Wasn't he supposed to be beaten to death? Why did this powerful cousin love him so much?

Jiang Sese: "Fourth Miss, you flatter me too much. I was just practicing riding... How about you ask Sister Hongshao to go back first, and allow me to return to the West Courtyard to freshen up and change into clean clothes, then I'll head to Songfeng Pavilion immediately, is that alright?"

Hongshao seemed to have anticipated her response, her smile unchanged. She said, "You're too kind, Miss. Our young lady said we're all sisters, so there's no need for such formalities. The young lady is currently in high spirits, and the calligraphy and paintings are displayed on the stone table in the pavilion. She's afraid that once this mood fades, the enjoyment of appreciating them will be lost. Why don't you come with me now, Miss? You can wash up after you've finished admiring the paintings."

Hong Shao's words were soft yet firm, subtly urging the conversation.

Jiang Sese's eyes flickered slightly.

Why is Xie Yihua in such a hurry?

They wouldn't even let her go back and change her clothes?

This makes the problem even more apparent.

She glanced at Hongshao's seemingly respectful but actually unyielding posture, knowing that if she refused again, she would appear ungrateful and easily give others cause for gossip.

Jiang Sese thought for a moment and said, "Since Fourth Miss has so kindly invited me and is in such a hurry, then I shall go with you. However, my appearance is truly impolite."

"What are you saying, Miss? Please follow me." Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Hongshao smiled even more broadly and stepped aside to lead the way.

Songfeng Pavilion is built next to a slightly elevated artificial hill in Xie Mansion. It is surrounded by green bamboo on three sides and has an open view of the garden on the other side. When a gentle breeze comes, the copper bells hanging from the corner of the pavilion make a crisp tinkling sound. It is a quiet and elegant place.

The Xie family mansion was originally a residence bestowed by Emperor Gaozu. It was an expansion of the former royal palace, with a central axis of symmetry and five sections and seven courtyards.

Jiang Sese had been here for so long and still didn't know how big the Xie family really was. She only knew from the book that it covered more than a hundred acres and occupied almost half a street.

Hong Shao led Jiang Sese and her two servants closer, and they could see two figures sitting in the pavilion from afar.

Jiang Sese paused immediately.

Inside the pavilion, besides Xie Yihua, who was dressed in an elegant lake-blue dress, was Chu Shaoyuan!

What is Chu Shaoyuan doing here?!

Since Chu Shaoyuan is here, Xie Yihua shouldn't have invited her over.

Jiang Sese was stunned.

I immediately wanted to turn around and leave.

But inside the pavilion, Xie Yihua had already gracefully risen, her smile still gentle: "Cousin Se Se is here? Come over here quickly, look at you, you must be tired from practicing riding, there's still sweat on your forehead."

Xie Yihua turned her gaze to Chu Shaoyuan, with a hint of apology and helplessness, "Brother Shaoyuan, I originally wanted to invite Cousin Sese to come and see the painting, but I forgot that she has been practicing riding lessons recently, so we came in a bit of a hurry."

Chu Shaoyuan's gaze had already fallen on Jiang Sese.

The girl before me had slightly disheveled sideburns, cheeks flushed from exercise, and a breathtakingly vibrant color spreading across her fair skin.

Chu Shaoyuan pretended not to care and looked away: "It's alright, Miss Jiang, please have a seat."

On the stone table in the pavilion, an old scroll is spread out, its ink elegant and its brushstrokes vigorous. Beside it is a jade paperweight, pressing down the corner of the painting.

"Cousin SeSe, please sit down."

Xie Yihua greeted her warmly, "Take a look at this painting, 'Autumn Mountains and Asking the Way.' The brushstrokes are sparse and the artistic conception is lofty. However, I have been pondering the ancient seal script used in the inscription and colophon for half a day, and I can only recognize a few characters. It's really frustrating."

Jiang Sese turned her gaze to the painting.

It's a good painting; the layered mountains and desolate forests truly convey a sense of vastness and antiquity.

Seeing that Jiang Sese remained silent and stared at the painting, Xie Yihua's smile deepened.

Xie Yihua extended her slender fingers and gently stroked the texture of a rock in the painting, saying, "The texture of this painting is mainly based on axe-cut strokes, interspersed with raindrops, sharp and vigorous, quite spirited."

As Xie Yihua spoke, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes brimming with affection as she looked at Chu Shaoyuan, "Brother Shaoyuan, what do you think?"

Chu Shaoyuan watched as Xie Yihua spoke eloquently, her words displaying both a woman's sensitivity and remarkable insight.

Her profile, set against the backdrop of the verdant bamboo outside the pavilion, appeared exceptionally elegant and beautiful.

Chu Shaoyuan stared intently at Xie Yihua, his eyes full of admiration: "Sister Yihua is indeed intelligent and insightful, with such unique perspectives on calligraphy and painting."

This was the ideal woman in his mind: of noble birth, well-educated and reasonable, exceptionally talented, and with an air of elegance in every gesture.

Upon hearing this, Xie Yihua blushed slightly, lowered her eyes, smiled faintly, and said, "Brother Shao Yuan, you flatter me. I was merely showing off my limited skills before an expert."

These words sounded modest, but they warmed her heart.

For girls from top-tier noble families like theirs, studying and writing was never for the purpose of passing the imperial examinations and entering officialdom, but rather to cultivate a certain elegance and refinement in their speech, so as not to be ridiculed by other noble families in the capital as empty-headed beauties with nothing but gold and jade.

Poetry, songs, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—which of these wasn't taught by renowned teachers from a young age and studied daily?

Today, Chu Shaoyuan specially sent these ancient paintings from the previous dynasty. He had acquired them by chance and, knowing that Xie Yihua had always loved such things, he sent them to her so they could enjoy them together. As Xie Yihua held the paintings, a thought suddenly came to her mind.

Such a good opportunity would be even more rewarding if Jiang Sese could also come and see it; it would truly showcase her talent.

Although Jiang Sese was born with a beautiful appearance, she came from a humble background and had never learned these refined things.

Xie Yihua smiled shyly, as if embarrassed by the praise. Then, as if just remembering that there was someone else beside her, she turned her gaze to Jiang Sese and said, "Cousin Sese, you've been looking for so long, have you figured out anything? Or, do you recognize these characters?"

Xie Yihua pointed to the several intricate and difficult-to-decipher ancient seal characters on the painting.

Jiang Sese glanced at the painting, her eyes clear yet naive.

Like the original owner, Jiang Sese knew nothing about calligraphy and painting.

If she had any ability, she wouldn't be completely incompetent.

Jiang Sese could only say, "This painting looks quite expensive."

Xie Yihua smiled slightly.

Chu Shaoyuan: ...

Sure enough, his background was bad, and so was his character.

He has a handsome appearance but no knowledge, which is a waste of his good looks.

Xie Yihua's talent just now shone like a bright pearl, making Jiang Sese's ignorance seem particularly glaring at this moment.

Even if a woman like this were taken as a concubine, she would only become a laughing stock.

Xie Yihua clearly saw the change in Chu Shaoyuan's eyes, feeling extremely pleased, but on the surface she looked helpless and sighed softly: "This ancient seal script is indeed too difficult. Even I can't recognize it all, so it's normal that Cousin Se Se can't recognize it either."

Xie Yihua gracefully brushed her slender fingers along the edge of the painting and continued, "Cousin Se Se probably doesn't know that this painter was a young master from a prominent family in the late Southern Jing Dynasty of the previous era, named Shen Yanzhou."

"His painting style inherited the ancient style and his brushwork was exquisite, which made him famous in Jiangnan at that time. Unfortunately, when the country was destroyed and the family was destroyed, the Southern Jing royal family fled south in a hurry. He was unable to go with them for some reason and stayed in the old capital. Among the powerful and noble people of the new dynasty, there was a general who loved his paintings very much."

"The general found him and asked for a painting, so Shen Yanzhou painted this painting, 'Seeking the Way in Autumn Mountains'."

Jiang Sese suddenly asked, "Cousin, are you saying that this painting was created by the artist to annihilate a nation's enemy?"

Xie Yihua was taken aback, not expecting her to speak so suddenly.

Chu Shaoyuan also looked at Jiang Sese.

Jiang Sese thought for a moment and said, "Is a book good just because it has beautiful language? Is a swordsman good just because his moves are flashy?"

Neither Xie Yihua nor Chu Shaoyuan understood what Jiang Sese meant.

Jiang Sese explained, "If that's not the case, then why is a painting considered a good painting simply because its brushwork is intricate and exquisite?"

"When his country was destroyed and his family perished, his enemies, who had destroyed his nation, coveted his calligraphy and painting, so he picked up his brush and painted a picture as a gift. Lacking any integrity, what merit is there in such a work, no matter how exquisite his brushwork?"