Chapter 15 Every inch of his body belonged to her…
Xue Mingyao's melodious and cheerful voice rang out, leaving behind a moment of silence.
She had been away from the capital for the past few years, and some young ladies in high-society circles had only heard of her name but did not know her in person. When they heard her openly asking for a painting, they were all secretly shocked. It turned out that the rumors of Princess Yongning's absurd and daring behavior were true.
Chen Liangqing was indeed skilled in painting, but there were also painters in the palace who served the royal family. Chen Liangqing was a scholar who painted landscapes, flowers and birds. How could he be good at painting portraits of women?
Princess Yongning's invitation was clearly not for the sake of the drink itself.
The princess has always been frivolous and unrestrained, and she is used to flirting with men. It seems that she has taken a fancy to Chen Liangqing and is using this opportunity to seduce him.
Many people thought of this, though they didn't show it on their faces, they felt a bit contempt in their hearts: no matter how high Princess Yongning's status was, she was still a widow, a withered flower, how could she have the nerve to come to the Yan Archery Field to steal the limelight, and even more so how could she have the nerve to ask the peerless gentleman Chen Liangqing to paint a picture for her under the guise of asking for a reward.
Looking at Chen Liangqing sitting there like a gentle breeze and a bright moon, his brows slightly furrowed but without revealing any obvious dissatisfaction, he still possessed an ethereal and otherworldly air. To ask such a celestial-like gentleman to paint a portrait of the stunningly beautiful Princess Yongning was simply an insult to him.
However, the Crown Prince and Princess Yi'an, who were familiar with Xue Mingyao, both wore helpless smiles, finding it both amusing and distressing for Chen Liangqing.
Xue Mingyao didn't care what others thought. Xie Zhuo's gaze seemed to want to devour her whole. She was very excited, and her heart was pounding wildly.
She ignored Chen Liangqing and Xie Zhuo, focusing instead on Emperor Deyuan as he gracefully bowed once more, asking, "What does Your Majesty think?"
"Yongning, you're being silly again," Emperor Deyuan laughed. "Although I made a prior statement, I can't indulge you. Whether or not I can paint for you, I'll have to ask Minister Chen himself."
He looked at Chen Liangqing, "Chen Qing, are you willing?"
Chen Liangqing slowly stood up, his handsome features sweeping over the people in the hall, his eyes still brimming with a gentle spring breeze. "The princess's archery skills were extraordinary, and she was admired by all. It is my honor to paint a picture for the princess."
That means you've agreed.
For a moment, countless people secretly admired Chen Liangqing's good manners and demeanor, for he had tolerated Princess Yongning's abruptness.
Princess Yongning bowed again, showing neither pride nor joy. After expressing her gratitude, she gracefully returned to her seat, never once glancing at Chen Liangqing.
She is both poised and arrogant, a typical Xue Mingyao.
Chen Zhelan felt indignant for her second brother, but what made her even more uneasy was that her gaze followed Xie Zhuo all the time, only to find that General Xie's attention seemed to be on Princess Yongning most of the time.
She came in third place in the archery competition. I wonder if he saw it?
Amidst the sounds of banquet music, maids filed in, bringing in exquisite dishes, but Chen Zhelan found no taste in them.
At the next table, Zhao Ying elegantly finished a small bowl of white jade porridge and said to Chen Liangzheng, who was frowning, "Yaoyao is just a little willful. Don't take it too seriously, Prince Consort. She knows her limits and won't bully... or make things difficult for Second Brother."
“Princess, you worry too much. I’m not concerned about that matter,” Chen Liangzheng said gently, handing Zhao Ying a roasted rabbit leg that smelled of pepper. “Princess, don’t just eat porridge. You should eat some meat too. People can’t live without meat…”
"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhao Ying swallowed imperceptibly, picked up a delicate silver knife, and carefully carved the rabbit meat.
Xue Mingyao's wish was fulfilled, and she thoroughly enjoyed the banquet.
Even though Xue Mingyu was nagging her about how she shouldn't covet Chen Liangqing, Xue Mingyao was completely unaffected.
As the banquet drew to a close, the emperor returned to his palace to rest, and everyone gradually departed. Today's focus was on the sacrificial ceremony; there was no hunting, but a special feast would be held in the evening.
Some went horseback riding and exploring the mountains, while others chatted with friends. Xue Mingyao, having eaten and drunk her fill, felt extremely sleepy and slowly walked back to the house in the back of the mountain, intending to get a good night's sleep.
As soon as she entered the bedroom, before she could even lie down, Green Branch rushed in nervously to report, "Princess, Consort Feng has sent a maid to summon you to her palace for a talk."
Xue Mingyao frowned subconsciously, "I'm not going."
"Did the maid say you were feeling unwell?" Green Branch asked cautiously.
Xue Mingyao slapped open the brocade quilt. "No need. Just say I'm taking a nap and don't have time to deal with her."
As she spoke, she kicked off her leather boots, took off her outer garment, pulled out her gold hairpin, and suddenly crawled into the quilt. She turned over, covered her head with the embroidered quilt, and acted as if she wanted to sleep soundly and oblivious to the world.
Having no other choice, Lüzhi closed the curtains and tiptoed out of the doorway. Facing Consort Feng's maid, she still used polite words to make the reason why the princess could not attend the summons sound more palatable.
The down comforter on her body was light and soft, and the lion-shaped incense burner in the room slowly emitted the fragrance of green branches, which was considered a gentleman's good match. Xue Mingyao's eyelids drooped and she began to dream.
She was looking at paintings, scroll after scroll, each painting depicting everything imaginable: verdant peaks, babbling brooks, running deer, fish swimming in ponds...
All the paintings are inscribed with the three characters Xie Qinglang.
If Xue Mingyao were to comment now, she could praise it eloquently for an hour.
Xue Mingyao, a teenager in Xichuan, thought every painting was beautiful, but couldn't explain why. She only knew that Xie Qinglang's brush could bring flowers to life, transforming ordinary scenery into something vivid, expressive, and full of charm.
Xie Qinglang paints everything, not just flowers, birds, mountains and rivers. A bow, a mosquito perched on a green window, a groom hunched over adding hay to a horse—all can leap off his canvas.
When he was drawing the groom, Xue Mingyao initially thought he was drawing her beloved horse Nongxue, but until Xie Qinglang made the last stroke, Nongxue only had a head and a neck, and the groom occupied most of the picture.
"Where is my Nongxue?" she demanded, pointing at the painting.
Xie Qinglang said, "I am not painting horses, but people."
"What's so interesting about painting people? Is a lowly groom really more noble than Nongxue?"
Xie Qinglang looked at her calmly, "That's how I see it."
By then, Xie Qinglang had been imprisoned by her for more than half a year, and his temper had been tempered considerably. Therefore, Xue Mingyao decided to generously grant him the right to value the groom above Nongxue.
She asked him to draw a picture of the scene when they first met.
Xie Qinglang reluctantly agreed and locked himself in his study to paint all day. That evening, Xue Mingyao saw his completed painting.
The painting depicts only a vast snow-covered forest and a rabbit bleeding from an arrow wound.
Xue Mingyao couldn't believe her eyes. "Xie Qinglang, I asked you to paint our first encounter, but where are the people in the painting? Where are you? Where am I? And where is Nongxue?"
Xie Qinglang stroked the snow rabbit with its scarlet eyes. "Xue Mingyao, not everyone in this world is worthy of being included in my paintings. On the day we first met, only this rabbit was pure."
"What do you mean?" Xue Mingyao's lips trembled with anger. "Are you saying I'm dirty again?"
Xie Qinglang turned her head away. "I'm dirty too."
Xue Mingyao sneered, "You think I've defiled you? You think you're a chaste and virtuous woman who can't be touched by others? Then why don't you go find a rope and hang yourself? Who are you trying to impress with this act!"
The scene in the dream shifted, and several months later, in the transition from spring to summer, Xue Mingyao, dressed in a light gauze dress, lay on her side on a chaise longue, holding a small green silk fan in her hand, her eyes brimming as she looked at Xie Qinglang a few feet away.
Xie Qinglang sat at the painting table, holding a fine purple brush, and focused intently on painting her.
He rarely looked up at her, while Xue Mingyao's gaze remained fixed on him. Abundant sunlight streamed in through the window, softly bathing Xie Qinglang, flowing over his dark hair, his sharply defined face, and his slender, elegant hands...
He was her pet crane, every inch of him belonged to her, filling her heart with joy and making her never tire of looking at him.
He Lang refused to look at her, which displeased Xue Mingyao. How could she paint her well if he wouldn't look at her?
"Xie Qinglang, look up," she commanded.
"Princess." A gentle voice rang out, and Xue Mingyao was taken aback.
The person in front of me was refined and handsome, with a gentle smile on his face.
When did Chen Liangqing become the person who painted her portrait?
But why couldn't it be Chen Liangqing?
Xue Mingyao stared at the top of the tent for a moment before emerging from her dream. She remembered that she was currently in Beiming Mountain and had just asked the Emperor for Chen Liangqing's promise to paint a picture a few hours earlier.
A cacophony of voices erupted outside the door.
"Your Highness, our Princess is taking a nap. Please wait a moment while I go in and wake her up."
"...Your Highness, you can't just barge in like that!"
Xue Mingyao rubbed her forehead in frustration, and listening to the chaotic footsteps, she threw off the covers.
Consort Feng's beautiful face came into view, followed by the uneasy Green Branch.
Xue Mingyao slipped on her shoes and said indifferently, "Judging from Consort Shu's attitude, she's planning to pull off my blankets. Does she not allow people to sleep?"
Consort Feng cut to the chase, "I have something I want to ask you."
Xue Mingyao squinted, letting Lüzhi drape a shirt over her shoulders as she slowly stretched.
"Even if Your Majesty is in a hurry, you still need to give Yongning time to dress and get ready. If she meets you in disheveled clothes, His Majesty might scold me for not respecting his favorite concubine."
She deliberately emphasized the last half of her sentence. Consort Feng's eyes flickered a few times, and she said coldly, "I'll go out and wait for you. You'd better hurry, I don't have much time."
After Consort Feng left, Xue Mingyao had Lüzhi do her hair and makeup at the slowest pace she had ever taken.
Green Branch could only dawdle as much as possible. Xue Mingyao tilted her head and thought about some old things randomly. After combing her hair, she floated out, sat cross-legged on the small couch, grabbed a soft pillow and brought it over. She said lazily, "If Consort Shu has anything you want to ask, ask it."
Consort Feng sat in the backlight of the hall, the shadows covering her fair face, adding a touch of gloom, which made her beauty even more dignified and graceful as a palace consort.
A moment ago she rushed into the princess's bedroom, but now she waited for a while, calmed herself down, and pondered for a few seconds before speaking, "You asked His Majesty to have Chen Hanlin paint for you, is it because you have feelings for him?"
“Not bad.” Xue Mingyao made no attempt to hide it.
Consort Feng's eyes flashed with sarcasm. "What are your plans for him?"
"Plans?" Xue Mingyao chuckled. "Your Majesty's question is strange. I am interested in him, and naturally I want to be in love with him, to enjoy romantic moments under the moon and flowers, and to be as intimate as fish and water."
She spoke frankly, using intimate words without blushing at all.
Consort Feng blushed and said, "You're so fickle and promiscuous, have you completely forgotten Xie Qinglang?!"
A note from the author:
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Starting today, I'll be posting daily at 9 PM every night. [doge emoji with rose in hand]
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