's already figured out what she's going to ask for!
I will only be able to leave the manor at 5 PM the day after tomorrow, so this time is the most suitable for our meeting. She is also very picky about food, especially disliking the smell of garlic, so it would be best if Shangguan Tianlin hosted a dinner at the Orchid Garden, as it would be more to her liking.
However, all of this stuck in her throat, simply because Shangguan Tianyun rejected her proposal!
His face showed shock at his failed attempt to impress her. Tianyun's body trembled slightly as he suppressed a laugh: "I heard you clearly, but I really couldn't get away that day, so I'm afraid I can't go to the Hall of Famous Paintings with Sister Qin."
Lingqi, standing behind her, felt the tremor most clearly and could only helplessly watch the mischievous look in the girl's eyes.
"What could be more important than seeing a masterpiece in a gallery? Have you lost your mind?" Qin Yuwei hadn't believed it before; could anyone resist such a temptation? Now she had no choice but to believe it…
Tianyun remained calm and composed: "Sister Qin, please be careful with your words. There is always a priority to things, and it is up to each person to weigh the pros and cons. How can you make decisions for me?"
Right now, nothing is more important than choosing a birthday gift for the boy!
Qin Yuwei clenched her fists, her face extremely unpleasant. Before she could say anything, Madam Liu, who had come with her, changed her expression several times, forcing a smile as she said, "This is a favor that others would beg for. It's clear that Tianyun knows very little about painting. He probably doesn't understand that the Hall of Famous Paintings is a place revered as a sacred altar by those literati and scholars!"
Madam Liu spoke tactfully, but her words were full of sarcasm.
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