Chapter 402: Losing the Soul
A mere painting getting regarded this highly by Le Cheng Emperor naturally would attract many people’s curiosity. However, there were still some that guessed the content of the painting. As such, each had different expressions, and their thoughts too numerous to count. After all, Le Cheng Emperor’s final line was more than enough to draw out many things, ‘who’. If strictly speaking of the painting, then it should be ‘what’, ‘thing’, and similar phrases. That’s why, it was very possible that the subject of the painting was most likely a person. And to be able to make Le Cheng Emperor losing his bearing this much, it was also just that one.
After Li Hong Yuan, it was the seventh w.a.n.gye’s turn. Have to say, among them, which one didn’t meticulously and painstakingly prepare the birthday present. However, now, Le Cheng Emperor’s entire mind was consumed by that painting, either glancing, either touching, repeatedly wanting to open once again. But, he ultimately took the setting into consideration, else he probably would’ve directly left, finding a place to quietly look at it, quietly reminiscing the memories.
That’s why, after seventh w.a.n.gye, regardless of the item, Le Cheng Emperor was all too distracted to pay attention. To be able to obtain a sound from him as a response was already considered not bad. The most awkward was probably the ones kneeling there for half a day, yet Le Cheng Emperor wouldn’t have any reaction at all. At this time, even Jing Wan all felt a bit sorry. Seemingly, it was like what they’d present up wasn’t a painting, but rather, a country ruining demon, the kind that had Le Cheng Emperor’s soul sucked away in seconds.
In contrast, Li Hong Yuan wasn’t feeling the least bit guilty about ‘messing with’ his younger brothers, calmly sitting there, appearing to be more carefree than anyone, drinking and pouring wine on his own, occasionally even peeling a nut and throwing into his mouth.
Because it was truly too obvious that Le Cheng Emperor was out of sorts, everyone naturally just became increasingly curious as to what kind of painting was able to make Le Cheng Emperor lose his bearing like this.
If able to know, perhaps they can make use of it. Of course, this was what the other countries’ emissaries thought. In reality, it was useless even if knowing. For someone that has already died, how can one make use of? Find a subst.i.tute? Don’t joke. Someone like the Imperial n.o.ble Consort, even if altering one’s appearance to look like her, one would still get seen through in seconds. Moreover, not everyone was suitable to subst.i.tute. If too perfect, the counterfeit completely not on the same level, then this kind of counterfeit, never mind winning the other party’s favor, it was more likely to cause violent rage due to dirtying the sacred and wonderful memories in someone else’s heart, having the so called subst.i.tute torn into pieces.
The Imperial n.o.ble Consort, for Le Cheng Emperor, was probably this kind of an existence. Furthermore, the one that looked the most like his true love was his son, alright. However, because the discrepancy in personality was truly too much, unless Li Hong Yuan deliberately makes a special expression, otherwise, Le Cheng Emperor definitely won’t be in a daze towards his son either, so what use was there for a subst.i.tute to exist?
Seeing that it was absolutely impossible to learn the details from Le Cheng Emperor, these people naturally just s.h.i.+fted their gaze towards Li Hong Yuan and Jing Wan. After all, that painting hasn’t been seen by a fourth person——–Alright, in reality, there was a fourth person. Li Hong Yuan had given it to Gong mama to look over, to ensure that it can achieve the absolute effect in front of Le Cheng Emperor. However, Li Hong Yuan really was calm, having everyone in the surrounding thoroughly ignored. As for Jing Wan, although unable to reach Li Hong Yuan’s level, with the help of some makeup, her expression was also perfect.
That’s why, for these people, regardless of their thoughts, it all ended in failure.
Speaking of which, did Le Cheng Emperor not have any paintings of the Imperial n.o.ble Consort when she was alive? To the extent that he would completely lose his soul to a painting at this time?
He certainly would have some, but freestyle painting further emphasized on charm and grace, so it more or less would be lacking in terms of form. Moreover, as a court painter, their level was actually limited. After all, the true master painters of Qi Yuan, for the most part, all came from prestigious and influential families, and at worst, it was still a scholarly family, having their own pride and n.o.ble ideals. They really felt it was beneath them to become a court painter and specifically serve the imperial family.
For someone like the Imperial n.o.ble Consort, if one’s skill level wasn’t up to standard, then one really wasn’t able to draw out that kind of divine beauty and temperament. After a few times, especially with the real thing as comparison, what the h.e.l.l were all those paintings?
And as for the portraits in Le Cheng Emperor’s hands, there were a few that were even the Imperial n.o.ble Consort’s self-portraits. Due to modesty, when painting, she blurred her own skill level. Even so, these paintings have already made Le Cheng Emperor love too much to part with.
In Le Cheng Emperor’s hands, there naturally weren’t just these two three paintings. After the Imperial n.o.ble Consort died, Le Cheng Emperor madly let the court painters paint the Imperial n.o.ble Consort’s portrait based on memory. However, even the ones paint in the presence of the real thing, Le Cheng Emperor all wasn’t satisfied with, let alone ones based off of memory. Being unable to produce a painting that Le Cheng Emperor was satisfied with, if not for Le Cheng Emperor needing them to continue painting, each and everyone would’ve long been ‘kacha-ed’. Under Le Cheng Emperor heavy pressure, their paintings did increasingly improve, but it still lacked charm. In the end, Le Cheng Emperor had no choice but to give up.
But now, suddenly obtaining such a painting that possessed both form and spirit, as if it was the actual person, it naturally just caused the past memories to become increasingly clear. Moreover, because the person in the painting was too beautiful, especially that smile, it practically just made one melt. Although in these last twenty or so years, Le Cheng Emperor has continuously pa.s.sed his days submerged in his memories, the things in one’s memories, compared to something before one’s eyes, was still somewhat different. This while, Le Cheng Emperor just felt that she really was smiling at him.
In reality, between Le Cheng Emperor and the Imperial n.o.ble Consort, there didn’t really exist that many wonderful memories.
The Imperial n.o.ble Consort wasn’t the kind of person that resented the heavens and blamed others, being melancholic and gloomy all day. Regardless of what she encountered, she would all adjust herself as much as possible, and afterwards, face with a positive mentality. However, towards Le Cheng Emperor, she ultimately didn’t have any feelings, so naturally won’t deliberately build anything with him, and Le Cheng Emperor also had her watched too closely. Moreover, in the first three years, she wasn’t really by his side, and after coming to his side, as well as one can imagine, it was residing deep in the palace. And Le Cheng Emperor can’t have all his thoughts spent on her either.
As the saying goes, the trees long for peace but the wind never cease. Le Cheng Emperor was already one-sidedly pa.s.sionate to begin with, so when Min Yu Han appeared in the capital, while believing that he’d been wholeheartedly good to a person, yet this person still longed for someone else, he naturally just exploded. As such, how could there really be any beautiful memories between them?
The expression on the person in Jing Wan’s painting, for Le Cheng Emperor, perhaps was just like a dream. It’s not that the Imperial n.o.ble Consort has never genuinely and happily smiled before in the palace, just this target wasn’t necessarily Le Cheng Emperor. In fact, it wasn’t any person, but merely a flower, a bird…………….
When unable to obtain or losing, it will just become that white moonlight, the cinnabar at the tip of the heart. All the bad things will all get selectively tossed to the back of the mind, having that tiny bit of good limitlessly magnified again and again, to the extent where one believed that everything in the past was all wonderful, practically reaching a hypnotized state. As such, one can imagine, just how deep of an influence this painting had towards Le Cheng Emperor.
Knowing their own ‘tragedy’, the princes afterwards also moved quickly, not slacking in the slightest—–Bowing, presenting the present, saying the auspicious words, and afterwards, rolling back to their seats, regardless whether it was the grown princes that have been bestowed a w.a.n.g t.i.tle and opened their own manor, or the princes that were still in the palace. And to avoid the miserable fate of kneeling forever, they simple just didn’t kneel.
Thus, the various princes offering their presents just became the most typical ‘tiger’s head, snake’s tail[1]‘.
Next, it was the various countries’ emissaries turn……………
The Empress lacked in energy and was already somewhat drained, but at this time, she still had to work up her spirit and tactfully remind Le Cheng Emperor.
The princes in the end were still his sons. As the father, sweeping their faces, it was also just that, but these emissaries weren’t the same. Even if a small country, one still can’t not give them face. Qi Yuan was a country of etiquette, the celestial empire, so as the Emperor, there was no reason to do such a mannerless thing.
Le Cheng Emperor in the end still hadn’t reach that level, and although he still had no intention of putting down the scroll in hand, from beginning to end, he nevertheless still looked directly at the other countries’ emissaries. His face was expressionless, but he also didn’t lack in manners. Speaking of which, the presents these emissaries prepared actually weren’t all that special. The larger countries didn’t need to curry favor with Qi Yuan, so completely didn’t want to put in the effort, and the smaller countries were unable to produce anything that was capable of shocking the people of Qi Yuan. It was mostly all just some of their own country’s ‘specialities’. In any case, it appeared valuable enough, so it was unlikely for them to lose face. For some smaller countries, it was just things such as gold and silver, or precious stones and pearls………..
What was relatively special was probably just a pair of white tiger cubs, as well as a white tiger hide, separately coming from two smaller countries, which was rather coincidental.
Jing Wan was actually terribly smitten by the two white tiger cubs’ cuteness. Alright, Jing Wan was actually also considered someone that loved cute things.
Li Hong Yuan simply didn’t know what it means to be polite. Since his wife liked it, then it was just directly demanding, not feeling the least bit embarra.s.sed.
Le Cheng Emperor naturally just waved his big hand, granting it.
After offering the presents, naturally it was just song and dance, and drinking wine. Although it was still early for the official banquet, at this time, it actually can be considered to have officially started.
[1] Idiom meaning a strong start but a weak finish.