At night, Cai Yan sat alone in her boudoir, resting her chin on her hand, staring blankly at the candlelight on the table.
"Can I really become his concubine?"
Recalling Liu Hong's words during the day, "to enter the palace to admire the stars," Cai Yan felt both anticipation and nervousness.
"Knock knock knock~!"
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and the butler's voice rang out.
"Miss, Master has summoned me and requests your presence in the study!"
"Okay, I'm coming right now!"
After responding, Cai Yan quickly got up, tidied herself up, and regained her composure before following the steward towards the study.
"Zhaoji, come and take a look, what do you think of this painting?"
Seeing his daughter come over, Cai Yong pointed to a landscape painting hanging on the wall and asked.
"It is elegant and graceful, with a free and easy spirit. However, the writing is not strong enough, which makes it seem a bit petty and makes the mountains and rivers lack the grandeur they should have."
Cai Yan studied music, chess, calligraphy, and painting under Cai Yong from a young age, so her eye for art was naturally exceptional.
Of course, if it were her in the past, she might have liked such a free and unrestrained painting.
However, since meeting Liu Hong, the people she has met and the things she has done have greatly broadened Cai Yan's horizons.
In her eyes, only a man like Liu Hong, with his great talent and ambition and a heart for the world, could be called a real man.
"Your assessment is not bad, but you should know that the person who created this painting is only three years older than you. Lacking experience, he naturally cannot appreciate the grandeur of mountains and rivers!"
Cai Yong was quite satisfied with his daughter's discerning eye. Although he didn't think much of the painting, he still helped the artist by explaining it to him.
"Father, what's wrong...?"
Upon hearing her father's words, Cai Yan felt a pang of anxiety.
Since Cai Yan turned fourteen this year, suitors have been coming to the Cai family mansion in an endless stream, and the threshold of the Cai mansion has almost been worn down.
However, Cai Yong was unwilling to wrong his daughter and was determined to find her a suitable husband who was both talented and from a good family. Therefore, all those who came to propose marriage were turned away.
Today, her father suddenly praised a young man to her, which made Cai Yan think of some unpleasant things.
Just as Cai Yan was speculating, Cai Yong said with a smile, "The person who painted this is named Wei Zhongdao. He comes from the Wei family of Hedong. Although no one in the Wei family holds an official position in the court, they can still be considered a family with a long tradition of scholarship. Moreover, Wei Zhongdao has been intelligent since childhood and is quite accomplished in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. He and Zhao Ji can be considered a good match..."
"I won't let my daughter marry!"
Before Cai Yong could finish speaking, Cai Yan loudly refused.
"Oh? Why don't you get married?"
Seeing his usually docile and obedient daughter suddenly rebel, Cai Yong was not angry at all. Instead, he asked her with a serious expression.
"Because...because my daughter already has someone she loves..."
Faced with her father's question, Cai Yan mustered up her courage and told him that she had someone she liked, hoping that her father would love her and give up the idea of marrying into the Wei family.
Upon hearing this, Cai Yong immediately guessed that his daughter might have fallen in love with the current emperor.
After all, her daughter had never left home before, and the man she had been in contact with most over the years was the current emperor.
At the tender age of first love, she happened to meet a wise and powerful young emperor. It would be strange if her daughter didn't fall in love.
Despite having a suspicion in mind, Cai Yong still pressed on, asking, "Who is that person? What family does he belong to?"
"Yes...it is Your Majesty. Your daughter wishes to enter the palace and marry Your Majesty..."
Faced with her father's persistent questioning, Cai Yan mustered her courage and revealed her true feelings.
Upon hearing his daughter's admission, Cai Yong couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
In the past, Cai Yong would never have allowed his daughter to marry into the royal family.
However, times have changed. Since the current emperor ascended the throne, he has worked diligently to govern the country and rectify the administration. Every action he has taken is that of a wise and virtuous ruler.
What's most remarkable is that the current emperor is not obsessed with women. There is only one empress and four concubines in the harem. He is not worried that his daughter will be mistreated if she enters the palace.
Cai Yong's only worry now is that the emperor doesn't have the same feelings for his daughter. What should he do then? He can't very well force his daughter into the palace.
Thinking of this, Cai Yong's face showed a worried expression. He couldn't very well take the initiative to go to the Empress Dowager and the Empress, could he?
After sending Cai Yan back, Cai Yong sat alone in his study, staring blankly at the candlelight.
The next morning, Cai Yong walked out of his study with bloodshot eyes, clearly having not slept all night.
Just then, the steward of the Cai family came forward: "Master, Young Master Wei has come again. Would you like to receive him?"
Cai Yong waved his hand: "No, go and return that painting to him, and tell him not to come again!"
Oh, and also, go prepare a carriage and some gifts; I need to go to the Song residence!
"Yes, sir!"
The steward respectfully agreed, then took Wei Zhongdao's painting and headed out of the mansion.
Upon seeing Steward Cai arrive, Wei Zhongdao, who was waiting in front of the Cai residence, hurriedly stepped forward to greet him: "Steward Cai, how is it? Has Lord Cai agreed to see me?"
"No!" Butler Cai shook his head, then handed the painting to Wei Zhong, saying, "My master said you're no good, and told you not to come again!"
"What? I can't do it?"
Upon hearing Steward Cai's words, Wei Zhongdao stood there dumbfounded.
Just as he was about to ask again, Butler Cai turned and left, and had the door closed.
"I'm not good enough...? How could the esteemed Lord Cai utter such a statement?"
Looking at the tightly closed gates of the Cai residence, Wei Zhongdao almost gritted his teeth as he voiced his inner question.
Unfortunately, the gates of the Cai residence were already tightly shut, and no one answered his questions.
After standing in front of the Cai residence for a long time, Wei Zhongdao finally left with a look of resentment.
Not long after Wei Zhongdao left, Cai Yong also rode in a carriage towards the Song family, the Empress's maternal home.
After much deliberation last night, Cai Yong finally decided to ask the Empress's mother to enter the palace and help sound out her intentions.
After all, the current empress is gentle and virtuous. She has repeatedly advised Liu Hong to take more concubines so that the royal family could have more offspring. She is undoubtedly a wise empress of her generation.
In addition, the emperor and empress were very loving and got along well with the concubines in the harem, so there was no need to worry that the empress would be jealous.
Therefore, in Cai Yong's view, it was most appropriate for the Empress to probe the Emperor's intentions.
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