Chapter 41

 

Prince Ning, firstly because of his friendship with Pei Ji, and secondly because he had heard that Pei’s son was a young talent, had praised him in front of Cui Daosi long ago. He had already thought highly of him compared to others, and now that his grandson had been saved by him, it was only natural for him to be treated with such courtesy. When Prince Ning calmed down a little, he suddenly thought of the painter and asked Pei Xiaoyuan about it. Knowing that the painter had arrived, he ordered him to be summoned.

Xuyu was nearby, and she went up to pay her respects to her uncle.

When one reaches the age of Prince Ning, who had experienced a lot of things, it was inevitable that he believes more in the theory of cause and effect and destiny.

The palace eunuch who was ordered to call people had arrived a moment earlier and reported that the son of Pei family seemed to know the painter and came out to meet him outside the gate. Then he thought that if it weren’t for the painter’s arrival, Pei family’s son might not have come out. If he hadn’t come out, he wouldn’t have rescue Li Hui. In this way, this painter was also a luck-bringer for his grandson.

Besides the feeling of relief and gratitude, fondness grew from involvement, and also because the painter had an extraordinary appearance—uncommonly handsome among men. Moreover, there was also an air of familiarity upon first glance, and his words became more cordial. He kindly reminded her that she could take her time painting the ‘Pleasures at Qujiang’, and that since she was here today, she might as well enjoy herself.

Xuyu thanked him.

After Prince Ning gave his orders, he looked at Pei family’s son again, nodded secretly in his heart, and then ordered people to send Li Hui to rest. He also led his people back inside to continue the banquet that had just been interrupted.

It was common knowledge in the court that Liu Ceye and Wang Zhang were at odds with each other.

Except for court meetings, these two rarely appeared together. But today, because of Prince Ning’s face, they came together and were both honored guests.

Liu Ceye condoled Prince Ning and said a few words that Prince Xin’an would have good blessing in the future. After returning to his seat, he watched from afar as Prince Ning called Pei family’s son to his side and introduced him to the many literati and well-known scholars present today.

Not only that, Wang Zhang also acted like an elder, talking and laughing with the boy, almost touching his head and rubbing his back, looking very affectionate.

After Pei Xiaoyuan entered the capital, Wang Zhang openly and secretly took credit for recommending him to the Jinwu Guard, and regarded himself as his mentor. In comparison, Liu Ceye, who had been the villain for nothing, inevitably looked embarrassed.

Although his face showed no expression at the moment, he couldn’t help feeling a little anxious inside. He used the pretext of changing clothes and went to a remote place where no one was around.

The Crown Princess’s elder brother, the Imperial Attendant Wei Juren, was waiting there. He was less than thirty years old and, like the Crown Prince, was known for his good relationships with people.

“What happened to Crown Prince? The banquet is almost halfway through, why hasn’t he arrived yet?” Liu Ceye asked about his nephew’s whereabouts.

After all, Prince Ning had a special status, and almost all the famous princes and nobles had come to today’s banquet.

Prince Kang, Li Ze, had arrived early in the morning and stayed almost inseparable from Prince Ning, discussing poetry and prose with famous literati and scholars, looking very eloquent and in high spirits.

However, Crown Prince Li Mao, who should have been the focus of attention, did not show up.

Although the Crown Prince did not have to be present at such an occasion, in any case, he should attend for Prince Ning’s face.

Wei Juren wiped the fine sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and said that he had sent someone back to check and received a report that the Crown Princess didn’t know. She only knew that he had left the city yesterday on the pretext of hunting and didn’t know where he had gone. He just sent the chief guard back at night, saying that he had encountered a white deer in a valley, which was an auspicious omen and should not be missed. He wanted to hunt down the deer and present it to the emperor, so afraid he would miss the Qujiang Banquet today.

Liu Ceye frowned, helpless, and could only turn around and go back to his seat.

The crown prince did not show up, and although no one asked any questions, who would not notice it unless they were blind?

He had no choice but to go up and explain this reason to Prince Ning.

Prince Ning opened his eyes, appearing extremely pleased, repeatedly telling those around him how important the auspicious omen was. He praised the Crown Prince’s commendable filial piety and expressed hopes that the white deer would bring further blessings and fortune for the emperor’s longevity. Everyone echoed his sentiments. The Crown Prince’s absence today was thus barely glossed over.

After a while, Pei Xiaoyuan stood up, and Liu Ceye sent Wei Juren a meaningful look.

Wei Juren understood, followed him out, and intercepted him on a road far away from the banquet hall, pretending to have met him by chance. After exchanging some pleasantries, he said some words of admiration. Then he mentioned the old story three years ago when the crown prince was the chief military commander.

“The Crown Prince is very perceptive. After the case happened, he wrote a letter to His Majesty, pleading for Master Pei. Many people knew about this at the time. Master Pei is a young talent and highly appreciated by His Highness. After he came back, he often mentioned to me that he hoped to see you in the capital one day and serve the court again. Now that his wish has come true, it can be said to be a great relief.”

Pei Xiaoyuan said: “I committed a crime that day, and was taken care by His Highness. This kindness, I never dare to forget.”

Wei Juren smiled and shook his head: “Chief Pei, you don’t have to be so reserved. The Crown Prince is gentle and magnanimous, and he treats those he values with sincere care. You’ve just arrived in the capital, so perhaps you are unaware of this, but you will come to know soon enough. Speaking of which, it’s not only His Highness the Crown Prince. Even the elder in my family has heard of your reputation as a young hero and often uses you as an example to instruct the younger members of the family, urging them to look up to you.”

Pei Xiaoyuan hurriedly said he didn’t dare.

“Why not? Chief Pei doesn’t need to be modest!” The smile on Wei Juren’s face seemed to be more intimate.

“It just so happens that my father will celebrate his birthday in a few days. I have already sent a letter to your uncle Cui. As for Chief Pei, I will deliver it today.”

He took out an invitation card specially issued by the Wei family for distinguished guests from his sleeve and handed it over.

Pei Xiaoyuan took it and put it away, smiling and said: “The elder is highly respected and enjoys the longevity of the pines. I am just a young junior, yet to be considered among the distinguished is truly an honor. If there’s no official business to hinder me, I will certainly accompany my uncle to pay respects and offer birthday congratulations. For now, I have something else to do, so please excuse me.”

Wei Juren handed out the invitation and hurriedly invited him to do his own thing, and the two of them each said goodbye.

Pei Xiaoyuan just left the table in order to find Xuyu.

Since her arrival today, it had been difficult for him not to focus on her.

Because of her acquaintance with him, Li Hui was able to escape danger. She was treated well by Prince Ning, who told her not to rush to paint on the spot, but to just write down what she saw and continue to paint slowly when she returned. Prince Ning also specially assigned a servant to lead the way for her, making her out of his sight.

Just now he was sitting next to a group of scholars, discussing the unity of man and nature with them, and when he turned around, he didn’t know where she went. After a moment, he noticed that Yuwen Zhi, whom he hadn’t seen much today, was also missing, and his heart inevitably became uneasy.

Today was Qujiang banquet, and considering his warning last time, he believed Yuwen Zhi would not dare to act too rashly. However, with so many people, it was bound to be chaotic. Prince Ning Villa covered a large area, with a ferry port outside that connected directly to Qujiang Lake, making it easy to find a secluded place.

Recalling what he had personally witnessed that night at Ci’en Temple, Yuwen Zhi’s arrogance was still vivid in his mind. How could Pei Xiaoyuan possibly remain calm? Just as he came out, he was stopped by the crown prince’s brother-in-law, delaying him for a while. When he finally got rid of him, he immediately continued to look for people.

Xuyu was tasked with creating a painting of the Qujiang Banquet scene, a long scroll spanning several feet. Naturally, it required capturing the pavilions and towers of Prince Ning’s villa in detail, so she couldn’t remain in one place the entire time. Earlier, she had stayed near Prince Ning’s canopy to observe the lively performances and festivities. After completing her observations, a servant led her to nearby locations, one by one, including the Xunhai Pavilion, Guanjing Tower, and Lingzhi Terrace, to continue her survey.

As she was walking, she suddenly heard the sound of hurried boots behind her. Someone was chasing them. She turned around and saw that it was Yuwen Zhi.

When he got close to her, he said he had something to say to her and asked the servant to leave. The servant did not dare to disobey and waited at the intersection. Yuwen Zhi then asked Xuyu to follow him.

Xuyu just stood still, said with a frown: “I have something to do. What do you want?”

She didn’t sound happy at all. She thought he would be angry again, but to her surprise, he didn’t seem to care at all. He looked around, took a step forward, took out a colorful silk embroidered sachet from his bosom, untied it, and revealed a small jade bottle that looked like the one women used to hold rouge.

“I didn’t expect you to be here today. I went back to the city to get it.”

“I don’t need rouge. Shizi, please take it back.” Xuyu said.

“It’s not that thing! It’s wall fish!”

He carefully pulled out the bottle cap and held it in front of her like he was presenting a treasure. He even spoke in a low voice, as if he was afraid of blowing away the contents of the bottle.

“I heard that your grandfather used this stuff to paint the eyes of Bodhisattvas. The eyes he painted were bright and full of spirit, as if they could almost follow a person’s movements with their gaze. I’ve gathered some of it, dried it, and ground it into powder. I’m giving it to you—take it!”

Xuyu was stunned.

The so-called wall fish were silverfish in the book.

As for the widely circulated story that her grandfather used wall fish to add color to his paintings so the eyes of the painted Bodhisattva could move with the movement of the person, it was nothing but the imagination of some unknown person. However, many people took it as the truth and spread it, causing the market price of wall fish to soar, and at one point it was even more expensive than gold.

This thing was common, but difficult to collect. Occasionally, someone might take the trouble to get some for medicinal purposes, but it often took months to collect a bottle. Yuwen Zhi was able to get such a bottle, even if he had more people, he probably couldn’t do it in a short time.

“How long have you been collecting it?” she couldn’t help asking.

“Not long. Just two years, maybe! I’ve been filling this bottle up bit by bit, taking it with me wherever I go. Now I finally have the chance to give it to you!”

He sealed the bottle tightly, put it back into the brocade bag and handed it to her.

Xuyu hesitated for a moment.

This thing was really useless for painting, it’s just a rumor. The reason why the eyes of the Bodhisattva painted by her grandfather were so vivid was because he had superb painting skills. But this person had spent so much effort on it, which was considered sincere. If she didn’t accept it, it would be unkind. However, if she accepted it, it was useless anyway, and it seemed a bit inappropriate.

As she hesitated, the expectation on Yuwen Zhi’s face slowly disappeared, and his expression changed: “You don’t want it?”

His tone also turned dissatisfied.

Before he finished those four words, his true colors were revealed.

Xuyu immediately made up her mind: “Thank you, Shizi, this thing is of no use to me!”

He was clearly infuriated by her, his face suddenly turning ashen, his eyes flashing with fury. He suddenly raised the jade bottle in his hand high up, as if ready to smash it to vent his anger. But halfway through his motion, his hand froze, hesitating, as if he hadn’t yet decided whether to break it or not.

Xuyu watched coldly.

His expression changed again and again, becoming extremely ugly.

At this moment, a light laugh suddenly came from a locust tree near the back.

“Who? Get out!”

Yuwen Zhi was furious and immediately turned around and scolded.

Xuyu also looked in the direction of the sound and saw a handsome and strong man somersaulting from the treetop and then landing steadily on the ground.

It was that Hu person, Chengping. It was unknown when he came here, but he must have seen everything that happened. His eyes were bright as he walked over with a smile: “You wanted to smash it, why don’t you smash it now? She doesn’t want it anyway. If you can’t bear to part with it, give it to me and I’ll smash it for you.”

He was obviously feeling resentful about the last time he was followed by the other party in Shenshu Palace, and this time he was taking revenge.

A gloomy look quickly flashed across Yuwen Zhi’s face. He calmed down for a moment, and his anger disappeared. He raised his arm and casually threw the brocade bag into a patch of weeds beside the path.

The vines were so deep that it swallowed up the thing in a flash, making it disappeared.

Then he turned to Chengping: “If you have the guts, call your people to Liangfeng Terrace! Let’s play a fair game of polo! If you lose——”

He left the rest of his words and walked forward, obviously not wanting Xuyu to hear the rest of his words.

Chengping was unwilling to admit defeat and followed immediately.

The two of them stopped on the ground dozens of steps away from her, and Yuwen Zhi continued coldly: “If you lose, she will be mine, and you will stay far away from me!”

Chengping didn’t expect that he would use this as a bet. He was stunned and turned to look at the person who was still standing on the path behind him. A sneer appeared on his face.

“Why not? If you lose, don’t let me see you disturbing her peace again!”

After the two men had reached an agreement, they clapped each other’s hand as a pledge of oath, as was customary at the time, and then left immediately, each going to call their own men and prepare their horses.

Xuyu saw two people whispering in front of her and turning their heads to look at her. She had a feeling that what they were talking about was related to her, but she couldn’t hear it. Soon, the two people seemed to have finished their discussion, and they didn’t even look at her again, leaving her and walking away.

She couldn’t help but feel puzzled, and was even more worried that the polo match mentioned by Yuwen Zhi would turn into another fight. Looking at the tuft of weeds where Yuwen Zhi threw the bottle, she pondered for a moment and decided to ask Pei Xiaoyuan for help.

She hurried back to the place where she had just been, but she didn’t see him, and she didn’t know where he had gone.

At this time, the news that Ashina and Yuwen Zhi had agreed to lead the team in a game had spread quickly.

This dynasty valued ​​martial arts, and not only could all the men in the army ride on horses and play ball, but even in the bustling streets, with just a shout, two teams of capable riders could be assembled within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Midway through the banquet, this served as perfect entertainment. Prince Ning ordered gold and silk to be brought as prizes, and many people flocked to the Liangfeng Terrace to watch the match.

Xuyu had no choice but to rush back to Liangfeng Terrace.

When she arrived, the place was already full of people, and Chengping and Yuwen Zhi had already selected their own men and horses. Except for a few Hu generals on Chengping’s side, the rest were young men from the sixteen guards of Wu, Xiao, Wei, Longwu, etc., who were usually friends with the two of them. All of them were good fighters, and the horses they picked were also majestic and powerful, specializing in collisions.

After both sides changed their clothes, at the command of the officer in charge, the drums and gongs started to rumble and the spectators cheered like waves.

Amid the chaotic sound of horses’ hooves and the rows of yellow dust kicked up by their galloping horses, the two teams rushed into the field at high speed, swinging their clubs to compete for the ball.

Xuyu looked at it nervously for a moment and finally felt relieved.

Although the leaders Chengping and Yu Wenzhi rode recklessly and violently, and even collided with each other several times, this was allowed to show the warriors’ physique. Apart from this, the two of them seemed quite restrained and did not do anything despicable like tripping others.

It looked like a normal, intense polo match.

She felt relieved and subconsciously looked for Pei Xiaoyuan in the crowd. But at this time, someone came over.

It was the servant who had shown her around just now, saying that County Princess Yucheng and County Princess Danyang were going on a boat for sightseeing, and asked her to go on board with them to paint.

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