After painting all morning, they returned to rest for a moment before it was time for the noon meal.

Yao Huang asked about the painting: “Why does Second Master keep delaying painting my face?”

Last time when painting at the prince’s manor, Prince Hui had spent an entire afternoon painting her garments, the arhat bed, and the surrounding window scenery and furnishings, leaving only her head to continue painting in the evening. After what happened on that arhat bed later, Yao Huang suspected this man was deliberately dragging things out, wearing her down until she was tired and sleepy so he could have his way.

Zhao Sui: “Too many eyes watching.”

With the princess consort standing on the bridge under everyone’s gaze, the few lustful men didn’t dare stare openly at her. But once her features were captured in the painting, these lechers could ogle her beauty under the pretense of admiring the artwork.

Yao Huang considered this carefully and laughed: “Then I truly chose the right dress today.”

Among a full wardrobe of gowns, this set of blue top and white skirt was the least eye-catching. That’s what Yao Huang had thought—having her husband paint her portrait outdoors was already outrageous enough. If her clothes were too bright and colorful, would the gathering neighborhood crowd be there for Prince Hui’s painting or for her? Dressing more plainly so the neighbors would focus their attention on His Highness Prince Hui was Yao Huang’s original intention.

Who knew she’d also accidentally hit upon Prince Hui’s “petty” side.

Zhao Sui ate his meal unhurriedly. Only after the princess consort withdrew her gaze and started eating did he casually glance at the light blue jacket she wore.

Normally the princess consort was as gorgeous as a peony. Today, subdued by the light blue tones, her brilliance was tempered several degrees, adding a serene and gentle clarity like still water.

As the noon meal was ending, Zhao Sui asked: “For the remaining part, when would you like it completed?”

Yao Huang’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she said airily: “The brush is in Second Master’s hand. I simply follow your arrangements.”

Zhao Sui looked out the window. Physician Liao was in the west courtyard, waiting to give him a massage before going to the clinic.

“After the afternoon rest then. Remember to dress the same way.”

Zhao Sui’s fine brushwork was skilled. He could spend one morning—over two hours—painting the nearby stone bridge, long embankment, flowing water, distant houses, crops, and green mountains in complete and lifelike detail that made one feel present in the scene. Yet when it came to depicting the princess consort’s features and expression—such a small area of a face—he actually spent a full half hour or more.

To recreate the princess consort’s expression on the bridge, Prince Hui had her place a chair under the magnolia tree in the back courtyard. The princess consort stood on the chair supporting herself against the magnolia tree with her head slightly lowered, while he sat cross-legged on felt padding spread on the ground over ten paces away, carefully sketching and filling in colors.

The east courtyard’s main gate was bolted from inside, and the two internal doors connecting the front and back courtyards to the west courtyard were also closed, with Qing Ai and Fei Quan respectively standing guard at the west courtyard doors, not allowing anyone—including little Jinbao—to come disturb them.

The courtyard was unusually quiet. By the time Prince Hui finished painting with single-minded focus, Yao Huang’s legs were getting sore.

Jumping down from the chair, Yao Huang ran to the felt padding and sat down next to Prince Hui, then looked at the painting on the rice paper.

She’d already admired the scenery for a long time in the morning. Now Yao Huang mainly looked at herself in the painting. Looking and looking, Yao Huang said softly: “These are clearly my features, so why do they feel unfamiliar?”

Zhao Sui: “You’re always smiling normally. Today you deliberately put on an expression of having worries on your mind.”

When admiring herself in the mirror, she was probably smiling too, so even she wasn’t accustomed to her expression in the painting.

Yao Huang gently pushed him: “Who’s putting on an act? I really did have worries on my mind. With so many people surrounding you then, all talking at once, I was afraid you’d be bothered by the smell of their sweat, and afraid their noise would irritate you, and then in a fit of anger you’d abandon me and make me the laughingstock of the neighbors.”

After hearing the princess consort’s explanation, Zhao Sui looked at his painting again and felt he’d painted her “worries” too heavily—it should have been “restlessness” instead.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll repaint it.”

Yao Huang pressed down on Prince Hui’s hand reaching for the painting, looking at it with complete satisfaction: “I love it! So even when I have worries on my mind, I look this good.”

Zhao Sui: “…”

Yao Huang left Prince Hui behind and carefully removed the painting from the easel, laying it flat on the chair under the magnolia tree to slowly air dry.

After arranging the painting, Yao Huang turned around to find Prince Hui already sitting in his wheelchair.

Yao Huang pushed him inside to wash their faces and hands.

Prince Hui said nothing, just kept watching her, making Yao Huang’s face grow hotter and her mouth increasingly dry.

After hanging up the towel, Yao Huang wanted to pour herself some water when an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

Yao Huang was scared to death. He was sitting in the wicker chair now—could it bear the weight of two people? If it broke, how would they explain it to those around them?

“Let go, I’m thirsty!” Yao Huang nervously pulled at his arm.

Prince Hui remained motionless, his breath against her neck even hotter than the summer heat outside.

Yao Huang’s feet still touched the ground. As she struggled, she actually pushed the wicker chair rolling back and forth. The more it rolled, the more she feared the chair would fall apart. She could only steel herself and say: “Let me drink water first. After I finish drinking, I’ll—I’ll push you inside.”

Prince Hui then released her.

Yao Huang fled to the table and, with her back to Prince Hui, drank two bowls of cool water in succession. Thinking he’d been painting outside for so long, she lowered her head and offered him a bowl too.

After they’d both finished drinking, Yao Huang was annoyed by Prince Hui’s fiery eyes. She untied her skirt sash and retied it for him—it just happened to be broad daylight, and she felt uncomfortable.

Zhao Sui let the princess consort do as she pleased.

Once in bed, he said in her ear: “So you chose to paint today precisely for this reason.”

Yao Huang: “…Keep being stubborn then. See if there’s a next time!”

Prince Hui laughed briefly—the soundless kind, just a change in his breathing.

Not until dusk, when the sounds of Madam Zhu cooking in the kitchen next door at the He family could be heard, did Yao Huang understand what that laugh meant.

Out of breath, she begged for mercy: “There will be, there will be more—as many times as you want. Please stop now!”

Back when Steward Qi had gone to He Wenbin seeking a painting, he’d prepared fine brushes, ink, pigments, and other refined items that ordinary common families couldn’t afford to buy. Unfortunately, He Wenbin didn’t want to delay his exam preparation and refused. Scholar He was willing to paint for Steward Qi in his son’s place, but Steward Qi had seen Scholar He’s paintings—they weren’t worth ten taels of silver at least. So the matter was shelved.

If he hadn’t seen the painting by Scholar Liao next door, Steward Qi would have given up on seeking a painting. Fortunately, Scholar Liao agreed. Since the twentieth happened to be a day when his grandsons didn’t need to study and would be home all day, after much instruction, Steward Qi had his sons and grandsons change into new clothes early and sit or kneel properly in the main hall. He had his wife and daughters-in-law retreat to the back courtyard. Once everything was quiet, Steward Qi personally went to the Liao family to fetch the painter.

When Steward Qi went out, ten taels of silver were tucked in his breast, his left hand carried two packages of tea leaves, and his right hand carried a basket containing a fresh pork hind leg.

His luck wasn’t great—as soon as he went out, he ran into Madam Zhu sweeping in front of her door with a broom. However, Steward Qi had nothing to feel guilty about. Acting as if nothing was amiss, he came to knock on the east courtyard door of the Liao family.

Knowing the princess consort hadn’t woken yet, Fei Quan ran to open the door at top speed, then faced Steward Qi with his humble, respectful, and polite expression.

Steward Qi peered inside and smiled: “Ah, it’s Third Brother. Is your Second Brother home?”

Fei Quan thought to himself: When I can’t paint, you call me Third Brother, but because my prince can paint and has impressive bearing, you know to show respect!

“He is, but my Second Brother likes quiet. Keep your voice down, old sir. You don’t need to speak too loudly.”

Steward Qi nodded repeatedly.

Fei Quan asked him to wait in the courtyard, went to the study and wheeled out the prince. Steward Qi came forward with his items, indicating that everything at home was prepared—whenever the worthy nephew was convenient, he could come paint right now.

It was nine days until Steward Qi’s birthday. Starting tomorrow, his grandsons would have to return to private school or academy. Steward Qi had no choice but to be anxious.

Small places didn’t emphasize propriety much to begin with. Steward Qi bringing gifts and apologies was already sincere enough. Since Zhao Sui had accepted this commission, he didn’t quibble over such matters and said: “I’m honored by your regard, old sir. Since it coincides with your sixtieth birthday, this junior would like to present this painting as a birthday gift to express my sentiments. Please take back the payment and gifts to entertain your guests.”

How could Steward Qi take them back? He tried to stuff the basket into Fei Quan’s hands.

The pork hind leg in the basket was truly fresh—the bloody smell was strong. Never mind Prince Hui, even Fei Quan found it pungent!

“Fine, I’ll accept the tea leaves and pork on Second Brother’s behalf. Hurry and put away that payment, old sir, or I’ll immediately chase you out and we’ll consider this painting matter never mentioned!”

Seeing he was serious, Steward Qi finally gave up.

Qing Ai rushed over upon hearing the news. Knowing he’d already been tainted with the bloody smell, Fei Quan had him accompany the prince to the Qi family instead.

Madam Zhu was still sweeping outside. Seeing Steward Qi, his face creased with smiles, welcoming Scholar Liao to his home, she naturally understood what was happening and clutched her broom handle in anger. Ten taels of silver—how could she not covet that? But she knew Steward Qi could offer twenty, even thirty or fifty taels in payment. That’s why she had her son refuse.

Steward Qi refused to mention raising the price. Annoyed, Madam Zhu wouldn’t let her son change his mind and decided to let her husband take this business. But Old Qi disdained her husband’s scholar status and turned away!

With Scholar Liao with the crippled legs appearing midway, Madam Zhu understood the Qi family’s ten taels of silver had truly flown away. Too frustrated, Madam Zhu returned home and directed her passive-aggressive comments toward the Liao family courtyard: “Wenbin, let me tell you some good news. Your Uncle Qi has invited Scholar Liao to paint a birthday celebration painting for him. Now you don’t have to feel you’ve let him down.”

“This works out quite well—it doesn’t delay your exam preparation, lets Uncle Qi fulfill a wish, and allows Scholar Liao to earn some payment. Ah, he’s different from you. With his legs in that condition, his future prospects are completely ruined. He can only support his family by painting for others. So young, yet so pitiful.”

Prince Hui and Qing Ai who’d gone to the Qi family couldn’t hear these words, but Fei Quan guarding the front courtyard certainly heard them. Princess Hui, who’d been sleeping peacefully, was directly awakened by the noise.

Throwing on an outer garment, Yao Huang walked to the window, pushed it open, and said lightly toward the He family: “So early in the morning, where’s this long-tongued bird squawking and chattering?”

Madam Zhu, standing right at the base of the neighboring wall: “…”

He Wenbin, whom his mother had nagged into coming out, was startled by that voice still carrying traces of drowsiness, his heart pounding. He didn’t want to offend Scholar Liao, and even less did he want Scholar Liao’s beautiful wife to misunderstand that he looked down on her husband like his mother did. He quickly pulled his mother to the main hall for a thorough lecture.

With peace restored to her ears, Yao Huang saw there was water in the room. She washed her face and changed clothes herself, then went to the front courtyard.

Fei Quan was still holding a grudge against Madam Zhu: “Madam, should I have someone teach her a lesson?”

Yao Huang smiled: “How would you teach her a lesson?”

Fei Quan: “Have Zhang Yue and Wang Dong corner her, compare fists and threaten her a bit. This time it’s just a scare. If she dares chatter a second time, we’ll get serious.”

Yao Huang thought for a moment and said: “Don’t corner her. Two men and one woman—if someone sees them, it’ll cause misunderstandings. Go corner her son instead. Tell him that if there’s a second time, we’ll cripple his son’s legs and make him keep our Second Master company.”

Fei Quan: “…”