"Prince Yan, this matter should be reported to His Majesty. A plan should be devised quickly to address the refugees' food, clothing, housing, and transportation, instead of letting them wander aimlessly."
"His Majesty will discuss a resolution with the ministers during the morning court tomorrow, but I wish to hear the Empress's suggestions?" Feng Lie's narrow phoenix eyes rose, his eyelashes curling, his gaze filled with a hopeful light.
Unfortunately, Liu Liu had no interest in participating in their affairs. These matters were hardly her concern. A cool expression flitted across her delicate face as she shook her head without a second thought.
"Prince Yan, please return. This Palace is tired. Do not disturb me with these matters; I have no obligation. The decision will be made in court tomorrow. With so many people involved, a good plan will surely be devised," Liu Liu waved her hand. Seeing that she was unwilling to think further, Feng Lie did not dare to force her. He stood up and spoke, unwilling to give up.
"This subject hopes Your Highness will consider it carefully, as it concerns tens of thousands of refugees. Since Your Highness claims the title, you do have an obligation, do you not?"
As soon as Feng Lie finished speaking, Liu Liu's expression on her elevated seat turned grim. These men were truly detestable. They came asking for her help when it suited them, spouting lofty principles.
In this vast harem, who treated her as the Empress? Obligation, indeed! Let obligation go to hell! She turned to Cui'er behind her and ordered in a low voice,
"Cui'er, escort Prince Yan out immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness," Cui'er curtsied and walked to Feng Lie's side, speaking respectfully, "Prince Yan, please. Her Highness wishes to rest."
Feng Lie wanted to say more, but seeing the woman's dark expression and the coldness in her eyes, he realized that if he spoke another word, he would face severe consequences. With a flick of his sleeve, he left Huaqing Palace.
After Feng Lie left, Liu Liu's mind began to work. Disregarding Feng Lie's words, she looked at the refugees and indeed found them pitiful. Their homes were destroyed, their loved ones drowned, they were left with no one, and had fallen into destitution. She truly could not bear it.
Thinking of this troubled her, making sleep impossible. She turned and instructed Cai Xia, who stood beside her.
"Prepare the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. This Palace wishes to paint."
"Paint?" Cai Xia and Ming Yue were a little surprised. They had been here for some time and had never seen Her Highness paint before. Moreover, during the last selection, didn't Her Highness say she couldn't?
Seeing the two palace maids' stunned expressions, Qiao'er chuckled and spoke.
"My mistress's paintings are beautiful! The paintings of those so-called talented women can't even compare. She only paints when something is on her mind."
"You do talk a lot," Liu Liu playfully nudged the little maid Qiao'er upon hearing her proud words. Qiao'er stuck out her tongue and turned to do as instructed. Cai Xia quickly rushed out to fetch the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone into the great hall.
Ming Yue lit the incense, brought over the table, spread out the paper, and ground the ink. Several people stood silently to the side. Liu Liu glanced at them, seeing their curiosity.
She had originally intended to dismiss them, but if she did, they would likely not sleep well all night.
"Alright, Your Highness, I will let you witness Her Highness's painting skills, but you may only watch one before you leave."
"Thank you, Your Highness," Ming Yue and Cai Xia clapped their hands joyfully and walked over to prepare a pot of flower tea for Her Highness.
Liu Liu walked over, concentrated her gaze, and slowly immersed her thoughts into the brush tip, painting with utmost focus.
A delicate, fragrant, and vibrant peony appeared on the paper, so opulent and noble, capturing all the beauty of the world, as if its faint fragrance filled the air.
Cai Xia and Ming Yue were mesmerized. Although they were palace maids, they had seen the paintings of the foremost talented lady, Consort De, before. That painting was clearly inferior to this one; there was simply no comparison.
While that painting looked beautiful, it felt contrived. Unlike this one, it held no expectation, painted purely for the flower's sake, exuding natural nobility, meticulously rendering the peony's dignified aura onto the paper.
"It's so beautiful, just like real!" the two young maids exclaimed, their hands over their hearts in admiration. They were too shocked, never having imagined a person could paint so skillfully. Even those who didn't understand art felt a warmth in their hearts and their eyes lit up, unable to look away.
"Of course. My mistress's paintings have attracted butterflies before. You don't have to believe me, it's true. She just doesn't want others to know," Cui'er, who had just entered from the great hall door, said with a smile, looking at the two maids.
Cai Xia and Ming Yue nodded in agreement, suspecting that if these flowers were placed in the sunlight, butterflies would indeed flutter around. But why would Her Highness conceal such talent?
His Majesty greatly valued talent. If he knew how capable Her Highness was, he would surely cherish her.
"Why does Your Highness hide it from others?"
"You wouldn't understand these things. Alright, all of you, go down and rest. And do not speak of this matter to anyone," Liu Liu instructed softly.
Although Cai Xia and Ming Yue did not understand why Her Highness acted this way, as servants, they naturally obeyed when Her Highness commanded.
"Yes, Your Highness," the maids nodded in unison. Seeing their mistress remaining alone, Cui'er, fearing she might need something, quickly offered, "Then I shall stay and attend to Your Highness."
"No need. You may go down and rest. I will call you if I need anything." Cui'er and Qiao'er's resting place was not far, and a call would reach them. Hearing this, Cui'er led the others out.
The vast palace fell silent once more. A breeze gently drifted in from the palace doors, and the night deepened.
The moonlight was bright, spilling in from the palace doors as if a layer of white silk had been spread. A white shadow, like a ghost, drifted in. Liu Liu was startled. Who was it? She calmly continued her painting, only hearing a low sigh beside her ear.
"Rumors are misleading!" It was a sigh of regret, a sigh of wonder.
Liu Liu put down her brush, turned her head, and looked over. It was Nangong Yue, his eyes fixed on the three paintings she had completed: peony, lotus, and autumn chrysanthemum. Each exuded its unique charm.
The peony was noble, the lotus elegant, and the chrysanthemum serene; each was rendered with exquisite skill.
"Who would have thought the true foremost talented lady was the current Empress? How many more unknown mysteries does Your Highness possess?" Nangong Yue shifted his gaze from the paintings to Liu Liu's face. The watery depths of his eyes shimmered with gem-like brilliance, filled with suspicion, curiosity, and deep thought.
"It's merely occasional entertainment. Where does the notion of 'foremost talented lady' come from?" Liu Liu replied noncommittally and turned to the corner of the hall to wash the ink stains from her hands.
She hadn't expected Nangong Yue to come to her palace in the middle of the night. Seeing him reminded her of his invitation to listen to the flute yesterday, which she had forgotten. He had actually come.
"If Your Highness is not yet a talented lady, then the world would likely have no talented ladies at all," Nangong Yue's already ethereal voice was scattered by the incoming wind, filling the hall with a gentle softness.
He held the paintings in his hands, carefully appreciating them as if afraid of damaging them. Liu Liu knew that Nangong Yue not only played the flute well but was also someone who cherished flowers.
Beautiful, skilled in the flute, possessing excellent medical arts, and a lover of flowers; she truly didn't know how many more virtues he possessed.
What kind of woman could be worthy of such a man?
Both shared the same sentiment, marveling that such a spiritual person existed in the world, with countless virtues.
The night wind rustled, leaves fell outside the palace, making soft crackling sounds. Inside the hall, the room was silent. He finally finished appreciating the paintings, returned a gentle smile, as radiant as a pearl, illuminating the entire room, and spoke in a clear yet warm tone.