I want this painting.
After a long silence, Jiang Jingshu finally spoke, "Thank you."
She couldn't stay at Zhou Mingyuan's residence forever. Zhou Mingyuan didn't owe her anything, and these things had nothing to do with him.
She can't be so selfish.
She said goodbye to Zhou Mingyuan and told him that she wanted to return to the palace.
No matter how difficult life in the palace may be, she will go back.
Her nanny is still here.
Before leaving, Zhou Mingyuan said, "Your Highness, I will always be here."
Jiang Jingshu returned to the palace and went back to her own courtyard, which was kept neat and tidy, free of weeds, rats, and cockroaches.
Everything here is exactly the same as it was before Jiang Jingshu left.
She rushed inside, where the old woman was embroidering a sachet.
Jiang Jingshu's eyes stung a little. The old woman seemed to sense someone coming in. She looked up and saw Jiang Jingshu standing in front of her.
She rubbed her eyes, a little unsure if she was sure.
Jiang Jingshu quickly went over and took her hand, "It's me."
"Your Highness." Only now did the old woman truly feel that the person she had been longing for had come before her. "Your Highness, are you feeling better? You've returned from the Zhou residence?"
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Jiang Jingshu helped the elderly man up. “How are you doing?”
"This old servant is fine, Your Highness, please don't worry. The Zhou family has sent people to settle me here, and they send people to bring me food every day."
Jiang Jingshu didn't know how to repay Zhou Mingyuan. She held the old woman's hand, and all her longing surged forth. She had finally seen her family again.
"After you wake up, shouldn't you go and pay your respects to your father, the Emperor?"
Jiang Jingshu nodded.
Her biggest regret was that she couldn't say one last thing to Jiang Yuan before she left.
She was also about to go see her real father, the emperor.
Jiang Jingshu was nervous. She gripped the handkerchief tightly in her hand as she walked step by step toward the Imperial Study.
Two maids followed behind her.
She hadn't seen the palace scenery in a long time. She stood at the entrance of the Imperial Study, waiting for Emperor Yongning's instructions.
It'll be here soon.
Soon she will be able to see her father, the emperor.
The emperor she admired, yet also resented.
Emperor Yongning summoned her inside.
She walked forward step by step and knelt down properly on the ground. "Jing Shu has come to pay her respects to Father Emperor."
With the emperor's imposing presence, Jiang Jingshu dared not look him in the eye.
Emperor Yongning waved his hand at him, signaling Jiang Jingshu to get up.
She stood up properly, and only then did she notice Emperor Yongning.
At this moment, what overlapped in Jiang Jingshu's mind was Jiang Yuan's face in modern society.
It was colder than that face.
Jiang Jingshu knew that the name of that look was—indifference.
"How is your health?" Emperor Yongning asked.
"Father, Jing Shu is feeling much better," Jiang Jing Shu replied.
"It's much better now. If there's anything lacking in the palace's food, clothing, or daily necessities, go and tell the Empress to provide it for you." Emperor Yongning was still reviewing memorials with his head down, not looking up at Jiang Jingshu.
Jiang Jingshu responded silently.
As if suddenly remembering something, Emperor Yongning spoke again, "Now that you're awake, it's time to set a wedding date with Mingyuan."
"Father," Jiang Jingshu looked up at Emperor Yongning before her, "Jingshu wishes to postpone things for a while, is that alright?"
"You don't need to worry about this. I will choose an auspicious day for you."
After Emperor Yongning finished speaking, he dismissed Jiang Jingshu.
Jiang Jingshu had no choice but to return to the palace. She suddenly regretted it, thinking that perhaps faking her death would have been the best solution.
Jiang Jingshu lowered her head. The greatest gain from modern life was that she could clearly feel what love is.
The sudden awakening of his daughter, who had been in a coma for a long time, was not a very important matter in Emperor Yongning's eyes.
She didn't even see a hint of joy in Emperor Yongning's eyes.
She knew that her father did not love her.
It was the same face that had once given her fatherly love and tenderness.
Jiang Jingshu then made her decision, and she secretly sent a letter to Zhou Mingyuan.
The next day, Zhou Mingyuan entered the palace.
Jiang Jingshu waited for him by the pavilion. When she saw him, she quickly stood up. Zhou Mingyuan bowed as usual, "Your Highness."
As always, polite and courteous.
This felt strangely familiar to Jiang Jingshu. Her mind went blank for a moment, and she tentatively asked, "Are you...?"
"Your Highness, what brings you to me?" Zhou Mingyuan interrupted Jiang Jingshu for the first time. "Your Highness, do you perhaps wish for me to take you out of the palace?"
"Zhou Mingyuan, I have something to tell you. Would you like to hear it?" Jiang Jingshu stared at Zhou Mingyuan. She needed his help; without him, she would find it difficult to move an inch in this deep palace.
“Your Highness, please speak,” Zhou Mingyuan said slowly.
"If I told you that my soul went to another world while I was unconscious, would you believe me?" Jiang Jingshu asked tentatively.
He wasn't sure about Zhou Mingyuan's attitude. After all, this matter was too shocking, and even people in modern society would find it hard to believe.
She observed Zhou Mingyuan's expression and watched his attitude.
Zhou Mingyuan chuckled lightly, "Your Highness, you actually told me about this?"
"To be honest, I have my own selfish motives." Jiang Jingshu lowered her eyes. She needed Zhou Mingyuan's help. She knew Zhou Mingyuan and knew that she had to tell him everything honestly before he would help her.
Just like when they first met, Jiang Jingshu frankly told him that she wanted to become stronger, which is why Zhou Mingyuan spared no effort to help her.
Furthermore, Jiang Jingshu was unwilling to hide the truth from Zhou Mingyuan.
He was her confidant.
Without Zhou Mingyuan, she would have faced immense difficulties and struggled to move an inch within the palace walls.
“Your Highness, you don’t need to say anything more.” Zhou Mingyuan’s eyes were bright. He said, “I’ll help you.”
"You believe it?" Jiang Jingshu asked, somewhat puzzled. Zhou Mingyuan's ability to accept things was too strong. Time travel was such an earth-shattering thing, but Zhou Mingyuan didn't ask any questions and just accepted it calmly.
"Your Highness, you don't need to tell me the reason."
Zhou Mingyuan's voice rang out.
Jiang Jingshu knew that Zhou Mingyuan had agreed to help her.
“But I have a question,” Zhou Mingyuan began, meeting Jiang Jingshu’s questioning gaze. “Do you really want to go back?”
"Where to go?" Jiang Jingshu's suspicions grew stronger.
"Go back to that world."
Why do you think I would go back?
Jiang Jingshu felt she was about to uncover the answer, so she quickly asked, "Zhou Mingyuan, something's wrong with you."
"I guessed."
Hearing Zhou Mingyuan's answer did not put her at ease. She was still puzzled by Zhou Mingyuan's attitude. She then heard Zhou Mingyuan say, "I will personally speak to the Emperor about the marriage."
"You won't marry me?" Jiang Jingshu looked at him in shock.
"I've said before that marrying you is just a temporary measure. The imperial decree hasn't been issued yet, and there's still room for maneuver. If your heart isn't with me, I won't force you."
Zhou Mingyuan said slowly, "Rather than marrying me, I hope you will marry someone you truly love."
Jiang Jingshu lowered her eyes; she would never marry anyone in her life.
The person she wants to marry is a thousand years in the future; she may never have the chance to meet him again in this lifetime.
"Thank you," she said.
"What do I need to do?" Zhou Mingyuan asked her.
“I need you to take me out of the palace. I want to make money,” Jiang Jingshu said while observing Zhou Mingyuan’s expression.
For a woman to show her face in public to do business is considered outrageous and immoral in this world.
“Okay,” Zhou Mingyuan said. “I will come to pick you up every half month.” Zhou Mingyuan opened his mouth, but did not say anything. In the end, he hesitated and waved his hand, leaving the palace.
Jiang Jingshu returned to her bedchamber. She took out all the paintings she had drawn before and painted many more by lamplight.
In modern society, she can make a living by writing commissioned articles, and she believes she still can.
Her painting skills were superb, and her target audience was the young men and women from wealthy families who appreciated famous paintings.
She wanted to earn enough to cover her nanny's expenses for the rest of her life.
Then, she had to find a way to get back. Thinking of the pond in the Imperial Garden, she suddenly smiled.
Xie Zhijin, once I've made enough money, I'll take a gamble.
If I win the bet, I can go there to find you again.
If you lose the bet...
Jiang Jingshu shook her head; she wouldn't lose.
Just as Xie Zhijin said, since fate brought her together with Xie Zhijin, the only possible ending for the two of them could be a happy one.
This encounter will definitely be meaningful.
She fought off sleepiness and painted many works. In her hazy state of consciousness, she felt someone standing behind her.
She felt a touch on the top of her head, but Jiang Jingshu didn't have the strength to open her eyes.
Jiang Jingshu struggled to open her eyes, but she could feel the person beside her gently comforting her. She couldn't move.
She wanted the person behind her to say something.
The person beside her seemed to have been with her for a long time, and Jiang Jingshu seemed to hear a faint sound.
He said, "Wait a little longer."
The next day, Jiang Jingshu woke up feeling a little dizzy. Her nanny brought in breakfast, and after eating a few bites, she left the palace with Zhou Mingyuan.
When it comes to trading famous paintings, Jiang Jingshu's first thought is the Zhumo Tower, the largest exchange in Yongning Kingdom.
Jiang Jingshu had heard a bit about this place in the palace; many literati and scholars liked to linger here. When Jiang Jingshu arrived, she found a seat and sat down.
Jiang Jingshu wore a veil, revealing only her eyes. She borrowed a trusted confidante from Zhou Mingyuan, named Ayu.
She had Ayu pretend to be a customer and come to buy her paintings.
"Brother, I find your painting to be very pleasing to my eye. Would you sell it for fifty taels?"
Jiang Jingshu looked up and said, word by word, "Not for sale."
"You won't even sell it for fifty taels?"
"Not for sale," Jiang Jingshu remained resolute.
"Then tell me, how much silver will it cost for you to sell it?" Ayu asked.
Jiang Jingshu extended her slender fingers and gestured lightly, her thin lips parting slightly, "Three hundred taels?"
"Are you crazy?" Ayu deliberately made a noise. "You're selling this painting for three hundred taels? Brother, aren't you breaking the rules?"
"I don't understand rules and regulations," Jiang Jingshu chuckled. "My paintings are only sold to those who know their value."
"You dare say I don't know its value?" Ayu picked up the cup and smashed it on the ground. "Gentlemen, come and judge for yourselves! This painting is selling for three hundred taels of silver. Just how rare is this painting?!"
Jiang Jingshu remained calm and composed as she sat there.
People around them were drawn to the commotion. A woman walked over and picked up Jiang Jingshu's painting to examine it closely.
"Your painting is quite good." The woman's voice was low as she stared into Jiang Jingshu's eyes.
Jiang Jingshu met the woman's eyes openly and frankly.
"Brother, you look completely unfamiliar."
"This is my first time here today," Jiang Jingshu replied, deliberately lowering her voice.
"You dare to raise prices on your first visit?" The woman chuckled softly, as if she had heard a joke. "Your painting is indeed quite good, and it even seems to have a touch of arrogance. I like it."
"So, young lady, you're going to take my painting?" Jiang Jingshu pointed at the woman's eyes. "My paintings aren't cheap. Think it over carefully."
"I'm not short of money." The woman suddenly bent down and leaned closer to Jiang Jingshu. "Your personality suits my taste. I'll take this painting."
She stared at the paintings on Jiang Jingshu's table. "I want them all."
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