The old man looked at it and almost dropped his jaw in astonishment.
The original autumnal scene suddenly turned into a desolate and bleak landscape.
In Zhou Zifang's writing,
The vibrant red in the painting transforms into countless maple leaves, scattering freely in the howling autumn wind.
The girl in the painting transforms into a bright sun, hovering in the sky, seemingly pointing the way for the desolate maple leaves.
These maple leaves seemed to have come to life, flying one by one towards the winding peaks, gazing into the distance at the empty canoe, reluctant to leave...
"Wonderful, wonderful!" The old man changed his previous attitude and suddenly transformed his expression, showering Zhou Zifang's painting with praise.
"Young master, this painting is the best I have ever seen, without exception."
The mocking tone beside him suddenly turned into praise.
They all gave Zhou Zifang a thumbs up.
"What a beautiful painting! What a beautiful painting!"
Zhou Zifang didn't care about other people's opinions, but when he glanced over and saw Mu Bai, Xue Ning, and others also looking at his paintings, a sense of superiority welled up inside him.
Finally, he was presentable enough.
He turned to look at Qiu Ling'er, and in her eyes, he saw the same boundless praise.
Qiu Ling'er had never known that Zhou Zifang could paint so well.
Such a talented young man instantly won her heart.
She smiled and met Zhou Zifang's gaze.
"Brother Zifang's paintings have profound artistic conception. They will surely be famous for all time and be of great value in the future."
As she finished speaking, a young man in blue beside her asked a question.
How much is this painting worth?
Zhou Zifang: "..."
"I'll contribute one or two ounces."
"I'll offer three ounces."
"I'll offer five taels..."
Zhou Zifang: "..." That's all?
The old man was eager to try, but he was too poor to afford it.
"Sir, please keep this painting safe. I have other things to do, so I'll take my leave now."
Zhou Zifang doesn't lack that little bit of money.
"Young master, I am ashamed." The old man lowered his eyes sadly and examined the painting on the table once more. After a long while, he tried to catch up with the man and woman in front of him, but they had already disappeared.
"Brother Zifang is truly amazing. Even Ling'er feels unworthy of your talent," Qiu Ling'er teased.
Zhou Zifang shook his head, disagreeing, "No, don't say that."
"Brother Zifang, with your talent for painting, you'll be able to earn money to support the family, and our lives will only get better and better," Qiu Ling'er said with a smile.
However, Zhou Zifang seemed to have thought of something, and his eyes lit up.
"Ling'er, tell me, do we...doesn't that mean..."
"Brother Zifang is so outstanding, it would be hard for Ling'er to find someone like him even with a lantern," Qiu Ling'er said, laughing as she ran towards the distant bushes.
Zhou Zifang jogged after him.
At first, he jogged.
But realizing he couldn't catch up, he started running.
Finally, it became running fast.
He ran until he was completely out of breath, but still couldn't catch up with the person.
He stopped, catching his breath, wanting to rest, but looking into the distance, at the figure running further and further away...
He quickened his pace again.
At this moment, my legs and feet felt as if they weren't my own, swaying mechanically.
Finally, Qiu Ling'er realized that Zhou Zifang had been lost, and slowed down her pace.
About 15 minutes later,
Zhou Zifang finally caught up with Qiu Ling'er.
He had barely managed to climb up to her when he quickly grabbed her wrist.
Qiu Ling'er stumbled and fell backward.
But it was a sudden, sudden feeling.
The two landed on the ground together.
Lying on the ground, Zhou Zifang held Qiu Ling'er tightly around the waist.
Usually, the first time should be unforgettable for him.
"Ling'er, it's really not easy to catch up with you."
Qiu Ling'er turned her head as she lay on her side and smiled, "Isn't this because we caught up?"
The two lay flat on the ground, gazing at the bright sun in the sky.
The scene is so beautiful~~~
……………………
As early as Chenshi (7-9 AM) today, Zhang Yuyan and Ding Tian had already come to offer their greetings.
Therefore, Qiu Yan knew they were coming.
She also knew that Gao Chong had come, of course, she had heard it from her younger brother.
People who were not even old friends came to seek refuge.
Qiu Yan kindly arranged accommodation for them.
However, some are happy while others are sad.
Because of Zhang Yuyan's arrival, Qiu Dazhi moved out of the General's Mansion and stayed at Du Changjun's newly bought courtyard.
Indeed, both Qiu Dazhi and Du Changjun stayed at Hanlin University with their excellent grades.
Because of Qiu Dazhi's actions, Zhang Yuyan looked embarrassed and sullen.
That night, before she could fall asleep, she gazed at the moon alone, her sorrow growing with each passing moment.
In order to win over Qiu Dazhi, she deliberately let herself become an old maid.
Unfortunately, Qiu Dazhi looked down on her no matter what, which made her angrier and angrier. In the middle of the night, she went to Du Changjun's place alone and knocked on the door.
"Who is it? It's the middle of the night, can't a person get any sleep?" Du Changjun muttered unhappily, opened the courtyard gate, looked up and saw Zhang Yuyan, and hurriedly tried to close the gate, but Zhang Yuyan barged in.
"Qiu Dazhi, come out here! So what if you passed the imperial examination? You won't even look at me!"
Zhang Yuyan felt really wronged.
Qiu Dazhi came out upon hearing the sound, his face full of helplessness.
He was afraid of being embarrassed at the general's mansion, but who would have thought that Zhang Yuyan would follow him here.
“Miss Zhang, you… it’s the middle of the night, why don’t you just stop making noise?”
One sentence brought tears to Zhang Yuyan's eyes.
"I traveled a long way to find you, and this is how you treat me." Qiu Dazhi has always looked down on her, and now that he has passed the imperial examination, does he look down on her even more?
"You said you were only focused on your studies before, but now you have already achieved fame and success, yet you still refuse to accept me?"
Qiu Dazhi: "..." He was thinking.
He never expected that Miss Zhang would remain unmarried for his sake.
Zhang Yuyan: "Qiu Dazhi, even if you are a stubborn rock, your heart, no matter how hard, should be warmed by me."
Qiu Dazhi: "...Yu Yan, all these years, I've been focused on the imperial examinations and haven't considered your feelings. I'm very sorry. But could you perhaps change your personality?"
"I'll change, I'll change, okay?" Suddenly, Zhang Yuyan rushed to Qiu Dazhi, wrapped her arms around his waist, and pressed her chest against his.
"Let me see if your heart is cold or warm."
Du Changjun closed his eyes and hurriedly returned to his room.
Qiu Dazhi initially intended to push her away, but looking at the pitiful woman before him, he sighed helplessly.
"Since you're here, why don't you stay here for now?"
Perhaps, he and Zhang Yuyan had already developed feelings for each other.
However, in his heart, fame and fortune were his top priority.
Before he failed the exam, he had no interest in anything else.
Or perhaps, it's because I don't like it enough.
Finally, Zhang Yuyan's love was reciprocated.
When should we get married?
Qiu Dazhi: "..." He had never thought about it before.
On the same night,
He Jinran leaned back in the rocking chair, and sitting in front of him was Ding Tian, who had just turned eleven.
Ding Tian was persuaded to come by Zhang Yuyan.
As for why He Jinran brought Ding Tian into the palace? To relieve his boredom.
Originally, Ding Tian wanted to live with her former best friend, Zhao Ruolan, but she readily agreed when He Jinran invited her.
He Jinran had previously lived in the palace because his father, the emperor, pressured him, leaving him with no choice but to feel trapped, as if he were in a cage.
Now, no one wants to trap him anymore, and he has no choice.
Rooted here.
"Sister Yu'er, no, Brother Crown Prince, how did you suddenly become the Crown Prince?" Ding Tian's innocent little face was full of curiosity.
"It's a long story," He Jinran raised an eyebrow and smiled, then couldn't help but recall the trivial matters of recent years.
At first glance, Ding Tian's little face showed curiosity as she looked towards the River of Oblivion behind her.
Why does he always have such a long face?
He Jinran: "He has the same expression all year round."
The River of Oblivion... Have they known each other for a year?
Suddenly, He Jinran chuckled.
"Ding Tian, what does this cold-faced brother look like?"
"Hmm?" Ding Tian looked at Wangchuan again. "Not bad."
Wangchuan finally showed some expression, but it was an expression that was hard to describe.
"How about I give it to you, and make you my little husband?"
As He Jinran spoke, he looked at Wang Chuan's expression and couldn't help but smile.
"Sister Yu'er...no, Brother Crown Prince is so mean, he's making fun of me." Ding Tian pouted.
"When I grow up, I will marry my brother, the Crown Prince."
He Jinran, dressed in men's clothing, has grown quite a bit taller.
He had changed from his previous demeanor and become more composed.
At this moment, he was dressed in a blue outfit with cloud-patterned runes and a rhinoceros horn belt around his waist. He was exceptionally handsome, which changed Ding Tian's previous impression of He Jinran.
"Marry me?" He Jinran's expression stiffened for a moment, then he burst into laughter.
"You'll suffer if you marry me."
"Why?" Ding Tian didn't think so.
"My father had already selected no fewer than ten girls for me before he left. If you don't mind me having a large number of concubines, then I don't mind at all."
Women, the more the merrier.
He has always been that green amidst a sea of flowers.
Uh, will his thinking cause trouble?
disdain?
"What's there to mind?" Ding Tian shook her head. "Your Majesty, the three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines—my brother, the Crown Prince, will be no exception in the future. I've heard about it in the theater."
"Okay, it's settled then." He Jinran was just joking.
Unexpectedly, Ding Tian took it seriously.
"Yes, when I turn fifteen, my brother the Crown Prince will definitely remember to marry me."
He Jinran: "...Well, it's getting late, let's stop here for tonight."
He glanced at the River of Oblivion behind him, which had returned to its previous expressionless state.
In the blink of an eye, another half month has passed.
Today is Gu Chengyin's one-month celebration.
Inside the general's mansion, a joyous atmosphere prevailed.
Many relatives and friends came, and countless high-ranking officials and dignitaries came, all wanting to see this young prince who was the focus of everyone's attention.
Unexpectedly, the young prince slept all day long, from morning till night.
It seems that today's full moon celebration has nothing to do with him.
Qiu Yan spent a day that Gu Chengyin was oblivious to, yet deeply meaningful, amidst bursts of laughter.
After the guests had all left, a loud wailing sound rang out.
As if by reflex, Qiu Yan rushed straight to the children's bedroom.
By this time, the child had already been picked up by the maid.
When Qiu Yan arrived, she saw the child waving his little hands and feet, dancing around, his little mouth opening and closing, crying one after another, almost making her faint.
The maid was shaking the child's small body up and down, trying to calm him down, while Feng Hua Liu Sha stood aside, anxiously wondering what to do.
Upon seeing Qiu Yan, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Qiu Yan took the baby and started breastfeeding immediately.
When the baby was very hungry and its appetite was satisfied, its crying stopped abruptly, and it began to hum and suckle.
After a short while, Gu Qian approached.
After entering the room, he first said something to Feng Hua Liu Sha.
"You can go down first."
Feng Hua and Liu Sha bowed and left. After that, Gu Qian sat down next to Qiu Yan and quietly watched the mother and son.
After the child had eaten and drunk his fill, Gu Qian carried him to the cradle.
Unexpectedly, as soon as I put him down, the child started wailing again.
Gu Qian picked the child up again, and the child's voice stopped abruptly.
Gu Qian shook his head, feeling that the child was too spoiled.
He then handed the child directly to his personal maid.
Qiu Yan chuckled; wasn't she just spoiled rotten by him?
"It's only been a month."
She clearly remembered that Gu Qianxian was initially very fond of the child, holding him all day long and reluctant to put him down.
"I'm not impatient, it's just that our son cries too much." Gu Qian pulled Qiu Yan against the edge of the bed, enjoying the long-lost peace and quiet.
...Qiu Ling'er, who had just left the General's Mansion, was stopped by Sun Wan, who had also come out of the General's Mansion, after walking for only a short while.
"Sister Ling'er."
She thought to herself, "Ling'er is about the same height as me, and her legs aren't any longer, so how come she walks so fast?"
"Did you need something?" Qiu Ling'er asked with a smile, even though she disliked Sun Wan.
"My mother has been unwell recently and I would like to trouble Ling'er to go there for her." Sun Wan originally thought of consulting Qiu Yan, but Qiu Yan had just finished her postpartum confinement and was too busy today, so she did not want to bother her.
"What's wrong with Madam Sun?" Qiu Ling'er asked, stopping in her tracks.
Behind her, Sun Wan stopped in her tracks.
“Every late autumn, her back and leg problems flare up…”
Qiu Ling'er accompanied Sun Wan to the Sun residence.
The two remained silent and distant throughout the journey, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere.
Upon arriving at the Sun residence, she first gave Madam Sun a simple medical examination.
During the consultation, Madam Sun kept praising Qiu Ling'er.
The fact that the Qiu family, without parents, had managed to raise their children so well made her admire Qiu Yan even more.
After Qiu Ling'er finished her consultation politely, she instructed a servant to fetch medicine from the Forget-Worry Hall.
As she prepared to leave, something unexpected happened to her.
Sun's concubine
Her second, third, and fourth concubines successively blocked her path and questioned her.
Beauty and skincare secrets...
Sun Wan remained silent in embarrassment. Her aunts only knew how to research methods to maintain their youth all day long.
Qiu Ling'er thought to herself, "Lord Sun looks so serious, I never expected him to have... three concubines."
She finally managed to escape, only to be blocked by a group of girls.
"Isn't this Miss Ling'er?"
They surrounded Qiu Ling'er, scrutinizing her thoroughly, and finally pulled her aside, chattering amongst themselves.
"We've heard that Miss Ling'er is very talented. Would you dare to have a contest with us in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"
Qiu Ling'er... She glanced sympathetically at Sun Wan, who was standing beside her in an extremely awkward position.
He wondered to himself, what kind of life does Sun Wan usually lead?
Aside from Sun Wan, why do all the concubines and half-sisters in the Sun family seem a bit abnormal?
"Is there a prize?" Qiu Ling'er really had no interest.
"Yes!" the most lively half-sister replied immediately, "It's a top-quality seven-stringed guqin."
Sun Wan's face immediately darkened: "Well, my second sister, why don't you use your own jade plate as collateral?"
"..." The two Sun sisters whispered in each other's ears, "Big sister, she can't win anyway."
The other half-sisters laughed and joked along.
Qiu Ling'er was speechless. Were these girls just trying to make fun of her?
She wanted to find an opportunity to slip away.
However, it did not succeed.
On second thought,
The seven-stringed guqin sounds quite nice.
The girls also invited a judge, who was none other than Mrs. Sun, who had just been suffering from back and leg pain.
Qiu Ling'er belatedly realized why she disliked Sun Wan's initially flamboyant personality.
No wonder the young ladies of the Sun family are like this; the upper beams are not upright… No, she cannot judge her elders like that.
………………final,
Qiu Ling'er carried a seven-stringed zither, a white jade chessboard at her waist, and held a calligraphy masterpiece in her left hand and a painting scroll in her right. Under the deeply distressed gazes of Madam Sun, Sun Wan, and many of Sun's half-sisters...
A successful haul!
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