The queen turned and entered the palace, saying, "Hide behind the screen. I will let you see clearly how amazing Chen Linglong's talent is."
The Queen sat down and just took a sip of tea when Nanny Yang brought Chen Linglong in.
From kneeling all the way, her forehead became swollen and started to bleed, and she was a little unsteady on her feet.
The queen glanced at Madam Linglong, called Nanny Yang over, whispered something in her ear, and Nanny Yang turned and left.
Prime Minister Xia went to pull Concubine Mei over. Concubine Mei was reluctant at first, but Prime Minister Xia said something to her, and Concubine Mei pondered for a moment and came.
But when they arrived at Jingning Palace, Nanny Yang was standing guard at the door and said, "Madam Mei, Prime Minister, please go to the west wing for tea first. Madam Mei has something to say to Madam."
Concubine Mei was startled. Jingning Palace was a place she often visited, and she knew that from the west wing she could see everything in the main hall through the pearl curtain.
What is the Queen up to
She exchanged a glance with Prime Minister Xia and followed Nanny Yang to the west wing.
There is actually a pearl curtain separating the West Wing and the Main Hall, but behind the pearl curtain there is a black brocade curtain, so people in the West Wing cannot be seen from the Main Hall.
After Nanny Yang took the two people in, she left. Concubine Mei hurriedly lifted the curtain and looked through the beaded curtain.
Everything in the main hall can be seen, and all the conversations can be heard.
The Queen personally helped Madam Linglong up and said with a smile, "Madam, I am taking the liberty of asking you to come here because I want to ask you a favor."
Madam Linglong was a little unsure of the Queen's attitude, but she didn't dare to offend her, so she said, "Just tell me what the Queen has to say."
The Queen waved her hand and had someone take out a scroll, which she slowly displayed in front of Madam Linglong.
Madam Linglong was stunned for a moment. She recognized this scroll. It was the one she gave to Prime Minister Xia in the past. Prime Minister Xia was attracted by this painting and they got together.
This is a landscape painting, not a sketch. It is all colored, and the tones are used very well. Moreover, this kind of tones cannot be produced in the painting studios in the palace today.
This paint is specially made.
Prime Minister Xia also saw this painting and recalled his past with Madam Linglong. The slight disgust that had arisen in his mind was washed away by the sweetness of the past. Even now, when he looks at this painting, he still feels shocked.
It goes without saying that the painting is well done, but the use of colors is truly perfect. When the painting is unfolded, one feels as if they are in it, with green mountains and green waters, birds flapping their wings about to fly, flowers blooming and falling, and vivid images. It was this painting that amazed him at first sight.
However, this painting has been hidden in the warehouse all this time, so how did it end up in the Queen’s hands
Prime Minister Xia naturally didn't know that this painting was stolen from the warehouse by Xia Wan'er and given to the prince. The prince didn't like calligraphy and painting, so he gave it to the queen. The queen ordered the scholars to authenticate the painting, which was confirmed to be the work of the talented woman Yuan.
"I heard that this painting was given to the Prime Minister by the Madam back then." The Queen's tone was not without admiration, "The painters in the palace are really not as good as this one."
Madam Linglong looked a little proud, "Your Majesty, you are too kind to praise me. This painting is just something I did casually. It can't be considered a masterpiece that will astound the world."
The Queen's eyes widened. "You can create such high-quality paintings casually. If you concentrate more, wouldn't it be even more amazing? Madam's talent is really incomparable to Yuan."
Madam Linglong lifted the hair that had fallen when she knelt down and smiled modestly, "Your Majesty, I am too kind to compare myself with Yuan Shi."
The queen smiled and said, "So, this painting is indeed from Madam's hand?"
Madam Linglong said without hesitation: "Your Highness, this is absolutely true, but I have sworn before the Buddha that I will never paint again."
After hearing this, the queen suddenly raised the scroll and shouted, "Come here, arrest this traitor who intends to overthrow our Great Zhou Dynasty!"
Madam Linglong was stunned. She stared blankly at the two guards who rushed in from outside the palace. She had no idea what was going on. They were just talking about the scroll, and suddenly they were talking about traitors.
Prime Minister Xia wanted to rush out of the west wing, but was stopped by Concubine Mei who saw through the trick. Concubine Mei shook her head at him and said, "You can't go out."
Prime Minister Xia also felt that things were a little strange, so he stood still and watched how things developed.
Two guards took Madam Linglong down. Madam Linglong screamed, "Madam, what does this mean? How could I be a traitor?"
The Queen had a cold face and ordered someone to unfold the scroll again. She pointed at the flower in the lower right corner and said sternly, "You still say you are not a traitor? In this painting, the pear blossoms are blooming and the hibiscus blossoms are withering, which means you are plotting rebellion. The pear blossoms are referring to the plum blossoms. The Murong family seized the world from the Li family, and there is a hibiscus in Taizu's calligraphy. Now you are pointing at the hibiscus blossoms and the plum blossoms are withering. Aren't you trying to subvert the court? Do you dare to say you are not a traitor?"
Madam Linglong was so frightened that her soul flew out of her body. She quickly broke free from the guards' hands and knelt on the ground, trembling. "Your Majesty, please understand. I have concealed something. This painting was not made by me. It was made by Yuan."
Subverting the imperial court is a capital crime. How could she bear such a heavy responsibility
As soon as these words came out, Zi'an, who was hiding behind the screen, slowly smiled. So that's how it was. This painting was indeed made by his mother. But how did Madam Linglong get this painting? And hasn't his mother seen the painting in her hand
And why did this painting fall into the hands of the Queen
Zi'an also understood the Queen's intentions. She knew that Prime Minister Xia must be hiding not far away and he could see everything that was happening here.
Once the impression of Chen Linglong in his mind is overturned, he will slowly develop a feeling of disgust towards her. Even if he does not turn hostile towards her immediately, the seeds of an explosion have already been sown.
During this process, she and her mother could sneak a glimmer of hope in the mansion, because Madam Linglong had to find a way to win back Prime Minister Xia's heart, so naturally she didn't have too much energy to deal with them.
The Queen will not completely solve her dilemma, because the Queen only wants to use her to cure King Liang, and all she needs to ensure is her temporary safety. Once King Liang is cured, the Queen will no longer care whether she is dead or alive.
Zi'an understood one thing more clearly, that is, when her marriage with the Regent was settled, the Queen would definitely point her spear at her, so she would definitely leave some leeway for Madam Linglong today so that she could use Madam Linglong's hand to suppress herself.
Prime Minister Xia's face turned completely black. He could hardly believe what he heard. He subconsciously resisted this fact and even had the urge to turn around and leave.
This news was shocking to him, even more shocking than the fact that Xia Zian was going to marry the Regent. His complacency for nearly twenty years suddenly turned into irony. He believed that the most talented woman in the world was going to give herself to him as a concubine.
He had always believed that Yuan was too aggressive in his early years and that many people praised him. In fact, his fame was greater than his talent. He even felt that his mad pursuit of Yuan was caused by external instigation.
After seeing the painting by Chen Linglong, he realized that truly talented women are low-key and steady, unlike Yuan, who plunged headfirst into the circle of fame and fortune.
(End of this chapter)