ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 127

The palace banquet was held in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where everyone was seated according to their rank. On either side of the imperial throne were several concubines. As Li Zhizhi was a Princess, she sat next to the Grand Princess, while opposite them were Xiao Yan and Xiao Rulei. Further back sat Prince Ning and Princess Ning, among others.

The hall was brightly lit, with jade cups and silk-covered tables, and court musicians playing string and bamboo instruments. The atmosphere was bustling with activity. Perhaps because today was his birthday, Emperor Jing Ming appeared much more amiable than usual, occasionally conversing softly with a few concubines, with Consort Rong being the most favored. Consort Chun, on the other hand, sat quietly beside him, her demeanor cold and distant.

The banquet proceeded in an orderly manner, when suddenly, a eunuch bowed and entered, respectfully informing Emperor Jing Ming, “Your Majesty, an envoy from Nanjian seeks an audience.”

The Emperor set down his wine cup and said, “Granted.”

The imperial decree was pa.s.sed down, and before long, two court attendants escorted a group of people into the hall. Everyone turned to look, and Li Zhizhi noticed Yang Jun among the Nanjian envoy’s entourage. Sensing something, Yang Jun glanced over and winked at her with a smile.

“On this joyous occasion of Your Majesty’s birthday, we sincerely wish you eternal longevity. May you be blessed with the divine mandate, and may the heavens favor you with everlasting prosperity!”

The Emperor waved his hand. “You may rise. You have traveled a long way, and your dedication is appreciated. Take your seats.”

After the Nanjian envoy and his group were seated, several eunuchs in red robes presented congratulatory memorials. After receiving permission, they began announcing the gifts: “Chancellor Zhao Shigong respectfully wishes His Majesty a joyous birthday…”

Civil and military officials presented their gifts, and the announcements went on for half an hour. The list of gifts seemed endless, and everyone sat attentively, lest any mistake in decorum displease the Emperor.

Li Zhizhi idly held her wine cup, quietly waiting. She felt a gaze on her and looked up to meet Xiao Yan’s eyes from across the hall. He was dressed in his Crown Prince’s ceremonial robes, as usual in deep black, with his collar meticulously neat. The warm light from the silk lanterns above cast a soft glow over his handsome face, which reminded Li Zhizhi of the moonlight on Mid-Autumn Festival.

They gazed at each other, neither willing to look away first. Suddenly, the eunuch’s voice announcing gifts seemed distant: “Princess Consort of Sheng and Countess of Rong’an, Xiao Man, respectfully wish His Majesty eternal longevity, good health, and prosperity, and present a piece of ‘Qinglin Marrow Ink,’ a set of twelve jade zodiac carvings, a painting of ‘Distant Snow Scene,’ and a screen inlaid with coral and jade…”

At that moment, Consort Rong smiled and said, “The last time the countess presented a painting to His Majesty, he was greatly pleased and praised it highly. I’ve heard that the countess has created a new painting, and I imagine it’s this ‘Snow Scene.’ Perhaps we could take this opportunity to let everyone appreciate it. What does Your Majesty think?”

As soon as she said this, all eyes turned to Xiao Man. The Princess Consort of Sheng, seated next to her daughter, lowered her head, her face pale with unease and tension. Xiao Man, sensing her mother’s anxiety, frowned slightly and reached out under the table to gently tug at her hand.

The Emperor’s voice came from above: “Proceed.”

Moments later, two eunuchs brought in a scroll from outside the hall. After receiving permission, they carefully unrolled it, revealing a painting of a snow scene.

Since it was a snowy landscape, there was ample blank s.p.a.ce in the painting. A few green mountains, ancient pines standing proudly on cliffs, and no trace of birds. The entire painting exuded a sense of lonely aloofness, making it an exceptional piece of art.

Xiao Man sat with her head slightly lowered, her hands clenched into fists within her sleeves, her nails digging into her palms, causing a slight sting. Though she kept a calm expression, her mind raced. She had not expected the painting to be displayed publicly like this, and Consort Rong’s earlier words seemed peculiar. In hindsight, it was due to her suggestion that Xiao Man had decided to take this risk and have someone recreate the painting.

“There won’t be any problems,” she rea.s.sured herself silently. She had specifically instructed Liu Ling not to directly copy Li Zhizhi’s painting but to imitate her brushwork and create something entirely different. Xiao Man had also carefully inspected it beforehand—there wasn’t the slightest resemblance between the two snow scenes. Everything was flawless.

But even so, the thought of committing forgery in front of the Emperor made Xiao Man feel uneasy. In that instant, she made up her mind—this would be the last time. Whether she succeeded or failed today, she had to stop. As for the painter Liu Ling, she was now a liability and would have to be dealt with. And as for Li Zhizhi—she could not be allowed to remain either…

At that moment, the voice of Emperor Jing Ming came from above, “What do you all think of this painting?”

When the Emperor spoke, the ministers immediately began flattering it. Some praised its profound artistic conception, while others admired the exquisite brushwork, all worthy of scholars who had spent a decade in hard study and honed their skills in the Hanlin Academy, with none repeating the same compliment.

Hearing their praises, Emperor Jing Ming nodded slightly and said, “I think this painting is quite excellent as well. Did you paint it yourself?”

Upon hearing his approval, Xiao Man let out a slight sigh of relief and immediately stood up to reply respectfully, “Your Majesty, this was painted by your humble servant.”

“Hmm,” Emperor Jing Ming responded, and then suddenly asked, “The wind carries the faint fragrance away, and birds peep at the delicate blossoms—does this verse have a second stanza?”

Xiao Man was stunned at once. The reason was that she had heard this line before—back when she first falsely claimed credit for a painting. At that time, Emperor Jing Ming had asked the same question about the plum-blossom-and-sparrow painting. Did it have a second stanza?

What did she answer back then? She had replied there was no second stanza because the painting had been rushed.

Clearly, she had already answered the question, so why was Emperor Jing Ming asking again now? It couldn’t be that he had forgotten due to old age, could it?

Xiao Man’s mind raced, but at that very moment, a chilling realization struck her—Li Zhizhi was still here!

In the next moment, Emperor Jing Ming called Li Zhizhi’s name: “Princess Zhao Hua, do you know the second stanza to this verse?”

As soon as these words left his mouth, all eyes turned to Li Zhizhi. Most of the audience was perplexed, not understanding why the Emperor had asked this question in the middle of an art viewing. Why had he suddenly started reciting poetry?

Li Zhizhi stood up, respectfully and gracefully saluting, and said, “Your Majesty, though I am unworthy, I happen to know the full poem.”

“Recite it for me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Li Zhizhi glanced at Xiao Man, then calmly and unhurriedly recited, “The trees freeze, about to break; a solitary root revives in warmth. In last night’s heavy snow by the village, one branch blooms first. The wind carries the faint fragrance away, and birds peep at the delicate blossoms. Should it respond to the cycle next year, it will bloom early again, heralding spring on the terrace.”

With each line she recited, Xiao Man’s face grew a shade paler. By the time the poem was finished, she was frozen in shock, staring blankly at Li Zhizhi with utter disbelief in her eyes. She couldn’t understand how the situation had taken such a sharp turn—just moments ago…

The Emperor had just praised the snow-scene painting, saying it was well done. But that snow-scene painting was painted by Liu Ling and had nothing to do with Li Zhizhi—

Suddenly, Xiao Man realized something, and her face took on an expression of incredulity.

Emperor Jing Ming continued, “For a long time, I’ve tried many times to come up with a second stanza to that verse, but it always felt like something was missing. Now I see there was an earlier stanza.”

As he spoke, his tone shifted, and he shouted at Xiao Man, “How dare you!”

Xiao Man was so startled that she immediately knelt down. Her knees. .h.i.t the floor tiles with a clear sound, and a sharp pain shot through her, but it was nothing compared to the terror and panic in her heart.

“You falsely claimed someone else’s painting, and once wasn’t enough—you did it again,” Emperor Jing Ming’s voice was laced with disgust. “I saw with my own eyes Princess Zhao Hua paint this snow-scene. How could it have become yours? Repeatedly deceiving the throne—do you think I’m old, feeble, and easy to fool?”

“Your Majesty, I would never dare…”

Xiao Man was so frightened that her voice trembled. This time, she was truly terrified. She had calculated everything, but never expected that Li Zhizhi had known about her false claims all along. Yet Li Zhizhi had pretended to be ignorant, conspiring with Consort Rong to set up this enormous trap. Even Liu Ling was one of their people. The snow-scene painting? That was Li Zhizhi’s own work all along!

Xiao Man could hardly believe it—how could someone be so patient, so insidious and cunning?

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