CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 70: YUN JIAO’S MARVELOUS ADVENTURE

In the pavilion, the canvas was slowly unfolded.

Yun Jiao observed the surrounding scenery and was about to start painting when Concubine Wei stopped her: "That’s not how you hold a brush. Didn’t your teacher tell you?"

"She did, didn’t tell me much."

Concubine Wei paused: "The paper, brush, mind, and your hand must be coordinated. Your wrist and elbow should be suspended, which makes painting easier and helps you leverage the force of your whole body."

Concubine Wei picked up a brush without ink to demonstrate the correct way to hold it.

The brush was held steadily in her hand, casually yet elegantly.

Yun Jiao remarked: "I have a question for you, Lady."

"Go ahead, Consort Xi."

"Why do we need to use our whole body’s strength to paint? I find the most tiring part is keeping my elbow suspended."

She needed a digital drawing tablet.

Concubine Wei gave her a mysterious answer: "Because painting is an effortful yet leisurely task."

Yun Jiao thought for five seconds, decided to give up thinking.

She pondered for a moment and then began to paint, also keeping the option to undo strokes easily.

The three concubines beside her watched her paint and soon felt uncomfortable, among them, Concubine Wei was the most unsettled and couldn’t help but ask: "Why are you repeatedly drawing over the same spot?"

"I feel I didn’t paint this part right, so I’ll add a few more strokes."

Indeed, pond scenes posed quite a challenge for Yun Jiao.

When the female teacher came to give lessons, she taught Yun Jiao only a few popular painting techniques, which she copied directly; to finish a painting independently, she had to rely on her limited personal skills.

The result of relying solely on herself even made Consort Xu furrow her brows, able to crush mosquitoes.

But her rank was low, so she didn’t dare speak.

Concubine Feng was bolder: "In this case, if the Emperor’s Jade Seal isn’t there, it’s normal for Concubine Jiang to be angry when receiving the painting."

Concubine Wei: "It’s Concubine Jiang who likes to show off."

"You don’t like it? What if you were her."

"If I were her? On her birthday, I wouldn’t invite Consort Xi; first, we don’t interact much; second, she can’t gift anything worthy."

"Look at what you’re saying. Didn’t Consort Xi gift a painting with the Emperor’s Jade Seal?"

Recalling the painting stamped with the Emperor’s seal, Concubine Wei’s expression twisted slightly.

While the two chatted, Yun Jiao’s painting had begun to take shape: "Please take a look, Concubine Wei."

Concubine Wei examined it for a good while, confirming it was a new canvas before the Emperor could stamp it, then said: "Not acceptable."

Yun Jiao pouted, feeling a bit wronged.

Seeing this, Concubine Feng offered comfort: "Concubine Wei is skilled in paintings and prides herself on painting, so naturally, she’s strict with you, Consort Xi, don’t take it to heart."

"From your painting, I sense you dislike painting. You started begrudgingly, how can you create a good work? You might as well ask the Emperor to exempt you from this."

Concubine Wei, sharp-tongued, had keen insights this time.

Consort Xi didn’t like the common painting subjects; having only learned such styles, she lost interest in creation: "If exemption is not possible, then think of what you’d like to paint. Your basics are adequate; the important thing is what you want to express."

Concubine Feng frequently glanced at her, surprised that something wise came from Concubine Wei.

A palace maid brought her a new sheet of paper. Yun Jiao picked up her brush again, seemingly attempting a figure painting, and painted quickly, completing it in one go—she painted a small pavilion, due to not observing the pavilion’s details earlier, she chose the typical structure, inside were four ladies with varied expressions, one frowning with disdain, one eyeing sideways, one being cautious, while the little girl with a floral bun surrounded by the three clutched her head, distressed over her painting, visibly emitting black smoke from her head.

"Haha, Consort Xi painted us!"

Concubine Feng couldn’t help but laugh.

In this era, paintings featured moderate deformation, but the Q-style artistic expression hadn’t emerged yet, so Consort Xu couldn’t accept: "Consort Xi made our heads too big! Such big heads on small bodies, how can they be supported?"

Unexpectedly, Concubine Wei found it nice.

"Concubine Wei actually likes this painting???"

"It’s much better than her previous conventional ones, even if the strokes are immature, it carries Consort Xi’s thoughts, besides the deformation is distinctive."

It’s unimaginable, hearing praise from Concubine Wei.

Though skeptical, they glanced at Consort Xi, her smile wide to her ears, clearly believed fully.

Yun Jiao continued on this trend, painting some Q-style cuisines she liked.

Consort Xu held bias against her, couldn’t help but sarcastically comment: "Painting requires dedication and time; Consort Xi’s unique style is indeed efficient, like her person in painting, could it be true in other aspects too?"

"Yes,"

Yun Jiao surprisingly agreed with her: "The feeling of exerting little effort for ample silver allowance, I absolutely love."

Consort Xu’s eyes widened like bronze bells, realizing Yun Jiao truly didn’t catch her underlying sarcasm, seeing shortcuts not as shameful but pride-worthy.

Concubine Feng chirped, covering her mouth with a smile: "She entered the palace merely as a Servant Consort, now her rank equals yours, dear sister with a title... Is she not like her painting? In less than a year, she’s walked a path others take three years to complete."

True to her habit of mingling with Concubine Wei, this remark almost physically struck Consort Xu, yet she didn’t flare up, just changed her expression repeatedly.

Princess Ruyi, not far off, was enjoying butterfly chasing with palace maids, Yun Jiao painted her as well.

...

For several consecutive days, Yun Jiao indulged herself, depicting her observations using her favored Q-style.

Needing new materials required going out, so concubines not obliged to greet noticed Consort Xi’s increased outside presence!

Some tested her temperament and tried speaking rudely; others seized the chance with no one around to ingratiate themselves with her.

Yun Jiao didn’t mind those being harsh, acknowledged their flattery yet didn’t take it to heart, noted it all down, and painted a comic book starring herself.

The comic title was already decided, "Yun Jiao’s Marvelous Adventure"

Upon completion, Yun Jiao presented her work to Concubine Wei for review.

Since Concubine Wei learned to hold a brush, she hadn’t stopped painting, thus had a different view on Consort Xi’s work—this person, if followed standard practices, results in crude sands, with no major short-term improvement, but taking a path less trodden, it possessed unique beauty and vitality.

However!

After reviewing her comic, Concubine Wei’s hand trembled.

This...

Aside from daily leisure, Consort Xi included everyone who offended or pleased her, with detailed event processes, every face’s expressions not only clear but artistically exaggerated.

Marvelous Adventure? Clearly a living Yan King’s ledger!

Should this be submitted to the Emperor?

Yet Princess Ruyi loved it, clinging to it after reading.

"Since little Ruyi finds it good, then surely it’s not bad."

Gently pinching her daughter’s cheek, after pondering for a moment, Concubine Wei decided to present Consort Xi’s painting at Qiankun Palace.