“Then you should go to the adjacent room and rest for a while. You don't need to attend that meeting this afternoon, just join the banquet tonight,” the Empress instructed with concern.
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress!”
Lin Zhenfan bowed to the Empress and left her inner chambers.
After Lin Zhenfan departed, Prince Qing sank onto the ground, utterly exhausted. His body was extremely weak, and just standing for a short while left him breathless.
“Look at the mess you’ve become!” the Empress berated him, her face darkening as she glared at Prince Qing.
“Mother, your son is truly at his end, *wuwu*… It’s all my fault for trusting the Ghost Valley Master and taking the pills he made. I couldn’t control myself and touched women, *wuwu*… I’ll really have no heir, what should I do?” Prince Qing cried to the Empress.
“How many times did I warn you to use your brain when doing things and not to trust anyone easily? But you never listened,” the Empress was so angered she felt like spitting blood.
In the royal family, a prince without the ability to procreate was a castaway; he had no right to the throne.
“Mother, I am your most beloved son, you cannot abandon me,” Prince Qing pleaded.
“I am not a peerless divine healer, can I cure your infertility?” the Empress roared at him.
“Mother, Imperial Physician Zhang told Zuo Qing that Leng Ruo Li might be able to cure my illness. Please, Mother, think of a way to invite Leng Ruo Li to treat me,” Prince Qing boldly said.
“Jun Mo Yao, that woman Leng Ruo Li and I are mortal enemies. Are you asking me to beg her to treat you?”
The Empress’s expression turned even gloomier, as if a thin layer of frost had settled upon it, giving her a sharp and unfeeling demeanor.
“No, no, Mother, your son is just asking you to find a way to trick Leng Ruo Li into treating me. Has the eldest prince returned to the capital, and now you’re going to abandon me? Mother, don’t forget that sickly one; he has a heart condition. According to Imperial Physician Zhang’s diagnosis, he is unlikely to live past twenty-eight. But he is already twenty-five, and there are still three years until he turns twenty-eight. Father will not choose him as the Crown Prince. Mother, you can only rely on me in the future,” Prince Qing continued to persuade the Empress.
Upon hearing Prince Qing’s words, the Empress’s resolve wavered. It was true, seeing Prince Qing so unpromising, she had indeed considered supporting the eldest prince for the throne, but she had completely forgotten that the eldest prince had a heart condition and wouldn’t live much longer.
Alas, although she had two sons, one was a sickly invalid, and the other was a good-for-nothing. She couldn’t rely on either of them; both sons were a constant source of worry.
Thinking this, the Empress raised her hand and rubbed her temples.
“Yao’er, you go rest in the adjoining room. Let Mother think of a solution first,” the Empress waved him away.
“Then your son will take his leave!”
Following that, Prince Qing had Xiao Anzi escort him to another adjoining room in Fengqi Palace to rest.
…
Meanwhile, the Imperial Painting competition had just concluded.
Grand Tutor Xia quickly instructed Grand Academician Zhang Shurong to gather the portraits.
The Emperor and Grand Tutor Xia also joined the selection process, and soon, six or seven of the best paintings were chosen. Leng Ruo Li’s sketch was also among them.
“Li’er, what kind of painting is this? It’s not drawn with a brush, is it?” Grand Tutor Xia asked, full of doubt.
Upon hearing Grand Tutor Xia’s words, the Emperor also leaned closer with great curiosity.
“Indeed, Li’er girl, what kind of portrait is this? It’s too lifelike. The control of light and shadow in the lines is excellent, the brushstrokes are precise, and the person’s structure is clear. You’ve painted your Imperial Grandmother so vividly,” the Emperor commented immediately.
The Emperor’s words immediately piqued everyone’s curiosity. Jun Mo Han and Leng Jin Yu quickly walked to the Emperor and Grand Tutor Xia, sticking their heads out to get a look as well.
The Empress Dowager, hearing the Emperor’s praise, was also extremely curious and couldn’t wait to see the portrait Leng Ruo Li had painted for her.
“Emperor, quickly show this old woman the portrait Li’er girl painted for me,” the Empress Dowager urged, seeing the Emperor and Grand Tutor Xia staring intently at her portrait.
“Mother, Li’er, that little girl, has painted you beautifully. It’s as if your real likeness has been imprinted,” the Emperor said with a smile, presenting the portrait to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager immediately took her portrait and opened her eyes wide to look.
In an instant, she was stunned.
“So this is how I look! Haha, when I usually look in the bronze mirror, I can never see my face so clearly. This time, I truly get to see my appearance,” the Empress Dowager said, looking at Leng Ruo Li’s sketch and beaming like a child.
“Li’er, come up quickly and tell us what kind of brush you used for this! Both your Imperial Father and I are very curious.”
Leng Ruo Li, hearing the Empress Dowager call her from her seat, quickly stood up and walked to the stage, standing beside the Empress Dowager.
“Imperial Grandmother, what Li’er drew for you today is a sketch portrait. It doesn’t require a brush; all you need is a 2B charcoal pencil and an eraser,” Leng Ruo Li explained concisely.
“A ‘two-bee’ charcoal pencil? What kind of pencil is that?” the Empress Dowager and the Emperor asked, full of confusion. Grand Tutor Xia and Leng Jin Yu were also very curious.
Seeing everyone’s curiosity, Leng Ruo Li readily took out a 2B charcoal pencil from her sleeve and showed it to everyone.
“Yes, it’s this kind of pencil. This 2B charcoal pencil is excellent for sketching.”
Upon hearing Leng Ruo Li’s words, a spark suddenly flashed in Grand Tutor Xia’s eyes.
“Can we use it for writing?” Grand Tutor Xia asked curiously.
“Yes, Grandfather. This pencil is even easier to use than a brush. I’ll get some paper and demonstrate for everyone.”
Leng Ruo Li finished speaking, took a piece of paper from a young eunuch, and proceeded to teach everyone how to hold this hard-tipped pen and how to write.
Since everyone present, except for Jun Mo Han who had seen her use this charcoal pencil for notes in her space many times, was seeing it for the first time, she patiently demonstrated writing for the Emperor and Grand Tutor Xia.
Under everyone’s gaze, Leng Ruo Li casually wrote a few large characters.
“Imperial Father, Grandfather, you hold the pen like this, it’s very easy to write with.”
“Li’er, let this Emperor try first!”
The Emperor was eager to try it out.
“Alright, Imperial Father, I’ll give you the pen. Everyone can take turns trying it out,” Leng Ruo Li said generously.
After receiving the pen, the Emperor practiced holding it for a while before he could manage a decent grasp. This was mainly because these ancient people were accustomed to writing with brushes, and changing habits took time.
The Emperor tried writing a few characters and immediately fell in love with the pencil. Later, Grand Tutor Xia and the Empress Dowager, among others, also tried it, and everyone greatly favored this pencil.
“Li’er, do you have more of these pencils?” the Emperor asked with anticipation.
“Father-in-law, your daughter-in-law has a few more, but I only brought one pencil with me to the palace today. If Father-in-law and Grandfather wish to use them, I can have someone deliver them to you after I return to my residence,” Leng Ruo Li said with a shy smile.
Since there were too many people present today, she didn’t want to reveal too many of the secrets hidden in her sleeves.
“Very well, today, this old woman only favors the portrait painted by Consort Leng for me. Therefore, Consort Leng has won first place in this painting competition.”
As soon as the Empress Dowager uttered these words, it immediately caused dissatisfaction among the crowd, and they began to discuss among themselves.
“Imperial Mother’s Maid, please display the portrait Li’er painted for me so everyone can be convinced of their defeat.”
As a result, when everyone saw the portrait Leng Ruo Li had painted, they immediately fell silent.
My heavens!
This portrait is too lifelike!
In the end, Leng Ruo Li won first place in both the poetry and painting competitions, and she received both prizes: the Bi Xi Dragonfly Peony Brooch and the Yu Jin.