Chapter 82: Tease and Retreat

“Your Majesty, here’s the charcoal you requested.” A palace attendant respectfully approached with a small bowl.

Inside it lay pieces of charcoal.

Liu Xie casually picked out a suitable piece, bent down, and began grinding one end against the ground until it formed a sharp tip.

He then looked up at Zhen Mi and said, “Stand still, don’t move.”

“Ah… yes, Your Majesty.”

Although puzzled by Liu Xie’s intentions, Zhen Mi obediently remained standing as instructed, not daring to budge.

Liu Xie swiftly placed a sheet of drawing paper on the table, took the charcoal stick, and started sketching while occasionally glancing at her.

“Is His Majesty drawing me? Can charcoal be used for artwork?” Zhen Mi blinked, her curiosity piqued.

She had heard that some impoverished scholars practiced calligraphy using charcoal as makeshift pens, but never before had she encountered anyone using charcoal for painting.

Charcoal is brittle and prone to leaving dust particles behind, making it suitable only for practicing writing. However, due to its delicate nature, creating intricate paintings with charcoal was deemed impossible.

After some time, Liu Xie tossed aside the charcoal stick, accepted a silk handkerchief from an attendant to wipe his hands, and turned to Zhen Mi, saying, “It’s done. Why don’t you take a look?”

The paper available in this era was truly inadequate; even the finest silk paper lacked quality, making it unsuitable for sketching with charcoal. In the end, they had a palace maid fetch a piece of cloth, on which he proceeded to draw.

Zhen Mi approached hesitantly, but upon seeing Liu Xie’s drawing on the table, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth, disbelief filling her beautiful eyes.

“How could…”

She was utterly astounded, as Liu Xie had indeed captured her likeness using the charcoal stick! Although only depicting her upper body, with some details rough around the edges, the overall appearance, expression, and even the essence of her gaze were remarkably accurate, bringing her vividly to life on the cloth.

It was nothing short of masterful!

Unable to resist, Zhen Mi picked up the drawing and examined it closely, growing more impressed with each glance. The artwork not only resembled her physically but also conveyed her spirit astonishingly well!

However, Liu Xie shook his head and sighed, “It’s been too long since I last drew; my skills have deteriorated significantly. This sketch should be torn up to avoid embarrassment.”

He reached out to take the drawing from her.

“No!” Zhen Mi’s face paled, momentarily disregarding all etiquette. She swiftly dodged Liu Xie’s hand and hid the paper behind her back.

“Please, Your Majesty, show mercy. Such a lifelike masterpiece must not be destroyed…”

She cherished this portrait immensely, especially as it showcased a unique drawing technique she had never seen before. The thought of letting Liu Xie tear it apart filled her with reluctance.

Liu Xie gently took Zhen Mi’s hand, looking at her tenderly. “But we feel that even this painted beauty falls far short of your true radiance.”

Zhen Mi shivered slightly, her cheeks instantly flushing red.

“Your Majesty, th-this…” Her gaze darted away, unable to meet Liu Xie’s eyes, stuttering so much she couldn’t form a complete sentence. Her heart began racing faster than ever. Never before had she heard such words spoken to her.

Seeing Zhen Mi’s bashful expression, Liu Xie finally understood the true meaning behind the phrase “beauty that shames flowers and eclipses the moon.” It wasn’t merely a metaphor but a precise description!

In his previous life, he became an artsy youth precisely to impress women more easily.

Although his painstakingly learned painting skills failed to woo modern ladies, they managed to captivate the heart of the ancient Goddess Luo.

Does this imply that modern women are even harder to pursue than the Goddess Luo?

“Since you like it, consider this portrait a gift for you.”

With those words, Liu Xie turned and left the rear garden promptly. He knew that Zhen Mi was already deeply flustered by his flirtation, and staying longer would only make her more uncertain.

It was better to leave swiftly after teasing her, allowing her time to savor the moment alone.

As Liu Xie’s figure disappeared from view, Zhen Mi felt a sense of relief and leaned weakly against the table. The lingering blush on her face revealed her still-unsettled emotions.

After some time, she managed to slightly compose herself and retrieved the hidden painting from behind her back.

Gazing at the lifelike image of herself depicted in the portrait, a small wave of happiness welled up within Zhen Mi, eliciting a delicate smile.

In that instant, all the blossoms in the garden seemed to lose their vibrancy.

After hastily leaving the rear garden, Liu Xie’s heart continued to race uncontrollably.

Zhen Mi’s beauty was devastatingly potent, and her bashful demeanor had the impact of a nuclear explosion!

“Scary, truly terrifying.”

He couldn’t allow himself to be bewitched by Zhen Mi; otherwise, how would he keep any secrets hidden from her? After all, she belonged to the influential Zhen clan!

In history, she first married Yuan Xi before later becoming Cao Pi’s wife. Liu Xie found it hard to believe that her family played no role in these events.

Repeatedly cautioning himself internally, he vowed not to fall for Zhen Mi merely because of her stunning appearance. He should only engage physically, never emotionally.

Be a Sigma male!

At a certain official residence in Yecheng:

“You’re saying Yuan Xi visited Jia Xu and presented him with lavish gifts?!” Yuan Shang’s expression darkened as he stared at the guard before him.

The guard, head bowed respectfully, responded, “My lord, this humble servant has been closely monitoring Second Prince’s residence. Indeed, yesterday, the Second Prince went to call upon the Grand Master of Ceremonies.”

“After leaving the Minister of Works’s estate, the Second Prince appeared exceedingly pleased. That very day, he sent several dozen gift chests to the Jia Manor.”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shang’s face flickered between anger and unease.

Jia Xu was a recent talent acquisition by his father, highly valued and generously rewarded, even surpassing Shen Pei and Ju Shou in favor!

Many had been visiting Jia Xu lately, so Yuan Shang planned to wait a few days before making his own call. He hadn’t anticipated Yuan Xi’s move.

“Could he have already won over Jia Xu?” A troubling thought emerged in Yuan Shang’s mind, growing more plausible the more he considered it.

Why else would Yuan Xi look so delighted after leaving the Jia Manor and send such substantial gifts? Even if he didn’t fully secure Jia Xu, there must have been some significant promise made; otherwise, why would Yuan Xi willingly offer such extravagant presents!

“No, I must visit the Grand Master of Ceremonies myself!” With this thought, Yuan Shang swiftly made his decision.

He turned to Guo Jia standing nearby and said, “Sir, please prepare a generous gift for me; I’m going to call on the Grand Master of Ceremonies today!”

However, Guo Jia shook his head. “Third Prince, why should you personally visit the Grand Master of Ceremonies? If our lord discovers such blatant attempts by both you and Second Prince to sway people’s allegiance, he might not be pleased. It would be highly inappropriate.”

While Yuan Shao didn’t mind competition among his sons, openly courting advisors and generals was another matter entirely. Such actions were acceptable but should not be done so brazenly—after all, their father was still alive and firmly in power!

Yuan Shang hesitated slightly, acknowledging the truth in Guo Jia’s words yet unwilling to concede. He asked, “Shouldn’t I at least counter my brother’s attempt to win over Jia Xu?”

“Father holds Jia Xu in high regard; if my second brother secures him, it would greatly disadvantage me!”

He couldn’t simply stand idly by and watch.

Currently, Jia Xu held significant influence with Yuan Shao. Even a few words of endorsement from him could sway Yuan Shao’s decisions!

“My lord, do not fret.” A glint flashed in Guo Jia’s eyes as he smiled reassuringly. “Leave everything to me. Allow me to visit the Grand Master of Ceremonies on behalf of the Third Prince.”