Ling Yang let out a cold snort.
Lu Sihong entered. After performing a salute, he pulled Cheng Simian to sit down together.
Just now when Pei Zhaoyi saluted, he only responded indifferently. After she rose from the salute, he didn't show any intention of asking more.
Her father was the emperor's maternal uncle, and she was the emperor's cousin. She hadn't been allowed to enter the palace for more than a decade, and the emperor didn't show any affection for her at all.
His heart and eyes were full of Cheng Simian.
Pei Zhaoyi tightened her fists and walked gently in front of Lu Sihong, saluting again.
"Your humble servant pays respects to the emperor and sends greetings from my father and mother to the emperor."
Only then did Lu Sihong glance at her, but his gaze didn't stay.
"Cousin Four has grown up."
At a glance, Lu Sihong could tell that the color scheme of her clothes was the elegant color that Simian liked when she was unmarried.
Simian had gentle and cold eyebrows and eyes, like a snow lotus on Tianshan Mountain. Wearing a mist - blue dress, she had a hazy and mysterious beauty. The apricot - yellow upper garment added a touch of coquettishness to the young girl. The match was quite tasteful.
But Pei Zhaoyi had a delicate and dainty appearance. Her features were exquisite, but not grand and open - minded enough. She didn't have the cold and aloof temperament either. Wearing such a set of clothes not only didn't add beauty but also made people feel it was too plain and dull.
It seemed like a deliberate act.
Lu Sihong just said this politely and then ignored her.
Pei Zhaoyi stood there awkwardly, with tears glistening in her eyes.
Seeing this, the empress dowager shook her head gently.
It was hopeless.
She failed to attract the emperor's attention at the first sight. No matter how she performed later, it would only be a ridiculous imitation.
Duke Jing'an proposed to send Pei Zhaoyi into the palace to test the emperor's attitude. The empress dowager originally didn't quite agree.
But Duke Jing'an was her elder brother and the clan leader of the Pei family. Many Pei family members served as officials in the previous court. How could there not be a strong supporter in the harem?
Although the empress dowager had given up persuading the emperor to take more concubines, she still hoped that her niece could catch the emperor's eye.
A new person coming in would be good to share the emperor's favor with the queen.
Pei Zhaoyi was already twenty years old this year. Her marriage had been postponed for a long time because she was waiting to enter the palace as a concubine.
Her ambition was not just to be a concubine. She wanted to be the imperial noble concubine second only to the queen.
In her eyes, the queen had no family background. Although she had a son and a daughter, she had no confidence. She should be able to easily outshine the queen.
The emperor liked the queen because he liked her youth, beauty, and talent, right?
She was younger and more talented than the queen.
Pei Zhaoyi was not willing to be reduced to the background of Cheng Simian. She humbly asked Cheng Simian for advice.
"Your Majesty the Queen, how about this painting of mine, 'The Picture of Defending the Border'? Please give me some pointers."
Two maids held up the scroll, and the painting was unfurled in front of Lu Sihong and Cheng Simian.
Looking at this magnificent painting, the empress dowager felt a glimmer of hope again.
In her eyes, although this painting was not as good as the queen's, it was still a top - notch work.
In terms of beauty and bearing, Pei Zhaoyi couldn't compare with Cheng Simian, but this talent was really rare. Maybe she could win the emperor's favor.
Lu Sihong looked at the composition, lines, and inking of this painting and felt it was familiar.
Simian also had a similar painting called 'The Picture of a Snowy Night in the Northern Frontier'.
He smiled subtly. "The queen knows painting best. I also want to hear the queen's opinion."
His expression was rather meaningful.
Cheng Simian understood him tacitly.
Both of them could tell that this painting was imitating her 'The Picture of a Snowy Night in the Northern Frontier'.
"This painting is only outlined in ink, using a freehand brushwork technique. The artistic conception is grand and solemn. The expressions of the characters are also very vivid. The snow on their shoulders is the finishing touch, as if the cold air is rushing towards us. The distant snow - capped mountains and the sky blend seamlessly, and the lines are smooth. It can be seen that the painter has profound skills. Cousin Four is so young but already has such painting skills. The future is promising."
She only talked about the advantages.
Pei Zhaoyi was overjoyed and secretly observed Lu Sihong's reaction.
There was a smile in Lu Sihong's eyes, and he seemed to be fascinated by the painting.
She felt a thrill of joy in her heart.
"Sister - in - law has a painting called 'The Picture of a Snowy Night in the Northern Frontier', which is much better than yours!"
Ling Yang couldn't stand Pei Zhaoyi's complacent look.
She was almost used by Pei Zhaoyi just now, and she hadn't vented her anger yet.
Pei Zhaoyi became even more modest and respectful. "Your humble servant is clumsy. How dare I compare with Your Majesty the Queen?"
"I remember that Simian traveled in the areas of Hengzhou and Liangzhou for a year when she was in her teens?"
Lu Sihong looked at Cheng Simian with a smile.
Cheng Simian smiled sweetly and understood. "Your Majesty still remembers such a long - ago thing."
"Precisely because you've been to the Northern Frontier and seen the cold there and the hardships of the border - defending soldiers with your own eyes, your painting gives people a sense of authenticity."
Lu Sihong came back from his memories and suddenly looked at Pei Zhaoyi. There was a meaningful look in his eyes.
"Cousin Four should have never been to the Northern Frontier, right?"
Pei Zhaoyi's face flushed instantly.
She nervously lowered her head and quickly scanned the painting.
The content she painted was all from the poems and what she heard from her father and others.
"Although this painting is good, some of the content is untrue."
Lu Sihong commented. "When our border - defending soldiers guard the city gate, for the convenience of movement, they generally only carry swords. Only when the enemy is approaching the city and the war may break out at any time will they hold fire - tipped spears. In addition, our border - defending soldiers don't wear armor when guarding the city gate on snowy days. One reason is that it's too heavy, and the other is that armor becomes extremely cold in the cold. If they wear it on snowy days, their bodies will freeze and they won't be able to move flexibly."
"Humph, you deliberately painted a place you've never been to. You tried to draw a tiger but ended up looking like a dog!"
Ling Yang finally vented her anger and sarcastically said without mercy, "You try to imitate Sister - in - law everywhere, but you never get it right!"
This was too straightforward, but it directly hit Pei Zhaoyi's hidden thoughts.
She bit her lower lip tightly. Tears welled up in her eyes, and even the tip of her nose turned red, as if she had suffered a great grievance.
The empress dowager's face also looked unpleasant.
She was so stupid to think that Pei Zhaoyi could conquer the emperor with her talent.
In terms of talent, who could compare with the queen?
Pei Zhaoyi had humiliated herself today, and she, as her aunt, was also responsible.
The empress dowager quickly smiled to smooth things over. "You're still young and have limited experience. It's already remarkable that you can paint like this. The queen said you'll achieve something in the future. Just practice more for a few years."
"Your humble servant is stupid and ignorant. How can I compare with Your Majesty the Queen? Aunt and the queen are over - praising me."
Pei Zhaoyi could only hold on to her dignity and didn't want to lose her composure in front of the emperor.
"Empress Dowager, someone from the imperial kitchen came to ask if we should serve the meal now?" Qi Luo came out at the right time to ask.
The empress dowager seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and quickly said, "Serve the meal, serve the meal. Let's have a good reunion dinner!"
During this meal, Ling Yang ate happily, but Pei Zhaoyi ate without tasting.
At the dinner table, Lu Sihong was only busy picking up food for Cheng Simian.
"This sour bamboo shoot and shrimp ball soup is very appetizing. You always like sour food. Drink more."
"The pork bone is stewed very deliciously. You've lost weight recently. Eat more meat."
"This pine - wood grilled lamb chop is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the fragrance of pine wood. It falls off the bone as soon as you bite it. Try it."
This was not like the high - and - mighty emperor at all. He was no different from an ordinary husband who doted on his wife.
Ling Yang cheerfully picked up a deep - fried small yellow croaker and put it in Pei Zhaoyi's bowl.
"Cousin, don't just watch. Eat quickly."
Pei Zhaoyi's face turned green.
She hated small yellow croakers the most.
At a palace banquet more than a decade ago, a讨厌的 little black dog came to her table to steal small yellow croakers. Although she didn't like small yellow croakers, she hated dogs even more. She kicked the dog hard and kicked it into the carp lake.
Just because she kicked that dog, Ling Yang went crazy and pushed her into the lake too.
Unexpectedly, after more than a decade, Ling Yang still held a grudge and used small yellow croakers to provoke her.
"Eat quickly, cousin. This is to thank you for giving me the Ruyi concentric knot."
Ling Yang was so happy that her tone was sarcastic.
The empress dowager glared at her. "Your cousin doesn't like fish. Don't mention things that make people uncomfortable."
Pei Zhaoyi was a guest, so it was reasonable for the empress dowager to protect her.
Ling Yang had achieved her goal. She smiled playfully at the empress dowager and ate the small yellow croaker with relish.
After the meal, Lu Sihong and Cheng Simian kowtowed and left.
Ling Yang fed the remaining small yellow croakers to Thunder.
When Pei Zhaoyi saw this giant dog that was even taller than a person when standing up, she was so scared that her face turned pale and she hid behind the empress dowager.
Before leaving, Ling Yang said bluntly to her, "You want to imitate Sister - in - law, but unfortunately, you don't have Sister - in - law's bearing and charm, nor her talent and wisdom. Your performance jumping around in front of Brother Emperor is like a clown in his eyes. Give it up. Don't humiliate yourself."
Pei Zhaoyi looked at the empress dowager with teary eyes, expecting the empress dowager to give her some support.
She was the emperor's biological mother, the most noble woman in the harem. As long as she said a word, the emperor would definitely listen to his aunt!
But the empress dowager actually shook her head.
"Fourth, go back and tell your father to arrange a good marriage for you as soon as possible. Don't delay any longer."
"But, Aunt..."
The empress dowager didn't wait for her to plead and asked her, "Have you seen Qi Luo?"
Pei Zhaoyi was stunned. Qi Luo was the empress dowager's first - rank female official. When she first entered the Shoukang Palace, she was amazed by Qi Luo's beauty.
"Qi Luo is so beautiful and so smart. Her temperament is even seven - tenths similar to the queen's. She has served the queen for many years, but the emperor has never had the idea of taking her as a concubine. The queen is the only one in his heart. He doesn't need any substitutes. Moreover, you don't look like the queen at all. You don't even have the qualification to be a substitute."
The truth was harsh, but the empress dowager was determined to completely dispel Pei Zhaoyi's thoughts.
Pei Zhaoyi slumped down and shed tears.