ARTTEDSBGT Chapter 79
“I feel it should not have come from your hands.”
Emperor Jingming’s statement left everyone, except Li Zhizhi, in a moment of surprise. Consort Chun couldn’t help but cover her mouth to suppress a laugh, but Consort Rong showed no signs of panic on her face. Instead, she praised, “Your Majesty truly has discerning eyes. I thought you wouldn’t be able to see through it, but unexpectedly, you saw through it at a glance.”
Emperor Jingming, with a dignified expression, spoke calmly, “It took you half a month just to learn how to hold a brush properly. How could you create such a profound and exquisite painting?”
Consort Rong pouted, then had someone bring another scroll. She honestly confessed, “The one I copied is this, and this is the authentic piece. Your Majesty, please take a look. Does my imitation resemble it? Have I made progress?”
“You dare to take credit?” Emperor Jingming glanced at it and reprimanded lightly, “Taking shortcuts. I asked you to practice painting, and you choose a painting with less ink to deceive me. You only imitate its form, not its spirit. What’s the use of copying like this?”
Although it was a reprimand, there was not much anger on his face. It seemed more like a casual remark, and then his gaze fell back on the painting.
With both paintings of Sparrows Peeping at Plum Blossoms side by side, those knowledgeable could immediately discern some differences. The one Consort Rong copied was obviously inferior, with rigid birds and less vibrant plum blossoms, lacking some vitality, resembling a child’s work. In contrast, the authentic piece looked much more vivid, as if the birds were about to fly out of the painting.
After carefully examining for a while, Emperor Jingming nodded and said, “This painting is indeed excellent, complementing the poetry. Who is the artist? Why isn’t there a signature?”
In response, Consort Rong shook her head and said, “I don’t know either. I spent quite a bit of money to buy it from someone else, specifically choosing this one. Do you like it, Your Majesty?”
She thought of something, her beautiful eyes turned, and she smiled, saying, “Then, shall I offer this painting to the Emperor? Since I, your humble servant, cannot understand the painting, it would be a waste to keep it. It’s better to give it to the Emperor, who loves art. After you finish handling state affairs every day, you can take a look at it, and it will surely improve your mood.”
Emperor Jingming did not refuse. The eunuch respectfully took the genuine painting away, and the Emperor added, “On another day, send someone to inquire about the artist of this painting.”
Concubine Rong readily agreed, while the artist, Li Zhizhi, sat quietly on the side, lowering her eyes slightly, concealing the surprise in her eyes.
Emperor Jingming actually accepted the painting and even wanted to find out who the artist was?
Concubine Rong mentioned that the painting was purchased from someone else. Regardless of how it was acquired, the source must be with Xiao Man. Li Zhizhi remembered clearly that in her previous life, a similar incident had occurred when her Cold Plum Blossom painting was stolen at Shanshe Tang. If Xiao Man was the thief, the painting would eventually find its way into the palace. Just like today, after going through Concubine Rong, it ended up in the hands of the current Emperor. He would send people to find the artist and eventually trace it back to Xiao Man.
How would Xiao Man respond?
Without thinking, it was clear that she wouldn’t admit that Li Zhizhi was the artist. But if Xiao Man falsely claimed the painting, how would she handle it?
No wonder…
Perhaps in her past life, being drowned in the flower pond was not solely due to the false accusations by Li Suwan.
Li Zhizhi’s sleeves tightened as her hand clenched bit by bit, her nails digging into her palm, causing a subtle ache. At this moment, she had to forcefully bite down on her teeth to calm herself.
In that moment, she recalled many things – the time she was pressed into the water, the water rushing into her nostrils and throat, the suffocation, and the final moments when she helplessly sank to the bottom. She remembered the sharp voice scolding her.
Really shameless!
My Lord, look at her unrepentant and denying face. She must be properly punished! Since she dared to push Xiao Wan into the water, let her taste some bitterness to prevent her from harming others again.
Push her down!
The drowning sensation engulfed her again, the desperate struggle before death flashing vividly in Li Zhizhi’s mind – a painful ordeal, leaving her limbs stiff and almost immobile.
Although so much time had pa.s.sed, Li Zhizhi thought she had gradually forgotten, but now she realized it was not the case. She hadn’t truly forgotten; how could she forget the pain of being forcibly drowned in water?
Even now, she still dared not approach the water’s edge. Every time she saw it, Li Zhizhi could recall the hazy water green, the surface glistening with a nearly pale golden sunlight, and those grotesque faces, mocking her as she died.
The teacup slipped from her hands, falling to the ground and shattering into snowy white porcelain shards. The tea splashed, wetting the hem of her skirt. The commotion drew the attention of everyone nearby, but all they saw was Li Zhizhi with closed eyes, her body devoid of strength, falling backward.
The Grand Princess instinctively reached out to grab her, exclaiming, “Zhizhi!”
Another figure moved even faster. Before anyone could react, he rushed toward Li Zhizhi and, just in time, caught her in his arms before she hit the ground.
That person was Xiao Yan. Urgently a.s.sessing the girl in his arms, he called out, “Zhizhi? Zhizhi!”
Li Zhizhi leaned softly against his chest, her eyes still tightly shut. Despite that, her pure white forehead showed a faint sheen of cold sweat, her delicate eyebrows furrowed, and her pearly teeth biting down on her lower lip. Her lips had lost their color, as if she were enduring great pain.
This sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard. Emperor Jingming ordered, “Someone, go and fetch the imperial physician. Have her lie down for now.”
Fortunately, there was a pavilion not far away for resting. Xiao Yan carried Li Zhizhi and hurried towards it. Even the little attendant couldn’t keep up with his pace, repeatedly cautioning, “Crown Prince, Your Highness, please slow down. Watch your step…”
Emperor Jingming watched the prince’s swift and unhesitant movements, his face deep in thought. After a moment, he turned to command his attendants, “Remember to send a wheelchair to the Crown Prince.”
The attendant:…
“In addition,” Emperor Jingming’s expression turned stern, “All those who were serving in the Imperial Garden today should be detained and bound. After a thorough investigation, appropriate action will be taken.”
His voice was deep and filled with a looming sense of an impending storm, making everyone shudder with fear.
Before long, the old imperial physician was summoned and hurriedly walked towards the scene. It was a close call, as his old bones almost fell apart during the rush. As soon as he entered the hall, he was grabbed by the Grand Princess, who anxiously said, “Physician, quickly check on my daughter. What’s wrong with her?”
“Alright, alright, allow… allow this old minister…” The old imperial physician stumbled forward, almost collapsing under the urgency. He was pulled to the bedside by the Grand Princess, who continued urgently, “Physician, quickly check on my daughter. What’s wrong with her?”
The old imperial physician looked closely and saw a young girl lying on the bed, eyes tightly closed, with a pallid face and cold sweat on her forehead, appearing to be in extreme pain. Emperor Jingming, with a serious expression, said, “Physician Zhang, examine her and tell me what’s going on. Has she been poisoned?”
The old imperial physician responded affirmatively and reached out to feel Li Zhizhi’s pulse. After a while, he felt that something was not right. He leaned in for a closer look and exclaimed, “Huh, why has she stopped breathing?”
Upon hearing this, the Grand Princess nearly fainted, and the palace maids by her side hurriedly supported her. The room erupted in chaos with frantic shouts. Xiao Yan grabbed the collar of the old imperial physician, his phoenix eyes ablaze with anger, and scolded, “Nonsense! She is clearly still trembling. How can she not be breathing? You quack!”
The old imperial physician was almost strangled by him, coughing loudly before stammering, “Your Highness, calm down. Let me take another look…”
Only then did Xiao Yan release his grip. The old imperial physician, trembling, reached out to check Li Zhizhi’s breath. Although he couldn’t feel any signs of breathing, she was still alive. However, for some unknown reason, she refused to exhale, as if… as if she were drowning.
Can a person really strangle oneself to death?
The old imperial doctor hurriedly took out a golden needle and inserted it into Li Zhizhi a few times. Immediately, she felt her whole body tremble, and her tightly tensed body suddenly softened. It was as if she could finally breathe smoothly. Gasping for air greedily, she coughed due to exertion.
Xiao Yan also breathed a sigh of relief, gently patting her back to help her breathe. He softly called her name, his voice gentle as if afraid of scaring her, “Zhizhi? Zhizhi?”
The Grand Princess also softly called out, “Good girl, Zhizhi, wake up quickly…”
Li Zhizhi finally regained consciousness. When she opened her eyes, she saw the Grand Princess looking at her with concern, asking gently, “Good girl, are you okay? Does anything hurt?”
Li Zhizhi woke up in a daze, recalling the nightmarish memories. She blinked her eyes, her nose tingling, and tears fell. She reached out and hugged the Grand Princess as if a child finding solace in its mother, choked up, “Mother, I feel so uncomfortable…”
The Grand Princess was also filled with remorse. Hearing this, she became even more distressed, immediately embracing her and comforting her. Xiao Yan watched from the side, unable to say a word, feeling a surge of frustration. Just then, a eunuch pushed a wheeled cart over and whispered, “Your Highness, the Emperor ordered this to be sent to you.”
Xiao Yan: …
He looked in the direction of Emperor Jingming, whose expression remained imposing, but he gave Xiao Yan a faint glance, folded his hands, and left the inner chamber, disappearing at the doorway.