Ah Xiang asked in confusion.
"Manager Chu, have you brought out everything you use and eat at home?"
"They're painting, still life."
"We just opened recently, so I thought I'd let everyone try out the classes for free first. They're paired up in pairs, with one person being the teacher and the other the student, learning to draw," Chu Dunshi explained as he walked over.
"So that's how it is."
Ah Xiang looked like she understood, and then she excitedly asked, "Can I try it out?"
"Of course you can, but all the teachers are already full, and every teacher has students with them."
"Why don't you have a cup of tea and wait a moment? This trial lesson lasts for one hour per round, and it's almost time."
Chu Dunshi glanced at the incense burning in the corner behind him and said with a smile.
Ah Xiang and Chu Dunshi were talking, while Yun Duoduo walked back and forth, watching the painter paint.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw an artist painting a beautiful woman.
Suddenly, the explicit painting of a beautiful woman in Jin Jinzhi's study came to mind, and her good mood vanished.
Seeing Yun Duoduo's embarrassed expression, A Xiang lost all interest in learning to draw.
"Manager Chu, I wish our calligraphy and painting academy a future filled with countless talents!"
After saying this, Ah Xiang put down the congratulatory gift for the opening of the calligraphy and painting academy, and then left with Yun Duoduo.
...
Inside the Zichen Palace, Jin Jinzhi had just finished her breakfast.
"Your Majesty, the Prince of Jibei requests an audience."
Yun Beiye finally had a day off, but unexpectedly, a minister came to report something.
"Oh? There was no morning court session today. Does Jinzhi have something to report?"
Upon hearing that it was Jin Jinzhi, Yun Beiye was not too annoyed. He probably wouldn't have wanted to see any other minister.
"Let him in!"
Zhao Zhongquan lifted the curtain and invited Jin Jinzhi in.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects."
Jin Jinzhi strode in and knelt on the ground.
Yun Beiye was somewhat surprised by his hurried manner, as he rarely saw such an unsteady young man.
Even when he led his troops into battle, he always maintained a calm and composed demeanor.
What's wrong with me today? Why am I acting so strangely?
"Hmm, Jinzhi, what's the matter that's so early in the morning?"
"Don't kneel on the ground, sit down."
Yun Beiye waved his hand, and a little eunuch brought over a soft stool.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Jin Jinzhi almost forgot to bow when he stood up, so he quickly bowed again and sat down on the stool.
Zhao Zhongquan, who was standing to the side, also frowned slightly.
[Prince Jibei, what's wrong with you today? You seem to be in poor spirits.]
Zhao Zhongquan looked at him with deep sympathy.
"Your Majesty, I... I..."
Yun Beiye put down his teacup, stared at Jin Jinzhi, and spat the tea leaves from his mouth back into the cup. "Why are you speaking so haltingly? This isn't like you!"
"I would like to ask, has the Imperial Astronomical Bureau made a decision regarding the wedding date between me and the Ninth Princess?"
Yun Beiye was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Hahaha, so that's what it was about!"
"Look at how impatient you are."
When it came to his daughter's marriage, Yun Beiye stopped putting on airs and acting like an emperor, and spoke to Jin Jinzhi as if they were having a casual chat.
"Judging from your usual composed demeanor, I thought you were preparing to cultivate immortality and renounce worldly desires!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is joking." Jin Jinzhi said somewhat awkwardly.
Zhao Zhongquan couldn't help but cover his mouth and laugh, his pinky finger curled up in a delicate gesture.
"What, you can't hold back after only a few days?"
Jin Jinzhi looked at Yun Beiye with embarrassment. At this moment, the person in front of him seemed not to be the emperor, but his elder.
"The Imperial Observatory set the date long ago, but I haven't had time to tell you yet. It's the fifteenth of next month!"
Jin Jinzhi nodded and clenched her fist. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
I need to hurry and prepare the things for the wedding. I need to go to the Jin residence soon to see my mother and discuss the wedding arrangements.
"Zhao Zhongquan, send someone to inform the princess's residence that the wedding is on the fifteenth of next month, and Duoduo will be leaving the palace to marry!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Oh, right, send someone to the Jin residence to inform them as well."
Jin Xiaoran and Xun Yunge will become Yun Beiye's in-laws in the future.
"Your Majesty, I thank you for your great kindness!"
Jin Jinzhi was very excited. Soon, he would be able to marry Yun Duoduo, and soon, he would be able to be with Yun Duoduo every day.
"How's your investigation into the Jiangning matter going?"
Jin Jinzhi's smile faded, and her expression turned serious.
Seeing that the two had important matters to discuss, Zhao Zhongquan left the Zichen Palace with a stern expression.
...
Yun Duoduo's carriage arrived at the princess's residence soon, and A Xiang helped her down from the carriage.
Yun Duoduo grew angrier the more she thought about it. "Aunt Xiang, do all men like to look at beautiful women?"
Ah Xiang thought for a while, then nodded.
As the two walked into the princess's residence, she whispered in Yun Duoduo's ear, "I heard that Yihong Courtyard and Cuiyu Pavilion have hired special painters to paint portraits of the courtesans and top courtesans in their daily lives."
"It was sold exclusively to high-ranking officials and nobles for their entertainment."
"Moreover, these paintings are extremely rare, and they are priceless!"
Ah Xiang only remembered these rumors she had heard in the capital after watching the painters at the calligraphy and painting academy paint.
【What? ! 】
Yun Duoduo stared at A Xiang in shock, pondering what she had just said.
"Ah, no wonder that woman up there was so alluring; she's the most beautiful courtesan from the brothel, Yihong Courtyard."
[Jin Jinzhi is still eyeing the top courtesan of Yihong Courtyard and the leading lady of Cuiyu Pavilion?!]
Originally, she thought he might be attracted to beautiful women, but she never expected that this woman was actually the top courtesan. Yun Duoduo couldn't stand it anymore, as she could find a real-life counterpart for such a vivid image.
This is absolutely outrageous...
Yun Duoduo clenched her fists. She hadn't even married into the family yet, and Jin Jinzhi was already spending a fortune to buy the most beautiful courtesan's boudoir painting?
No wonder you always wear shabby clothes and don't have money to buy new ones. So that's where all your money goes!
She even kindly made him several sets of clothes.
"Princess, are you feeling unwell?"
Seeing Yun Duoduo's clenched teeth, A Xiang was very worried. She gently placed her hand on Yun Duoduo's forehead, worried that she might have caught a cold because of the cold weather and the recent move, which made it uncomfortable for her to sleep.
"I'm perfectly fine!"
As soon as Yun Duoduo shouted, all the maids and guards in the princess's residence knelt on the ground, pleading for the princess to calm down.
Yun Duoduo didn't even notice the person kneeling on the ground. She turned around and walked out of the princess's residence.
"Aunt Xiang, I need to go to the Prince of Jibei's Mansion!"
"Why is the princess going to the Prince of Jibei's residence? Didn't she just go yesterday or the day before?"
In her haste, Ah Xiang couldn't quite recall when Yun Duoduo had visited the Prince of Jibei's residence, but in her memory, it seemed that the princess often visited Jin Jinzhi's residence.
"Your Highness, something was left there!"
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