Chapter 7: Damn! How is it this good-looking!

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Luodu, outside the palace.

"Hahaha, the art of disguise is truly excellent. Now, even if I were to run right in front of Ouyang Yu, that old fellow would certainly not recognize me."

Li Chen strode brazenly down the street.

He had to admit that the Great Zhou was indeed prosperous; almost every commoner he saw wore a face full of happiness.

After searching for a while, Li Chen couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

Sigh... in such a massive capital city, there isn't even a red-light district?

No! I'll find someone to open one as soon as I get back. If there isn't even an industry like that, how am I supposed to ruin the nation's fortune?

"Hurry, hurry! It's about to start!"

Several commoners were seen rushing in a particular direction.

Curious, Li Chen followed behind them...

Jingshui Pavilion.

It sounded familiar; it seemed to be a gathering place for intellectuals...

Why are there so many people?

Thinking of what he had seen on television—groups of scholars and literati discussing the past and present...

Could they be talking about major state affairs?

Then I must listen quickly; what excellent material for ruining the nation's fortune...

Li Chen walked straight in and spent some money to find a casual seat.

He ended up a bit disappointed.

These people weren't talking about state affairs at all; they were holding some sort of annual "Ink and Wash Elegant Gathering."

It was just a painting competition. Was it really worth such grandiosity?

There were even scholars from other countries participating.

It felt meaningless, and not wanting to waste his time here, Li Chen stood up, ready to leave...

But just then...

"Coming up next is... Yue Yao."

As the host finished speaking, Li Chen glanced over.

He saw a woman dressed in white silk and a plain skirt walking slowly toward the stage.

Li Chen was stunned on the spot.

Damn! Damn!! Damn!!!

How could there be such a beautiful girl!?

Even in the Great Zhou, a land of beauties, the women around were involuntarily marveling at her appearance.

If I could get her into my harem, I’d be willing to live a few years less just for that!!

...

While Li Chen was in a daze, the woman competing against Yue Yao walked onto the stage.

Her name was Li Shuyi.

Though not exactly beautiful, she possessed a very refined and scholarly air.

After they bowed to each other, they began to unveil the paintings they had just created.

The crowd was astonished.

"Wow, is this painting really that good?"

"I’ve attended these gatherings for many years, but I’ve never seen someone from another country produce a painting so miraculously divine."

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The painting Yue Yao created was a landscape.

It was vivid and lifelike.

Although Li Chen didn't understand art, he couldn't help but marvel at it.

This brushwork... this craftsmanship—if I could recruit her into the palace to illustrate "The Golden Lotus," it would be perfect!

Next came Li Shuyi.

What she had painted was...

Damn!

This... isn't this my... Empress Mother!

It looked so much like her; it was exactly the same as the portrait in the palace.

Could it be... that she knew my mother?

Impossible. At her age, my mother would have died when she was barely weaned.

Then who exactly is she...

While Li Chen was pondering this,

Thump!

The crowd around him suddenly knelt in unison, shouting,

"Long live the late Emperor! Long live! Long live! Long, long live!"

Li Chen was startled.

Regardless of Li Shuyi's technique, the sheer "buff" effect of the painting itself was absolutely maxed out!

At this moment, the judges gave their verdict.

"...Miss Yue's landscape painting is the best work I have seen in recent years..."

"As for Miss Li's portrait of the Empress, it is brilliant, truly brilliant. It almost perfectly captures the spirit of the late Emperor... Even the portrait I painted for the late Emperor myself pales in comparison to what Miss Li has created today..."

"Therefore, in my professional assessment, the first prize must go to Miss Li!"

It sounded like the old gentleman was being quite fair.

Li Chen looked around.

Even the people in the audience mostly felt that Li Shuyi's portrait of the Empress was better.

Just as the judge was about to finalize the decision,

"Wait!"

Yue Yao’s sudden interruption broke the noise in the hall.

"Master Wu, Miss Li's painting is indeed outstanding, I do not deny that."

"However, was it not stipulated before the competition that no pigments were allowed? If so, may I ask, is the Empress's vermilion lip color not a violation?"

The crowd was in an uproar.

They had been too busy admiring the painting.

The people at the scene suddenly remembered that such a rule existed.

They also just noticed the vivid crimson lips on the Empress portrait.

Master Wu slapped his forehead.

"Oh my, I have been muddled. How could I have missed such an obvious detail? Miss Li... this..."

The hall was filled with constant clamor, and voices of doubt were everywhere.

But Li Shuyi, standing on the stage, did not seem the least bit panicked.

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Not only that, she even smiled and walked calmly over to face Yue Yao.

"Miss Yue is likely mistaken. While the lips are indeed red, I did not use pigments. I used... my own blood!"

As she spoke, Li Shuyi held up her finger.

After a few seconds of silence, the crowd gasped in amazement.

"Marvelous! Truly, truly marvelous!"

"Using blood as pigment—how did I not think of that? Brilliant!"

...

Hearing the crowd's praise, Yue Yao's maid became anxious.

"If that is the case, it should have been stated beforehand. If not for this red touch, hmph, I fear Miss Li's painting would have lacked a bit of its spirit, wouldn't it?"

Her words were harsh but made sense; the maid had a point.

The crowd began to argue.

"It was just a touch of red; is it really that big of a deal? Besides, she didn't use pigments; she used her own blood!"

"What are you saying? She clearly just can't handle losing. If she had real skill, would she care about a bit of color?"

"Nonsense! Rules are rules. Even if she used blood as pigment, is it not still a violation?"

...

Li Shuyi smiled.

She raised a hand to stop the discussion.

"Everyone, please don't argue. This young lady is right; this method was indeed a bit of a shortcut."

"Sigh... actually, you can blame me. I truly love this painting. If I hadn't added that touch of crimson, haha, I fear I wouldn't have been able to sleep tonight."

Saying this, she walked up to Master Wu.

"Master Wu, please, I must trouble you to change your mind and award the first prize to Miss Yue."

As Li Shuyi finished speaking,

Many people in the crowd immediately gave her a thumbs-up.

"It seems Miss Li is the true art lover here. She risked violating the rules just to make her work brilliant. Admirable, truly admirable!"

"She is truly worthy of being the daughter of the Prince of Dai. Look at that demeanor, that magnanimity! In contrast, this Miss Yue is being a bit too petty."

"The Prince of Dai? Whoa! I didn't even know that—she's so low-key! That explains it. Which child from a Prince's household isn't outstanding?"

"Hey, no wonder Miss Li is so sensible and cultured. So that's why."

...

At this moment, Li Chen rested his chin in his hand, looking deep in thought.

The Prince of Dai?

My aunt!?

If you ask me, Li Shuyi didn't even need to paint the late Emperor; she should have just painted the Prince of Dai.

I’ve even thought of a title for her:

"My Mother, the Prince!"

But then again, this situation is not a good thing at all!

If even the descendants of the Li family are this outstanding, how am I supposed to be a foolish monarch!?

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