“Miss, is the tea not to your liking? Here, I’ll have a servant change it out. This kind is fresh from the Yan Kingdom.” The man said, smiling. His voice was warm.
“No need, I don’t like tea.” Liu Luoyi said coolly. She lifted her eyes to look at the man; he was quite handsome, a bit tan.
He, more or less, could not surpass her, Liu Luoyi thought. And so, she relaxed and turned her gaze to the furnishings of the room, which was decorated generously and extravagantly: gemstones adorned the walls, a thick rug settled on the floor.
Liu Luoyi’s heart thumped in her chest. From the look of the room’s furnishings, the man’s coffers must run deep. Her eyebrows snapped down, the hostility in her gaze deepening as she looked at him.
But the man seemed to have not seen it, for he was still chatting away. Suddenly, he paused, showing an apologetic smile: “We’ve talked for so long, but we still haven’t been properly introduced. This lowly one is surnamed Baili, given name Mingyuan. My father was conferred the title of Marquis for meritorious service, so, everyone just calls me Young Marquis.”
An illustrious family background. Liu Luoyi raised her hackles, as if he were a formidable enemy, but did not let it show on her face. She replied, placid as ever: “Liu Luoyi.”
“So you are Miss Liu. The Princess only brought one person back from her long travels, Miss Liu, so you both must have a deep friendship. As such, I, Baili Mingyuan, am also your friend. Allow me to offer you a toast, miss, with this tea in place of wine.” Baili Mingyuan picked up the cup of tea on the table and drank it.
Liu Luoyi’s heart grew even more tense. She drank from the teacup in front of her courteously, then rose: “Young Marquis, I have some business to attend to today. Please excuse me.”
She nodded, then strode out the door. Baili Mingyuan could not stop her, so he could only call out his goodbyes from behind her.
A childhood sweetheart that had appeared out of thin air, and she had not told her a thing. Liu Luoyi walked along the street, her head drooping, her heart in poor spirits. She kicked one of the stones along the path, then suddenly recalled that Yuchi Li had said she was not actually the Princess.
So, she was also ignorant of this so-called ‘arranged marriage.’ She felt a bit better about it, now.
Unwittingly, she had arrived at the sequestered little alley. The serving girl opened the door for her respectfully. She strolled in, found a piece of paper, wrote the words ‘Paintings for Sale’ on it, then hung it up on the door.
She was not genuinely expecting people to come calling; she was merely bored.
She had not painted in a while, but she was not out of practice. With a few strokes of the brush, the silhouette of a woman appeared, and as the inkwell began to run dry, the woman took form, a sword clutched in her hand, her hair curling in the wind, her bearing valiant.
Liu Luoyi paused for a moment. Suddenly, the corners of her mouth hooked upward, and she let out a helpless laugh. She had originally meant to paint the serving girl in front of her, but it had morphed into Yuchi Li.
After only a day of parting, she missed her terribly. Liu Luoyi placed the painting before her and examined it closely, her chin in her hand. An idea flashed through her mind, and she raised the brush and added a phoenix coronet and a set of embroidered robes to Yuchi Li’s form.
By the time she finished the painting, her smile grew happier and happier.
Then, a knock sounded at the door. The serving girl opened it and let out a cry of shock, nearly falling to a kneel, but was stopped by a hand supporting her.
Hearing the noise, Liu Luoyi looked up and froze. She hastily shoved the painting under a stack of xuan paper[1]宣纸 xuan zhi, a type of paper used in painting and calligraphy, then stood up to offer her greetings.
“No need to be so courteous. This king has just returned from the military camp and on a routine inspection of the condition of the common people. I saw that this area has many shops and came to check.” The Northern King stood at the door. His gaze swiveled about the room before he slowly walked inside.
His towering stature made the room feel much smaller.
Liu Luoyi did not dare reply. She had always held the king in awe and reverence, and in this particular circumstance, she could only keep her head bowed lest he detect something on her end.
“Don’t be afraid, you’re the young lady Li’er brought back with her.” The Northern King reached out and patted her on her shoulder. He still used a good amount of force; Liu Luoyi stiffened her back so she did not bend.
“No need to shut the door.” The Northern King instructed the serving girl, then strode about the room. Taking in the ink, paper, ink sticks, brushes, cinnabar, and the like resting on the table, he was a bit surprised, “Are these all yours?”
Liu Luoyi nodded, her head still lowered. Fortunately, the Northern King had not closed the door; the ambient noise and chatter of the pedestrians were clear, reducing the pressure Liu Luoyi felt.
“You’re a talented lady. How about you paint this king?” The Northern King was quite interested in the idea and sat down determinedly, signaling for Liu Luoyi to begin.
Liu Luoyi had never expected the Northern King to be so in touch with his people. She bit her lip, not daring to refuse. She could only brace herself and advance.
“This King has not been painted in ages. The Northern Territory emphasizes the military, so we have few master painters. The last time must have been when I went to the Yan Kingdom. The painting was well done, capturing my valiance and might superbly. It is still hanging in my study.” The Northern King was clearly thrilled as he spoke of it.
Liu Luoyi smiled unnaturally. She raised the brush but did not dare put it to paper.
“Don’t worry, you’re Li’er’s friend. This King won’t blame you even if it turns out ugly.” The Northern King chuckled good-naturedly.
Liu Luoyi gritted her teeth and began. Soon, aside from the wish of the brush, the room was entirely silent. Her nervousness slowly dissipated. She became immersed in carefully rendering the majesty of the monarch before her.
In Liu Luoyi’s mind, painting was sacred. Once she began to sink herself into her work, she took no notice of the environment around her. This was particularly true when the painting gradually took form, her heart filling with an indescribable ebullience.
Without her knowing, an hour passed before Liu Luoyi put down her brush, her forehead covered in sweat. She let out a sigh of relief.
She lifted her gaze. The Northern King was leaning back in his seat, snoring soundly as he slept. The serving girl was brave and called out to wake him.
The Northern King stood up and strode up to the desk. He took the painting that Liu Luoyi handed to him. When he saw it, his eyes lit up with amazement. He looked it up and down several times and praised it.
“For some reason, this painting is a little familiar to this King, but you’ve painted more dynamically! Good! Wonderful!” He accepted the painting wholeheartedly.
“This King has a reward for your painting. Come in.” The Northern King called, voice raised, and an attendant walked in with a bag full of gold taels.
Seeing this, Liu Luoyi hurriedly waved her hands, startled, but she could not endure the pressure of the Northern King’s magnanimity and accepted the gift, her head bowed.
“Great skills, young lady!” The Northern King looked at her, his gaze filled with praise, and the more he looked the more he felt admiration. He smacked the table heartily and said, “Would you like to stay in my Northern Territory?”
Liu Luoyi’s eyes widened.
“My palace has few painters, and skills of your caliber are rare in one so young. If you wish to stay in the Northern Territory, this king can bestow an official position on you, to take care of matters such as these. Would you be interested?”
Liu Luoyi was shocked speechless. The Northern King, seeing her expression, chuckled and waved a hand: “No worries, discuss it with Li’er, and if you agree, just have her report back to me.”
“Now, if you have any other paintings, bring them out and let this king have a look.”
Hearing this, Liu Luoyi frantically shook her head: “This commoner did not bring any.”
The Northern King glanced around and saw the corner peeking out from beneath the stack of xuan paper. He reached out and pulled it out. Liu Luoyi’s pulse raced, and she rushed forward to stop him.
Unfortunately, there was no way for her to act quicker than the Northern King, and in the next moment, the entirety of the painting was exposed before the Northern King’s eyes.
“Hm…seems familiar…” The Northern King stroked his beard, carefully inspecting it.
Liu Luoyi, in her bewilderment, did not know what to do. She clutched her sleeve, just about punching a hole through the fabric. In her heart, endlessly she prayed: prayed that she had painted poorly, prayed that the Northern King would not recognize Yuchi Li.
“Isn’t this Li’er? The silhouette resembles her, is all.” The Northern King’s expression turned doubtful, “But, aren’t these the wedding clothes of the Yan Kingdom?”
Liu Luoyi kept worrying her toes on the floor tiles, daring neither to speak nor raise her eyes.
The Northern King glanced at Liu Luoyi again, then at the painting in his hands. He slowly placed the painting down, but said nothing.
“It’s late. This king won’t bother you any further. If you are interested in what I just mentioned, just let Li’er know.” The Northern King smiled amiably, then strode out of the door.
The attendant followed him out, murmuring: “Your Majesty, is this…necessary? If you want to reward the Princess’ friend and mend your relationship with her, there is no need to give her an official position.”
“On the contrary, the young lady has immense talent. In over ten years, this king has never encountered a painter of her skill. This king was shocked, indeed.”
The Northern King unfurled the painting and looked at it, his eyes crinkling as he smiled.
After some time had passed, praise leapt from his lips: “Such a handsome, inspiring countenance!”
The attendant suppressed a smile, not daring to respond.
Back in the room, Liu Luoyi heaved a sigh of relief and rushed to roll up the painting and put it in her sleeve, her mind shaken. It was just a painting, she reminded herself, and would not make people overthink.
But, she now had no inclination to remain, and quickly locked up, returning to the palace.
In the following days, everytime she went out, she would bump into that Young Marquis, Baili Mingyuan. It was like he had planted a spy by her side, and sometimes he would even chase after her through the entire city, going on and on about his love for the Princess and how he longed for her.
And often, he would ask after the Princess’ likes and dislikes, then indulge in flights of fancy about their future together, with him as her Fuma. When Liu Luoyi saw his expectant look, she would always clench her fists.
On this day, Liu Luoyi intentionally stayed in, but she was still dragged out by the Young Marquis. He sent some people to invite her to the Martial Banquet, held by the Ministry of Military Affairs following the final round of examinations. She had not wanted to attend, but she could not hold up under their persuasion; he was a Marquis, afterall, and not someone she could just kick out. She also had not wanted to bother the others in the palace.
Her hands tied, she could only go and have a look.
In contrast to the poetic elegance of the competitions in the Yan Kingdom, the Martial Banquet, as the name implied, was a display of martial prowess. Men and women gathered together with an assortment of weapons, chatting together happily. Liu Luoyi was in the midst of it, looking entirely out of place and weak amongst them.
Baili Mingyuan stood next to her. Some people would come over to offer him some words of courtesy, calling him Fuma, and even bringing up the Princess occasionally. He ate it up, his face aglow as he laughed.
Liu Luoyi’s ire surged, but she did not know what she could do about it.
“The Princess has yet to return, and this matter has not been finalized, so why use this kind of address.” Baili Mingyuan laughed. Internally, he was utterly pleased, but he put on a reproving look.
“The Young Marquis has already been chosen by the King to become Fuma. It’ll be announced in a couple of days, we’re just talking in advance.” Someone said respectfully.
Looking at Baili Mingyuan, who was shaking with laughter beside her, Liu Luoyi rolled her eyes. She hurried away, wanting to calm herself.
“Miss Liu, please don’t leave. Help me think. What should I say the day I propose to the Princess?” Baili Mingyuan skipped over obliviously, asking for her advice.
“There’s no need. She won’t agree.” Liu Luoyi quietly.
“How could she not? Everyone approves of my arrangement with the Princess, and we both come from good families. Of course she would agree.” Baili Mingyuan laughed.
“If I say she won’t, then she won’t. Don’t waste your breath, Young Marquis.” Liu Luoyi glared at him, then turned to leave. It was too noisy; she needed a breather.
“Hold it! Our Young Marquis is to become Fuma by imperial decree! Who are you to speak with such disrespect?” A man appeared and grabbed Liu Luoyi, his actions making her stumble and almost fall.
His figure was burly, his expression exuding maliciousness.
“Unhand me.” Liu Luoyi frowned. She tried to shake him off, but she was not strong enough.
“Stop! What’re you doing?!” Baili Mingyuan wanted to move forward and talk some sense into him, but was pulled away under the guise of his own ‘protection.’ For the moment, he could not break through.
“I said, unhand me.” Liu Luoyi clenched her fists, meeting the man’s gaze without a hint of fear in her own.
Footnotes
| ↑1 | 宣纸 xuan zhi, a type of paper used in painting and calligraphy |
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Thanks for the update:)