Even when the Prince of Jin presented the Emperor with a coral tree half a person's height, the Emperor's smile remained faint. It was no wonder the Emperor couldn't be happy, given the thought that this birthday gift might have been prepared for his father, the Emperor, by embezzling funds meant for repairing the Imperial Ancestral Temple.
After the Prince of Jin came the Third Prince, who presented the Emperor with a jade ruyi (a type of scepter).
The fourth prince presented him with a jade flute.
The fifth prince presented the emperor with a painting as a birthday gift, by the emperor's favorite painter.
Then it was Xie Jingyan's turn.
All the officials were eagerly anticipating the birthday gifts that Prince Ling would send.
The birthday gifts from other princes were mainly extravagant, but the gifts from Prince Ling were different; he was mainly perfunctory.
And it gets more and more perfunctory every year.
I wonder if Ling Wang's gifts this year have improved, or if they will still fall below the minimum standard.
Xie Jingyan stood up, took Shen Wan's hand, and went on stage to present a birthday gift. Well, before the gift was even presented, they had already started showing off their affection.
Upon seeing Xie Jingyan, the Emperor was reminded of a birthday gift he had received from a certain rebellious son a few years ago—the kind of gift that still made him angry. The Emperor had no expectations for Xie Jingyan's birthday gift; in fact, he was somewhat afraid of receiving it.
Xie Jingyan and Shen Wan wished the Emperor a long life, and then Xie Jingyan said, "Your subject has painted a picture to present to Father Emperor."
Did you draw it yourself?
It must be said that Ling Wang is a master at saving money.
The fifth prince, who had spent a fortune to buy the painting, was heartbroken.
The Emperor said, "Did you draw this yourself? Open it and let me see."
The eunuch behind him held the painting and slowly unfolded it for the emperor to see.
Almost the instant the emperor saw the painting, his face darkened.
Gasps of shock rose and fell from all sides.
Shen Wan sensed something was wrong. She turned her head to look at the painting and saw the portrait—
Shen Wan's heart skipped a beat.
Xie Jingyan painted "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains," how did it become a portrait of Consort Chen?!
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