Chapter 40: Intentionally Picking Faults

  Baili Chenyuan, also dressed in a red brocade robe, stood up. The quiet imperial garden only heard his crisp and rhythmic applause, one after another, as if knocking on everyone's heart.

  The position he sat in was at the best angle to see the painting slowly falling onto the canvas, and the crowd that had not yet come back to their senses also woke up with his applause.

  When their eyes fell on that majestic and grand painting with overlapping mountains, they all involuntarily widened their eyes in shock, some of them even dared not to believe what they saw.

  Situ Wushuang's eyes suddenly turned dark and deep, looking at Leng Ziyue: "What a bloody landscape, with emotions and scenery, what a wonderful painting, extremely good."

  From the moment she called out Beidong Xiner, Situ Wushuang knew that Leng Ziyue already had an unbeatable grasp on things. She was carefree, domineering and overbearing, all because she had the capital to be so.

  This painting is so good that it's unlikely anyone else can create a second one like it.

  Baili Chenyuan took a step forward, perfectly blocking Situ Wuxiang's gaze towards Leng Zhiyue. He didn't like others staring at his little one with that kind of gaze, not even if it was an admiring look.

  She has his concern, and that's enough.

  Four layers of gauze, the first three layers depict different landscapes, with crimson and ink colors shining together, blending bit by bit, finally reflected on the last layer of gauze, layered and towering mountains, gently flowing streams, light and shallow colors, vividly displaying the majestic grandeur of rivers and mountains.

  The mountainside mist, tinged with a hint of crimson, creates a hazy beauty that is as elusive as a dream, like an ethereal realm, making one feel as if they are part of the scenery, floating and carefree.

  Apart from the stunning painting itself, what Ba Li Chen Yin liked most was Leng Zhi Yue's excellent calligraphy. The strokes were strong and powerful, with a beauty in every pause and stop. Amidst the elegance, there was a hint of wildness, and amidst the clarity, an unstoppable momentum.

  They say that seeing a person's handwriting is like seeing the person themselves; such excellent handwriting is worthy of her.

  "The mountains and rivers are so charming, attracting countless heroes to bow their heads in admiration; the beauties are so captivating, that even heroes would give up their empires for them. A single raised eyebrow, a single word, is as gentle and enchanting as can be, and even the most beautiful landscapes cannot compare to the beauty of a woman's smile." The sound fell into the jade plate like clear spring water, listening to Baili Chunxuan speak was an extremely high pleasure, every rise and fall of his tone was a delight.

  Jiǎo Xiù's small seal script is more elegant than the four large characters on the right, but its domineering aura is not reduced at all, revealing a few hints of profundity.

  "Leng Xiaojie, indeed formidable. Among the five nations, your painting skills are probably unmatched." Situ Wushuang rarely praised people, but he admired Leng Ziyue, looking at her was like seeing his former self.

  Similarly forced into a desperate situation by everyone, until learning to fight back, barely surviving.

  "Regent Mu Zan, I'm honored to receive it." The lotus steps lightly moved, elegantly sat down, and the cold, pink tongue of Leng Xue gently licked her lips. Her clear eyes were tinged with a few hints of a smile, she liked this kind of quiet sound, just like the animals in the forest waiting for the lion king to appear.

  Especially cool.

  "You have that kind of strength." Situ Wusuo's sharp black eyes swept over the fallen Beidong Xiner, his thin lips tightly pursed into a straight line. Not one person from the imperial family could make him like them, "She, Miss Leng is done for."

  "It's done, I promised not to take her life, but she might never be able to stand up again. Who knows if all the tendons in her body will break, and every bone will slowly turn into nothingness? Will she become a soft-bodied creature, like a caterpillar or something? I'm actually quite looking forward to it." The teacup in her hand rotated, and she blinked her phoenix-like eyes, the curled eyelashes leaving shadows on her eyelids, which was quite captivating.

  Everyone listened, and couldn't help but cast sympathetic glances at Beidong Xiner, who had already fainted and fallen to the ground. Who could imagine how someone without bones could live? Would they really have to crawl on the ground like a worm?

  That's not just unimaginable, but also unacceptable.

  Situ Wushuang's eyes twitched fiercely at the corners, others said he was ruthless, cruel, but now he knew that in fact he was very benevolent.

  "Is the Crown Prince not going to bring the Fourth Princess back to the Imperial Palace to rest, or send her back to Beihancheng?" For Emperor Han of Beihancheng, a chess piece that has lost its utility is one that cannot be reused. The fate of Beitang Xiner will only become even more miserable from now on.

  At this moment, Situ Wushuang believed even more that offending Leng Ziyue would lead to a fate worse than he could have imagined, at least a hundred times over.

  She's too good at grasping someone's thoughts.

  Beidong He Yi arranged for his personal guard to take Beidong Xiner away from the Imperial Garden, but he chose to stay behind. He wanted to see just how arrogant Leng Ziyue could be.

  Resentment filled his chest, clamoring for release, but he could only endure in silence.

  Why did the Regent help Leng Ziyue again?

  One problem after another entwined him, as if to drag him into a greater conspiracy. Unbeknownst to him, sweat had already drenched the back of his shirt.

  "This painting is good, I have decided to mount it properly and store it in the Treasure Pavilion." The Moon Emperor's gaze moved away from the painting and immediately ordered Liu Gonggong to take the painting away.

  He couldn't quite put his finger on why, but he felt that the painting wasn't simple, there must be some other mysterious meaning behind it. A sense of foreboding rose to his heart, making him unable to smile or not smile, only feeling annoyed and uneasy.

  "Your Majesty, the Blood King has just returned to the Imperial City. I saw that he seemed to like Miss Leng's painting very much. Why not have it mounted and presented to the Blood King as a small gift for their meeting? What do you think?" The Empress Xiao smiled with elegance and virtue, but no one noticed the red marks on her thigh from pinching herself.

  Looking at the few lines of words on the painting, Empress Xiao's heart was lifted. It goes without saying that under the heavens, the emperor is the greatest and most powerful. With Cold Zhiyue's beauty, it's not impossible to enter the palace.

  What if His Majesty were to be enchanted by her, wouldn't it be...

  "Your Majesty, I also think that the Empress's words are polite. Why not give the painting to the Blood King instead?" The moon-faced beauty had white teeth and red lips, a slender figure, wearing a white blouse with a crimson silk thread embroidered with peonies on her chest, and an outer pale green gauze dress, which set off her snowy skin's crystal clear whiteness.

  Only saw Empress Zhuang lightly pursed her lips, smiled shallowly, like a just blooming lily, pure and beautiful, moving people.

  Yuandi looked into her eyes and saw that she smiled shyly, like a bashful herb, touching his heart.

  "Your Majesty, I, your subject, do indeed like Miss Leng's painting. I can ask her for one tomorrow and it would be better to keep this painting in the palace." Under his mask, Baili Chenyuan slightly lowered his eyelids, a cold glint flashing, not knowing good from bad, that woman will soon be dealt with.

  The corner of his eye caught a glimpse of Leng Ziyue's slightly hooked mouth, and Baili Chuanxin secretly smiled. He had forgotten that the little guy was vengeful, and someone might be in for a bad time.

  "'Blood-stained rivers and mountains' is a beautiful phrase, but unfortunately the blood that stained this good painting was that of Beidong Xiang'er, that cheap woman. He didn't like it, who made his little thing dislike her? It's impossible for him to like her."

  "Your Majesty, Beidong Xiner's challenge has failed, and she still owes me a favor. As the representative of Beihanguo at the Linglong Banquet, her failure also means that Beihanguo has lost its chance to take the lead in the competition. If Your Majesty grants me a small request...,", Cold Ziyue didn't hesitate to openly discuss this in front of everyone, as one doesn't need to spell things out when dealing with intelligent people.

  The Moon Emperor furrowed his brow; this was the first time he had ever met someone who dared to openly negotiate with him. In a deep voice, he said: "What are your demands?"

  The Regent tacitly approves of Leng Ziyue's actions towards Beidong Xiner, which means that the Regent is also in Leng Ziyue's grasp. This little girl should not be underestimated and must be treated with caution.

  Bei Tang Xiner was seriously injured, half dead and half alive. The request she owed still existed. At the Linglong banquet, he could use the condition given by Leng Zixue to make Beihan State give up a match.

  Even so, some unscrupulous means were used, for the sake of the Moon Country, the Moon Emperor also had to leave this trick ready.

  "There's a saying that it's better to demolish ten temples than to ruin one marriage. Your Majesty, what kind of punishment do you think should be given to such people?" Slender fingers slightly opened in the sunlight, gazing at the sun through the gaps between them, Leng Ziyue smiled serenely, looking as beautiful as a porcelain doll.

  Yuandi's face stiffened, he had heard it, wasn't Cong Shangyue planning to settle the score after autumn?

  Firstly, she directly ruined the wedding of Beidong Xiner and Zhang Xiao, making them unable to get married. Now, she is going to take revenge on the person who made that marriage happen.

  His piercing gaze fell on Zhuang Fei, he spoiled her just because she looked a bit like Ning Er, and would tolerate her, but if he had to choose, what would the answer be?

  "Is the whole nation of Qi Yue aware, except for me? The engagement between Fourth Miss Chong of the Loyal Duke's Manor and Ling Wang Zhang Xiao has been called off before they even got married. Are you mocking me?" Her voice was soft and gentle, like a cloud or mist, making one dare not underestimate her in the slightest.

  "What do you want to do?" The Moon Emperor's expression remained unchanged, intently gazing at Leng Ziyue, and then continued: "I can re-grant you a marriage, letting Ling Wang marry only you in this life, as an apology, how about it?"

  "It's not that I'm not interested, but it seems that the Empress should explain to me why she's willing to be such a despicable person. As for the Emperor's proposal, I have a phobia of being touched by others, and even if a man who has been touched by someone else were to kneel down and beg me, he wouldn't even deserve a glance from me - Zhang Xiao is not worthy." The phoenix eyes gleaming with cold light met the Empress's evasive gaze, now knowing fear, wasn't she very arrogant back then?

  In her bedroom, the physical body was often scolded and even forced to kneel for a whole day.

  If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have died, and she wouldn't have been reborn either.

  Leng Xueyu has no regrets about being reborn and becoming human again, so all the pain and hatred of her past life are now hers to bear and avenge.

  Digression

  Mua mua, thank you everyone!

  Today's word count is quite sufficient, I'll stop here, haha.