Within the Great Ming's imperial palace, the Zhongcui Palace bustled with activity. Its mistress, originally a fifth-rank consort, had been elevated to the first rank, becoming an Imperial Noble Consort.
Emperor Jiajing, the ruler of the Great Ming Dynasty, the strongest man in the world, had issued a decree, showering Xue Susu with unprecedented favor.
There were no doubts now. She was the most favored woman in the imperial harem.
But her origins were humble. She was a former courtesan from a pleasure barge on the Qinhuai River. She shouldn't have been granted such a high position.
Many officials, especially those of the "clear stream" faction, wanted to submit memorials to the Emperor, urging him to reconsider his decision.
However, after much deliberation, Xu Jie, the Junior Grand Secretary, advised them against it.
"Our priority is to deal with the Yan faction. We cannot afford any distractions."
His words convinced the restless officials.
No one dared question Xu Jie's wisdom. But secretly, he knew that if Emperor Jiajing had granted Xue Susu an even higher position, perhaps even Empress, he wouldn't have been able to restrain the "clear stream" officials.
Thankfully, Jiajing hadn't crossed that line.
Within the Zhongcui Palace, Xue Susu prepared a meal for the Emperor, her delicate hands moving gracefully.
Pearl, Jade, and White Jade Soup. It was said to be a favorite of Emperor Taizu, the founder of the Great Ming Dynasty.
The soup, thick and fragrant, was served in a beautiful porcelain bowl. Emperor Jiajing smiled.
"For my beloved consort to personally prepare a meal… Are the servants of the Zhongcui Palace so incompetent?"
Xue Susu smiled sweetly, but she was trying to figure out the meaning of his words. Every word uttered by the Emperor carried a hidden meaning. She had to be careful.
"The servants in my palace are those you bestowed upon me, Your Majesty. They are all competent.
But I wanted to please you. I secretly obtained the recipe for Pearl, Jade, and White Jade Soup from the Imperial Kitchen and attempted to recreate it.
If you dislike it, I am willing to accept any punishment."
Who would have guessed that this beautiful and charming woman was actually the Painting Sage of the Great Ci Dynasty?
"One can paint skin and fur, but not the bones. One can know a person's face, but not their heart."
Those words were truly fitting.
"You are my beloved consort. How could I possibly punish you?"
Jiajing chuckled, but he didn't touch the soup. It gradually cooled.
"Perhaps I should punish the servants instead?"
Xue Susu's smile faltered. Her heart pounded with fear. She couldn't understand his intentions. And that uncertainty was a dangerous sign.
"Your Majesty… Whom do you wish to punish?" she asked cautiously.
"I don't know many of the servants in your palace."
Jiajing pretended to consider the matter for a moment, then said, "I recall you have a maidservant named Ah Chang?"
"Let's punish her."
Xue Susu's eyes widened. She stared at Jiajing. She was currently an ordinary woman. Her Great Vehicle Realm cultivation was concealed within a self-portrait in her bedchamber.
Had she been exposed?
Was Jiajing about to reveal his true intentions?
She was filled with dread. If he attacked now, she wouldn't even be able to defend herself, let alone assassinate him.
'Was I deceived? He spends most of his time with me, aside from his cultivation. And his affection for me is undeniable. He has showered me with gifts and favors. Could it be… that it was all a facade? That he was simply waiting for me to lower my guard?'
'Elder Sister… I have failed you. I have failed my mission. And now… I might even lose my life.'
She couldn't imagine escaping back to her bedchamber, retrieving her cultivation, and activating her 'Immortal in the Painting' technique. It was impossible.
She closed her eyes, waiting for death. But the killing blow didn't come.
"Why are you crying, my love?"
Jiajing's voice was unusually gentle.
"I was simply joking. Ah Chang isn't here. That's all."
Xue Susu opened her eyes. She was a Sage Ruler, accustomed to a life of luxury and privilege.
Facing death, she had been overwhelmed with regret, blaming her own carelessness and naivety.
But it had been a false alarm. She met Jiajing's gaze. His eyes were filled with love and affection. There was no malice, no killing intent.
She sighed with relief, quickly wiping away her tears.
"I… I apologize for my outburst, Your Majesty. Ah Chang requested leave to visit her family. She will return in a few days."
"Oh."
Jiajing nodded nonchalantly. He didn't seem particularly interested in an ordinary maidservant. His reaction was reasonable.
"My love."
"Yes?"
"There's an extraordinary man in the Great Ming, known as the 'Twin Saint of Poetry and Painting.' His name is Tang Bohu. He has reached a high level of cultivation through his art. His poetry and paintings are said to be unmatched.
I know you are also a talented artist. You enjoy ink painting. Perhaps… I should invite him to the palace to paint your portrait?"
Tang Bohu wasn't an official, but he was a famous figure in the Great Ming. He was arguably the most renowned "wild" Confucian cultivator.
Jiajing's proposal was clearly intended to please Xue Susu. But she paled, as if the name "Tang Bohu" had triggered a painful memory.
"What's wrong? You seem unhappy. Do you know Tang Bohu?"
His question was both reasonable and dangerous.
Xue Susu had been a courtesan. It was understandable that she would have encountered many men. But she was now the Emperor's favored consort. Who would dare mention her past?
And yet, Jiajing had asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
"No!"
She blurted out the denial.
"I've never met him, Your Majesty. Even when I was a courtesan, I never met Tang Bohu."
She had mentioned the pleasure boat frankly, attempting to appear honest and open.
And her words were technically true. But she was using the truth to conceal a lie.
Xue Susu suppressed her anxieties, forcing a smile.
"I will… obey your every command."
…
Later that night, lying in the Emperor's bed, Xue Susu pretended to be asleep. Jiajing held her in his arms, his embrace was gentle, like a cat cuddling its owner.
But the Painting Sage's mind was uneasy.
She had only one thought: Tang Bohu would enter the palace in two days to paint her portrait.
If Ah Chang returned tomorrow, she would send her to intercept him.
If not, she would have to find another solution.
Tang Bohu, the Twin Saint of Poetry and Painting…
He was the only person in the Great Ming who could expose her true identity.
He was the one who had introduced her to the Dao of Painting, her guide and mentor!
"Heartless man. Why must fate bring us together again?"
…
Xue Susu waited anxiously for Ah Chang's return, but the day passed, and the Archery Sage didn't appear.
She couldn't inquire about the situation in Yunzhou. It wouldn't be appropriate for a favored consort to show interest in military matters. It might expose her true identity.
She didn't understand.
Wanli and Ah Chang, both Great Vehicle Realm experts, had marched towards Yunzhou.
Why hadn't they returned?
The Three Kingdoms' commanders in Yunzhou – Zhuge Liang, Guo Jia, and Zhou Yu – they were all Unity Realm cultivators.
Xue Susu was restless.
Because Tang Bohu had arrived in the capital.
The Twin Saint of Poetry and Painting's arrival caused a sensation.
He was not only a powerful cultivator, a master of both poetry and painting, but he was also known for his eccentric personality and his carefree lifestyle.
That night, the entire city knew that Tang Bohu had visited the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge. He had even spent the night with the newest courtesan.
Another conquest for the renowned artist, another chapter in his colorful life.
The next day, he entered the palace to meet with the Emperor.
Everything went smoothly.
As a famous figure, Tang Bohu was welcomed by both the Yan and Xu factions.
Yan Song and Xu Jie both hoped to recruit him. He was a powerful cultivator with countless admirers.
Emperor Jiajing was also in a good mood, engaging in a lively discussion about poetry and painting with Tang Bohu.
"Tang Yin."
"Your humble servant is here."
"I promised Consort Rou that I would ask you to paint her portrait. Will you accept this request?"
"I am honored to accept, Your Majesty!"
Tang Bohu had no idea who Consort Rou was. But to paint a portrait for the Emperor's favored consort was a great honor for a "wild" cultivator like him.
He was unconventional, but he wasn't arrogant.
In truth, he had attempted to enter the civil service but had failed. That's why he had chosen a life of freedom and indulgence.
"If I can please Consort Rou, perhaps the Emperor will reward me. Then, I can finally enter the court and abandon my life as a wandering artist!"
Tang Bohu had been a talented youth. He had passed the Suzhou prefectural examinations at the age of sixteen, ranking first. At the age of twenty-eight, he had passed the Southern Metropolitan regional examinations, ranking first once again.
He had then traveled to the capital to take the imperial examinations, but he had been implicated in the Xu Jing examination fraud scandal and imprisoned. He had been demoted to a minor official in Zhejiang.
He had considered it a great humiliation and refused the position, choosing instead to wander the land.
His marriage had also failed.
He had divorced his wife and lived alone in his Peach Blossom Hermitage, immersing himself in poetry and painting until he achieved mastery.
Remembering those events, Tang Bohu sighed.
He looked around the Golden Luan Palace, admiring its splendor and grandeur.
"If I had been given the opportunity, I would have served my nation faithfully, leaving behind a legacy worthy of being carved in stone."
He felt a surge of ambition.
"Tang Yin, please follow me."
A strange, androgynous voice interrupted his thoughts.
Tang Bohu glanced at the speaker, recognizing him as a eunuch. He scoffed inwardly.
A true man should either serve his country with honor or live a life of carefree indulgence.
To castrate oneself and become a servant… what a pathetic existence!
Lü Fang, having served Emperor Jiajing for decades, was a shrewd observer. He instantly understood Tang Bohu's disdain. But he showed no emotion, maintaining a polite smile.
"This way, Master Tang."
"Oh, yes, of course."
Tang Bohu nodded.
He suddenly felt a pang of regret.
He wasn't discussing matters of state with Yan Song and Xu Jie in the Golden Luan Palace. He was being sent to the harem to paint a woman's portrait.
His task was no more dignified than that of a eunuch.
"Alas…"
He sighed, acknowledging his own failings. He had lived a life of indulgence, his countless romantic conquests hindering his ambitions.
But among all the women he had encountered, only one truly held a place in his heart.
'How is she doing? Our separation… I was cruel to her. I often regret my actions. I heard she went to the Brahma Sound Pure Land. There has been no news since.
After all these years, we haven't met. Today, I enter the palace. Perhaps the Emperor will appoint me to a position of power.
The Great Ming and Great Ci are enemies. I hope… I hope we do not meet on the battlefield.'
Lost in thought, Tang Bohu quickly reached the Zhongcui Palace.
"We have arrived, Master Tang."
Lü Fang smiled, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.
"Remember, Master, you are a man entering the harem. You must be respectful. Do not offend the consorts."
Tang Bohu scoffed. He didn't need a eunuch to teach him manners.
"Rest assured, Eunuch. I know how to behave."
He entered the Zhongcui Palace, not noticing that Lü Fang had remained outside.
As he entered, a strange feeling washed over him.
Familiarity?
Déjà vu?
He looked around, noticing that the flowers and trees were all newly planted.
There were even several rare peach trees, his favorite!
"Green Peach, Wuling Crimson, Delicate Bloom, Thousand Petals… Heavens! The imperial palace is truly extraordinary! I've searched for these peach varieties for years, but they're all here!"
He was a man of the world, his thoughts were often unconstrained.
"I wonder if this Consort Rou is beautiful? I will try my best to paint her well. If I can please her, perhaps she will reward me with a few saplings. I can plant them in my Peach Blossom Hermitage."
He reached the main hall, but there was no sign of Consort Rou. He was growing impatient.
"The Emperor treats me as an honored guest, but this Consort Rou… She doesn't even bother to welcome me? Surely she's aware of my reputation as the Twin Saint of Poetry and Painting!"
His face darkened.
Thankfully, he was in the imperial palace.
If this were an ordinary household, or even a prince's palace, he would have left in anger.
Finally, a clear, but indifferent, female voice came from the main hall.
"…Is that Tang Yin?"
Tang Bohu was startled.
She had addressed him directly by name. How arrogant!
But then, he recognized her voice.
His face paled.
"You… You… You…"
They had been separated for many years, but her voice remained etched in his memory.
"You… You're not in the Brahma Sound Pure Land! How did you get here?!"
A woman sighed from within the hall.
"After all these years, your personality hasn't changed."
She was disappointed. And hurt. She had once admired his talent, his art. But he was a shallow and impulsive man.
He was nothing like Emperor Jiajing. Even ordinary officials in the Great Ming court were more mature and composed than him.
"You haven't changed. Thankfully, I dismissed the servants. I wouldn't want them to hear your nonsense."
Xue Susu emerged from the hall and stood before him.
Her voice softened. "It has been many years. Do you regret your actions?"
Tang Bohu's initial fear vanished, replaced by confusion and guilt.
What was a Great Ci Dynasty official doing in the Great Ming's imperial harem?
But Xue Susu's question had shifted his focus.
Memories of the past flooded his mind. He remembered his failure in the imperial examinations, his anger at his own indulgence, his resentment towards the woman he had once loved.
He had abandoned her in a fit of rage, blaming her for his misfortunes.
But years had passed. His brief attempt at a more disciplined life had failed.
He had returned to his old habits, frequenting pleasure houses, his life a wasted mess.
"Susu, I…"