Chapter 49: Frenzied Painting for the Deity

The courtyard of the Governor’s Mansion had never been as lively as it was today.

With the Jiang family, including their servants, numbering over a hundred people, more than ten large round tables were set up in the courtyard.

Given the large gathering, they had initially expected simple meals—perhaps some white rice with pickled vegetables or a small serving of stir-fried meat. But to their astonishment, each table was laden with chicken, duck, fish, and even delicacies like sea cucumber and shark fin.

“Hiss—”

Jiang Yu’s eldest brother sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of the feast.

“Your Highness, isn’t this… a bit too extravagant?”

The people of Weizhou had yet to fully overcome the famine, and here they were, indulging in such a lavish banquet?

His upbringing instilled a deep sense of guilt in him.

Jiang Qingqing stepped forward and invited Father Jiang to take a seat first.

Jokingly, she said, “This is just a one-time extravagance. Hard times lie ahead, so let’s indulge a little today to celebrate the Jiang family’s escape from disaster.”

“I’ve already made arrangements. Tomorrow, rice and vegetables will be distributed to the city’s citizens.”

She wasn’t lying.

She did feel a little guilty about constantly requesting supplies from the deity. Originally, she had only planned for a simple homemade meal.

But in the end, the deity himself had said he didn’t mind the expense.

If she truly felt bad, she could just paint a few more pictures for him.

Jiang Qingqing figured she would stay up late tonight and create more artwork. It seemed her Father God really enjoyed her paintings.

Jiang Yu’s eldest brother still wanted to say something, but Father Jiang interrupted him.

“Just sit down. If you don’t want to eat, you can have plain white rice. No one’s stopping you.”

“Stop dampening the mood!”

Then, his stern tone softened as he turned to Jiang Qingqing with a doting smile.

“Come, come, it’s been ages since I’ve had pork. I’ve really missed it.”

Jiang Qingqing nodded and took a seat beside Father Jiang.

“Everyone, eat up! We’ve been eating spoiled food for over half a month—we’re practically starving!”

“Come, husband, sit here! The meat on this side smells amazing!”

Hearing Father Jiang’s words, Third Aunt cheered excitedly.

She pulled her two children over to sit and called out, “Eldest Sister-in-law, come join us! Eldest Brother… everyone, come to this table!”

The Jiang family had never been overly formal. With Third Sister-in-law lightening the mood, everyone quickly settled into their seats.

Jiang Mother poured fruit wine for Father Jiang and Jiang Qingqing.

“Qingqing, let’s raise a toast.”

“We owe everything to you today. If not for you, the Jiang family…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but everyone knew what she meant.

Unable to refuse their kindness, Jiang Qingqing raised her cup and stood.

“Then let us toast to the Jiang family and to the Great Liang, hoping that we will all emerge from this crisis together. Evil shall never triumph over good.”

—

After Dinner

Jiang Qingqing went to Jiang Yu’s room.

The doctor was still by his bedside, and Jiang Yu had yet to regain consciousness.

She gave him another Heart-Nourishing Pill.

Just then, Father Jiang, Mother Jiang, and several of Jiang Yu’s uncles arrived to check on him.

Jiang Qingqing took the opportunity to invite them to the front hall to discuss their next steps.

She openly laid out the current state of the imperial court.

There was nothing to hide.

They didn’t have much time left to prepare.

“Elder Jiang, I don’t know my father’s current situation, nor can I reach him.”

“The only certainty is that the Jinwu Guards are still under my father’s control and have not fallen into the hands of Liu Yi and the Empress Dowager. But I cannot command them.”

Jiang Qingqing had attempted to use her mark to contact the Jinwu Guards.

But after all this time, she had never received a response.

Still, she hadn’t seen them siding with the Prime Minister’s household or the Su family either. That meant the command token had not yet fallen into their hands.

So her father was likely still alive.

Father Jiang listened carefully, hesitating for a moment before asking a crucial question.

“Qingqing, today’s feast… and tomorrow’s grain distribution… these aren’t from the imperial court, are they?”

Jiang Qingqing nodded.

“No, the court hasn’t opened its granaries. All the food came from me.”

“But as for the details, please forgive me for not being able to explain further. Just know that it’s all proper food, and there’s no harm in eating it.”

Father Jiang nodded and sighed.

“I just don’t know how long this food supply will last.”

It was already a foregone conclusion that Liu Yi had allied with the enemy nation.

To break through this crisis, they would have to fight a prolonged war—an arduous battle lay ahead.

Jiang Yu’s uncle spoke up. He had rushed straight to the military camp without even tending to his own injuries or eating dinner.

“As of now, the Jiang family army has approximately 120,000 soldiers fit for battle, but nearly 10,000 are wounded.”

“I wonder if there is any of the medicine that Your Highness provided earlier still available?”

At the mention of the medicine Jiang Qingqing had distributed, everyone eagerly chimed in.

“That ibuprofen is incredible! I had a fever earlier, but after just an hour, I already feel almost completely recovered.”

“Oh, and Yunnan Baiyao—it’s excellent for stopping bleeding.”

“The medicine for gastrointestinal issues is effective too, and even the gauze looks more refined than what we used before.”

Jiang Qingqing recalled how Jiang Yu had praised the medicine when she treated him.

Hearing the uncles’ discussion now, she felt tempted to procure more.

“I’ll check when I return later to see if I can get more. As long as it’s available, I’ll bring it.”

Hearing her promise, Jiang Yu’s uncle finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Watching soldiers suffer as minor ailments turned into life-threatening conditions due to a lack of medicine was heartbreaking.

At least now, there was hope.

“Make a list of the most urgently needed supplies and give it to me.”

“Yes! I will prepare the list immediately!”

Without delay, Jiang Yu’s uncle left the front hall.

“As for the food, Elder Jiang, you don’t need to worry. There’s more than enough. Focus on the battle ahead, and I promise the logistics and supplies will be well taken care of!”

To boost morale, Jiang Qingqing told a small lie.

“Good, good!”

Father Jiang’s heart warmed at her words.

He turned to the gathered generals and made arrangements.

“Tonight, all of you will accompany me to the city walls to reorganize the city’s defenses and military formations! This time, I will not allow those barbarians to break through again!”

—

Returning to the Bedroom

The moment Jiang Qingqing returned, she collapsed onto the bed, completely exhausted.

She didn’t want to move at all.

She had just spent hours hauling rice and vegetables for the next day’s distribution—it was absolutely draining.

But then she remembered the many paintings she still owed the deity.

With a resigned expression, she sluggishly got up, dragging her cotton slippers toward the study.

Grabbing a large brush—she got to work!

She spread several massive sheets of xuan paper across the floor and lay down to paint meticulously.

As she painted, she became increasingly engrossed in her work.

By the time she had completed several scrolls, an unexpected transformation had taken place in her style—her strokes now carried the effortless elegance of a reclusive master, vastly different from the bold and vibrant style of her previous works.

Scroll after scroll, her paintings filled the room.

When Fu Zhengnan landed from his flight early the next morning and logged into the game again, the first thing he saw was Jiang Qingqing lying on the floor, fast asleep, still holding a wolf-hair brush in her hand.

If not for the steady rise and fall of her breathing, he might have thought something had happened to her.

His gaze shifted, and when he caught sight of the enormous scrolls unfurled beside her, a flicker of astonishment flashed through his eyes.