When Luo Pei Shan and Luo Rong Yan saw the thoroughly completed painting, for a moment, they were truly stunned by that painting. They’ve been earnestly advising him to properly learn gongbi painting all the time. His previous few works were still far inferior to Jing Wan’s, and were especially disdained by them. But this ‘enormous piece’, compared to Jing Wan’s level, wasn’t lacking in the least either. In fact, because it was countless times bigger, and the difficulty much higher, it further increased its grandeur. And the details also needed to be taken note of too.
Luo Pei Shan slapped his hand on Luo Jing Bo’s shoulder, “You brat, good, good, very good.”
Luo Jing Bo didn’t dare to claim all the credits himself, “It was mostly younger sister mixing the colors, without her, it would definitely be much more lackluster.”
“As long as you’re aware. That’s why, you still need to continue practicing.”
“Yes, grandfather, I will.”
“You want to have this painting sent as a betrothal gift?” Luo Rong Yan somewhat disapprovingly said. “Jing Bo, do you know its true worth? It’s the ‘first’ of the gongbi paintings. Regardless how many more paintings that surpass it appear in later generations, in historical significance, they forever can’t surpass it. What if the Ding Duke Manor keeps it, and not let the daughter-in-law bring it back as part of her dowry, wouldn’t that………”
“Rong Yan, haven’t you always not cared about these things the most, yet now you’re this calculative? If the Ding Duke Manor dares keep it, then they must want to be spat to death by all the scholars in the world. Besides, this fame and honor’s true owner is third girl, and even she doesn’t mind, so what are you getting anxious for? ———-third girl, that day on the Grand Elder Princess’s birthday, this was precisely what you were planning, right?”
Jing Wan nodded, “I just want to let the world know, even the best girl in the world, marrying my brother, all won’t be slighted in the least.”
“Fine, fine, you’re giving your brother more face, and also giving that Sun family girl face as well. Therefore, stupid brat, you definitely need to be good to your younger sister, understand? Other families’ younger sisters, which one would put in this much effort for their elder brothers?”
“Grandfather, my older brother remembers it all in his heart, he won’t forget. Inviting you and father over was just to ask you two to help mount[1] it. Because it can’t be leaked out ahead of time, can only trouble you two.”
“This girl, what are you doing being this courteous with your own family.”
In a blink of an eye, it was already the day before the spring civil service exam. The Luo family invited four blessed madams[2] and matchmakers, bringing along Luo Jing Bo, this soon-to-be groom, the betrothal money, the monetary gifts, and the betrothal gifts, and headed to the Ding Duke Manor.
Speaking of which, the ones waiting to ‘receive the betrothal gifts’ at the Ding Duke Manor weren’t just those few from the manor. There was also the people from the Sun clan, as well as a great deal of friends and family. Exactly how many came in sincerity, and how many came to see a joke, everyone was actually all well aware inside. Just, some words were too unpleasant to hear. The Ding Duchess nearly couldn’t maintain her face.
When the people of the Luo family arrived, and seeing that, sure enough, there wasn’t anything special, those people either mocked, or ridiculed, “Have to say, our Jia’er, can be said to have grown up laying in a nest of wealth and glory. In the future, don’t know what kind of hardships she’ll suffer.”
“This betrothal money is also rather heavy, a hundred thousand taels.” Someone even disregarded the Ding Duchess’s expression and started enumerating the gift list.
“What’s this ‘hundred birds facing the phoenix’, even just a single one, what’s this all about?”
“How about taking it out for a look, hearing this name makes one rather curious.”
Sun Yi Jin was actually in the back reception hall, among a crowd of sisters from the manor, as well as those outside ‘sisters’. They were also all very mocking in their tone. Saying things like, carrying that much dowry over, could it be that in the future, the entire Luo family needs to be supported by her?
“Have to say, little sister Yi Jia is a disfigured one after all, if she doesn’t take a little more dowry, how is she going to establish herself?”
Sun Yi Jia simply was unconcerned. Just, when she heard the ‘hundred birds facing the phoenix’ appearing on the list, she instantly blanked. That painting of his was completed? And even brought over as a betrothal gift? How could Sun Yi Jia not know that painting’s worth. Yet he just had to bring it out today, and moreover, even as a betrothal gift. This was having all the fame and all the glory split with her!
Sun Yi Jia uncontrollably started crying. How many lifetimes of good did she do for him to treat her as such in this life?
Seeing Sun Yi Jia cry, it wasn’t good for them to say any more. However, there were also some that pouted their lips. What use was there crying now, there’ll be plenty for you to cry about in the future.
And outside, someone precisely saw that special long brocade box and reached their hand out, wanting to grab it.
The previously still aloof blessed madams all simultaneously reached out to stop them. “This thing is very precious, it’s best if you all don’t touch. If by chance, it gets damaged, all of you all won’t be able to compensate it.” Speaking of which, as the blessed madams invited by the Luo family, they all weren’t too willing at first, because they’d already predicted what kind of circumstance it would be. But, this most important betrothal gift gave them enough confidence. Right now, the more unpleasant these people’s words were, the more it was going to hurt when they get slapped in the face later.
“Madams, this thing is indeed very valuable, the one and only in the entire world. If it gets damaged, even if an exact copy is made again, its worth would still only be its one one-thousandths.” The matchmaker lightly stroked the brocade box, softly smiling.
Since the words were already said this clearly, then there naturally won’t be anymore imperceptive people forcibly reaching out.
However, even the Ding Duchess’s curiosity was hooked. But, if the Luo family really is able to bring out such a good thing, it would be good to also let these people have a look too. Thus, raising a smile, she said, “How about letting everyone have a look?”
The matchmaker nodded and opened the brocade box, having the painting taken out.
“Thought it was something rare, but just a hundred birds facing the phoenix painting, what’s there worth valuing, even the one and only in the world? Too laughable.”
(T/N: ‘Hundred birds facing the phoenix’ is a very popular subject to paint in ancients times; there are like hundreds of different versions of this painting in various different styles.)
The Ding Duchess was also greatly disappointed.
“An ordinary hundred birds facing the phoenix painting naturally isn’t rare. But when it comes to this third young master of the Luo family, although his name and talent not prominent, and only just a scholar graduate, not having anything particularly outstanding about him on normal days, he’s someone that doesn’t walk the common path, possessing a ravine in his heart. He dares to imagine, dares to do, that’s why he’s able to do what others are unable to.” Under the assistance of another madam, the entire painting was already completely rolled out.
Everyone that was indifferent to it thoroughly shut their mouths.
The Ding Duchess covered her mouth in disbelief, “This, what painting style is this? This vivid and lifelike, just like it’s real!”
“Gongbi painting style that our Bo boy came up with himself, and after going through polishing, completed this enormous piece recently. Our Bo boy believes himself to have nothing presentable, only having this yet to debut painting, and also hoping to borrow this painting to convey his feelings towards your noble manor’s young miss.” The matchmaker said with a faint smile.
Another madam lightly smoothed out the painting. These people may have shut up, but she felt that it wasn’t satisfying enough, “Don’t know if this can be considered the ‘one and only’? And is the first gongbi masterpiece valuable enough? If damaged, can you all afford to compensate it?”
Speaking of these people, there wasn’t a single one that didn’t truly receive a good education. Whether or not something was valuable, they more or less would all know. This painting, they indeed couldn’t afford to compensate. That’s why, they could only slant their mouths and not make a sound.
“Good, good, good……” The Ding Duchess said a series of ‘good’. Just this painting already let her earn back all her face. In that instant, towards Luo Jing Bo, that was a hundred times, a thousand times, satisfaction.
Tomorrow, no, no need to wait until tomorrow, afraid in less than two hours, this son-in-law’s name will be able to shake the entire capital, even surpassing her own son. After all, no matter how impressive her son was, he still didn’t invent a new painting style, no? Afterwards, he will gradually become known throughout the world. Everyone who starts studying the gongbi style will all have him viewed as their ‘shifu’, and he will become a teacher to an entire generation.
Her own daughter marrying such a person, even if they were to live in a grass hut, would still only be said to be noble and clean-living.
Have to say, Luo Jing Bo was actually very awkward inside at the moment. This was all his little sister’s glory, yet all taken up by him!
Before this painting could be put away, some male guests already came asking. After seeing it, not one didn’t endlessly praise it.
Sun Yi Lin looked to the painting, deeply moved. Never thought that this brother-in-law had this kind of talent. “Handing younger sister over to you, I feel relieved.”
“Brother-in-law don’t worry, I will definitely be good to your younger sister. If I’m not good to her, my own younger sister will probably tear me apart alive.” Recalling his own younger sister’s various teachings these days, and also the various threats towards him, he wished he could have Sun Yi Jia cupped in his palm and placed at the tip of his heart.
Sun Yi Lin laughed in spite of himself. Miss Luo was indeed indescribably good to his younger sister. Younger sister although had experienced through a rough patch of twists and turns, but in the end, to be able to obtain such a marriage, worth it, all worth it.
And in the back, those sisters of Sun Yi Jia, all became envious, jealous, and resentful again. This little slut, how come has such a good fate. This ugly, yet about to marry a man that will soon become renowned throughout the world.
[1] Similar to ‘framing’ paintings, but back then the painting is usually put onto a piece of brocade or fancy paper and rolled up into a scroll.
[2] In marriage customs, these ‘blessed madams’ are referring to married women, whose parents are still alive, have a ‘loving’ husband, and have both sons and daughters. By traditional standards, these women are considered to be ‘very fortunate’, and thus in a way, will bring good fortune to the new couple.
