J'ai passé mon bras autour de la taille fine de l'homme fort

Chapitre 78

The Empress then suggested to the Emperor, "Guo Xi's landscape paintings are no less than those of the other court painters. His brushwork and artistic conception are particularly outstanding. Why not summon him to the court painters' academy so that he can continue to hone his skills there? In time, he will surely achieve great success."

The Emperor nodded in approval and summoned the head of the Imperial Academy of Painting to give instructions on the matter.

After returning from the palace, Li Wei hesitated several times before finally bringing up the matter after dinner the next day, asking me: "Were the paintings by Xu Chongsi and Guo Xi added to the gift list by you, sir?"

I admit that He Yan said to him, “In painting, one need not always worship the ancients. If we talk about Buddhist and Taoist figures, people, ladies, cattle and horses, then the recent ones are indeed not as good as the ancient ones. But if we talk about landscapes, forests and rocks, flowers and bamboo, birds and fish, then the ancient ones are not as good as the recent ones. Painters of our dynasty are far superior to their predecessors. Xu and Guo are among the best. Selecting their works will also please the emperor.”

He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Did you also present the ones I selected, sir?"

After a moment's consideration, I decided to tell the truth: "The works by Wang Xizhi, Zhang Xuan, and Li Cheng are still at home; the rest have been sent to the palace."

Li Wei asked in surprise, "Why did you keep those famous figures? Does the Emperor not like them?"

For a moment, I couldn't think of a tactful way to answer the question, one that would make him aware of the problem without embarrassing him. So I remained silent for a moment. Just then, Madam Yang interrupted, expressing her guess: "Could it be that the princess likes it, so she stayed?"

The princess scoffed at her words, turned her head away coldly, and ignored her.

Her expression immediately provoked her mother-in-law's dissatisfaction, and Madam Yang also sneered, taking the opportunity to say, "If it's not that the princess likes it, then it must be that Mr. Liang likes it, so he kept it for himself? Exchanging a few cheap paintings and calligraphy for the antiques that my son bought at a high price, and still getting praise from the Emperor and the Empress, Mr. Liang is quite capable. You should teach the prince consort well in the future, so that he can also learn to do such a profitable business!"

The princess flew into a rage, glaring at Li Wei and his mother, and rebuked them directly: "Huaiji didn't tell the truth to save face for the prince consort. If he hadn't replaced those paintings and calligraphy earlier, the prince consort would have lost even more face in front of my parents. You judge a gentleman by your own petty standards and speak so rudely to him; you truly don't know what's good for you!"

"The truth? What truth could there be?" Madam Yang immediately retorted, "Someone intercepted the treasures that the prince consort was presenting to the emperor. How could that be false?"

"That's true, but I'm honored by your words, there is indeed something false about it." The princess turned to Bai Maoxian, who was standing in the hall, and ordered, "Xiao Bai, tell the prince consort and the princess's wife where the falsehood lies."

Xiao Bai hesitated, not daring to speak immediately. Li Wei seemed to have gradually realized the situation, so he tentatively asked Xiao Bai, "Are my paintings and calligraphy fake?"

Xiao Bai lowered his head, which was tantamount to admitting it. At the princess's request, he finally began to quietly point out the flaws in the paintings and calligraphy. Li Wei listened silently, his face pale, his head drooping lower and lower, and he did not utter another word.

When Madam Yang heard Xiao Bai say that the original "Reading the Stele and Rocks" painting was sought out by Pei Xiang and was now kept in the Imperial Archives, she said, "How do you know that what Pei Chengzhi bought is the real one, and what my son bought is the fake one? The patterns on the painting are all the same. Does he think that just because he bought a few more characters, he can be sure that it is real?"

The princess, unable to bear it any longer, stood up and said to me, "Huaiji, let's go."

From then on, Li Wei became even more silent, rarely associating with the wealthy young men he used to associate with. He devoted almost all his energy to studying and appreciating calligraphy and painting, often locking himself in his study day and night to look at his collection and related books. When he occasionally went out, it was mostly to buy works by famous artists.

One day, he came to see me and politely asked if I had any of Cui Bai's paintings, as he wanted to take a look.

All I have with me now is that painting, "Wild Geese Among Reeds." I didn't show it to him, but said, "I don't have any of Cui Bai's works here, but I've known him for many years. If you're interested, Commandant, you might as well come with me to visit him at his home another day, where you'll be able to appreciate some of his paintings."

I haven't told anyone about the "Wild Geese and Reeds" painting, not even the princess. I think Cui Bai chose this painting for me perhaps hoping that Qiu He would see it someday. I also hope that Qiu He knows this intention, but her current status is special, and sending her such an item again makes me think twice, not just because of palace rules.

This deliberation lasted for more than half a year. In August of the third year of Jiayou, I finally made up my mind to take advantage of the occasion of Consort Miao's birthday and the princess's visit to the palace to offer her congratulations, and bring the painting to Qiuhe.

That day, the princess went to celebrate her mother's birthday. She had already been granted permission by the emperor and empress to stay overnight in the palace. I went with her and brought the painting into the palace.

Qiuhe seemed to be unwell and was in low spirits. Before the birthday banquet, he gave his blessings to Lady Miao and presented her with a gift, then took his leave and returned to his own quarters.

I immediately took the painting out and escorted her to her residence. She also warmly invited me to stay a while longer for tea and conversation. Seeing that the room was filled with her trusted confidants, I took out the "Wild Geese and Reeds" painting, presented it with both hands, and said, "An old friend of mine is skilled in painting flowers and birds. He recently gave me this painting. I found it quite interesting, and I remember that Madam Dong really likes flowers, bamboo, and birds, so I brought it to present to you. I hope you will accept it with a smile."

Qiu He took it, unfolded it, and her gentle, spring-like eyes paused slightly, clearly understanding the whole story.

She stared at the painting, lost in thought and silent for a long time before lowering her eyelashes to conceal the faint glint of tears that had welled up within her. She then rolled up the scroll again, handed it back to me, and said with a faint smile, "My knowledge is limited, and I do not know how to appreciate calligraphy and painting. Giving this painting to me would be a waste. Huaiji, you should take it back. You can keep it for yourself or return it to that gentleman. Either way is fine."

I was somewhat surprised, but not too astonished, so I took the scroll and nodded in agreement.

We chatted for a while longer, talking about each other's recent lives and trivial matters, without mentioning Cui Bai at all.

When I said goodbye, she got up to see me off, but perhaps because the movement was too fast, she felt a little dizzy and swayed.

My maid and I quickly helped her up. Seeing that she looked pale and unwell, I asked her with concern if she was feeling unwell and whether we should summon the imperial physician to take her pulse.

She looked at me with a gentle smile, yet for some reason I felt a desolation in her eyes, as if these few short moments had suddenly aged her beautiful youth in this young body.

“Huaiji,” she said softly, still wearing that dazed smile, her right hand resting on her lower abdomen, “I think I am… pregnant.”

The Lonely City Closes (A Princess Who Fell in Love with a Eunuch): Who can share the joyous news of our love?

Chapter word count: 3179 Update time: 09-07-05 10:30

good news

(2950 words)

After several imperial physicians consulted on the patient's pulse, they all congratulated the Emperor: "We have heard that the Lady of Wenxi County is pregnant."

I cannot fully describe the Emperor's reaction at that moment; I can only say that this was undoubtedly the most joyful event for him in over a decade. He first let out a long sigh, as if half of a thousand-pound burden had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders. Then, his face broke into a wide smile, a mixture of surprise and delight. His gaze swept over the hundred or so palace ladies waiting outside the curtain for news, now bowing and congratulating him. He found several officials from the front and rear ministries and, in a trembling voice, said: "Quickly prepare the sacrificial rites at the Imperial Ancestral Temple… and then inventory the gold, silk, utensils, and miscellaneous items in the Imperial Treasury for future bestowals… go to the Secretariat and the Chancellery to see if the Chancellor is still there… who is on duty tonight?"

This joyous occasion in the inner palace garnered unprecedented attention and focus both within the imperial court and among the common people. After more than a decade of waiting, the forty-nine-year-old emperor finally saw his hope of having an heir again. The ministers who had urged him to select a prince from the imperial clan fell silent, and one after another, they submitted congratulatory memorials. Overjoyed, the emperor announced the very next day that a large-scale construction project would be undertaken to convert the official residence used by Emperor Zhenzong when he served as the Prefect of Kaifeng into the "Hidden Dragon Palace," for the future use of the prince.

Qiuhe's chambers suddenly became lively. Apart from the emperor, who would visit her several times a day, the other palace ladies, regardless of their usual relationship with her, came to visit in an endless stream. As a result, the princess stayed in the palace for two more days, choosing with her mother the patterns for the embroidered handkerchiefs to be given when the child was born, and enthusiastically preparing to embroider them for Qiuhe herself.

"If you give birth to a little sister for me, I will make her a flower dress myself in the future," the princess said to Qiuhe with a smile.

As a result, Consort Miao slapped her with her fan, "Nonsense! Lady Dong is going to give you a little brother!" Lady Miao said, turning to look at Qiu He, and then said with great emotion, "Sister, if you could give birth to a prince, you would be on a meteoric rise..."

Qiuhe simply smiled faintly and lowered her head, without responding.

Before I left the palace with the princess, I went to visit Qiuhe again. I happened to see the Emperor coming out of her pavilion, a smile on his lips, his face beaming. Upon entering, I saw that the hall was filled with gold and jade artifacts, silks and satins, a truly dazzling array.

Qiuhe, however, remained hidden behind the gauze curtain, secretly wiping away her tears.

I cautiously asked her why she was unhappy. She forced a smile and said, "Huaiji, please bless me. Please let me give birth to a prince."

I immediately nodded: "Of course, I will pray for you."

“I…I’m so scared.” She lowered her eyes and whispered her worries to me, “I’m afraid of disappointing the Emperor…He’s so happy now, but if I don’t give birth to a boy, he’ll be very sad in the future…”