Yueyao was unaware of any gossip outside. Naturally, even if Yueyao did know, she wouldn’t mind. As Xiang Wei said, it’s like Zhou Yu hitting Huang Gai, one willing to hit and one willing to be hit. These paintings were bought voluntarily; she didn’t force anyone to buy them.
That night, Niu Yanghui sought out Yueyao and said, "Second Sister, the prices of your paintings are quite good. Why don’t you sell the remaining nine paintings as well?" Yueyao initially told Niu Yanghui that she only planned to sell nine paintings and keep the rest.
Yueyao shook her head with a smile.
Niu Yanghui asked, "The price is quite good, why not sell them?" Many people ca to inquire today, making it difficult for Niu Yanghui to handle.
Yueyao smiled and said, "If I sell all these paintings, how am I going to hold an exhibition in the Capital City? Selling a few paintings is fine, I can make up for the loss in the next two years. If I sell them all, what will I use for exhibitions in the future?"
When Yueyao started selling paintings, she already stated that the exhibition was only for auctioning the nine paintings and no other works. From the beginning, everyone assud Yueyao was keeping people in suspense, and after her paintings sold at sky-high prices, they beca even more certain that the news wasn’t true.
But when word ca from the Magistrate’s residence that the remaining paintings by Yueyao wouldn’t be sold and would be taken back, those who were still deliberating regretted it deeply.
Three days later, while Yueyao was chatting with Kexin, Mingzhu stord in. Yueyao patted Kexin’s little shoulder, "You go out first!"
After Kexin left, Mingzhu said, "Yueyao, do you know your Peony painting is now in the hands of the oiran at Chunxiang Tower? That woman actually hung your Peony in her room."
Yueyao didn’t understand why Mingzhu was so angry.
Xiang Wei laughed and said, "That Peony sold for two thousand six hundred taels of silver, the highest of all the paintings." Actually, Xiang Wei, seeing the determination of the buyer, raised the price. If she wasn’t afraid of being found out, Xiang Wei would certainly continue to raise the price.
Xiang Wei was very proud, look at how capable she was! If she hadn’t deliberately raised the price, these paintings wouldn’t have sold for such high prices.
Mingzhu listened to Xiang Wei and discontentedly asked, "Did you listen to what I said? Yueyao’s painting is now hanging in a brothel girl’s room." Just the thought of it made her particularly angry.
Xiang Wei shrugged and said, "The person spent a great sum to buy the painting. It’s theirs, and they can dispose of it as they wish. It’s not just giving it to an oiran, even if they use it as a table mat, we have no right to interfere." Xiang Wei thought having Yueyao’s painting hanging in an oiran’s room was fine. Anyway, the guests admiring the Peony were all scholars and artists, which could boost Yueyao’s reputation!
Mingzhu angrily said, "You’re so focused on money. If I had known this, I would have stopped you from selling the paintings and kept them for ourselves to admire."
Yueyao placed a green cushion behind her and leaned back: "Good things are ant to be appreciated by others."
Mingzhu couldn’t understand Yueyao’s decision. Ten years for just twenty paintings? These could be kept to hang in the house!
But Xiang Wei held a different opinion: "Hey, why not take out a couple of calligraphy pieces to sell? I bet they could fetch a good price too." Yueyao’s paintings were rare masterpieces, but calligraphy was much easier. A good piece of calligraphy could be completed in three days by Yueyao.
Yueyao couldn’t be bothered to respond to Xiang Wei.
Mingzhu fully agreed with Yueyao’s decision: "Good things should be kept for oneself."
Yueyao smiled and said, "I promised to give you a calligraphy piece before, why don’t you pick one from the few I have?"
Mingzhu, never formal with Yueyao, replied, "Alright, then I’ll hang your calligraphy in the dining hall, so everyone who visits can see your grand calligraphy."
Yueyao felt a bit tired and wanted to sleep.
Seeing this, Mingzhu hurriedly said, "Yueyao, any notable person in Suzhou has sent us invitations; so of them are beyond my husband’s social standing. Yueyao, you see..." With Mingzhu’s temperant, she wouldn’t care about the person’s background, but Niu Yanghui worked in officialdom, and offending too many people would be inconvenient.
Yueyao wasn’t oblivious and understood what it ant: "List out all those who sent invitations for to see." To et her, they need to qualify.
Mingzhu laughed, "Alright." As long as Yueyao is willing to et people, who she ets isn’t up to them.
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