The Seventh Princess Insists on Making Me Be a Kept Woman (GL) - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Effortless Flex, Most Deadly

A look of surprise flashed in A You’s eyes. This Chancellor’s daughter, Chen Yu, was being a bit too arrogant.

While the Consort and Princess were indeed a couple in name only, she could say such things behind their backs, but why say it to their faces?

Chen Yu sneered inwardly. She just wanted to see Lian Liejin stomp her feet in anger, and ideally, impulsively make a fool of herself.

“Chen Yu, my affairs are not for others to judge,” Gao Jingxi’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. The smile on her lips vanished, replaced by the imposing dignity of a high-ranking authority. “Do not ruin my pleasure in viewing the paintings.”

“Your Highness, it is my fault,” Chen Yu quickly lowered her head, looking pitiful and docile. “The Consort has always been generous and tolerant. I hope the Consort will not hold a grudge against me for this.”

Gao Jingxi restored her usual noble, elegant, and gentle smile. She hadn’t realized Chen Yu was such a sharp-tongued person. This move essentially made Lian Liejin appear petty and narrow-minded if she were to argue with Chen Yu.

However, she was truly curious to see how Lian Liejin would react.

Everyone present simultaneously anticipated Lian Liejin’s response.

Yet, after searching for a while, they couldn’t see Lian Liejin anywhere.

“Your Highness, the Consort, she, she was just here a moment ago.”

“What is the hurry?” Gao Jingxi waved her sleeve, speaking calmly. “The Consort must have gone down the wrong path.”

A You nodded and instructed several servants to quickly go look for Lian Liejin.

The Moon-Viewing Pavilion was vast. Paintings, including landscapes, flowers and birds, rivers, and even some portraits of beauties, hung on every wall.

As soon as Chen Yu approached, Lian Liejin had already walked back to the entrance of the Moon-Viewing Pavilion alone to instruct a Princess’s residence servant to fetch the medicine from the Consort’s residence—she didn’t want the Princess to endure the pain.

When she turned to re-enter the pavilion, she overheard a conversation between two burly men claiming that the ink made by Guan Xie Ju was completely useless.

So, for the sake of her own pharmacy’s reputation, Lian Liejin stepped forward and bowed, asking, “Excuse me, brother, hold on a moment. May I ask what evidence you have that Guan Xie Ju’s ink is poor?”

The tall, strong man turned around and saw a tall, graceful young woman smiling as she called out to him.

“Isn’t it obvious? Those paintings faded soon after they were finished. There must be a quality issue.”

The Moon-Viewing Pavilion was essentially a treasury and exhibition hall, displaying and auctioning calligraphy, paintings, and antiques from creators who had signed contracts with it.

Only the highest quality works could enter here, so the pavilion’s standards represented a high degree of recognition.

Because the Moon-Viewing Pavilion annually purchased large amounts of writing tools and pigments to provide the best to all its creators, it also served as an appraisal institution for items like brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

Looking in the direction the burly man pointed, Lian Liejin slightly curved her lips. “But those paintings did not use Guan Xie Ju’s ink.”

“Hmph, who are you? You say it isn’t, so it isn’t?” The burly man’s dark face showed a hint of hostility. He hadn’t expected to run into a meddler.

He had set up a scheme, deliberately painting with inferior ink and sending it to the Moon-Viewing Pavilion to simultaneously slander Guan Xie Ju. Running into Lian Liejin, this clueless person, made him immediately want to drive her away.

The middle-aged man next to the burly man, dressed in a blue robe, was Steward Liu of the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. He slightly raised his hand, stopping the burly man’s actions, yet his face also carried a look of contempt.

“Then, Miss, how can you prove that it is not Guan Xie Ju’s ink? After all, the original artists of these paintings have already admitted to it.”

Strictly speaking, Guan Xie Ju, managed by Lian Liejin, was a pharmacy. Its main business was selling medicine, occasionally launching different products.

Its medicinal scholar’s supplies were a product line launched for one season last year, so the quantity was not large.

“What’s so difficult about that?” Lian Liejin took a pure black brush from her sleeve and smiled lazily. “Allow me to open your eyes.”

And so, when Gao Jingxi and her group received a report from the servant, the servant’s expression was rather strange as he answered, “The Consort is already on the third floor…”

Contempt was evident in Chen Yu’s eyes. “The Consort is a bit too impatient, isn’t she? She must want to appreciate Wu Zuozi’s masterpiece in advance and steal a few lines she thinks are refined.”

However, the moment Gao Jingxi heard Lian Liejin’s whereabouts, she immediately walked toward the third floor.

Chen Yu’s sneering remarks were once again a hammer hitting cotton.

When her entourage also arrived on the third floor, they were all astonished.

The Moon-Viewing Pavilion, usually known for its quiet elegance, was now as noisy as the theater next door.

“Excellent! Guan Xie Ju’s medicinal ink truly has the effect of a room full of subtle fragrance!”

“Hahaha, Steward Liu, once this young woman finishes painting, you’ll have to pay her your entire fortune today!”

A group of literati and scholars, regardless of their image, stood in a corner of the room, applauding and cheering with unreserved enthusiasm. Some even beat the table like a drum to match the zither music played by another person. The tune was being played precisely to accompany the movements of the person in the center of the room.

On the north wall of the third floor, nineteen sheets of white paper were now hanging. The black-clad woman holding the brush was indeed Lian Liejin.

The winter sunlight sprinkled on her cool, frosty profile, and her long black hair flowed like a waterfall. She appeared to be sketching and writing haphazardly on the nineteen sheets of paper, biting another brush in her mouth, looking like a mad, drunken poet.

Her movements were fluid and graceful, like clouds and flowing water. For a moment, it gave the illusion that she was holding a long sword, not a paintbrush.

And the white paper before her was the bamboo forest used for sword practice.

Amidst the clash of swords and shadows, every stroke, every move, her brush moved like a dragon, and the characters seemed to penetrate the paper.

As the zither and drum music ceased, Lian Liejin coincidentally finished her last stroke. She tossed the brush behind her without looking. “The ancients spoke of every step growing a lotus. Today, it’s every stroke revealing a pear blossom.”

On the white paper were sketches of various beauties. What was astonishing was that tiny white pear blossoms were embedded within the black ink. Truly, beauties are like flowers, and flowers are like dreams.

“As you all have witnessed, the medicinal brush produced by Guan Xie Ju is made from traditional Chinese herbs like honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, and cassia seeds, using a special process. Whether the user is writing or painting, it achieves the effect of a magic pen producing brilliant writing and sparks of inspiration. Most wonderfully, its scent is calming and aids sleep, contributing to physical and mental health.”

The painting time took only a quarter of an hour, yet when everyone looked closely, the figures in all eighteen portraits of beauties were so lifelike that they almost felt the beauties were about to step out of the paintings.

“Miss is truly a great talent,” Steward Liu stepped forward and bowed. “I was blind. Guan Xie Ju’s writing supplies are indeed extraordinary, and your painting skills are superb. I keep my promise. You may take any collection item from the Moon-Viewing Pavilion.”

Lian Liejin waved her hand dismissively. “That won’t be necessary. I painted nineteen pictures, and I only wish to take one of them. May I?”

“Of course, all nineteen paintings rightfully belong to you.”

“Is that so,” Lian Liejin suddenly realized, then said in a deep voice: “In that case, as for the remaining eighteen paintings—”

She turned and smiled cunningly at the crowd. “One tael for two sheets, two taels for three sheets. Buy quickly. First come, first served.”

The crowd froze for two seconds, then pulled out their silver and swarmed forward. Lian Liejin, with a subtle smile playing on her lips, dodged the crowd. “Steward Liu, please hold the money for me. I’ll collect it next time.”

A gentle breeze slipped in through a half-closed window. It blew the stray hairs off Lian Liejin’s forehead—

She was filled with the spirit of youth, bright and noble, ascending the tall building, wielding her brush and ink, freehand in her art, perfectly expressing her heart.

She just happened to see Gao Jingxi standing five steps away from her.

“Your Highness, your humble servant dares to offer this painting to you.” Lian Liejin walked over to Gao Jingxi and handed her the rolled-up painting she held.

A You took the scroll with both hands and unrolled it.

“How do you have something from Guan Xie Ju?” Gao Jingxi barely had the mind to admire the painting, looking at Lian Liejin with piercing eyes.

“Huh? I just took it.” Lian Liejin noticed Gao Jingxi’s unusual expression. She wondered if the Princess also thought there was a quality issue with their Guan Xie Ju’s medicine and products.

Seeing Gao Jingxi about to press for an answer, A You quickly stepped forward. “Your Highness, the time has come. The Poetry Conference is about to begin.”

This sentence brought Gao Jingxi back to her senses. She looked at Lian Liejin with complex emotions, temporarily burying the doubt in her heart. She would have to wait until today’s affairs were over to inquire in detail.

Standing to the side, Chen Yu and Feng Zhi looked extremely awkward, especially Chen Yu, whose eyes were practically spitting fire. For them, the last thing they expected was for this gigolo Consort to steal the spotlight again today, and right in front of the Princess.

The expressions of the two were exactly the same as the burly man who had previously slandered Guan Xie Ju.

The burly man was now slinking away from the third floor. Lian Liejin’s eyes curved slightly. She memorized the man’s appearance, but outwardly, she smiled and let it pass.

The Youlan Water Pavilion, where the Poetry Conference was being held, was only a short walk away from the Moon-Viewing Pavilion. As Lian Liejin strolled out of the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, the snow was heavy, and the world was a hazy white, making it hard to see the path ahead.

“Little Sister, you’ve come too.” A gentle voice sounded in front of Lian Liejin.

The person had a gentle demeanor, was courteous and polite, and looked as fragile as if a breath of wind could blow her over. It was Lian Liejin’s elder sister, Lian Pingyou, the eldest daughter of the Lian family.

Even though Lian Liejin was the legitimate daughter, there was still the matter of seniority. Even if she didn’t care for the Lian family, she had to bow properly. “Elder Sister, why are you here? I thought you should be attending the Poetry Conference.”

Lian Pingyou spoke softly and gently: “I heard that Her Highness the Princess came to the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, so I came over from the Youlan Water Pavilion.”

“Her Highness is just now rushing to the Youlan Water Pavilion. Elder Sister, you came too late.”

“Then, where is Her Highness?” In her anxiety, Lian Pingyou nearly lost her composure.

“She just got into the carriage.” Compared to Lian Pingyou, Lian Liejin’s demeanor was more rebellious, and her peach-blossom eyes couldn’t hide her air of detachment.

“I missed her again, missed her again…” Lian Pingyou murmured, her expression filled with profound loneliness. She walked back absentmindedly, ignoring Lian Liejin.

Lian Liejin narrowed her eyes. She had previously heard rumors that her sister had long held feelings for the Princess, which she hadn’t believed. But seeing Lian Pingyou today, she couldn’t dismiss the rumors as baseless.

“Consort, why aren’t you getting in the carriage?” A You shouted from a distance after helping Gao Jingxi into the carriage.

Because the journey was so short, they had only traveled a few steps in the carriage before arriving at the Youlan Water Pavilion.

After getting out of the carriage, Gao Jingxi coughed lightly and sighed. “I will go change my clothes first. Consort, please proceed to the banquet hall and wait for me.”

Upon entering the Youlan Water Pavilion, a young maid stepped forward to lead the way. Along the path were carved railings and painted beams, with dragon and chi-dragon motifs, and exquisitely carved jade stones. It was the height of opulence.

However, the maid led Lian Liejin in circles for a long time, never taking the direct route. Even if she were slow-witted, Lian Liejin knew they were deliberately giving her the runaround. She decided to find her own way out.

In the banquet hall, Gao Jingxi had already changed into a crimson brocade robe with cloud patterns. She was reclining on a reed mat covered with a fur rug, gently swirling a jade cup filled with fine wine, which refracted a mesmerizing light.

The people seated in the first row below her were none other than the Fifth Princess, Gao Qing, and the First Prince, Gao Hu.

Pine and cypress incense, along with orchid grass, burned in a brazier beside the main hall, releasing a refreshing fragrance.

Lian Pingyou was about to step forward to converse with Gao Jingxi, but Gao Jingxi immediately spotted Lian Liejin walking in from outside and gave a captivating smile. “Consort, come and sit by me.”