Chapter 35 The Coming-of-age Ceremony, Part 2


    It was Prince Jing who had spoken.


    "Good idea." The Emperor nodded. "Shang''er, please paint another one now."


    Before Yun Shang could answer, Li Luo spoke up. "Your Highness, are you afraid? Fake is fake, don''t


    you agree?"


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    Yun Shang didn''t answer. Instead she smiled and looked at her father. "I''m innocent, but there are


    always troublemakers." Then she turned to the annoying man. "Let''s make a bet! If I win, you must do


    me a favor, and if I lose, I will do you a favor. Do you agree?"


    "Okay, but I don''t believe you can paint so well." tittered Li Luo.


    On hearing the bet, other guests also chimed in. "Li Luo will win!"


    "Please make a note." Yun Shan instructed Lord Zheng.


    The excitement around the bet increased and a number of other guests joined in as well. However,


    they all seemed to be supporting Li Luo. When the game was about to start, a cold voice could be


    heard above everyone else''s. "I wager the Princess will win, " said Prince Jing.


    In the guests'' hubbub, Yun Shang took the parchment from Zheng and handed it to her father. "I


    humbly request you to be the judge."


    "Agreed!" The Emperor readily consented and sat back.


    A servant quickly brought pen, ink, paper, and an ink stone. Yun Shang took the pen and smiled.


    "Besides lotus, I also like iris, which is said to be in theherworld. I''m going to draw irises today."


    As she began to draw, all eyes were fixed on Yun Shang. She drew with great decisiveness and skill.


    Pretty soon, the painting was done. A servant took the paper and showed it to everyone.


    With a smile, the Emperor spoke to a white-bearded minister who had not yet spoken. "As the most


    knowledgeable minister, you are aplished in painting and calligraphy. Do you think the lotus and


    the irises were painted by the same person?"


    "Your Majesty, I''ll check both paintings now, " answered the minister hastily. Then he came forward and


    made a carefulparison.


    After a long time, he turned back to the Emperor. "Your Majesty, due to haste, the iriscks detail, but


    its style is consistent with the other painting. Moreover, both paintings sharemon features, that is,


    the brushwork is heavy and random, thus implying that they were done by the same person."


    "How could it be?" Li Luo looked pale. He stood and walked to the paintings. He stared at them for a


    long time, frowning and unwilling to ept that he had lost. Then he walked away without looking back.


    How could he be so arrogant?


    Yun Shang nced at her father and found that he looked displeased. She lowered her eyes and


    smiled. ''Those who are arrogant will not live long, '' she thought.


    "Although I won this bet, you don''t owe me anything, " Yun Shang said to her guests. Then she


    continued. "Please do remember that you still owe Prince Jing." Then she turned to the Empress and


    said, "Your Majesty, may we call the dancers and watch a performance?" She smiled humbly. After this


    victory, no one would look down upon her.


    "Aye." The Empress nced at the Princess before pping her hands. The dancers heard their cue


    and returned to the stage.


    Yun Shang walked back her seat. Just as she sat down, her sister Hua Jing spoke. "I''m surprised you


    can draw."


    Yun Shang turned to her and chuckled. "Just for fun. Master Wu Na always said that my paintings have


    no charm. As Prince Jing proposed and my fathermanded, I had no choice but to draw."


    "Yes, you had no choice, " mumbled Hua Jing. Hate shed in her eyes. And Yun Shang noticed it.


    When the dance was over, the performers bowed and left. Just then, a voice could be heard. "Today


    witnesses the Coming-of-age Ceremony of Your Highness. May I y a tune for you?"


    Yun Shang recognized the voice. Her hands trembled and her heart ached.


    This was destiny''s cruel joke. In herst life as well, she had fallen in love with the same man after he


    had yed for her. This time, she thought everything had changed. And yet, there he stood asking to


    y for her.


    All eyes were on her again. Before she could answer, Hua Jing responded. "How lucky you are! He is


    the most outstanding noble man in the Imperial City, and he made a good choice. Don''t turn him down."


    "Thank you, "ughed Yun Shang. "I have heard of you from my sister. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir.


    Please."


    Mo Jingran nodded and sat down. Looking straight at Yun Shang, he began to y, and sing. "The first


    time I met her, I wrote her name in my heart..."


    Yun Shang closed her eyes and recalled their story, right from acquaintance to marriage, and then to


    betrayal. She forced herself not to cry. As the music grew more affectionate, her hatred grew stronger.


    After the song finished, no one spoke. Neither did Yun Shang. After a while, she looked up and smiled.


    "Pleasant. But I''m sorry. I have no ear for music, so I cannot fully appreciate it."


    Hearing that, Mo Jingran stood up in defeat. The spark had left his eyes. Just as he turned to leave, a


    sachet fell out of his sleeve. He didn''t notice it. But the woman next to him did. She picked it up and


    called out, "Your sachet, sir."


    Mo Jingran paused and look back at the woman. "Oh..."


    The woman was about to give it back, but then she frowned. "Eh, the embroidery on this sachet is the


    same as the one we saw today!"


    Her remark caught everyone''s attention. They began murmuring. "Yes, it is Hunan embroidery. Both the


    stitch and needlework are amazing. I''m afraid that no one is capable of such work, except one


    person..."