Chapter 151 Uncle and the Princess
When I returned to the venue, I happened to catch Su Yanzu painting with ink. Thousands of eyes were focused on him, but he was as calm and composed as the breeze in a mountain stream. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to painting. From his brush flowed the proud plum blossoms in front of the academy, the cool bamboos on the hillside, and the elegant orchids in the valley.
The four gentlemen in the writings of literati were almost always painted separately, but Su Yanzu composed the three gentlemen in one picture,① from top to bottom, with only a few strokes, seemingly painted casually on a whim.
"In fact, the brushwork is infinitely varied, with lifting, pressing, pausing, and frustrating, as well as light, heavy, slow, and fast strokes; the ink is thick, thin, dry, and wet; the composition is composed of points, lines, and surfaces, all of which are full of flesh and blood, and full of rhythm. The plum, bamboo, and orchid are all present in form and spirit. Without the experience of life and the 'Tao and skill' of 'harmony between man and nature', it is impossible to create such a painting."
While explaining to his daughter, Su Yanli sighed, "Your uncle deserves to be admitted to the Imperial College."
Su Ruojin looked up at his father, feeling regret, melancholy, and sadness. His emotions were so complicated that they were beyond words.
She seemed to be thinking about something, and couldn't help asking, "Dad, have you seen your biological mother?"
Su Yanli paused, looked down at his daughter, and reached out to stroke her fluffy hair. In front of his soft daughter, his unspeakable emotions were relieved. He didn't want to talk about the grievances of the previous generation, but his daughter's clear big eyes made him unable to help but say a few words.
"I have seen it, but a one-year-old child has no memory of it."
It’s like never seen it.
"Did he die in a fight in the inner courtyard?"
Su Yanli pursed his lips and thought for a while, then answered his daughter's question: "Maybe, I don't know either."
This is the way the world is. A legitimate mother who has no legitimate son can tolerate the mother of a concubine's daughter to live in peace, but there are few mothers of concubine's sons who hope to be adopted by their legitimate mother.
Whether his biological mother really died of illness, or his stepmother took advantage of her illness to cause his death, no matter which one it was, the result was that he would never see the poor woman who gave birth to him again.
While hating his stepmother's ruthlessness, he admired his stepbrother's talent.
Since leaving Pingjiang Prefecture and settling in the capital, Su Yanli has let go of everything in the past. He knows that as long as he is willing to scheme, he can "return home with success and wealth" and seek justice for his biological mother. However, he chose not to do so. He followed his heart and was his true self. He hopes that his biological mother can forgive his indifference if she knows about this.
Sadness, guilt... Suddenly, it was like a huge mountain pressing down on his father, making it hard for him to breathe. Su Ruojin stretched out his hands and wrapped them around Su Yanli's big hand, "Dad, good and evil will be determined by heaven."
"Perhaps."
With his daughter's comfort, Su Yanli put aside his grudges again and asked gently, "Where is your brother?"
Su Ruojin turned around and saw, "Following behind the young prince!"
Su Ruojin was caught off guard and was hit on the forehead by his father. "What are you talking about, young lady?"
The father who was sad a moment ago suddenly turned into a father who beat people. Su Ruojin pouted and glared angrily, "Just now I told my brother to pee in front of everyone!"
Is this daughter beyond saving?
Seeing that his father’s face was as black as ash in a pot, Su Ruojin quickly ran away, disappearing somewhere unknown.
Su Yanli: ...
Unsurprisingly, Su Yanzu used one of his poems to create a painting, truly achieving the goal of painting in the poem and the poem in the painting, and the unity of the poem and the painting, conveying his own artistic conception of being like orchid and bamboo, with a fresh and elegant breeze.
A great scholar recommended him on the spot and guaranteed him admission to the Imperial College. Prince Luo smiled and said, "Master Min, don't worry, I will take care of this matter."
Seeing that Su Yanzu was about to be pulled into the Third Prince's fold, Zhao Lan signaled Prince Wei to step forward.
Before Prince Wei could make a move, someone spoke up, "Prince Luo, you come here, my beauty. As for Young Master Su, his brother will take care of him, so you don't have to do it for him."
Everyone looked at the dignified and elegant Princess Yuehua approaching and stood up to salute, "Your Highness... greets you!"
"I have met Her Royal Highness the Princess..."
A large group of people knelt down on the field.
The Su Yanli brothers looked at each other and immediately knelt down.
Prince Luo suppressed his unhappiness and bowed, "Your Highness the Princess." The Third Prince, who was born to his aunt, was stopped halfway when he was trying to recruit talents. He was really unhappy, but there was nothing he could do. After all, Yuehua was the sister of Prince Jin and the cousin that the Emperor liked more. He could only put aside the idea of recruiting people.
The headmaster of Dongshan Academy invited the distinguished guests to rest in the academy, and the literati and poets naturally dispersed.
After a while, Dongshan Academy finally became quiet.
There was no sound outside. Su Ruojin, who was hiding in the corner of the corridor next to King Wu to rest, was about to get up and leave when he suddenly heard a voice, "Clear the area!"
"Yes, Mammy."
Clear the area? Su Ruojin was so frightened that she slid down the Wuwangkao and hid behind the corridor column. This place happened to be a blind spot. She didn't know whether it was because the maid was perfunctory or what, anyway, she was not discovered and cleared the area.
After a while, the long corridor was so empty that even the sound of wind blowing through the leaves could be heard. Su Ruojin wondered how long the princess would rest. Just as she was getting anxious, she heard soft footsteps.
She quietly stretched out her head and looked at the person who came. She was right. The only one who could clear the place was Princess Yuehua. Hey, who was following behind her? It must be his cheap uncle.
How did these two get together?
Could it be that the two of them became a pair of bickering lovers while admiring the peach blossoms that time?
Su Ruojin's curiosity about gossip suddenly flared up, and she stared at the two of them with her big eyes without blinking.
But why didn't the two of them say anything? Were they competing to see who would lose first?
Her uncle is amazing. He actually slept with the princess. How awesome! I wonder if the princess will punish all of her clans when she gets angry? He is obviously a very good person, why did he suddenly become mute?
Su Ruojin was worried for him!
Speak up, please speak up quickly. What's the matter? Tell her clearly, right? She still has to go out to find her father!
Finally, someone spoke, it was Princess Yuehua.
Su Ruojin secretly gave him a thumbs up, Uncle, you are awesome!
"Su Shaobai, if you don't have a brain, don't stay in Beijing."
Su Ruojin was stunned by these words. The princess actually called her uncle a fool? Oh my god, what did you do? I just made a stunning and brilliant painting, why was I scolded by the princess?
Where is my uncle? Why doesn’t he speak up?
"Your Highness is right. I am indeed stupid and shouldn't cause Your Highness any trouble."
"You..." Princess Yuehua turned around suddenly and faced the man she had fallen in love with at first sight and thought about day and night, "Believe it or not, I can go to the palace right now and ask His Majesty to give you to me."
"Xiaomin Xin."
The indifferent and ambitious uncle is paired with a true-natured princess. What a perfect match! The next second...
Su Yanzu knelt down with his hands clasped in front of him: "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I have already found someone I love and I will never change my mind for the rest of my life."
She even dared to refuse the princess. What kind of woman could get such sincerity from her uncle? Su Ruojin was stunned!
Princess Yuehua seemed to want to know, "Who is she?"
"Your Highness, it's not important!"
① I referred to the freehand painting "Plum, Orchid and Bamboo" by Master Pan Tianshou. If you have time, you can go and see this Chinese treasure of freehand ink painting. It is so artistic and aesthetic.
(End of this chapter)
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