Chapter 28: The Shura Field
Page 1/3
“Sister Miaoyun, you jest. Even if something of our own is worn and tattered, it still belongs to us. How could one just hand it over to someone else? Have you ever heard the saying: taking without informing is thievery?”
Xu Miaoyun replied calmly, “Sister Minmin, is it possible that I was the one who first set my sights on this item and even put down a deposit, only for you to swoop in and snatch it away? I’ve also heard that taking by force without notice is called banditry.”
“Man and woman’s love is natural and rightful.”
“Parents’ orders have been the rule since ancient times.”
Seeing the two women inching closer and closer, Zhu Zhu shrank awkwardly to the side. In those mindless historical romance dramas he’d watched in a past life, the first meeting between the primary wife and concubine was always amicable, as if they were sworn sisters. Why did that not hold true here?
“Husband, say something!”
“Brother Qin Wang, please judge fairly.”
Both women glared coldly at him. Zhu Zhu opened his mouth to speak but stammered without words.
He could only awkwardly say, “Are you hungry? Should I get you something to eat?”
Minmin rolled her eyes and said, “You pervert.”
Xu Miaoyun, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, said, “Brother Qin Wang, we’re not married yet.”
Ah, if you’re not married, why have you been calling me husband so fluently before? Zhu Zhu thought silently.
He could only advise, “Ladies, harmony is precious; peace brings prosperity.”
Minmin spat disdainfully, “What ‘ladies’? Keep your flirtations to yourself.”
However, she quickly changed her tone, waving a silk cloth, “Enough, enough. As the main wife, I should be magnanimous. It’s acceptable to be gracious to a concubine.”
Xu Miaoyun retorted angrily, “Sister should understand the principle of first come, first served. Who is senior and who is junior should be judged by Brother Qin Wang.”
Seeing their unfriendly expressions fixed on him, Zhu Zhu hurriedly stepped back. Then, an idea struck him and he straightened his chest, saying, “Whoever is senior decides.”
Minmin blushed and teased, “You shameless devil.”
Xu Miaoyun’s face turned pale with anger, “In two years, who is senior or junior is yet to be seen.”
Seeing her puffed-up anger, he thought: You’re a middle schooler comparing yourself to a university student?
Minmin took her hand tenderly, “You’re a sweet little thing. It will be nice to have you live in the mansion to keep me company, so I won’t be lonely.”
Then she took out a bundle and placed it in Xu Miaoyun’s hand, saying, “A girl wearing servant’s clothes wastes her beauty. These are clothes I picked out for you. Try them on in my room.”
As the eldest daughter of the Xu family, Miaoyun felt a warmth beyond her parents’ care for the first time. Her eyes reddened as she quietly said, “Miaoyun thanks you, sister.”
“We are sisters; no need for formalities.” With that, Minmin took Miaoyun’s small hand and led her to her room.
Left behind, Zhu Zhu stared dumbfounded. He couldn’t understand how these two women could go from bitter enemies one moment to inseparable best friends the next.
After a long wait, Xu Miaoyun appeared, clad in a vivid red robe embroidered with gold phoenix and cloud patterns, her hair pinned up and adorned with dangling hairpins, stepping gracefully.
“Brother Qin Wang, do I look good?” Seeing his dazed expression and slack face, she shyly asked.
“Uh, yes, yes, you look good. Why are you wearing Minmin’s clothes?”
Page 2/3
Xu Miaoyun was fifteen years old, with a dignified and elegant appearance, noble beyond words. Wearing the court lady’s formal dress made her look like a youthful queen of a daughter’s kingdom.
Minmin carefully sat down, supporting her waist, and said, “These clothes were sent by Empress Ma. Sister Miaoyun’s peaceful and radiant face suits them far better than mine.”
Empress Ma knew him well, aware he wouldn’t return. Not only did she send abundant money, grain, and cloth, but she also gave Minmin a complete set of princess consort formal attire, personally sewing two little garments for the child, and even sent two imperial doctors.
“Empress Ma’s letter said she will come in person when the child is born to preside over the grand wedding for me and Sister Miaoyun.”
Minmin’s mother had died early. Seeing the careful stitching on the child’s garments, she felt Empress Ma’s heartfelt care and developed a fondness for the woman she had never met.
“Minmin, I’m sorry to trouble you.” Zhu Zhu held her hand. A princess without rank following him and bearing his children—what more could a husband ask for?
“Husband, Sister Miaoyun has set aside her pride as a girl and disregarded social prejudice to come find you from afar. Don’t let her down.”
“Sister Minmin, Miaoyun will never forget your kindness and generosity in this life.”
“Miaoyun, it’s rare to find such a worthy girl. Let us be like true sisters from now on.”
“Sister.”
“Little sister.”
The two sisters clasped hands, their affection clear as honey and oil, while Zhu Zhu suddenly felt like an outsider.
“Husband, this matter must not happen a third time.”
“Sister speaks truly. Brother Qin Wang, no more flirtations.”
Zhu Zhu blinked dumbfounded. Was he being ostracized in the harem?
He awkwardly said, “I’ve learned my lesson. How about I paint a picture for you two?”
He fetched a set of paints from his study, cut a piece of white cloth, and fixed it onto a wooden frame with a square plank as an easel.
With the two women watching suspiciously, he instructed,
“Minmin, just sit. Miaoyun, rest your hand on Minmin’s shoulder.”
“Yes, yes, keep smiling without moving.”
Though puzzled, the two complied.
After a long while,
“Are you done yet? My mouth is stiff.”
“Brother Qin Wang, my feet are numb.”
“Almost done, almost done.”
After half an hour, Zhu Zhu finally finished.
Xu Miaoyun and Minmin approached to look, and two palace-dressed beauties seemed to leap off the canvas, vivid and lifelike.
Page 3/3
Xu Miaoyun asked curiously, “Brother Qin Wang, what technique did you use? It looks even more real than a bronze mirror.”
Zhu Zhu felt proud. After all, his three years at the Art Academy were for wooing girls, weren’t they?
“This is Western oil painting.”
He wanted to paint traditional ink wash but his skills were only beginner level; it was too difficult.
Minmin frowned, “You painted my big belly. It looks so ugly.”
Zhu Zhu replied helplessly, “Motherhood is the greatest thing in the world. How could it be ugly?”
“I don’t care. I punish you to wait until I deliver and then repaint it. You paint for Sister Miaoyun. I’m tired and will rest first.”
After Minmin left, Xu Miaoyun looked at him with sparkling anticipation.
Zhu Zhu thought, girls from any era all love being photographed.
“Alright, alright, change into several outfits later, and I’ll paint you one by one.”
Xu Miaoyun nodded eagerly like a little chick pecking grain and immediately posed as he instructed.
After a while, the image of Xu Miaoyun reclining on a chaise lounge, gently fanning herself, was captured on the canvas.
Xu Miaoyun, ever curious, asked, “People always say that sitting upright is proper and dignified for portraits, but following Brother Qin Wang’s style, I look both relaxed and charming.”
Indeed, but this painting could only hang in her boudoir. If it leaked out, old scholars would see Zhu Zhu no different than Emperor Huizong of Song.
“I’ll paint you a formal portrait.”
He told Xu Miaoyun to change into the formal dress and stand in the courtyard.
After finishing the painting and standing up, Xu Miaoyun looked at the canvas—herself in a phoenix crown and red ceremonial robe, radiant and dazzling. She touched the vermilion hairpin on her head, softly reciting a little poem in the corner:
“The brightest beauty cannot be kept; the rosy face leaves the mirror, the flowers fall from the trees.”
Xu Miaoyun wondered, was this Brother Qin Wang’s promise to her?
Zhu Zhu returned to his study, hands behind his back, thinking he truly was a master of seduction. Old Zhu had done splendidly. Xu Miaoyun was exactly his type—one must seize the blooming flower before it withers.
Historically, Empress Xu died young because she was married at fourteen to the Fourth Prince, bore three sons and four daughters, and was overworked.
Now that her status was confirmed, there was no rush. He would carefully nurture this little girl into a mature and regal lady.
Dear Fourth Prince, the second executive vice emperor of Ming, your personal stamp and chubby little brother has got you covered. No need to thank me.
Zhu Zhu thought hopefully, surely he wouldn’t produce a fool like the Han Wang.