Su Jinxiu's words were like a pebble thrown into a still lake, stirring up ripples in everyone's hearts.
To paint a portrait?
This suggestion is absolutely brilliant!
Playing the zither is ultimately an art of hearing; once the music ends and the audience disperses, the lingering charm may fade. But a painting is different; it is a tangible object that can be hung, treasured, and admired by the world for a long time.
If Consort Xian were to paint a portrait of the Emperor and Empress today, the painting would surely become a celebrated story. The painting itself would also serve as an eternal testament to Consort Xian's talent and the Emperor's favor.
More importantly, painting is not like playing the zither; it takes a considerable amount of time. Once His Majesty agrees, both the Emperor and Empress will have to stay here for at least an hour, becoming Su Jinxiu's sole "model." This is not only an honor, but also a silent declaration—she has the power to make the Emperor linger for her.
In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on Xiao Che again, with even greater anticipation than before.
Alarm bells rang in Lin Wanwan's mind.
She knew Su Jinxiu's scheme all too well. This woman was calculating, step by step, each move meticulously planned. First, she captivated everyone with her music, then solidified her favor with her paintings. This series of moves was bound to create a huge uproar in the palace, firmly establishing her image as a "talented woman," and even subtly giving her the potential to overshadow her as the Empress.
She absolutely cannot let her succeed!
But... what can we do?
This proposal is perfectly aboveboard and reasonable. As an emperor, it is only natural for Xiao Che to appreciate and accept a request from a talented concubine to showcase her skills. To refuse would seem petty and might even give the impression that the empress is jealous and suppresses her concubines.
This is an open conspiracy, a conspiracy that makes people know it's a trap, yet they have no choice but to jump in.
Lin Wanwan's mind raced, and her gaze once again habitually fell on the top of Xiao Che's head.
Sure enough, the "bullet screen area" has changed dramatically.
The cartoon figure that had been digging its toes into the ground was gone. In its place was a stick figure, bound tightly with countless ropes, unable to move, with two lines of tears on its face.
Above the stick figure's head, a huge, blood-red exclamation mark is flashing wildly.
Next to it was a line of desperate words: "[Help! I don't want to be painted into a specimen and hung on the wall! Someone save me! .gif]"
When Lin Wanwan saw this line of text, she almost burst out laughing again.
Specimen? How could he even think of that!
However, she received the distress signal very clearly.
Since His Majesty has issued the "SoS", she, as the Empress, naturally has no choice but to take responsibility.
Almost the instant she made up her mind, Xiao Che on the field had already made his move. Looking into Su Jinxiu's expectant, watery eyes, he seemed to have already made his decision.
He nodded slightly, his thin lips parted slightly, and he was about to reluctantly agree.
Lin Wanwan's heart was in her throat.
Now!
Just as Xiao Che was about to utter the word "good," a slightly anxious and breathless voice came unexpectedly from the other end of the corridor, precisely interrupting the "artistic exchange" that was about to erupt in the pavilion.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty—!"
Everyone was taken aback and looked in the direction of the sound.
Just then, Lin Wanwan's personal maid, Ruolan, came running up carrying an exquisite food box. When she got closer, she was still a little out of breath, her pretty face full of urgency, and there was even a thin layer of sweat on her forehead.
"Your Highness!" Ruolan curtsied and said quickly, "The egg tarts you asked me to watch over the oven are done! I timed it perfectly, and they taste best right out of the oven. If they're left out any longer, the crust will soften!"
Ruolan spoke these words urgently and loudly, as if the egg tarts were some extremely urgent military matter.
The palace staff around were somewhat bewildered, not understanding how this perfectly good art appreciation session had suddenly jumped to snack time.
Su Jinxiu's perfectly timed shy smile froze slightly on her face. The dreamlike artistic atmosphere she had carefully created was shattered by the sudden, down-to-earth shout of "Egg tart!"
Xiao Che swallowed back the words he was about to say. He looked at Ruolan, then at Lin Wanwan, a barely perceptible hint of relief flashing in his eyes.
Lin Wanwan immediately put on an annoyed expression, as if to say, "Oh dear, I almost forgot the important matter." She lightly slapped her forehead and said reproachfully to Ruolan, "You silly girl, why are you so loud and boisterous? But... you did arrive just in time."
As she spoke, she completely ignored the easel beside her, which was already laid out with drawing paper and ink, exuding an elegant artistic atmosphere, as if it did not exist at all.
She took the food box from Ruolan's hands and opened it with light, quick movements.
With a soft "click," the lid of the food container was lifted.
A rich, domineering, and irresistibly sweet aroma burst forth from the small food box, like an unreasonable "assassin," instantly sweeping across the entire lakeside pavilion!
It was a complex aroma, a blend of rich milky fragrance, sweet egg and milk flavors, and the caramelized aroma of buttery pastry baked at high temperatures. Within the aroma was a hint of the slightly bitter sweetness characteristic of caramel, creating a rich and highly potent fragrance.
This scent was completely different from the cool, refreshing ink fragrance, the melodious strains of the zither, and the elegant orchid fragrance emanating from Su Jinxiu in the pavilion.
If Su Jinxiu's creation is a traditional Chinese ink painting that requires quiet contemplation and careful appreciation, then the fragrance brought by Lin Wanwan is a Western oil painting with intense colors and a strong impact, directly assaulting the sense of smell and appetite of everyone present in the most primitive and direct way.
Everyone present, whether palace maids or eunuchs, involuntarily took a deep breath, their throats bobbing unconsciously.
Even Su Jinxiu's expression changed slightly upon smelling this aroma.
Lin Wanwan watched everyone's reactions with satisfaction, and personally took out the plate of freshly baked "culprit" from the food box.
On a white porcelain plate, six small and exquisite Portuguese egg tarts were neatly arranged. Their crusts were an enticing golden yellow, with distinct layers, and looked incredibly crisp. The custard filling inside was baked to a tender yellow and chewy texture, with a few beautiful dark brown caramel spots on the surface, and it was emitting a slight warmth.
The presentation and aroma were simply the ultimate test of one's willpower.
Lin Wanwan, carrying the plate of "weapons of mass destruction," didn't even glance at Su Jinxiu before walking straight to Xiao Che.
Her face held a hint of pride, a touch of expectant boasting, and a hint of the affectionate coquettishness unique to wives. Her voice was also several degrees sweeter than usual.
"Your Majesty, please try it! Please try it!"
She pushed the plate towards him again, like a child eager to show off their treasure.
"This is a new flavor that I researched for a long time before I finally created it. It's called... Portuguese egg tart! You see, the crust has to be flaky and crispy, and the filling has to be smooth and tender. The cooking time has to be just right!" She introduced it like a treasure, her tone full of pride. "Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, I guarantee you'll love it!"
These words and this demeanor completely shattered the polite yet distant atmosphere between the emperor and his concubines, bringing everything back to the warmest and most ordinary daily life.
The original cool fragrance of ink and the distant sound of the zither in the pavilion have been completely washed away by the rich and domineering aroma of egg tarts.
The air was filled with a mouthwatering sweet aroma.
Su Jinxiu stood aside, watching the intimate interaction between the Emperor and Empress, oblivious to everyone else. Her fingers, holding the food box, unconsciously tightened, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
Her carefully prepared easel and brushes now stand there all alone, like a joke that no one cares about.
Xiao Che's reaction dealt her an even heavier blow.
The moment that fragrance wafted out, Lin Wanwan keenly noticed that Xiao Che's eyes had changed.
His gaze, which had been politely fixed on the drawing paper, was like iron filings attracted by a giant magnet; with a "whoosh," it was firmly and tightly stuck from the elegant Xuan paper to the plate of golden egg tarts in her hand.
His eyes lit up immediately.
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