Two days after the incident in the main hall, Chu An Lou came to Niu You Dao again.
"Lord Dao." Chu An Lou also politely clasped his hands and greeted him, as if nothing had happened.
Yuan Gang gave him a cold glance, all his muscles tensing.
Niu You Dao also clasped his hands with a smile:
"Manager Chu, what are your instructions?" He too behaved just like Chu An Lou.
"The Mistress has returned. I request Lord Dao to follow me."
Niu You Dao understood that the Mistress of Ice and Snow Palace had returned. He had previously wondered why he was kept here, neither invited nor released.
"Very well, very well!" Niu You Dao agreed.
"Please!" Chu An Lou extended his hands, inviting Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao brought no one with him except Yuan Gang. Chu An Lou did not object. He thought Yuan Gang would be there as an attendant.
Watching them leave, Hei Mudan felt a pang of jealousy towards Niu You Dao. After all, in Zhaixing City, she had accompanied him, but now Yuan Gang had appeared and pushed her to the background...
As soon as the three exited the back of the inn, they took a shortcut on foot and ascended a staircase upwards, where a waterfall cascaded down beside them. A magnificent view unfolded before their eyes. It appeared to be a verdant oasis.
Ahead, numerous pavilions and terraces could be seen, all crafted from white jade. Everything was so beautiful, as if they were in a celestial palace or an immortal realm.
Niu You Dao looked around and noticed that the so-called Ice and Snow Palace wasn't covered by even a single snowflake.
"What a fine place! Truly a blessed land in a realm of cold and ice."
"Hehe." Chu An Lou chuckled.
They arrived at a pavilion built over water and saw Hai Bing, who was seated and drinking tea. Chu An Lou stopped beforehand and warned Niu You Dao to treat her with courtesy.
As they entered, Chu An Lou clasped his hands and said:
"Chief Manager, we have arrived."
Niu You Dao politely said:
"Greetings, Chief Manager."
However, Yuan Gang, standing behind him, remained motionless. He showed not an iota of politeness.
Hai Bing set down her teacup and looked at Niu You Dao with a scrutinizing gaze.
"I heard you painted a portrait of Sha Huang Li in Zhaixing City?"
Niu You Dao nodded. So that's what this is about.
"I've heard you possess a unique technique. I would like to broaden my horizons."
"Chief Manager overpraises me undeservedly. I am merely a slave to my passions."
Hai Bing shook her head:
"Very well. There's no need for false modesty. By the way, I heard your paintings are not cheap. Xiang Ming said one of your paintings cost a hundred thousand gold coins. That's a sky-high price!"
Chu An Lou, standing nearby, was astonished: "One painting? A hundred thousand? Is he painting with gold?"
Niu You Dao: If the Chief Manager requires it, I will not take a single copper coin.
Hai Bing waved her hand:
"There is no need for that. We understand that everyone needs to make a living, and we will respond to demand according to market principles. The Ice and Snow Palace cannot oppress you in this regard."
Niu You Dao: The Chief Manager does not know everything. I will not take money because I wish to state my conditions.
Chu An Lou cast a cold gaze at Niu You Dao. You dare to dictate terms here?
"Oh?" Hai Bing raised her teacup, took a small sip, and, closing her eyes, calmly asked:
"What conditions? Speak."
Niu You Dao: I paint for amusement and am not an artist by profession, thus I do not intend to paint for just anyone. Otherwise, how many wealthy individuals in the world would desire me to paint a portrait for them? Then I would have no time left for cultivation. After all, not all wealthy individuals can be refused. That is why in Zhaixing City I named an exorbitant price, hoping they would back down. But who could have known they would agree, and I had to fulfill the terms. Therefore, I hope you will keep my pastime a secret. If the Chief Manager agrees, I will not take a single copper coin.
"So, this is your condition?" Hai Bing smiled faintly and set down her teacup:
"So, you possess wealth and do not wish to earn more. However, if Sha Huang Li had not spoken of it, we would not have sought you out. But since we have found you, you had no room to refuse. For those who refuse us find trouble. Very well, I agree. I will also request Zhaixing City to keep the secret. As for the money, a market is a market. I will not mistreat you."
Niu You Dao clasped his hands:
"Thank you, Chief Manager."
Hai Bing waved her hand, and a maidservant brought Niu You Dao a stack of banknotes.
Chu An Lou froze. He saw the pile of banknotes. Ten bundles of a hundred thousand each?
"Chief Manager, this..." Niu You Dao was astonished.
Hai Bing stood up and asked:
"To paint ten portraits for the Mistress. Will that be a problem?"
Niu You Dao looked up at the sky, then turned his head and asked:
"I don't know who the model will be, and whether a secondary landscape will be needed?"
Hai Bing: The Mistress said she liked Sha Huang Li's portrait. Was there a landscape in it?
Niu You Dao: There was.
Hai Bing: Then paint the same. What difference does it make whether there's a landscape or not?
Niu You Dao: Chief Manager, if one simply paints a person without a landscape, they will not look as beautiful. But with a landscape, they can be highlighted, and then they will appear more beautiful. When I painted Sha Huang Li, you can ask their manager, we walked all over Zhaixing searching for a suitable landscape. And if I add an additional background, the painting will take even more time. If the Mistress desires a beautiful portrait, I cannot simply paint her next to any tree, rock, or whatever else. A fitting landscape is required. And that also increases the time. I won't be able to paint ten portraits today. It will take at least two days.
"That is also true." Hai Bing was silent for a moment, then asked:
"Do you have time?"
Niu You Dao shook his head:
"One day more or less does not greatly affect me. I will simply be a bit more tired and expend more energy."
Hai Bing pointed at the banknotes in the maidservant's hands and said:
"Then it is settled."
"Obedience is the best courtesy." Niu You Dao clasped his hands and accepted the banknotes.
Chu An Lou, standing to the side, could not bear it and trembled.
A million. How many people suffer and toil their entire lives, sweating profusely to earn such a sum. How many masters kill and plunder to earn such a sum. And he merely has to paint ten portraits and work for two days? And he still claims he will expend energy?
He wondered, could a portrait truly be worth so much?
Seeing Niu You Dao agree, Hai Bing rejoiced inwardly. She would be able to please the Mistress several times over. She asked:
"Can we begin now?"
Niu You Dao: First, it's better to choose the landscape. The weather is good today, suitable for painting. Now, a suitable landscape must be chosen. Then I will consider what else to add. There's no need to rush into picking up the brush.
"Mm." Hai Bing nodded her head. Every profession has its own techniques. It is logical.
Niu You Dao: I will also need drawing tools.
"Xiao Run." Hai Bing pointed at the maidservant:
"Whatever you need, you can ask her."
"Understood." Niu You Dao clasped his hands:
"Chief Manager, there is still something I wish to ask. May I have a word with you?"
"What is this fellow planning now?" Chu An Lou looked at him warily.
Hai Bing was surprised, but waved her hand:
"Step back."
"As you command!" Chu An Lou and the maidservant exited the pavilion and stood at a distance.
"Speak." Hai Bing said.
Niu You Dao: Chief Manager, could you tell me about the Mistress's personality traits?
Seeing Hai Bing's astonished expression, he immediately waved his hand:
"The Chief Manager has misunderstood me. Let me explain. Painting merely seems simple, but there is much to grasp in this craft. To put it simply, for a portrait to please someone, one must thoroughly understand their preferences. What they like. People are all different, and each has their own interests. For some, warmer tones are more suitable, for others, cooler ones. The best approach, before painting a portrait, is to walk with the person themselves and converse with them. To consider which landscape and background would suit the person best. For a background is to a person as an outfit is to a maiden. A beautiful outfit might not suit one maiden at all, yet be entirely fitting for another."
After his explanation, being a woman herself, Hai Bing understood and agreed with him. However, she asked:
"When you painted Sha Huang Li's portrait, did you also do that?"
Yuan Gang, standing to the side, whispered, "What's so difficult about that?"
Niu You Dao: You can ask their courtyard manager. Before painting, Sha Huang Li personally chose the background with me. We conversed for a long time then, and I came to understand her better. That was when I understood which landscape would best suit her. And here, I need to paint ten portraits. I wish for all ten portraits to please the Mistress. Of course, if the Mistress does not wish it, then I shall say nothing.
Hai Bing was silent for a moment, then said:
"Later, I will lead you to the Mistress so you may see her. As for her character, she is cold on the outside, but passionate within. She loves simplicity and dislikes complexity."
Niu You Dao was not surprised that Hai Bing agreed with him. After all, as it is often said, when maidens encounter such matters, or when they stand before mirrors, their reason vanishes.
That is why he did not wish to discuss this in front of everyone. For Chu An Lou is a man.
"Understood, I have a general idea." Niu You Dao nodded.
Later, Hai Bing led Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang along a forest path. Then, leaving them to the side, she herself emerged from the forest and approached a pavilion. There, she bowed to a maiden in white, who sat in the pavilion, flipping through something. This was none other than Xue Lao Er, the Mistress of the Ice and Snow Palace.
She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, far more beautiful than Sha Huang Li from Zhaixing City. The two maidens were simply incomparable.
She was lofty, refined, and cold. No matter what Hai Bing said, Xue Lao Er's face remained devoid of emotion.
Upon seeing her, Niu You Dao believed Hai Bing's words. The Mistress of the Ice and Snow Palace was indeed cold on the outside. Otherwise, she and Sha Huang Li probably wouldn't have become friends.
When Xue Lao Er stood, one could admire her alluring and graceful figure. Yet, she still retained the dignified air of the Mistress of the Ice and Snow Palace.