After the carriage passed through the bustling downtown area, the noises outside gradually faded away. It seemed that they had reached a less populated part of the city.
About a quarter of an hour later, the carriage began to jolt violently. Mei Qingxue, who was not used to riding in a carriage, felt as if her intestines were being shaken out!
"What's going on? Why is the carriage suddenly so bumpy?"
"Second Young Master, we've reached the small path at the foot of the mountain. The government hasn't repaired this road, so it's much bumpier than the official road. Young Master, please sit tight carefully." The coachman replied to Mei Qingxue's question while carefully driving the carriage.
Hearing this, Mei Qingxue looked ahead. Sure enough, they were almost at the foot of a mountain, and she could faintly see the winding stone steps leading up.
"Let's just walk up." It would be better for her to walk there than to be jolted all the way to the foot of the mountain. Anyway, the distance wasn't very far.
Mei Qingxue left the coachman to watch the carriage and walked towards the mountaintop on foot with her guard and Yue Ru.
"Please be careful, Young Master. Let this subordinate find a sedan chair for you."
Mei Qingxue looked to the side and indeed saw many young ladies and gentlemen sitting in sedan chairs carried by their servants.
"No need. It's just a short walk." This body had never had any physical exercise, which was why she was as tired as a dead dog after climbing for only a short while. She must pay attention to physical exercise after she got back!
"I really hope to get a glimpse of the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman's elegance today."
"Yes, yes. I heard that the painting the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman made last year was sold at a high price of 500 taels of silver!"
"He's truly amazing!"
"Yes, yes."
When they reached the middle of the mountain, two young ladies in sedan chairs passed by Mei Qingxue. Their conversation clearly reached Mei Qingxue's ears. She knew that whether in ancient China or in this fictional era, gold and silver were extremely valuable. Her father, as a first - rank official in the court, only had a monthly salary of a few dozen taels of silver. In a year, it was only a few hundred taels. And she only had five taels of monthly allowance!
The Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman could sell a single painting for as much as 500 taels. He was truly extraordinary. Even if it was just hype, it still required considerable strength.
"Young Master, Yue Ru heard that the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman always covers his face with a jade mask, and no one has ever seen his real face." Yue Ru had also heard some things about the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman from other maids in the Prime Minister's Mansion and was curious about what this legendary figure looked like.
"Really?" Could this be the reason why he was called the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman?
With great difficulty, the group climbed to the mountaintop. In fact, the altitude of Taixu Mountain wasn't very high. There was a flat area on the mountaintop, and it wasn't small.
As soon as Mei Qingxue reached the mountaintop, she saw many people sitting or standing around the decorated open space. In the middle of the open space, there were several lacquered wooden tables of different lengths. A canopy was set up in the northwest direction, with tables and chairs inside. It seemed to be for the honored guests. As for those who came to participate in the painting competition, if they brought chairs, they could sit; otherwise, they had to stand.
It was already winter. All the trees on the mountaintop were left with bare branches. It should have been a desolate view, but it gained a bit more vitality because of this annual painting gathering.
"Young Master, when do you think the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman will come?" Looking at the increasing number of people on the mountaintop, Yue Ru couldn't help but be curious whether the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman would come or not.
"Why are you so impatient? I think he's not a man who breaks his promise. Since he's said he'll come, he won't break the appointment without reason." Seeing Yue Ru's anxious look, Mei Qingxue couldn't help but roll her eyes. It seemed that no matter where or in what era, there were always people who were infatuated with their idols.
"Look, look! Isn't that the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman? The Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman is coming! The Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman is coming!" Just when Mei Qingxue was about to fall asleep from waiting, a series of high - pitched screams pierced her eardrums, and her drowsy mind instantly woke up.
Was it really necessary? He was just a man!
Looking in the direction of the women's screams, she saw a tall and straight figure gradually coming into view. As Yue Ru had said, the man was wearing a jade mask on his face. His black hair was neatly tied up at the back of his head. The cold wind that blew as he walked lifted a wisp of his black hair that was scattered on his shoulder. His clothes fluttered in the wind, giving him an air of tenacity. He was a man full of mystery.
"Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman, please take your seat." An old man who was hosting the painting gathering stepped forward respectfully and said.
The Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman nodded and took his seat.
"Today is another annual painting gathering. We've always adhered to the principle of making friends through painting. As in previous years, besides getting a pure - colored blood jade as a reward, the champion today will also have the honor of owning a painting personally made by the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman." After all the honored guests were seated, the hosting old man stepped forward and said in a loud voice.
A pure - colored blood jade was already extremely valuable, not to mention a painting by the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman.
However, the young ladies and gentlemen who came to participate in this painting gathering were all either rich or noble. It seemed that besides wanting to get the painting by the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman, they wanted the reputation and honor of being the first in the painting gathering even more.
Whether in her past life or this life, Mei Qingxue wasn't interested in painting at all. Besides being able to draw some simple sketches, she could only be a spectator. She came here today. Firstly, she wanted to see what this painting gathering was like. Secondly, she wanted to ask the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman why he had paid for her meal. She didn't mind being treated to a meal, but there had to be a reason, right?
"Today's theme is water." The old man said again.
Those who were ready to show off their skills today had already stood in front of the arranged tables, waiting for the old man's order to start painting.
"Miss, aren't you going to participate? The winner can get a painting personally drawn by the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman!" Yue Ru was very curious that her young lady still stood there indifferently and stepped forward to ask in a low voice.
"What kind of ugly things can I draw? I'd better just stay here and watch others' paintings obediently."
Mei Qingxue didn't know when the first round of the painting competition would end. If it weren't for waiting for the Elegant Jade - faced Gentleman, she might have already gone down the mountain. It was really boring to stay here. What was the fun in watching a group of people compete in painting!
"Time's up. Change people." After a quarter of an hour, the old man spoke, and the attendants stepped forward to collect the paintings. Soon, another group of people stood in front of the tables.