Chapter 138 Orchid Draft
On the second day, light snow fell again in Jiangzhou City, and the sunlight sprinkled on the criss-crossing paths of Longchang Academy.
Zhu Qingyan had no classes that afternoon. After having lunch at Guweizhai, she prepared to go back to the study to read.
She hadn't walked far when she suddenly saw a familiar figure and recognized it as Ah Cai, the servant of the Zhu family. She retracted her gaze and continued walking towards Qingya Garden.
"Miss Qingyan, Miss Qingyan!" Ah Cai saw Zhu Qingyan and shouted hurriedly.
Zhu Qingyan stopped and felt a little surprised. Wasn’t the other party here to find Zhu Lan?
"Miss Qingyan, Madam asks you to go back to the Zhu residence." Acai walked quickly to Zhu Qingyan and said breathlessly.
Zhu Qingyan was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Got it, I'll be there right away."
She followed Ah Cai out of the academy and walked towards Zhu's residence, secretly wondering what Madam Pei wanted to see her about.
Entering the side hall of Zhu's house, the aroma of tea and snacks hit her face. Pei Yue was already waiting there. When she saw Zhu Qingyan, a gentle smile appeared on her face, "Qingyan is here, come and sit down."
Zhu Qingyan felt a little uneasy. He looked around but did not see Zhu Lan. He asked in confusion, "Madam, Zhu Lan...?"
Pei Yue smiled and said, "Today's matter was specifically for your help, so I didn't ask Lan'er to come back."
"You want my help?"
Zhu Qingyan was even more puzzled. Mrs. Pei had a large family and a great fortune. Was there anything she needed her help with?
Pei Yue took a sip of tea and said slowly:
"You don't have to be nervous. It's like this. Two days ago, I sorted out some things and found some relics of you and Lan'er's father. I found that a set of paintings was missing a scroll. The set of paintings was created by a well-known contemporary painter. There were originally four scrolls, which should have painted plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum respectively.
But when I sorted it out, I found that one of the orchid paintings was missing. After thinking about it, I thought it might have been sent to your mother many years ago. "
Zhu Qingyan understood. Her mother Su's nickname did contain the word "Orchid". It was possible that Zhu Hongsheng had specially taken out the orchid painting as a gift to please his mother.
"You also know that a whole set of paintings like this only makes sense when the four paintings are put together. So I asked you to come here today to ask your mother if she is willing to give up the orchid painting and return it to me..."
Pei Yue spoke sincerely, and Zhu Qingyan suddenly felt a little embarrassed, "Mrs. Pei, what are you talking about? However, Qingyan has no impression of the orchid painting you mentioned.
Qingyan will go back and ask mother. If she is really at home, Qingyan will send it to Madam after mother gives her permission."
"Thank you for your help." Pei Yue said to her with a smile.
Then the two chatted for a while, and Zhu Qingyan said goodbye and left.
…
When she returned home, Su was busy in the yard, hanging some freshly washed clothes that were still dripping with water on bamboo poles.
"Mom, do we have a painting of orchids in our house that Dad gave you?" Zhu Qingyan asked while helping to hang the clothes.
"Orchid map?" Su was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Why are you asking that?"
"Is it really in our house?"
Zhu Qingyan immediately conveyed Pei Yue's intention to Su.
Seeing that Su didn't say anything after listening, Zhu Qingyan comforted her: "Mother, if you can't bear to part with Dad's things, then I will go and talk to Madam Pei. A gentleman does not take away what others love..."
After all, Su had a deep love for Zhu Hongsheng, and Zhu Qingyan knew it. Su had never taken out the orchid sketch, so it was probably because it was very important to her, so she kept it somewhere as a treasure.
Su came back to his senses, smiled and shook his head, went back to the house and searched for a while, and soon took out a yellowed scroll.
"This is the orchid sketch. You can return it to Madam Pei."
When saying this, Su's expression was indifferent, without any trace of nostalgia on her face.
If it were in the past, she would definitely not agree. I wish Hongsheng died early, leaving me with this memory, and I can only use this thing to remember him.
At that time, Su still thought that Zhu Hongsheng loved her deeply and loyally, but it was only because Pei Yue interfered that she couldn't even get the status of a concubine.
However, since Pei Yue came home last time, her enlightening words finally broke Su's fantasy about Zhu Hongsheng for more than ten years, making her realize how ridiculous she was in the past, and also recognize Zhu Hongsheng's true face.
Seeing this orchid painting again nowadays even seems a bit annoying.
But the only thing that puzzled Su was that she had never heard that this orchid painting had three other sister pieces. Zhu Hongsheng loved collecting antiques, calligraphy and paintings. Given his personality, why would he tear apart a whole set of paintings and only give one of them to himself?
How strange.
…
Zhu Qingyan held the orchid painting and returned to Zhu's residence to meet Pei Yue.
Pei Yue unfolded the scroll and nodded, "Yes, that's right, it's this painting."
Then he smiled at Zhu Qingyan and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
Zhu Qingyan bowed to her and said, "Madam, you are too polite. If there is nothing else, Qingyan will..."
"Wait." Pei Yue stood up, took out a package of prepared things from the cabinet and handed it to her.
When Zhu Qingyan took it, he felt that it was heavy and felt very much like...
She quickly opened the bundle, and found ten taels of silver inside!
"Madam, this..." She looked up at Pei Yue in astonishment.
No reward without merit, Zhu Qingyan hurriedly wanted to push the bag back, but Pei Yue smiled and told her to accept it with peace of mind.
However, Pei Yue smiled and waved her hand, "Take it, this is what you deserve. This orchid map originally belonged to your mother, I can't just take it away for nothing."
She paused and continued, "Besides, now that the four scrolls are complete, if they were sold, they would be worth much more than this. In the end, I'm still getting a bargain."
Pei Yue said this without waiting for her to express her opinion and walked out of the side hall.
"I have something else to do, so I won't keep you for dinner today. Go back to the academy early."
Zhu Qingyan stood there in shock for a moment, his eyes slightly warm, then he turned around and bowed deeply to Pei Yue's back:
"Thank you, Mrs. Pei!"
With these ten taels of silver, she can sign up for the imperial examination!
Zhu Qingyan was holding so much silver and did not dare to delay, for fear that he might lose it by accident.
So after leaving Zhu's house, she went straight to the county government office, found the clerk in charge of the imperial examination and registered.
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