Chapter 159
Chapter 159
Zhen Kingdom’s banquets truly were not for ordinary people.
Elsewhere, “drink until dawn” was talk. Here, people actually did it.
Even Imperial Father, old as he was, remained energetic at this hour without any fatigue.
But for Shengsheng Zhou, staying up late was lethal.
She even used a special skill from her long-ago student days.
Sleeping with her head lowered.
At any disturbance nearby, her eyes opened instantly.
The technique was perfect except for how exhausting it was.
She was nearly splitting into two personalities.
Fortunately, after interminably boring dances, the interactive game saved her dying spirit.
The Literary Flower Game.
Ladies painted; gentlemen inscribed elegant lines–an amusing way to sober up.
Both paintings and inscriptions were anonymous. No one knew whose painting they received or whose words were returned.
Officially, anyway. Interested parties bribed eunuchs and maids so paintings reached favored gentlemen, or gentlemen bought paintings by ladies they admired.
In short, it was merely matchmaking among the rich.
Unfortunately, Zhen Kingdom’s Crown Prince had vanished, disappointing his many admirers.
Siran Ming’s admirers, meanwhile, were ecstatic.
That occasionally melancholy gaze and handsome face pale from illness–how could they not awaken every woman’s maternal instincts and make them want to hold and comfort him?
Facing the paper and ink delivered by a eunuch, Shengsheng dipped her brush with elegant composure and began painting.
Many talented young men watched her and secretly sent servants to bribe the eunuch waiting behind her.
If one inscribed the princess’s painting and caught her attention, might one not marry this beauty?
The drawn theme was aquatic creatures.
Compared with dull landscapes, it was lively and interesting.
As she painted, Shengsheng felt fortunate she was not composing poetry.
By now, every reader probably knew she was illiterate.
Nobody wanted earnest artwork accompanied by crooked lines like, “Li Bai boards his boat to leave; call me darling, if you please,” “Two orioles sing in green willows; you still haven’t got a girlfriend,” or “Flowers blur and dazzle the eye; look while you still can.”
Still, this was about all she could draw. It would do.
Once the ink dried, Shengsheng rolled up the painting and handed it to the eunuch.
In an unseen corner, a parrot crouched and silently observed everything.
The eunuch holding Shengsheng’s painting made every servant bid. The princess’s work would go to the highest bidder.
Following the chancellor’s orders, Siran’s eunuch secretly joined the contest and slapped a gold bar onto the table, lifting his chin arrogantly at the stunned servants.
The young eunuch happily pocketed it and gestured that everything was handled.
Thus, during the inscription round, a scroll reached Siran’s table.
Shengsheng peeked over, wondering which lady had bribed her way through every barrier to Siran.
She was not alone. The ladies opposite nearly pierced Old Ming with their stares.
Siran Ming’s expression did not change. Finally annoyed, he fixed the women opposite with the icy dead face he wore in battle, warning them to restrain themselves.
That might frighten foreign ladies, but it did little to Zhen Kingdom’s girls.
Shengsheng Zhou clearly heard the second princess opposite exclaim, “Damn it! How was that look so sexy? This princess melted!”
Are you all right? Shengsheng wondered.
Are those enormous eyes decorative?!?
“Your Majesty, the chancellor begs you to look, if nothing more,” the eunuch pleaded.
Your Majesty, do you think this is only paper?
It is a gold bar!!
Irritated by the noise, Siran casually unrolled the painting.
The painting Siran saw.
Shengsheng craned her neck to peek: 0ДQ!!
Holy crap!!!???
The eunuch looked embarrassed, but Siran surged to his feet so violently he nearly overturned the table. Clutching the painting, he looked terrifying, his eyes bloodshot.
The entire hall went silent for an instant.
His movement made Shengsheng suddenly remember something.
Holy crap!
She scrambled up with all four limbs and ran, ignoring Cui’er’s attempts to stop her.
Help! She had forgotten something enormous. Who else in this world could draw such ugly stick figures besides Shengsheng Zhou?!
And the only person who had admired her craft was Siran Ming, owner of the mangy-dog purse she embroidered!!
“Help, Imperial Brother! Where are you?!”
Shengsheng ignored every passing attendant. Good heavens, this was deadly.
Would Siran know who made that painting?
Of course he would!!!
“Chirp.”
While she confusedly grabbed people to ask Weiqing Song’s whereabouts, a familiar cry sounded.
Shengsheng froze and released the maid’s arm.
Maid: “…” When you need me, I’m Sweetie; when you don’t, you cast me aside?!
Seeing the pale-yellow bird on a stone statue, tears and drool streamed together. “My darling!!!”
Wanting to pounce yet fearing she would scare him, Shengsheng controlled herself and approached. Once certain it was the bird she thought, she seized him, kissing and rubbing him.
“Baby, how did you know I was here?”
Rubbing her cheek against him, Shengsheng suddenly released him and asked nervously, “Darling Pecky, do you still recognize me?”
“Mm… probably not. I changed my face and name, but you know it’s me, right? Otherwise, how did you find me?”
“Waaah, darling, let me kiss you! Have you lost weight? You feel smaller.”
Shengsheng’s eyes narrowed with happiness as she kissed his feathers flat.
The bird remained silent while she kissed and stroked him. His beadlike eyes glistened, yet stubbornly shed no tears.
After calming down, Shengsheng noticed his lack of response. Holding him in her palm, she asked gently, “What’s wrong, Pecky? Did I squeeze too hard?”
Pecky shifted his claws, lowered his head, and rubbed it into her palm.
Shengsheng: !!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ