She begin to draw and she look at the Lady in front of her. The room only have a red candle burning on the left and right side. This is to create lightness and darkness. The room is the young Lady's bedroom. She is naked with her body half turn and half laying down. She look at Painter Hong with a rose in her hands. Her legs are place one straight and another curl up. Painter Hong draw and paint in her own speed.
She takes another three more visit to complete the painting. Her customer is satisfied and paid three hundred ingots to Painter Hong. After that she is shown the back door and leave quietly.
In the morning she walk to school with her tool box. She buy a big steam bun and a fried dough to eat before class starts. She greet her fellow colleagues and sit on her desk. She look around and put her tool box in the safe case under her desk. She lock it and place the key in her pouch and tie it on her belt. When she is done, she walk off with a pot of flowers with her. Song Ning spend most of her time between school and home however some days, she receive request via the opposite restaurant. She and the lady proprietor have strike a business agreement. Thus when a female customer have a request for Painter Hong, she will gain 10% for being the in-between contact. The subject to paint always have to be female only. However there is one where the couple, husband and wife have a request. Painter Hong take a long time to get back to them. She agree but ask to double the price. That husband agree. On the day, Painter Hong is bought to a marquise mansion, she realised the requester is none other than Marquise Wen and one of his concubines, Lady Wei. The couple are semi naked and display their affection to each other. however Painter Hong is embarrassed to look at them for they are sitting on a chair together with the Marquise at the bottom and his Lady Wei at the top. An action as if she is going to put his penis inside her.
Painter Hong takes a long time just to sketch. After a long time, the Marquis is tired thus they will resume another day. Painter Hong packed and walk out through the back door. She later remove her excess clothes whenever there is no one around. Her clothes are fold neatly into her tool box. Her hat with a veil is able to remove the veil and the hat is hang on her shoulders. She walk around the busy street and eat her dinner. She take a long walk back home. While walking home, she see Nan Feng in a distance walking with Lady Wen. Song Ning hide herself behind a cart. She did not want to greet them and prefer they will walk pass her.
"Why … didn't you want to greet them?"
She jump and turn to see by her side is The Third Prince. He smile and his pinky finger purposely touch her. At the same time, Nan Feng already have seen Song Ning at the distance while he is walking near. He is disappointed to see her hide and disappointed to see her hiding with the Third Prince behind the cart. He look at his bride-to-be and how happy she is. Behind them, the maid is carrying a box that contain the wedding accessories. The gowns will be ready within a few days.
The Third Prince walk Song Ning home. In the quiet dark night, they did not talk. He watch her enter her home. He turn around and enter his carriage which is waiting for him at the corner. Song Ning that night couldn't sleep. Now she is no longer the fiancee of Zhang Nan Feng, she is supposed to be happy. Strangely this thought is the one keeping her awake.
A few days later, she return to the Third Prince's mansion to complete the painting. This time, she did not need them to sit for her thus they sit around and chat with Song Ning in the open room. Song Ning talk to them while doing her painting. The ladies are laughing and having their snacks.
"Oh there will be two weddings next month!"
"Yes… i don't feel like going."
"Just send a wedding gift and say it is from The Third Prince mansion."
"Anyway he is not going to either one of them."
"Hmm he doesn't like these events. Don't you remember how our weddings are like?"
"Song Ning! You know i marry into the royal family without those loud musicians. I only enter the royal ancestor hall to offer my prayers."
"Only Consort Ling have a grand wedding reception at the grand hall."
"It was stressful for me and Tan Ye. He was so young at that time. While i was … in my twenties."
Song Ning listen while she paint in the details. In her mind, she wonder how did they agree to marry the young Third Prince.
"It must be terribly difficult for all of you."
"Yes it is. Getting marry is a hassle. Especially coming from a noble family. But now everything is over and done with. I am happy where i am."
"Still… Tan Ye is a young man… the empress did summon me into the palace asking when are we going to have children…."
All three ladies maintain their silence but Song Ning look at them and feel that they are actually laughing at that ideal. She pick up her brush with another color and added on to the paper. They continue to talk about the hassle of having children around. Just then The Third Prince appear. He look at them and they all bow. He takes the grape from the plate and pop it into his mouth. He chew and walk to look at the painting.
"A strange style of painting but i like it. What about you ladies?"
"We love it, your highness."
"Good…"
He walk over to Consort Ling and sit next to her. She smile and pop him another grape in his mouth. Song Ning quickly look down and roll her eyes. The Third Prince see that but he did not say another and continue to ask to be feed. Painting with The Third Prince is uncomfortable for Song Ning. It reminded that day when she is painting a portrait of him. She did not want to think about it but her ears turn red. He notice her red ears and smirk to himself. The rest of the women notice that and they look at Song Ning who is busy working on the painting. They look at each other without a word. It is obvious that there is something going on between them.
"So… how did Tan Ye get to know Lady Song? I mean, Tan Ye you are a talented musician however she is not a musician. So how did you meet Lady Song?"
"I was travelling around till i stop at JiangNan. I heard a whisper of a famous painter that is hidden in the dark. So i have to entice her out. I want to see how talented she is. Everything is said by the word of mouth. So i cannot see physically what type of amazing painting it is…"
"Tan Ye, tell us, what type of painting."
"YOOUR… YOUR HIGHNESS!"
They all look at her with interest in their eyes. While Song Ning doesn't intent to tell anyone of what she paint in the dark. She look at The Third Prince in urgency in her eyes. He laugh and stand up. Walking towards her, she look at him with urgency. He keep fanning himself and smirk as he walks nearer. He lean over and whisper.
"If you don't want me to talk too much. Maybe we can sign another contract to seal the deal."
"We will talk tomorrow."
He smile and look at the painting. The fresh Chinese ink painting is drying in their pace. He look and he nod his head. Song Ning sigh and her heart is not racing anymore.
The next day, she waited in the school. She expect to see him somewhere around her class. The third Prince appear only when she walk pass the garden. He is wearing his usual black gown with gold threads. The design of dragons embroider around his chest. His golden hair pin is shiny and seems glowing. He is holding an umbrella to shield the strong sunlight. His pale skin makes him look like he is glowing with white light as he move nearer to her. His hair seems to dance in the air as he moves. A strange sight for Song Ning who have stop walking to stare at the strange being in front of her. He shield her under his umbrella. His eyes shine with light as they look at each other.
"Am i looking attractive?"
Song Ning suddenly realised that she is staring at him for no reason.
"No. I am thinking it's not raining and you are opening up an umbrella."
"I just want to shield you from the strong sunlight. So that i can still see you in the dark."
"There isn't a need to…"
"There is! One day, you will be in trouble when you get into trouble. I can navigate in the dark to bring you towards the light when i can see your glowing white skin in the dark."
"What trouble are you talking about?"
He move nearer and lean down to her ears.
"The trouble that you earn your money in the dark… it's not to kill but you are disturbing the moral of human world."
Song Ning step back and look at his eagle eyes.
"I did what we women desire. A keepsake of our youth.. A keepsake of the time when we bloom. Not for anyone but ourselves."
"That is what you think… not the court … not those old men in robes standing in front of the emperor."
She stare at him and look into his eyes.
"What do you think …"
"You should … stop. Till the rumours die down. In the meanwhile .. i can help you. I know you need money. You are the only one that is financing your brother to study. I can provide you all the money that you need."
"What is the exchange for this …"
He smile sweetly and pat her head gently.
"It's a very simple thing. Be my woman. That's all. Till I'm tired of you. I will let you go. But of course if i am tired of you before your brother is done with his studies, i will still provide you all the money you need. If you wish to continue as a teacher in the daytime, go ahead. I only need you in the night."
She another few steps back. Her big round eyes look at him with sadness. Suddenly his heart feel the pain of some sort. He doesn't understand and he hates that feeling. He see that her hands are shaking. Suddenly he feel that he shouldn't propose that. Thus he quickly added another line.
"Of course i mean be my woman doesn't mean that you marry me. It means that you are my companion. I need a woman to follow me to events so that other women will stay away from me. I need a woman to pretend to be in love with me."
Song Ning feels relive at that moment. Her eyes are relax and her heart have calm down.
"So why did you ask any of your wives to …"
"They have grounded themselves in my mansion. They did not step out of the mansion after they married me. Only maybe for the Lunar New Year, other than that they do not leave my mansion."
"Why…"
"That i will or they will tell you, later. For now, do you agree?"
Song Ning walk around The Third Prince while he stands at the spot holding his umbrella hearing her mumbling to herself. For a while she did not stop circling around him. He gets agitated and yell at her. She stop and stand in front of him.
"So it means that i will simply accompany you to events and do nothing else. Also you will supply me with money whenever i need it. "
He close his eyes and nod his head.
"So it means that you agree that we do nothing."
"Nothing?"
He open his eyes and stare at her with sharp glaze
"There is plenty we can … do."
"What are you saying?"
"For starter we have to stay close to each other and you have to look at me as if you love me."
"WHAT?"
"We have to … pretend … in love."
Song Ning look at him while squinting her eyes.
"I don't understand why do i need that to do with you."
"It's an exchange of … goods and servicing. See, i need something and you need something. I can give you something and you have to give me something in return."
Song Ning still stand at the same spot trying to digest what he had said.
"For how long?"
"As long as you need taels. I will give you whatever the amount that you need."
"I am not greedy person. I just need taels enough for the school fees and other expensive that he needs."
"Fair enough. I have the taels. I just need to see you every night."
"However i am not a strong shield to block you from all those women."
"Hmm just do whatever you can. Even thought i am married. I am still a desirable prince in their eyes."
Song Ning nearly want to roll her eyes again.
"Marry into the royal family is what every noble families want in this capital. Access into power is what they want."
"I don't need those. I just want …"
"Fame?"
"NO! Just want a peaceful life. An ordinary peaceful life."
He straighten up and smile. "So we have reach a deal?"
"It is harder for me to act than to paint."
"It is safer to act than to paint now. Authorities soon will be looking for Painter Hong. I am giving you a chance to be safe and earn the taels enough for your expenses."
"It will be a deal as long as i don't do anything that i don't want to do and against the law."
"Consider that done."
Song Ning continue to think.
"Write them down in black and white. I need an assurance."
She turn around and walk off. While he stands with the umbrella in his hand. He click his tongue and look at his boots.
"This … hard to trap. I need a better bait…"