The scholar was none other than Li Mohan, whom Ye Huohuo had been searching for.
However, this scholar, aside from bearing Li Mohan's likeness, possessed none of his aura.
Li Mohan usually exuded an aura of aloofness and pride, his light brown eyes perpetually cold, a mere glance from him capable of sending a chill down one's spine.
But this man was filled with scholarly charm, a gentle smile gracing his lips, and upon seeing Ye Huohuo, his eyes held a flicker of doting affection. Ye Huohuo had never seen Li Mohan like this.
Therefore, this person couldn't be him, yet the resemblance was uncanny…
What was happening?
Could it be?…
Before Ye Huohuo could react, a warm hand brushed against her cheek, and a gentle, melodious voice spoke, as if a hot spring flowing into her heart, "Silly girl, what are you thinking about? My paintings sold, and I'll get you a new dress. Your clothes are old; you've suffered with me!
Don't worry, I'll paint even harder and ensure you live a life without worries about food and clothing."
Ye Huohuo was stunned by his words. What was going on? Was she this scholar's wife? Was this scholar with Li Mohan's face the vengeful spirit?
Ye Huohuo didn't know what to say, but her voice came out, "Husband, what are you talking about? Spouses are meant to share hardships. And I believe in your talent; you will surely become a master of calligraphy and painting one day."
The scholar embraced Ye Huohuo, "Thank you, my wife, for your unwavering devotion. I, Chi Lemin, am thrice blessed to have you, Rong'er, as my wife. I must compensate you doubly.
Oh, right, I've invited Brother Shen, who has been helping me sell my paintings, to be our guest. Please prepare some food and wine to thank him properly."
Ye Huohuo smiled faintly, "Don't worry, I'll go buy groceries now and thank Mr. Shen properly!"
After saying this, her body moved out of the room, then out of the courtyard, and onto the street.
The street was very much like the ancient streets she had seen on television, with hurrying pedestrians, vendors loudly hawking their wares, and elegant ladies with small gauze fans partially obscuring their faces.
Ye Huohuo wanted to look around more, but her body rushed towards a vegetable shop. Just as she was about to buy vegetables, a middle-aged woman grabbed her.
"Isn't this Mrs. Chi? I was just looking for you. I just saw a painting outside the home of a newly arrived wealthy merchant. The person in the painting looks a lot like you.
I heard before that your husband specialized in painting, and I thought your husband had painted you. But later I heard it was painted by Master Shen Zhong.
I heard that wealthy merchant paid over a thousand taels of silver for that painting; it's truly worth a thousand pieces of gold!"
"You mean the person in the painting resembles me?" Ye Huohuo couldn't help but ask.
"Indeed! Even that little red mole at the corner of your eye is exactly the same. Otherwise, why would I think your husband painted you? It depicts a beauty admiring flowers," the middle-aged woman said.
"Then, where is that painting?" Ye Huohuo felt dizzy, her feet as if stepping on cotton.
This feeling again. She had no control over her actions, merely an observer, yet she felt a spiritual connection with the person possessing her, experiencing her feelings.
"Isn't that it? Where the crowd is. That merchant clearly is a nouveau riche, displaying all those calligraphies and paintings to show off, making everyone think he's a man of culture," the middle-aged woman said with disdain.
Ye Huohuo felt as if her heart were suspended in mid-air. She stumbled through the crowd to the edge of the group and, with all her might, squeezed into it. Indeed, among several pieces of calligraphy and paintings, there was a picture of a beauty admiring flowers.
The woman in the painting looked identical to the person reflected in the mirror. Now, looking closely, she bore a striking resemblance to Ye Huohuo's own face.
Disbelievingly, she rushed to the painting and looked at the inscription. Shen Zhong.
Her heart skipped a beat. Her hand trembled as she pointed at the painting, "Where was this painting bought from?"
At that moment, a middle-aged man, adorned in shimmering brocade robes, approached. "Of course, it was bought from the contemporary master of calligraphy and painting, Master Shen. This is his personal work.
Master Shen changed his painting style three years ago, and his current paintings are simply priceless. I spent three thousand taels of silver on this one. Look at the exquisite brushstrokes, the elegant style, it's simply a masterpiece of the art world!"
As the middle-aged man spoke, he suddenly froze. "You… Miss, no, Madam, how can you resemble the person in this painting so much?"
Ye Huohuo gritted her teeth, ignoring what he said, her eyes fixed fiercely on the inscription on the painting.
"This wasn't painted by Shen Zhong; this was painted by my husband! The person depicted here is me. Everyone, look closely!" Ye Huohuo said angrily.
The surrounding people began to murmur amongst themselves.
Some called the woman a lunatic, stating it was clearly Master Shen's painting and how could it possibly be of her.
Others said the woman in the painting did indeed look very much like her, and it must be someone Master Shen painted with a similar appearance, and she was trying to extort money from Master Shen.
Still others, knowing she was Chi Lemin's wife, seeing how lifelike Shen Zhong had painted her, whispered amongst themselves that she was having an affair with Shen Zhong behind her husband's back…
Rumors and gossip flew in all directions.
The middle-aged merchant's eyes gleamed, and he rubbed his hands, almost drooling. "I thought the beauty in this painting existed only in art, but I never expected to actually meet her alive! Young lady, come with me. If you are willing to follow me, I will give you any amount of gold and treasures!"
As he spoke, he reached out to grab Ye Huohuo's hand.
Ye Huohuo, filled with both shame and anger, pushed through the crowd and ran back home.
She threw herself into her husband's arms, recounting everything that had happened on the street.
Chi Lemin looked unconvinced. "How is that possible? My dear, you must have seen wrong. How could Brother Shen use my painting and claim it as his own? Impossible! Brother Shen is a contemporary master of calligraphy and painting. If he didn't help me sell my paintings, mine wouldn't even fetch ten taels of silver!
It's impossible! You must have seen wrong."
Ye Huohuo took his hand and led him outside. "I'm not wrong. I have every one of your paintings memorized. That painting was done during the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, depicting me admiring flowers.
Apart from the inscription at the end, there is no change. And how could I not recognize your painting style?"
But Chi Lemin still refused to believe it, and Ye Huohuo was dragging him out the door.
Just then, someone walked in through the doorway.
This person was in his forties, dressed in an embroidered brocade robe with intricate patterns, sporting a wisp of dark beard. He appeared very refined, but his eyes held a shrewd glint.
"Younger Brother Chi, where are you off to?"
"Brother Shen, you've come at just the right time. My wife saw a painting of a beauty admiring the moon that I painted last year. She says the inscription is Brother Shen's. I was telling her how impossible that is.
Brother Shen is so famous, why would he inscribe his name on my painting?" Chi Lemin still did not believe Shen Zhong would deceive him.
Shen Zhong's eyes darted. "Younger Brother Chi, let's talk inside. Coincidentally, I have a big business deal to discuss with you."