Qiu Xiang publicly commented on the "Peacock Painting," saying that the peacock is ultimately an ordinary bird and can never become a phoenix.
Li Huan knew that these words were like a dagger piercing the heart of Prince Ning.
The peacock is the king of birds, a metaphor for Prince Ning.
The peacock cannot fly to the branch and become a phoenix, which is tantamount to mocking Prince Ning for being unable to ascend the throne and become emperor.
This Prince Ning, Zhu Chenhao, was ambitious. He later raised an army of 100,000 to rebel and attempted to seize the throne. However, after more than a month of turmoil, Prince Ning was defeated, demoted to a commoner, and executed.
The peacock's dream of transforming into a phoenix has been shattered.
Li Huan knew that Qiu Xiang was just making casual comments and didn't dare to mock Prince Ning, but how was her word any different from indirectly criticizing him?
At this moment, Prince Ning was burning with rage, wanting to lash out but unable to find an excuse.
You can't very well admit that you're a peacock who wants to become a phoenix, can you?
Wouldn't that expose their ambition to seize the throne?
Seeing the murderous intent flash in Prince Ning's eyes, Madam Hua hurriedly said, "Your Highness, I have failed in my duty to discipline your children. If Qiu Xiang has offended you in any way, please forgive her!"
Prince Ning was even more furious.
The advisor quickly said, "Your Highness! Judging from Madam Hua's tone, the Grand Tutor must have collected a painting by Tang Bohu that is even more exquisite than this 'Peacock' painting!"
Prince Ning's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said, "That's right! Grand Tutor, you've been hiding your talent! Quickly bring out Tang Bohu's masterpiece and let me see it!"
Grand Tutor Hua looked extremely embarrassed.
He doesn't usually like calligraphy and paintings, so how could he collect them?
Even though she liked calligraphy and paintings, she dared not collect Tang Bohu's works because Madam Hua forbade anything by Tang Bohu to appear in the Hua family mansion.
Madam Hua smiled and said, "To be honest, Your Highness, the Hua family does not possess any calligraphy or paintings by Tang Bohu!"
The fat advisor seized the opportunity to shout, "Outrageous! Since there is no painting or calligraphy more exquisite than 'Peacock,' why do you look down on peacocks? Grand Tutor Hua, you are clearly mocking the Prince!"
Grand Tutor Hua broke out in a cold sweat.
Prince Ning immediately shouted angrily, "Grand Tutor Hua! You've mocked me, don't blame me for losing my temper!"
Madam Hua, quick-witted, said, "Your Highness, please calm down! Tang Bohu himself is currently a guest at our residence! He is preparing to paint three hundred calligraphy and paintings for the Hua family!"
"What?" Prince Ning exclaimed in shock. "Tang Bohu is at the Hua residence, and he wants to paint three hundred more calligraphy and paintings?"
Madam Hua laughed and said, "That's right! It's precisely because Tang Bohu painted for the Hua family that Qiu Xiang dared to comment on the 'Peacock Painting'."
Upon hearing this, Prince Ning felt uneasy.
Tang Bohu was a great talent of our time, and his calligraphy and paintings sold like hotcakes in the market and were eagerly collected by many people.
To everyone's surprise, Tang Bohu actually visited the Hua family mansion and even offered three hundred pieces of calligraphy and painting!
The portly advisor hurriedly reminded him, "Your Highness, Tang Bohu is arrogant and doesn't curry favor with the powerful. Why would he live in the Hua Mansion and create three hundred paintings and calligraphies just to please the Grand Tutor? Your Highness, don't believe lies!"
Prince Ning nodded, then glared and said, "Since Tang Bohu is in the Hua residence, bring him out quickly and have him pay his respects to me!"
Madam Hua instructed, "Qiuxiang, go and invite Tang Bohu!"
"Yes, Madam." Qiu Xiang strode out of the hall.
The portly advisor asked quietly, "Your Highness, have you ever met Tang Bohu in person?"
Prince Ning shook his head: "Have you ever seen it?"
The fat advisor also shook his head.
Prince Ning asked the deadly scholar, "And you?"
The Deadly Scholar said, "Your Highness, I have never met Tang Bohu, but his father, Tang Tianhao, was my defeated opponent and died by my sword!"
The prince laughed loudly: "Hahaha...Very good, very good!"
Upon hearing the words of the Deadly Scholar, Tang Bohu's eyes flashed with hatred. He clenched his fists and instinctively took a step forward.
Li Huan quickly stopped Tang Bohu: "What do you want to do? Challenge the Deadly Scholar to a duel?"
Tang Bohu gritted his teeth and said, "So he's the Deadly Scholar! I'm going to avenge my father!"
Li Huan said, "If you show yourself now, reveal your identity, and even display your martial arts skills, won't you completely offend Prince Ning? Aren't you afraid of having your family ransacked by Prince Ning? Don't forget, you still have your old mother and eight wives at home!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Bohu calmed down a bit.
Li Huan advised, "Bear with it for now, and wait for the right opportunity to kill the Deadly Scholar and avenge your father!"
Tang Bohu let out a breath and loosened his fist.
Soon, Qiu Xiang and Sister Shi Liu led Zhu Zhishan into the hall.
Seeing the scene before him, Zhu Zhishan looked fearful.
Madam Hua said, "Tang Bohu! Immediately pick up your brush and paint a picture of 'Phoenix in Pride' for the Prince to enjoy!"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhishan trembled a few times in fright.
Prince Ning stared at Zhu Zhishan: "You are Tang Bohu?"
Zhu Zhishan stammered, "I am... I am Tang Bohu..."
Prince Ning said, "Very well! Let's see how you paint the divine phoenix! If you paint it better than my peacock, I will reward you handsomely! If you paint it poorly, I will take your life immediately!"
Zhu Zhishan's face turned ashen. He looked around and found Tang Bohu standing in the corner. He quickly cast a pleading look at him.
Li Huan winked at Zhu Zhishan, encouraging him to paint boldly.
Now, Zhu Zhishan and Sister Pomegranate have become very close and he has won her heart.
Therefore, Zhu Zhishan had no need to continue impersonating Tang Bohu.
Madam Hua urged, "Tang Bohu! What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and start drawing!"
Helpless, Zhu Zhishan had no choice but to pick up the wolf-hair brush, pretend to prepare for a while, and then begin to paint.
In less than ten seconds, Zhu Zhishan straightened up.
Mission accomplished!
Prince Ning and others stepped forward to watch.
Zhu Zhishan said with a smile, "Your Highness, please look, this is the divine bird, the phoenix!"
Li Huan knew without even looking that Zhu Zhishan had created an impromptu painting titled "Chicken Pecking Rice".
The advisor scoffed, "What phoenix? This is clearly a chick pecking at rice!"
Zhu Zhishan realized: "Sorry, I forgot to draw one more stroke!"
He bent down and added a few strokes, drawing a halo above the chick's head.
"Look, the chick has become a divine bird!"
Zhu Zhishan grinned.
Prince Ning was furious: "Outrageous! What utter nonsense about the divine phoenix!!"
Zhu Zhishan hurriedly explained, "In calligraphy and painting, the emphasis is on freehand expression. I used a very simple technique to depict the scene of a chicken turning into a phoenix, which has a profound meaning!"
The fat advisor hurriedly said, "You scoundrel! How dare you mock the prince and ridicule him as a chicken!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Hua's face changed drastically in fright. She hurriedly shoved her hand onto the table, sending Zhu Zhishan flying!
Instantly, Zhu Zhishan fell backward to the ground, foaming at the mouth, and fainted.
Madam Hua said, "Your Highness is wise! I've always suspected that this man isn't the real Tang Bohu, but just now, under Your Highness's imposing presence, he finally revealed his true colors! Thank you, Your Highness!"
"Guards! Drag this imposter out, lock him in the woodshed, and keep him under strict guard until he is punished!"
"Yes!" The martial arts champion stepped forward and grabbed Zhu Zhishan.
Qiu Xiang looked at Zhu Zhishan with a look of disdain in her eyes.
Li Huan fully understands Qiu Xiang's thoughts.
She was almost taken advantage of by Zhu Zhishan in the woodshed earlier.
Prince Ning roared, "Grand Tutor! You've sent a fake Tang Bohu to fool me, are you trying to provoke me into losing my temper?"
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