Chapter 56: Princess Exquisite

Princess Linglong, whose temperament had always been aloof and cold, had unexpectedly made a grand fuss by summoning the Director of the Bureau of Ceremonies and bestowing favor upon an ordinary palace maid of the bureau, promoting her two ranks overnight to become a female official of ceremonies.

According to protocol, the Bureau of Ceremonies fell under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Ceremonial, and an ordinary princess did not possess the authority to arbitrarily elevate the rank of a palace maid.

However, this particular princess was the reigning monarch's most favored daughter, as well as the daughter-in-law of Duke Anguo. Throughout the court and the capital, who would not show her a modicum of respect?

To say nothing of appointing a palace maid as a female official, had she wished to make her a direct mistress of ceremonies or even a chief protocol officer, the Grand Supervisor of the Directorate of Ceremonial would likely not have raised a single objection.

Everyone was left guessing how this palace maid named Ning Yu had managed to win such favor from Princess Linglong.

Some said that this Ning Yu was exceptionally clever and excelled at pleasing nobles; back in the Yeting Palace, she had already captured the deep affection of Princess Yunlu.

Others claimed that Ning Yu had gone before Princess Linglong on a certain day to play the zither, performing a magnificent piece that touched the princess's heart, prompting the bestowal of this reward.

Yet no one could actually name the tune Ning Yu had played, leaving it all as mere idle speculation.

Regardless of the rumors, among the more than two hundred palace maids in the Bureau of Ceremonies, there were only six female officials. Ning Yu had indeed gained Princess Linglong’s favor and secured immense benefits, arousing the envy of many.

Meanwhile, the woman at the very center of all this gossip, Ning Yu, having changed into her official robes, felt a growing sense of gratitude toward the young master Chang'an residing in White Jade Capital.

"I know not what background this Young Master Chang'an hails from, but he is extraordinarily adept at probing the human heart. Just a casual remark he dropped, when I put it to use, proved to be of such monumental help."

Ning Yu thought to herself.

Just at that moment, another palace maid hurried in to report.

"Princess Linglong, who was originally scheduled to come listen to the zither today, is no longer coming. Princess Shangxiu is hosting a flower-viewing gathering at Cuiwei Palace today, and Princess Linglong has changed her destination to go there instead."

Ning Yu breathed a long sigh of relief.

Having newly attained the rank of a female official, she was still unfamiliar with how to receive a figure of Princess Linglong's stature.

Yet Princess Linglong had specifically named her to handle the reception today, keeping her in a state of nervous tension for quite some time. Now that the princess was not coming, a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Over at Cuiwei Palace.

Princess Linglong—whom poets had praised with the lines, "No painting can capture her refined grace, no flower can rival her radiant visage"—was half-reclining on a chaise lounge.

A robe of translucent emerald mist paired with a skirt of pale green sea-smoke gauze enveloped her mature, voluptuous figure. Her posture alone was enough to be described as mesmerizingly alluring.

Naturally, the poets of the Great Yu dynasty lacked the daring to compose verses describing the appearance of the reigning princess and daughter-in-law of Duke Anguo.

The poet who had actually penned those lines was an envoy from the Great Qian dynasty who had visited Great Yu a few years prior.

Upon returning to Great Qian from Great Yu, he had written nineteen consecutive poems describing Princess Linglong's peerless beauty.

There were verses describing her refined grace, such as: "Her slender steps fall with exquisite grace, a peerless marvel unmatched in all the world."

There were those describing her visage: "Her beauty causes fish to sink and geese to fall, startling the birds; closing the flowers and shaming the autumn moon, making the blossoms tremble with sorrow."

And there were even uninhibited, passionate lines: "Her bearing rich and profound, pure yet true; her skin delicate, her bones and flesh in perfect proportion!"

...

After reading through a dozen such poems, others might have assumed the Great Qian envoy was intimately acquainted with Princess Linglong.

Yet later on, the Great Qian envoy publicly clarified that he had only caught two glimpses of Princess Linglong by sheer coincidence. To forestall idle gossip and protect the princess's reputation, he had chosen to step forward and set the record straight.

Yet merely catching two glimpses from afar had left this high-ranking official of Great Qian so utterly captivated and unable to forget her.

Once this became known, Princess Linglong's fame resonated throughout the realm.

She was hailed as an astonishing beauty whose appearance could rival that of the supreme heavenly generals of Great Li... or rather, the true ruler behind the scenes of Great Li.

And anyone who had ever laid eyes on Princess Linglong in person would only declare that the Great Qian envoy's poetry had failed to fully capture her breathtaking allure.

Among the current Seven Nations, a popular saying had even begun to circulate...

"The seventy-two scenic spots of Great Yu are renowned across the world, but in truth, Great Yu possesses a seventy-third. And its foremost scenic spot is none other than the beauty of Princess Linglong."

At this very moment.

This very first scenic spot of Great Yu, Princess Linglong, was half-reclining on the chaise lounge, holding a scroll of paintings in her hands.

The young Princess Shangxiu sat upon a chair not far away.

"These painters truly possess consummate skill. To pick a single piece out of so many fine works, and thereby select a painter, is proving rather difficult."

Princess Shangxiu possessed extremely fair skin, yet her lips were remarkably vivid and red, lending her a unique and striking aesthetic.

Her mother hailed from the Western Regions, endowing this princess with a distinct exotic charm.

Princess Linglong glanced down at the scroll in her hands. A maid standing behind her cautiously stepped forward to receive it, while another maid unfurled yet a different scroll and presented it to the princess.

After inspecting a dozen paintings in this manner, perhaps growing weary, Princess Linglong casually waved a hand and said, "If all else fails, speak with the Secretariat Drafter sooner rather than later and have him carve out some time. These paintings are fine, to be sure, but none stand out with any brilliance; there is nothing particularly special about them."

Princess Shangxiu looked somewhat troubled. "Elder Sister, the Secretariat Drafter and the Imperial Scholars of the Xiayuan Pavilion must paint portraits for Father Emperor, the imperial uncles, the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the Imperial Noble Consort. If Elder Sister inserts herself into the schedule out of nowhere, I fear we will have to notify the Imperial Household Department so they can arrange things meticulously."

"Then let them make the arrangements," Princess Linglong casually waved her hand again. "If worst comes to worst, I will simply go to the Yongshou Palace early and wait. When the Secretariat Drafter paints portraits for the Empress Dowager, he can simply paint one for me on the side."

Princess Shangxiu nodded vaguely, then sighed, "The one who painted my portrait for the Morning Court Festival was the abbot of Xuanzhong Temple. I was only seven years old back then. A full decade has passed since, and the abbot of Xuanzhong Temple has actually ascended to become a Daoist Immortal of Creation, wandering the boundless world where his traces can no longer be found."

"A cultivator of the Creation realm painting a portrait for little Shangxiu—you truly wield immense prestige, little Shangxiu." Princess Linglong smiled rarely, teasing her. Then she let her gaze wander, sweeping across the garden within Cuiwei Palace.

"Why have all the pear trees in this garden vanished?" Princess Linglong inquired.

Princess Shangxiu replied, "Every time I previously invited Sister Yinxi into the palace to view the flowers, she was always unwilling to come. Later, I discovered that she actually dislikes pear blossoms. Coincidentally, since the summer began, the pear blossoms had already faded, so I simply had all the pear trees in the garden chopped down."

Princess Linglong nodded, then asked, "Since you chopped down those pear trees, is Sister Yinxi willing to come today after all?"

Princess Shangxiu let out a sigh. "I sent people to invite her today, but Minister Li personally sent a letter stating that people from the Si family have come to try on the red garments, which is at a critical juncture, and thus she cannot come to Cuiwei Palace."

"As it happens, the elderly Dowager Lady of the Si family has visited several times when I was not at Cuiwei Palace, so I simply invited her instead."

Princess Linglong’s eyes flickered slightly. For Li Yinxi, she felt a mixture of sympathy and a strange sense of resonance, causing her to close her eyes.

Princess Shangxiu was also feeling somewhat restless, so she casually picked up another scroll and unrolled it.

She had merely intended to pass the time, but the extremely vibrant colors that instantly greeted her eyes made her gaze light up.

"Ah!" Princess Shangxiu stared blankly at the painting, letting out a cry of surprise.

Princess Linglong opened her beautiful eyes, casting a slightly reproving look at her. "Shangxiu, many madams and young ladies are coming today. You must mind your imperial decorum."

Coming to her senses, Princess Shangxiu offered Princess Linglong a playful, spoiled smile. "Elder Sister, look at this painting."

As she spoke, a maid stepped forward to receive the scroll and present it to Princess Linglong.

Princess Linglong continued speaking as she unfurled the scroll.

"Even if the Secretariat Drafter's work comes first, you must always mind your decorum. Otherwise, if the Empress Dowager finds out, be careful lest she dispatch two protocol officers to make you relearn imperial..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she abruptly fell silent.

For this painting was indeed vastly different from the rest.

The scroll was not made of paper at all; instead, it resembled a layer of canvas.

There was no fragrance of ink upon the canvas; rather, it carried a faint scent of pigments. Furthermore, the paints used were exceptionally thick, laid down layer upon layer, piling up until they coalesced into a most peculiar painting.

Depicted upon it was the visage of a woman—composed, elegant, and exceptionally expressive in her brows and eyes. The corners of her lips held the hint of a smile, truly capturing both the spirit and the countenance of the subject.

It was the first time Princess Linglong had ever laid eyes on such a painting.

Only now did she truly understand what it meant for something to be "dazzling with color" and "brilliantly resplendent."

It was as if a rainbow had been shattered into pieces, and its seven colors used to paint the canvas!

What moved Princess Linglong even more was how the heavy application of pigments lent the painting distinct layers and an interplay of light and shadow, making it feel as though the woman in the painting were standing right before her eyes.

"Why is this painting so strange, yet... so remarkably beautiful?"

For women, the grandeur or profound historical depth of a painting were secondary concerns.

As long as they were portrayed looking as exquisitely beautiful as possible, even if the work felt somewhat lacking in depth, it hardly mattered at all.

Just like now, Princess Linglong gazed at the painting, utterly unable to tear her eyes away.

"This painting is drawn so breathtakingly well," Princess Shangxiu exclaimed with excitement, instantly desiring to summon this painter so she could have a rainbow painting made of herself as well.

Princess Linglong gently nodded. "It is indeed exceptionally fine. Although it cannot compare to the image-capturing mirrors of the Xuan Sect, it is remarkably lifelike."

When it came to mere likeness, the image-capturing mirrors were naturally more accurate.

Yet capturing an image with a Xuan Sect mirror produced a likeness that was far too exact, unfailingly preserving the sorrow lingering between Princess Linglong's brows, which invariably stirred up needless melancholy within her whenever she looked at it.

This painted portrait was far superior—one simply had to omit painting the sorrow between the brows.

Moreover, paintings had to be burned during the Morning Court Festival, whereas Xuan Sect mirrors could not be burned.

Just as Princess Shangxiu was reveling in the pleasant surprise of discovering such a unique artwork, Princess Linglong's gaze shifted to the upper left corner of the portrait.

A verse had been inscribed there in delicate, diminutive script.

Princess Shangxiu had not noticed it initially, but upon seeing the poem, Princess Linglong's expression abruptly shifted.

The hour of *wei* (around 1:00 to 3:00 PM) had arrived, marking the designated start of Princess Shangxiu’s banquet.

The madams and young ladies who had arrived early and waited outside Cuiwei Palace now entered together.

Upon entering the palace and paying their respects to the two princesses, they noticed that Princess Linglong was so absorbed in gazing at a painting that she had even forgotten to rise and welcome them.

Among those present in Cuiwei Palace today were the lawful wife of the current Minister of War, the mother of the Si family, a Lady of Honor of the third rank;

The lawful wife of the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, likewise a Lady of Honor of the third rank;

The eldest daughter of the Prefect of Xuantian Capital, a renowned talented woman of the present day;

As well as the lawful wife of the Grand Secretary of the Central Pole Hall, the youngest daughter of the Minister of Justice who excelled greatly in poetry, and the daughter-in-law of the Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate...

Seeing Princess Linglong so utterly entranced by the painting that she neglected the proper greetings, a dozen or so madams and young ladies could not help feeling a surge of curiosity.

Although Princess Linglong possessed a detached disposition, she was exceptionally strict about etiquette.

With so many noble ladies present, including several holders of official titles, a princess would not ordinarily commit such a breach of manners.

Yet the very next moment, they saw Princess Linglong straighten her posture and turn her gaze toward Princess Shangxiu.

"Shangxiu, this painting is signed by Chen Zhi'an of Sunan Prefecture."

"You are to notify the Imperial Household Department immediately and have them escort this painter named Chen Zhi'an into the capital."

"If he is truly capable of creating paintings such as this, let him paint my portrait for this year's Morning Court Festival."

The madams and young ladies in the hall froze, curiosity instantly flaring within their hearts.

What on earth was so unique about a portrait that could captivate the notoriously fastidious Princess Linglong to this degree?

Quite a few of the madams and young ladies simultaneously harbored various plots and schemes in their minds.

The Morning Court Festival lasted for only a single day, and a painter could realistically complete very few portraits within that timeframe.

If one could share the same painter with Princess Linglong during the Morning Court Festival... that would naturally be a matter of immense prestige, providing a ready-made topic of conversation for banquets attended over the next month or two.

"Who is this painter surnamed Chen? Why have I never heard his name before?"

"We must contact him as quickly as possible, lest someone else beats us to it."

Such thoughts arose within almost all of their minds at the very same moment.

A person's reputation was like the shadow cast by a tree.

Princess Linglong was, after all, the most widely known household name in Great Yu.

She led the trends and fashions pursued by all the noble madams and young ladies of the realm.

Before he even knew it, Chen Zhi'an had been "catapulted to fame" by the endorsement of this legendary celebrity.

*(Author's Note: The author has already updated a great deal, putting out six to seven thousand words every day, outperforming 95% of authors during their new book period. Please do not stockpile chapters! Stockpiling chapters during the new book period is practically fatal for an author.)*