"Mrs. Cao, please come in. How come you have time to come here today?" Xia Tian saw Mrs. Cao coming in with something and greeted her warmly.
She hadn't seen Mrs. Cao for a while. She heard that she was looking for a boyfriend for her daughter. How could she have time to visit?
"Mrs. Shen, you are so lucky. Lord Shen even takes you with him when he goes out to relax. Unlike my master, he is rarely seen all day long." Mrs. Cao sat down and teased.
"Madam Cao, you're joking." Xia Tian said politely, "I can't compare to Madam Cao. I grew up in the countryside and I feel uncomfortable staying at home every day."
Madam Cao raised her eyebrows slightly, "Madam Shen, don't belittle yourself. We can't even envy someone like you."
When they first arrived, they might have felt a sense of superiority as ladies from wealthy families, thinking that they were much superior to Mrs. Shen in both family background and knowledge.
But ever since I received the news from the capital, I knew that this Madam Shen was no ordinary person.
His superb painting skills even impressed the emperor, who not only appointed him as a royal painter, but also as a teacher to the crown prince and other princes and princesses.
When cholera broke out in the capital, he helped the emperor control the plague. Not only was he brave and resourceful, but he also had the interests of his country and family in mind.
It was she who proposed the idea of building kangs for the people in Linzhou.
As for these things, how can they, the ladies in seclusion, compare?
She also recognized Prime Minister Xu and his wife as her godfather and godmother.
Even his origin, which has always been criticized, is no longer questioned by anyone.
"Madam Cao, have some tea." Xia Tian offered her hand and said with a smile, "Let's stop flattering each other. I see you brought something here. What's going on?"
Madam Cao pursed her lips and smiled, "I like Madam Shen's straightforwardness. Of course, I have something to ask of you!"
"Mrs. Cao, please speak."
"Hey! I was just looking for a portrait for my daughter a while ago! I heard that Mrs. Shen's portraits are the most realistic, so I wanted to draw a portrait for my daughter as a souvenir. I wonder if Mrs. Shen would be willing?"
Xia Tian opened her eyes slightly. The news that she could draw portraits had actually spread to Linzhou?
However, considering Mrs. Cao's identity, it is not surprising. In the officialdom, how can one not know oneself and the enemy?
I guess their identities have been clearly investigated long ago.
As for the portrait, there was no problem at all. As long as the money was in place, she didn't care.
"Of course no problem." Xia Tian agreed.
Seeing that she agreed, Madam Cao quickly took out the banknote from her sleeve pocket and said, “Madam Shen, this is the painting fee. We all know your rules.”
Xia Tian didn't hesitate and took it directly, "Mrs. Cao is so straightforward, so I won't be polite."
Xia Tian took the silver bills and counted them. There were a total of five thousand taels. However, she did not take so much. She counted out two thousand taels and returned the rest to Mrs. Cao.
"Mrs. Cao, I'll accept the painting fee. Since we are acquaintances, I'll charge you the price we pay you based on our acquaintances." Xia Tian said with a smile.
Seeing that she was not embarrassed at all, Madam Cao also smiled, "Madam Shen is more straightforward, so I won't be hypocritical. It seems that being on good terms with Madam Shen is very beneficial. Look, I saved so much money."
Mrs. Cao laughed and put the banknote away.
Since Madam Shen was so happy to do so, she just accepted it. Now they can become closer!
The two chatted and laughed for a while. Mrs. Cao asked her how her trip was over the past ten days, and Xia Tian said a few words casually.
Mrs. Cao didn't stay for long and agreed to go to her house when Xia Tian was free in the next two days.
After all, if I want to paint a portrait of my daughter, I still have to meet her in person.
The next day, Xia Tian went to Cao's house.
Mrs. Cao's daughter is fourteen years old this year. She looks gentle and kind. When the little girl smiles, she has two dimples, which makes her very beautiful.
She did not ask Madam Cao which boy she had taken a fancy to. She sat for a while and then returned home.
Since I have nothing to do, I might as well set up the drawing board and prepare to paint the portrait.
She also wrote down the scenes along the way and planned to draw them slowly when she had time.
Two days later, Yang Yiyi came to the door.
"Yiyi, why are you here?" Xia Tian asked pretending to know nothing.
This time, only Yang Yiyi came with a maid, Cui Bijun did not come.
"Cousin, I'm bored at home, so I wanted to ask you to come and play." Yang Yiyi didn't dare to look at her.
Her maidservant beside her was also a little nervous.
"I'm sorry, Yiyi, I'm a little busy lately and don't have time to play with you. You should go play with your cousins!" Xia Tian didn't want to deal with her, so he said directly.
Yang Yiyi's face flushed, "Cousin, I, I..."
He was speechless for a long time.
Xia Tian really didn't have time. She had been busy painting a portrait of Mrs. Cao's daughter these two days. She was in the middle of painting and really didn't want to be disturbed.
"Yiyi, if you have nothing to do, go back first. I'll talk to you when I'm done and free."
Seeing that her cousin-in-law spoke so directly, Yang Yiyi's face turned a little ugly. She stammered for a long time, but in the end she didn't say the purpose of her visit.
He stood up and said, "Then I'm going back."
Without waiting for Xia Tian to react, he left in a hurry.
When her maid saw her mistress leaving, she hurriedly followed her out.
Xia Tian asked Ningxiang to go with him to see him off, and he went back to the study to continue painting.
Here, Yang Yiyi walked out of the door, and before she even got on the carriage, tears started to flow uncontrollably.
The little maid who followed out saw her young lady crying, and she became a little panicked, and quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
While softly comforting, "Don't be sad, Miss, maybe your cousin is really busy!"
Yang Yiyi looked at the people coming and going on the street, and it was not appropriate for her to stand at the door and cry, so she first held the maid's hand and got into the carriage.
"She's not busy at all, it's obvious that she just doesn't like me being around." Yang Yiyi complained while crying.
She has grown up and no one has ever chased her away.
I'm so embarrassed today.
Thinking about the purpose of my coming here, I wanted to get close to my cousin's wife, and if I was lucky, I might even meet my cousin.
Who knew that this cousin's wife was so unsociable and told her to go home right in front of her.
No detours at all.
The little maid didn't know how to comfort her.
Just wipe her tears silently!
"Xiao Rou, do you think she discovered something?" Yang Yiyi remembered the look Xia Tian gave her and asked her maid uncertainly.
"Miss, I don't know either." Xiaorou was a little nervous in the room just now. It was mainly because she knew what her young lady was thinking and was always afraid that others would see through it, so she was a little worried.
I don’t know if my cousin’s wife noticed anything!
Yang Yiyi cried for a while, then felt a little unwilling to give up after finally leaving the house without seeing anyone, so she simply ordered the coachman, "Let's go to the Governor's Office!"
She wants to go find her cousin in person!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
