Chapter 62: Very Expensive

No one stepped forward to recite another poem, plunging the atmosphere into an awkward silence.

With the exception of Zhao Mengyue, all the young lords and noble ladies of the various households could hardly lift their heads in embarrassment.

Feeling immensely pleased with herself, Zhao Mengyue stood up once again and said, "This humble maiden has devised a novel method of painting, and I wish to create a portrait for the Empress on the spot."

Because of her son's troubles, Empress Tuanmu was already in a foul mood.

Hearing these words now, she could not help but raise her gaze to look at the speaker.

To be honest, owing to the affair involving her son Murong Tian, she harbored resentment not only toward Tang Zhaozhao but also bore a grudge against the entire Tang family.

Yet, with the Emperor providing protection, she—despite being the Empress—did not dare to lightly stroke the dragon's whiskers.

Facing Zhao Mengyue's deliberate attempt to curry favor, the Empress curved her lips slightly and said, "Since that is the case, go ahead and paint. If the artwork is pleasing, this Palace will bestow generous rewards."

As Empress Tuanmu spoke, an ambiguous smile lingered in her eyes.

However, Zhao Mengyue failed to notice it.

She had originally intended to paint the Emperor, having studied sketching for a few years before crossing over into this world.

While fooling these ancients would certainly be a breeze, she had chosen to paint the Empress instead to play it safe.

Yet, Zhao Mengyue still overlooked one detail: her flattery toward the Empress had not escaped the notice of Consort Jing.

Consort Jing merely offered a cold smile without uttering a word.

Zhao Mengyue murmured a few instructions to a young eunuch beside her.

The eunuch glanced up toward the dais before turning away.

When he returned a moment later, he was accompanied by two other young eunuchs carrying a chair.

The crowd watched in curiosity.

Without offering any explanation, Zhao Mengyue accepted the items handed to her by her maidservant.

She proceeded to set up a wooden frame entirely on her own.

Unaware of what she was attempting, the guests broke into whispers and discussions.

"What on earth is she doing?" someone asked out of curiosity.

Another chimed in with a sarcastic tone, "Just putting on a mysterious front!"

Amused by her antics, someone remarked, "Are you feeling sour? Still, this Miss Zhao, regardless of her humble background, truly composed an extraordinary poem."

"Extraordinary? It is completely unprecedented!"

"Indeed. Compared to that Second Young Miss of the General's Estate, she is countless times better."

Hearing this, someone let out a dry chuckle.

"That woman only knows a few tricks of physical combat. A proper young lady should be versatile like Miss Zhao to truly win people's hearts."

"Ain't that the truth? Doesn't that other girl merely rely on the military power in her father's hands?"

"Give me twenty thousand heavily armored cavalry, and I could do it too!"

The person who made this remark was suddenly slapped on the back of the head.

"Have you grown tired of living? Are such reckless words meant to be spoken aloud?"

The man curled his lip in utter disdain.

True enough, Tang Wu commanded a hundred thousand troops, two thousand of whom were heavily armored cavalry—an invincible force on the battlefield that swept away all resistance.

Countless people envied him bitterly for it.

Tang Zhaozhao was skilled in martial arts, and her hearing was exceptionally sharp.

Despite the chaotic murmurs, she managed to catch quite a bit of it.

To her surprise, she had become the subject of the gossip.

A subtle flick of her fingers sent a piece of pastry flying straight off her chopsticks.

It struck squarely against the forehead of that babbling young lord.

Startled by the impact, the young lord let out an involuntary yelp.

This instantly quieted the somewhat rowdy grand hall.

Feeling the gaze of everyone fixed upon him, the young lord flushed with shame and annoyance.

Yet, he had no idea who had ambushed him.

On the dais, Consort Jing furrowed her brows and demanded, "What is the meaning of this commotion?"

The young lord had no choice but to bow helplessly and reply, "This junior lost his composure; I beg Consort Jing to forgive my transgression."

Consort Jing merely glanced at him without pursuing the matter further.

By this time, Zhao Mengyue had completed her preparations.

She laid out a sheet of paper, slightly thicker and stiffer than ordinary xuan paper, across a wooden board.

Raising her head, she addressed Empress Tuanmu on the dais, "Will the Empress please step down and take a seat here?"

Seeing the wooden chair indicated by Zhao Mengyue, Empress Tuanmu graciously stood up and descended at a leisurely pace.

Once she was seated,

Zhao Mengyue produced a specially customized charcoal pencil of her own making and began to sketch upon the paper.

Those sitting nearby craned their necks to catch a glimpse.

However, seeing nothing but a maze of messy lines, they quickly lost interest.

Someone muttered under their breath, "I think this Miss Zhao is merely making a needless fuss. She would have been better off reciting a few more poems."

Hearing this, Zhao Mengyue curled the corners of her lips.

In her heart, she scoffed at the ignorance of these people.

Once her drawing was finished, it would utterly blind these blind fools with brilliance.

Time ticked away second by second.

Growing bored with the wait yet lacking the courage to act out, the guests turned to chat among themselves.

Tang Wu had witnessed Tang Zhaozhao's earlier retaliation.

Deeply gratified, he noted how his daughter had immediately punished the man who dared to disparage their family over a few idle remarks.

Consequently, his gaze toward Tang Zhaozhao grew even more doting.

No matter how brilliant or outstanding other people's daughters might be, none could ever compare to his own rascal of a girl.

Taken aback by this sudden surge of paternal affection, Tang Zhaozhao tilted her head and asked, "Father, are your eyes bothering you? Shall I apply a couple of acupuncture needles for you?"

Tang Wu's face instantly darkened.

Beside them, Song Rongzhi tried and failed to suppress a laugh.

It was a warm and harmonious family scene.

Yet, as it fell into the eyes of Murong Qing sitting in a secluded corner,

He let out a helpless sigh.

*If you were still here,* he thought to himself, *surely this scene would be even warmer.*

He drained his cup of wine in a single gulp, stood up, and quietly slipped out of the grand hall.

Ever since he began suspecting that his fifth brother was hiding something, Third Prince Murong Si had formed a habit of keeping a watchful eye on his movements.

Seeing him leave, Murong Si also made to stand and follow.

However, he was intercepted by a eunuch beside him.

"Third Highness, the Consort has given strict instructions: you are not to go anywhere today."

Murong Si lifted his gaze toward Consort Jing on the high seat.

At that moment, Consort Jing was engaged in conversation with the Fourth Princess, Murong Lian, and failed to notice his stare.

*Not allowed to go anywhere?*

Murong Si let out a cold internal scoff.

*She merely wishes to use this occasion to stuff women into my estate and completely sever any chance of me gathering my own strength.*

A flash of gloom flickered deep within Murong Si's eyes.

*What a devoted mother I have!*

"Get lost! This Highness is merely going to offer a toast to General Tang. Will you block even that?"

With a cold internal sneer at the attempt to completely control him, Murong Si thought, *In your dreams!*

His reprimand carried a rather sharp tone, and feeling the surrounding gazes shift toward them, the young eunuch dared not block him any longer.

Murong Si rose and strode directly toward Tang Wu's table.

Sensing a shadow cast over her head, Tang Zhaozhao looked up to find Murong Si standing before her table, holding a cup of wine.

Ignoring her entirely, Murong Si raised his cup toward Tang Wu.

"General Tang has guarded the frontiers for our country through bitter hardship for many years. As an imperial prince, this Highness offers you this toast."

Tang Wu picked up his cup, stood, and replied respectfully, "You are too kind, Third Highness."

The two men drained their cups in unison.

Only then did Murong Si turn his gaze to Tang Zhaozhao and say, "Second Young Miss Tang, might I borrow a moment of your time to speak in private?"

Naturally, Tang Zhaozhao had no desire to entertain him.

Yet, with her father and mother seated right beside her, she could not afford to be overly abrupt.

Reluctantly, she rose and stepped aside with Murong Si.

Murong Si curved his lips into a smile and remarked, "Second Young Miss Tang is truly a worthy descendant of a military household; your combat skills are truly admirable to this Highness. I wonder if there might be a chance for some instruction and exchange of pointers."

His ordinary tone was loud enough to carry.

Hearing this, Consort Jing, who had been watching closely, instantly let go of her suspicions.

Tang Zhaozhao rolled her eyes.

"Third Highness, you had better not! I fear I might injure you."

Her voice was hardly hushed either.

It even drew sideways glances from the surrounding tables.

*This Second Young Miss Tang is truly untamed,* they thought, *speaking to an imperial prince with such utter lack of courtesy.*

Yet Emperor Kangjian, seated on the dais, merely burst into hearty laughter.

"A tiger father breeds no dogs! Princess Zhao'an takes after General Tang indeed!"

Tang Wu beamed with immense pride upon hearing this, completely ignoring the disdainful looks from others.

True enough, which noble lady in the capital was not a delicate flower who never soiled her hands with manual labor?

Which family's daughter acted quite like Tang Zhaozhao?

Lowering his voice so that only the two of them could hear, Murong Si murmured, "Do you have any medicine that can make someone appear genuinely ill—the kind even imperial physicians cannot detect?"

Tang Zhaozhao arched an eyebrow.

"It's very expensive."