Li Shishi was a clever woman; she hadn't noticed the surprise of someone hiding in the room. This put Zhao Huan's mind at ease. Huizong Zhao Ji was in a refined mood, and Li Shishi made him a cup of tea, but he ignored her and instead became interested in the writing brushes and ink on the table.
Li Shishi was not as shameless as Zhao Huan, but she was considerate. She smiled and ground ink for Huizong.
Zhao Huan saw that his father and Li Shishi were not as dirty together as he thought. They were more of an artistic exchange.
Artistic exchange, however, requires a sympathetic connection. The fragrance of ink and brush fills the room, its lingering charm. Zhao Ji paints with his brush, while Li Shishi watches from beside him, her inkstone in hand.
The fragrance of ink and flowers enters the inkstone, and the color of poetry and grass pours into the cup. The two do not talk to each other, but only smile and glance at each other occasionally. This is probably the artistic conception of the literati's harmonious music and the flowing water of mountains.
Zhao Huan didn't know what the hell art was; he just wanted his father to leave. He felt like every second felt like an eternity under the cold bed. After who knows how long, Zhao Ji finally put down his pen.
"Your Majesty, this painting of yours is truly a masterpiece." Li Shishi said with a smile.
Zhao Ji was immediately delighted: "Oh, Shishi. Tell me, what did you figure out?"
Li Shishi tilted her head to look at the painting on the table. "Hibiscus blossoms, swaying gently in the breeze. Butterflies fly in pairs, chasing and playing, attracting the golden pheasants on the branches to turn their heads and gaze. It's truly a masterpiece."
Zhao Ji smiled and said: "This is called "Hibiscus and Peacock"
Zhao Huan muttered under the bed: "Hibiscus pheasant? Does this mean Li Shishi is a chicken? Hmm, praising her as the king of chickens - the pheasant. That must be the case."
How could Zhao Huan, who was so despicable, have imagined that this "Hibiscus and Peacock" painting, which was passed down to later generations, would become a masterpiece of Chinese painting.
Li Shishi nodded. "This painting boasts powerful, double-stroke brushstrokes, elegant colors, and meticulous, composed lines. The rendering and filling are delicate, vibrant, and meticulously detailed. The pheasants, flowers, birds, and butterflies are all meticulously executed without being rigid. It truly achieves a realm of both form and spirit, rich in elegance, that is difficult to achieve in meticulous brushwork. The painting of hibiscus and peacocks is both stillness within movement and movement within stillness. It's truly a stroke of genius."
Zhao Ji laughed heartily: "The one who knows me best is Shishi. But don't you know why I painted a pheasant instead of a phoenix?"
Li Shishi knew how to read people's expressions better than any other woman, and even if she knew, she would still shake her head. So Li Shishi smiled and shook her head.
Zhao Ji said, "A rooster has five virtues. The one with a crown on its head represents civility; the one with spurs on its feet represents martial arts; the one that dares to fight the enemy is bravery; the one that calls out to others when seeing food is benevolence; and the one that keeps watch at night is trustworthiness. These civil and military ministers are too incompetent. Look at the ministers below, they are obsessed with flowers and ignore state affairs. I painted this picture of a peacock to remind them that as ministers, they should put the world first."
Zhao Ji was referring to Wang Shiyong, Zuo Heng, Qian Tong and others.
Li Shishi was so clever. She said, "Shishi, go hang this painting in the central hall and let the princes and ministers who come to Zuixinglou see it. This will make them feel ashamed and remind them to always be loyal to the Great Song Dynasty with the Five Virtues."
Zhao Ji nodded, picked up his brush again, and wrote hurriedly: "The autumn vigor resists the frost, the chicken with a tall crown and brocade feathers, has known all five virtues, and is more comfortable than ducks and herons."
"Your Majesty, this poem of yours has added to the artistic conception. Your calligraphy is comparable to Xizhi's. It is lean, straight, and upright, with a side stroke like an orchid or bamboo. Horizontal strokes end with hooks, vertical strokes end with dots, the left stroke like a dagger, the right stroke like a knife, and the vertical hook is slender, like 'bending iron and breaking gold.'"
Zhao Huan cursed non-stop under the bed. This scholar is so pedantic. What the hell are they talking about? I don't understand a word. Dad, why are you dithering? If you want to pounce on me, then hurry up. If you don't want to pounce on me, then go back to the palace.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ji had no intention of leaving. The two of them discussed poetry and appreciated calligraphy and painting. Not only that, Zhao Ji also insisted on listening to Li Shishi play the zither.
Li Shishi tuned her instrument and played one piece after another. Zhao Huan was so bored that he actually fell asleep under the bed.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhao Huan felt someone kick him, and he woke up instantly. He subconsciously raised his head, but it hit the bed. Zhao Huan cried out "Ouch!" and crawled out from under the bed, touching his head.
By this time, Zhao Ji had already returned to the palace. After Li Shishi kicked Zhao Huan, she hurried over to clear the pens, inkstone, paper, and ink on the table without even looking at Zhao Huan.
Zhao Huan felt a little embarrassed. "Well, Miss Shishi, I am really rude and have offended you. Please forgive me."
Li Shishi was still packing her things: "Your Majesty is in a good mood. Your Majesty's words really embarrass me."
Zhao Huan was shocked: "You, how do you know I am the emperor?"
Li Shishi gave Zhao Huan a cold look. "He doesn't recognize Eunuch Cao, but doesn't Shishi recognize him? Who else could order Eunuch Cao around like a servant, and yet be so afraid of being bumped into by the retired emperor? Besides the current emperor, who else could it be?"
Zhao Huan thought to himself: What a powerful woman, Li Shishi, I underestimated you.
"I've heard for a long time that the new emperor is frivolous and boastful. Seeing him today, I can see that his reputation is well-deserved. The Jin bandits are marching south, and the army will soon be besieging Bian Jing. Your Majesty doesn't know how to summon all the soldiers to serve the country, but instead wants to seek pleasure in this place of brothels. Shishi only regrets that she is not a man and cannot go into the battlefield to kill the enemy." Li Shishi said hatefully.
Zhao Huan's face turned pale and blue, blushing for the first time at being criticized. He hadn't expected a weak woman like Li Shishi to possess such patriotic sentiments. Far from being angry, Zhao Huan felt deeply ashamed. He immediately bowed and said, "Miss Shishi, you are right. I was foolish. I will return to the palace immediately to discuss a strategy for defending against the enemy. As for today's events..."
Li Shishi did not expect Zhao Huan to admit his mistake, so she said, "Shishi has never seen Your Majesty, and Your Majesty has never been here."
Zhao Huan understood the woman's words without needing to be told. He bowed deeply, and Li Shishi returned the gesture. Zhao Huan then left the room.
Li Shishi was right. Zhao Huan had always thought that handing over the defense of the capital to Li Gang would solve the problem. Little did he know that Qian Tong and his ilk were still slacking off behind Li Gang's back. If the Jin invaded, the consequences would be disastrous.
Zhao Huan broke out in a cold sweat at the thought. At this critical moment for the Song Dynasty, he actually still had the mind to visit a brothel for excitement. Alas, he was truly asking for trouble.
When Zhao Huan walked out of the door, Wu Ge and Cao Dongsheng were terrified and had been waiting anxiously.
After being scolded by Li Shishi, Zhao Huan's face turned pale and he said, "Return to the palace!"
Even a fool could see that the emperor was displeased, so Wu Ge and Cao Dongsheng dared not ask a single question. So, without saying a word, they followed Zhao Huan out of Zuixinglou in shame.
"Everyone, get out of my way. I'm an envoy from the Great Jin. I heard there's a pretty girl named Li Shishi in Zuixinglou. I want to go in and take a look." A rough voice came from across the street.
PS: The signed contract arrived on Friday, and since it was the weekend, I couldn't change the status. I guess it will be ready on Monday. Feel free to save it.
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