Chapter 224

Chapter 224

Ji Hanyi grew slightly nervous when she heard that His Majesty the Emperor wished to see her.

The Empress remained composed. “The Emperor has probably seen your painting. You should go now.”

Ji Hanyi quickly rose and inclined her head.

The Empress looked at her again. “You cannot behave before His Majesty as you do before me. Not the slightest mistake will be tolerated. Have you remembered all the rules I taught you?”

Ji Hanyi nodded. “Rest assured, Your Majesty. I remember them all.”

The Empress trusted her. This was only a final reminder to be especially careful. She waved a hand, urging Ji Hanyi to go.

Following the two palace women who had brought the summons, Ji Hanyi could not keep herself from feeling nervous. This would be her first audience with the Emperor. Moreover, the Ji Residence had once been reduced to nothing by a single decree of condemnation from him.

Her emotions were difficult to name. When she had visited her father in prison, he had told her not to harbor resentment. All living things waxed and waned in the same way. It was a cycle, part of the dust raised by the world’s relentless advance.

Absolute justice could exist nowhere.

Her thoughts wandered far. When Ji Hanyi returned to herself, she was already standing before the doors, with an attendant respectfully inviting her inside.

She gathered her sleeves and entered. This was the Emperor’s study, and the Crown Prince stood at one side. The scent of ambergris carried an innate pressure that compelled submission. Ji Hanyi did not dare lift her eyes. She lowered her gaze, knelt, and offered her respects.

Jiang Xuan looked down at her. Her kneeling figure was small yet dignified, and every ray of light in the room seemed to fall upon her pale blue robes.

The Emperor also studied her. Ji Jing’s daughter-the child Ji Jing had once cherished above all else. He had even carried her into a palace banquet. In the blink of an eye, she had grown into a woman.

His expression softened, and he bade Ji Hanyi rise.

After thanking him for his grace, Ji Hanyi stood with perfect decorum, her gaze lowered. At the edge of her vision, she saw only brilliant yellow and the majesty of the imperial house.

The Emperor examined her downturned face carefully.

It was a clear, lovely face, with gentle eyes, red lips, and white teeth. She was not an overwhelmingly beautiful woman who could topple cities, yet every feature was exactly right. There was the delicate refinement of one raised in wealth, together with an air of softness and serenity.

The Emperor had paid little attention to the new wife Shen Si intended to marry. Only after the Crown Prince brought him the painting had he begun to regard Ji Hanyi differently and remembered that she was the only daughter of the prodigiously talented Ji Jing.

He was also curious. He wished to see how she would behave before him and whether resentment lingered in her heart.

His smile and voice were both mild as he asked how long she had taken to paint the orchid, how she had chosen her colors, how she had drawn such delicate lines, and how she had conceived the composition.

Ji Hanyi answered each question slowly and evenly.

The Emperor was pleased. At last, he smiled. “Several paintings in my Hundred Flowers collection remain unfinished. If I entrust the rest to you, are you willing to paint them?”

With the Emperor himself asking, Ji Hanyi would not have dared refuse even if she were unwilling. She answered respectfully, “It would be my honor to paint for Your Majesty.”

The Emperor laughed. “Do not worry. When the paintings are finished, I will reward you. I will grant you any single request.”

Ji Hanyi paused.

Any single request…

Her heart stirred, but she quickly bowed her head. “This is only my duty. I would not dare ask Your Majesty for a reward.”

The Emperor found her respectful manner suitably docile and was somewhat satisfied. He sighed. “You need not be so constrained before me in the future. I admire your talent. Ji Jing’s daughter is indeed no ordinary woman.”

At the sound of her father’s name, Ji Hanyi’s eyes went still. She lowered them further, not daring to reveal any emotion or offer any reply.

Her father had died as a condemned official. Whatever she said would be wrong.

Having spoken, the Emperor watched Ji Hanyi’s face but saw no change in her expression.

He felt little guilt in any case. An emperor must always make choices, and Ji Jing’s death had served its purpose. He could never clear Ji Jing’s name, but he could offer the man’s daughter some small compensation.

He turned to Jiang Xuan. “Explain the arrangements clearly to Second Madam Shen.”

Jiang Xuan immediately assented. “Rest assured, Father. I will see that it is done.”

Ji Hanyi left together with Jiang Xuan. He gave her a painting manual. Four flowers remained unfinished, all rare varieties: viburnum, lotus-petal orchids, cyclamen, and golden peonies.

None of them posed particular difficulty for Ji Hanyi, and she accepted at once. Then she asked the Crown Prince, “I will leave the palace in two days, and I fear I may have little leisure after returning home. When does Your Highness require them?”

The Crown Prince smiled. “There is no hurry. Whenever you finish will be fine, even if it is not until the end of the year.”

His answer reassured Ji Hanyi. “Then whenever I finish one, I will have it delivered to the palace for Your Highness to review first.”

Her voice was soft and melodious. Jiang Xuan looked into her faintly luminous, lovely eyes for several moments before nodding. “Very well.”

He added, “These flowers also grow in the imperial garden. If you wish to see them, I can take you there now.”
Ji Hanyi did feel it was necessary to see the flowers before painting them.

Only by observing their bearing could she capture their spirit.

She wanted to go, but felt it inappropriate to trouble the Crown Prince into accompanying her. He was the heir, after all. Ji Hanyi was easygoing by nature, and with the Crown Prince beside her, she would only feel constrained and need to mind every rule.

She said, “Your Highness has many official duties. A palace attendant may accompany me.”

Jiang Xuan smiled faintly. “It is no trouble. Father cares greatly about these paintings. I will accompany you.”

With that, he walked ahead.

Ji Hanyi stared at the back of his dark robes for an instant, then hurried after him.

The Crown Prince she had met was utterly unlike the stern, mature man she had imagined.

He seemed far gentler and easier to approach. He displayed none of a sovereign’s arrogance. Though tall, upright, and handsome, his features were mild. He looked every bit a benevolent ruler with an excellent temper.

The Empress was, in truth, difficult to approach. Ji Hanyi had not expected the Crown Prince to be so amiable.

As she considered this, his mild voice sounded beside her. “Does Aunt have any other paintings?”

Ji Hanyi returned to herself and answered carefully, “I have a few scrolls painted idly in my spare time, but they are too poor to be called works of art.”

Jiang Xuan glanced at her. Her gaze was lowered and her bearing perfectly proper, reserved and composed like a woman of a great house. Yet he had seen her painting that afternoon-biting the end of her brush, propping up her head while toying with a seal.

He had seen her eagerly testing pigments and whispering privately with Rongchun. When she was alone, she was far more vivid than she appeared now.

He smiled and asked softly, “When you next send a finished painting, could you include one of your other scrolls for me to see?”

Ji Hanyi looked up at him in surprise. “I fear it may not be worthy of Your Highness’s eyes.”

Jiang Xuan smiled. “I am merely curious. Your fine-line work is very precise, so I assumed landscapes were not your strength. But Mother said your landscapes are even more pleasing. Naturally, I became curious.”

Ji Hanyi had not expected Her Majesty the Empress to have seen her landscapes. With no time to ponder it, she asked, “Does Your Highness also enjoy paintings?”

Jiang Xuan looked into her eyes. “My study holds several works by renowned masters. Occasionally, I paint a few casual strokes myself, though I doubt they compare to Aunt’s.”

Ji Hanyi hastened to demur. “Mine are only idle pieces painted in the women’s quarters. I fear they are far inferior to Your Highness’s work. If Your Highness does not disdain them, I will send one next time.”

Jiang Xuan smiled. “Good.”

With the matter settled, they went together to the imperial garden.

Every flower there was tended with meticulous care. Blooms never seen outside the palace were commonplace here. It was spring, and a hundred flowers blossomed beneath drifting fragrance. Landscaped vistas lay everywhere, and winding paths led into secluded beauty as though the garden had no end.

Ji Hanyi stopped before the golden peonies. It was the height of peony season, and the plant before her bloomed with exceptional abundance and brilliance.

She bent slightly for a closer look.

Layer upon layer of petals surrounded the stamens. A ring of brilliant yellow crossed the center like a jade belt, while the outer petals were flushed with rosy crimson. Beneath the sunlight, they gleamed like gold leaf.

Ji Hanyi had heard of this flower, also called the Golden Belt Encircled, the rarest of all peonies. This was her first time seeing one, and she studied it with great care. She had only ever heard others describe it. Without witnessing it herself, she could never have imagined how singular and beautiful it was. Amid the other bright pink peonies, it stood entirely apart. She sighed softly in admiration.

Her father had often said that one must personally experience and comprehend all things. One must never rely upon hearsay and draw careless conclusions.

When understanding failed, one must feel with the heart.

Standing beside her, Jiang Xuan watched her careful study. “There is a story associated with this flower. Has Aunt heard it?”

Ji Hanyi nodded at once and turned to answer him. “The story of the four ministers adorning their hair with flowers. I read it long ago. Whether or not it is true, this flower certainly possesses the beauty of wealth and honor.”

“It is a flower of auspicious fortune.”

Jiang Xuan watched Ji Hanyi quietly. He suddenly realized that her physical beauty often obscured her learning, making it easy for others to underestimate her. Yet she always had an answer and often surprised him.

His gaze returned to the golden peony, and his voice lowered. “It is indeed beautiful. If Aunt likes it, I will have a plant moved to your residence. Since you must paint it, you can observe it there as well.”

Ji Hanyi froze, then quickly shook her head. “The flower is too precious. If anything happened to it at my residence, I could not bear the blame. I have seen enough here and now know how to paint it.”

Jiang Xuan smiled lightly. “Knowing is still not the same as having the flower before you.”

“Do not worry. A palace gardener will accompany it and care for it. Nothing will happen.”

The Crown Prince had gone so far that Ji Hanyi could hardly refuse. Moreover, observing the flower at different times of day truly would allow her to paint it more faithfully. She accepted his kindness and thanked him again.

They continued to view the other flowers. Just as they were nearly finished, Ji Hanyi heard a low voice behind her.

“Your Highness.”