Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Yao Huang was a big fan of His Highness Prince Hui's paintings, but this time she chose the stone bridge in Lingshan Town as the location, to help His Highness Prince Hui get used to being around people and to the gazes from those around him. So, on the first day she took him out, Yao Huang first ran to the stone bridge to ask if the scenery from the bridge was beautiful, so her request for a painting wouldn’t come out of the blue.

Yao Huang was seventeen, and before this, her relatives and friends always went out of their way to cheer her up. His Highness Prince Hui was the only one for whom Yao Huang had put in so much effort.

But who could blame her? His Highness Prince Hui was her husband, the one who would share a roof with her for decades.

Her wealth and honor came from His Highness Prince Hui, and that alone was worth Yao Huang's efforts. His Highness Prince Hui's patience and indulgence towards her, along with the brief smiles that finally appeared on his face, all spurred Yao Huang on to help him get his spark back.

"What’s the hold-up? Are you gonna paint for me or not?"

Yao Huang had set the date for the painting, but His Highness Prince Hui had yet to give a response, so she tugged at his sleeve.

Zhao Sui had a green sash over his eyes, but he could still see the pleading look in his wife's eyes.

After a moment, he nodded.

His Highness Prince Hui loved hanging out in his study. When he left the capital, he brought two boxes of books and one box of stationery, including a set of paints for his artwork.

On the evening of the 18th, Qing Ai and Fei Quan got the paints, easel, and a small table ready. The next morning, after breakfast, Yao Huang wheeled His Highness Prince Hui out, with her younger cousin Fei Quan carrying the supplies behind them.

As the sun rose in the east, Yao Huang, standing on the bridge facing west, was in the shade. His Highness Prince Hui’s wheelchair was tucked behind a weeping willow on the shore, allowing him to see his wife's dress and face clearly while avoiding the harsh sunlight as the day progressed.

Fei Quan first helped His Highness Prince Hui set up the easel and arrange the paints. Yao Huang moved around on the bridge, figuring out how to pose.

It wasn’t peak farming season in mid-June, so there were quite a few idle neighbors on both banks, drawn by the scene of the Liao scholar and his wife, and they gradually gathered around.

"Scholar Liao, are you going to paint?"

Fei Quan replied with a smile, "Yes, my sister-in-law’s a big fan of our town’s scenery, and since my brother is good at painting, we decided to paint a picture."

There were not many accomplished scholars in the town, let alone the refined art of painting, which required even more skill and financial support. The neighbors were even more intrigued, and some even ran home to fetch stools, eager to watch the Liao scholar work his magic. The news gradually spread, and more and more neighbors gathered, including men, women, and children, not just women.

Zhao Sui glanced at his wife on the bridge. Today, she wore a light blue upper garment and a plain white waist-length skirt. The blue looked classy and calm, suitable for such a public painting occasion. Her face was slightly lowered, one hand resting on the top of the railing beside her, like she was either watching the fish or lost in thought.

When the neighbors saw Scholar Liao pick up the brush, they quieted down at Fei Quan’s cue.

Zhao Sui first painted the section of the stone bridge where his wife stood.

After watching for a while, the manager of the stationery shop in town, Hu, whispered in admiration, "Incredible! Scholar Liao’s strokes are smooth and effortless, yet they perfectly capture the bridge’s wear and tear."

The neighbors, clueless about the technique but impressed by Scholar Liao’s work, nodded along.

After finishing part of the bridge, Zhao Sui started painting the woman, beginning with her neck.

Painting requires patience, and so does watching a painting. Some neighbors lost interest after watching for a while and left, while others had to attend to their shops or other businesses. Coming and going, those who remained standing closely behind His Highness Prince Hui for a close-up view of the painting were actually the neighbors from the east and west ends of the new residence. On one side were Madam Zhu and the siblings He Wenbin and He Wenqi, and on the other side were Squire Qi, whose black hair was mixed with silver strands, and his second wife, Madam Lü, as well as Manager Hu, who was sandwiched between the two families and reluctant to leave because of his love for refined arts.

Manager Hu praised from time to time, and under his explanation, the neighbors increasingly understood how exquisite Scholar Liao's painting skills were.

Manager Hu: "I once saw a painting worth a hundred taels in a calligraphy and painting shop in the capital. Thinking back carefully, it still falls short of Scholar Liao's work by three points!"

The neighbors gasped in unison!

Yao Huang, standing on the bridge, secretly laughed in her heart. The ink treasures of His Highness Prince Hui, even if priced at a thousand taels of silver, would still be eagerly sought after by wealthy merchants.

After Zhao Sui finished painting his wife's dress, hands, and arms, he began to paint her head, still leaving the facial features for last.

Madam Zhu, who had long been displeased with Manager Hu's constant praise of Scholar Liao in front of her son, the scholar, couldn't help but say when she saw Scholar Liao signaling that the young lady could come down from the bridge, "They say the hardest part of painting is nailing the facial features, especially the eyes. Scholar Liao, please continue painting and let us all see for ourselves."

Zhao Sui paid no heed and kept on painting.

Fei Quan scoffed at Madam Zhu, "Are you the examiner? Why should we listen to you about how to paint?"

While others offered compliments, her words were grating and laced with provocation.

Madam Zhu: "..."

Of course, some who were fed up with Madam Zhu's usual antics chimed in, "Manager Hu, Wenbin used to be the best painter in our town. Now, tell us, how does Liao Xiucai's painting stack up against Wenbin's?"

Before Manager Hu could answer, another person laughed, "That's a tough call. According to what Manager Hu just said, Liao Xiucai's painting is worth over a hundred taels. Our Wenbin is no slouch either. Just the other day, Squire Qi offered Wenbin ten taels to paint a birthday scene, but he turned it down. Seems like Wenbin's work could fetch a hundred taels too."

Squire Qi, mentioned earlier, stroked his beard and kept his eyes on Liao Xiucai's painting.

He Wenbin caught sight of the painted beauty who'd edged closer to the crowd, overheard the comments, and flushed with embarrassment.

Madam Zhu shot a glare at the troublemakers and defended her son, "That's not the case at all. Squire Qi is our old neighbor. Had he picked another time for his birthday, Wenbin would've painted for him gratis. It's just that he is preparing for the spring exams now. The spring exams are a big deal. How could he spare the energy for painting?"

Fei Quan, catching the implied dig at his prince's disability and lack of exam prep, laughed, "No time to paint for Squire Qi, yet here you are watching my brother paint?"

Madam Zhu was gearing up for a retort when He Wenbin cut her off and addressed Squire Qi, "Uncle Qi, I was wrong earlier. Studying needs to be balanced with breaks. Calligraphy and painting are both arts that build character. If you're okay with it, I can paint for you today."

Squire Qi smiled kindly, "Nonsense! The spring exams are what matter. Don't let my business distract you."

"Exactly, don't waste Wenbin's time, or if things go south next year, it'll be on you."

This was practically a jinx on her son's exam success. Madam Zhu was furious and pointed at the person, scolding, "You can't expect pearls from a swine. How dare you talk like that? I..."

Fei Quan jumped up and pushed the mother and her children back, "Go, go, go, argue somewhere else, don't ruin my brother's painting mood."

He Wenbin and his sister, being young and concerned about face, pulled their mother away.

The sun was getting higher, and the number of onlookers was decreasing. When Zhao Sui stopped painting, the princess in the painting only lacked the facial features to be completed. Besides Yao Huang and Fei Quan, only Squire Qi, sitting on a stone by the shore and fanning himself, remained.

Fei Quan was responsible for packing up, while Yao Huang pushed Prince Hui towards Squire Qi and smiled, "We are going back, will you join us, old man?"

Squire Qi nodded happily and sincerely said to Prince Hui, "I haven't read much, so I'm not good at praising people. But today, seeing your painting, I finally understand why some people are willing to pay hundreds or thousands of gold for famous paintings."

Zhao Sui: "It's just a clumsy work, you flatter me, old man."

Squire Qi walked beside the wheelchair, fanning himself with a cattail leaf fan, and sighed, "You just heard, young man, I am celebrating my sixtieth birthday on the twenty-ninth of this month. I didn't do any refined things when I was young, but now in my old age, I suddenly want someone to paint a picture of my family for my birthday. He's nephew is busy, I dare not disturb him again. I wonder if you would be willing to help me with this? As for the reward, forgive me for being drained by my many descendants, I can only offer ten taels now. Any more and my family will make a fuss, it's not worth it."

When young, he hoped for many descendants, but when he really had many, he found they were all here to collect debts. Giving to one means giving to all, with pairs of eyes all fixed on his meager savings.

Yao Huang looked at the top of Prince Hui's head, this was an admirer he had attracted himself, she wouldn't interfere.

Zhao Sui glanced at Squire Qi's clothes, under the coarse cloth was a pair of half-worn cloth shoes. He was frugal himself, but willing to pay a high price for a painting.

While he was painting, the old squire first stood, then sat aside, his eyes always fixed on his painting and brush, showing genuine appreciation.

He Xiucai had no leisure time, but he indeed had plenty of leisure time.

Zhao Sui asked, "What kind of birthday painting do you want, old man?"

Squire Qi was overjoyed, excited for a while before nervously saying, "It might be a bit troublesome. I want a picture of me sitting in the main seat of the hall, with my three sons sitting on both sides, and my grandchildren kneeling in the middle kowtowing to me. The grandchildren don't need to have their faces shown, just simple sketches will do. But I and my three sons should be recognizable. I just hope that after I'm gone, the three of them can live in harmony..."

Yao Huang felt it was uncertain for Squire Qi, the Qi family had seven or eight grandchildren. Even just painting their kneeling figures would take some effort, not to mention clearly depicting four adults. Prince Hui was used to being alone, could he patiently paint this for an old man he didn't know?

After walking in silence for a while, Prince Hui spoke, "It's possible, but every time I paint, your family needs to be prepared in the hall in advance. When I arrive, I will paint directly, I don't want to hear any idle chatter. Considering the children are young, I can tolerate three instances of noise, more than that and this matter is off."

Squire Qi was overjoyed and repeatedly assured that he would abide by the rules.

The old man saw the young couple off to the door before bidding farewell.

After Fei Quan closed the gate, Yao Huang turned to Prince Hui and asked in surprise, "Since when has Second Master become so easy to talk to? I have to coax you to get a painting from you."

Fei Quan quietly slipped into the side room in the front courtyard.

Zhao Sui looked up at the Princess Consort and asked, "Did you coax me when you asked for a painting?"

Yao Huang smiled, leaned down to tug on his sleeve, and said while shaking it, "This is called coaxing."

Zhao Sui: "…"