Chapter 37 Portrait.
They chatted all the way back to the inn where they were staying in town.
Qin Hong said, "It's so dark now, your mother must have already gone to sleep. Why don't you stay in my room for the night so you don't wake her up."
Zhang Dasheng said with a blank face and a serious expression, "I can't sleep without being next to my mother."
Although it wasn't the first time he'd heard it, he still found it strange. Qin Hong gave him a complicated look and said, "...Okay."
After Qin Hong went into the room, Zhang Dasheng pushed open his own door and went in.
Aunt Liu Cui had been waiting for a long time. When she saw her return, she asked, "Did everything go smoothly today?"
Zhang Dasheng – The Fifteenth Princess said, “Everything is as usual.”
She sat in front of the mirror and peeled off the fake skin on her face and neck, finally feeling a little more comfortable.
Aunt Liu Cui brought over a handkerchief, saying, "You can't keep wearing this all day long, your face will get all irritated."
The Fifteenth Princess said, "We'll return to Jizhou tomorrow. There's no need to rush like this anymore; it should be better."
Aunt Liu Cui gestured towards the next room with her chin, "How long is this person going to follow us?"
The fifteenth princess said, "He's only free during the New Year holiday. He'll be going back to war soon and won't be able to stay for more than a few days."
She grasped Aunt Liu Cui's hand, rarely showing any excitement, and said, "I received news of my seventeenth sister today!"
Aunt Liu Cui quickly grasped her hand, "Is she alright?"
When the Seventh Prince withdrew from Hengzhou, the Seventh Princess Consort wanted to take advantage of the chaos to kill the Fifteenth Princess. However, the Fifteenth Princess saw through her plan beforehand and took the opportunity to escape with Aunt Liu Cui. At that time, the two did not know where to go. By chance, she cured the poisoning of the well water in Hengzhou and began to plan to practice medicine and help the world.
He continued practicing medicine while traveling to Jizhou, hoping to find the Seventeenth Princess.
Unexpectedly, upon arriving in Jizhou, no one in the entire city knew that the princess had married Qin Lie, the second son of the Prince of Dingbei.
The two knew there must be a reason for this, so they immediately settled down in Jizhou, practicing medicine while gathering information.
But news about the Prince of Dingbei's residence wasn't so easy to find out. It was Qin Hong who came over, and only today did we manage to get some information out of him.
Qin Hong thought he hadn't said anything, but little did he know that the Fifteenth Princess and the Seventh Prince had been dealing with each other for several years, and she could deduce the conclusion from just a few words.
The Fifteenth Princess said, "I'm afraid my Seventeenth Sister is no longer in Jizhou. She disappeared after giving birth to a son for Qin Lie. The Princess's Mansion is now just an empty house."
Aunt Liu Cui gritted her teeth, "What exactly do Qin Lie and the Prince's Mansion want to do? They married the princess but won't let her into the house, and they won't accept her child after she gives birth."
No matter how intelligent the Fifteenth Princess was, she couldn't guess the inside story. "Perhaps... the Qin family has rebellious intentions, which is why they can't tolerate her."
Aunt Liu Cui, who had served as a palace maid for so many years and had served two princesses, was not very loyal to Da Han. She said angrily, "How many people in the world haven't rebelled? Even if they don't rebel on the surface, who takes the princesses and princes seriously? With the princess's temperament, do you think she can stop them? It's just that the Qin family is putting on an act!"
The Qin family wasn't just putting on an act; they had their own difficulties.
If they don't rebel, the royal family can still live in peace in a corner of the country. But if they rebel and declare themselves emperors, they will inevitably attack the capital, or even cross the river to unify the world.
Although they commanded a large army, they were tasked with guarding the border.
Mobilizing tens of thousands of people for a quick victory is possible, but truly contending for control of the Central Plains is not something that can be accomplished overnight. With the Xiongnu eyeing the Central Plains with covetous intent, how could they not invade?
In this way, at least 50,000 troops must be left on the border, and they must be able to return to provide support at any time, otherwise they will be too far away to help.
Therefore, even though Ji Province now occupies half of the twenty-one northern provinces, it dares not raise the banner of rebellion, lest it be caught in a dilemma.
The Song family was the same; otherwise, why would they need to support a young emperor to issue edicts to the world?
The Liu family seized power from the previous dynasty's royal family when they were military generals. Now, Emperor Jiahe and the Seventh Prince have created chaos in the country. With two separate courts in the south and north, the people are suffering from the ravages of war and are in dire need of a wise ruler. Who wouldn't want to become the next Liu family?
After a moment's thought, the Fifteenth Princess made her decision: "We'll stay in Jizhou for a while longer and try to find out about Seventeenth Sister. If we still can't find out anything, we'll go to Zhuozhou. The Crown Princess and her child are there, as well as the Sixteenth Princess. If Seventeenth Sister can escape, she'll definitely go to Zhuozhou!"
.
Lingyi returned home, and nothing had changed. Life continued as peacefully as ever. However, whenever she thought about the days she spent with Huan'er, it felt like a dream. Despite thinking about it many times every night, she gradually began to doubt Huan'er again. Were his eyes really that big? Were his eyelashes really that long? It was as if even her memory was failing her, and she could no longer accurately describe his appearance.
She wanted to draw Huan'er's appearance while she could still remember it clearly, as this might be her only solace in the future. However, her drawing skills were too rudimentary, so she had to ask for help from others.
So she specially brought the finest writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone to cross the river in search of that scholar.
The scholar was flattered and bowed to him. "I apologize for disturbing you today, but I have a favor to ask of you. I have heard that you are skilled in both poetry and painting. I wonder if you could create a painting based on my description?"
The scholar humbly replied, "Perhaps it is worth a try."
The two spent a day completing the portrait.
The child in the painting sits on a couch, holding a nine-linked ring in his hand, looking adorably innocent.
Although she only resembled Qin Huan by about 70 or 80 percent, Lingyi was already very satisfied and thanked the scholar repeatedly.
The scholar spent the day with her, and although it was just talking and drawing, her appearance was exceptional, her demeanor elegant, her figure graceful, and her voice sweet. He couldn't help but wonder if he had transcended the mortal world and ascended to the Jade Palace to have such a celestial maiden by his side.
Seeing that she was about to leave, he couldn't help but ask, "Miss, could you tell me who the person in the painting is?"
Lingyi said, "He is my child."
He had sensed her deep affection for the person in the painting as she recounted her story, and had already suspected something was amiss. Hearing her admit it still dealt him a blow. Yet, looking at her, he thought of the many tragic fates of beautiful women throughout history. In such chaotic times, it was already remarkable that she had survived; having more children was nothing. The most important thing now was—"Since they are your children, why don't they live with you? Why do you need to look at the painting and think of them?"
Lingyi lowered her eyes: "It's inconvenient for him to be with me."
A beautiful woman's sorrow is most touching. The scholar angrily said, "A mother and child are of one heart, what's wrong with that? How can your husband bear to separate you from your own flesh and blood? It's too cruel!"
“How could anyone in the world be so heartless?” Lingyi said with a pang of sorrow. “It’s all because my husband died young. If he were alive, he would never have done something so outrageous.”
A few days later, her deceased husband, who had committed an act that angered both heaven and man, broke into her home late at night.
As soon as he entered the room, he hugged her and strode inside, biting her lips and tugging at her clothes.
Lingyi, panting, grabbed his hand and struggled to say, "I...I'm on my period."
Qin Lie stopped what he was doing, his eyes filled with intense lust as he looked at her, like a ravenous beast.
While tidying her clothes, Lingyi said, "I am really inconvenient. Please ask the general to find someone else."
"Please find someone more capable; how could she possibly say such a thing?"
Qin Lie put the person down and sat down in a chair with an air of nonchalance. "Where can I find someone more capable?"
Lingyi listed them one by one: "The general has concubines in the palace, and I heard that he is going to marry a princess from the grasslands. If that doesn't work, there are more than eighty camp prostitutes waiting to serve you. There are plenty of places to go."
Qin Lie pulled the person back into his arms, pressed him onto his lap, and laughed, "If I hadn't known your personality beforehand, I would have thought you were jealous when I heard you say that."
He had just finished a battle somewhere, and was still wearing his armor, which was splattered with blood and covered in dust.
Lingyi, dressed in her undergarments, felt dirty when he held her in his arms and turned her face away.
Qin Lie wasn't angry at all. Instead, he turned her face around and kissed her on the lips. "Why don't you dare look at me? Are you afraid that this evil ghost who died young will come to take your life?"
He hadn't shaved for days, and his beard was scratching her cheeks, while his armor made her feel uncomfortable.
"It hurts..." she complained softly. "If you don't leave, take off your armor."
He looked down at himself and then remembered that he had put the person on the ground. He quickly took off his armor, but the clothes were sticky and uncomfortable. He then went to the next room to take a bath.
As soon as he went out, Bi Cao came into the house and took the armor off the ground.
When Qin Lie returned, Ling Yi had changed her clothes and was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, seemingly lost in thought.
Before, whenever the weather got cold, it felt like entering a steam oven whenever he went into her room. Although this place was simple, it was much more comfortable.
He lay down on the bed. "I rarely come all this way, and this is how you serve me?"
Lingyi said indifferently, "I suppose Bichao is more used to serving you—she is the general's person, why should I lift a finger?"
Qin Lie laughed: "It's rare for you to be so clever. When did you figure that out?"
Lingyi said, "I only had doubts before, but I am certain today."
How could a palace maid of such a young age have ever seen armor before, let alone fold it so skillfully?
Qin Lie hadn't intended to hide it from her anyway. "You're so smart, don't you want to guess why I sent her here?"
Lingyi said in a muffled voice, "It's nothing more than having someone watch over me, so that I can realize that I can never escape your grasp."
Qin Lie was amused by her: "Can't it be that I feel sorry for you and don't want you to suffer outside?"
Lingyi calmly replied, "General, you are joking."
Qin Lie stared at her and slowly exhaled, "Princess Yongjia, you really know how to make people angry."
He had always thought she was gentle and timid; he was simply blind.
They couldn't agree on anything, so they went to sleep back to back.
But when Lingyi woke up in the middle of the night, she was already in his arms, the two of them pressed tightly together. His penis was pressing against her so hard that she felt uncomfortable. She wanted to get away, but she couldn't help but rub against him. He woke up and pressed her down, his voice hoarse: "Don't be stupid."
Lingyi wished she could abandon all the etiquette she had learned and roll her eyes at him, but she could only stand there, frozen by his bulging eyes.
He pulled her hand to his and placed it on his chest, coaxing her softly, "Use this..." His fingers traced intimately across her lips, "And this..."
This was her home, a place where she could completely relax. His uninvited arrival already made her uncomfortable, let alone such a request. She withdrew her hand and said sincerely, "I am truly unwell. General, perhaps you should find someone else. It's not far from Huangzhou, or over there..."
Before she could finish speaking, he put two fingers into her mouth, clamping down on her smooth little tongue, his tone gloomy and dangerous, "Think of Huan'er, and don't say anything that will make me angry."
Lingyi stopped talking, wondering how late the night would go on. He withdrew his hand, not making things difficult for her. After her body calmed down on its own, he pressed her head back against his chest and said gruffly, "Go to sleep!"
Feeling tired from her period, Lingyi quickly fell asleep again. When she woke up, she was surprised to find that Qin Lie was still asleep.
The oil lamp was quite dim at night, and only then could she see his appearance clearly—he was unshaven, his face was a little thinner, and even in his sleep, there were dark circles under his eyes. Thinking back to when he came yesterday, he was still wearing armor and looked travel-worn, so she wondered which battlefield he had come directly from.
She tried to get up, but he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into his embrace. She mumbled, "Sleep a little longer."
It was broad daylight outside, and she could tell it was getting late. She had made an appointment with Aunt Zhou yesterday to give her a new pattern for her embroidery today, so she couldn't stay in bed.
Just as I was thinking this, I heard Zhou Sao and Bicao talking in the courtyard.
Bi Cao could only decline, saying that Ling Yi was unwell. Zhou Sao, being a kind-hearted person, felt even more at ease after hearing this and wanted to come in and check on her.
Aunt Zhou had a loud voice, and Qin Lie was completely woken up. He frowned and looked unhappy.
Lingyi didn't care about any of that. While pulling her clothes over herself, she whispered to him, "Hide under the blanket and don't make a sound!"
She looked anxious and nervous, completely ignoring Qin Lie's impatience. She only turned back and gave him a wink when she reached the door.
It was as if she was about to burst into tears the moment he didn't listen to her.
He reluctantly went inside, and Lingyi opened the door, "Sister-in-law!"
Aunt Zhou came over and looked her up and down: "Sister, are you feeling unwell? Should we call a doctor? Wang Hu happens to be home, I'll have him go to town to make the trip."
Lingyi said, "It's just that I have some abdominal pain because of my period, but it's nothing serious."
Aunt Zhou breathed a sigh of relief. "Look at you, you're not even dressed properly. Go lie down on the bed. I can have those patterns another day, no rush."
Lingyi didn't want to stay with Qin Lie. "I'm much better now. I'll send the new pattern to your house later. I can learn from you how to make cotton-padded clothes."
After Aunt Zhou left, she breathed a sigh of relief, closed the door, and turned around to find Qin Lie already sitting up on the bed.
She lay on the rather large bed, and he, sitting there, felt cramped. Lingyi had to remind him, "The earthen walls in the courtyard are low. You are so tall, so don't come out of the house. If you have to come out, walk with your back bent so that no one can see you!"
Qin Lie's teeth itched with rage. Well, he was now the one who couldn't be seen by others.
After giving several instructions, Lingyi finally went out with Huayang. While at Zhou Sao's house, she was inevitably absent-minded, afraid of hearing someone outside exclaim in surprise, "How come there's a man here!" It would be fine if there were only men, but if some widow recognized Qin Lie's identity, it would be even more difficult for her to stay here.
Fortunately, no one noticed until she returned.
She went home and breathed a sigh of relief, only to find that the portrait of Huan'er, which she had taken out and carefully examined every night, was now just a few pieces of paper lying on the ground. Anger and sadness welled up in her heart, and she rushed over to question him: "What have you done?!"
But as soon as she spoke, she froze—on the Xuan paper laid out on the table in front of Qin Lie was a painting with ink still wet, depicting her teaching Huan'er to walk.
Both of them were in profile; one held a rattle drum and smiled encouragingly, while the other walked unsteadily with his arms outstretched.
With just a few strokes, the appearance and expression of the two people are vividly depicted.
Compared to the picture of the scholar, this one is clearly more lifelike in both appearance and expression.
Lingyi looked at Qin Lie in surprise: "This is...you drew it?"
Qin Lie said, "I do not like the path of calligraphy and painting, but it is not that I am not good at it. Originally, my grandfather wanted me to take the imperial examination so that the Qin family could produce a great scholar-official."
His tone was indifferent, like that of a reclusive sage, but he added a sentence at the end.
"What does the princess think of this painting compared to Xie Yucheng's famous 'Autumn Mountain Dwelling'?"
How does Xie Yushan's meticulous landscape painting compare to this ink-wash portrait?
Just as the slender gold script is compared to the wild cursive script, even Lingyi, who is not very literate, finds it absurd.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Qin Lie sneered and reached out to lift the Xuan paper.
Lingyi grabbed his arm. "What are you doing?"
Qin Lie said arrogantly, "If it's not the best, why stay in this world and become a laughing stock?"
Lingyi quickly snatched the painting away and stepped aside, saying, "If the general doesn't like it, someone else will. Why waste such a precious thing!"
Lingyi watched him warily, and only when she saw that he didn't intend to snatch it did she feel relieved. She carefully rolled up the painting and placed it on the bedside table.
Qin Lie smiled slightly, but stopped smiling before she turned around and scoffed, "She is a princess of the imperial family, supported by all the people, yet she is ignorant and incompetent, and actually lowers herself to ask a country scholar to paint for her. Isn't she afraid of being ridiculed if word gets out?"
He condescended to say, "Come here, I'll teach you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
