Chapter 50 First-rate "I also think it belongs to the first-rate category!"...
Jiang Ce held the peony in his hand, feeling a little regretful.
Actually, he felt that she wasn't that bad, and even had some good qualities, or even quite good qualities.
But he'd be so embarrassed if he said that. Since it's already said and there's no going back, he might as well say it later.
They are engaged, and there's still a long way to go. Let's find a suitable opportunity to talk about it after they get married.
Jiang Ce haphazardly stuffed the flower into his sleeve and strode away.
Let's go find Xiao Huaiting first.
After noon, when the banquet was temporarily suspended.
Xue Chan returned to Fangchun Pavilion to continue painting, finishing her work on "One Hundred Butterflies." She was quite patient, painting past noon and into the afternoon.
When Cheng Huaizhu came over and saw that she was still drawing, she was a little anxious: "It's almost evening, if you don't finish drawing soon, it will be too late."
Xue Chan said, "No rush, you should go find Miss Fang and the others first."
Cheng Huaizhu sighed, still reluctant to leave as she stood up. Xue Chan smiled at her and softly comforted her, "Don't worry."
As soon as she left, Yun Sheng asked, "Are you planning to take this painting with you, young lady?"
“It would be unfair to them to take away a painting that they’ve been working on for thirteen months.” Xue Chan picked up her brush, then put it down. “Now that it’s finished, put it away and get some new paper.”
A palace maid emerged from behind the screen and quietly stood beside her.
Yun Sheng glanced at it and realized it was the palace maid who had just pulled Xue Chan's painting out of the water, and also the one who had pulled her and Xue Chan away last winter.
The sunlight had begun to shift, and Xue Chan had finished her painting. Yun Sheng carried the painting out, and Chu Tao also carried the painting out.
Xue Chan handed another painting to the palace maid who was still standing beside her: "I entrust it to you."
Deng Run raised his head, his eyes clear and bright: "You trust me about something this important?"
Xue Chan nodded and said calmly, "I believe you. If you ask me why I don't know, it's the same as when you helped me."
"I think you'll deliver it for me, right?"
Deng Run raised his head, met Xue Chan's calm gaze, reached out to take the painting, and bowed, saying, "Definitely."
Once everyone left, Xue Chan was already feeling quite exhausted. She swayed and slumped into a chair, feeling utterly drained.
"Am I really doing the right thing?"
She turned her head and looked out the window. The sudden rain came quickly, stopped after a short while, and now the sky was clear and the weather was fine.
The sun slowly set.
The emperor, with his hands behind his back, slowly examined the paintings presented to him. He smiled and asked Consort Xue, "Consort Xue, which painting do you think is the best?"
Consort Xue joked, "Your Majesty knows perfectly well that I am not skilled in painting, so why ask? Besides, if even Your Majesty cannot choose, how can I possibly do so?"
The emperor looked at her and smiled, his lips curving upwards even further.
"Why belittle your elder brother Xue Chenghuai? He is a first-rate painter. Although his painting skills are not exquisite, he must have a discerning eye for art."
As he said this, Consort Xue pointed to one of the paintings.
The emperor raised an eyebrow and gave a slight nod, at which point Wang Xu brought out another painting.
One scene depicts clear waters and white egrets in flight; the other shows flowers in bloom.
They each have their own merits, and it's hard to say which is better.
The emperor said leisurely, "In the end, it is Xiao and Li who are vying for the top spot."
Xiao Huaiting, standing by the water, laughed and said, "Brother Li, you truly live up to your reputation."
Li Wu cupped his hands and smiled, "I never expected Young Master Xiao's painting skills to be so exquisite. He usually keeps a low profile, which has made me arrogant for so long. If I had known earlier, I should have visited him more often to exchange skills."
The conversation between the two reached Jiang Ce's ears. He stiffly curled his lips and thought to himself: How disgusting.
"Alright, why are you two complimenting each other?" A handsome young man in a purple robe walked up from behind the two of them; he was none other than the newly appointed top scholar, Shen Zhe.
Li Wu and Xiao Huaiting both broke down at this moment, disgusted by their own words.
Li Wu said, "Brother Shen's calligraphy and painting are also top-notch works."
Shen Zhe waved his hand: "I didn't touch you, did I?"
"Brother Li, are you a disciple of Master Xue?" he asked, and Li Wu nodded.
Shen Zhe frowned and said, "I heard that Master Xue has only one daughter, who is currently in the palace. Why haven't we seen her work?"
Li Wu smiled; he was also puzzled. Logically speaking, Xue Chan shouldn't have let such an opportunity slip by.
Xiao Huaiting slightly raised his eyes but did not speak.
The emperor walked past the paintings and turned his thumb ring.
"Are all the paintings you made today here?"
Wang Xu said, "Yes, the paintings of all the young ladies, wives, and gentlemen are here."
The emperor said nothing, but Jiang Ce, who was beside him, seemed to be deep in thought.
Consort Xue quietly gestured to Yunyu, preparing to send someone to inquire. She had only taken a few steps when the eunuch Xiao An emerged from behind the screen, hurriedly carrying a painting.
"Your Majesty, Fangchun Pavilion has sent over a painting."
The emperor raised his hand: "Present."
Wang Xu took the painting from his apprentice and presented it to the emperor.
The emperor's gaze lingered slowly on the painting, his expression calm. He lowered his eyes slightly and asked Jiang Ce, "Take a look, what do you think of this painting?"
Jiang Ce stepped forward and examined it carefully for a moment before saying, "In my opinion, it should be the best."
But the emperor gave a slight, cold laugh and said, "It seems your eye for art is not very refined."
Jiang Ce raised his head and smiled, "I don't think my judgment is bad. Otherwise, I would have circulated this painting among you all for your consideration. Your Majesty would then know whether my judgment is good or bad."
The emperor chuckled, and Consort Xue smiled faintly.
Wang Xu immediately passed the painting down.
When the painting reached Xiao Huaiting's hands, he was first taken aback, then shook his head and laughed, "Truly, it's the difference between a firefly and a pearl."
The painting then fell into the hands of Shen Zhe and the third-ranked scholar, who immediately exclaimed, "Truly, it is a work of divine inspiration!"
Li Wu was the last to receive the painting, and the moment he saw it, he laughed.
It has indeed become much more refined.
The painting eventually returned to the emperor, who asked, "What do you all think?"
Shen Zhe said directly, "It belongs to the first-class category!"
The emperor then burst into laughter and declared loudly, "I also think it is first-rate!"
"Who painted this picture?"
"Your Majesty, it was made by Xue Chenghuai's only daughter, Miss Xue."
The emperor nodded, handed the painting to Consort Xue, and said with a smile, "Consort, you should take a look too."
Only then did Consort Xue see Xue Chan's painting, "Springtime Picture".
Rapeseed flowers bloom yellow, butterflies flutter busily, rice and millet stretch for miles in lush green, and wisps of smoke rise from chimneys. Children play, fishermen laugh, peach and apricot blossoms flutter around the bridge, and kites soar high in the sky.
Seeing the emperor's delight, and everyone at the banquet marveling at Xue Chan's words, Jiang Ce couldn't help but feel happy as well. He reached into his robe and found a gift he had prepared in advance.
He thought that if he went to congratulate her this time, it might dispel some of the unpleasantness of the morning.
Jiang Ce lowered his head and smiled softly.
Deng Runzhi, who was not far away, only breathed a sigh of relief when the emperor laughed loudly.
She returned to Fangchun Pavilion, but instead of bringing back the painting, she brought back Xiao An, who was by the emperor's side.
Xiao An stepped forward and said, "His Majesty invites Miss Xue to a banquet at Shisi Tower."
The sun was setting, casting a hue on Xue Chan's pale face, making her look somewhat better.
She secretly took a breath, mustered her strength, and followed Xiao An to Shisi Tower.
The emperor greatly admired Xue Chan's painting and placed it alongside Xiao Huaiting's. The assembled guests appraised the calligraphy and paintings, engaging in extensive conversation with Xue Chan.
After a while, she excused herself from the banquet, claiming she was drunk, and climbed Shisi Tower step by step.
Someone was standing in front of the wall where the poem was written.
Xue Chan walked to her side: "Thank you so much for your selfless act today."
Deng Run: "How can I accept the young lady's words of 'selfless dedication'? I only have a little bit of appreciation for talent. Such a good painting should have been passed down to future generations. It would be such a pity if it were destroyed."
"The painting should be passed down to future generations..." Xue Chan looked at her, her expression serious, and continued, "People should also be remembered for eternity."
Deng Run met her calm and sincere gaze, but did not answer; she, too, did not know how to answer.
However, Xue Chan said, "I also read Miss Deng's 'Ode to Dongyang' a few years ago. It is truly a work of brilliant writing and stunning talent. No wonder she was able to become famous in the capital."
Once upon a time...
I used to be full of vigor and ambition, living life to the fullest.
Even at the Spring Banquet, she outshone all the other students in the capital.
Shi Silou drinks wine and wields his brush, composing poems in his drunken stupor. He casually tosses down poems from the high tower, letting the spring breeze carry them from his seat.
When the results of the imperial examinations were announced, the scholars were all dashing, but none could compare to her graceful demeanor as she leaned against the railing, drank wine, and casually wrote "Ode to Dongyang."
But overnight, the crane fell into the mud.
Xue Chan only heard her say, "The past is just the past."
Xue Chan asked softly, "Are you willing to accept this?"
Deng Run was stunned, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Are you willing to accept this?
If she were content, why would she have struggled so bitterly until now? Even while in the Forbidden City, as a slave, she never stopped struggling.
But she was exhausted from the journey and still doesn't know where to go.
She closed her eyes and simply said, "Whether I'm willing or not, what can I do? If it were you, what would you do?"
Xue Chan fell silent, and Deng Run couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly when he saw her like this.
But after a while, she heard Xue Chantong's clear and melodious voice, like a gentle breeze.
"But if it were me, I would never be willing to accept it."
Deng Run opened her eyes, and Xue Chan looked at her with a smile, her voice as firm as stone: "I don't believe it, I don't believe that God created me in this world just to pass through it all."
Deng Run suddenly smiled, looking quite relieved. She bowed respectfully to Xue Chan and then descended the Shisi Tower.
They had only gone up a few steps when they ran into Cheng Huaizhu, who was looking for Xue Chan.
Cheng Huaizhu was overjoyed to see her, and was somewhat speechless: "You, you..."
Deng Run smiled and said, "You must be the second daughter of the Cheng family."
Cheng Huaizhu opened her eyes wide and asked, "You recognize me?"
Deng Run: "You and your brother look quite alike."
Cheng Huaizhu was even more surprised: "You recognize my brother too?"
Deng Run just smiled.
Cheng Huaizhu blinked, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say. Deng Run had already gone downstairs.
Xue Chan leaned against the railing in the breeze, while Xiao Huaiting, not far away, watched her with a slight smile, filled with endless melancholy.
Shen Zhe, standing beside Li Wu, nudged him: "Is that the daughter of the Xue family?"
Li Wu nodded: "Exactly."
Shen Zhe teased him, "You two are senior and junior disciples, but now I've surpassed you."
Li Wu replied, “Junior Sister is exceptionally talented and hardworking. Through the changing seasons, she has never slacked off for a single day. Her skill and determination are far beyond my reach. Given time, she will be far surpassed.”
Shen Zhe nodded and sighed, "I just didn't know that I would be fortunate enough to be with her..."
Although Li Wu smiled, his words were serious: "Junior Sister has been betrothed by His Majesty to Jiang Bozhou, the son of the Grand General, the younger brother of the Marquis of Wu'an, and the current Commander of the Palace Cavalry."
"Could it be here?" Shen Zhe blinked.
Xiao Huaiting turned his head and said, "That is the one beside His Majesty."
Shen Zhe and the others looked over.
Standing beside the emperor was a man dressed in a sweet white floral robe, a crimson brocade shirt, and a silver crown with arrow-shaped sleeves. He had a long sword in a lacquered sheath at his waist, and was tall with a straight back, broad shoulders, and muscular arms. He stood beside the emperor, gleaming in the sunlight.
Shen Zhe exclaimed, "What a beautiful and elegant person!"
Although they were some distance apart, every word he said reached Jiang Ce's ears.
Of course, that includes that word of praise.
He slightly raised his chin and curled his lips into a smile.
"However..." Shen Zhe changed the subject, "Although I know the Marquis of Wu'an's family is loyal and brave, I wonder if I could discuss painting and philosophy with Miss Xue. If not, it would truly be a pity..."
Xiao Huaiting was taken aback by his words. Although he knew that Shen Zhe was somewhat obsessed with painting, he was still surprised to hear him say something like that...
He turned his gaze toward Jiang Ce.
Jiang Ce remained calm and composed, still displaying his usual spirited demeanor. His hand, gripping the hilt of the knife at his waist, tightened its hold.
The sudden rain did not dampen everyone's spirits, and the elegant banquet continued.
He left the banquet, hiding behind a curtain of weeping willows, and looked up at Xue Chan on the Shisi Tower.
As the sun sets, she remains spirited and radiant.
Jiang Ce felt as if he were a petty thief who couldn't be seen in the light and could only lurk in the shadows.
Xue Chan looked down from the building and met Jiang Ce's gaze from afar, who was standing by the bridge. Her gaze was calm, lingering as usual before finally shifting away.
He never existed from beginning to end.
He was no different from anyone else.
Jiang Ce suddenly had an absurd idea.
If it weren't for this imperial decree that bound the two of them together, he might have just been one of those people looking up at her from downstairs.
Besides the sun and moon, there are so many dazzling things in this world.
And him.
And he...
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