Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 30: Can you draw too?
Emperor Hongzhi was too indulgent towards civil servants. He had the will but not the ability. He had thought of using the Imperial Household Department to fight against the civil servants. There was also Wang Zhi in the Chenghua Dynasty, and he could not find anyone who could replace Wang Zhi.

He must have been angry with the civil servants. At that time, he adjusted Xu Pu into the cabinet in order to split the relationship within the cabinet. Who would have known that Xu Pu, this old shady guy, who seemed to be old-fashioned and bound to offend people, seemed to have become a different person after entering the cabinet. He became a neutralizer for a while and made the cabinet become a family.

Zhu Houzhao told Empress Zhang, "Mother, you must tell the eunuchs and maids in Kunning Palace to be alert. There may be a sudden change in the situation."

Empress Zhang turned pale with fear. She looked at Emperor Hongzhi and asked, "Your Majesty, is this true?"

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head, but still said: "It is better to believe it. It would not hurt to ask the palace maids and eunuchs to pay attention to it."

Zhu Houzhao said: "Father, you also said that it is better to believe it, why don't you let the officials inform the people?"

Emperor Hongzhi waved his hand and said, "Okay, you don't have to worry about political affairs yet. Father has his own considerations. Besides, can I not believe the Imperial Observatory and instead believe what you, a child, say?"

Zhu Houzhao laughed loudly: "Great! You don't trust your own son, but you trust an outsider, right?"

"Mom! Divorce him! He doesn't love us at all, and today he told me he wants to take a concubine."

After Zhu Houzhao finished speaking, he ran away with his butt sticking up.

Empress Zhang looked at Emperor Hongzhi with resentment.

Emperor Hongzhi was speechless and said, "You believe what the child said?"

Empress Zhang said, "Only children can be trusted! Your Majesty, you think I am old and ugly, and my appearance is not worthy of your attention."

"Okay, I know."

Emperor Hongzhi: “…”

"Read a book." You have to change the subject, otherwise they will keep arguing.

"I don't want to read it!" Empress Zhang snatched the script from Emperor Hongzhi's hand. Emperor Hongzhi raised his hand, feeling itchy and finally giving up.

Zhu Houzhao!!!
……

Tonight was peaceful, but Chen Ce still slept in a daze, basically waking up after a short nap.

Tang Yin might not be reliable, so he didn't quite believe him.

I woke up groggy the next morning. I still had to endure five nights, which was really uncomfortable.

This mansion was large and spacious. Many Confucian scholars gathered there early in the morning, talking about various matters with their heads shaking. The air was filled with a sour smell.

Every sentence must end with "也". If you don't say it, you will be ashamed to be associated with it.

We are all scholars, why should we stay together? It will be troublesome to run away when an earthquake comes.

On second thought, this is normal. At this time, everyone has developed a friendship. When you pass the imperial examination and become an official in the future, you will always have someone to take care of you in the officialdom. This is called expanding your network.

Tang Jieyuan had a very high reputation. Even though Tang Yin was sleeping in the house, this group of Confucian scholars still talked about Tang Yin the most.

How could they not talk about the coveted number one scholar in next spring's imperial examination, the brightest star in the imperial examination arena?

Perhaps disturbed by the noise outside, Tang Yin could no longer sleep. He walked out heroically and began to discuss academic matters with a group of Confucian scholars.

Finally, they turned the topic to Tang Yin's paintings. Generally speaking, paintings are valuable only after the person dies, but Tang Yin is an exception.

His current fame is enough for his paintings to sell for extremely high prices in this era.

Of course, his painting skills are also very superb.

Several Confucian scholars suggested that Tang Yin paint a picture for them to appreciate, but Tang Yin refused, saying that he did not sleep well last night and would paint in the evening and show it to them tomorrow morning.

The Confucian scholars could only sigh in despair, but they couldn't help but feel excited when they thought about seeing the long-awaited Tang Yin paintings tomorrow.

Today is October 26th.

Chen Ce did not see Tang Yin again during the whole day. It was not until the lights were turned on that he dressed up in a very flashy manner and went out with a folding fan in hand.

It's winter now, I don't know why they always like to hold fans. It doesn't matter if it's hot or not, as long as they are cool and unrestrained.

About an hour later, Tang Yin came back from outside. It was already midnight.

As usual, Chen Ce did not fall asleep. He sat on the empty stone bench in the courtyard and stared at the sky in a daze.

There is an oil lamp on the stone bench. This residence is considered to be quite high-end, with lights all around. Even at night, the courtyard is still bright.

Tang Yin came out of the house carrying wine, brush, ink, paper and inkstone, spread them out on the stone table in the courtyard, and began to paint under Chen Ce's gaze.

He first painted a picture of a lady serving her husband, but felt that this kind of picture was not worthy of being displayed in a formal setting, so he changed it to a picture of winter snow in Peking.

In short, one word: fast! Fast boy.

God has given me this gift, this thought came to Chen Ce’s mind.

This sentence fits Tang Yin very well. From the time he put pen to paper to the time he finished the painting, he hardly paused and completed it in one go.

Seeing Chen Ce looking at it seriously, Tang Yin laughed heartily and said, "You also understand painting? How about giving an evaluation?"

Chen Ce actually wanted to say that this painting of winter snow in Peking was not very good. Of course, there was nothing impeccable about the technique, but the artistic conception always gave people a feeling that it was a little lacking.

"Very good." Chen Ce smiled.

Tang Yin was stunned for a moment, then he regained his spirit of not admitting defeat and said, "Very good? Are you implying that it's not the best?"

"Please draw one too, so I can see what is the best."

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "I won't humiliate myself. With Tang Jieyuan's paintings and your seal, there should be no one who can surpass you today."

Tang Yin was arrogant by nature. He said, "I won't stamp my seal. You make a painting. I won't judge whether it is good or bad. I will let them judge it tomorrow."

You are not asking them to evaluate me, you are asking them to publicly execute me!

Chen Ce smiled and said, "Forget it, it's pretty good... Oh, it's really good, this one of yours."

Tang Yin shook his head and said, "No! Here is one tael of silver. I'll pay for the brush, ink, paper, inkstone, and colored ink. You can draw!"

"When you finish the painting, I'll give you the money."

Chen Ce: “…”

He had no intention of provoking Tang Yin. Why did he feel that Tang Yin was easier to provoke than Zhu Houzhao?

"Oh."

Chen Ce asked uncertainly, "Will you really give me one tael of silver?"

Tang Yin said: "A gentleman's word is as good as gold!"

Chen Ce hummed, took the money, put it in his arms, and then slowly began to paint. Unlike Tang Yin, Chen Ce was slower.

He drew each stroke extremely slowly, which made Tang Yin extremely anxious.

Brother, can you hurry up? I'm getting drunk.

Tang Yin was so anxious that he kept drinking.

After an unknown amount of time, Tang Yin became intoxicated and could not bear it any longer, so he went to sleep in a daze.

Chen Ce also painted a picture of winter snow in Peking. He had cultivated top-notch painting skills in the small courtyard of Huaihua Hutong. When he finished the painting and wanted to look for Tang Yin, he found that he was lying on the bed with his arms and legs spread out.

Isn't he cold in the middle of winter without a quilt?
Chen Ce closed the window for him. As for whether he was cold or not, Chen Ce didn't care. He was not his father, and he couldn't take care of himself, so why should he be affectionate and take care of him.

(End of this chapter)