The county princess of the Northern Frontier King's mansion was hosting a painting banquet. Who in the Northern Frontier City would dare refuse the invitation?
Xue Zining alighted from the carriage and saw that the Northern Frontier King's mansion was bustling with people. She touched the human skin mask on her face, confirming there were no flaws, and walked forward. Kui Xiang, disguised as a maid, handed her a ticket. This ticket was purchased by Kui Xiang with some money from a maid working in the mansion, whose husband happened to be the mansion's accountant steward.
Upon seeing the ticket, a servant quickly said, "Miss Feng, this way..."
Xue Zining nodded, noticing that besides the daughters of officials from the Northern Frontier City, there were also young masters and ladies from various aristocratic families present.
"Does Kui Xiang recognize all these people?" Xue Zining asked Kui Xiang beside her.
Kui Xiang had a crestfallen look and said, "You can ask me about the men. After all, those who entered the brothel were all men, not women."
Xue Zining nodded, "It was my oversight."
"You look unfamiliar, haven't you been to this kind of event before?"
Xue Zining turned her head and saw a woman who appeared beside her. Seeing that she seemed to have no ill intentions, she nodded. "Yes, it's my first time."
The woman reached out and took her hand, saying, "I'll take you around to familiarize yourself."
Xue Zining was startled. Looking at the woman, the woman also seemed a bit surprised, then smiled. "Look at me, so forgetful. My name is Luo Su Xin."
"Feng Ning," Xue Zining replied.
Luo Su Xin nodded. "You look younger than me. From now on, I'll call you Sister Ning, and you can call me older sister, how about that?"
"Sister," Xue Zining said. She felt that Miss Luo had no ulterior motives. She needed someone who knew about the Northern Frontier King's mansion, and this Miss Luo was the best candidate.
Luo Su Xin heard this and, smiling, whispered, "I'm the only child at home. I've always wished for a sister since I was young, even a half-sister. Unfortunately, my father only had my mother."
Luo Su Xin said this with a hint of helplessness, but to Xue Zining, it was difficult to fathom, as having only one wife was truly rare.
Seeing Xue Zining remain silent, Luo Su Xin said, "Actually, the painting banquet is just a matchmaking session prepared by the King for Miss Jiang."
Xue Zining was startled. "Matchmaking?"
Luo Su Xin whispered, "Do you know Young Master Yan?"
"Yan Jin Chao?" Xue Zining asked.
Luo Su Xin nodded. "It's him. Miss Jiang fell in love with Young Master Yan at first sight. She has invited Young Master Yan to the Northern Frontier King's mansion many times. However, this Young Master Yan is also rather aloof. He only appears when there are many people. If invited alone, he never comes."
There was a commotion outside the door. Xue Zining asked, "Why is there so much noise?"
Luo Su Xin smiled upon hearing this. "It should be that Young Master Yan has arrived."
As Luo Su Xin finished speaking, Xue Zining saw a tall and slender figure slowly walk in. In her memory, he always favored white because she had once said, "Yan Zhao, you look good in white."
From then on, he exclusively wore white.
Today, he was dressed in dark robes. She didn't realize how ethereal he looked in white, but in dark robes, he appeared enchantingly demonic, with a hint of wildness.
Had she made him live according to her expectations, forgetting that he also had his own preferences?
"Young Master Yan..." The women of the Northern Frontier King's mansion all turned their gazes towards him, as if he were the center of attention.
"Young Master Yan, you've arrived..." Jiang Yu Li arrived leisurely.
Yan Jin Chao nodded faintly.
Jiang Yu Li's face flushed slightly. "Please, Young Master Yan, be seated."
Yan Jin Chao took his designated seat, and Luo Su Xin, holding Xue Zining's hand, also took their seats.
The steward of the Northern Frontier King's mansion ordered people to bring several paintings. Upon opening them, Xue Zining saw renowned paintings by celebrated artists of the current dynasty.
She was very familiar with one of them. She was startled and pointed at the painting, asking, "Who painted this?"
Luo Su Xin looked at the signature on the painting and said, "It's Young Master Yan."
Xue Zining raised her eyes and looked at Yan Zhao, who was sitting next to the upper seat. In this painting, a girl dressed in a dress the color of water and sky sat on a swing under a clear sky with white clouds. Although her face was not clear, she was certain that the woman was her.
Jiang Yu Li also saw the painting and blushed slightly. "Young Master Yan, why did you paint me?"
Xue Zining was taken aback. "The woman in here isn't her?"
Jiang Yu Li continued, "The other day I was swinging in the courtyard. I thought Young Master Yan hadn't seen me, but it turns out you saw everything."
Xue Zining's heart ached slightly. Had she been imagining things?
Yan Jin Chao looked up at Jiang Yu Li. That day, he had been summoned by the Northern Frontier King to discuss matters. On his way through the courtyard, he saw Miss Jiang swinging. Upon returning to his residence, the image of a woman on a swing appeared in his mind, but the woman in the painting had her back to him, so he couldn't see her face, which is why he painted it.
"It was my presumption," he said, standing up and walking to the painting, reaching out to take it.
A pair of hands was faster than him. A slender hand like jade tightly grasped the painting and asked, "Can this painting be given to me?"
"No," he said faintly.
Xue Zining was startled. "I'll pay for it."
She saw him finally lift his eyes to look at her properly and say, "Priceless."
"Who is this...?" Jiang Yu Li walked over and asked.
Luo Su Xin quickly stood up and came over. "Miss Jiang, this is my sister, Feng Ning. She's new here and doesn't understand many things."
"So it's Miss Luo. Please, Miss Feng, don't be unreasonable. Young Master Yan's paintings are not for sale, and since it depicts me, it cannot be sold to Miss Feng." Jiang Yu Li said somewhat shyly.
Suddenly, the painting split in two from the middle, shocking everyone. Xue Zining held one half and said, "Since it's priceless, it shouldn't be here. Why not destroy it!"
"Sister Ning, you..." Luo Su Xin was stunned.
Jiang Yu Li said with distress, "Miss Feng, how could you ruin Young Master Yan's painting?"
"My apologies, my hand slipped," Xue Zining said blandly.
"Young Master Yan, I'm truly sorry. It's my fault for not having people watch it carefully, allowing your painting to be ruined." Jiang Yu Li was both angry and anxious. Da Feng Novel Network
"It's nothing, it's just a painting," Yan Jin Chao said faintly.
Jiang Yu Li bit her lower lip, looked up at Xue Zining, and said angrily, "Miss Feng, you should leave. You are not welcome here."
Luo Su Xin was about to explain, but Xue Zining held her back and said, "Alright, I'll leave now."
She turned and walked away. When she reached the entrance, Luo Su Xin chased after her. "Sister Ning, you..."
"Sister, I apologize for causing you trouble."
Luo Su Xin shook her head. "It's alright, it's just that you..."
"It's nothing, I suddenly lost interest."
Luo Su Xin nodded. "Then you go back to your mansion first. I'll come find you tomorrow."
Xue Zining nodded, bid farewell to Luo Su Xin, and got into the carriage. Kui Xiang beside her said, "You did that on purpose."
Xue Zining nodded. "If I didn't do that, how could I attract Xue Zixuan's attention?"