Chapter 14 – Appreciating Paintings

Chapter 14 – Appreciating Paintings

Upon his return to the Duke Jing Estate, Xu Chun indeed instructed the steward to prepare a set of traditional Chinese painting materials. He chose a conventional painting and a pair of plum vases, which were decent enough. His heart, however, wasn’t truly in these gifts. Instead, he had the steward select valuable ingredients such as bird’s nest, fish maw, and donkey-hide gelatin, and ordered Xia Chao to personally deliver them to Grandma Liu at Bamboo Branch Workshop so she could concoct some nourishing soups for Brother Nine.

Days of heavy snow had passed, and on this particular morning, the weather cleared up. The pale sunlight shone on the snow, sparkling and crisp, making it a perfect day for appreciating the snow.

Draped in his fox fur coat, Xu Chun arrived at the courtyard where the carriage was kept. There, he saw Xu Gu already waiting beside the carriage. His expression was as indifferent as usual, and he too wore a fur coat. His attire was no less impressive than Xu Chun’s. This was not merely for the sake of the estate’s reputation, but also because the Sheng family, being immensely wealthy, didn’t wish to be accused of mistreating their illegitimate children. As a result, they never neglected Xu Gu and the other illegitimate children in terms of food, clothing, and daily necessities.

Xu Chun clasped his hands and greeted, “Big Brother, you’ve been waiting long.”

Xu Gu nodded slightly in response, returned the gesture, and without further ado, turned to board his own carriage. As the eldest illegitimate son, his position was delicate. Even though he had passed the provincial examination, he remained respectful towards his legitimate mother within the estate and never assumed the airs of an elder brother in front of Xu Chun. When he went out with Xu Chun, he would never be the first to get into the carriage.

Xu Chun understood his half-brother’s awkward position and never put him in difficult situations. This was a lesson taught by his mother. Born into a family of wealthy merchants, Sheng valued harmony in business dealings and never broke ties with others openly. Regardless of how much she disliked someone, she always maintained a smile on her face and acted gracefully.

The Prince Shun heir’s garden, where he would appreciate the snow, was called Huifeng Garden, not far from Duke Jing’s estate. The carriage ride takes no more than the time it takes to drink two cups of tea.

When Xu Chun and Xu Gu arrived at the Huifeng Garden gate, many guests had already gathered, all dressed in expensive clothing.

Xu Chun and Xu Gu walked through the garden gate and handed over their name cards. Chun Xi skillfully directed the servants to present the gifts, while the manager of the Prince’s household noted down the gifts from Duke Jing’s estate: a pair of plum vases, a painting titled “Butterflies Playing Among Flowers,” and a set of traditional Chinese painting materials. Immediately after, he ordered someone to hang the painting inside the warm pavilion.

Qiu Hu curiously asked, “Are all the paintings delivered today going to be hung up for the prince to admire?”

The manager of the Prince’s household smiled and said, “Indeed, our Prince Heir loves paintings, so he has collected quite a few. Every banquet includes a display of paintings. On such a cold day, the prince fears that the guests might find the banquet dull, so he orders the paintings to be hung up for appreciation. If any paintings are sent in today, they will also be displayed for everyone to enjoy.”

Chun Xi laughed and said, “I see. Truly, the Prince’s household is extravagant, unlike others.” He then deftly slipped a small silver coin pouch to the manager. “Manager, you must be tired. If there’s anything we did wrong, please point it out. Our master is visiting your estate for the first time.”

The manager’s smile turned genuine upon receiving the silver coins. He hadn’t expected the servants of Duke Jing’s estate to be so considerate. Smiling, he struck up a conversation with Chun Xi.

Meanwhile, Xu Chun and Xu Gu followed the welcoming servants into the garden, arriving at the warm pavilion. Today was sunny, so the banquet was set up in the open-air hall.

All four walls of the open-air hall were lined with glass, making the interior exceptionally bright. The sunlight shining through the glass windows illuminated the poems and paintings hanging on the walls of the hall. The place was filled with splendor and the aura of culture, and the well-dressed guests were crowded together.

Paintings were still being brought in and hung up, and Xu Chun noticed that his gift, “Butterflies Playing Among Flowers,” had also been hung. Realizing that Prince Shun’s heir enjoyed paintings, he understood that this event was both a snow appreciation and a painting exhibition. He couldn’t help but secretly admire Brother Nine. Had it not been for Brother Nine’s reminder, he would have sent in a painting of too great value, inevitably attracting unwanted attention.

Looking around, most of the paintings were from the current dynasty, with only a couple from the previous dynasty, none of which were particularly valuable. His gift, “Butterflies Playing Among Flowers,” due to the painter’s lack of fame and its modern nature, was hung in a less prominent spot. This suited his desire not to stand out, and he stood beside the wall with Xu Gu, leisurely observing each painting.

Xu Gu asked him in a low voice, “If you see the gentleman who helped you donate money the other day, do let me know. We brothers should thank him in person.”

Xu Chun vaguely replied, “He’s been ill these days, recuperating at home. He won’t attend such banquets.”

Xu Gu’s eyes flickered. “In that case, Second Brother should visit him to check on his health.”

Xu Chun said, “He prefers peace and quiet. I’ve already sent some medicinal herbs to him.”

Xu Gu nodded slightly and explained, “I admire his high moral character and righteousness. He also helped Mother receive a noble title. When I see him next, I can’t afford to be impolite.”

Xu Chun didn’t take it to heart. “Alright.”

Suddenly, a burst of laughter echoed from outside. It was Prince Shun’s heir, accompanied by a group of distinguished guests, returning through the snow. Behind him were several beautiful maidservants holding plum vases filled with freshly picked plum blossoms. They all wore magnificent clothes, looking like celestial beings entering the banquet hall.

Leading the way, Xie Fei was dressed in a cloak made of peacock feathers, with emerald-green embroidery depicting dragons amidst clouds. A jade dragon-patterned pendant hung from his waist, and a coiled cloud crown adorned his head. He was smiling and conversing with the guests, his demeanor graceful and elegant.

Xu Chun had seen him once or twice before, but since they weren’t part of the same social circle, he’d never had the chance to interact closely. Looking at today’s guests, most were strangers to him, indicating that he hadn’t previously moved in the same circles. The idlers he had befriended in the past were mostly sons of minor officials in the capital, who only sought to benefit from his generosity.

From afar, Xu Chun observed Prince Shun’s heir, Xie Fei, and suddenly found that his long eyebrows and slender eyes looked strangely familiar.

Curious, he carefully studied Xie Fei’s thick, straight eyebrows and smiling eyes, and suddenly realized that he bore a resemblance to Brother Nine.

However, Brother Nine had experienced hardships, and his features carried a hint of melancholy. Xie Fei, on the other hand, was a man of leisure and wealth, with a vibrant and refined appearance, clearly enjoying an extremely comfortable and leisurely life.

Xu Chun couldn’t help but mock himself for thinking about Brother Nine again after just half a day away.

Thinking about Brother Nine, his mind wandered. He was eager to finish this banquet and return to accompany Brother Nine for his afternoon acupuncture session and dinner. Seeing that the painting appreciation should soon lead to the banquet, followed by a couple of opera performances, and after three rounds of drinks, he could consider his mission accomplished and take his leave.

Casually distancing himself from the group of distinguished guests surrounding the prince, he stood in an inconspicuous corner, picking a nondescript painting to feign interest in. In reality, his mind had already drifted far away.

Seeing Xu Chun lost in thought, Xu Gu spotted an old classmate from his studies and greeted Xu Chun before inviting him to join him in mingling. Xu Chun, who naturally avoided such scholars, promptly waved him off to socialize, saying he would be fine on his own.

After Xu Gu left, Xu Chun felt even more at ease. Fortunately, there were no familiar guests today, so he didn’t have to engage in social niceties. All he had to do was pretend to look at the paintings.

Meanwhile, Xie Fei began to appraise each painting with the other guests. Indeed, Xie Fei had a keen eye for art. He spoke highly of the paintings that were genuinely profound, while providing brief critiques of the ordinary ones. The hall became lively with discussions.

Xu Chun, thinking his own painting lacked prestige, paid it little attention. He kept a distance from the group, but unexpectedly, Xie Fei paused in front of “Butterflies Playing Among Flowers.”

The guests, assuming it was a work by a famous artist, leaned in for a closer look. However, the painting had no signature or date, and its fresh colors suggested it was not an antique.

The entire canvas depicted a cluster of colorful butterflies dancing around a hibiscus flower, with vivid hues. Even the butterfly wings were outlined with gold and silver powder, adding to the luxuriousness. The hibiscus flower, with its pinkish-white petals shimmering with pearl-like luster, was the centerpiece.

The painting’s colors were striking and lifelike, but to the literati, it seemed overly opulent and focused on technique rather than conveying a sense of elegance and simplicity.

A guest, emboldened by curiosity, asked Xie Fei, who was still examining the painting closely, “Does Your Highness find this painting style unique? Among all the paintings today, this one stands out for its brightness.”

Xie Fei remained silent, smiling. He approached the painting and instructed someone to lift the velvet curtains near the window to allow more light to illuminate the artwork. After scrutinizing it again, he finally asked, “Whose house sent this butterfly painting?”

Everyone shook their heads, looking around. A servant nearby stepped forward with a smile and replied, “Your Highness, this painting was sent by Duke Jing’s estate. It was delivered by Duke Jing’s heir today, named ‘Butterflies Playing Among Flowers.’ The artist is unknown, and there is no signature or inscription on it.”

Everyone was somewhat surprised, but Xie Fei smiled. “Where is Duke Jing’s heir?”

Amidst the commotion, Xu Chun, lost in thought while staring at the painting, was startled when his name was called. Before he could react, a courtier from Prince Shun’s estate approached and escorted him to Xie Fei.

Somewhat bewildered, he bowed and introduced himself. “I am Xu Chun, greetings to Prince Shun’s heir.”

Xie Fei closely examined Xu Chun and was surprised to find that the notorious playboy had a remarkable appearance.

Around seventeen or eighteen years old, he was youthful and handsome, with cat-like eyes that sparkled like stars. Dressed in a dark gray fur coat, a dark red auspicious cloud-patterned robe peeked out from beneath it, not particularly eye-catching.

However, Xie Fei, born into the imperial family and well-versed in luxury, recognized that the dark gray fur coat was made from the soft underfur of foxes, an exceptionally light and expensive material.

Smiling, Xie Fei said, “I’ve heard of you, but we haven’t met. The painting you sent is thoughtful. I find the style of this painting markedly different from those of the Central Plains. The butterflies seem so lifelike, ready to take flight, with their colors dazzling. The pigments used appear to be derived from gemstones and minerals, distinct from typical Chinese painting pigments. I’ve heard that Duke Jing’s heir has connections overseas through his maternal family. Could this painting have been created by an artist from abroad?”

Xu Chun felt a slight flush on his cheeks. “I’m glad His Highness likes it. These paints were brought back by a sea merchant from abroad. At the time, they were promoting the product and gave me this painting as a sample. I liked how the butterflies fluttered gracefully, the painting was lifelike, and the colors were bright and festive, so I kept a set. I also kept this painting. I was honored to be invited by His Highness to appreciate the snow. Considering His Highness has seen countless treasures, I pondered over what to bring. Hearing that His Highness enjoys painting, I thought that the paints I had kept wouldn’t be useful in my hands. I figured that if they could add some brilliance to His Highness’s paintings, it would be worth the journey they took across the seas.”

Hearing Xu Chun’s eloquent and amusing explanation, devoid of pretense and without any attempt to flatter, Xie Fei grew even more fond of him. Taking his hand, Xie Fei said with a smile, “What a serendipitous encounter. Duke Jing’s heir has put considerable thought into this—these days, I’ve been trying to paint a picture but have been lacking inspiration. Seeing this painting of yours has given me some ideas.” Then, he ordered the servant standing beside him, “Bring the set of traditional Chinese painting materials that Duke Jing’s heir sent. Let the guests here today see the paints from overseas; they must be extraordinary.”