GTB Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Under the Crabapple Tree, the Person is More Beautiful Than the Flowers

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu became somewhat anxious, suddenly recalling the young man she had seen on the street a few days ago.

She thought to herself, could he be the Seventh Prince? If it’s him, wouldn’t I be finished?

“Sister-in-law, what does that Seventh Prince look like?”

She wondered if this portrait matter was directed at her. It was too coincidental. She just met him a few days ago, and today someone is here to paint her portrait.

Right, what was his name? She seemed to have forgotten, or perhaps she didn’t hear it clearly at the time.

Shí Qingya was a little surprised that her little sister-in-law was asking about appearance, thinking, could she have some ideas? But looking at her expression, it didn’t seem like it!

“He is very handsome. In this Kyoto Imperial City, no one can compare to his looks.”

Jiang Jiuchu thought about it. No one can compare? It seemed that he was indeed quite handsome, but she didn’t think that kind of appearance could compare to her brother and Brother Fu!

How could he be unmatched in her sister-in-law’s eyes?

“By the way, sister-in-law, what is the Seventh Prince’s name?”

“Shí Yan.” Shí Qingya felt that her little sister-in-law seemed quite interested in the Seventh Prince.

Madam Ye was also a little strange, thinking, isn’t she fond of Song Fuge? Could it be that upon hearing he’s a prince, she threw Song Fuge to the back of her mind?

Uh… could her Jiuchu be a little too materialistic?

Although Jiang Jiuchu didn’t remember what the person’s name was, she was certain that it was definitely not the name Shí Yan. Thinking of this, she felt a little relieved.

But since her portrait was being painted, she was still on the shortlist, and there was still a certain risk. She was unwilling to take even a sliver of that risk.

With this in mind, she instructed the maid, Green Loquat, who was standing beside her, “Take some snacks to the painter and tell him to wait a moment, saying that I need to dress up.”

Madam Ye and Shí Qingya both looked surprised upon hearing this. This… she changed her mind just like that?

Before the two could even express shallow sympathy for Song Fuge in their hearts, Shí Qingya was helped by Jiang Jiuchu to sit beside the round table.

She also sat down, putting on a pitiful look.

“Sister-in-law, please help me. I don’t want to have even a slight chance of being selected. I only want to marry Brother Fu.”

After speaking, Jiang Jiuchu glanced at Madam Ye, who was still standing beside her, and added, “Even if I don’t marry Brother Fu, I don’t want to marry any prince.”

She was really a little scared. The prince’s status was so noble! She didn’t want to, didn’t dare to marry him.

She was afraid that if he was unhappy, he would punish her for this and that. She was afraid that she wouldn’t even dare to say a harsh word.

How could anyone be better than Brother Fu! She wasn’t afraid of taking liberties with him. The only thing she was afraid of… was him kissing her.

As she thought about it, a trace of sweetness welled up in her heart, making her even more determined to erase even the slightest possibility.

If she was unlucky enough to be selected, there would be no turning back.

Upon hearing this, Shí Qingya said with a troubled expression, “Jiuchu, this may be difficult. Today, this painter came by order, and I can’t send him away.”

“Then have him paint me ugly.” As she spoke, Jiang Jiuchu pointed to her face, “Have him paint some freckles or something on me.”

Shí Qingya shook her head, “No, that’s a crime of deceiving the emperor. He wouldn’t dare.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu said, “Then it’s okay if I paint some freckles and rashes on my own face, right?”

“No, that’s also deceiving the Empress Dowager. If it’s discovered, you’ll be punished. Moreover, next month is the palace’s Flower Banquet. At that time, officials of the fourth rank and above must bring their families to the banquet.

At that time, you can’t paint your face full of freckles again, right? It will be obvious up close.”

“Moreover, if you have a face full of freckles, it will instead attract the attention of the Empress Dowager and Seventh Brother.

Therefore, this move is not feasible. Not only is it not rigorous, but it is also very inappropriate.” Shí Qingya denied it again.

“Then what should I do? Sister-in-law, quickly help me think of something.”

As she spoke, Jiang Jiuchu looked at Madam Ye, “Mother, why don’t we have Brother Fu come and propose marriage?”

Madam Ye had just sat down when she heard Jiang Jiuchu say this. She didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

To be honest, both of these situations were beyond her expectations. One was heaven, and the other was earth. The differences were too great, and neither was what she wanted.

Seeing that Madam Ye didn’t speak in time, Shí Qingya said,

“It’s too late. Today, Painter Lin must take your portrait away. As long as the portrait enters the palace, you can’t discuss marriage for the next three months. That’s the rule.”

Jiang Jiuchu’s face suddenly turned panicked. She immediately grabbed Shí Qingya’s arm and coquettishly said,

“Sister-in-law, please, help me think of a way! I know there are many portraits, and the chance of being selected is extremely small, but if I’m selected, I can’t just reject the prince’s marriage, right!”

“Of course not. If you’re selected, it will most likely be a marriage bestowed by the Empress Dowager. I wouldn’t dare to reject it even if I had all the courage in the world.”

After saying this, Shí Qingya couldn’t bear to refuse her little sister-in-law, so she had to say, “You go out first, and I’ll think about it carefully.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu was overjoyed and immediately got up to thank her, “Thank you, sister-in-law. My brother and I are so lucky. The best thing my brother ever did for me was to marry me a beautiful, kind, and noble sister-in-law.”

Madam Ye couldn’t help but feel happy seeing her daughter like this and said, “Go quickly. It sounds like your brother married her for you.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll go now.” Jiang Jiuchu left the room with peace of mind, thinking that since her sister-in-law said so, she would definitely be able to think of a good solution. After all, no one understood the palace’s twists and turns better than her sister-in-law.

The painter looked at Jiang Jiuchu walking towards him, and a look of amazement suddenly appeared in his eyes.

He thought to himself, as expected, the most beautiful girls are not shown in public. She is much more beautiful than those so-called four talented women.

Jiang Jiuchu walked up to the painter and deliberately said in a not-so-polite tone:

“Should I stand or sit, Miss? Or should I sit? I’m afraid that if you paint for too long, my legs will ache from standing.”

She thought that making this painter dislike her would be good for painting her ugly.

“Yes, yes, you can sit if you want, stand if you want. Why don’t you sit on that swing!” Painter Lin said, looking at the swing under the crabapple tree.

“Okay.” Jiang Jiuchu responded and went straight to the swing.

She was overjoyed and immediately walked over to it. Perfect, she would swing on it later, swinging until the painter couldn’t see clearly. Anyway, he was the one who told her to sit on the swing.

Although her sister-in-law had promised to help her think of a solution, it wouldn’t hurt for her to make a little trouble.

However, the level of the palace painter far exceeded Jiang Jiuchu’s imagination, especially since he had painted so many young ladies in succession recently. His brushstrokes were smoother than ever.

Jiang Jiuchu tentatively swung lightly on the swing. Seeing that the painter didn’t say anything, she simply swung without restraint.

Her hair fluttered, her pink dress fluttered, and a hint of smug smile appeared on the corner of her lips.

As a painter, he loved to paint the most beautiful things in the world. As if inspired, his brush moved like the wind, outlining extremely quickly.

Under the crabapple tree, the person is more beautiful than the flowers.