Chapter 276: Life as Cheap as Grass (1)

The two of them sat in the seats of honor in the garden. After pondering for a moment, Qingfeng stopped her steps. She didn't go over, nor did she greet her sister. She followed the crowd, half-kneeling to pay respects: "Greetings to the two Empresses Dowager. May the Empresses Dowager be blessed with peace and longevity."

Empress Dowager Lou's arrogant voice rang out coldly: "Rise."

"Thank you, Empress Dowager."

After the salutations, the young ladies of the noble families sat back in their chairs, quietly lowering their heads, their demure and elegant demeanor forming a sharp contrast to the previous clamor.

Empress Dowager Yang looked toward Empress Dowager Lou. After seeing her nod slightly, she smiled and announced in a clear voice: "Today, I have invited the young ladies and noblewomen to the palace for a banquet to select young women who are both talented and virtuous to perform at the prayer ceremony. For Qiongyue, this is a matter concerning our national dignity. I will not say much more; poetry, calligraphy, painting, or dance—the most skilled shall prevail."

"Let us begin with the zither. Which young lady shall go first?" After Yang finished speaking, she swept her gaze around with a smile. The young women still lowered their heads in shyness, whispering to one another, but no one stepped forward.

Empress Dowager Yang smiled gently and said: "Since everyone is so modest, I shall personally name someone to break the ice."

"I have heard that the Qing sisters are known throughout the Six Kingdoms for their exceptional talent and beauty. Three years ago, at the prayer ceremony, Haoyue presented a 'Yongle Landscape Painting' that stunned everyone; it was said to be merely a practice piece by the three young ladies. Today, seeing two of them in the palace, why not let the eldest sister, Qing Ling, perform this act of breaking the ice? What does everyone think?" As she spoke, she looked toward Zhuo Qing with immense concern.

The concubines sitting to the side also chimed in: "That would be excellent. We have often heard that the eldest Miss Qing's zither skills are peerless, with melodies that linger for three days. Those who have heard her play never cease their praise. Today, we finally have the chance to witness it."

Zhuo Qing, who had been minding her own business and resting with her eyes closed, opened them abruptly. She knew the original owner of this body was a talented woman skilled in all the arts, but she wasn't! She... only knew how to perform autopsies...

Zhuo Qing remained silent for a long time, her brows slightly furrowed. Empress Dowager Yang kept her smile fixed and called out in a clear voice: "Someone, prepare the zither."

"Wait." Zhuo Qing suddenly stood up, performed a standard, graceful bow, and replied in a low voice: "Thank you all for your high regard, but I suffered an injury on my way to Qiongyue. Many things in my memory have become blurred, and I can no longer recall the melodies I was once familiar with. I fear I will disappoint you all today." Since she had "amnesia," it was perfectly normal that she wouldn't remember how to play.

Qingfeng felt a pang of self-reproach. When she first heard Empress Dowager Yang ask her sister to perform, she had felt a sense of pride, knowing her sister's zither skills were truly one in ten thousand. Only now did she remember that her sister had lost her memory.

Empress Dowager Yang still refused to let her off. She deliberately smiled softly and said: "However, even if you don't remember the melodies, you surely remember how to write. The 'Yongle Landscape Painting' is still in the Imperial Study. It would be wonderful if Ling'er could create a new piece today for everyone to admire."

These words, praising on the surface but disparaging underneath, made Zhuo Qing feel a flare of anger. Empress Dowager Yang was clearly picking a fight with her! Standing up again, Zhuo Qing's expression darkened significantly: "I..."

Before Zhuo Qing could say more, a cold female voice interrupted: "Your Majesty, my sister and I usually enjoy painting together for amusement. Today, allow me to join my sister in creating a painting for everyone. Would that be permissible?" It turned out the Empress Dowager's intention today was to make her sister lose face in front of everyone to vent her anger on behalf of her precious princess. Qingfeng sneered inwardly. As long as she was here, no one would bully her sister!

Zhuo Qing looked up. It was Qingfeng. She hadn't realized she was here, but joining her in painting? Was she trying to help her or harm her?! Did grinding the ink count as painting together?

Empress Dowager Yang looked toward Empress Dowager Lou again and asked with a smile: "Sister, what do you think?" She didn't mind; the outcome would be the same regardless.

Zhuo Qing clearly didn't have the good fortune of Lou Xiwu. Empress Dowager Lou glanced at her sideways and snorted coldly: "That will do as well. I also wish to see just what kind of talent the Qing sisters possess!" She wanted to see exactly what kind of special woman could make Lou Xiyan beg for an audience in the palace multiple times!

Pointing to a pond of blooming lotuses, Empress Dowager Yang smiled: "Sister, the lotuses are in full bloom. Why not let them paint and play the zither by the pond? The beautiful flowers and beautiful women will complement each other. Wouldn't that be a lovely sight?"

"Very well," Empress Dowager Lou said indifferently. "Someone, prepare the painting supplies."

"Yes."

Before long, several efficient eunuchs moved a large table to the edge of the lotus pond. Behind the table was a platform built of wooden planks, positioned right over the pond, making one feel as if they were standing amidst the flowers. It was beautiful.

Unfortunately, Zhuo Qing was in no mood to admire the flowers. She whispered anxiously to Qingfeng, who was standing beside her: "I really don't know how to paint!"

Qingfeng felt a wave of sadness. It was just a flower, yet it had made her sister so anxious. Gently holding Zhuo Qing's hand, Qingfeng smiled confidently: "It doesn't matter. Once I've mixed the colors, you just use the brush to draw a few circles at the bottom of the paper."

"Draw circles?" Zhuo Qing was stunned, then quickly asked: "How big? How many? Perfect circles or ovals? Where exactly should I place them?" If it was just drawing circles, she could manage that, but she wished for more specific instructions! She would treat it like a geometry problem.

Qingfeng replied casually: "Whatever you like."

"Ah?!" Zhuo Qing was bewildered. How was she supposed to paint like that?

She was still fretting, but the ink was already ground and the paper laid out. The eunuchs retreated to the side and said respectfully: "The supplies are ready. Please, my ladies."

Zhuo Qing stood beside Qingfeng. She watched as Qingfeng skillfully poured half the ink into a white porcelain dish and carefully added a little water. After a moment, Qingfeng said: "Begin."

A large sheet of rice paper lay before her. Zhuo Qing truly felt a mix of amusement and helplessness. Where was she supposed to start?!

Forget it. If Qingfeng wasn't worried, why should she be? Taking a deep breath, Zhuo Qing drew a circle about the size of a fist at the bottom of the white paper. Qingfeng's ink was quite light, leaving a faint mark on the paper. Zhuo Qing looked at Qingfeng, whose expression remained unchanged as she prepared the red cinnabar, presumably for the lotus flowers.

Since she had no objections, Zhuo Qing stopped worrying and boldly drew a dozen circles on the paper, some large, some small. By the end, she didn't know where to put the brush anymore; the white paper was a mess...

At this moment, Qingfeng seemed ready. She glanced at the messy circles her sister had drawn and, without showing any emotion, sighed inwardly. Her sister really had lost her memory; the tacit understanding they once shared when painting was gone.

Picking up a finer brush, Qingfeng moved with lightning speed, adding a few strokes to those chaotic circles. A vivid lotus leaf appeared. Her movements were swift, and with just a few casual strokes, the messy composition immediately transformed into a lifelike lotus pond. It was simply incredible! Just as Zhuo Qing was marveling at this, a clear, delicate zither melody, like pearls falling on a jade plate, began to play. Zhuo Qing looked up. Not far ahead, Lou Xiwu sat gracefully before the zither, her long fingers flowing across the strings. The light melody echoed through the Imperial Garden. This girl's zither skills were indeed impressive.

"Done."

Zhuo Qing was still enjoying the music when Qingfeng's cold voice sounded softly.

Done? So fast? It had taken about the same amount of time as her drawing circles!

Looking down again, Zhuo Qing was completely stunned by the painting before her—

Before her was an elegant ink wash painting. Using only varying shades of black, she had captured the lotus leaves and the water perfectly. The contrast between the cinnabar and the white space created fresh, blooming lotuses that, set against the ink, looked tender and clear. Most miraculously, there seemed to be tiny dew drops on the lotus leaves and petals. The entire painting seemed to exude a faint mist, enveloping the ink-black leaves and pink lotuses, as if the lotuses were blooming in the rain!

In the upper left corner of the painting were a few small characters: "Covered in morning dew, who in the world could be jealous?" The calligraphy was graceful and fluid.

How was this possible! In such a short time, Zhuo Qing couldn't believe this was the same sheet of rice paper she had just tortured!

She had finally witnessed what a true talented woman was.

Qingfeng slowly put down her brush and pulled Zhuo Qing back a step, signaling the eunuchs standing to the side to carry the wooden table toward the Empress Dowager.

The painting was just finished, and the paper was too soft to lift. Both Empress Dowager Lou and Empress Dowager Yang stood up and walked toward the long table. Upon seeing it, their eyes lit up. Empress Dowager Lou even offered rare praise: "Truly worthy of the reputation!"

Such a work, even for a dedicated painter, would require thirty or fifty years of practice to achieve.

Empress Dowager Yang also nodded with a smile: "Qing Concubine, come over and explain the meaning of your poem to us."

"Yes." Qingfeng walked over slowly. Zhuo Qing stood on the wooden platform, breathing in the fresh air; if she could, she would have left early.

Watching Qingfeng walk over, Empress Dowager Yang glanced imperceptibly at the palace maid who had been standing behind her. The maid slowly retreated.

Standing before the painting, Qingfeng lifted her head slightly, smiled proudly, and announced in a clear voice: "The meaning is quite simple. The lotus possesses a noble and elegant character, untainted by the filth of the secular world. It is precisely because of this quality that it is envied by the world."

Just finished painting, the paper was too soft to be picked up. Lou Suxin and Yang Zhilan both stood up and walked toward the long table very politely. At a glance, both of their eyes lit up, and Lou Suxin rarely praised: "It is indeed well-deserved!"

Such a work, even if it was someone who specifically studied painting, without thirty or fifty years of skill, might not be able to paint it.

Yang Zhilan also nodded and smiled: "Concubine Qing, come over and tell us the meaning of your poem."

"Yes." Qingfeng walked over slowly, while Zhuo Qing stood on the wooden platform breathing fresh air. If she could, she really wanted to leave early.

Watching Qingfeng walk over, Yang Zhilan swept a glance at the palace maid who had been standing behind her without leaving a trace, and the palace maid slowly retreated.

Walking in front of the painting, Qingfeng raised her head slightly, smiled proudly, and said loudly: "Actually, the meaning is very simple. Lotus, the noble and elegant temperament, is not contaminated by the filth of the secular world. Because of such quality, it is also envied and admired by the world."

(End of chapter)