Le paysage est comme une peinture

Chapitre 10

"Really?" You Tong seemed to be interested, blinking her eyes, but still didn't ask any further questions.

“His voice is beautiful too,” Wen Yan added, cupping her face in her hands as she looked at You Tong with a very obedient expression. “Ninth Sister, you are so lucky.”

"Oh," Youtong looked at her with wide eyes, "You listened carefully. Did you talk to him?"

“Yes, no—” Wen Yan blurted out, then immediately denied it, her face turning bright red. She said angrily, “Ninth Sister is so mean, she tricked me into saying this.” She paused, then laughed and said shyly in a low voice, “I was secretly watching from outside when Fifth Brother found out. So I just came out to say hello, but Young Master Shen only glanced at me and didn’t even say a few polite words. He was so cold. After all, I’m his future sister-in-law.”

You Tong didn't reply, her eyes lowered, lost in thought. Wen Yan talked to herself for a while, her voice growing softer and softer, until she finally fell into a deep sleep.

Because of the commotion all night, everyone woke up late the next day. After washing up, Youtong didn't dare go out, afraid of running into Shen San again. Although her identity would be exposed sooner or later, it couldn't be now.

After breakfast, the Second Madam came to visit Wenyan and Youtong, offering some words of comfort. Wenyan inquired with interest about Shen San's whereabouts, only to learn that he was also returning to the capital with the others. Youtong's expression immediately changed.

Wen Yan, however, was in high spirits. While packing her things to leave, she kept joking with Wen Yan and Shen San, implying that she already considered them family.

You Tong was annoyed, but she couldn't vent her anger on Wen Yan. Instead, she put on a stern face and said to Wen Yan seriously, "Tenth Sister, it's fine to say these jokes in the house, but if outsiders hear them, they might think I can't get married and am clinging to the Shen family. In the end, this marriage has only been mentioned and not finalized. If they were really interested, it's been several months since I moved back to the Cui residence, so why haven't they sent anyone to propose marriage? You also said that Young Master Shen was very cold last night. Maybe he doesn't even like me."

"How could this be!" Wen Yan's face turned red with anger, her eyes filled with resentment. "With Ninth Sister's talent and beauty, she could easily become a concubine in the palace. How could he look down on her? Unless he's blind."

Thinking about what Youtong had just said, he felt there was some truth to it. It had been a full six months since the Shen family sent someone to propose marriage last year, and even the Sun family was eager to marry their daughter-in-law. Shen San was even older than Young Master Sun, so why wasn't he in a hurry? Could it be that he really wanted to break off the engagement?

“Ninth Sister,” Wenyan stepped forward and hugged Youtong, whispering to comfort her, “I think Young Master Shen is just good-looking, but he’s not that great. What’s the use of a grown man being so handsome? If they want to break off the engagement, let them. We don’t even want him. There’s no shortage of good men in the capital. They’re all handsome and capable. Not to mention others, even Brother Xu is hundreds of times better than him. Why don’t you just marry Brother Xu? He’s a good man and devoted to you. You two know each other. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”

You Tong was both amused and exasperated. She whispered, "What nonsense are you talking about? Why did you bring up Brother Xu out of the blue? I didn't say the Shen family really broke off the engagement. I just told you to be careful with your words so that others don't have any leverage against you. If you talk about breaking off the engagement so casually, people will think that our Cui family looks down on them."

Wen Yan stuck out her tongue, glanced at Huiying and Lanxin who were serving her, and ordered, "If they dare to gossip outside—"

Huiying and Lanxin were so frightened that they said they dared not.

Wen Yan turned her head and smiled again, saying, "Look, only a few of us know about this, so it definitely won't get out."

You Tong really couldn't do anything about her, so she shook her head and smiled.

Remembering that her women's clothing at the manor was mostly simple and plain, before getting into the carriage, You Tong specially asked Hui Ying to find a bright red embroidered short jacket for her to change into, and then put on the white fox fur and red satin cloak. From a distance, she already looked incredibly wealthy. She also found a veiled hat and hung down a long silk veil to cover her face, so that even You Tong herself could not recognize herself in the mirror.

Wen Yan, however, was envious of the veiled hat's beautiful design. Wearing it on her head, the silk veil fluttered in the wind, adding a touch of feminine charm. So she asked Lan Xin to buy a veiled hat for her to wear as well.

Actually, it was just Youtong being paranoid. Although Shen San was with the others, the Cui family's procession stretched for miles, with no end in sight. Shen San had also deliberately avoided the Cui family women, so how could he possibly see the two girls in the carriage? Xu Wei, on the other hand, had been watching them closely. Seeing their strange attire, he was both puzzled and disappointed that he couldn't see Youtong's face.

Cui Weiyuan, a man of deep thought, subtly inquired with Wen Yan, but the girl herself was confused, only casually remarking that it looked good. Cui Weiyuan didn't think much of it, after all, there were many people in the capital dressed far more strangely. Besides, hiding that beautiful face under a thin veil did indeed add to the allure.

The journey to the capital was uneventful. The Cui family had already received word, and Cui Weizhe, the eldest grandson of the Cui family, along with the head steward and about ten servants, were waiting at the city gate. Upon seeing the carriage arrive, they quickly came to greet it. Because of the crowds, the second madam couldn't come out to speak, so she exchanged a few pleasantries with Weizhe inside the carriage. Then, Cui Weiyuan stepped forward to meet them.

Upon entering the city gate, Shen San bid farewell to Cui Weiyuan and led his troops away quickly. Xu Wei, however, very courteously escorted them all the way to the gate of Cui's residence in Nanshi Hutong in the western part of the city. Given his politeness, Cui Weiyuan naturally refused to let him go and insisted on pulling him into the residence for a good drink.

Xu Wei refused this time, saying, "The palace summoned me urgently. I spent a lot of time on the way here. Now that I have finally arrived in the capital, I must go to the palace to meet the emperor first."

Since it was official business, Cui Weiyuan couldn't insist any further, only saying that he would definitely thank him properly later. Then he let him go.

Author's Note: So sleepy =_=

Writing 6,000 words a day is no human task.

Trivial matters in Beijing

Twenty-one

With the late emperor having just passed away, the situation in the capital was unpredictable. The Cui family had been suppressed for more than a decade for siding with the wrong side. Now that the new emperor had finally ascended the throne, it was time to show their loyalty. Therefore, all the relatives in the capital were extremely busy, and the Second Master Cui, as the head of the family, was naturally not at home.

The capital city was full of imperial relatives and nobles, and although the Cui family was a century-old aristocratic clan, they still had to keep a low profile. The Cui residence in Nan Shi Hutong looked far less grand than their main family home in Longxi. The gate was painted vermilion, but it was mottled and looked like it hadn't been repaired in a long time. Two stone lions still stood at the entrance, but the carving and stone were quite ordinary. Only three steps remained at the entrance, indicating the owner's noble status.

Because they were women, the Second Madam and You Tong's carriages went straight into the courtyard and only stopped after passing through the second gate. Immediately, someone came over and whispered, "Ninth Miss, Tenth Miss, we've arrived home."

Someone solicitously lifted the carriage curtain, and Wen Yan let out a long sigh of relief. Lifting her skirt, she was helped down from the carriage by a servant, with You Tong following closely behind. Once down from the carriage, she looked around and saw a small garden in front of her, filled with various flowers and trees, all lush and verdant because it was springtime.

"Although this courtyard is smaller than the main family's, the scenery is excellent. Wenyan will show you around in a bit." Among this group, only Youtong was visiting the capital for the first time. The Second Madam was worried that she wouldn't be used to it, so she asked Wenyan to accompany her. She added, "There are still some relatives staying in the mansion, so it's a bit crowded. We'll just have to settle the two of you together in Jiangxue Zhai on the east side by the lake for now. After all, you sisters have always been close, so it will be more lively if you stay together."

Before Youtong could reply, Wenyan jumped up with joy and hugged the Second Madam, saying, "That's wonderful! I used to live alone and always felt a bit lonely. Now that Ninth Sister is with me, at least I have someone to talk to." She then turned to Youtong and smiled, "Ninth Sister, come here quickly, I'll take you to Jiangxue Studio." With that, she grabbed Youtong's hand and ran outside.

You Tong didn't shake him off, but turned back and whispered her thanks to the Second Madam before following Wen Yan to Jiangxue Studio.

Jiangxuezhai was a small embroidered building on the east side of the Cui residence. The three main rooms were built on two floors. Because Wenyan preferred to live on higher floors, Youtong gave her the second floor. This courtyard was smaller than Yueyinglou, where she had lived in her family home in Longxi, but a small lake was not far away, with a delicate hexagonal pavilion in the middle of the lake, making it even more elegant than Yueyinglou.

The room had already been cleaned up, and the servants of the Cui family were waiting outside. You Tong glanced at them and noticed that in addition to the maids and old women, there was also a very well-dressed old woman. Although she stood respectfully like the other servants, her face showed no humility or obedience.

Wen Yan seemed to recognize her. As soon as she saw the person, her expression changed immediately. She carefully hid behind You Tong and whispered through gritted teeth, "Ninth Sister, what should we do? That's the teaching nanny that Second Sister invited. Her surname is Xia, and she's very fierce."

You Tong had already guessed the man's identity, and now, hearing Wen Yan mention it, she frowned as well. Some pedantic families in the capital loved to emphasize rules and etiquette, often having their daughters instructed by a proper pre-wedding matron before marriage, mainly about manners and etiquette. Even the usually lively Wen Yan found this tedious. However, aristocratic families like the Cui family, raised according to palace rules from childhood, had no need for an outside pre-wedding matron.

Although she was quite impatient with that Granny Xia, You Tong didn't show it on her face like Wen Yan did, and greeted her politely. Granny Xia nodded to You Tong with a stern face, and then said to Wen Yan, "Tenth Miss, you left before you finished learning the rules last time. Madam Shi and this old servant have repeatedly told you that you can't be willful and reckless again."

Wen Yan looked annoyed, but she obediently didn't dare to talk back. This unusual obedience surprised You Tong.

Having just returned to the manor, Granny Xia didn't dare say much immediately. After exchanging a few words with the two women with a stern face, she took her leave. Once she was out of sight, Wen Yan let out a long wail, crying, "I thought coming to the capital would be more fun than staying at home, but I didn't expect that old hag to still be here. What are we going to do?"

You Tong frowned and said, "Why did this happen again? I've never heard that Second Uncle is a rigid and old-fashioned person?"

Wen Yan stomped her feet in anger, saying, "It wasn't my father who invited her, it was my second sister who was being nosy. She married a poor, pedantic scholar, and now she thinks every household in the capital is as rigid as her husband's. When I came last time, my mother wasn't here, and she kept interfering in my affairs, even my marriage to the Sun family. My father didn't bother to object because of my eldest uncle, but it was a hardship for me. I'm not going to interfere this time either. My mother is here now, so I'll tell her later that Xia Mama was hired from who-knows-where. She's a palace maid who retired years ago, and after all these years, those rules and etiquette are outdated. How can they be expected to teach our Cui family's young lady?"

You Tong agreed wholeheartedly, nodding repeatedly and encouragingly saying, "We've only just arrived in the capital, and haven't even had a proper rest yet, and this old woman has already established her authority. With Second Aunt in the household, it's not Second Sister's place to meddle in these family affairs. But—"

She paused, then said seriously to Wenyan, "Second Sister means well, and we can't refuse her. We've been pampered since childhood and are in poor health. The journey has been tiring, and we're bound to suffer from acclimatization issues in the capital. We don't have the energy to learn any etiquette. Since the wedding has already been postponed, we can wait until we've recovered before having Second Aunt find a better nanny."

"Ninth Sister told us to pretend to be sick?" Wen Yan wasn't stupid; she quickly understood You Tong's implied meaning, and her eyes immediately lit up.

You Tong was both angry and amused, looking at her with a hopeless expression, and said, "It's not that you're faking illness. Didn't I just say that I'm tired from the journey and not used to the local environment?"

Wen Yan chuckled twice, nodded repeatedly, and praised, "I understand, Ninth Sister is indeed clever."

Regardless of how Wenyan pleaded and begged the Second Madam, the matter was settled; Granny Xia hadn't returned. Youtong finally felt relieved. Although she was single-mindedly focused on getting revenge on Shen San, she didn't want to ruin her own life because of it. If things really got out of hand, it would be better to leave the Cui family sooner rather than later. After all, now that she knew Shen San's identity, he wouldn't be able to escape either.

On the third day after arriving in the capital, You Tong finally met the second master of the Cui family. He looked younger than his actual age, was tall, handsome, had a short beard that was neatly trimmed, and was dressed very elegantly. Overall, he was a middle-aged man with a refined demeanor.

You Tong came to pay her respects together with Wen Yan. Master Cui must have known that You Tong was a substitute bride. His eyes were full of scrutiny and distance when he looked at her, but his face was full of care. He kindly asked her if she was used to life in the capital and told her to go to the Second Madam if she had any inconvenience.

You Tong cooperated well in her performance, appearing flattered and overwhelmed. The Second Madam, standing to the side, looked somewhat uneasy, suggesting that the Second Master had already revealed her identity over the past two days.

You Tong, for her part, was all talk and no action. She spoke when she should, and sat quietly to the side when she shouldn't, a smile playing on her lips, her face dignified, her manners impeccable. Wen Yan, on the other hand, was especially mischievous in front of her parents, shamelessly acting spoiled in front of the Second Master, swaying her hips and displaying the innocent charm of a young girl. The Second Master doted on this daughter, his face always beaming with smiles, his eyes full of affection. Only Cui Weiyuan occasionally stole glances at You Tong, seeing her composed expression, and felt a mix of emotions within him.

After dinner, You Tong tactfully took her leave. Then, the Second Madam pulled You Tong aside for a private chat, while the Second Master called Cui Weiyuan and they all went into the study.

Seeing the serious expressions on the father and son's faces, the pageboy knew they must have something to say, so after brewing the tea, he quickly withdrew.

"How have things gone in the palace these past two days?" The Second Master blew on the tea leaves floating on top of his cup and asked in a low voice.

Cui Weiyuan replied respectfully, "Lord Liu has been very kind to me, and the other colleagues have also been quite polite. However, after guarding the palace gates of Chonghua Palace for two consecutive days, I have not yet seen the new emperor."

The Second Master sneered, “The Grand Princess can hide him very well, and she is surrounded by her confidants. It’s not so easy to see him. But it doesn’t matter. Now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, there are many dissents in the court. If the Grand Princess wants to intimidate the officials, she can only rely on us old ministers and aristocratic families. Let’s wait patiently for a few more days, and she will eventually come to us on her own.”

The sudden death of the late emperor further weakened the already precarious Great Zhou Dynasty, leading to widespread rebellion and opposition. Everyone in the court wanted a piece of the pie. Unexpectedly, the Grand Princess emerged, first swiftly purging the palace, then contacting the Imperial Guards, and somehow persuading Prince Zhuang, who held military power. In just two or three months, she seized control of the government.

But in any case, she is still a woman. The new emperor is young and it will be more than ten years before he takes power. No matter how capable the Grand Princess is, she cannot be a lone wolf. Only by winning over powerful families can the stability of the Great Zhou be maintained.

The Cui family has finally reached the point where they can rise to prominence.

"Have you found out the woman's identity?" the Second Master suddenly asked again.

Cui Weiyuan was stunned for a moment before realizing that the woman his father was talking about was You Tong. His heart was inexplicably in turmoil. He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and replied in a deep voice, "She is a young lady from a prominent family in Huzhou."

The second master frowned and remained silent. After thinking for a while, he became even more uneasy. "I see that her speech and behavior are quite refined. She is probably not a young lady from an ordinary family. But if she comes from a prestigious family, how could she be alone? And how could she agree to your request to marry in place of Wen Feng?"

This was precisely the question that Cui Weiyuan had never been able to understand. When he kidnapped Youtong, he had prepared many methods of coercion and enticement, but none of them worked. Youtong had agreed so easily, which left him completely baffled. If he hadn't been afraid that the news of Wenfeng's escape from home would have leaked, he wouldn't have brought her into the Cui residence so easily.

"I heard that the Shen family seems to be considering breaking off the engagement?" Cui Weiyuan didn't reply, but instead asked tentatively, "If they want to break off the engagement, then Wen Feng's side should just be let go. I'm still a little worried." For some reason, he didn't tell his father everything about You Tong. Her superb martial arts skills, her vengeful and cunning nature, seemed to be full of secrets.

Second Master slammed down his teacup and sneered, "That old fox from the Shen family! It's not impossible for him to break off the engagement, but how can we just break off the engagement with our Miss Cui? If we don't make him bleed a little, he'll still think our Cui family is as easy to bully as before."

Cui Weiyuan felt a chill run down his spine. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but then his eyes flashed and he suddenly remembered something, so he quickly shut his mouth.

Long-awaited reunion

Twenty-two

When the women of the Cui family first arrived in the capital, they inevitably had to socialize and make social appearances. As the ninth young lady, born of the main wife, and also the betrothed to the Shen family, You Tong naturally had to accompany them. The capital was not like Longxi; it was full of high-ranking officials and nobles. The Cui family members were not as at ease as they had been in Longxi, and they spoke and acted with more caution.

Although You Tong had accompanied Cui Shi to visit the homes of powerful and influential people in Qiantang, how could the Jiangnan region compare to the capital? Those noblewomen had the sharpest eyes, and if she made even the slightest mistake, someone would mock and ridicule her with ill intent.

Although You Tong was impatient with dealing with those women, she didn't want to be ridiculed, so she listened attentively to the Second Madam's instructions and obediently followed behind her. Most of the time, she held her breath and acted docile and obedient. Occasionally, when other noblewomen mentioned her, she would only smile and nod, appearing very well-mannered. This wasn't the first time she had done this. Back in Qiantang, everyone praised the eldest daughter of the Yu family for her graceful demeanor and elegant manners. Wen Yan, on the other hand, after following her around twice, started complaining incessantly, preferring to stay alone in the mansion rather than come out again.

The second wife knew her temperament; if she were truly provoked, she would likely make a scene in front of others without a care in the world, so she had no choice but to give in. As for You Tong, the second wife was somewhat wary after learning of her identity. Although Cui Weiyuan had never mentioned You Tong's background to her, in her opinion, a daughter from a good family would never agree to marry in place of someone else without reason. Thinking of You Tong's usual gentle and obedient nature, she felt a chill in her heart. She completely forgot the fact that You Tong had been abducted by Cui Weiyuan.

Since that was the case, the Second Madam naturally hoped that Wenyan would stay obediently in the mansion and not go out, so when she sent someone to invite her, she intentionally or unintentionally mentioned that Wenyan was ill and unable to go out. Wenyan was also clever and followed suit, feigning illness and not going out. The Second Madam left very satisfied.

As soon as she left, Wenyan immediately perked up again, skipping and hopping downstairs to find Youtong. She insisted on dragging her out with her, saying they were going to the Li residence in the south of the city to find her good friend, Li Yuqi, the second young lady of the Vice Minister of Rites. Youtong was reluctant to go. The peach blossoms outside were in full bloom, and she had already asked Huiqiao to ask Cui Weiyuan for some cinnabar to prepare a painting of spring peach blossoms. However, she had been delayed because she had been going out with the Second Madam these past few days. If she continued to delay like this, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to finish the painting even after the peach blossoms had all faded.

But Wen Yan's personality wouldn't tolerate her excuses. Without saying a word, she dragged her into the carriage. After leaving the Cui residence, You Tong remembered to ask, "Didn't you just tell your second aunt that you were sick? Going out so openly, aren't you afraid that your second aunt will talk about you later?"

Wen Yan smiled nonchalantly and said, "Let her talk. I'm used to being scolded by her anyway, so one more time or two won't make a difference." Seeing You Tong's helpless expression, she comforted her, "My dear sister, don't frown and look so stern. The place I'm taking you to isn't as boring as other people's homes. Don't you like painting? Sister Li has a lot of famous paintings in her collection. I guarantee you'll like them when you see them."

"Really?" Upon hearing that there were famous paintings to appreciate, You Tong's spirits lifted somewhat, and a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes as she asked, "What kinds of paintings are there?"

Wen Yan was immediately stumped. She had never been interested in painting, let alone knew anything about famous artists or masterpieces. After racking her brains for a long time, she hesitated and whispered, "I think I heard Sister Li mention that guy Feng, and what was the name of his painting... Hanshan... something about a travelogue..."

“It’s Zang Feng’s ‘Night Excursion to Cold Mountain’!” You Tong thought for a moment and immediately remembered the name. She was both surprised and delighted. “Does the Li family really have the original of this painting? This is an early work of Zang Feng. I have seen a forgery in a calligraphy and painting shop. The style is very sharp and fierce, which is completely different from his later restrained and steady style.”

Wen Yan chuckled dryly twice, but couldn't understand what she was saying.

Ever since hearing Zang Feng's name, You Tong had become quite excited. Regardless of whether Wen Yan understood or not, she talked incessantly about famous calligraphers and painters. She was articulate and had a gentle voice. When she talked about calligraphy and painting, she not only praised them but also talked in detail about the stories behind each painting and the person. It was quite captivating. Not only Hui Ying and Lan Xin, but even Wen Yan, who was usually restless, listened with great interest.

Because they had something to talk about on the way, time seemed to pass exceptionally quickly. When they arrived at the Li residence, Wenyan was stunned for a moment and murmured, "How did we get here so quickly?"

Huiying went down to inform them first, and Youtong and Wenyan followed suit. Once alighting, Youtong discovered that the alley where the Li residence was located was extremely narrow and secluded, only wide enough for one carriage to pass through. The bluestone slabs underfoot were broken and dilapidated, and the roadside was covered with lush green moss, seemingly untouched by many, making the alley appear even more damp and dark. The walls on both sides were also mottled and dilapidated, looking quite old.

Wen Yan said that Master Li was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, so why was he living in a place like this? You Tong had doubts in her heart, but she didn't say them out loud. She just frowned slightly and followed behind Wen Yan, her eyes subtly looking around.

The Li family's courtyard was not large. Upon entering the main gate, the second young lady of the Li family, Yuqi, came out to greet them. She looked to be about the same age as Wenyan. She was very fair-skinned, with delicate features. Although her appearance was not outstanding, she had a scholarly air that set her apart from other daughters of officials.

Upon seeing Wen Yan, Li Yuqi's eyes instantly crinkled into crescents, and her face brightened. Just moments before, she had only shown a hint of beauty, but now, with a smile, she was utterly captivating. "It really is Sister Wen Yan! Yue'er said you were here, but I didn't believe her!" She warmly stepped forward, took Wen Yan's hand, looked her up and down, smiled, and teased, "You really are engaged! You're glowing with health and vitality—"

Although Wen Yan was usually carefree, she was still a girl after all. When she was teased like that, her face turned red. She pouted and pulled You Tong in front of her, saying, "This is my ninth sister, Wen Feng. She has a very good personality and we get along very well, so I specially brought her here today. Ninth sister is half a year older than me and two days older than you. From now on, you can call her sister along with me."

“Sister Wenfeng,” Li Yuqi said with a friendly smile to Wenyan, “Wenyan said you have a good personality, which must be very good, otherwise she wouldn’t have brought you here.”

Wen Yan said proudly, "Of course, my ninth sister is no ordinary person. Don't you have that painting by Feng in your family? Hurry up and take it out so my ninth sister can see it. If she hadn't heard that your family had that painting, she almost wouldn't have come with me."

"What 'Feng'?" Li Yuqi thought for a moment, then immediately realized, "You mean 'Cangfeng'!" A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes as she looked at Youtong, then she covered her mouth and laughed, "It's a wonder that Sister Wenfeng can play with a commoner like Wenyan. This girl can't even remember Master Cangfeng's name."

Wen Yan said anxiously, "That's because my fifth brother doesn't teach well. He makes me trace characters all day long, which is so annoying. If he told me stories like my ninth sister does, I might have fallen in love with painting."

"You always manage to pin everything on Fifth Brother." You Tong shook her head repeatedly, and thinking of Cui Weiyuan's usually elegant and reserved face, she couldn't help but want to laugh. That man was also a master of pretense. Everyone in the Cui family spoke highly of him, but in reality, he was nothing more than a ruthless person.

Li Yuqi led the two women into the back courtyard flower hall. After the servants served them hot tea, they took their leave. Li Yuqi said, "Sister Wenfeng, please wait here for a moment. I will go to Father's study to fetch the painting."

You Tong quickly stood up to thank her. After she had walked away, You Tong whispered to Wen Yan, "How come Lord Li, who holds the position of Vice Minister of Rites, lives in such poverty?"

Along the way, You Tong saw clearly that the Li family's courtyard only had two sections and was no more than an acre in size. The furniture inside was all old and not made of good materials. Although there was a display cabinet in the flower hall, it was mostly empty. Only two vases were placed in the middle. They looked like antiques, but upon closer inspection, there were obvious signs of artificial aging on the vases.

Wen Yan replied, "It's all because of these paintings." She glanced outside and, seeing that Li Yuqi hadn't returned yet, quickly lowered her voice and whispered, "You don't know, Lord Li is a well-known painting fanatic in the capital. He loves collecting famous paintings from ancient and modern times. If he takes a fancy to a painting, he'll sell his entire fortune without hesitation. The Li family wasn't a wealthy family to begin with, and Lord Li isn't good at managing money. How can he support such a large family with just his meager salary from the court?"