Chapter 43: Don’t Tell Me You’ve Fallen for Lady Tang Too?

Both men had asked Tang Mi for her painting, and now all eyes turned to her, curious to see whom she would choose.

Ye Chenxuan stared at the painting with an intense desire to snatch it away without a second thought.
But he couldn’t, he couldn’t seize the painting, and even more so, he couldn’t seize the person.

Of course, Tang Mi couldn’t give the painting to Ye Junyu. But naturally, she couldn’t give it to Xiao Yihuan either.

Looking at the two men, Tang Mi offered an apologetic smile.
“Apologies. I painted this for someone special. I cannot give it to either of you.”

At her words, both men looked visibly disappointed.

Xiao Yihuan felt a touch of envy toward the person who had inspired the painting, while Ye Junyu was consumed with jealousy.
But he wasn’t even in a position to question who that person might be.

Just as everyone was wondering who Tang Mi had created the painting for, she suddenly turned and handed it to Xiao Lengyu.

“Princess, if you don’t mind, I’d like to give this painting to you.”

Xiao Lengyu was stunned for a moment. It took her a while to react, and when she did, she looked at Tang Mi in shock.
“You… painted this for me?”

Tang Mi’s eyes shimmered. “It’s for you, but also for myself.”

This painting truly was made for Xiao Lengyu.
But in a way, it also reflected Tang Mi’s own experiences.
She hoped Xiao Lengyu could walk out of sorrow and into the light and she also wished the same for herself: to be reborn.

“I hope you like it.” Tang Mi handed her the painting.

Xiao Lengyu quickly received it, her eyes welling with tears as she gazed at the phoenix reborn from fire depicted in the painting.

Light had eventually consumed all darkness.
But… would she live to see that light?

“Thank you. I really love this painting,” Xiao Lengyu said emotionally, eyes red.
Even if she never reached that moment of light, she was grateful for the blessing given to her in this one.

Tang Mi smiled gently. “Perhaps it won’t be long before you meet a divine doctor.”

Xiao Lengyu froze for a moment before smiling openly. “Then I’ll take your blessing to heart.”

She knew very well her illness was beyond cure.
Yet she still wished deeply, that she could be healed.
How desperately she longed to live like a normal person, to marry, have children, and live a normal life.

Seeing his sister like this moved Xiao Yihuan deeply.

His sister rarely showed such emotion.
Though she’d always been frail and sickly, she never showed it in front of them.
Even when she was gravely ill, she refused visitors.
She never wanted them to see her as weak, always putting on a strong front.
But he knew, deep down, she was fragile, so fragile that even if they held her in the palm of their hands, she remained as delicate as glass.

No one really understood what she wanted, what she needed.

But Lady Tang had given her such a painting.

A phoenix reborn through nirvana, perhaps this was what his sister had longed for the most.

He hoped that one day, the image from this painting could become a reality for her.

Xiao Yihuan looked at Tang Mi again, as if he had made a firm decision. His eyes grew determined.

Ye Junyu, too, hadn’t expected that the painting was meant for Xiao Lengyu.
He quietly let out a breath of relief.

As long as it wasn’t painted for another man, it was fine.
As long as her heart wasn’t taken, he still had a chance.

The other noble ladies didn’t understand Tang Mi’s decision.

With so many prominent men present, two princes, a young duke, a marquis’ heir, and sons of the Prime Minister and Minister of Rites, she could have given the painting to any one of them.
But she gave it to Xiao Lengyu?

Though Xiao Lengyu was a princess by title, she wasn’t a direct member of the royal family.
Besides, with that frail body of hers and rarely stepping outside, what was there to gain from flattering her?

That said, while Xiao Lengyu wasn’t a true royal, she did have close ties with both the Marquis of Yong’an and the Marquis of Chang’an.
And this poetry gathering was organized to find a bride for the Young Marquis.
Could it be that Tang Mi had taken a fancy to the Young Marquis and was using Xiao Lengyu to get close to him?

It wasn’t impossible.
After all, publicly giving gifts to a man could invite gossip, but giving one to Xiao Lengyu was a clever way to show affection without raising suspicion.

Still, Tang Mi was truly a strange one.
With her qualities, she could have aimed higher.

Not only was the Crown Prince of Fengze interested in her, but even Prince Yu had tried to win her over multiple times.
Even Prince Xuan seemed to have a special interest in her.
With so many better options, she had chosen the Young Marquis?

Compared to the others, he really seemed like the weakest choice.

Not only did the other noblewomen think this way, even Tang Ying suspected Tang Mi had fallen for Xiao Yihuan.

Part of her scoffed at Tang Mi’s lack of judgment, and part of her feared their grandmother might approve the match.

Tang Mi marrying into some other powerful noble family was not what Tang Ying wanted to see.

She wanted Tang Mi to enter Prince Yu’s household with her, so she could step over her and rise to power.

Ye Junyu gave Tang Ying a look, then quietly slipped away.

Before long, Tang Ying also found an excuse to follow.

Seeing her leave, Tang Mi narrowed her eyes slightly.

Once they were somewhere secluded, Tang Ying finally met with Ye Junyu.

“How’s the plan for Baima Temple coming along?” Ye Junyu asked as soon as they met.

Tang Ying quickly replied, “Rest assured, Your Highness. Everything has been arranged. Before the first of the month, I will find a way to bring Tang Mi to Baima Temple.”

Ye Junyu looked pleased.
“Good. I’ll head there tomorrow to wait. Don’t mess this up again.”

He was already impatient, he didn’t want to wait a moment longer.

“I won’t. I have it all planned. It will work this time,” Tang Ying promised hastily.

She was just as anxious as he was. She couldn’t wait any longer either.

Ye Junyu suddenly remembered something and added,
“If the Marquis of Yong’an proposes marriage to your family, you must ensure your grandmother refuses.”

The moment he mentioned the Old Madam of the Tang family, a cruel glint appeared in Ye Junyu’s eyes.

That damned old woman, if only she had agreed to let Tang Mi marry him, none of this would have been necessary.

“I understand,” Tang Ying said. Even without his reminder, she would have made sure of it.

After speaking, the two quickly parted.

Once they left, Hong Fei stepped out from the shadows.

With the poetry, painting, and games finished, the poetry gathering could be considered a success.

After saying goodbye to Xiao Lengyu and the others, Tang Mi took Tang Ying and Tang Ning back to the Tang residence by carriage.

Once they left, Ye Junyu and Ye Chenxuan also bid farewell to Xiao Yihuan and left.

With the two princes gone, the others followed suit.

Once the crowd had dispersed, Xiao Fengze sighed dramatically.
“I’m out of the running!”

Xiao Yihuan glanced at him but said nothing.

Seeing his reaction, Xiao Fengze’s eye twitched.
“Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for Lady Tang too?”

It was like he had hit a nerve, Xiao Yihuan immediately blushed.

“You’re out of the running too!” Xiao Fengze declared, pouring cold water on him.

Xiao Yihuan frowned. “Is it because of Prince Yu?”