Before long, the painter brought the portrait and handed it to Yun Chang.
Zhao Yingying said with a smile, "Princess Yun Chang, please take a look."
Yun Chang took the portrait but her brows suddenly furrowed. Why was this painting so familiar? Yun Chang stared at the portrait for a long time and finally remembered. Wasn't this the portrait of the young lady she and Mo Jun Li had met on the street last night? However, the painting depicted two people, a man and a woman, and the man looked exactly like the young man from last night.
Yun Chang frowned slightly.
Could it be that Mo Jun Li had the painter create it?
"How is it, Princess Yun Chang, do you like it?" Zhao Yingying's voice rang out.
Yun Chang withdrew her thoughts, smiled, and said, "It's beautiful, and it suits me very well."
A cunning glint flashed in Zhao Yingying's eyes, then she said with a smile, "Since the Princess likes it, then buy it."
"En," Yun Chang nodded. "I'll buy it as is."
"Alright," the painter replied and immediately went to collect the money.
Yun Chang glanced at Zhao Yingying, "How much silver note are you planning to give me for the price of this painting?"
Zhao Yingying was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "I just painted this casually, without much thought. It's only three hundred taels. I'll give you a 20% discount according to market prices."
"Twenty percent off?" Yun Chang raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"
Zhao Yingying's face stiffened for a moment, but she quickly said, "Of course."
"Since it's twenty percent off, then forget it." Yun Chang said, preparing to rise and take her leave.
"Princess, wait a moment." Zhao Yingying stopped Yun Chang.
Yun Chang looked up at her with confusion.
"To be honest, Princess, this painting was actually made by Yu Zhi. He said that Princess likes plum blossoms, so he specially invited a craftsman to make this painting as a gift for the Princess. Things that the Princess likes naturally shouldn't be treated shabbily. How about this, Princess, you write a letter to Yu Zhi and ask him to give you the 80% silver." Zhao Yingying said with a smile.
Yun Chang was somewhat surprised upon hearing this. She had initially thought the painting was casually made by Zhao Yingying, but unexpectedly, it was specially commissioned by Mo Jun Li.
"I do like plum blossoms, but Zhao Yingying, although plum blossoms are beautiful, they are not supplied without limit. I also have flowers that I like, and I don't lack this one." Yun Chang said faintly, secretly relieved that she hadn't sent that pot of flowers to the Prince's mansion last night.
"Is that so?" Zhao Yingying said with disappointment. "Since the Princess doesn't like this painting, then give it to me. I can keep it on the Princess's behalf."
Yun Chang snorted coldly, "This painting is mine, why should I give it to you?"
Seeing Yun Chang's unwillingness, Zhao Yingying became even more annoyed, but she maintained a gentle demeanor, softly persuading, "Princess, our families have been friends for generations, and we are related by marriage. I should have given this painting to the Princess, but now it's mine. If the Princess doesn't mind, then let me keep it. I will treasure it dearly and will not let anyone harm it."
Yun Chang saw her sincerity and began to waver.
If she could really get the painting from Zhao Yingying, it would be a good thing.
"Since that's the case, then I respectfully accept." Yun Chang smiled faintly, her smile as clear as ice.
"Oh my, thank you, Princess!" Zhao Yingying said happily, and quickly ordered her maid to put away the painting. She then bowed to Yun Chang and said, "Princess, I'll be going back now."
Yun Chang watched Zhao Yingying leave, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips. Zhao Yingying's personality truly annoyed her. If it weren't for the sake of getting the painting, she wouldn't bother with her.
Not long after, Zhao Yingying rushed back from outside, holding a slip of paper in her hand, her face filled with excitement: "Princess, I just sent someone to inquire. The owner of that shop said that the painting was sold at midnight today."
"Really?" A hint of joy flashed in Yun Chang's eyes.
Zhao Yingying quickly nodded and said, "Yes, and not just one painting, several have already been sold."
"That's great." Yun Chang nodded with a smile.
Zhao Yingying's expression turned serious for a moment. Her eyes darted around, and then she smiled and said, "However, I heard that these paintings all ended up in Madam Zhao's hands."
Zhao Yingying winked at Yun Chang as she spoke.
Yun Chang smiled, but a realization dawned on her. "Zhao Yingying, you are truly not simple. However, I won't believe you easily, so you'd better not think of tricking me out of anything. Otherwise..." After speaking, Yun Chang stood up and turned to leave.
A sinister look filled Zhao Yingying's eyes. She refused to believe that with her methods, she couldn't handle that girl Yun Chang!
"Zhao Yingying, I've bought all those paintings. If you're still not satisfied, you can come and talk to me again." Yun Chang's figure had already disappeared through the doorway, but her icy voice still echoed.
Zhao Yingying gritted her teeth but still forced herself to suppress her inner anger, smiling and saying, "Of course I will continue to talk with the Princess. I hope the Princess will remember her words."
Upon hearing this, Yun Chang's lips curved into a mocking smile, but she did not respond further.
"Princess, you're really going to accept those paintings? Won't that make the Princess even more unique?" Lu Zhu looked at Yun Chang with a face full of worry.
"It's fine." Yun Chang shook her head. She never thought of it as a good thing. "Although those paintings are beautiful, they are not what I like. What I like has long been destroyed. Keeping them will only bring more trouble."
Lu Zhu sighed upon hearing this and said nothing more.
Seeing this, Zhao Yingying was secretly delighted. She had underestimated Yun Chang's intelligence.
Zhao Yingying returned to her courtyard, and her face immediately darkened. "Bitch, she's indeed smart enough!"
"Mistress, how are you?" Qiu Shuang, who was standing nearby, quickly said, "I've already sent people to inquire. I believe we'll soon find out who sent this painting."
"Hmph!" Zhao Yingying snorted coldly. "Those people are so stupid. Don't they know that's my thing? How dare they secretly take it to auction. They deserve to die!"
Qiu Shuang frowned, puzzled, "But those people came on the Princess's orders. We can't just drive them away, can we?"
"Drive them away?" Zhao Yingying sneered. "How could that be?"
Seeing Zhao Yingying's confident expression, Qiu Shuang felt a lot more at ease.
Zhao Yingying was silent for a moment, then said, "Since the painting has already been bought, there's no need to keep it. Just throw it away."
Qiu Shuang nodded, but felt it was a great pity. If only she could get her hands on the painting, how wonderful that would be!
As Qiu Shuang went out to arrange this matter, Yun Chang had already returned to the Marquis's mansion by carriage. The moment she stepped through the mansion gates, she encountered Xia Huanyu, who was coming towards her.
Xia Huanyu seemed to be looking for her, his eyes anxiously fixed on her. "Chang'er, you're finally back. I was just about to go find you."
Yun Chang glanced at Xia Huanyu and turned towards the house.
Xia Huanyu quickly followed, "Chang'er, where did you go? I've been looking for you everywhere, do you know?"
Yun Chang's footsteps did not stop, and her voice was as cold as the weather in the twelfth lunar month. "Is there something the Marquis needs from me?"
An awkward expression flashed across Xia Huanyu's face. "Chang'er, I had someone send that painting to you because..."
"I said, I don't care about that painting. Also, there's no one else here. The Marquis can call me Princess." Yun Chang interrupted him, her voice carrying a hint of coolness.
Upon hearing this, Xia Huanyu's expression changed drastically. He quickly said, "I'm sorry, Chang'er. I know my methods are clumsy, but you also know that I truly like you."