Chapter 97.1: Le Cheng Emperor’s Seizure, Gift

Sun Yi Jia could also tell, this Luo family’s third young master was very skilled in painting, but in mixing colors, he probably lacked a little. However, after seeing Jing Wan mix colors, it seems it wasn’t that Luo third young master wasn’t good at mixing colors, but rather, little sister Wan was just too talented in this aspect, just like with growing flowers, making cosmetics, and doing flower arrangements. It was just something that others couldn’t compare to. Luo third younger master was actually roughly at the level comparable to majority of people who were pretty good at drawing. Just, compared with little sister Wan, he seemingly was a bit lacking to the eyes.

However, the painting style that Luo third young master created did indeed have a higher demand towards color than the freehand style. If the color is not mixed well, then it might ruin beautiful piece of drawing.

Sun Yi Jia scooted over to Jing Wan’s side, “Little sister Wan, this color of yours, light and dark, able to blend out ten to twenty different shades, and you seemingly can still divide them up even more. Aren’t you a little too impressive, how did you do it? Is there any tricks to it?”

“This skill of hers, not many people are able to master. Even if one knows how to blend it, one still can’t achieve the same results as hers.” Being not as good as his younger sister in this aspect, Luo Jing Bo didn’t mind all that much either.

“Stick to your drawing, no one is going to think you’re a mute if you don’t talk.” Jing Wan lifted her eyes and shot him a glare at him.

Afterwards, Luo Jing Bo obediently shut his mouth and lowered his head again. Ever since he gained a huge advantage from his younger sister, Luo Jing Bo felt he increasingly lacked status and confidence. Everyday his grandfather lectured him, and his father also from time to time gave him endless advice. And his younger sister further climbed on top of this older brother’s head, calling the shots. Sigh, truly is ‘the men of today can’t compare to the past’.

He shook his head as he continued drawing while muttering to himself.

Sun Yi Jia covered her mouth, laughing to herself, while Jing Wan hated that she couldn’t go hit him. Would it kill you to be a bit proper when another girl is present? On normal days, he still seemed like a very astute person, but during crucial moments, how come he was such a let down? Don’t you know, showing off at this time will harm one’s image? Also, don’t think just because I can’t hear, I don’t know you’re saying bad things about me!

Sun Yi Jia, seeing Jing Wan with a dark expression, also obediently covered her mouth, showing that she wasn’t laughing.

Jing Wan shot her another glare. If you put away that nearly overflowing smiling expression in your eyes, then it’ll probably be more convincing.

Sun Yi Jia was also afraid of Jing Wan getting angry out of embarrassment and quickly had the topic turned back to mixing colors again.

Jing Wan naturally won’t get angry for real. “If one has to say trick, there really isn’t any trick to it. The mixing technique, you’ve also seen, it’s all very standard. It’s mostly just based on instinct, as well as one’s sensitivity towards color.”

Sun Yi Jia silently pondered for a moment, “Looks like, Luo third young master is right, this talent of yours really can’t be learned. Afraid, one will still have to ponder over this for a long time on one’s own, and personally try one’s hand at it. Moreover, look at how many different kinds of raw materials you use, just like this….” Sun Yi Jia pinched a firm lump that was rock like, yet also stuck together in pieces, “Even the color of the same material is different every time. In other words, every time you mix colors, you might have to change materials each time, and can’t always follow the same steps. Really does require one to be flexible and versatile.”

“Actually, knowing some common primary colors’ pairings, and what color will come of mixing this color and that color, over time, one can still figure out some techniques.” Afterwards, Jing Wan continued blending colors, as she explained to Sun Yi Jia how to match colors.

Once there was something to do, the time seemingly passed by particularly fast.

Seeing another layer of color applied onto the body of the phoenix, Luo Jing Bo ultimately felt it wasn’t good to stay too long. Even if he and Sun Yi Jia both are indifferent to the matter, it wasn’t enough to stuff the mouths of those people outside. Public opinion is powerful enough to melt gold[1], and amassed slander can shatter bones. These sayings weren’t just said for fun.

Under Gong mama’s reminder, Luo Jing Bo could only regretfully put down the brush, “Little sis, I’ll just leave this drawing at your place then. When I have time, I’ll come again to finish it. Just, from the looks of things, I’ll inevitably need you to help me mix colors again.”

“Just this once, not to be repeated. Go back and mull over how to blend colors on your own. You can’t always have me help you every time you draw in the future, right?”

“Yes, yes, yes……” Luo Jing Bo hurriedly promised, and even inappropriately[2] bowed with his hands cupped in front to Jing Wan, thanking his younger sister’s selfless assistance.

Sun Yi Jia fleetingly glanced to Luo Jing Bo, her gaze incessantly glistening. Afterwards, she looked back to Jing Wan, before finally calming her nerves. “How about I go back first? After all, I don’t have any important business here.”

“No worries, my third brother is just this way. Whenever he encounters something he needs to take care of, he’ll easily become impatient. And once the matter is settled, he’ll just become a carefree one again. Don’t look at how energetic he was just now. At the moment, he’s able to abandon this drawing at my place for ten days to half a month without a single care or concern.” Exposing one’s own older brother’s shortcomings and whatnot, Jing Wan is definitely a member of the vanguard.

Luo Jing Bo although was somewhat embarrassed, he didn’t feel humiliate. The truth was indeed as his little sister said. “Then I’ll be going first.” After performing a salute that was still considered proper, he left very carefreely, not the least bit hesitant.

“Little sister Wan, has your older brother always been this way?”

“Yes, always been a heartless one.”

“Who would say that about one’s own older brother like you?” Sun Yi Jia reached out and gently pinched her waist.

Jing Wan pulled back. Rather, it didn’t hurt, just a bit ticklish. “Hey, what was that for? My own older brother, I didn’t even say anything, yet you defended him first.”

Sun Yi Jia didn’t know whether she blushed out of embarrassment or guilt, “This mouth of yours really does dare to say anything.” She reached her hand out as if she was about to pinch Jing Wan’s mouth.

Jing Wan hurriedly dodged, and the two of them laughed into a bundle again.

Seeing one’s own miss happy, the servants naturally were also happy.

When the two both walked out, Gong mama kept two servant girls to help quickly tidy up the study. Since the gongbi painting style hasn’t spread out yet, every single drawing here, even if it’s just a discarded draft, were all very important, and must not be lost.

Sun Yi Jia stayed at Jing Wan’s place until near nightfall, before she finally had no choice but to leave. Jing Wan had her take with her that share of rouge and powder that she’d prepared for her.

“Little sister Wan, in the future, afraid I won’t have the chance to come here anymore.” Sun Yi Jia carried a deep loneliness, “How great would it be to be able to always stay this carefree and without worries. Just, to me, this way of thinking really is too luxurious.”

“Big sister Jia, don’t be like this. Perhaps things won’t be that bad, and perhaps there’s still a turn of events, one can’t say for sure yet.”

“That’s right, no matter how terrible, one still needs to hold one’s head high and continue walking. With such an optimistic and strong younger sister like you, if I as the older sister is too weak, wouldn’t I be making you lose face?” Sun Yi Jia put away her lonely expression and smiled, “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t let that half-dead empty look from before meeting you reappear again.”

“Big sister Jia, believe me, everything will definitely get better.”

“Little sister Wan, your words sometimes strangely make people feel it will come true.”

Jing Wan just smiled, declining to comment.

Sun Yi Jia rather absentmindedly returned to the Ding Duke Manor. However, she never thought that the Ding Duchess and Sun Yi Lin were both waiting in her courtyard for her. Moreover, judging from her fifth brother’s appearance, he seemingly hasn’t completely sobered up. Did something happen again?

“Younger sister, did you already know?” Sun Yi Lin, seeing her mood not all that great, with faint melancholy between her brows, didn’t wait for her to greet them, before speaking out first.

“Mother, fifth brother, what do I know, what happened?” Sun Yi Jia was baffled.

The Ding Duchess got up and went forward, pulling Sun Yi Jia into her arms, and began shedding tears again, “My poor daughter ah……..”

Sun Yi Jia was stupefied. Her mother has never been a weak person. And in the past several years, she has never seen her shed tears before either, but recently, her tears just fell so freely. Right, a woman’s domain was just the rear manor. Once it involved the outside, and involved the imperial court, no matter how strong a woman was in the rear manor, she would still be helpless and unable to do anything. “Mother, don’t cry. Tell me, what other bad thing has occurred?”

It was still Sun Yi Lin that directly gave her the answer, “His Majesty passed another decree, having the Head Cabinet Minister’s youngest di daughter, Ruan Fang Fei, bestowed in marriage to Jin Qinwang as his side consort.”

Sun Yi Jia dully let out an ‘oh’, expressing that she understood, with no other reaction.

In the Ding Duchess’s eyes, Sun Yi Jia’s reaction was just a typical example of ‘all hope having turned to dust’, and no longer cared about anything anymore, “Yi Jia, Yi Jia, don’t be like this. What will mother do with you like this?”

Sun Yi Lin knew his younger sister hadn’t reached that point yet, but what exactly she was thinking, he wasn’t completely clear either, “Mother, don’t cry for now. Younger sister, Ruan Fang Fei is different from others. Her talent and beauty are all first class. If she enters the Jin Qinwang Manor……….”

“Fifth brother, so what? Without her, I’ll be able to establish myself in Jin Qinwang Manor? That’s why, whether it’s her or someone else, it’s actually all the same. Moreover, his Majesty has already passed the decree, then that means, there’s no leeway to remedy the situation. Just let it be however it should be. Why should we increase our worries for these things that are already inevitable.” Sun Yi Jia indifferently said as she waved her hand.

With her saying it like that, Sun Yi Lin didn’t know what to say either. However, it may not necessarily be ‘inevitable’ either. Jin Qinwang was forever an uncertain variable. He although said he didn’t want to marry his younger sister, but ‘not wanting to marry’ and ‘not marrying’ were two separate matters. Who knows what exactly he will do. Someone that will never move according to common reasoning was actually the most headaching thing.

“Mother, you go take care of your business first. I have a few words I want to say to younger sister.” Sun Yi Lin opened his mouth to have the Ding Duchess sent away.

These two siblings being together, the Ding Duchess naturally didn’t have anything to worry about. After instructing a few words, she walked out.

[1] Mass spreading of rumors can obscure the actual truth.

[2] The original phrase would be more in line with ‘out of place’ or ‘out of line’, since he’s her older brother, it’s considered inappropriate for someone’s elder to formally bow to them.