She wasn't in a hurry to draw people. After asking them to prepare the art supplies, she picked up her brush and first drew a peach blossom on the paper, then drew two fighting birds on the branch.
On one side, there was a flower window hidden by flowering trees and a wall with its reflection.
By the time I finished writing, the entire morning had passed.
He rubbed his sore arms and said, "Pack it up and send it to His Majesty. Tell him we are grateful for the sheepskin."
"Huh? You mean this?" Luo Kui was surprised.
"That's what I'm talking about." Yan Nangui smiled.
In the afternoon, it was Shuanzi who delivered the packaged painting to Beichen Palace.
When Shu Chengfeng saw him and heard what he said, he just smiled, waved his hand, gave him some silver, and told him to leave.
Shu Chengfeng was not surprised; it really was what that person said.
Unfolding the painting, Shu Chengfeng said, "Take a look, how does her painting compare to Xia's?"
Yun Ji looked closely and smiled, "I've only heard His Majesty say that Consort Yan's portraits are incredibly lifelike, but her landscape paintings are also quite good. This is completely different from Consort Xia's paintings. Consort Xia is better at painting distant scenery and mountains."
"I think Consort Yan's painting is good, but I can't quite put my finger on why," Yun Ji said, frowning.
Shu Chengfeng smiled and said, "Fortunately, it's real. Although I've never seen the places in this painting before, the peach blossom in the corner, the two orioles fighting, the window frame under the flowering tree, and the shadow on the wall all feel real. If you're talking about brushstrokes, she is indeed not as good at painting people as she is at painting scenery. But this realism makes up for all the shortcomings. It's pleasing to the eye."
Yun Ji looked at it again carefully and had to admit, "I have learned a lot."
"They say you can tell a person's character by their literacy, and you can also tell a person's character by their painting. This woman is quite perceptive," Shu Chengfeng said with a smile. "Go ahead and have it properly framed and hung in my palace."
"Yes, Your subordinate will go right away." Yun Ji thought to himself that this was a unique honor.
It was always considered quite remarkable for the emperor's calligraphy to be displayed by his concubines.
Now it's the other way around, hey!
Yun Ji thought to himself, "This Lady Xia has been painting for so many years, and His Majesty has praised her, but she has never received such high praise."
The geese flew south to this place; I don't know if it's just psychological or if the sheepskin mat is really that effective.
I felt a little hot while sleeping at night.
But it's nice to be warm; she loves this warmth in winter.
With the addition of the Four-Substance Decoction prescribed by Physician Huang, the past few days have passed smoothly.
After these few days, it will be time to pay my respects.
It would be a real shame not to go now.
Inside Fengxiang Palace, everyone greeted each other and took their seats.
After a few days, those who had been sick recovered, and everyone was back together.
The Empress first inquired about the health of the two princes. The second prince was almost fully recovered, and the third prince still had a runny nose, but he was fine.
"The weather has been cold lately, and the season is not good. Those of you with children must take good care of them. Not only the two princes, but also Consort Luo and Consort Xia must take good care of their children."
The children thanked the Empress for her help.
"There are many festivals in the year ahead, and the Little New Year is not far away. This year is the first year since the late emperor's death, and there are even more rules and regulations. You all need to learn them well, so as not to make mistakes that would make you a laughing stock among your relatives and ministers."
Everyone agreed again.
The Empress waved her hand, gesturing for someone to sit down: "Consort Yan, are you feeling better?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am much better now. It's an old ailment; if I catch a cold, I suffer for several days," Yan Nangui said.
"Oh dear, you should take good care of your health," the Empress sighed.
"His Majesty is quite worried about Consort Yan's health. I heard that when Consort Yan mentioned feeling cold, His Majesty sent dozens of sheepskins to you," Consort Ye snorted.
She's also very sensitive to the cold, so why doesn't His Majesty think of her?
"Look at what Your Highness is saying. You got the fox fur, but now even my sheepskin has incurred your hatred?" Yan Nangui said with a smile.
She was definitely provoking her on purpose.
"What fox fur? Stop talking nonsense!" Consort Ye frowned.
"No? Oh, I forgot. This fox fur must belong to the Empress." Yan Nangui smiled. "Even if there's no fox fur, Your Highness doesn't need to be jealous of my few sheepskins, right? They're not exactly valuable items."
Her tone shifted, and she began to portray it as Consort Ye's jealousy.
Although it was indeed jealousy, how could I say it out loud?
"Oh dear, ever since you entered the palace, Consort Gui and Consort Yan have always been bickering." Consort Su Xian smiled and put down her teacup. "Anyone who didn't know better would think you two were at odds. You're sisters, why would you bicker over something as trivial as fox fur and sheepskin? Consort Yan isn't in good health and is sensitive to the cold. If you offered me sheepskin, I wouldn't take it. I can't stand having two quilts in winter. Why does Consort Gui covet it?"
"If Sister Ye is also afraid of the cold, why don't you lay it out too? That's not unusual," Consort Murong said with a smile.
"Hmph, do I care?" Consort Ye didn't continue arguing; she simply said that and that was it.
"Let them bicker as they please, we're all sisters. But in the future, new women will inevitably enter the palace, so you older sisters should all be a little more restrained," the Empress said with a smile.
Yan Nangui smiled and said yes, but in her heart she thought, "The Crown Princess is indeed different now that she's become the Empress."
Now he's even more dignified, like a Buddha.
But if she can't have children, who knows how long she'll have to live this dignified life.
After the greetings were finished and everyone dispersed, they all went their separate ways.
Consort Jiang returned to Zhenxia Pavilion, and her maid Birou stepped forward: "Consort Jiang is back. This servant has made some hot tea."
“We’ve been sitting for a while today, and Fengxiang Palace isn’t very warm. Let’s get some ginger soup for Consort Gui to warm her up,” Bi Quan said.
Birou responded and went to call someone.
"Your Highness is very sensitive to cold during your period. Fortunately, I have prepared brown sugar, which you can drink with the ginger soup later."
"Consort Yan is only a minor concubine, yet His Majesty personally went to visit her. He summoned the imperial physician and gave her sheepskin, causing quite a commotion. But for me, this is just a routine matter," Consort Jiang sighed.
“Your Highness, please don’t think like that. You’ve just had bad timing. You’ve been constantly dealing with problems since you entered the palace, and you haven’t been able to get close to His Majesty. Now it’s the mourning period… Besides, Consort Yan entered the palace earlier than you. Moreover, her father holds a large army, so the situation is different,” Bi Rou said.
"I'm just saying this out of the blue. I know my own status. The only reason I'm given the title of Noble Consort is because of the Empress Dowager. But she's not His Majesty's biological grandmother, so how much face does she really have? If I behave myself and don't make any mistakes, I can live like this until I'm old. But if I dare to do anything, I'm afraid even the Empress Dowager can't protect me."
"How could I not understand the reasoning? It's just that I feel sorry for myself. I never thought I would accompany the king, but now I'm stuck here for the rest of my life."
"Your Excellency..." Bi Rou called out again, but didn't know how to comfort her.
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