A Mistaken Marriage Match: Mysteries in the Imperial Harem

Chapter 45: To Hunt

The curtain of the night has fallen and Fu Ling was still helplessly watching attentively at the painter who was concentrating in the study room. Ever since returning from Yi Yan Palace, Mistress started to paint. Initially she thought that it was a moment of interest but she did not think that this would last for more than three shichen (1 shichen = 2 hours). She did not even take her dinner and just casually drank two mouthful of soup.

Sweeping an eye on the drawing paper, it seems that the painting would soon be completed. Fu Ling was just about to instruct Ru Yi to prepare some food when she saw a tall figure striding into Qing Feng Hall. The people in the courtyard quickly knelt down to greet, "Long live the Emperor."

This was the second time the Emperor came without letting the eunuch announce his arrival. Fu Ling recovered herself and came forward to greet but Yan Hong Tian had already entered the room and waved his hands at her before saying softly, "Withdraw."

Fu Ling looked into the study room at Mistress who seems to be unaware of it and then look at the Emperor's expression before peacefully withdrawing.

The study room was brightly lit with candles, thus it was not difficult to see an elegant figure standing by the table near the curtains. Yan Hong Tian's sharp brows slightly knitted as he walked in.

On the large study table, there were five to six different sized brushes lined up, two black jade pen wash (brush wash?) and a che (1 che = 1 yardstick)dark blue in-stone placed in the centre. The paper covered more than half the table and Qing Feng was standing behind the table and holding a wolf hair brush, with efforless strokes and intense concentration. He only saw Qing Feng's paintings but did not see her painting. The battle energy was not small and in when she place the brush and spread the ink on the paper, it was like the she dominated everything under her brush. As Yan Hong Tian watched on he became entranced and an interesting look crossed his eyes.

Perhaps in order to facilitate her painting, she was only wearing a narrow sleeved long dress. Under the light and thin clothes, it made her abdomen conspicuous which made Yan Hong Tian frown again, "You are not feeling well and is still painting?" The voice was soft and deep but there was an evident displeasure.

Qing Feng was painting smoothly today and her mood was also quite good. Without even looking up, she smiled, "I was not unwell. It was just that the Empress was particularly interested with me recently and the Empress Dowager would be back after these two days. In order not to deal with them, I planned to feign unwell."

Yan Hong Tian did not think that she would have said that and laughed, "You are indeed frank."

Dipping the brush with ink and quickly washing the brush with water, Qing Feng was usually very casual with her painting and always used clear water with dripping ink. During her drawing she still looked at Yan Hong Tian with some innocence and some craftiness before replying, "Isn't lying to you means committing the offence of lying to a monarch?"

It was rare that Qing Feng would be so relaxed and poke fun at him so Yan Hong Tian also did not bother about it. Yan Hong Tian held her and asked by her ears softly, "Did Jing-er hurt you?"

He indeed knew about it! Then why did he not discipline? Qing Feng kept quiet and changed to a smaller brush before she dipped it into the ink and scoffed, "With his standards?"

Hearing that that guy actually used a sword to point at her, it was no wonder Qing Feng was angry. It seems that all her pricks were standing up and Yan Hong Tian laughed out loud, "Zhen almost forgot that you have claws." Ever since Qing Ling fell into the water, her claws seems to be moderated by a lot.

To such obvious mocking, Qing Feng just shrugged and pretended not to hear anything. Seeing her so focused on painting, Yan Hong Tian was curious to what she was painting. He lowered his head and it was a painting of... A hunt?