Chapter 128
As Yan Jingxu's voice fell, a group of people in plain robes, whose origins were unknown, quickly approached.
Drums and zithers played.
A dozen or so people in plain robes were seen systematically fanning themselves from their sleeves, lightly brushing away peach petals that scattered and broke into pieces.
The dancers moved in time with the drumbeats, their identical costumes and paper fans dazzling the audience.
The dancer in the white robe moved with the grace of the wind and clouds, displaying a remarkable presence that drew gasps of amazement from the crowd.
With each movement, many peach petals fell onto the paper fan, but strangely, these petals did not fall from the dancer's fan again.
After the song ended, each paper fan was covered with peach petals.
As soon as the music stopped, a servant boy came up to the front of the hall carrying some dark-colored objects and came to Yan Jingxu's side.
As he gently picked up the large bronze vessel, the person behind him immediately unfurled a roll of Xuan paper several meters long.
With a slight touch of an unidentified ink-colored liquid, Yan Jingxu wielded his brush swiftly, drawing shapes on the Xuan paper that resembled scribbles.
Most of his strokes are winding and twisting, each stroke leaving a distinct ink mark.
Seeing the Sixth Prince's actions, the women in Qinyuan Palace couldn't help but whisper among themselves:
Is the Sixth Prince painting?
"It looks like they're painting."
"But what is this painting? I can't make it out."
It resembled neither mountains nor water, nor even people; no one could discern a single detail.
"The dance was quite beautiful, but I wonder what kind of gift the Sixth Prince plans to give?"
"Indeed, what is the reason that the Sixth Prince is painting beside the dance?"
"I didn't notice either."
"The Sixth Prince is the Empress's youngest son, and His Majesty dotes on him. He shouldn't send out congratulatory gifts casually."
"I reckon it can't compare to His Highness the Crown Prince's Nine Heavens Black Jade Pendant."
......
Not only the women of the officials around him, but Yan Dingjun was also curious about what gift his younger brother planned to present this time.
Judging from the setup, it seems they've put a lot of effort into something else.
My younger brother has always been like this since he was a child. He always comes up with some strange and wonderful things to please our mother. I don’t know where he gets so many clever ideas.
Yan Dingjun shook his head with a smile.
It seems I'm going to lose to my brother again this time.
Yan Jingxu added a few final strokes, and then the drumbeats sounded once more, as the paper fans of the people in white robes flew up and swept towards the Xuan paper.
In mid-air, the paper fan spun, drawing a waft of floral fragrance.
As the paper fan slowly fell weightlessly, it was surprisingly stuck to the rice paper!
Fragments of paper fans, fragments of peach petals.
As if it were meant to be, they all fell onto the scribbles that Yan Jingxu had just drawn.
As more and more paper fans slowly fell, the blank space on the rice paper was gradually filled in.
The person in the plain robe quickened their dance steps once again, inadvertently moving closer to the rice paper to block the view of the crowd.
Empress Sun, seated on the main throne, looked curiously into the hall.
Suddenly, the drumming stopped!
The people in plain robes dispersed from in front of the Xuan paper, finally revealing the true face of the figure on the paper.
On a sheet of Xuan paper several meters long, using ink marks as branches and a paper fan as the soul, an image painting filled with peach petals was created directly.
The paper fan was coated with glue on both sides. One side held the fallen petals, allowing the peach petals to cover the paper fan, while the other side was firmly glued to the rice paper.
The "ghostly scribbles" that Yan Jingxu just drew were actually the branches of the entire peach grove, meticulously depicted.
The paper fan is used as a petal, and the petal releases a spiritual fragrance, bringing the scene of the peach grove in Qin Garden to life on the Xuan paper.
"Your Majesty, I present you with a painting of fallen petals from Qin Garden today."
"I hope that Mother Empress will be as joyful and happy as she is today every day from now on," Yan Jingxu said with a smile.
With a wave of his hand, he instructed the servant to present the painting.
Empress Sun was already delighted by the scene she had just witnessed, and now that the painting was so close at hand, she could even smell the fragrance of peach blossoms.
"Good, good, good, Xu'er is still the one I love the most," Empress Sun said with a hearty laugh.
She suddenly noticed the ink marks on the Xuan paper and realized that they were not ordinary ink.
Who painted these peach branches below?
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is the juice extracted from a calming plant, which has a suitable effect when combined with peach fragrance," Yan Jingxu explained patiently.
"Xu'er has really gone to great lengths."
Among the women of Qinyuan Palace, it was only at the very end that they suddenly realized what was going on.
This sixth prince is exceptionally clever; he actually used this method to create a painting and present it to the Empress.
At this moment, the Empress was beaming with joy, clearly very pleased with the Sixth Prince's intentions.
Compared to the Crown Prince, the Sixth Prince's appearance lacked a bit of majesty and righteousness, but possessed a more unrestrained and handsome air.
If I am not destined to be with His Highness the Crown Prince...
Given the Sixth Prince's status, that's a good thing.
......
Yingning looked at it for a moment, then poured herself another cup of tea.
When Yan Jingxu was talking to his elder brother, he took a seat, which was right opposite Ying Ning.
He glanced at Yingning's attire and immediately recognized her as the "Princess Zhaoning" of the Western Regions Kingdom.
Yan Jingxu saw her take a sip of tea, and the vermilion water stone between her forehead ornaments shone even more brightly under the palace lanterns in Qin Garden, taking advantage of the bright color in her dark phoenix eyes.
No wonder my elder brother once praised this princess of the Western Regions as having a beauty that could rival that of a city.
Seeing it today, I can see that what my elder brother said was true.
Yan Jingxu closed his eyes and stopped looking at Ying Ning to avoid attracting attention.
However, at this moment, Empress Sun personally mentioned Yingning:
"Princess Zhaoning, did you enjoy yourself today?"
Yingning nodded: "Your Majesty, Zhaoning did indeed enjoy the fine tea today, and she thoroughly enjoyed the banquet at Qinyun tonight."
Empress Sun spoke softly: "Princess Zhaoning, there is no need for you to be so formal in front of me."
"If you don't mind, I will call you Zhaoning."
"Zhaoning, you don't know, but ever since I saw you at the welcoming banquet, I have felt a great sense of kinship with you and couldn't help but want to talk to you more."
"I am deeply honored by the Empress's favor." Yingning knew that Empress Sun wanted to improve relations with the Western Regions, and that she herself needed to improve her situation in the Min Dynasty.
"I am relieved to hear Zhao Ning say that," Empress Sun said with a smile, then changed the subject.
"Xu'er, you probably haven't met Zhaoning yet," Empress Sun said to Yan Jingxu directly.
"Your subject did not attend Princess Zhaoning's welcoming banquet, so this is the first time I have seen Princess Zhaoning's face," Yan Jingxu said truthfully.
At the welcoming banquet held by the Min Dynasty for Bai Yingning and Bai Chuning, besides the Emperor, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Yan Qizhen, there were only some court officials present.
This was the first time Yan Jingxu had met Ying Ning.
"Then Xu'er, you can get to know Zhao Ning better today." Empress Sun said this politely, without revealing her true thoughts.
That's how it is in royalty; their words are always half sincere and half carefully considered.
Empress Sun would show her friendliness towards Yingning at this time, but she would not want anyone to know her plans for Yingning.
In case of any unforeseen circumstances, she could make alternative plans for her child.
Yingning understood Empress Sun's meaning, and responded politely.
"His Majesty the Emperor has arrived!" A sudden, stern voice jolted everyone out of their reverie.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The women in front of the palace all bowed.
A person dressed in a yellow robe with a nine-clawed golden dragon walked into Qinyuan Palace, followed by a figure shrouded in mist and rain.
Yan Qizhen was surprised to see a touch of rouge in front of the seats in the hall.
He never expected that the Empress would invite Yingning to today's birthday banquet.
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