Xiao Yang carefully helped his sister arrange the paper and pen, and asked her what she wanted to draw. The brother and sister would occasionally discuss with their heads touching, without any intention of avoiding suspicion.
In fact, Xiao Yang was more concerned about how his sister was doing during her time in Fengxiang Palace, but he also knew that the palace was not a place to discuss such topics, so he could only keep his words in his heart and ask her after leaving the palace.
Everything was ready. Just as Xiao Yao picked up her brush and began to sketch the outline, the Emperor, Prince Jing, and the Crown Prince quietly arrived. Seeing Xiao Yao intently painting, the Emperor gently gestured for everyone to excuse themselves. He then stepped aside, stepped onto the dais, and stood behind Xiao Yao, watching her calmly and confidently paint.
The girl looked young, but her features were unclear due to her constantly lowered head. Her eyelashes drooped, trembling slightly like a small fan; her skin was smooth, with no pores or blemishes visible even in the sunlight; her lips were a rosy pink, like two pink petals, perfectly fitted together.
Xiao Yao's painting was of a corner of the Imperial Garden, featuring a pavilion, green trees, and a cluster of playfully peeping peepers. Because she still had to match the number plates, and the five performers King Qi had mentioned hadn't appeared yet, Xiao Yao kept the layout of the painting relatively simple. It took her about a quarter of an hour to complete the painting, then she put down her brush, bowed slightly to Tang Hao, and said, "Young Master Tang, it's your turn now."
"Then I'll show you my ugly side." Tang Hao didn't choose another brush, but picked up the one Xiao Yao had just put down, and wrote a poem he had prepared long ago, "Ode to Peony", next to Xiao Yao's painting.
"Brother Xuan, do you think they are a perfect match?" The emperor's eyes moved back and forth between Xiao Yao and Tang Hao. The more he looked, the more he felt that they were a perfect match. If only Old Master Xiao were here, he could ask his opinion and grant their marriage on the spot.
"Royal brother, please stop messing around with couples." Your nephew's face has turned as red as the bottom of a pot, don't you notice it at all? King Jing felt that things were getting more and more chaotic.
"If Xiao Twelve and the others weren't too young, how could I consider outsiders!" His sons were too old to be able to find one of the same age, otherwise the most beautiful woman in Kyoto would definitely be from the Yun family.
"Don't forget, your nephew's surname is also Yun!" King Jing whispered slowly in his brother's ear. It seemed necessary to reveal some information to his brother. There was no progress on his other son's side, and it would be a big deal if his brother arranged a marriage for Xiao Yao.
"You...you...why didn't you say so earlier." The emperor searched the crowd and saw his nephew staring at the stage with a sullen face. His expression was as gloomy as it could be.
"It's not too late now. As long as you hold your ground and stabilize the Xiao family, let him handle the rest. There's no such thing as winning a beautiful woman without any effort." King Jing found that Xiao Yao could keep a certain distance from other men, but this intimate behavior of holding her brother's arm in public and whispering from time to time was not appropriate! Have you two considered my son's feelings?
"Xiaoqi, Achen, come here." The emperor decided to help his nephew.
"Ah! Your Majesty, Prince Jing, when did you arrive?" Xiao Yao looked up and down in surprise at the people who had just come on stage. Did they just drop from the sky? Otherwise, how could she not have noticed them?
"Why don't you go and see the emperor and the prince?" Xiao Yang took Xiao Yao's hand, and they knelt at the emperor's feet together, shouting "Long live the emperor" three times.
The people below also quickly stood up and knelt, and at once a large group of people knelt down.
"Get up quickly!" The emperor raised his hand with a smile. He was in a good mood today because he finally knew the weakness of Achen. He now looked at Xiao Yao as if she were his niece-in-law, loving and gentle.
Xiao Yang stood up first, then slowly pulled his sister up, not forgetting to brush off the non-existent dust on her knees and straighten her skirt.
"Huh" Yun Yichen turned his head to the side. What he hoped most now was that his uncle the emperor would issue an order to send all the men of the Xiao family far away, so that they could not return to Kyoto within ten or eight years. This group of people was simply an eyesore.
"Xiao Qi, do you have a reward and punishment system for this competition?" The emperor saw the intimate interaction between the Xiao brothers and sisters, and had enough of his nephew's depressed expression, so he asked his son happily.
"Yes, the top three will receive prizes, and the bottom three will be punished. The prizes will be paid by Prince Qi's Mansion, and the punishments will be decided by the top three. The first place winner will be responsible for punishing the last place winner, and so on." Prince Qi answered respectfully.
"Not bad, very innovative. Who came up with this idea?"
"It's Brother Chen."
"Achen, what reward do you want?"
I want all the men in the Xiao family to leave the capital. Will you agree? Yun Yichen couldn't help but look at Xiao Yao again. He saw that the brother and sister were standing aside with Tang Hao and were already chatting in a low voice. This little girl was much nicer to the Tang family than to herself.
If his brother hadn't told him, he wouldn't have noticed. But after the window paper was broken, the emperor also noticed that his nephew's eyes, which always drifted towards the girl from the Xiao family intentionally or unintentionally, were very different. In the past, this kid had never taken any girl seriously, but now when he looked at the girl from the Xiao family, he would look at her as much as he could.
"Nephew, I don't want your reward. There are still people who haven't performed yet! Let's go to another place to talk." Separate the three people quickly. It's really frustrating to watch.
"Miss Xiao, what reward do you want if you win?" You little bastard, you are so impatient to deal with your uncle. I refuse to leave and want to talk to the little girl. If you are willing, just leave the platform!
"As long as I'm not punished, I'll be content. I don't dare to think about any prizes." Xiao Yao shook her head. Her painting was just a way to get by. If she didn't show off, she would be surrounded by enemies! If she showed off too much, she would be furious!
"You and Achen have the same idea." The emperor avoided his nephew's surprised look and said to Xiao Yao with a smile.
"Your Highness, you are deeply concerned and reluctant to accept your prize. I, a humble servant, know my talents are limited, and my little tricks are already a burden to Master Tang. I dare not even dream of a reward." Your Majesty, could you please not put me in such a difficult position? Have I offended you in any way? Tell me, and I will change.
"If you draw a good picture, I'll let you go to the palace treasury and choose any prize you want."
"Whatever you like, how casual is that?" Xiao Yao asked, her eyes sparkling.
The emperor couldn't help laughing out loud when he saw Xiao Yao's eyes suddenly sparkling. This child is genuine and unpretentious, and is a perfect match for Achen.
"Why don't you set a limit? Otherwise I will keep lingering in your treasury and refuse to come out." The things in the emperor's treasury must be treasures. What should I do if I can't let go of every piece?
"Your painting skills are quite good, so go and choose a painting! Someone, please move Miss Xiao's desk to the side. You can continue with your performance. Miss Xiao, just hand in a painting that satisfies me before all the performances are finished. Any objections?"
"No, I just don't know if you want me to redraw it or rework the original painting!"
"Redraw it!" Give the little girl some space to express herself freely and see how good her painting skills are.
"Father, there are some pigments from overseas in the palace. Our painters don't know how to use them. How about giving them to my junior sister?" Prince Qi sought his opinion as he helped the emperor down from the platform.
"She can use it?" the emperor asked in surprise.
"Yes, I have seen her paintings with colors, but the paint wasn't very good."
"Hurry up and get someone to get it." I didn't expect the little girl to be so capable. She even knew how to use things that the palace painters couldn't. Did Achen pick up a treasure?
The game was going on in an orderly manner. Xiao Yao thought about the content and the palace maid brought the paint. After asking about the situation, she smiled and bowed in the direction of the emperor and Prince Qi, then busied herself with mixing the colors and devoted herself to painting.
Xiao Yang and Tang Hao were also driven off the platform by the emperor. Since the girl was identified as the daughter-in-law of the Yun family, she should keep her distance from others!
Then two more couples came on stage to perform, and then King Qi announced, "Numbers 3, 6, 9, 36, and 38 will perform individually."
"My name is Xiao Yuan. I'm going to perform a magic trick for you today." Xiao Yuan took out a small deck of cards from his purse.
Xiao Yao was filled with admiration for her younger sister. "You brought this thing with you into the palace? Did you foresee the performance?" she asked. "How prescient!"
"Sister, I have foresight, don't I? Third brother, come and help me." Xiao Yuan gave orders to the new runner-up without any hesitation.
Shouldn't I have come today? Xiao Yang stood up and prepared to serve Miss Xiao Er.
"Let me do it. What's the point of you performing a show as a family? What if you cheat? I am the most fair and just. I guarantee that no one has any objections." Kong Xuzhe finally figured out the relationship between the No. 1 beauty, the Xiao family, Xiao Si, and the girl who spoke particularly nicely.
Hearing that Xiao Yuan was the girl who had just made fun of Prince Jing, and seeing her take out a gadget he had never seen before, Kong Xuzhe became very interested. Before Xiao Yang could take a step, he took two steps at a time and almost ran up to the platform.
"What are you doing here?" Xiao Yuan still remembered who this person was. He had even beaten him up!
"Help!" Kong Xuzhe thought that this prince was very popular among other women, so why did the little girl ignore him? She was even standing on tiptoe waiting for the Xiao family to come up and help, as if she was just a passerby.
"I have to help you with this today." Kong Xuzhe rolled up his sleeves and walked to Xiao Yuan.
"You stingy man, I just hit you. It wasn't intentional. If you feel you've been wronged, go and beat up my fourth brother. I originally prepared that sandbag for him." Xiao Yuan stepped back a distance and said with his hands covering his face.
"You were the one who threw that sandbag." Kong Xuzhe circled around Xiao Yuan several times and finally found the culprit today.
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