When Yueyao entered the mourning hall, she saw Mingzhu kneeling on the straw mat, her eyes swollen like walnuts, her entire deanor worn and haggard. Yueyao’s eyes suddenly reddened. Those who had not experienced it could never understand the anguish of losing one’s parents.
Yueyao approached Mingzhu and said, "Mingzhu, take care of yourself."
Mingzhu looked at Yueyao, tears streaming down her face.
Yueyao, paying no mind to the many people around, took the painting scroll from Xi Yu and said, "Mingzhu, there’s nothing else I can do for you. This is the only thing I am capable of."
Presenting a painting scroll above the mourning hall was indeed a rare event. Naturally, everyone present, already lighting incense, looked at the scroll in Yueyao’s hands with curiosity filling their hearts.
Wiping her tears, Mingzhu asked, "Yueyao, may I open it?" During their long association, she knew Yueyao would not give her sothing irrelevant.
Yueyao hesitated, then nodded.
Mingzhu steadied her spirit, opened the scroll, glanced at the painting, and burst into tears, crying out, "Mother..."
The painting Yueyao had created was of the Lady of Marquis Jingning, Lady Bai. Yueyao had only t Lady Bai once, but it was that single impression that enabled her to depict Lady Bai so vividly, as if she were real, her face bearing a loving smile as though it were carved out.
All present looked at the painting scroll in Mingzhu’s hands with great surprise. Mingzhu, however, said to Yueyao, "Yueyao, thank you, thank you so much."
Yueyao replied, "What is there to thank between you and ? You must take good care of yourself, or your mother won’t rest easy in heaven."
Mingzhu nodded.
After comforting Mingzhu with a few more words, Yueyao left. The Marquis Jingning’s Residence was currently in chaos; she felt it inappropriate to stay longer as it might burden them.
What Yueyao didn’t know was that after she left the mourning hall, Mingzhu had soone call Luo Shao, who was entertaining guests in the front courtyard, and requested that the morial portrait in the mourning hall be replaced with the painting Yueyao had created.
Luo Shao, upon seeing the painting scroll Mingzhu was holding, imdiately arranged for Yueyao’s portrayal to be frad. By that evening, the previous portrait had been replaced.
Generally, changing the portrait in a mourning hall is frowned upon, but the portrait previously hung by the Imperial Court ntor couldn’t compare to Yueyao’s work. It’s not that the Imperial Court ntor’s artistry was poor, but his adherence to convention typically resulted in similar renditions. Without comparison, it might have been fine, but with Yueyao’s painting available, not using it would be a disservice to the deceased.
Xiang Wei curiously said, "Miss, have you been painting the Lady of Marquis Jingning these past two days?"
Yueyao nodded, "I’ve only seen the Lady of Marquis Jingning once, so to create her likeness, I had to recall that day’s events." Yueyao found painting this portrait particularly draining.
Xiang Wei nodded understandingly, "It must have been hard on you."
Yueyao, exhausted from the effort over the past few days, fell asleep upon returning to Begonia Garden. Yet, the painting Yueyao made of the Lady of Marquis Jingning quickly beca famous among the elite.
The Old Lady of the Duke of Lu’s Mansion, initially casual about Yueyao’s refusal to paint for her, considering it rely a backup, was quite moved when she heard her daughter-in-law describe how the morial portrait of the Lady of Marquis Jingning closely resembled the original. She imdiately sent word to Zhuang Ruolan, suggesting Yueyao paint for her after the New Year. Whether the rumors were true would soon be clear.
Yueyao, however, didn’t dwell on these matters. The following day, she wrote a letter to Mingzhu informing her of her retreat to Zhaohua Temple, inviting Mingzhu to join her after the mourning period if she wished.
Yueyao had arranged for a suite in Zhaohua Temple and, preparing promptly, she headed there. The Capital City was full of strife, and she preferred a quieter place.
Yueyao’s sudden departure for Zhaohua Temple ca as a surprise even to Madam Tang, who only learned of it as Yueyao was about to leave. Madam Tang wanted to speak her mind, but seeing Yueyao’s tranquil deanor, she held her words back.
Returning to her room, Madam Tang looked at the invitation lying on the table, her expression clouding over. In the past few days, those who had dropped off invitations were either from powerful families or high-ranking officials; unfortunately, Yueyao was not inclined to respond, even retreating to Zhaohua Temple.
Madam Tang was brooding when another invitation was delivered. Looking at the bright red card and the seal on it, her eyes brightened as she murmured to herself, "I didn’t expect even the Pri Minister’s Mansion to have sent an invitation." They say a seventh-rank official stands at the gates of the pri minister’s court; if the Ma Family could connect with the Pri Minister’s Mansion, it would be nothing but beneficial for her husband’s future.
Thinking this, she eagerly took the invitation to seek out Zhuang Ruolan. Her own words might not carry weight, but surely Zhuang Ruolan’s would.
Zhuang Ruolan glanced at the invitation from the Pri Minister’s Mansion and smiled, "Let the Chief Steward handle these invitations. Yueyao definitely won’t be painting for anyone else this year; it wouldn’t be right to force her."
Madam Tang’s face fell. She didn’t understand why Zhuang Ruolan seed utterly unmoved by the opportunity. If the Ma Family could affiliate with the Pri Minister’s Mansion, it would be beneficial for both her father-in-law and her uncle.
Zhuang Ruolan didn’t offer Madam Tang further explanation, instead deftly changing the subject. After Madam Tang left, Zhuang Ruolan sighed slightly. Her sister-in-law was clever, sure, but her ambition was too mighty, always scheming for her younger uncle’s promotion. She only saw that the invitations ca from influential people, unaware of the intricate interconnections involved. The Ma Family needed to steer clear of these complexities and leave the choice to Yueyao.
Cai Hua, having been with Zhuang Ruolan for a substantial length of ti and perceiving the situation, smiled and said, "Madam, you should focus on taking care of your pregnancy. Soon giving birth to a healthy, chubby boy is what truly matters. Let those matters,"
Zhuang Ruolan, touching her bulging belly, smiled and nodded. She was over five months pregnant, and this pregnancy felt different from the previous ones, thus she believed she might be carrying a son.
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