"Tsk... Who is this a portrait of?"
As expected of someone who had studied painting for three years, Ling Yufei held her brush with great poise. With her graceful figure, even the act of painting was a sight to behold.
However, as time went on.
Everyone's gazes gradually fell upon Song Jinyu's face, and they began to whisper among themselves. It turned out that Ling Yufei had painted a picture of a beautiful lady against the backdrop of a vast landscape.
This beauty bore a striking resemblance to Song Jinyu. He Yi had initially come to watch the fun, but she never expected Ling Yufei to be so bold.
Rong Shuang'er was also stunned.
Song Jinyu remained calm, with a gentle smile on her face as she chatted with He Yi. "Do you remember... The pearl powder I want must be of good quality."
"Sure, sure, sure..." He Yi sighed. After all, she was a princess, yet now she was being openly bullied and didn't even say a word.
He Yi was extremely indignant and wanted to say something, but Song Jinyu grabbed her and said, "She didn't say it was a portrait of me. We mustn't give her the chance to say we're being overly self - absorbed."
Zhongli Mingye's face darkened, while Ming Ruyi seemed to be enjoying the show.
However, he really disliked anyone using Song Jinyu as a pawn.
After Ling Yufei finished painting, everyone praised her superb painting skills. But that beauty in the painting was simply too much like Princess Yu.
The Crown Princess laughed heartily. "This beauty looks exactly like Princess Yu."
Ling Yufei blushed shyly. "In this grand hall, the princess is of unparalleled beauty. So..." Her tone changed. "I learned painting under the guidance of His Highness Prince Yu. Why don't we ask His Highness to give his comments?"
Zhongli Mingye stood up gracefully. "Your painting skills have indeed improved, but you've focused too much on flashy techniques and lost the essence." Ling Yufei felt a bit uncomfortable upon hearing this.
The beauty in the painting seemed to have an air of vulgarity.
"If it doesn't look like, then it doesn't..."
Since Prince Yu said it wasn't, then it wasn't. Crown Prince Zhongli Chengze glanced at him. Truly a doting husband.
Being criticized as using "flashy techniques", Ling Yufei turned pale. But what Zhongli Mingye did next made her even more embarrassed.
Because he also started painting in public. He raised his eyes and glanced at Song Jinyu, his eyes filled with tenderness, making her blush.
Suddenly, he picked up his brush and sketched Song Jinyu's graceful figure on the paper.
Ming Ruyi suppressed the envy in her heart and stood up. "Prince Yu's painting is excellent, truly excellent..." Of course it was excellent. One must be very familiar with her to paint her back so vividly. Just from the back, one could tell it was Song Jinyu.
"I wonder what Princess Yu thinks?"
Song Jinyu glared at Ming Ruyi. Couldn't she just leave her out of this?
She looked at Zhongli Mingye with a smile. The other painting just didn't look much like her. He really didn't give that person any face. "Naturally, my husband's painting is better. After all, His Highness knows me well." Her eyes were filled with smiles. She always understood his affection.
In public, the two showed their love for each other. Song Jinyu wasn't one to be easily bullied. She lowered her eyes and looked at the picture of the beautiful lady against the landscape. "Miss Ling's painting... has too much of a mechanical touch. Although the skills are there, it lacks the divine charm."
A beauty worthy of being paired with the landscape shouldn't be so petty. She didn't say this,
but when everyone looked at Ling Yufei again, their expressions were complex.
After all, she was the daughter of the prime minister. Regardless of her past entanglement with Prince Yu Zhongli Mingye three years ago, she shouldn't have embarrassed the princess in public today.
In doing so, she had only made a fool of herself.
What Prince Yu said next made Ling Yufei regret coming here today. "Back then, Miss Ling wanted to be my disciple and pleaded with me repeatedly. I had no choice but to recommend Mr. Dongshan to you."
He shook his head. "Now it seems that you've only learned Mr. Dongshan's skills but haven't developed your own style."
When everyone looked at Ling Yufei's painting again, they suddenly felt it lacked any uniqueness.
In the fields of poetry, calligraphy, music, and painting, if one didn't have their own style, how could they ever become a master?
Seeing that Ling Yufei was in an awkward situation, Prince Cheng Zhongli Shuoyi invited everyone to the back garden to enjoy the lanterns. Today, to celebrate the third - day celebration of the prince's son, the emperor had bestowed lanterns.
After everyone left, Ling Yufei still stood there. Rong Shuang'er sighed. She was really pitiful. Prince Yu's words weren't just to avenge the princess but also to put an end to all the previous rumors.
He Yi pulled Song Jinyu and said as they walked, "Fourth brother is really... He won't let you suffer the slightest bit of injustice!"
"Of course... He's my husband!" There was an inexplicable sense of pride in her voice, and her eyes sparkled.
"Oh my... Why aren't you shy this time! You're so shameless..." He Yi teased her, but Song Jinyu wasn't as shy as before.
After everyone left, Zhongli Mingye signaled Qingfeng to come forward and destroy the picture of the beautiful lady against the landscape. His princess was not to be slandered by others.
Not even by misleading insinuations.
All of this happened right in front of Ling Yufei.
She suddenly realized that no matter how hard she tried, she could never enter his heart. Just because of this realization, she now looked dejected.
After Lady Li, the wife of the Minister of Revenue, witnessed this scene, she immediately decided not to discuss a marriage alliance with the prime minister's mansion anymore.
Such reckless behavior would only bring disaster to the family of the Minister of Revenue!
He Yi looked at Song Jinyu. "Why don't you ask what exactly happened between Fourth brother and Ling Yufei?" She looked at her curiously. "Don't you care about Fourth brother's past at all?"
"...The past isn't important. What matters is that I'm the one with him now and in the future..." Song Jinyu had actually guessed what had happened to Miss Ling from the whispers of others.
"... " Was she being too straightforward?
It was a pity... Although she liked reading novels, she wasn't very interested in the rumors about Zhongli Mingye's past. Moreover, if he didn't want her to know, why else would he keep preventing the news from reaching her ears?
Was he afraid that she would be troubled?
But He Yi still thought it was necessary to clarify things on Zhongli Mingye's behalf. After she finished speaking, all she got from Song Jinyu was an "oh".
Was this even a response?
The Princess of Prince Cheng was now devoting all her energy to her newly - born son. A maid told Yu Duanya everything that had happened in the grand hall in detail.
Yu Duanya smiled faintly. That woman was worthy of being cherished.
On the way back, Zhongli Mingye couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you ask what happened?"
"Ask what? He Yi already told me!" She secretly laughed at his over - reaction. For such a small matter, he had driven He Yi away and locked himself up at home.
"Don't you care at all?" He felt inexplicably disappointed. In fact, he really wanted to see her reaction when she knew about this.
It was a pity... Song Jinyu showed no reaction.
"He Yi asked me the same question..." She deliberately slowed down her speech. Zhongli Mingye's phoenix eyes stared at her. "I really don't care..."
Suddenly, the atmosphere became tense. Zhongli Mingye stopped looking at her. "After all, you're my husband. Could she steal you away? Besides..." Her tone changed, and she snorted proudly.
"She's not as beautiful as me, and her personality isn't likable. Why should I care?"
The little pride in her voice made Zhongli Mingye very happy. This was the second time she had called him husband today. A smile appeared on his lips, and his eyes were fixed on her.
Song Jinyu thought for a while and got closer to him. "Actually, I didn't say that to He Yi..."
"Then what did you say?"
She snorted. "I'm not telling you!"
He reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "Tell me or not?" Seeing that he still couldn't tame Song Jinyu, he had to resort to his "killer move". He kissed her until she was out of breath and blushing.
"...The past isn't important. What matters is that I'm the one with you now and in the future..."
She held his hands tightly and told him seriously. Her beautiful eyes were full of affection, making Zhongli Mingye's heart melt.
He wished time could stop at this moment, until Qingfeng's anxious voice interrupted the warmth.
"Your Highness! The emperor is critically ill..."