Chapter 12

After the meal, Nie Long shook off the two clingy companions, Nie Hu and Chu Ji—one big, one small—and strolled alone in the garden to aid digestion. The evening glow bathed the meticulously tended flowers in vibrant hues, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene.

Nie Long felt a pang of regret that she couldn’t capture such a rare and lovely sight with a camera to preserve the memory.  

After a moment’s thought, she instructed the maid beside her, “Go ask the steward for a set of the Four Treasures of the Study. Bring one large sheet of Hemp Paper and one of Cotton Paper. Also, fetch a piece of charred wood from the kitchen.”  

Chun Feng understood the request for the Four Treasures, but she was puzzled about the charcoal.  

Once the Nie Mansion’s young maid had left, Chun Feng asked, “Madam, what do you need the charcoal for?”  

Nie Long smiled, pointing first at the sky, then at the flowers in full bloom, and finally at the small lotus pond beside the pavilion. The lotuses hadn’t yet bloomed, their broad green leaves floating on the water, with only one or two buds just beginning to peek out—a scene full of charm.  

“Isn’t it beautiful?”  

Chun Feng was baffled but inwardly sighed in admiration. Truly, her mistress was a celestial being; it was only natural that she couldn’t follow her thoughts. She decided to keep quiet and simply observe. If she could learn even a fraction of her mistress’s brilliance, that would be more than enough!  

Madam Nie’s household management was impeccable, and the servants of Nie Mansion were well-trained. The young maid quickly returned with the requested items.  

Nie Long examined the texture of the Hemp Paper and was pleased. The paper was thick, with a smooth front and a slightly rough, yellowish back—precisely the coarse texture she wanted.  

The maid had brought two sheets each of Cotton Paper and Hemp Paper, each about twenty inches long and twelve inches wide. Guessing that Nie Long intended to paint, she had thoughtfully included a drawing board.  

Noticing Nie Long’s satisfaction, the maid eagerly explained, “This is the drawing board the young master uses when he attends Tea Painting Gatherings. As soon as the steward heard you wanted to paint, he borrowed it from him.”  

The current dynasty was relatively open-minded, and the capital hosted both regular and occasional Poetry Gatherings and Painting Gatherings each year. Anyone registered could participate on the scheduled dates.  

The regular events were state-sponsored, organized by the Ministry of Personnel. Since the Qi Yuan Emperor ascended the throne six years ago, these activities had continued, originally intended to scout talented individuals for government service.  

Those who gained fame at these gatherings quickly became celebrated, and a few fortunate ones even secured official positions—albeit minor sixth or seventh-rank posts—nonetheless a dramatic leap in social standing.  

As a result, participation grew exponentially. The annual Poetry and Painting Gatherings became so crowded that many were eventually excluded. Influential scholars and nobles began organizing private events, which by now had grown quite substantial.  

Among the most renowned were the Azure Cloud Poetry Gathering, led by the Wang family of the Censorate; the Nine Schools Painting Gathering, hosted by the Kang Prince’s Mansion; and the West Building Poetry and Painting Gathering, organized by the esteemed scholar Ye Tangsheng.  

Both aristocratic youths and humble scholars were passionate about these events. Given the limited entertainment options of the time, such refined yet enjoyable activities—where one could earn literary fame while having fun—were naturally immensely popular.  

It was surprising, however, that the gentle and refined Nie Jue would attend such Painting Society events. Nie Long had assumed her elder brother, with his noble demeanor, would be above worldly pursuits, content in his solitary elegance.

Nie Long couldn’t help but chuckle and shake her head, almost imagining Nie Jue sprouting wings to ascend as an immortal.  

She casually chose a spot with a good view. The setting sun cast a warm glow, making it extremely comfortable as it bathed her in its light.  

After setting up the drawing board, she first clipped a sheet of hemp paper onto it. This hemp paper was a type of xuan paper, though its texture was coarser and thicker. Still, it was the most suitable substitute for drawing paper she could find at the moment.  

Spreading the paper with its back facing outward, Nie Long picked up a piece of charred black charcoal. She leaned slightly forward, glanced at the surrounding scenery, then closed her eyes to visualize it in her mind before opening them again.  

Chun Feng and Xia Yang stood nearby, holding their breath and not daring to make a sound, afraid of disturbing her.  

At the same time, they widened their eyes in curiosity, watching to see what Her Majesty intended to do with that crude piece of charcoal.  

Nie Long adjusted her grip on the charcoal, testing its feel. Though it couldn’t compare to modern specialized drawing tools, it had its own unique charm.  

As a teacher in an understaffed ordinary kindergarten, Nie Long had picked up many skills—though most were not mastered to perfection.  

She often had to teach the children drawing, singing, and playing instruments—these were essential skills for her. Occasionally, she even used some uncommon tricks to coax the children into behaving better.  

Now, seized by inspiration, the charcoal in her hand seemed to come alive. With delicate strokes, she sketched the garden’s beauty onto the pale yellow paper, bit by bit. The gray-black lines gradually brought the scenery to life, even capturing the two waiting maids, Chun Feng and Xia Yang, in the drawing.  

The two palace maids exchanged wide-eyed glances. They had actually been drawn into Her Majesty’s painting with a technique they had never seen before—so vivid it was as if they were truly there!  

After about half an hour, Nie Long refined the details and prepared to finish. Just as Chun Feng and Xia Yang covered their mouths to bow, someone waved a hand, signaling them to stay silent.  

Completely absorbed in her work, Nie Long didn’t notice the two maids quietly withdrawing.  

A while later, as she put the final touches on her landscape sketch, she suddenly felt someone embrace her from behind, resting their chin on her shoulder. A low chuckle sounded in her ear. “I had no idea my treasure was such a skilled artist.”  

“Your Majesty flatters me. It’s just child’s play, hardly worthy of refined appreciation.”  

Nie Long wanted to pull away from the embrace, but then she caught sight of another figure out of the corner of her eye. She blinked in surprise and looked up to see her elder brother standing nearby, deliberately ignoring them while focusing on her painting.  

After a long pause, he sighed meaningfully. “You used to draw like this when you were little, but it’s been years since I last saw you pick up a brush. I never thought I’d witness it again today.”  

Nie Long’s sketch was done in a style unheard of in this era, where ink wash paintings dominated. The distinctiveness of her technique made her curious—had the original owner of this body also drawn like this?  

Unfortunately, no matter how hard she searched her memories, she couldn’t recall such a time. Perhaps the original owner had been too young to remember.  

After his sigh, Nie Jue fell silent, standing quietly to the side. Only then did Chu Ji remember his brother-in-law’s presence and straighten his posture slightly, allowing Nie Long to step back and stand properly. She turned to her brother.  

“Elder Brother, did I really draw like this when I was little?”

Nie Jue nodded faintly and said, “Yes, on one of Eldest Brother’s birthdays, Bao’er gave him a painting as a gift.”

Chu Ji immediately felt a pang of jealousy. In this life and the last, he had never received a gift from Bao’er. Why should this brother-in-law get to enjoy such a privilege alone??

He reached out and took Nie Long’s hand, pulling her to his side. “Eldest Brother should return to his room and rest first. This emperor and Bao’er will stroll around a bit longer.”

The term “Eldest Brother” startled Nie Long, but when she saw her brother’s calm and composed demeanor, she couldn’t help but admire him. The gentle and scholarly man had a serene expression, his eyes clear and bright. He glanced at Nie Long and said, “Bao’er, could you give this painting to Eldest Brother?”

Nie Long nodded repeatedly. “If Eldest Brother likes it, please take it.”

Nie Jue extended his hand to collect the painting, but Chu Ji suddenly appeared from the side, swiftly rolling up the scroll and holding it in his grasp. He seemed to glare at Nie Jue before turning to Nie Long with a hint of flattery. “Since Eldest Brother already has one, why not give this one to this emperor? What do you think, Bao’er?”

Nie Long: …

Author’s Note: Chu Ji: When night falls and the wind howls, this emperor will send someone to sneak into Eldest Brother’s study and steal that painting!