Seeing the current situation, Ji Yuan felt that the matter between Yin Qing and Princess Changping was basically settled. Fortunately, the two of them did not seem to have any resistance to each other, and Princess Changping even seemed to admire Yin Qing a little.
It's just that Yin Qing is already over 30 years old, and although Princess Changping is considered older among the princes and princesses, she is only 18 years old. Yin Qing is definitely an old cow eating young grass.
After the meal, both the host and the guests enjoyed themselves, but this was the right time to press on. Emperor Hongwu used the excuse that he was in a good mood and wanted to stay in Yin's mansion to chat more. The people in Yin's mansion naturally cooperated. What did they cooperate with? Of course, they wanted to send Yin Qing and Princess Changping away so that they could have more time alone.
Yin Qing and Princess Changping were not very resistant. In this case, the latter suggested whether Yin Qing could directly paint her portrait. After getting Yin Qing's consent, the two of them went to Yin Qing's study with two maids.
The living room was extremely warm and comfortable because of the stove. There was a small low table on the plush couch with a chessboard on it. Emperor Hongwu and Yin Zhaoxian sat on both sides playing chess.
Concubine De and Yin's mother were sitting on a couch on the other side and chatting. They were talking about Yin Qing and Princess Changping with a smile on their faces. They had already started discussing the preparations for the wedding and what color of fabric to use for clothes when the baby was born. It was obvious that their thoughts were much faster than their actual progress.
Ji Yuan did not leave after finishing his meal, but sat politely for a while before saying goodbye and leaving the living room with Yin Zhong, who was also bored.
When they got outside, Ji Yuan took Yin Chong and turned into the corridor, heading towards the garden and the guest house. The guards outside just glanced at Ji Yuan and left him alone, after all, this man was obviously a scholar who was not even capable of tying a chicken.
Once Yin Zhong got outside, he had nothing to worry about, and he asked Ji Yuan before he had gone far.
"Mr. Ji, do you think my brother is really going to get married this time? I'm going to be his uncle? Princess Changping is pretty, but I don't believe my brother can control himself. After all, food and sex are human nature!"
Ji Yuan almost tapped Yin Zhong’s forehead again.
"You little guy, you have learned a lot of crooked knowledge. Qing'er was much more obedient than you when she was young."
"I'm not as good as you, Mr. Ji. You don't know that even though you look like a scholar, you are quite strong. You haven't told me yet, can you do it this time?"
Yin Zhong was very interested in whether Yin Qing could get married, or rather, in his future nephew. He seemed to think that when his nephew grew up, they could play together at home. But he didn't realize that when his nephew grew up and could run and play, he, Yin Zhong, would be almost past the age where he could play naughtily.
He answered with a smile on his face as he walked and looked at the stars and the moon in the sky outside the corridor.
"It's not as fast as you think, but this time, the marriage between Yin Qing and the princess is probably almost certain. After all, the emperor and your family want to make it happen, and Yin Qing and Princess Changping have no objection."
Yin Zhong was very happy to hear this. Since Mr. Ji said so, then the matter was basically settled.
"Mr. Ji, can we see what my brother and the princess are doing?"
Ji Yuan looked at him.
"What else can I do? Just draw. Didn't you hear them when they left just now?"
"I know, I know. I just want to see how they draw. Mr. Ji, can you use some magic so that we can see them without being discovered by my brother?"
"You have a lot of crooked ideas, I hope you can use them in military strategy in the future!"
Ji Yuan said something irrelevant to the question, and then answered again.
"Your brother is a man of great talent, and there are few things that can deceive or conceal him. Don't try to do anything crooked in front of him!"
Yin Zhong had a bitter face.
"He has experienced this countless times since he was a child. How can he see through you when you are here?"
"Haha, I'm not interested!"
Ji Yuan smiled and answered without saying anything else. Instead, he quickened his pace and walked towards the guesthouse. Yin Zhong had no choice but to follow him.
…
In Yin Qing's study, he had already prepared the four treasures of the study. There were several inkstones alone, with not only inks of different colors, but also vermilion, stone yellow and other colors.
Princess Changping looked at Yin Qing with curiosity as he prepared these things, and spread a roll of blank rice paper on the desk.
"Minister Yin, what should I do? Should I just stand there and wait for you to finish painting?"
Yin Qing, who was using paperweights to press the corners of the paper, looked up at Princess Changping and met her bright eyes.
"No, it's so tiring to stand all the time. You and the maid can go to the soft couch to rest, or play chess or leaf game (similar to an ancient card game) together."
"Is this okay? I heard that it's not good to move too much when drawing a portrait."
Yin Qing rolled up his sleeves, took a thin brush and dipped it in ink to test the color on some paper beside him, while answering confidently.
"Yin's painting is slightly different from that of ordinary people. Your Highness, please be casual. And Yin doesn't want to paint just a dull portrait, but to include every smile and frown of Your Highness. So the more natural Your Highness looks, the better!"
Princess Changping's eyes widened slightly, and then she smiled and said to Yin Qing.
"Minister Yin, just call me Yang Ping. Yes, I will also call you Yin Qing from now on."
After saying this, Princess Changping called her maid and they sat down on the soft couch facing the desk. They took out the chess and cards and other items from the study, and started playing to kill time with the snacks and tea that had been prepared long ago. However, Yang Ping and the maid would check on Yin Qing from time to time to see if he had started painting.
Yin Qing just stood in front of the desk and looked at the opposite side for a long time. When he was calm and relaxed, he began to paint. He observed the people with his eyes and captured their images in his heart. Every stroke was extremely smooth.
On the soft couch over there, a maid was secretly observing Yin Qing while playing leaf games, and couldn't help but said to Yang Ping.
"Your Highness, Minister Yin is painting so seriously!"
"Well, play your cards now!"
Princess Changping urged the maid to play cards, and she also looked at Yin Qing out of the corner of her eyes. He would look at this side for a while, and then he would sit at the desk and paint for a long time, not just looking at it and painting a stroke.
'I don't know how the painting is going...'
Just as she was thinking this, she happened to meet Yin Qing's gaze. Yang Ping panicked and quickly looked away and continued playing with leaves.
On the beam inside the house, a paper crane was staring at the situation below, looking at Yin Qing and then at Princess Changping. Sometimes it focused on Yin Qing's paintings, and sometimes it would also look at the leaf game played by Princess Changping and her maids with great attention.
And behind the little paper crane, there is a ball of fiery red fluff, not a curled-up fiery red fox.
Hu Yun also sat on the beam, looking down, and occasionally sniffed the air.
"Your little paper crane is amazing, this position is absolutely amazing!"
Hu Yun's voice was barely audible. Upon hearing this, the little paper crane tilted its head to look at Hu Yun, then turned around and stared intently at the ground below.
Not long after, Hu Yun's fox face opened wide, even revealing his fangs, but he did not look scary. Instead, he looked a little vulgar at some point.
"Hehehe, this princess is emotional. This is the first time they have met. She is worthy of being Yin Qing. She is so fast!"
The little paper crane tilted its head to look at Hu Yun again, and this time it didn't turn back for a long time, which made Hu Yun a little puzzled. After a while, he suddenly reacted and answered in a very low voice but obviously with a smile on his face.
"Of course I smelled it out. You are a paper crane and can't tell the difference between male and female. You don't understand!"
After hearing this, the little paper crane turned its head again, this time staring at Princess Changping Yang Hao.
About another hour and a half passed, and Emperor Hongwu was finally ready to return to the palace. However, when he sent someone to notify Princess Changping, Yin Qing's painting was far from finished. This made Yang Ping a little anxious, as she didn't want the painting to be affected.
However, Yin Qing was very good at comforting people, and spoke to her with confidence and a smile.
"Princess, please rest assured and return to the palace. Every frown and smile of yours is in my heart, and I will definitely not let the painting have any flaws!"
This smile successfully alleviated Yang Ping's anxiety and also expanded the feelings in her heart that she herself was not even aware of.
"Then, I will wait for your good news in the palace. By the way, call me Yang Ping!"
After saying this, Princess Changping left with her maid, and Yin Qing naturally had to accompany them.
…
The carriage carrying Emperor Hongwu back to the palace had already left Yin's mansion. The guards outside were trotting in the cold wind, and there were charcoal stoves, hot tea and snacks in the two carriages.
In the second carriage, Princess Changping and Concubine De snuggled together, and the mother and daughter were whispering to each other.
"Ping'er, tell me honestly, what do you think of Minister Yin?"
Princess Changping was a little afraid to look at Concubine De. She fiddled with the tea and snacks, thinking about the painting in her heart. She didn't know how Yin Qing was painting it. The words "Every frown and smile is in my heart" was also recalled, and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.
No one knows a daughter better than her mother. Seeing this scene, Concubine De was delighted.
"So, our Ping'er is interested?"
"Mother, what are you talking about? I don't have any..."
…
At the same time, in the guest house of the Yin Mansion, Yin Chong had already been sent back to sleep by Ji Yuan. Now, there were only Ji Yuan, the little paper crane, Hu Yun, and a group of little characters who were allowed to "get some fresh air" after being warned.
Unlike previous situations, there was no noise in the room at all, and everyone was listening to Hu Yun talking.
When Hu Yun had almost finished speaking, even Ji Yuan looked puzzled.
"Qing'er is such a powerful kid!"
"Yeah, I didn't expect that!"
Hu Yun waved his paw excitedly, and then spoke very seriously.
"I have to learn this, too. This skill will come in handy sooner or later!"
Ji Yuan smiled and rarely agreed with this.
"That's right. If he writes a book about this, it might spread faster than Master Yin's article!"
"Hey, Mr. Ji, do you want to learn too?"
"What nonsense you are talking about!"
Ji Yuan waved his sleeves and swept Hu Yun like a ball to the door of the guest house. The door opened at the same time and he rolled out.
A group of little characters immediately flew to the door and laughed at Hu Yun.
"Asshole, Hu Yun is an asshole!"
"Hahaha, you deserve it!" "Asshole, how dare you make up stories about me!"
"Damn fox Xiao Hu Yun!" "Rolling like a ball!"
"Ha ha ha ha… "
Just as Hu Yun was about to curse back, the door slammed shut and Ji Yuan's voice could be heard from a distance.
"Go back to your room and sleep."