"I repeatedly instructed you to personally deliver the painting to Lin Qingzhu. How could you hand it over to someone else?" The War King's sharp gaze shot straight at the Duke of Wen, his large hand clenched tightly, and his eyes were filled with a deep gloom.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger." Duke Wen had never seen the War King so furious. Even when he was severely injured and on the verge of death, he had never been so violent. Startled, he took a step back and hurriedly explained:
"I thought she was Lin Qingzhu's best friend and would definitely deliver the painting to her. The war in the Southern Frontier is no small matter, and I was afraid of delaying our departure..."
"Shut up! Do you know what I missed by taking a shortcut? Do you know that the little bit of time you saved allowed me to make an irreparable mistake? Where is Ruan Chuqing? Summon her here!" The anger in the War King's eyes was beyond words; it was a heart-wrenching pain that spread throughout his body, and his deep eyes were filled with unspeakable agony.
He and she missed each other for a lifetime because of someone else's little mistake. Was this destined? No, it was his fault. He should have gone to the Duke of Wu's mansion in person instead of handing the painting over to the Duke of Wen.
When Ruan Chuqing arrived at the War King's Mansion, it was already completely dark. The mansion was brightly lit, reflecting the expressionless faces of the guards. Coupled with the eerily quiet atmosphere, it was somewhat unsettling.
Carefully examining the artificial hills, ponds, ground, and gardens within the mansion, Ruan Chuqing smiled gently. She had finally entered the War King's mansion. The War King was different from others, and even the scenery in his mansion was completely different from other mansions. Although it was also a small bridge and flowing water, built within the layout of the War King's mansion, it was still able to catch people's eyes.
Upon seeing a lush green bamboo forest in the distance, Ruan Chuqing's expression instantly changed. She glared hatefully at the large bamboo grove, her eyes filled with gritted teeth. Disgusted, she turned her head away and walked quickly towards the pond.
In the pavilion, the War King still faced the pool, standing with his hands behind his back. The surrounding air seemed to be infected by his pain, and the fragrance of the breeze carried a hint of fishy saltiness.
Ruan Chuqing looked at that lonely, slender figure, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. Fifteen years had passed, and she could finally see him up close again.
"Your Highness!" Ruan Chuqing stepped into the pavilion, smiling slightly, and gave a gentle curtsy, her posture elegant, noble, and poised.
The War King neither spoke nor moved, simply standing there quietly, facing the pool, which was also the direction of the bamboo forest. The nine hundred and ninety-nine lanterns outside the bamboo forest were all dark; he was too weak to light them again.
Ruan Chuqing awkwardly curtsied, unsure whether to stand or not. Looking at the Zhan Wang's tall and imposing figure, a hint of displeasure flashed in her beautiful eyes.
"Chuqing, do you still remember this painting?" Duke Wen stepped forward and handed the painting to Ruan Chuqing.
Ruan Chuqing was taken aback, then frowned. He was actually here too. How come she hadn't seen him earlier?
Looking back at the path she had come from, she understood. There were no lamps lit in the pavilion, and Duke Wen was standing behind a pillar. The direction she had come from blocked her view, so she couldn't see Duke Wen.
A beautiful picture of the sky clearing after the rain appeared before her eyes. Ruan Chuqing smiled slightly, suppressing her anger and showing no sign of anything unusual. She asked in surprise, "Isn't this Sister Qingzhu's picture of the sky clearing after the rain? How come it's here?"
"Are you sure Lin Qingzhu received this picture?" The War King turned around and looked at Ruan Chuqing with a gaze as cold as a blade in the dead of winter, an invisible chill that made people afraid.
Ruan Chuqing staggered slightly in shock, then lowered her eyelids, avoiding eye contact with the War King, and continued to lie without changing her expression: "I personally handed this painting to Sister Qingzhu."
"Then how did this painting end up in your room?" The War King's tone was no longer sharp; it was calm and even, yet it carried an overwhelming pressure that made it hard to breathe.
Ruan Chuqing coughed lightly a few times: "This painting depicts a scene after the rain, which matches my name perfectly. Sister Qingzhu saw that I liked it, so she gave it to me!" Lin Qingzhu is dead, and the events of that year cannot be verified, so let her say whatever she wants.
Shen Lixue stood behind the artificial hill, her eyebrows slightly raised. The War King had painted a picture of the sky after the rain to express his love for Lin Qingzhu. The exceptionally talented Lin Qingzhu would surely understand. With her gentle nature, even if she didn't like the War King, she wouldn't give the painting to someone else.
Because giving away a painting is tantamount to giving away feelings, which is an insult to the person. Lin Qingzhu is a lady from a respectable family and would respect people and would not insult them. Moreover, the other party is the noble Prince Qingyan, so she cannot insult him.
The War King's expression instantly turned terrifyingly grim: "Was the scroll really given to you by Lin Qingzhu?"
"Qingzhu and I are the closest of confidantes. It's not strange for us to exchange paintings, is it?" Seeing the War King's increasingly gloomy face and tightly clenched hands, Ruan Chuqing felt a surge of vengeful pleasure and continued her incessant provocation:
"Sister Qingzhu also gave me a set of valuable jewelry. I returned it to Lixue a month ago. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can ask Princess Lixue!"
So what if Lin Qingzhu is the most beautiful woman in the capital? In her eyes, Lin Qingzhu is just a vulgar woman who is arrogant, doesn't know what's good for her, and insults people at will. She is going to crush that beautiful and unattainable Lin Qingzhu into the dust and see if the War King will still be thinking about the shameless Lin Qingzhu.
“Madam Su, that set of jewelry belonged to my mother, and it’s perfectly acceptable for her to give it to you. But this painting belongs to Prince Zhan. Even if she returned it to Prince Zhan, she would never give it to you!” Shen Lixue walked slowly out of the artificial hill and looked coldly at Ruan Chuqing. She was insulting and slandering Lin Qingzhu, and Shen Lixue could no longer stand idly by.
Ruan Chuqing raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp: "I didn't expect Princess Lixue to have a habit of eavesdropping. Oh well, the princess grew up in the countryside and doesn't know etiquette. I won't hold her rudeness against her!"
The cold smile that curled at the corner of her mouth was a veiled criticism of Lin Qingzhu for not teaching her daughter well, and also an indirect smear against her for being ill-mannered. She was the only one capable of doing something as insulting as giving away a painting to someone else.
Shen Lixue sneered: "Madam Su keeps claiming to be my mother's good friend, but every word you say is slandering her. Are you her friend or her enemy?"
"I was just telling the truth, I didn't slander Sister Qingzhu at all!" Ruan Chuqing said casually. She had only lightly stepped on Lin Qingzhu a few times, and Shen Lixue couldn't stand it. She was really useless.
“Even if my mother lacks manners, Madam Su is a lady from a respectable family and should know etiquette. Giving away the painting is an insult. As my mother’s friend, you should have reminded her not to give the painting away, but you took it for granted. She made a mistake, and you are also at fault. More than ten years have passed, and you have not repented. Instead, you have made outrageous remarks and wantonly insulted my mother. What is this if not smearing her?” Shen Lixue’s words were firm and powerful, relentlessly pressing her for answers.
Ruan Chuqing's face flushed red and then turned pale, changing color several times in an instant: "I didn't think too much at the time. I accepted the painting from Sister Qingzhu."
"The painting is signed 'Prince Zhan,' and you dare to accept it?" Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow at Ruan Chuqing.
"I just thought the painting was pretty, I didn't think anything else!" Ruan Chuqing lowered her eyelids and concealed the expression in her eyes.
“My mother is a person of propriety and would never give away a painting to someone else. You know best why the painting ‘After the Rain’ ended up in your hands!” Shen Lixue emphasized the last sentence, her glass eyes flashing with a cold light, as if she could see through everything.
"Qingzhu and I are like sisters, and we have no secrets between us." Ruan Chuqing was unwilling to give up, speaking of her close relationship with Lin Qingzhu, wanting to retaliate.
"I am Lin Qingzhu's daughter. My mother secretly embroiders and paints to make a living, but she never tells me. How could she not have secrets from you? Is our mother-daughter relationship inferior to that of an outsider like you?" Shen Lixue looked at Ruan Chuqing with a half-smile. Her lie was not convincing enough.
Ruan Chuqing smiled coldly and said casually, "Sister Qingzhu is gentle and resilient. She shares happiness with others and bears hardship alone. You are her daughter, so of course she can't bear to let you know that she is suffering!"
Shen Lixue's lips curled into a strange smile: "Since my mother is so gentle and considerate, how could she have given away the painting to Prince Zhan and made him sad?"
"You!" Ruan Chuqing suddenly realized that she had been tricked by Shen Lixue and subtly cleared Lin Qingzhu's name of the crime of giving away the painting.
"Ruan Chuqing!" The War King's sharp gaze shot over like a sword, and with just one glance, he could freeze a person in the air.
Ruan Chuqing shuddered violently. Despite the sweltering summer heat, she shivered with cold and gritted her teeth, saying, "The painting really was given to me by Sister Qingzhu. Believe it or not, it's up to you!"
The War King was already enraged. She had observed this cold-hearted and ruthless man for over a decade and knew his temperament perfectly well. She insisted that the painting was a gift from Lin Qingzhu and that he wouldn't dare to do anything to her. If he found out that she had obtained the painting through other channels, the War King would definitely be furious and kill her.
The War King sneered, his sharp eyes flashing with an astonishingly cold light. He suddenly opened his clenched hand, his inner strength rapidly gathering, and an invisible, violent aura quickly spread out, making it hard for people to breathe.
Ruan Chuqing lowered her eyelids, her body trembling as she hardened her heart. Even if it meant death, she would not help Lin Qingzhu clarify the matter of the painting; the painting was a gift from Lin Qingzhu to her.
A sharp gaze shot towards her. She knew the War King was looking at her. He was finally looking at her properly, not out of love or affection, but to kill her. He was killing her for the sake of a dead person!
Hahaha!
Ruan Chuqing laughed wildly in her heart. Even if she were killed, she would still say that the painting was a gift from Lin Qingzhu!