Chapter 85 Compensation for those months I spent alone in an empty house, you...
Qingduo lay on the bed, flipping through the family's account books, her legs raised and swinging back and forth lightly.
Zeng Zhengqing had an urgent matter at the shop that night and would be back late, so he told her to go to sleep first and not wait for him. Perhaps because they had spent so much time together, leaving her alone made it difficult for her to fall asleep. Then she remembered the "sleeping pills" from a few days ago and suddenly had an idea.
Sure enough, reviewing the accounts was a real calming remedy; after only flipping through a few pages, Qingduo was already yawning incessantly. Looking at the steadily rising numbers in the ledger, she couldn't help but mutter to herself:
The Zeng family is really rich!
Even though he's become so wealthy, Zeng Zhengqing still covets the little money he earned from selling paintings. He calls him by his full name and tries to deduct an ounce of silver from his earnings.
Hmph, what a swindler!
Thinking of this, Qingduo silently read "Zeng Zhengqing" several times, feeling that she had gotten the better deal, and felt refreshed. However, this feeling of pleasure made her more energetic, so she had to read a few more pages of accounts.
But the more I looked, the more something seemed wrong. Our family income had increased dramatically over the past few months, rising month after month. What had happened at home?
Qingduo thought back carefully, and it seemed that it was after the guild that she started drawing the "December Gentlemen" picture. Oh, that's when Sister Lu Nong joined Qingqing's bookstore.
Could it be the income from "Huatangchun"? The increase is too astonishing. Could it be that Zeng Zhengqing has some other way to make money that he is keeping from me?
She was puzzled, and after looking through the documents again and again, she made a new discovery. Before that, there had been a large expense in the household.
What happened this month? It seems like Sister Lu Nong went missing, and she started selling paintings at Mingzhu Painting Shop, but none of that has anything to do with expenses!
Qingduo was completely baffled. For some reason, she had a feeling that the answer was right in front of her, but she just couldn't find it. Lost in thought, she eventually fell asleep with the account book in her arms.
The next morning, she was woken up by Fang Qing. Qing Duo groggily opened her eyes and found that the account book in her arms was gone. She immediately woke up and lifted the quilt to search everywhere: "Oh no, oh no, the account book is gone!"
“Young Madam, there’s no need to look anymore. Young Master put the account books away when he came back last night,” Fang Qing said.
"He's back? How come I didn't know anything about this?" Qingduo looked bewildered.
"The young master returned at the hour of Chou (1-3 AM), rested for a while, and then hurriedly left again."
Qingduo couldn't help but worry: "No matter how busy you are, you still need to get some rest!"
At the very least, people should be like me, eating well and sleeping well.
But what was it that Fangqing called me up for?
"The master has arrived," Fang Qing read aloud again.
"Who?" Qingduo was taken aback.
Seeing that Qingduo was still confused, Fangqing reminded her, "It's Master Zeng from Luzhou, the head of the Zeng family."
Ah, Qingqing's uncle! That big brick! What's he doing here?
Qingduo scrambled to her feet, urging repeatedly, "Hurry, hurry, help me get ready! I have to go greet the guests!"
*
Qingduo bowed respectfully to Zeng Yong, and while he was drinking tea with his head down, she secretly winked at Huiying behind him to make her smile.
When Zeng Yong put down his teacup, standing in front of him was once again his respectful and dutiful niece-in-law, Tang Qingduo.
Just as Qingduo finished bowing, she was about to find a chair to sit down when Zeng Yong said, "Wait a minute, I have something to ask you."
"Please speak, Uncle." Qingduo blinked several times.
"Recently, I've heard some rumors that you used to paint erotic pictures and now have a name called 'Little Lotus Turns Over.' Is this true?"
Qingduo was both surprised and delighted: "My reputation has spread all the way to Luzhou?"
"puff!"
Laughter came from ahead. Qingduo looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it was Huiying laughing, but she didn't understand what she was laughing about.
Huiying met her father's stern gaze and quickly suppressed her smile. Zeng Yong spoke again, his displeasure evident in his tone: "I'm not praising you, this is just causing trouble for the Zeng family. You're not allowed to draw anymore."
Qingduo then realized that the old man had come for her! But Qingqing hadn't stopped her, so why was he bossing her around?
Qingduo was a little displeased, but considering that he was an elder and Qingqing's uncle, she couldn't turn her back on him. She could only say lightly, "It's just painting, there's nothing shameful about it."
"But what are you drawing? They're all obscene pictures! Isn't that shameful enough? A woman indulging in vulgar things like love between men and women—people will only say that our Zeng family has married a woman who is morally corrupt!" Zeng Yong said sternly.
“So what if it’s vulgar? Life can’t always be elegant,” Qingduo retorted, unconvinced. “If there were no love between men and women, everyone in the world would die. Besides,”
She glanced at Huiying: "Uncle, don't you also have to leave? Otherwise, how could you have three daughters?"
"Outrageous!" Zeng Yong slammed his fist on the table and roared, his face ashen. "This is utter nonsense, utterly disrespectful, and shows no regard for elders!"
Seeing that things were not going well, Huiying took advantage of her father's focus on Qingduo and his inability to pay attention to her, so she secretly slipped out to get help.
"In short, you'd better burn all those lousy paintings right now! From now on, behave yourself and don't cause any more trouble!"
“I’m not being ridiculous!” Qingduo shouted. “Besides, even if I lose face, how does it mean I’m losing face for your Zeng family? My surname is Tang, so if anyone is losing face, it’s our Tang family. It’s none of your business.”
"Once you marry into the Zeng family, you become a daughter-in-law of the Zeng family and must abide by the rules of the Zeng family!" Zeng Yong said angrily.
“Zeng Zhengqing is the son-in-law of the Tang family, so he must abide by the Tang family’s rules. The Tang family’s rule is: don’t meddle in the affairs of the Tang family’s daughters!” Qingduo retorted sharply, refusing to back down an inch.
Qingduo had intended to treat her uncle well, but he kept pointing fingers at her, calling her "immoral" and "disrespectful to elders," which annoyed her greatly. So she said coldly, "You see I'm angry, and I'm not happy with you either, so let's just save ourselves the trouble and not make things difficult for each other!"
After saying that, she turned and left, completely ignoring Zeng Yong's furious outburst behind her.
Halfway there, they ran into Zeng Zhengqing, who was hurrying over. Huiying followed behind him at a brisk pace. It turned out that Zeng Zhengqing had heard that his uncle was coming and had already guessed his purpose. He rushed back from the shop and met Huiying at the door. From her, he became even more certain of his thoughts.
He strode up to Qingduo, looked her up and down, and asked with concern, "How are you?"
"I'm fine." Seeing Zeng Zhengqing, Qingduo felt even more confident. She grabbed his arm and said indignantly, "Qingqing, that old geezer..."
He only remembered that Huiying was there when he glanced at her, and he quickly changed his words: "Uncle, he's so fierce. He said I'm immoral and won't let me paint."
"Alright, alright, I understand. I'll go talk to Uncle about this." Zeng Zhengqing patted her shoulder and comforted her. "You haven't seen Huiying in a long time, why don't you take her to the city for a stroll?"
Hearing this, Qingduo immediately beamed with joy. She took Huiying's hand and said affectionately, "You treated us to a meal in Luzhou earlier, and today it's my turn to return the favor. I just received payment for the painting recently, so please feel free to ask for my money and don't be shy!"
*
As night deepened, Qingduo was working on her painting when she suddenly seemed to hear someone calling her.
"Ah Zhao, Ah Zhao!"
Qingduo tilted her head and carefully discerned the voice. It was both familiar and unfamiliar, but in the Zeng family, only Zeng Zhengqing could call her "Azhao". She quickly put down her pen, got up and went out to greet him.
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw two servants supporting Zeng Zhengqing on either side. His steps were unsteady, and he was still murmuring Qingduo's nickname: "Azhao..."
Qingduo: ...
They could only help him into the house and onto the bed to rest. Fang Qing quickly washed a wet rag and went forward to wipe Zeng Zhengqing's face.
Zeng Zhengqing, who was drowsy, was suddenly awakened by the cold water. He pushed Fang Qing away and rolled around restlessly, his voice becoming increasingly urgent: "Azhao, Azhao, where are you?"
"It's here, it's not lost!" Qingduo replied irritably.
Qingduo instructed Fangqing, "Change the water to warm water, I'll wipe him down."
Fang Qing responded and went out to prepare. Qing Duo remembered that tea could also help with hangovers, so she turned around to pour tea. As she was pouring, she suddenly realized that there was no sound behind her.
She was puzzled and turned around to look. She saw Zeng Zhengqing holding something in his arms, his legs tightly clamped together, but it was obscured by his robes, so she couldn't see it clearly.
Curious, Qingduo took a few steps closer with her teacup and saw that what he was holding was actually a quilt. With that, his brows relaxed, and he had fallen asleep peacefully.
"Hahaha!" She burst out laughing. Qingqing looked rather cute like this! She laughed so hard that she shook her whole body, and accidentally spilled some tea, which splashed onto Zeng Zhengqing.
Zeng Zhengqing shuddered, instinctively feeling around under the covers to make sure nothing was amiss. He breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, "Thank goodness, thank goodness, A-Zhao is alright..."
Qingduo then realized that he was so drunk that he was hugging the blanket as if it were her.
Her silly, endearing expression only made her laugh more. After a few laughs, she suddenly covered her mouth. She secretly checked on her and thankfully, she hadn't woken up. She winked at Fang Qing, who had just come in, and Fang Qing put down the warm water and left.
Qingduo put her teacup aside and rubbed her hands together, "Hehe, Qingqing," a triumphant smile appeared on her lips, "today you've finally fallen into my hands."
What should she do first? Her eyes lit up, and an idea came to her.
Qingduo tiptoed closer to Zeng Zhengqing, pressed her lips to his neck, and whispered, "Qingqing, the wind is coming~" After saying that, she took a deep breath and gently blew it towards his neck.
Zeng Zhengqing's neck was itchy from the wind. He scratched his left side, but strangely, his right side started to itch too. Little did he know that the wind goddess's cloth bag was right on his head! In the end, he had no choice but to hunch his neck, looking like a silly goose.
Qingduo covered her mouth tightly, trying not to laugh, her face turning red from holding it in. Just as she was wondering how to tease him next, her gaze swept over and she saw the basin of cold water from before.
"Where there's wind, there should be rain."
This method is brilliant! Not wanting to waste a moment, she immediately tiptoed over, rolled up her sleeves, and put her hands into the cold water.
The water wasn't very cold. She pulled her hand out and waved it in the air for a while, letting the wind make her hand even colder. The way her arm flapped was like a little sparrow flapping its wings.
When "Little Sparrow" was all ready, Qingduo tiptoed back to the bedside, grabbed Zeng Zhengqing's collar, and reached her wicked hand inside, and inside again.
"Ah—" Zeng Zhengqing suddenly screamed, his body twisting violently as he tried to get rid of the "ice block" on his chest. In the struggle, he pushed the blankets in his arms away.
Qingduo grinned silently, laughing wildly, when she suddenly saw Zeng Zhengqing raise his eyelids. Startled, she squatted down with a "whoosh," not daring to breathe.
"Ah Zhao, Ah Zhao..." he began to call softly again. Qing Duo saw that he did not go to find her, the "culprit," and quietly looked up. She saw him searching on the bed with his eyes closed until he touched the quilt again, hugged it back to his arms, and then remained silent.
Even in his delirium, he couldn't forget himself; a sweet feeling welled up inside her, and Qingduo decided to stop teasing him.
She stood up, intending to wet a rag with warm water to wipe him down, when Zeng Zhengqing suddenly murmured, "Why has A-Zhao lost weight?"
Qingduo froze, slowly turned around, her face as cold as ice.
What does he mean? Is he saying he's fat now?
Where did she gain weight? Although she has a good appetite lately and eats a little more, painting every day is mentally taxing and playing shuttlecock is physically demanding, so how could she gain weight!
I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!
Qingduo huffed and puffed, "Who are you calling fat? I, Tang Qingduo, have a slender figure and I'm beautiful!"
Zeng Zhengqing was dazed, but a gentle smile appeared on his face: "My wife... my wife is naturally beautiful, um... beautiful, very beautiful."
That's more like it!
Qingduo rolled her eyes. She was magnanimous and wouldn't argue with a drunkard, but... his answering-to-everything manner... A thought flashed through Qingduo's mind.
He's usually a shrewd businessman, but now that he's drunk, the "shrewdness" is gone, leaving only the "businessman." I happen to have a few questions, and perhaps we can get some truth out of him.
Recalling the account book I had seen yesterday, I asked, "Last June, the family had a large expenditure. What did you do with it?"
Zeng Zhengqing kept his eyes closed and didn't answer. Qingduo couldn't wait any longer, so she stepped forward and shook his body, asking again. After a long while, Zeng Zhengqing hesitated and said, "June...June?"
"It was the month Sister Lu Nong went missing!" Qing Duo asked urgently, a vague sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.
Zeng Zhengqing fell silent again. Qingduo was about to shake him again when she heard him mumble three words: "Painting...shop".
Qingduo's heart skipped a beat, and she blurted out, "What shop?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a conjecture began to form in his mind, and then he heard Zeng Zhengqing personally confirm it: "Mingzhu Painting Shop".
"Boom!"
It was as if a thunderclap had suddenly exploded in Qingduo's head; her ears were ringing, and she couldn't hear anything for a moment.
Qingqing... is actually the owner of Mingzhu Painting Shop... I've been selling paintings there all along, so... didn't he already know everything?
Qingduo couldn't believe it, and she asked anxiously, "Which Mingzhu Painting Shop?"
"It's... it's the one you always sell paintings to..." Zeng Zhengqing was indeed honest now.
Qingduo's eyes widened, and her body trembled in waves. All the past events connected in her mind; all her doubts were now clearly answered.
No wonder Mingzhu Painting Shop buys up-the-top flower-and-bird paintings at high prices, and it just so happens to be located on the very path that I had to take to learn to paint.
No wonder she was able to earn a generous salary at Mingzhu Painting Shop despite her initial lack of skill.
No wonder Qingqing was able to accept it so readily when she mustered the courage to confess everything that day…
All of this was a scheme he had set up, luring "Duo" deeper and deeper, treating her like a naive and ignorant fool to be played with.
Qingduo gritted her teeth and slapped him hard: "Then why did you still hide it from me when I was being honest with you?"
A burst of laughter escaped Zeng Zhengqing's lips. Qingduo's eyebrows shot up, about to erupt in anger, when she heard him speak clearly:
"Fun!"
Qingduo, unable to bear it any longer, slapped him repeatedly with both hands, like beating a drum, and said angrily, "Zeng Zhengqing, you've gone too far!"
Zeng Zhengqing winced in pain, curling into a ball, but still muttered unconsciously, "Full name... deduct, deduct one tael..."
Qingduo was furious and jumped up and down, shouting:
"Guards! Throw him out!"
*
When Zeng Zhengqing woke up, he felt a splitting headache. He struggled to sit up, supporting his temples, and inadvertently glanced at the surrounding furnishings. He realized he was in his own study.
Did I not go back to my bedroom last night?
He stood there dumbfounded for a moment, his mind still blank, then called the servant in and asked, "I was drunk last night, how did you manage to bring me here?"
The servant said with a fawning smile, "Young master, we initially helped you back to your room, but after a while, the young mistress asked us to carry you away."
"She asked you to bring me here?" Zeng Zhengqing pointed downwards, surprised.
"No, that's not it." The servant dared not say that the young mistress's original words were "leave it wherever you want," and only vaguely said, "The young mistress only told us to carry you away, and we felt that it was more appropriate to send you here."
"Oh no!" Zeng Zhengqing's heart sank. He had returned to his bedroom but was kicked out; it was probably because A-Zhao was displeased with him for being so drunk that she treated him this way.
He figured she was probably still upset about it, so he needed to apologize quickly. He got up, dressed, and rushed back to his room.
As he entered the room, Fang Qing was picking up the camellia hairpin, about to insert it into Qing Duo's hair. Qing Duo caught a glimpse of him entering, but just stared at the mirror, her face expressionless, and remained silent.
Zeng Zhengqing gave her a wink, and Fang Qing understood immediately. She put down the hairpin and quietly withdrew. He stepped forward to pick it up and said with a smile, "I'll help you with your hair, Madam."
Qingduo snatched it away: "Hmph, forget it. Who knows if you're sober or not? You might accidentally poke my temple."
Zeng Zhengqing said awkwardly, "I can't..."
Qingduo ignored him, put the hairpin in her hair, and got up to walk out.
“Oh, Zhao,” Zeng Zhengqing reached out to stop her, looking into her eyes with shame, “It’s no wonder you’re angry. I really acted badly yesterday. I advised my uncle not to interfere with your painting, and he finally agreed. I was so happy that I got completely drunk and probably did some shameful things that angered you, but I really can’t remember them…”
"If I've done anything to offend you or upset you, please don't keep it to yourself. Take it out on me. I was wrong this time, and I promise I'll never drink like that again." His tone was full of sincerity as he took Qingduo's hand and pressed it against his chest.
"Yes, I was angry." Qingduo said calmly, "But I felt better after throwing you out yesterday. I'm not the type to swallow my anger, but I won't keep making a fuss over it. Since you sincerely admit your mistake, let's just let it go!"
Seeing that her expression had indeed softened considerably, Zeng Zhengqing felt relieved and quickly echoed, "A gentleman's capacity is vast, yet his heart can encompass a hundred rivers." Ah Zhao, your forgiveness truly shows your magnanimity; I am deeply grateful.
"Hehe." Qingduo chuckled twice, changing the subject, "I started painting a picture last night, but it's not finished yet. Would you like to take a look?"
“Of course,” Zeng Zhengqing replied. Qingduo chuckled again, unfolded the drawing paper and handed it over, raising her chin, “Here, this is it.”
Zeng Zhengqing's gaze shifted from Qingduo's smiling face to the painting, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat. Then, a tingling sensation ran through his lower abdomen.
The painting depicts a woman reclining on a soft couch, her silk skirt loose. Although the painting is unfinished, the allure of her upper body is enough to captivate the soul. What makes him even more tremble is her eyes, eyes that he knows all too well.
"This..." Zeng Zhengqing felt a rush of blood to his head, his throat went dry, and he couldn't speak.
"Not bad, right!" Qingduo snatched the painting back from his hand, her smile carrying a hidden meaning. "I used to always use you as the model, and I'd give you 40% of the proceeds. But if I paint myself, all the money is mine."
"No, no, no!" Zeng Zhengqing panicked upon hearing her words. "No! Absolutely not!"
"Why? Isn't this a good idea?" Qingduo raised her eyebrows.
“Drawing erotic paintings and becoming the subject of erotic paintings are two different things. Drawing them is already quite controversial, let alone appearing in a painting. Isn’t that just putting yourself in the spotlight again?”
"After all, gossip can be a powerful force. This incident has already hurt you enough. If there are any more rumors, you won't be able to bear it," Zeng Zhengqing said urgently.
"You should still use me as the model. Anyway, you won't draw the front view, so they won't know who it is. I won't mention the profit sharing again."
Qingduo, as if struck by a revelation, exclaimed with sudden realization, "That's right! I can draw a woman's back too!"
"No!" Zeng Zhengqing shouted. "No! Just thinking about those lecherous men outside seeing you... No! Not even the slightest bit!"
Qingduo chuckled, "Fine, since you're so opposed yet willing to do it, let's drop this matter."
Zeng Zhengqing had just breathed a sigh of relief when he suddenly heard Qingduo say, "But I'm almost finished drawing, and I'm still a little curious..."
"Qingqing, I'll put a veil over her, and no one will be able to guess it's me. I finally finished painting it, and I still want to know how much silver this painting can sell for."
Just as Zeng Zhengqing was about to speak up to dissuade her, Qingduo stretched out her index finger and pleaded, "Qingqing, just this once, I'll go to Mingzhu Painting Shop to try out the price. Once I know the price, I'll bring it back without delay."
Zeng Zhengqing initially disagreed, but he couldn't resist Qingduo's persistent pleading. He then thought that with Qingduo's personality, she was not one to listen to reason! Even if he didn't agree, she would definitely do it secretly.
Mingzhu Painting Shop was, after all, his property. It was better to send it there so he could control it, rather than sending it elsewhere. In the end, he sighed helplessly and said, "Alright, but we agreed that this would only happen once."
"Hehe." Qingduo looked at him with a smile, unable to hide her little thoughts. "Then from now on, I'll still use you as the model, but you said it yourself, don't split it up!"
So all that going around in circles was to wait for him here!
Zeng Zhengqing was both amused and exasperated: "Fine, I don't want a share, you can draw with confidence!"
He watched Qingduo humming a little tune, swaying her head as she continued painting. It turned out that not having to share her earnings was such a happy thing for her.
Her happiness was like sunshine filling her heart. A smile spread across Zeng Zhengqing's face.
*
For several days, Zeng Zhengqing kept a close eye on Qingduo. Although he had instructed Manager Fang that he would review and price any paintings sent by the young mistress before opening them, he still wanted to arrive before Qingduo set off, just to be on the safe side.
Despite his carefulness, one day he was still preoccupied with some trivial matters in the mansion. When he finally resolved them, he discovered that Qingduo had already left with the painting. He immediately rode his horse to the painting shop.
Unfortunately, he was too late; Qingduo had already left when he arrived.
"As you instructed, the painting is in a box and has not been touched yet," said Manager Fang.
“Alright.” Zeng Zhengqing was about to open the box when he suddenly realized that Manager Fang was beside him, so he pressed his hand on the lid and said, “You can go ahead and get busy.” Once he was alone in the room, he slowly opened the box and took out the scroll. He had seen this painting many times at home, but every time he saw it, he couldn’t help but blush and his heart would race.
He took a deep breath, opened the scroll, and the tender feelings instantly dried on his face.
The painting depicted a kingfisher catching a small fish from a stream. Zeng Zhengqing stared blankly into the kingfisher's bewildered eyes, his large eyes meeting the small ones, and a cry of doubt escaped his lips:
"ah?"
He stood there for a moment, then hurried to find Manager Fang and asked urgently, "Was this the box that the young mistress sent?"
"Absolutely true," Manager Fang nodded.
“No, this shouldn’t be the picture…” Zeng Zhengqing murmured.
These words jolted Manager Fang awake. He slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "Oh dear, the young mistress brought an identical box today! I asked her if she was selling both, and she said no, the other one was painted for her father and was to be given to the second young master of Hebaolou Pawnshop."
Zeng Zhengqing frowned. The second son of Baolou Pawnshop? Isn't that Liu Ke?
Good heavens! His muddle-headed wife has mixed up the two paintings! She left the one meant for Liu Ke at the art shop, but kept her own...
His head buzzed; he absolutely couldn't let him see that painting!!!
Zeng Zhengqing took off running, and when Manager Fang chased after him, he only saw the smoke and dust kicked up by the horse's hooves, but the man had already disappeared.
*
Without waiting for the servants to announce his arrival, Zeng Zhengqing rushed into Liu Ke's study.
Liu Ke was sitting behind the table when he saw Yuan Bai burst in, panting. He asked in surprise, "Yuan Bai, what brings you here? And why do you look like this?"
Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he gave a mischievous smile: "Could it be that you've come to pick up your wife? No way! It can't be that bad, can it? You've only been apart for a short while, and you're already so impatient? It's not like you're newlyweds, it's more like it's your wedding day!"
Seeing Zeng Zhengqing staring at him without saying a word, his face as stiff as a wooden board, Liu Ke decided to stop while he was ahead: "I invited a dancer today, she and Wanwan are watching the Hu Xuan dance together, what's the rush!"
Zeng Zhengqing paid no heed to his teasing. His eyes fell, fixed on the box in front of Liu Ke, which was exactly the same as the one he had seen in the painting shop.
He lunged forward, reaching out to snatch it, but Liu Ke reacted quickly, grabbing his hand and shouting, "Hey, why are you stealing my things?"
"Brother, give me this painting. I'll pay you whatever price you want, just name your price." Zeng Zhengqing spoke softly, but his face remained cold and stiff.
"Oh?" Liu Ke saw the urgency on his face and heard the pleading in his tone, so he said slowly, "I really didn't expect that 'Dreaming Immortal' is Master Tang Li. Since he was unable to paint, your wife completed it on his behalf. Sister Qingduo said that it had been delayed for too long, so she gave this painting to me as a gift. I didn't spend a single penny!"
"You're a strange person. If you want your wife's painting, just ask her to paint another one. Why are you taking it from me?" He rolled his eyes and laughed. "Is there some secret behind this?"
"There's nothing there!" Zeng Zhengqing denied outright, making up a story. "I've been collecting his paintings recently, and I'm just one piece away from completing the set I want."
"Yes, yes, yes!" Liu Ke nodded in response, seemingly listening intently. "What an utterly unconvincing reason!"
Zeng Zhengqing was speechless for a moment. Liu Ke was in a particularly good mood when he saw him embarrassed. He laughed and said, "Alright, alright, it turns out we're brothers. It's rare for you to call me 'Big Brother' today. How could I bear to make things difficult for you? How about this, I'll exchange your 'Playing the Qin and Sipping Tea' painting for this?"
“Okay!” Zeng Zhengqing agreed without hesitation.
Liu Ke opened his mouth, completely surprised that Zeng Zhengqing agreed so readily. He regretted not making more demands! In his daze, Zeng Zhengqing took the opportunity to snatch the box away.
Once he got the items, Zeng Zhengqing didn't say a word and turned to leave.
"No," Liu Ke chased after him around the table, puzzled, "Why are you so concerned about this painting? Is there something special about it?"
Zeng Zhengqing just walked out quickly, completely ignoring him.
"Fine, you've got to discard me like a dog after the rabbit is caught, you've crossed the river and burned the bridge, you've taken the painting and now you don't even recognize me!" Liu Ke said indignantly. "Hmph, if you don't tell me, I'll follow you. I want to see what you can do with a 'Crane and Lingzhi Painting'! Ouch—"
Zeng Zhengqing suddenly stopped, and Liu Ke, unable to dodge in time, bumped hard into his back. Zeng Zhengqing took the scroll out of the box and handed the empty box to Liu Ke, who instinctively took it.
Just as Zeng Zhengqing was about to open it, he suddenly realized that Liu Ke was still beside him. He turned around to face him before slowly unfolding a corner of the painting, his movements abruptly halting.
After a brief moment of shock, Zeng Zhengqing opened the entire scroll in disbelief. He saw that the auspicious clouds and cranes on it were nothing more than a congratulatory painting praying for the safety of the mother and child and for the child to have a long and healthy life.
In that instant, he understood everything.
Liu Ke moved closer to him, looked at the painting, then looked at him, and saw him standing there blankly, his expression changing like the wind and clouds.
"What is it?" Liu Ke felt a wisp of grass tickling his heart.
"Here you go." Zeng Zhengqing simply stuffed the painting into Liu Ke's arms.
"Hey! You're so inconsiderate! I was your older brother just now, and now I'm your easel! You're the one who wants to exchange the painting, and you're the one who wants to return it. Do you even respect me as your older brother?" Liu Ke protested indignantly.
Zeng Zhengqing ignored him completely. He had just been determined to leave the mansion, and turned to head towards the garden.
*
At first glance, the dancers on stage moved like whirlwinds. As the drumbeats became faster and faster, they moved faster and faster, making it impossible to tell whether they were chasing the drumbeats or the drumbeats were chasing them.
"Good!" someone shouted. Zeng Zhengqing's attention was drawn to the man, who raised his hands above his head and clapped and cheered enthusiastically.
Zeng Zhengqing sighed, already able to guess who it was, and strode over. As he approached, he heard Qingduo exclaim with great interest, "Miaowan, I've never really had a chance to properly appreciate a man's dance before, but it's quite beautiful!"
Li Miaowan was about to reply with a smile when she suddenly noticed Zeng Zhengqing standing not far away. She held her pregnant belly and laughed, "Oh, it's only been a short while, and you've already come to pick someone up?"
Qingduo turned around and saw Zeng Zhengqing with his hands behind his back, quietly looking at her with a half-smile on his face.
Qingduo couldn't stand his composed demeanor. She snorted and turned to Li Miaowan, saying, "Ignore him, let's watch ours."
Li Miaowan's gaze swept between the two of them. Zeng Zhengqing walked slowly closer, smiling, "Azhao, let's go home!"
"No!" Qingduo refused decisively.
"I have something to tell you."
"I don't want to hear it!"
Upon seeing this, Li Miaowan suddenly clutched her stomach and cried out in surprise, "Ouch!"
"What's wrong?" Qingduo immediately became anxious.
"My stomach is a little upset, and I'd like to rest for a while. I'm afraid I won't be able to entertain you. I'm really sorry," Li Miaowan said, looking quite distressed.
"Don't think about this anymore, let me help you back first." Qingduo supported Miaowan's arm.
"Don't move!" Seeing Qingduo shudder, Li Miaowan realized that she had spoken too loudly and quickly lowered her voice, "It's alright, I'll sit here for a while and go back slowly when I feel more comfortable. You, you go home with your husband first."
Taking the opportunity, Zeng Zhengqing pulled Qingduo up and advised, "Let's go first."
Qingduo got up with him, glancing back at Miaowan every now and then. Zeng Zhengqing also turned to look at her, nodding in thanks. Li Miaowan nodded almost imperceptibly.
*
Throughout the journey, whether Zeng Zhengqing tried to shake her hand or talk to her, Qingduo avoided him and didn't respond at all, showing him no kindness whatsoever.
When the two returned home, Zeng Zhengqing grabbed his wrist again and refused to let go no matter how much she struggled.
"Let go of me!" Qingduo said angrily, unable to free her hand.
“Okay, I’ll let go, but don’t ignore me. Now it’s just the two of us at home, so if you have any complaints, feel free to speak your mind. Let’s be honest with each other, shall we?” Zeng Zhengqing released his grip.
“That’s right, that’s right. I haven’t done anything underhanded, so what am I afraid of!” Qingduo said defiantly, hands on her hips.
Zeng Zhengqing couldn't help but laugh: "How did you find out?"
"You told me yourself!"
“Me?” Zeng Zhengqing pointed to himself in surprise.
"Hmph," Qingduo walked back and forth with her arms crossed, her tone slightly smug, "I saw an unexplained expense in the account and was wondering about it when you happened to be drunk. I just asked you casually, and you obediently confessed everything."
"So that's how it is." Although it was unexpected, Zeng Zhengqing quickly accepted it. He smiled and said, "Madam is truly meticulous. The ancients often said that drinking leads to mistakes, and it is indeed true."
"Not only that, you even told me why you hid it!" Qingduo straightened her back and glared at him fiercely. "You did it for fun?"
“That’s not true!” Zeng Zhengqing denied it outright. “I bought the painting shop to encourage you to keep painting. Seeing that your interest was growing stronger, I was afraid that you would lose confidence if you found out, so I kept it from you.”
"Oh? Then I'll have to interrogate you," Qingduo stared at him and questioned, "When did you find out that I was Xiao Hefan?"
"Well..." Zeng Zhengqing touched his nose, "I only found out recently."
"Just?"
I feel like I've heard this word somewhere before, not too long ago. Turns out, the "strength" men talk about isn't reliable at all!
Qingduo sneered twice and pressed, "Is this 'just' before or after I confessed to you?"
Zeng Zhengqing's gaze drifted around: "Let me think..."
Stop pretending!
"You clearly knew before I confessed, but you just wouldn't say anything! You enjoy being in the dark while I'm in the light, you just think it's funny to tease me!" Qingduo became angrier as she spoke, pointing at him and accusing him.
"So what if it is?" Having dealt with the Madam many times, he had also learned the skill of being unreasonable yet still having a strong temper. Zeng Zhengqing said confidently, "That's right, even if I know, I won't say anything, so what?"
Qingduo was speechless for a moment, and after a while, her face turned red as she cursed, "You unscrupulous merchant!"
"You're making a fool of me!"
For some reason, an image of a golden-haired little monkey actually appeared in Zeng Zhengqing's mind. She was wearing a light blue dress and a camellia hairpin, jumping up and down playfully, looking incredibly cute. Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Zeng Zhengqing's lips.
"You're still laughing!" Qingduo stamped her foot. "How dare you laugh!"
"I'm ignoring you!" she said, turning to leave. Zeng Zhengqing knew he had really angered her, so he quickly went to hug her. Qingduo struggled a few times, then gave up and punched his chest a few times. Hearing him deliberately wail loudly, she felt relieved.
"Tell me, how are you going to make it up to me?"
Zeng Zhengqing feigned pain, leaning against Qingduo and groaning, "Aren't these punches enough compensation?"
“Of course not!” Qingduo tilted her head back, but Zeng Zhengqing’s head was resting on her shoulder, so he couldn’t see the cunning look in her eyes. “I want you to agree to one condition.”
Judging from her confident tone, she had clearly been prepared for this. It's a pity that he, who prided himself on his cleverness, had fallen into his wife's trap.
"What are the conditions?"
"You have to agree first, then I'll talk."
Zeng Zhengqing knew in his heart that if he didn't agree today, he wouldn't be able to get past this hurdle, so he could only sigh and say, "Alright, as long as it doesn't damage my reputation or dignity, I'll agree to anything. What exactly do you want me to do?"
Qingduo giggled: "I want you to dance!"
Zeng Zhengqing stared in disbelief and immediately let go: "I can't dance."
“That’s what makes it interesting,” Qingduo said slowly.
It turned out that she just wanted to see him make a fool of himself. Zeng Zhengqing was about to refuse, but since he had just made a promise, he could only say helplessly, "Fine, if I can't dance well, can't I dance badly?"
"Hahaha..." Just thinking about how he danced made Qingduo burst into laughter. She couldn't stop herself. "Don't worry, even if you dance badly, I will never laugh at you!"
Don't believe her! They're laughing so recklessly now, but when the time comes, their laughter won't be any quieter!
He said irritably, "I'm not the only one who was cheated in this matter. You received compensation, but I didn't. That's just too unfair!"
Qingduo glared at him: "Slander! When did I ever lie to you?"
“You concealed Xiao He’s identity from me, isn’t that deceiving me?” Zeng Zhengqing said confidently. “If I hadn’t discovered it by accident, I probably wouldn’t have known the truth until at Jingzhao Nunnery.”
"Well..." Qingduo poked at herself with her index finger, her eyes darting around.
"Hmph, I always thought you were an innocent young girl, someone who wouldn't dare to pressure me about consummating our marriage," Zeng Zhengqing said, growing increasingly angry. "Who knew you were a porn artist, not only incredibly audacious but also more knowledgeable than me!"
"Tell me, how are you going to compensate me for those months when I was left alone in an empty house?" Zeng Zhengqing pressed aggressively.
Qingduo's face flushed red, and she stammered, "This... there's no way to fix it..."
“Why not?” Zeng Zhengqing walked over, pulled a booklet from the bottom of the drawer, handed it to Qingduo, and said meaningfully, “Perfect, I’ll learn from Madam too.”
Qingduo took the booklet with a puzzled look, and the moment she opened it, her pupils dilated, and she stammered, "This is...this is..."
This was actually a collection of erotic paintings she had drawn before her marriage!
"I bought all the manuscripts and compiled them into this book, only to realize how little I know about Madam!" Zeng Zhengqing's words sounded like both a complaint and a joke.
Qingduo decided to go all out: "I'll fix it! Anyway, I'm not entirely without any benefit!"
"Now, or at night?"
Zeng Zhengqing almost burst out laughing. His wife's attitude made it seem like she was heading to the execution ground. He suppressed it, put his arm around Qingduo from behind, and placed the booklet in front of them to flip through: "Since Madam is in such a hurry, then let's make some plans in advance."
"What's the plan?" Qingduo asked, puzzled.
His lips almost touched her cheek, his warm breath brushing against her ear, tickling her. Just as she shrank back, she heard him whisper:
"Madam, why don't you change into that camellia dress later? Let's start with this one, then try this position. Also, changing positions wouldn't be bad either..."
Huh? So many?
Qingduo trembled as she watched his hands constantly turning the pages of the book. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she forced herself to calm down and said, "I forgot to tell you, I got my period. You'll have to wait a few more days!" She tried to run away, but Zeng Zhengqing caught her in his arms.
"lie!"
"You were having a fierce battle with the blankets last night, how could you possibly be on your period!"
Qingduo looked completely bewildered: "Wh-what?"
“If it really is those few days, you’ll be wrapped in your blanket at night, obediently still, like a quail. You won’t stay in bed late in the morning either, you’ll jump straight to the outhouse. Normally, you never sleep peacefully,” he recounted in detail.
Qingduo: !!!
So that's how he judged his menstrual cycle! No wonder he knew his cycle so well during the false pregnancy incident.
In the steamy bath, Qingduo lay dizzy by the pool, their intimacy intertwined with the ebb and flow of the water, like the rising and falling of the tide, while deep within her body, a warm current gushed forth.
Zeng Zhengqing held her tightly, feeling her trembling. Suddenly, he recalled that erotic dream he had after their marriage and whispered in her ear with a smile:
"I never thought I'd actually become a trendsetter."
*
After their pleasure, the two embraced under the brocade quilt. Zeng Zhengqing lowered his head and kissed her ear, forehead, and cheek repeatedly, finally lingering on her soft lips. After a long while, he sighed, "Strange thing, just looking at you makes me want to keep kissing you."
Qingduo giggled in his arms: "Of course, I am a lovely girl."
"Hahaha!" Zeng Zhengqing chuckled, amused by her. "What a lovely girl!"
Qingduo stretched out her arms, grinned, and wrapped them around his neck, gently kissing him on the lips: "What, not?"
Seeing her flushed cheeks and satisfied expression, Zeng Zhengqing was even more beautiful and charming. He couldn't help but kiss her again. In response, he teased, "I wonder who it was that made excuses just now!"
Qingduo pouted and said reproachfully, "Who knows if you'll go on and on like you did last time!"
"That time it was because I discovered you were Xiao He Fan, and I couldn't stop myself for a moment." Zeng Zhengqing's tone didn't contain any shame, but rather a hint of reminiscence.
Qingduo was suddenly reminded: "Hey, that's right! You still haven't told me how you figured out that I was the one Xiaohe turned the pages?"
Zeng Zhengqing then briefly recounted how he discovered the red dot on the painting and how he led her to paint the Jianghu-style picture. Qingduo tried hard to recall, then frowned and said, "Was there a red dot on the painting? I don't remember it at all."
I was painting afterward, and my mind was wandering and confused, so I can't remember it clearly at the time.
"Little scatterbrain," Zeng Zhengqing said affectionately, gently nuzzling her nose.
"Thanks to your advance planning, I was able to change the public's perception of me. Otherwise, on my own, I might have had to take a very long and winding road," Qingduo said softly.
“If your paintings weren’t valuable in themselves, no matter how much effort I put into promoting them, I wouldn’t be able to earn their genuine praise.” Zeng Zhengqing’s words were full of pride.
"Hehehe." This supreme praise suddenly made Qingduo's cheeks flush, and she felt a little shy. She buried her head in Zeng Zhengqing's arms.
“That’s rare.” Zeng Zhengqing chuckled as he stroked her head. “However, I didn’t expect Lord Liao to speak up for you. With his status and prestige, a single word from him was enough to dispel most of the sarcasm and ridicule directed at you.”
"Oh dear!" Qingduo suddenly looked up, remembering something. "He lent me my mother's painting last time, and I said I would paint a picture for him to express my gratitude. The painting is finished, but I haven't sent it yet!"
Zeng Zhengqing pondered for a moment and said, "This matter really shouldn't be delayed for too long. How about tomorrow? My husband and I will go to express our gratitude together."
The next day, when Liao Pingju visited, he looked at the painting that Qingduo had brought and said with delight, "She truly deserves to be called a rising star in the art world. I really like it very much. Her brushstrokes are lively and natural, and looking at it makes me feel relaxed and happy. She is indeed Tang Li's daughter, and she has the potential to surpass her master!"
"You already know." Qingduo scratched her head, a little embarrassed.
"This matter has been widely discussed in the city. It would be difficult for an old man not to know about it." Liao Pingju stroked his beard and smiled. "However, your painting style has its own unique charm, which is very different from your father's style. You have carved out your own niche."
"To be honest, I have been collecting your paintings lately, and I really love them."
"Really?" Qingduo's face was beaming, and she could no longer hide her joy. She glanced at Zeng Zhengqing triumphantly, who was looking at her with a smile, his eyes full of pride and admiration.
"Of course it's real," Liao Pingju said with a smile. He paused for a moment and then said, "I have a collection of your father's paintings. Since you're here today, you can help me verify their authenticity. How about it?" He stood up and said, "Come with me to take a look."
Zeng Zhengqing and Qingduo followed closely behind. As soon as they stepped into the room, they both froze in surprise. The walls of the room were completely covered with Tang Li's paintings. Landscapes, flowers, birds and figures were arranged in a staggered manner, which was truly amazing.
Zeng Zhengqing had not expected such a magnificent scene, nor had he imagined that Lord Liao's love for his father-in-law's paintings would reach such a level.
“That’s nothing,” Liao Pingju said with emotion as he walked inside. “If it weren’t for the fact that his tendons were damaged and he could no longer paint such masterpieces, I would definitely buy one of his works!”
“There are also some of his early treasures inside, but unfortunately,” he said regretfully, “I have searched everywhere but I have not been able to find the whereabouts of ‘Ten Thousand Green Mountains’.”
Zeng Zhengqing paused, remembering the flower roll at home that read "Tang Qingduo was here," shook his head helplessly, turned to look at the culprit, only to find that Qingduo was not beside him.
He quickly looked back and saw Qingduo a few steps behind him. He was about to call out to her when he suddenly froze: Qingduo's rosy complexion was now deathly pale, as if all the blood had been drained from her body in an instant. She stood stiffly in place, her eyes wide open as if they were about to pop out.
Qingduo stared straight ahead, not even noticing Zeng Zhengqing walking towards her.
She was young when her family fell into ruin, and had never seen many of her father's paintings. Now that she had the chance, she looked at each painting greedily, wishing she could memorize them all and carefully study her father's brushwork.
Suddenly, she heard the words "injured tendons in the hand" and Qingduo couldn't help but mutter to herself: Huh, is it only their family who knows that Father was injured and had to stop writing? How did Uncle Liao find out?
A terrible thought flashed through my mind, like a sharp sword piercing my heart, and a chill surged from my heart to every part of my body.
Qingduo was immediately terrified.
-----------------------
Author's note: There are probably three more chapters to go.
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