Chapter 72 The Handsome Painter
Why are you here again?
The next morning, Song Jin was summoned out of the Song residence by the guards. Looking at the cheerful people outside, her face was filled with wariness and unwelcomeness, and she posed three crucial questions.
"Have you packed your dowry? Have you settled the divorce?"
"And you, aren't you a student leader? Aren't you skipping class?"
Don't you have any other friends? I'm not familiar with you.
The two: ...
This girl really speaks rudely.
Yang Yanjun smiled and said, "We're not really familiar with you. Let's look for Sister Lan. Is she up yet?"
Without a second thought, Song Jin replied, "I'm not up, I don't have time. She's not feeling well. You guys go have fun."
Yang Yanjun: "I see. Since Sister Lan isn't feeling well, we should definitely go in and pay her a visit."
Song Jin scratched her head, feeling annoyed just looking at her. Couldn't these people be a little more reasonable?
She doesn't even spend enough time with her mother.
Seeing her like this, Yang Yanjun chuckled and said, "You'll be of marriageable age next year, why are you still acting like a child, trying to take your mother away? Nobody's going to fight you for her."
That's hard to say. Besides, Song Jin's eyes darkened. What do these people know?
Thinking about the upcoming Gu practice, she lost her energy and said listlessly, "Get to the point if you have something to say, otherwise goodbye."
Yang Yanjun's lips twitched: "What an unlikable girl. Anyway, seriously, we're going to the horse farm outside the east gate of the city. I heard there's a handsome painter there recently, let's go check it out."
A sense of foreboding rose in Song Jin's heart: "What handsome painter?"
"Isn't the horse racing festival coming up soon? There are a lot more horses at the racetrack, and they need to be registered. That painter is in charge of registering the horses. I heard he's an excellent painter, his paintings are incredibly lifelike, and some people even pay a hundred taels for a painting." Yang Yanjun said, winking and lowering her voice.
"Of course, the most important thing is his looks. It's said that he's in no way inferior to His Highness Prince Qi. You've met His Highness, so you should know that, right? These past few days, quite a few city girls have gone over there to see him, and who knows, they might bring him back to their residences."
Song Jin felt an indescribable irritation and gritted her teeth: "Is that so? Attracting attention, doesn't sound like a good person."
Yang Yanjun smiled and said, "That's not important. Come on, little sister, let me show you around and broaden your horizons."
Song Jin sneered. She had originally intended to let her go if she wanted, but then she thought of her mother.
Her expression shifted, and after a long while, she finally made up her mind, gritting her teeth and letting out a sound.
"wait for me"
As she spoke, she hurriedly ran back.
Yang Yanjun stood there, arms crossed, and nudged Cheng Siyi beside her with her shoulder, teasingly saying, "See? I told you, no young girl can resist the allure of beauty."
Cheng Siyi was speechless: "Don't lead bad girls astray."
This person was initially bewitched by the Marquis of Xuanping's face; otherwise, he wouldn't have so readily fallen for him after only a brief glimpse of something amiss before the marriage.
As it turns out, prodigal sons do indeed return home, but encountering one is like having one's ancestors' graves emitting auspicious smoke—most people don't have that kind of luck.
Having just emerged from the pit, Yang Yanjun naturally had no intention of crawling back in. She simply smiled and said, "I heard that His Majesty gifted the horse farm at the East Gate to Prince Qi, and he's been going there frequently these past few days."
The two grew up together and knew each other very well. As soon as Yang Yanjun spoke, Cheng Siyi understood. She frowned.
Yang Yanjun smiled and asked again, "When His Highness Prince Qi returned to the capital, did you see him getting close to any woman?"
Cheng Siyi's mood turned heavy: "It doesn't have to be that bad."
Yang Yanjun raised an eyebrow: "What, do you have other ideas?"
When Prince Qi first returned, many people wished they could gouge their own eyes out, wanting to deny the affair, so naturally no one offered their daughters to him.
Now, more than half a year has passed, the matter is settled, and His Majesty's attitude is too obvious, causing many families to have designs on him.
Yang Yanjun wasn't sure if Cheng Siyi had the same idea, but regardless, she felt it was highly unlikely.
Cheng Siyi didn't answer immediately; she frowned, as if making a difficult decision.
Yang Yanjun felt uneasy, wondering if she had overlooked some details.
Cheng Siyi slowly spoke: "Can two pieces of rotten wood bloom into flowers?"
Yang Yanjun: ...
It seems only her best friend can really do the cursing.
However, Yang Yanjun still thought about it seriously: "Should it be... Mu Er?"
Cheng Siyi said with deep sorrow: "It's poisonous."
Yang Yanjun shrugged: "Just dry them in the sun, soak them in water, and they're good to go. You can store them, eat them, stir-fry them, mix them in salads, boil them, or stew them."
Cheng Siyi pondered: "Retrain them?"
Yang Yanjun put her arm around her shoulder and laughed, "Alright, why think so much? We can't get involved in this. Anyway, we have nothing else to do, so just watching the show is enough."
Cheng Siyi didn't want to talk. This matter was not so simple. It concerned the fate of the country. How could they just stand by and watch?
The collapse of the previous dynasty was precisely because the court officials were inactive from the beginning, watching helplessly as the desolate emperor became more and more chaotic day by day.
Besides, Cheng Siyi glanced at her longtime friend, thinking to herself that she wasn't doing this out of boredom; she was just keeping her company.
Yang Yanjun smiled broadly, took her friend's hand, and stood there affectionately, coaxing her, just like she did many years ago when she was unmarried.
Her life these past few years have been a complete mess; she lost her child and her marriage, but thankfully, she didn't lose her best friend.
...
The two waited at the door for a while.
Song Jin and Niu Tielan came out with their two maids, Xiao Mei and Xiao Er.
Yang Yanjun immediately let go of her friend and warmly approached Niu Tielan, saying, "It's been a day since I last saw you, Sister Lan, you look radiant, even more beautiful than before!"
Niu Tielan laughed: "I think your smooth talk has reached a whole new level."
What else did Yang Yanjun want to say?
Song Jin had already squeezed through, slowly pushing away the annoying person who wanted to take her mother away, and said with a forced smile.
"Weren't you going to see the painter Jun? Stop dawdling, or you might not see him at all. Mom, you'd better give her your opinion later, after all, her taste..."
The single slur "tsk" doesn't cause much harm, but it's extremely insulting.
Yang Yanjun was both annoyed and anxious, afraid that Niu Tielan would think she was too 'licentious,' and was just about to explain that she was joking.
Niu Tielan said softly, "It's definitely worth a look; one should always look forward."
Yang Yanjun's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
She wasn't unaware of the various messy rumors circulating outside, nor was she powerful enough to remain completely indifferent; she simply had no other choice.
She pretended everything was fine, trying to make herself seem less miserable and to prove that her decision to divorce was the right one.
In most people's eyes, it was unreasonable for a Lady of a Marquis to make a fuss over such a "trivial matter" as her son, and to divorce her. However, she had been very patient over the years, and she could even pretend not to know about the man's affairs. The only thing she didn't care about was the child.
This is the only thing she can't tolerate and doesn't want to tolerate anymore.
Yang Yanjun couldn't help but ask, "Does Madam think that my decision to divorce was right or wrong?"
Niu Tielan simply asked, "Are you happy?"
Yang Yanjun nodded firmly.
How could she not be happy? She hadn't been this happy in years.
Although she was no longer the Lady of the Marquis's household, and half of her dowry had been given away, it was more than enough for her to live comfortably. She no longer had to worry about the mess left by the Marquis's mansion, nor did she have to deal with that wretched old woman.
She can sleep until noon, run outside the city to play, and go see handsome men. How could she not be happy?
Niu Tielan softened her gaze, looking at her like she was looking at her own child, and said gently, "Since you're happy, what's there to doubt? We only live once; if we don't seek happiness, why should we suffer? Silly girl, once you've made up your mind, don't think about it anymore. Let's go watch the horse races. The countryside is spacious; a walk there will lift our spirits."
Yang Yanjun held her hand and whispered, "My mother passed away early, and I don't remember what she looked like very clearly, but I think if she were still here, she would probably look like you, Sister Lan."
Her father treated her well, but he was a man after all, and there were many things he couldn't think of or understand, especially since her stepmother was in charge of the household.
Although nothing major happened during her divorce and return home, she still suffered some grievances. Whenever this happened, she would think, "If only my mother were still here."
Her mother will surely know her suffering and comfort her weary soul.
Seeing her like this, Niu Tielan's heart softened a little, and he gently patted her head: "Keep moving forward, things will always get better."
Yang Yanjun: "Sister Lan, you're so kind."
...
Watching the two of them display such a tender 'mother-daughter' relationship, Song Jin stood to the side, rolling her eyes and silently repeating in a sarcastic tone.
It's so kind of you
Oh, you're so kind.
Okay, okay, you're all good, except her.
She wanted to see how they would get back together later.
Song Jin gave a soft snort, crossed her arms, slightly raised her phoenix eyes, and a glint flashed in them.
They're obviously up to no good.
Cheng Siyi stood aside, subtly observing Song Jin, pondering her strengths and weaknesses.
No matter how you think or see it, it boils down to two words.
Danger!
She thought she had been careful in her observation, but to Song Jin, it was like being illuminated by a candlelight—very bright.
Song looked back openly, then his gaze shifted: "Aren't you going to teach at the Imperial Academy?"
Cheng Siyi felt a little awkward: "There are so many history books, and we just read from them every day in class. Why don't we assign a task for us to read them together in a few days?"
Song Jin's eyes darted around: "Is there a lot of homework?"
Cheng Siyi replied demurely, "It's alright."
Song Jin's expression instantly changed, and she said with great distress, "A teacher can't be lazy. If you don't assign more homework, how will Prince Qi improve? Do you think you're worthy of His Majesty's trust in you?"
Cheng Siyi: ...
Song Jin said cryptically, "Remember to give Prince Qi more homework, understand?"
Cheng Siyi: "Did you two have a fight?"
This person was at the Imperial College last time trying to "rescue" someone, and now they're just throwing that person into the ocean of knowledge—their change of heart is a bit too fast.
However, this also shows that the two have a good relationship, otherwise she wouldn't have brought it up like that.
Normally, Song Jin wouldn't mind acknowledging their good friendship, but now, she immediately retorted, "How could that be? Who would dare to have a conflict with His Highness Prince Qi? He's a prince, after all!"
Cheng Siyi: ...
Never mind, she really doesn't understand young people.
**
About ten miles east of Yong'an City's east gate lies the horse farm. It's rather small for breeding, unable to produce exceptionally fine horses, so it mainly raises adult horses.
Each horse was a top-quality steed sent from the northern deserts, with some costing five or six hundred taels of silver and others even reaching tens of thousands of taels. The entire horse farm was quite valuable.
And this annual horse racing season is also the busiest time for horse farms, as they buy, sell, and race horses...
With the race day approaching, people train and record their races here every day. Since outsiders aren't restricted from entering, many people come to join the excitement.
When Song Jin and his group arrived, the horse ranch was gradually filling up with people; some were sitting and resting, while others were standing and shouting.
With guards clearing the way, and people watching from afar gradually making way, the group smoothly entered the innermost area.
Inside the racetrack, a black BMW galloped along, kicking up yellow smoke, deftly leaping over barriers of varying heights, speeding across the track like lightning, a truly dazzling sight.
"That's Benlei, the horse racing champion five years ago, who set the highest record and is also the most expensive racehorse in recent years. I wonder if there will be an even more expensive one this year."
Yang Yanjun introduced from the side
Song Jin asked curiously, "How expensive is it?"
Yang Yanjun held up two fingers: "Two hundred taels of gold."
Song Jin: "...They're really rich."
Yang Yanjun echoed, "Indeed, His Majesty is truly generous to Prince Qi. Not only did he give him the horse farm, but he even gave up the Benlei (a type of horse-drawn chariot)."
Song Jin narrowed his eyes: "What do you mean? This horse farm belongs to Prince Qi?"
Yang Yanjun smiled and said, "Yes, it was promised the day General Song returned. Our Prince Qi is definitely the most valuable young man in the capital right now."
Song Jin scoffed, "Even if you brag about him, he won't give you any money. You might as well say Song Laowu is naive and rich; he might even give you some money."
Yang Yanjun: "..."
She meant net worth, not net worth.
Song Laowu was naturally wealthy, but as a businessman, he couldn't enter politics. Even with the Grand Secretary of Song above him and four successful older brothers below him, he wasn't considered an excellent husband in his daughter's eyes.
Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—power always came first.
Prince Qi is currently the most wealthy and powerful unmarried man in the capital.
Yang Yanjun continued with a smile: "Of the four princes in the court, Prince Gong, Prince Jing, and Prince Li have been married for many years. Prince Qi has no one in his harem, and he has also come of age this year. By the end of the year, His Majesty should be choosing a consort for him. I wonder which noble lady will be so fortunate."
Song Jin leaned against the fence. Hearing this, she gripped the fence tighter, feeling a little uncomfortable: "Is that so?"
Yang Yanjun curled the corners of her lips, feeling that her guess was indeed correct. With a penchant for stirring up trouble, she continued fiddling with it.
"Yes, I heard that the princess and Prince Qi have a good relationship. Do you know what kind of person he likes?"
"What Jinjin likes has nothing to do with her."
Niu Tielan turned around, her hair lightly tied up with sandalwood, the loose strands swaying gently in the wind. Her gentle almond-shaped eyes cleared slightly, and her voice was neither warm nor cold.
"She grew up in the countryside and doesn't understand these things, nor does she need to. You don't need to tell her these things."
Her voice wasn't exactly cold or stern, but compared to her usual gentle tone, the difference was quite noticeable.
Yang Yanjun, who had originally wanted to watch the excitement, immediately felt flustered and embarrassed.
Niu Tielan wasn't cold, but she wasn't as warm as before.
Ultimately, her friendliness and gentleness towards them stemmed from her good temper, their kindness, and, most importantly, from personal relationships.
But my daughter is my biological child.
Although Song Jin had a bad temper and was unruly, often embarrassing her, she was a child who had been spoiled little by little.
Niu Tielan didn't like people making fun of her daughter like a monkey. Her expression softened, and she said softly, "Jinjin and I don't understand these things. Let's go take a look over there. Miss Yang and Cheng Xuezheng can keep an eye on things themselves."
As she spoke, she took Song Jin's hand and gently pulled her up, leading her out of the crowd and leaving the noise behind.
The mother and daughter walked slowly along the horse farm.
Song Jin lowered her head, looking absentmindedly ahead, her foot raised high before taking a small step.
Heavy, thumping
Niu Tielan turned her head to look at Song Jin's appearance, feeling both heartache and worry, but also a sense of pleasure.
She gently raised her hand to smooth her daughter's hair over her shoulder, then lightly stroked the gloom on her face, and chuckled, "Our Jinjin has grown up."
Song Jin pouted, comparing her own head to Niu Tielan's: "I've been grown up for a long time, Mother, you're only just realizing it?"
A tender look spread across Niu Tielan's eyes: "Yes, I just realized."
Song Jin felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze and pouted, "Mother, you're so strange."
Niu Tielan laughed: "Is it strange?"
Niu Tielan only hoped that her daughter could live a simple and happy life, but this possibility was destined to remain just that—a possibility—from the moment they stepped into the capital.
So now she hopes she's happy.
In this life, it's wonderful to be happy for a lifetime, but it's not bad to be happy for even a short time.
Like her, if given another chance, she would still make the same choice that year.
Like Yang Yanjun, even in her current disheveled state, Niu Tielan believes her past happiness was real, and there's no need for regret; she should just move on.
No matter how much you think about it, life is just two major paths: birth and death. Everything else is trivial.
Niu Tielan gently patted Song Jin's head, her eyes tender: "I think you're the strange one. You suddenly became unhappy. What's wrong? Don't you want Prince Qi to choose a consort?"
"How could that be? What does it matter to me whether he chooses a concubine or not?" Song Jin raised her chin, snorted, and said indignantly.
"Exactly! Why can he choose his concubines, one, two, countless wives, while I can only choose one? We were both brought back to the capital from the countryside, but his father is the emperor, while my father is an idiot. He has a precious horse worth two hundred taels of gold, while I only have a broken-down mule..."
Song Jin grew angrier the more she thought about it, and kicked the ground, immediately creating a small crater.
Amidst the swirling dust, Niu Tielan's gentle smile gradually faded, leaving him with a blank expression: "Is that so?"
Song Jin argued confidently, "Otherwise what? Mother, don't you think this world is too unfair? How about I find you one, two, three, four, or five sons-in-law in the future? That way, we'll have seven people in our family, no, ten, no, that would require five children, or three sons-in-law... wait, let me look again."
Niu Tielan, unable to bear it any longer, interrupted Song Jin and reached out to grab her ear: "Look at your mother, do you want to die? You little brat who's always climbing on the roof and tearing off tiles..."
Song Jin wasn't going to stand there and let her clean up her mess. She had already prepared to escape. With a twist of her waist and a drop of her head, she darted away, turning to make a face at Niu Tielan.
Niu Tielan gritted her teeth and chased after her: "Song Jinjin, you stop right there! I'll teach you a lesson today!"
Song Jin stuck out her tongue and started hopping around again.
The mother and daughter chased each other across the vast horse ranch, their bright smiles shining as they played.
Although the road ahead is unknown, the feeling of being able to run freely is wonderful!
Niu Tielan hadn't run this hard in many years; it felt like he was back in those days of fleeing through the mountains and forests.
But back then, she was giving her all for an unknown freedom; now, she's giving her all because of freedom and happiness.
Running and stopping intermittently, Niu Tielan circled the entire horse ranch. Finally, completely exhausted, he found a patch of grass, sat down, wiped the sweat from his brow, and gasped for breath.
Song Jin, as if nothing had happened, leisurely walked over and squatted down, her phoenix eyes bright and her smile radiant.
Niu Tielan wanted to curse, but when the person was actually in front of her, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She raised her slender hand heavily, then gently lowered it, and flicked her forehead.
"Little Rascal"
Song Jin grinned, showing her white teeth and bright eyes, and stretched out her hand as well: "Mom, come on, I'll teach you how to ride a horse."
Niu Tielan was too tired to move, but thinking of the dark horse on the field just now, and the days she spent confined to the girls' playground, she gently grasped it.
"good"
Song Jin grinned, grabbed the person, and pulled her towards the front of the horse farm.
This was a scene she never dared to imagine before.
In a daze, Song Jin heard Niu Tielan's gentle voice.
"Mom will support whatever Jinjin wants to do."
The smile on Song Jin's lips deepened slightly. She didn't speak, but led her entourage to the horse enclosure at the horse farm, her expression full of conviction.
"Mom, take a look and see which horse you like. Pick whichever you like. I'll teach you how to ride it myself in a little while, and then we can ride back home."
Niu Tielan was exhausted, but seeing the rows of tall, magnificent horses of various colors, he quickly suppressed his fatigue with joy.
"Can I...?"
Song Jin grinned and nodded emphatically: "Of course."
Niu Tielan took a deep breath, glancing left and right at the steed ahead. Her face was covered in sweat, her cheeks flushed, and she radiated joy, looking inexplicably younger.
Absolutely adorable
"Is your great joy today because of me?"
From afar, a familiar voice reached my ears again.
Niu Tielan's smile froze on her face. She looked away from the horse and began searching around. Soon, in the innermost corner, she spotted a slightly familiar profile.
Dressed in white, he sat upright at the table, his wrist twisting as he wielded his brush with a powerful yet scholarly air.
Upon closer inspection, one would notice various noble ladies subtly surrounding him, whispering amongst themselves, their gazes either overtly or covertly fixed on him.
What a beautiful and charming female painter!
Niu Tielan's smile gradually faded. She looked up at Song Jin, who was still grinning foolishly beside her, her face expressionless, and reached out to grab her ear.
"Is this all the fun stuff you wanted to show me?"
Completely forgetting about it, Song Jin, utterly amused, thought: ...
Ah, ha, haha
Didn't you just say you'd listen to her?
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