Seeing the crown prince's eyes light up, Little Anzi quickly picked up the scroll, spread his arms, and displayed the painting in front of the crown prince.
Even he, who didn't understand painting, thought this painting was extremely well - done!
Thick ink outlined the overlapping mountains, grand and magnificent. Verdant trees shaded the mountains, full of vitality.
In the distance, a red sun was rising.
A great river cleaved through the mountains, surging mightily. It crashed against the riverbanks, kicking up thousands of waves.
The whole painting was only in black and white, but it had distinct layers. The strokes were strong in the heavy parts and lightly sketched in the delicate parts. Every detail was perfect.
In the upper - right corner of the painting, the name of the painting was inscribed.
A Map of the Vast River and Mountains.
Even the handwriting was clear, strong, and a rare treasure of calligraphy.
"Excellent! A truly excellent Map of the Vast River and Mountains!"
The crown prince couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Looking at this painting, he seemed to be immersed in the magnificent rivers and mountains of the Great Zhou Dynasty, which filled him with a strong sense of pride and responsibility.
He was the future emperor, and he had to protect this beautiful land!
What surprised him even more was that such a painting with a grand artistic conception was actually created by a young girl in her early twenties.
He lowered his head and looked at the poem on the page again.
The poem by Master Mingxi and Cheng Simian's painting were highly consistent in terms of emotion and artistic conception...
After a moment of deep thought, the crown prince asked, "Where is Cheng Simian now?"
Little Anzi quickly replied, "She just left. I guess she can't be far away. I'll go and call Miss Cheng back right away!"
"No need."
"Then do you want me to arrange two people to follow Miss Cheng back to the Marquis's Mansion? Baizhi and Luocen would be quite suitable."
Baizhi and Luocen used to be the chief maids of the queen. Later, they came to the Eastern Palace and became the in - charge maids. They had ranks and dignity.
If these two aunts followed Miss Cheng back to the Marquis's Mansion, it would represent the Eastern Palace. Let's see who would dare to make things difficult for her!
The crown prince pondered for a while and said, "No need either. Prepare the carriage. I'm going to the Wude Marquis's Mansion."
He wanted to probe the depth of the Marquis's Mansion.
He also wanted to find out what tricks Cheng Simian was up to.
...
"Miss, it seems that the crown prince's carriage is behind us!"
Nanny Chen lifted the curtain and looked back. Seeing the luxurious golden - silk nanmu carriage, she was extremely surprised.
A sly look flashed through Cheng Simian's eyes.
She curled her lips slightly and said, "Get off the carriage. We mustn't walk in front of the crown prince."
The carriage stopped. Cheng Simian led Shuyi and Nanny Chen to stand by the roadside, bowing their heads and standing respectfully.
The carriage curtain embroidered with a five - clawed dragon was lifted by a long and powerful hand. The crown prince was dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist. His sharp eyes fell on Cheng Simian's face.
This face could really make men crazy.
But he wondered if, after peeling off the beautiful shell, her heart was red or black?
"Get in the carriage. I allow your carriage to go in front."
Inside the Marquis's Mansion, Cheng Yong had been waiting for Cheng Simian for a long time but she still hadn't come. He was already burning with anger. He was clutching a whip thicker than his wrist and grinding his teeth.
"How dare she act so high - and - mighty in front of her father!"
Yu Qiao'er and Cheng Siyi were gloating, waiting to watch the show.
Suddenly, Steward Liu ran in in a hurry, looking terrified. "My lord, madam, the eldest miss is back... She... She..."
"Can't you even speak properly?" Cheng Yong was in a fit of anger and scolded impatiently. "Is it necessary to be so scared of a woman?"
Steward Liu's knees went weak. "The eldest miss was sent back by the crown prince himself!"
Cheng Yong was greatly shocked. A chill ran up from his heels straight to his head.
He was a follower of the Princess Chang. This was no longer a secret in the court. The crown prince and the Princess Chang were sworn enemies.
The crown prince had never been to the Wude Marquis's Mansion before. His sudden visit... Could it be that he was going to settle accounts with him?
Yu Qiao'er and Cheng Siyi were just feeling complacent. Hearing this, they were struck by lightning.
The whole family didn't have time to think and hurriedly opened the main gate. They led the whole family out to greet the honored guest.
Cheng Simian followed behind the crown prince, coldly looking at the men and women kneeling on the ground.
Cheng Yong's back was shaking. Rong Shi saw her daughter whom she hadn't seen for eight years and was already in tears.
The crown prince said coldly, "All rise."
Cheng Yong, with cold sweat on his forehead, respectfully invited the crown prince to the main hall.
Rong Shi hugged Cheng Simian and couldn't help crying.
Cheng Simian held back the tears in her eyes and gently patted Rong Shi's back. "Daughter is unfilial. Daughter is back. Mother, everything will be all right."
Mother came from a scholarly family. She had an elegant temperament and a beautiful face. But at just in her forties, her temples were already gray, her cheeks were gaunt, and there was no light in her eyes.
Seeing her daughter grow up to be dignified, with a rosy complexion and in good health, there was a glimmer of light in Rong Shi's eyes.
Cheng Yong was extremely afraid of the crown prince in his heart. He asked carefully, "I wonder what instructions Your Highness has for this visit. I will obey any order."
The crown prince sat on the upper seat, looking imposing and cold.
His eyes paused for a moment, and he noticed the whip hidden under the table.
A whip as thick as a wrist. If it were laid on a weak woman, not to mention a strong man, just a few lashes would take half of one's life.
Cheng Yong was so cruel and cold - hearted towards his eldest legitimate daughter!
The prestigious Marquis of Wude couldn't maintain the family business and glory left by his ancestors. Instead, he sent his son to be a male favorite of the Princess Chang to curry favor and whipped his daughter to establish his authority!
Even the crown prince didn't notice how terrifying his expression was at this moment.
No one in the whole Marquis's Mansion dared to make a sound. They even breathed timidly.
He glanced at Cheng Yong. His eyes were as sharp as a blade, cutting across Cheng Yong's fat face.
"The rules of the Marquis's Mansion are really different. If I hadn't come, would the main gate of your Marquis's Mansion not be opened for your eldest legitimate daughter?"
Cheng Yong was stunned for a long time and couldn't figure out what was going on.
Rong Shi was extremely angry. She scrutinized every member of the Cheng family present. "This is outrageous! Who dared to stop my daughter outside the gate?"
She had long since lost interest in managing the household. She turned a blind eye to many things in the inner courtyard.
Because she couldn't stand Cheng Yong's favoritism towards his concubine, she even didn't want to eat at the same table with him. She spent all day chanting scriptures in the Buddhist hall.
But when she got angry, she still had the air and dignity of the mistress of the house.
She could ignore everything, but she would never allow anyone to trample on her daughter's dignity!
Yu Qiao'er was extremely guilty. She shrank her head and tried to hide behind Cheng Yong.
No one dared to answer.
Nanny Chen stepped forward and said, "Steward Liu said that he was following the order of the housekeeper. He only allowed the eldest miss to enter through the side gate. He also said that this was the new rule of the Marquis's Mansion."
Steward Liu was already sweating profusely.
The crown prince squinted his eyes. A powerful sense of oppression leaked from his eyes.
Steward Liu was so scared that his soul almost left his body. He knelt on the ground and begged for mercy. "I was just following orders. It was... It was Concubine Yu who told me to do so!"
Yu Qiao'er's face turned green and then white. Cheng Yong glared at her angrily. His gaze was terrifying.
She realized that this matter was probably going to get out of hand.
If the crown prince hadn't come to support Cheng Simian, Yu Qiao'er wouldn't have been afraid of Cheng Simian's complaint.
Cheng Yong was easy to deceive, but the crown prince was a man who couldn't tolerate even a speck of sand in his eyes!