Translator: Dj2203
Editor: Dj2203
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Yun Qianyu glanced at the ministers and said, “Today, I ask all the pillars of the Nanlou to bear witness. If Beitang Ming does not return before sunset tomorrow, I will leave. Otherwise, he shall leave! I do not want to hear anyone pleading for him. Such an inactive person who only turns against his own people is not someone the Nanlou court can afford.”
Jiang Hongwen’s face turned pale. He had a bad feeling.
“It’s settled then.” Murong Cang spoke up at the right time.
Yun Qianyu retreated to Yujian’s side.
“The envoy from the Kingdom of Modai will arrive this evening. Yujian, Qianyu, have you made the arrangements?”
“Grandpa, I made the arrangements yesterday. This morning, the heir of the Duke of Rong will get up to welcome the envoy from the Kingdom of Modai. There will definitely be no more accidents.” Yujian reported.
“Good!” Murong Cang nodded in satisfaction.
After the morning court session, the ministers looked at Jiang Hongwen. They realized that as long as the Princess Protector of the Nation was there, the morning court session would be very lively. And people would still lose their official hats every now and then!
After Yun Qianyu and Yujian returned and had breakfast, Yun Qianyu assigned Yujian some homework: a handwritten copy of the Thirty-Six Stratagems. She then opened the painting Gong Sangmo had given her.
The painting’s lines were simple and flowing: a small bridge over a stream, a thatched cottage with a bamboo fence, and a beautiful woman in purple standing by a tree in the courtyard! Her gaze was fixed on the distance, her eyes filled with longing and a hint of expectation!
A good painting required poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal— all indispensable. This painting was skillfully executed, with a beautiful meaning. It only contained eight characters: “If hearts understand each other, if feelings are mutual,” written in delicate calligraphy, clearly the work of a woman. The seal at the bottom bore only one character: “Yun.” It was obviously the name of the artist.
Yun Qianyu looked at it again and again but besides recognizing that the painting expressed a woman’s longing for someone, she couldn’t see anything particularly special.
Gong Sangmo said she would soon need it; what was its purpose?
Just as Yun Qianyu was frowning in thought, Feng Ran entered again with a stack of documents.
Seeing Yun Qianyu staring blankly at the painting, he pulled out a booklet from the documents and handed it to her, saying, “Master, this is the information about this painting.”
Yun Qianyu immediately took it, and upon reading it, she learned the painting’s origin.
The artist was a woman, Yang Ruoyun, the eldest daughter of the Yang family of Gucheng; Yun was her courtesy name. Yang Ruoyun was a renowned talented woman in Gucheng and highly regarded by her family.
However, three years ago, Yang Ruoyun went to Wuji Mountain to visit her aunt and met Su Huaifeng, the most favored disciple of Qingyun Immortal from Sanxian Mountain, who was out training. The two fell in love at first sight. But just as Su Huaifeng was preparing to return home to propose marriage to the Yang family, he learned that the Su and Yang families were long-time enemies, and both families resolutely opposed the marriage. The Yang family even sent Yang Ruoyun to their ancestral land.
This painting was created by Yang Ruoyun in her clan’s territory and given to Su Huaifeng through a messenger, expressing her determination to marry no one but him. Su Huaifeng also vowed to marry no one but Yang Ruoyun. The two swore that if they could not be together, they would remain forever separated, gazing at each other from afar! This Su Huaifeng could be described as exceptionally talented and learned. He was about to complete his studies and descend the mountain this year. In fact, he could have descended much earlier, but he was unwilling and had delayed until now.
The Three Immortals Mountain was renowned throughout the continent, and every disciple who graduated from there was highly sought after. Especially the disciples of Qingyun Immortal, who were known for their wisdom and were coveted by royal families of various countries.
Upon seeing this, Yun Qianyu immediately understood the significance of the painting!
Because this painting was stolen by someone with ulterior motives, Su Huaifeng had promised a great reward to whoever found and returned it. Therefore, those who wanted to persuade Su Huaifeng to leave the mountain all coveted this painting.
Yun Qianyu’s gaze returned to the painting. Could love truly drive someone to such reckless, moth-to-a-flame devotion?
She couldn’t help but think of Gong Sangmo. What if it were her and Gong Sangmo in that situation?
Just then, Sanqiu arrived with more grapes.
Yun Qianyu noticed Sanqiu’s seemingly casual glances at her and was momentarily speechless.
“Sanqiu!”
“Princess.” Sanqiu quickly approached.
“Where are the grapes grown at the Xian Wang’s residence?” Yun Qianyu asked, glancing at Sanqiu’s dew-soaked robes.
“On the estate outside the city. Three years ago, the Prince learned of the Princess’s love for grapes and sent his men to search for various varieties, planting them on the estate outside the city. He even built a greenhouse, so Your Highness needn’t worry about not having grapes.”
Yun Qianyu was stunned. These grapes were planted by Gong Sangmo for her! Planted three years ago! Had he truly fallen in love with her at first sight? Yun Qianyu remembered that she had been disfigured back then, with a gruesome, gaping wound on her face.
Sanqiu continued, “Your Highness, you may not know, but my name wasn’t always Sanqiu. It was changed to this after the Prince met you three years ago.”
Yun Qianyu’s lips twitched. “You’re not trying to tell me there’s another guard named Yiri[1], are you?”
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[1] This is a reference to a Chinese idiom “Yiri sanqiu,” that translates to “one day feels like three autumns” in English. It is used to describe intense longing, extreme impatience, or the feeling that time moves incredibly slowly when one is separated from someone they deeply care about or waiting for something desired.
