“You think this Marquis… is skilled in painting?”
Wen Ning nodded.
“This servant heard Nanny Xue say that the Marquis could hold a brush to practice calligraphy at three years old, could imitate the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion with remarkable likeness at five, and could paint mountains with imposing grandeur at seven. Nanny Xue also said she had seen portraits painted by the Marquis, which were as lifelike as real people.”
Upon hearing this, Xie Jinglan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, not expecting Nanny Xue to have told her everything.
Then, his distinct knuckles curled as he took the wolf-hair brush handed by the shopkeeper beside him, speaking slowly, “Since that is the case, then let this Marquis paint, and you guess.”
The dish name given by the shopkeeper was: Exquisite Peony Fish Zha.
Xie Jinglan took the brush and sat down, gently swirling the wolf-hair brush in the inkstone three times before lightly touching the rice paper, the ink spreading from light to deep in layers.
The difficulty of this painting lay in the peony-petal-shaped fish zha; the ink had to be appropriately dense and light, capturing both the crystalline clarity of ice-like flesh and jade-like bones, while retaining the warm, moist texture of creamy jade.
In no time, the wolf-hair brush rested quietly on the Celadon Jade Brush Rest, while the peony fish zha on the paper still seemed to carry a hint of moisture.
Xie Jinglan’s heart suddenly tightened. He abruptly stood up, scanning his surroundings, and indeed, Wen Ning’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
“Did you see where the woman who was with me just now went?”
The shopkeeper was holding the exquisite painting, admiring its ethereal charm, when he heard Xie Jinglan’s chilling inquiry and hurriedly replied, “I was so engrossed in watching the young master paint that I did not notice where the woman went.”
Dark tides surged in his pitch-black eyes, and wherever his gaze fell, it seemed to dispel all darkness.
Xie Jinglan pressed a finger to his lips, and a clear, sharp whistle pierced the air.
Before the whistle faded, several dark figures appeared before him, clasping their fists and bowing their heads.
Qing Feng and several hidden guards appeared simultaneously. Seeing that Wen Ning was not by the Marquis’s side, he whispered, “Master, has Miss Wen encountered danger?”
Xie Jinglan’s eyes were as cold as iron, and he sharply uttered two words, “Find her!”
Wen Ning, having fled from Xie Jinglan’s side, could only rush forward in panic.
By the time she reached the end of the long street, her fingertips clutching her skirt had already turned pale. She did not know where she had found the courage to flee right in front of him!
But she truly had no other choice. If she did not seize this opportunity to escape, she feared the child in her womb would no longer remain hidden. For now, she had to first find a place to hide and then make further plans.
Suddenly, the crowd behind her grew restless, and she heard someone nearby whispering, “Soldiers are coming; they’re going to seal off the street.”
Wen Ning bit her lower lip tightly, and a fine layer of cold sweat broke out on the back of her neck.
She glanced around and saw a painted barge by the lake about to depart from the shore. Without further thought, she hurriedly stepped onto the sandalwood staircase.
The two maidservants before the screen door assumed she was a young lady or family member accompanying some noble. They lightly tapped their toes, bowing their heads and standing in attendance.
This painted barge was a full twenty zhang long, with three stories of gilded flying eaves suspending octagonal palace lanterns, casting shattered gold-like reflections on the lake surface.
The bottom level, aside from storage compartments, also housed a kitchen and resting quarters for servants.
The second level was the Brocade Cabin, where twelve folding screens separated the seating areas for men and women.
The third level featured the Cloud Pavilion for Viewing Scenery, with light gauze curtains fluttering around it. Beautiful melodies accompanied the fragrance of tea, lingering softly under the octagonal palace lanterns.
However, Wen Ning did not notice that a giant lantern hung from the barge’s mast, inscribed with four large characters: Wen Family Food Barge.
After Wen Ning’s father passed away, the entire Wen family was managed by the principal wife, Madam Ning.
Madam Ning had a pair of children: the eldest son, Wen Chi, and the younger daughter, Wen Rao, who were twins, one year older than Wen Ning.
After Master Wen passed away, the Wen family could continue undertaking imperial business and maintain the title of "Imperial Merchant" solely by relying on their intricate connections with these powerful nobles.
Just like today, this banquet served as a "stepping stone."
When Wen Ning was young, she couldn’t understand why her mother, who could carve radishes into peonies, make coarse rice exude the fragrance of lotus, and even inscribe the Wen family’s restaurant recipes with unparalleled elegance, had never been able to hold her head high before the first wife.
Why was that?
It wasn’t until her parents passed away, and the first wife frantically barged into the small courtyard where she and her mother lived, smashing everything to pieces, that she understood.
She clearly remembered what the first wife said before sending her off to the estate:
"I married your father at sixteen. At that time, he was still a scholar, graceful and elegant, like the moon after rain and a gentle breeze.
I fell deeply in love with him, so deeply that I forgot myself, hoping to grow old together with him, sharing mutual respect and affection.
Although your father and I were not passionately in love, we treated each other with respect. Unfortunately, he met your mother at a small noodle stall. Your mother was an orphaned girl with no one to rely on.
He disregarded my objections and brought your mother into the household.
Your mother was as beautiful as a flower, gentle and lovely. She also handed over the family’s ancestral recipes to your father, which led to the family’s prosperity. But in doing so, he gradually neglected me, his rightful wife, and grew increasingly distant.
I tried every means to conceive twins, longing more and more for my husband’s affection. That day, I went to the temple with my swollen belly, kneeling and praying all the way, hoping he would spare me a glance.
When I dragged my soaked body home in the rain, I saw him personally making an oil-paper umbrella for your mother!
Fortunately, heaven had eyes. She fell ill and passed away. I was grateful, thinking my husband would come back to me. But I never expected his love to run so deep that he fell ill from longing and followed her to the grave within days.
Leaving you here is nothing but torture for me. Every time I see you, it’s as if I’m seeing your mother!"
It was then that Wen Ning understood why her mother was always melancholy. She said she had stolen someone else’s marriage… She didn’t refuse to become a concubine in the household out of fear of humiliation, but because she saw another woman crying.
If Wen Ning could have seen the four large characters on the lantern at that moment, she would never have boarded this painted boat, even if beaten to death.
Madam Ning was now leading her daughter to greet the various noble ladies. Besides paving the way for her son, today’s banquet also concealed her intention to find a suitable match for her daughter among the nobility.
The hall was filled with noblewomen, all seeking spouses for their own children. Amidst the clinking of cups, it had quietly become a hidden "matchmaking stage."
Wen Ning entered the screen door and discovered this was the Brocade Cabin. She walked with her head lowered the entire way, afraid of drawing attention, just wanting to find a place to hide quickly.
But as fate would have it, a plump and elegant noblewoman spotted Wen Ning trying to slip away unnoticed.
Her eyes lit up, and she reached out to pull Wen Ning over, her voice booming like a bell, "Whose daughter is this, with such striking looks?"
Instantly, all eyes in the room converged on one spot. Behind the folding screen, young gentlemen also turned to look.
There stood a figure in a moon-white silk dress, flowing like a cloud, accentuating a waist as slender as a willow, seemingly too delicate to hold. Her eyes alone were like a breeze carrying the fragrance of peach blossoms, their natural curve and star-bright, ink-jade hue surpassing all earthly beauty. Her entire presence was so clear, gentle, and captivating that it stole one’s breath away.
The smiles on Madam Ning and her daughter’s faces froze. Once they confirmed the young woman was Wen Ning, years of jealousy and resentment surged in their eyes, their gazes sharp as poisoned silver needles.
Wen Ning could hardly believe it herself—she had unexpectedly encountered Madam Ning and her daughter.
Wen Rao whispered into her mother's ear, "Mother, didn't she marry into the Liu family in my place? How did she end up here? Could it be that Young Master Liu died, and she sneaked out of the Liu household? Perhaps she intends to take this opportunity to embarrass us in front of everyone?"
A thin layer of frost seemed to settle in the shrewd eyes of the matriarch. She patted Wen Rao's hand, signaling her to remain silent for now.
Wen Ning only wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. She lowered her head and addressed the noblewoman before her, "This servant has mistaken the place and did not mean to disturb your enjoyment. I shall take my leave now."
She then curtsied in the direction of the matriarch and turned to exit through the screen door.
But upon hearing her words, the noblewoman deliberately held her back, refusing to let her leave.
With a slight raise of her brow, she thought to herself—such grace and appearance, and yet claiming to be a servant? Did they take her for a fool?
"How could a servant be so exquisitely beautiful? Speak truthfully now, which noble family's daughter are you?"
The others in the room grew intrigued as well, chattering among themselves, each trying to guess her identity.
"Allow this humble daughter to answer for the ladies."
Wen Rao first let out a deliberate, hesitant sigh, then stepped forward as though what she was about to say pained her greatly.