Cai Hua couldn’t help but chuckle and join in the fun, "A painting starting at one thousand taels, although it’s a bit expensive, Miss Yao has the confidence. Even Princess Consort Duan said Miss Yao’s paintings are worth one thousand taels, others simply don’t have such talent."
Zhuang Ruolan nodded, "That’s true."
The old nanny outside said, "Madam, Doctor Zhang has arrived."
After examining Zhuang Ruolan’s pulse, Doctor Zhang said with a beaming smile, "Madam, this is a blissful pulse, you are over a month pregnant. The fetus is stable, you just need to pay attention to your diet in your daily life."
Zhuang Ruolan, who had already given birth to two children, had a good understanding of the situation. She had specially summoned Doctor Zhang to make sure.
Zhuang Ruolan entered her bedroom and looked at the Child-Giving Guanyin hanging there. According to the months, the child was conceived exactly at the ti when Yueyao had sent the "Child-Giving Guanyin." Touching her belly, Zhuang Ruolan was sure this child would be a son.
The matter of Yueyao demanding one thousand taels of silver for a painting was sothing that those who cherished her, like Ma Chengteng and Ma Peng, simply laughed off. But for those who disliked her, it was absolutely intolerable.
Lady Mu hadn’t attended the banquet held by Princess Consort Duan due to ill health, and when she heard the news later, the veins on her forehead bulged with anger. She raged, "A painting for one thousand taels of silver; does she think she’s creating an unrivaled masterpiece?" She dreaded the humiliation she would face if others ntioned it, and the thought of the future scenarios made her chest ache.
That evening, Lady Mu shared the story of Yueyao with Shen Qian. n and won see things differently, and Shen Qian didn’t think there was any issue with it. Of course, had Yueyao not said she would only paint three paintings a year, his reaction would have been purely joyous rather than mixed with frustration.
Shen Qian said with a smile, "This is just for fun. You can’t take it seriously." Shen Qian thought it likely that Yueyao had caught the eye of Princess Consort Duan, which was why she was given such high praise.
But soon enough, outsiders started to take it seriously because Prince Duan personally stated that this Guanyin Image was indeed worth one thousand taels of silver. When Princess Consort Duan priced the painting at one thousand taels, others, like Shen Qian, thought it was just in jest, but Prince Duan was different; a painting that he said was worth one thousand taels would not be appraised at less than nine hundred taels.
With Prince Duan’s golden words, Yueyao beca truly famous in the Capital City, thoroughly famous.
Many sought out Ma Chengteng and Ma Peng, wanting Yueyao’s paintings, and so even approached Zhuang Ruolan. Of course, they weren’t asking for it for free, and they were willing to offer one thousand taels.
Zhuang Ruolan managed fine. She was pregnant and used the need to nurture her womb and the excuse of being unable to entertain disturbances to avoid everyone.
Ma Chengteng and Ma Peng were not as lucky as Zhuang Ruolan; faced with demands from friends and colleagues, they had to diplomatically decline. They stressed that they couldn’t make decisions on this matter and that eventually, it was up to Yueyao.
Those who tried to find Yueyao discovered that she wasn’t in the Capital City, but at a separate estate of the Ma Family. It wasn’t proper for them to pursue her there.
Madam Ping was astonished that Prince Duan also endorsed Yueyao, and she spoke about it with her husband in the evening. She remarked curiously, "When did Yueyao catch Prince Duan’s eye?" To catch Prince Duan’s eye was to gain both fa and wealth, but the people who had managed to do so were very few. So far, there had only been two.
Luo Shao said with a laugh, "Lian Yueyao doesn’t need to catch Prince Duan’s eye, her future achievents in the art world cannot be underestimated. As Mr. Yu Shan’s closed-door disciple, if it weren’t for Lian Yueyao’s own modesty about not publicizing it, she would have beco famous long ago." Luo Shao knew that Yueyao was the Hermit in the Wild, but he didn’t plan to reveal it since Madam Ping hadn’t asked.
Madam Ping wasn’t surprised by this news, after all, Bai Yi had ntioned before that Mr. Yu Shan taught Yueyao, "But Yueyao is only twelve years old! In the future, she could beco a prodigy."
Luo Shao paused before saying, "Who knows what the future holds..." If Lian Yueyao were to marry and have children, her artistic journey might end there. Of course, there might be surprises, so the future was unpredictable, and no one could be certain of the outco.
Madam Ping nodded, no longer discussing Yueyao’s affairs with a laugh.
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